A record-breaking sale signals a new era for North County luxury real estate

San Diego’s luxury landscape reached a turning point this past October with the record-breaking $50 million sale of Ocean House Del Mar. Represented by Rande Turner of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty — the highest residential sale in county history — this transaction reaffirms the region’s standing as a world-class investment haven. Jason Barry of the Jason Barry Team of Barry Estates represented the buyer. 

“This sale authenticates the deep value for San Diego’s unique coastal real estate while positioning Del Mar’s white sandy beach as the crown jewel,” says Turner, a coastal authority. 

The Studio William Hefner masterpiece spans over 30,000 square feet of oceanfront luxury with 75 feet of beach frontage. It features a new sea wall, a 4,500-square-foot main residence, two guesthouses, and a saltwater pool. For Turner, who closed over $100 million in Del Mar sales in 2025, the appeal is clear: “Today’s buyers seek properties that transcend luxury. They prioritize privacy, security, and multigenerational living.”

Martha Mosier, President of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty, views the sale as a signal to the global market. “San Diego’s luxury market continues to attract global attention,” says Mosier. “Properties of this caliber don’t just reflect exceptional design — they embody a lifestyle, legacy, and investment that is increasingly sought after by the world’s most discerning buyers.”

This momentum is felt across the region with demand surging from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and beyond. “Overall, 2025 saw more sales over $5 million in La Jolla, Del Mar, and Rancho Santa Fe than in previous years,” Barry notes, forecasting a formidable 2026 market. 

According to the latest Sotheby’s Luxury Outlook report, this high-end segment is expected to continue outperforming the traditional market in both volume and value throughout 2026. A key driver of this strength is the return of inventory to pre-pandemic levels — a “reset” that has created a more balanced and sustainable ecosystem. This normalization is a healthy correction for the region, offering buyers the diverse options they’ve been missing while maintaining a stable environment for long-term growth.

In the 92067 zip code, the demand is described as “unprecedented” by the veteran team of Laura Barry and Jim Graves of Barry Estates. As specialists who represented nearly half of all Rancho Santa Fe transactions at $8 million and above in 2025, they have seen a fundamental shift in buyer psychology. “Buyers now see Rancho Santa Fe as both a primary refuge and a premier long-term investment,” the team notes. “They are willing to invest more in residential real estate here than ever before.” 

This sentiment is echoed by Delorine Jackson of the Jackson Arnett Group of Compass. The doyenne of The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe saw median home prices in the area climb to $4.9 million by the end of 2025. “Rancho Santa Fe is a lifestyle investment that continues to appreciate in value and desirability,” says Jackson.

In Cardiff-by-the-Sea, second-gen realtor Cody Steele of Compass says developer interest remains hotter than ever on his home turf. “Time and again, investors are drawn to Cardiff for new development opportunities, attracted by its prime coastal location and long-term appreciation.”

Ultimately, the North County market is shifting toward legacy real estate. Turner identifies a meaningful rise in multigenerational living. Rather than traditional inheritance, wealthy households are now using real estate for the proactive transfer of assets. 

“By securing properties for their heirs today, owners are building a tangible real estate portfolio in real-time,” says Turner. “We recently sold a unique property in Olde Del Mar. The buyers are architects reimagining a compound for their sons.” 

92.2% Rancho Santa Fe
94.8 % Solana Beach
108.0% Encinitas
75.6% Del Mar
116.2% Carlsbad
_{*Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) © Zillow Group, courtesy of Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty}