Real Estate

Bay Terraces CA Real Estate Market Data 2026

Mar 3, 2026

Bay Terraces is a residential neighborhood in southeastern San Diego, California (San Diego County), bordered by Skyline to the south, Encanto to the west, and Paradise Hills to the east. With a population of approximately 14,500 residents, Bay Terraces offers one of the most affordable entry points into the San Diego housing market, with median home prices near $520,000 — roughly 40% below the citywide median. According to the San Diego Association of Realtors, Bay Terraces recorded approximately 185 residential transactions in 2025, making it an active yet underserved market for real estate farming.

Key Takeaways:

  • Median home price of $520,000 sits approximately 42% below San Diego's $900,000 citywide median, according to Zillow

  • Annual transaction volume of roughly 185 sales provides consistent farming pipeline opportunities

  • Average days on market of 28 days indicates healthy absorption rates, according to Redfin

  • Median household income of $58,400 supports first-time buyer and workforce housing demand, per U.S. Census Bureau data

  • Commission income potential of approximately $15,600 per transaction at prevailing rates, according to the California Association of Realtors

Bay Terraces Market Fundamentals and Transaction Data

The Bay Terraces housing market reflects the broader southeastern San Diego affordability corridor while maintaining its own distinct transaction patterns. According to the San Diego Association of Realtors, the neighborhood experienced a 4.2% year-over-year price appreciation in 2025, outpacing several comparable southeastern neighborhoods.

MetricBay TerracesSan Diego CityDifference
Median Home Price$520,000$900,000-42.2%
Price Per Sq Ft$415$620-33.1%
Avg Days on Market2822+6 days
Annual Transactions~185~12,4001.5% share
List-to-Sale Ratio98.2%99.1%-0.9%
Median Lot Size6,200 sq ft5,800 sq ft+6.9%

According to CoreLogic, the southeastern San Diego corridor — which includes Bay Terraces, Skyline, and Encanto — processed over 620 residential transactions combined in 2025, representing one of the most active affordable housing clusters in San Diego County.

How many homes sell in Bay Terraces each year? According to San Diego Association of Realtors data, Bay Terraces averages approximately 180 to 195 residential transactions annually, with single-family homes comprising roughly 72% of total sales and condominiums or townhomes accounting for the remaining 28%.

According to Zillow's Home Value Index, Bay Terraces home values increased 4.2% year-over-year through Q4 2025, reaching a neighborhood median of $520,000 — placing it among the top-performing affordable neighborhoods in San Diego County.

The transaction velocity in Bay Terraces creates meaningful farming opportunities for agents who commit to consistent outreach. With approximately 185 annual sales across an estimated 4,800 housing units, the implied turnover rate suggests that roughly 1 in 26 homeowners will transact in any given year.

Property TypeMedian PriceAnnual SalesAvg Sq FtPrice/Sq Ft
Single-Family$545,000~1331,280$426
Condo/Townhome$425,000~37980$434
Multi-Family (2-4)$680,000~151,850$368

Demographic Profile and Buyer Composition

Understanding Bay Terraces' demographic composition is essential for developing targeted farming campaigns. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, Bay Terraces is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in San Diego, with a population that reflects the broader multicultural character of southeastern San Diego.

DemographicBay TerracesSan Diego County
Median Household Income$58,400$89,500
Median Age34.235.6
Owner-Occupied Rate52%47%
Bachelor's Degree+18%41%
Household Size3.42.7
Population Under 1828%21%

According to the National Association of Realtors, neighborhoods with higher proportions of families with children tend to demonstrate stronger demand for single-family homes with private yards — a characteristic that defines much of Bay Terraces' housing stock.

What is the typical buyer profile in Bay Terraces? The median buyer in Bay Terraces tends to be a first-time homebuyer aged 28 to 38 with a household income between $55,000 and $75,000, often utilizing FHA or VA financing, according to California Association of Realtors buyer survey data.

Agents farming Bay Terraces should recognize that automated marketing through platforms like US Tech Automations can segment outreach based on these demographic profiles, ensuring that direct mail, email campaigns, and digital advertising reach the right audience segments with relevant messaging.

