Madera, California Housing Market

What moves the numbers in Madera?

Madera asking prices per square foot were above the year before in 88% of months since the data starts. Within a year, the cheapest and priciest months differ by about 6.8%. That is bigger than the yearly trend, so timing your purchase matters here. Nothing in Madera's numbers is far from its own normal. Your return comes from the property and the price you negotiate.

Is now a good time to buy in Madera?

The median asking price is 3.9% below its Aug 2026 peak. You are not buying at the top. Prices stopped falling about a year ago. They are flat now. Waiting will not get you a cheaper house. It might still get you a more motivated seller. Madera prices have risen in 98 of the last 111 months. Drops here have been short and shallow. Buying in a slow month has rarely hurt a long hold.

This market is turning. Which way is not settled yet. Check the monthly numbers above before you commit.

How does Madera compare with other California markets?

Ranked among the 141 California markets we track:

• Asking price: 21st cheapest of 141. Madera is at $497,911. Closest: San Jacinto and Cathedral City.
• Buyer competition: 67th least competitive of 138. Madera is at 0.41 buyers per home. Closest: Burbank and Chino.
• Time on market: 27th longest time on market of 141. Madera is at a median of 60 days on market. Closest: Corona and West Covina.
• Price cuts: 59th most price cuts of 141. Madera is at 20% of sellers cutting. Closest: Merced and Pittsburg.

When do Madera prices dip?

Across 9 full years, Madera asking prices ran lowest in February, about 3.5% below the year's average. They peaked in December. The most homes for sale show up in November, about 14% above the yearly average. Shop in November for choice, and expect the softest asking prices in February.

What is the fair market rent in Madera?

HUD sets one fair market rent for Madera County. For fiscal year 2026:

• 1 bedroom: $1,062 a month. Down 4% on last year, up 51% since FY2016.
• 2 bedrooms: $1,376 a month. Down 4% on last year, up 46% since FY2016.
• 3 bedrooms: $1,914 a month. Down 5% on last year, up 40% since FY2016.
• 4 bedrooms: $2,275 a month. Down 1% on last year, up 47% since FY2016.

The figures include tenant-paid utilities and apply to all of Madera County, so one home's rent can sit well above or below them. See fair market rent by city.

What numbers should you underwrite a Madera deal with?

• Price growth to assume — +3.5%/yr. Madera grew 6.8% a year over the decade. Ignore that rate. Most of it landed in the 2020 and 2021 boom. Without the boom, Madera grows about 3.5% a year. That is the number to type in. Prices rose 1.6% over the last year. Use it for timing. The five-year rate is the better guide.
• Competition when you exit — -3%. Homes for sale in Madera are down 3% on last year, so your resale faces less competition than today's comps did.

Read how rent-to-price works and how we read these numbers, then run the numbers on a deal.

What is the median home price in Madera?

The median asking price in Madera is about $498,000 as of Sep 2026, up 1.0% from a year ago. This is the asking price on homes listed for sale. Sites that report sold prices or estimated home values will show a different number. Our Madera figures cover the 4 ZIP codes with a Madera mailing address, which can reach past city limits.

Is Madera a buyer's or seller's market in 2026?

Neither side has the upper hand in Madera right now. We compare Madera with 2017–2019 at this time of year: there are 41 pending sales per 100 listings, against 27 then; the typical listing has been up 26% more days; 20% of sellers have cut their price, against 17% then.

Are Madera home prices going up or down?

The median asking price is 3.9% below its Aug 2026 peak. You are not buying at the top. Prices stopped falling about a year ago. They are flat now. Waiting will not get you a cheaper house. It might still get you a more motivated seller.

What price growth should I assume for Madera?

Assume +3.5% a year. Madera grew 6.8% a year over the decade. Ignore that rate. Most of it landed in the 2020 and 2021 boom. Without the boom, Madera grows about 3.5% a year. That is the number to type in. Prices rose 1.6% over the last year. Use it for timing. The five-year rate is the better guide.

What is the fair market rent in Madera?

HUD's fiscal year 2026 fair market rent for Madera County is $1,376 a month for 2 bedrooms and $1,914 for 3 bedrooms. The figures include tenant-paid utilities and cover the whole county.