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Our newsletter provides regular updates, news, and exclusive analysis for the entire Inland Empire region, including Riverside, San Bernardino, and other cities.
Inland Empire Real Estate News, Delivered
We’ve been reporting on the Southern California real estate market for more than 20 years. We monitor housing trends in all major markets including San Diego, L.A., Orange County, and the Inland Empire.
For the Inland Empire area, we provide regular news and updates including:
- Home price trends for Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, etc.
- The housing market inventory situation across the Inland Empire.
- Supply and demand conditions, and how they affect buyers and sellers.
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Current Market Conditions in Spring 2026
Our newsletter provides regular updates for the Inland Empire housing market (and Southern California as a whole). But for now, here’s a quick snapshot of current market conditions in the Riverside and San Bernardino area:
1. Home prices have softened, but buyer demand is holding up.
The Inland Empire housing market has cooled over the past couple of years, when compared to the faster pace of 2021 and 2022. Higher mortgage rates and other factors have slowed home-buying activity in many neighborhoods and communities.
Prices have dipped as well. According to Zillow, the median home values for both San Bernardino County and Riverside County declined by around 1.5% over the past year. (That’s for the 12-month period from May 2025 to May 2026.)
But at the same time, the Inland Empire remains more affordable than many parts of Los Angeles and Orange County. So a lot of Southern California home buyers consider the Inland Empire market as a way of getting more space at a lower price.
Bottom line: The market is slower than it was a few years ago, but buyer demand has not disappeared. This slow but steady pace will likely continue during 2026.
2. Buyers have more choices and negotiating power these days.
During the pandemic housing boom, many Inland Empire homes received multiple offers almost immediately. But the market has changed significantly since then.
Inventory has grown in many cities, which means buyers now have more homes to choose from. Homes are also taking longer to sell in many areas, and sellers are sometimes lowering prices or offering concessions to attract buyers.
That doesn’t mean every sub-market or subdivision is slow. Well-priced homes in desirable neighborhoods can still sell quickly. But overall, Inland Empire home buyers generally have more leverage today than they did during the peak frenzy years.
3. Mortgage rates remain an important factor in 2026.
Mortgage rates are currently one of the biggest drivers of housing activity across the Inland Empire.
When rates move lower, more buyers can afford monthly payments, which tends to increase demand. When rates stay high, many buyers lower their budgets or exit the market entirely.
Because the Inland Empire attracts many budget-conscious buyers, the region tends to react quickly to changes in borrowing costs. If mortgage rates decline later this year, buyer activity could strengthen across many Inland Empire markets.
In mid-May 2026, analysts from Freddie Mac wrote:
“Mortgage rates ticked down this week, averaging 6.36%. While purchase demand is softening, it remains above this time last year. Recent data also shows existing-home sales modestly edging up.”
What Is the Inland Empire, Exactly?
The Inland Empire is one of the largest and fastest-growing regions in Southern California. The term generally refers to Riverside County and San Bernardino County, which sit east of Los Angeles and Orange County.
For decades, this region has played a major role in Southern California housing growth, mainly because it offers more space and lower home prices than many coastal markets.
Today, the Inland Empire is home to millions of residents and has become a major economic and population center in its own right.
- Population of Riverside County: more than 2.5 million
- Population of San Bernardino County: roughly 2.2 million
As of spring 2026, the Inland Empire region as a whole had a combined population approaching 5 million residents, and it could exceed that threshold by 2027.
The region stretches from dense suburban communities near Los Angeles to large desert and mountain areas farther east. Because of its size and diversity, housing conditions can vary significantly from one part of the Inland Empire to another.
Major Cities and Communities
The Inland Empire includes a wide range of cities, suburbs, and master-planned communities. Some of the region’s largest and most active housing markets include:
- Riverside (population 321,000)
- San Bernardino (223,000)
- Fontana (215,000)
- Moreno Valley (212,000)
- Ontario (182,000)
- Rancho Cucamonga (176,000)
- Corona (160,000)
- Temecula (112,000)
Western parts of the Inland Empire (especially areas closer to Los Angeles and Orange County) tend to be more densely developed and more connected to coastal job centers. Eastern areas are generally more spread out and continue to see long-term residential growth and new construction.
Why It Became a Major Housing Market
The Inland Empire became one of California’s most important housing markets largely because it offered an alternative to the high costs of coastal Southern California.
For many buyers (especially first-time buyers and growing families), the region provided larger homes, newer construction, and lower prices than nearby coastal counties. Over time, this affordability advantage helped drive strong population growth.
San Bernardino County, in particular, is the most affordable market in Southern California. But Riverside is also easier for buyers to break into, compared to the pricey coastal cities.
The Inland Empire has also seen major economic expansion. Warehousing, logistics, transportation, healthcare, education, and construction have all become important parts of the regional economy. Large distribution centers tied to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have helped transform parts of the region into major logistics hubs.
Even with substantial home-price growth over the past decade, the Inland Empire still plays an important role in Southern California’s broader housing market. It’s one of the few large regions where large-scale residential development is still possible.
Sign Up for Inland Empire Real Estate News, Updates, and Analysis
In 2026, the Inland Empire real estate market continues to evolve, expand, and shift. There’s a lot happening, and it’s a lot to keep up with.
That’s where SoCal Housing Weekly comes into the picture.
This newsletter delivers timely insights, analysis, news and updates for the Inland Empire real estate market, along with the rest of Southern California.
We cover all of the housing-related news and trends that matter most, including home prices, supply and demand, sales pace, migratory trends, and more.
Questions? If you have questions about this newsletter or the Inland Empire real estate news it delivers each week, please email editor@homebuyinginstitute.com.