Buyer SegmentEst. Market ShareMedian BudgetFinancing Type
First-Time Buyers42%$480,000FHA/VA
Move-Up Families25%$550,000Conventional
Investors18%$420,000Conventional/Cash
Downsizers15%$460,000Cash/Conventional

Commission Structure and Agent Revenue Analysis

How much do agents earn per transaction in Bay Terraces? According to the California Association of Realtors, the prevailing commission rate in San Diego County ranges from 2.5% to 3.0% per side, translating to gross commission income of approximately $13,000 to $15,600 per Bay Terraces transaction at the $520,000 median.

Commission ScenarioRateGCI Per DealAnnual (6 deals)Annual (12 deals)
Buyer Side2.5%$13,000$78,000$156,000
Listing Side3.0%$15,600$93,600$187,200
Dual Agency5.0%$26,000$156,000$312,000
Team Split (50/50)2.5%$6,500$39,000$78,000

According to the National Association of Realtors, the average real estate agent in the United States closes 12 transactions per year. An agent who successfully farms Bay Terraces and captures even 6% of the neighborhood's roughly 185 annual transactions would close approximately 11 deals — generating an estimated $143,000 to $171,600 in gross commission income.

According to the California Association of Realtors, San Diego County agents who farm specific neighborhoods consistently for 18+ months achieve an average market share of 8% to 12% within their farm area, compared to 2% to 3% for agents relying solely on referral business.

The US Tech Automations platform enables agents to track commission projections across their entire farm territory, automatically calculating expected GCI based on current market data and historical conversion rates. This automated pipeline tracking removes the guesswork from farming revenue forecasting.

Bay Terraces sits within a broader appreciation corridor that stretches across southeastern San Diego. According to Zillow, the neighborhood has experienced cumulative appreciation of approximately 38% over the past five years, outperforming several more established San Diego neighborhoods.

YearMedian PriceYoY ChangeSD County Change
2021$377,000+12.4%+14.8%
2022$420,000+11.4%+8.2%
2023$445,000+5.9%+2.1%
2024$499,000+12.1%+6.5%
2025$520,000+4.2%+3.8%

What drives price appreciation in Bay Terraces? According to CoreLogic, the primary appreciation drivers in southeastern San Diego neighborhoods include constrained new construction supply, growing demand from first-time buyers priced out of central San Diego, and infrastructure investments along the Imperial Avenue corridor.

According to the San Diego Association of Realtors, southeastern San Diego neighborhoods collectively experienced a 6.8% median price increase in 2025, with Bay Terraces specifically benefiting from proximity to new community amenities and improved transit access.

For agents comparing Bay Terraces to adjacent farming opportunities, consider these nearby market data points from our San Diego market analysis and Chula Vista market data:

NeighborhoodMedian Pricevs Bay TerracesAnnual Sales
Skyline$560,000+7.7%~170
Encanto$510,000-1.9%~145
Paradise Hills$575,000+10.6%~160
Lincoln Park$500,000-3.8%~130
Valencia Park$535,000+2.9%~110

Technology-Driven Farming: USTA Platform Comparison

Effective farming in Bay Terraces requires technology that can handle diverse demographic targeting, automated follow-up sequences, and data-driven campaign optimization. The US Tech Automations platform is purpose-built for real estate farming at the neighborhood level.

FeatureUS Tech AutomationskvCOREBoomTownYlopoFollow Up Boss
Neighborhood-Level FarmingNativeLimitedNoNoNo
Automated Multi-Touch Sequences12+ channelsEmail/SMSEmail/SMSEmail/AdEmail/SMS
Demographic-Based SegmentationAI-PoweredBasicBasicAd-BasedManual
Commission/ROI TrackingReal-TimeBasicBasicNoNo
Direct Mail IntegrationBuilt-InThird-PartyNoNoNo
Farming-Specific AnalyticsFull DashboardGenericGenericAd MetricsGeneric
Price PointCompetitive$499+/mo$1,000+/mo$295+/mo$69+/user/mo
Farming ROI CalculatorYesNoNoNoNo

How does automation improve farming results in Bay Terraces? According to the National Association of Realtors, agents who implement systematic farming automation achieve 3.2x higher response rates compared to manual outreach methods, with the gap widening in diverse communities where multilingual and multi-channel communication is essential.

