McHenry Library and its courtyard on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus.

BUY NEAR UC SANTA CRUZ

Homes for Sale
Near UC Santa Cruz

Explore real homes, campus insights, ownership math and local expert guidance — all in one place.

Live close. Build long-term value.

Real listings near campus · Data-driven insights · Local experts who know UC Santa Cruz

Call 831-588-7552
Lori Hill
LOCAL REALTOR

Lori Hill

Broker Associate, Compass
UC Santa Cruz-area real estate guidance

Compass logo

Which college are you buying near?

Get college-specific listings, data and expert guidance.

✓ Already exploring UC Santa Cruz? Your selection is saved. Change college

University of California, Santa Cruz · MARKET CONTEXT

Put the purchase in context.

University demand and local housing benchmarks, with the location and reporting period kept beside each number.

City median sale price
$1,374,312

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-07

Saved school cost intelligence ↗
1 bedroom rent reference
$2,771/mo

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09

Saved school cost intelligence ↗
City sale-price change
-1.8%

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-07

Saved school cost intelligence ↗
Studio rent reference
$2,234/mo

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09

Saved school cost intelligence ↗
University & housing details Definitions, dates and sources

City median sale price $1,374,312

Median sale price for the cited city housing market; not a campus-only or student-property price.

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-07 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗

1 bedroom rent reference $2,771/mo

Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗

City sale-price change -1.8%

Year-over-year change paired with the saved city median sale-price series.

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-07 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗

Studio rent reference $2,234/mo

Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗

2 bedrooms rent reference $3,762/mo

Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗

3 bedrooms rent reference $3,624/mo

Saved source-specific rental reference. Scope is the cited city or off-campus market guide; not median rent, per-bed rent, or a live quote.

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-09 · Checked 2026-09-07Saved school cost intelligence ↗

Campus housing policy For the Fall 2026 entering class, UCSC offers first-year and transfer students a two-year university-housing guarantee. Students must request housing when accepting admission and meet the housing deadlines.

Official housing guarantee summary with the entering cohort and application conditions stated explicitly.

Santa Cruz, CA · 2026-27 (Fall 2026 entering first-year and transfer cohort) · Checked 2026-11-02T19:30:40.070964-05:00UC Santa Cruz Admissions — Housing Guarantee FAQ ↗

Before choosing off-campus housing: For the Fall 2026 entering class, UCSC offers first-year and transfer students a two-year university-housing guarantee. Students must request housing when accepting admission and meet the housing deadlines. University housing policy ↗ Checked 2026-11-02T19:30:40.070964-05:00

University figures and citywide housing data cover different populations and periods. They do not establish achievable rent, occupancy or investment returns for a specific property.

Find the right path for your goals

Different goals. Same trusted data and local expertise. Choose your path to get started.

Most Popular for Parents

Buy for my student

A place to call home during the college years — and beyond.

  • See roommate offset calculations
  • Explore parent financing options
  • Learn about popular neighborhoods
Start Here →

Buy as an investment

Build long-term value with high-demand college markets.

  • See rental demand and yields
  • Compare cash flow scenarios
  • Get local market insights
Explore Investment →

Rent vs. Buy

Compare costs, equity and flexibility for your situation.

  • Interactive multi-year cost comparison
  • See your break-even point
  • Understand the long-term impact
Try the Calculator →

Explore financing

See loan options, estimated payments and buyer programs.

  • Compare loan programs
  • See what you may qualify for
  • Connect with a loan officer
Explore Financing →

UC Santa Cruz Market Snapshot

Current verified Buy inventory near campus.

Data as of Oct 7, 2026
$595KMedian verified asking priceCurrent homes in this view
—Average days on marketNo verified DOM series published
—Published rental yieldNo verified yield series published
CurrentVerified homes in viewPublished inventory, not a market forecast
“

CollegeHousing.ai shows verified housing evidence and leaves unavailable market metrics blank rather than estimating them.

— Market evidence noteUniversity of California, Santa Cruz

See the difference for yourself

Compare published rent evidence with a simple ownership-payment starting point near UC Santa Cruz.

$3,795/moPublished monthly rent benchmark for this bedroom count4 YearsComparison horizon
Total Rent Cost$182,160
Estimated Ownership Payments$254,850$72,690 more in scheduled payments

Build equity while they build their future.

  • Compare real numbers
  • Factor in your assumptions
  • Review the long-term tradeoffs
View Full Calculator →Illustrative payment comparison only. It is not a complete rent-vs-buy analysis, loan quote, or investment return.

Popular Neighborhoods Near UC Santa Cruz

Explore areas supported by current market content and verified inventory.

View All Neighborhoods →
People walk beside storefronts and outdoor seating on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz.$1.5M – $3MVerified price range

Santa Cruz

Compare the trip to your campus building

→
Colorful waterfront buildings and the wharf line Capitola’s beach beside the creek mouth.0 verified homesCurrent inventory

Capitola

Compare the trip to your campus building

→
Waves reflect an orange sunset along Seacliff State Beach in Aptos.0 verified homesCurrent inventory

Aptos

Compare the trip to your campus building

→
River Street near UC Santa Cruz$595K – $750K2BR verified range

River Street

2.3 miles from campus in current inventory.

→

Guides, Tools and Answers

Get the information you need to buy with confidence.

View All Resources →
Homes for Sale Near UC Santa Cruz | Lori Hill | CollegeHousing.ai