Published · By Jeff Brick, 2026 SDMLS President
Quick answer: Hillcrest is the walkable heart of Uptown San Diego, just north of Downtown and northwest of Balboa Park, and it has been the center of San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community for generations. Right now it is a buyer-friendlier condo market than a year ago: in ZIP 92103 the median condo and townhome sale price was $649,000 in October 2026, down 18% from $789,000 in October 2025, with a median of 47 days on market. It fits people who want to walk to dinner, work at the medical centers, or own a piece of Uptown history, and it is less ideal if you want quiet streets on a Saturday night.
📍 Read my full Hillcrest Neighborhood Guide: boundaries, history, architecture, schools, parks and my favorite local spots, all in one place.
The Hillcrest market right now
Most Hillcrest buyers are shopping for a condo or townhome, so that is where I start. These are October 2026 figures for condos and townhomes in ZIP 92103 from the San Diego MLS (Aculist). One important note: 92103 also covers Mission Hills and Bankers Hill, so these are ZIP-level numbers, not Hillcrest-only numbers.
ZIP 92103 · OCTOBER 2026
CONDO MARKET SNAPSHOT
- Median sale price: $649,000, down 18% from $789,000 a year earlier (San Diego MLS, Oct 2026).
- Average price per square foot: $698, down 9% from $771.
- Homes sold: 13, versus 17 in October 2025. New listings: 27, up from 24.
- Median days on market: 47, up from just 9 a year ago.
- Share of list price received: 99%, the same as last year.
- Months of inventory: 4.3, up from 3.1.
92103 CONDOS & TOWNHOMES
MEDIAN PRICE YEAR OVER YEAR
Here is how I read that: buyers have more choice and more time than they did in 2025, yet well-priced units still close at about 99% of asking. The headline drop in the median partly reflects which units sold in a small month (13 sales), so I would not read it as every Hillcrest condo losing 18% of its value. Price per square foot, down 9%, is the steadier gauge.
Looking at all home types across the whole ZIP, the picture is higher-priced and faster. Redfin reports a 92103 median sale price of $998,568 in August 2026, down 9.2% year over year, with 112 homes sold and a median of 27 days on market. Zillow puts the typical 92103 home value at $1,063,156 as of September 30, 2026, up 0.1% over the year. Different methods, different months, same story: detached homes and larger properties in the ZIP are holding value, while the condo segment is giving buyers room to negotiate.
What a Hillcrest condo payment looks like
Freddie Mac’s weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.24% for the week of October 29, 2026. On a $649,000 condo with 20% down ($129,800), a $519,200 loan at 7.24% works out to roughly $3,540 a month in principal and interest, before HOA dues, property taxes and insurance. In a condo-heavy neighborhood, the HOA line matters as much as the rate, which is why I read every budget and reserve study before we write an offer. If you need help with the down payment, my guide to CalHFA and local down payment programs is a good next read. This is general information, not financial advice.
Homes and architecture you’ll find in Hillcrest
Hillcrest grew out of the 40-acre George Hill estate, which W.W. Whitson’s Hillcrest Company subdivided in 1907, and roughly two dozen tracts filled in around early streetcar lines. That history shows up on the street. On the residential blocks you’ll see one- and two-story Craftsman, Mission and Spanish Revival houses, plus the bungalow courts that are one of my favorite San Diego housing types: small cottages around a shared garden, often walking distance to everything. Some homes carry the names of Irving Gill, Louis Gill and William S. Hebbard, and early women architects Hazel Waterman and Lilian Rice also worked here.
Closer to University, Fifth and Sixth avenues, the housing turns into condos, apartments and mixed-use buildings. The City’s Hillcrest Focused Plan Amendment, adopted July 30, 2024, opened parts of the neighborhood to more housing near transit, while setting special rules, including a 100-foot height limit, for the historic Fifth Avenue core. If historic homes are your thing, owners of designated resources may qualify for a Mills Act contract, and my Fall 2026 historic homes market guide covers how those properties trade.
What’s changing on the street
The Normal Street Pride Promenade, a project of nearly $30 million with about 100 trees, shade structures, a playground and a rainbow bike lane, was expected to be finished by the end of 2026, according to KPBS, with related pipe work running into 2027. For buyers near Normal Street, that means some construction now and a new public park at the doorstep later. Hillcrest also keeps its 87 Walk Score (“Very Walkable”).