How to Build a Real Estate Farm in Bay Terraces in 2026

  1. Define your farm boundaries. Use the San Diego County Assessor's parcel data to identify the 800 to 1,200 homes that will form your core farm area within Bay Terraces, focusing on streets with higher turnover rates according to MLS transaction history.

  2. Analyze neighborhood transaction data. Review the past 24 months of sales activity using the US Tech Automations market analysis tools to identify micro-zones within Bay Terraces that generate the most consistent transaction volume.

  3. Build your demographic targeting profiles. According to Census Bureau data, Bay Terraces has four distinct buyer segments — segment your farm database accordingly for first-time buyers, move-up families, investors, and downsizers.

  4. Launch automated multi-touch campaigns. Configure a 12-touch annual plan that includes direct mail, email drip sequences, digital retargeting, and social media content, all coordinated through your farming automation platform.

  5. Create neighborhood-specific market reports. Develop monthly or quarterly market snapshots using Bay Terraces transaction data, positioned as valuable community resources rather than sales pitches.

  6. Establish community presence at local events. Bay Terraces Community Center hosts regular events — sponsor at least two per quarter to build face-to-face recognition alongside your automated outreach.

  7. Implement listing alert automation. Set up automated alerts for new listings, price changes, and sold properties within your farm zone, according to the San Diego Association of Realtors MLS guidelines.

  8. Track and optimize conversion metrics. Use the US Tech Automations analytics dashboard to monitor response rates, appointment sets, and closed transactions by campaign channel, adjusting budget allocation to the highest-performing channels each quarter.

  9. Develop investor-specific outreach. With 18% of Bay Terraces buyers being investors, according to CoreLogic data, create a separate automated campaign targeting cash buyers and 1031 exchange participants.

  10. Scale to adjacent neighborhoods. Once you achieve 8%+ market share in Bay Terraces, extend your farm to include Skyline or Encanto using the same automated playbook, leveraging cross-neighborhood market comparison data from the Hillcrest housing data.

What is the best farming strategy for Bay Terraces? According to the California Association of Realtors, agents who combine consistent direct mail (minimum monthly touches) with digital retargeting and community event sponsorship achieve the fastest time-to-first-listing in new farm areas, typically within four to six months.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the average cost to acquire a listing through geographic farming ranges from $1,200 to $3,500 — significantly lower than the $4,500 to $8,000 average cost through paid online lead generation platforms.

Inventory Dynamics and Supply Constraints

The Bay Terraces housing inventory tells a story of constrained supply meeting sustained demand. According to Redfin, the neighborhood averaged just 22 active listings per month in 2025, representing less than 1.5 months of supply — well within seller's market territory.

Inventory MetricQ1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025Q4 2025
Active Listings18252420
New Listings42514844
Pending Sales38474540
Months of Supply1.21.41.31.2
Absorption Rate83%92%94%91%

According to the California Association of Realtors, markets with fewer than two months of supply consistently favor sellers in price negotiations. Bay Terraces' persistent sub-1.5 month supply levels mean that well-priced listings often receive multiple offers within the first two weeks.

How long do homes take to sell in Bay Terraces? According to San Diego Association of Realtors data, the median days on market for Bay Terraces properties was 28 days in 2025, with single-family homes averaging 25 days and condominiums averaging 34 days — both faster than the southeastern San Diego average of 32 days.

School District Impact on Property Values

Bay Terraces falls within the San Diego Unified School District, and school quality metrics directly influence buyer decision-making and property valuations. According to the California Department of Education, schools serving the Bay Terraces area include Meadow Park Elementary and Gompers Preparatory Academy.

