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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Carlsbad, NM Real Estate Market

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:
  • Home Values, Rents: Reflects Q2 2024. Updated quarterly.
  • Setting, Housing Stock, Homeownership: 2022 (latest available). Updated annually.

Methodology:   NeighborhoodScout uses over 600 characteristics to build a neighborhood profile… Read more about Scout's Real Estate Data

Carlsbad, NM Housing Market Trends

With a population of 31,612, 11,772 total housing units (homes and apartments), and a median house value of $254,419, Carlsbad real estate and house prices are near the national average for all cities and towns.

Single-family detached homes are the single most common housing type in Carlsbad, accounting for 77.58% of the city's housing units. Other types of housing that are prevalent in Carlsbad include mobile homes or trailers ( 9.36%), large apartment complexes or high rise apartments ( 6.83%), and a few duplexes, homes converted to apartments or other small apartment buildings ( 4.65%).

Owner-occupied, three and four bedroom dwellings, primarily in single-family detached homes are the most prevalent type of housing you will see in Carlsbad. Owner-occupied housing accounts for 69.52% of Carlsbad's homes, and 58.20% have either three or four bedrooms, which is average sized relative to America.

At the end of World War II, American soldiers returned home triumphant and, with the help of the GI Bill, built homes by the millions on the edges of America's cities. These homes were predominantly capes and ranches, modest in size, but built to house a growing middle-class as the 20th century became the American century. Carlsbad's housing was primarily built during this period, from the '40s through the '60s. A full 47.83% of the city's housing hails from this era. Other housing ages represented in Carlsbad include homes built between 1970-1999 ( 31.65%) and housing constructed between 2000 and later ( 17.55%). There's also some housing in Carlsbad built before 1939 ( 2.98%).

Vacant housing appears to be an issue in Carlsbad. Fully 14.16% of the housing stock is classified as vacant. Left unchecked, vacant Carlsbad homes and apartments can be a drag on the real estate market, holding Carlsbad real estate prices below levels they could achieve if vacant housing was absorbed into the market and became occupied. Housing vacancy rates are a useful measure to consider, along with other things, if you are a home buyer or a real estate investor.

Carlsbad Home Appreciation Rates

Carlsbad's appreciation rate notably has been below the national average for the last ten years. The average annual home appreciation rate in Carlsbad during the period has been just 5.73%, which is lower than 70% of US communities.

NeighborhoodScout's data show that during the latest twelve months, Carlsbad's appreciation rate, at 7.41%, has been at or slightly above the national average. In the latest quarter, Carlsbad's appreciation rate has been 3.18%, which annualizes to a rate of 13.34%.

Importantly, this makes Carlsbad one of the highest appreciating communities in the nation for the latest quarter, and may signal the city's near-future real estate investment strength.

Relative to New Mexico, our data show that Carlsbad's latest annual appreciation rate is higher than 70% of the other cities and towns in New Mexico.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that these are average appreciation rates for the city. Individual neighborhoods within Carlsbad differ in their investment potential, sometimes by a great deal. Fortunately, you can use NeighborhoodScout to pinpoint the exact neighborhoods in Carlsbad - or in any city or town - that have the best track record of real estate appreciation, by the latest quarter, the last year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, or even since 2000, to assist you in making the best Carlsbad real estate investment or home purchase decisions.

Average Home Values

Median Home Value

$254,419

Carlsbad, NM Home Prices
> $1,274,000
$955,001 - $1,274,000
$637,001 - $955,000
$510,001 - $637,000
$382,001 - $510,000
$255,001 - $382,000
$128,001 - $255,000
$64,001 - $128,000
$0 - $64,000
0.5%
0.5%
0.4%
0.4%
1.5%
1.5%
4.3%
4.3%
10.9%
10.9%
23.8%
23.8%
38.7%
38.7%
15.5%
15.5%
4.5%
4.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes
High

for New mexico

Average

for nation

Number of Homes And Apartments:

11,772

Carlsbad Appreciation Rates

Rent & Ownership

Average Market Rent:

$1,623 / per month

Homeownership Rate

Owners
Renters
69.5%
69.5%
30.5%
30.5%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Vacancy Rate

Vacant
Occupied
14.2%
14.2%
85.8%
85.8%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Housing Market Details

Age of Homes

2000 or Newer
1970 - 1999
1940 - 1969
1939 or Older
17.6%
17.6%
31.6%
31.6%
47.8%
47.8%
3.0%
3.0%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Types of Homes

Single-Family
Townhomes
Small Apt. Buildings
Apt. Complexes
Mobile Homes
Other
77.6%
77.6%
1.2%
1.2%
4.7%
4.7%
6.8%
6.8%
9.4%
9.4%
0.4%
0.4%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Home Size

No Bedroom
1 Bedroom
2 Bedrooms
3 Bedrooms
4 Bedrooms
5 or more bedrooms
3.5%
3.5%
8.1%
8.1%
28.5%
28.5%
45.0%
45.0%
13.2%
13.2%
1.8%
1.8%
0% 100.0%
% of Homes

Popular Communities Near Carlsbad, NM

Zip Codes in Carlsbad, NM