Who Hillcrest fits, and who it doesn’t
HILLCREST · WHO IT FITS
IS HILLCREST RIGHT FOR YOU?
- WALK-EVERYWHERE LIVING
- CONDO & TOWNHOME BUYERS
- MEDICAL-CENTER COMMUTERS
- CRAFTSMAN & BUNGALOW FANS
- LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY & ALLIES
Hillcrest is a great match if you want a car-optional life with the Sunday farmers market, Pride, CityFest and a long list of restaurants a few blocks away; you work at the nearby medical centers; you want a condo or townhome as a first purchase in central San Diego; or you love early 20th-century character homes. It is also a neighborhood where LGBTQ+ buyers, families and allies have built community for decades, and everyone is welcome here.
It may not be the right fit if you want quiet nights, a big yard, or easy parking. Weekends and Pride week are lively. If you love Uptown but want calmer streets, I often show buyers Mission Hills next door.
A quick note for buyers, sellers and investors
- Buyers: With 4.3 months of condo inventory and 47 median days on market, you can ask for inspection repairs or seller credits on units that have sat. Check HOA reserves, special assessments, and whether new projects allowed under the 2024 plan could affect your views or parking. First-timers, start with my first-time buyer neighborhood guide.
- Sellers: Buyers are still paying about 99% of list for the right unit, but the 9-day sales of 2025 are gone. Price to today’s comps, not last year’s, and present well from day one. My pre-sale fix list helps.
- Investors: Read the HOA’s rental rules first, and remember San Diego licenses all short-term rentals and caps whole-home Tier 3 licenses citywide. See my short-term rental rules explainer and my condo investor guide. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Hillcrest vs. North Park and Mission Hills
North Park, just east across Park Boulevard, is equally walkable but leans more toward detached Craftsman homes and a big craft-beer scene, while Hillcrest is denser, with more condos and the medical centers close by. My Living in North Park post goes deeper. Mission Hills, to the west and in the same 92103 ZIP, is quieter and more residential, with more single-family homes on canyon-edge streets. Hillcrest gives you the most energy and usually the lowest entry point of the three for a condo.
Jeff’s take
Hillcrest is personal for me. As a gay REALTOR®, I’ve helped many people buy and lease here, and I love that a neighborhood with this much history is still where so many people find home. My honest read of this market: it’s the most negotiable Hillcrest condo market I’ve seen in a while, and buyers who do their homework on the building can do very well. As a San Diego REALTOR® at Compass, 2026 President of the San Diego Multiple Listing Service, a 2024–2026 Board Director of the San Diego Association of REALTORS®, and the largest luxury apartment home leasing broker in Southern California, I’m in this market every day, buying, selling and leasing. Million Dollar Service at All Price Points means the same care whether you’re buying a starter condo or a historic Craftsman.
Thinking about Hillcrest?
Call or text me at 858-324-4448. If you’re buying, book a free home buying consultation. If you own in Hillcrest, get a free home value estimate based on today’s comps. Before you tour, read my full Hillcrest Neighborhood Guide, or explore all of my San Diego neighborhood guides.
Hillcrest real estate FAQ
What is the median condo price in Hillcrest?
In ZIP 92103, which includes Hillcrest, Mission Hills and Bankers Hill, the median condo and townhome sale price was $649,000 in October 2026, down 18% from a year earlier, according to the San Diego MLS.
How fast are Hillcrest condos selling?
Slower than last year. The median was 47 days on market in October 2026, up from 9 days in October 2025, though sellers still received about 99% of list price.
What kinds of homes are in Hillcrest?
Craftsman, Mission and Spanish Revival houses, bungalow courts, and condos, apartments and mixed-use buildings near University, Fifth and Sixth avenues.
Is Hillcrest a good place for first-time buyers?
It can be. Condos give buyers a central, walkable entry point, and today’s higher inventory gives more room to negotiate. Budget carefully for HOA dues and review the association’s reserves.
How does Hillcrest compare with North Park?
Both are walkable and full of character. Hillcrest is denser, with more condos and the medical centers nearby; North Park has more detached Craftsman homes and a bigger craft-beer scene.
About the author: Jeff Brick is a San Diego REALTOR® at Compass (DRE# 02156850), 2026 President of the San Diego Multiple Listing Service, a 2024–2026 Board Director of the San Diego Association of REALTORS®, and the largest luxury apartment home leasing broker in Southern California. Market figures are the latest available on November 3, 2026; ZIP-level data covers all of 92103. General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice.