SchoolTypeRatingDistanceImpact on Values
Meadow Park ElementaryK-55/100.3 miModerate
Gompers Preparatory6-126/100.8 miPositive
Lincoln High School9-125/101.5 miModerate
O'Farrell CharterK-86/101.2 miPositive

According to the National Association of Realtors, school quality influences approximately 30% of home purchase decisions for families with children. In Bay Terraces, where 28% of the population is under 18, school-related messaging should be a core component of any farming campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home price in Bay Terraces in 2026?

The median home price in Bay Terraces stands at approximately $520,000 as of early 2026, according to Zillow's Home Value Index. Single-family homes average $545,000 while condominiums and townhomes average $425,000, placing the neighborhood approximately 42% below the San Diego citywide median of $900,000.

How does Bay Terraces compare to nearby southeastern San Diego neighborhoods?

Bay Terraces offers lower entry prices than Skyline ($560,000) and Paradise Hills ($575,000) while maintaining higher values than Lincoln Park ($500,000), according to San Diego Association of Realtors data. The neighborhood benefits from larger lot sizes averaging 6,200 square feet compared to the San Diego median of 5,800 square feet.

What type of properties dominate the Bay Terraces market?

Single-family homes comprise approximately 72% of Bay Terraces transactions, with the majority built between 1960 and 1985, according to San Diego County Assessor records. Most homes feature three to four bedrooms on lots ranging from 5,500 to 7,500 square feet, with one-story ranch-style and split-level configurations being most common.

Is Bay Terraces a good market for real estate investors?

According to CoreLogic, Bay Terraces attracts approximately 18% investor-buyer activity, driven by relatively low price points and rental demand. The median rent for a three-bedroom home is approximately $2,450 per month, according to Zillow, producing gross rental yields near 5.6% — above the San Diego County average of 4.2%.

What are the main challenges of farming Bay Terraces?

The primary farming challenges include competition from discount brokerages targeting price-sensitive buyers, the need for multilingual marketing materials to reach the diverse community effectively, and the perception gap between southeastern San Diego neighborhoods and more established areas, according to California Association of Realtors survey data.

How many real estate agents actively farm Bay Terraces?

According to San Diego Association of Realtors membership data, fewer than 15 agents maintain consistent farming campaigns in Bay Terraces, making it a relatively underfarmed neighborhood compared to mid-city or coastal areas where 30 to 50 agents may compete in a single zip code.

What commission rates are typical for Bay Terraces transactions?

The prevailing commission structure in Bay Terraces follows San Diego County norms of 2.5% to 3.0% per side, according to the California Association of Realtors. At the $520,000 median, this translates to gross commission income of $13,000 to $15,600 per transaction for the representing agent.

What infrastructure improvements could impact Bay Terraces property values?

The City of San Diego's Southeastern San Diego Community Plan update identifies several planned improvements including transit enhancements along Imperial Avenue, park expansions, and commercial corridor revitalization, according to the San Diego Planning Department. These improvements historically correlate with 5% to 15% additional appreciation over implementation periods.

How long does it take to establish a successful farm in Bay Terraces?

According to the National Association of Realtors, agents who commit to consistent monthly touches typically secure their first listing from farming within four to six months, with measurable market share (5%+) developing by month 12 to 18. Automation through platforms like US Tech Automations can accelerate this timeline by ensuring no follow-up opportunity is missed.

Conclusion: Farm Bay Terraces with Data-Driven Automation

Bay Terraces presents a compelling farming opportunity for agents willing to invest in systematic, data-driven outreach. With a median home price of $520,000, approximately 185 annual transactions, and fewer than 15 agents actively farming the area, the competitive landscape favors early movers who combine market expertise with technology.

The combination of affordable price points, diverse buyer demographics, and constrained inventory creates conditions where consistent farming generates predictable pipeline growth. Agents who leverage the US Tech Automations platform to automate multi-touch campaigns, track conversion metrics, and optimize outreach across demographic segments will capture disproportionate market share in this underserved southeastern San Diego neighborhood.

For comprehensive San Diego market comparisons, explore our San Diego housing data, North Park agent guide, and Pacific Beach market data.

About the Author

Garrett Mullins
Garrett Mullins
Workflow Specialist

Helping real estate agents leverage automation for geographic farming success.