Los Altos condo prices
Condos are a small slice of Los Altos housing. The Census Bureau's 2020-2024 survey counts 1,332 homes in buildings of five or more units, about 11% of the city's 11,781 homes, plus 560 attached single-family homes such as townhouses. Redfin's figures for the three months to September 2026 show how thin the market is.
| Home type, ZIP | Redfin median sale price | Sales | Median days on market | Sale to list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condo, 94022 | $1,549,954 | 12 | 70 | 98.0% |
| Townhouse, 94022 | $1,779,502 | 2 | 37 | 101.9% |
| Single-family house, 94022 | $5,718,558 | 47 | 16 | 102.6% |
| Single-family house, 94024 | $4,878,769 | 52 | 8 | 106.5% |
Redfin recorded no condo sales in ZIP 94024 over those three months. Condos in 94022 sold for a median of $1,155.31 per square foot, against $1,903.49 for houses, and took a median 70 days to sell. With 3.1 months of condo supply against 1.4 months for houses, buyers of condos have more time and more room to negotiate. Because 12 sales is a small sample, the median can move sharply from one quarter to the next, so judge each unit on its own comparable sales.
Best areas to buy a condo in Los Altos
Downtown Los Altos: First Street condos
First Street, on the edge of the downtown triangle, is where most new Los Altos condos have been built, in three- and four-story buildings. One example is the 27-unit, four-story building at 450 First Street, which a listing site describes with underground parking, two parking spaces per unit, storage lockers and a shared rooftop deck. Buyers here pay for walking access to downtown shops, restaurants and the library. Ask how close the unit is to the street, deliveries and parking garages.
The El Camino Real edge of Los Altos
El Camino Real forms the city's northern commercial edge, near the Mountain View border. The Los Altos Town Crier reported that the Planning Commission approved a five-story, 47-unit condominium building at 4350 El Camino Real, at Los Altos Avenue, in July 2022, with seven below-market-rate units. Ask the city's planning department or the sales office for the current status and the expected HOA budget for any project on this corridor before you commit.
Below-market-rate condos in Los Altos
Many new Los Altos condo buildings include below-market-rate units. According to the Town Crier, Los Altos had 113 deed-restricted below-market-rate homes as of June 2026, 64 of them for sale. In July 2026 two studio condos at 425 First Street were offered at $229,534 and $232,178 to buyers earning up to $113,700 for one person or $129,950 for two. Applications go through Housing Group, the administrator of the city's affordable housing program. Resale prices on these units are restricted, so read the deed restriction before you apply.
Townhouses and small buildings in Los Altos
Outside downtown, attached homes are scattered. Census figures show 560 attached single-family homes and 194 homes in buildings of two to four units across the city. Redfin counted only two Los Altos townhouse sales in 94022 in the three months to September 2026, at a median of $1,779,502. If you want a lock-and-leave home with a yard, ask your agent to set an alert for townhouses and duplex units as well as condos.
Condos just outside Los Altos
Many buyers who start in Los Altos also look next door. In Mountain View ZIP 94040, Redfin's median condo sale was $679,980 from 11 sales in the three months to September 2026, and in ZIP 94043 it was $1,049,969 from 13 sales. In Palo Alto ZIP 94306 it was $1,294,962. Remember that school districts and tax rates change at the city line.
Is it wise to buy a condo in Los Altos now?
It depends on the building more than the market. Condos here take longer to sell than houses and sold slightly below list on average, which gives buyers room to negotiate. On the other hand, there are few of them, and resale buyers are limited. Three statewide rules matter in Los Altos. California's balcony and deck inspection law (SB 326) requires most condo associations to inspect exterior elevated elements, and many First Street buildings have balconies and rooftop decks; ask for the latest report. Newer buildings may still be inside builder warranty periods. Insurance for the building comes from the HOA's master policy, and you need your own policy for the interior. Read our California balcony inspection law guide and California HOA laws guide.
Financing a Los Altos condo
Conventional and jumbo loans for Los Altos condos
At Redfin's 94022 median of $1,549,954, a buyer putting 20% down ($309,991) borrows $1,239,963. At Freddie Mac's 30-year average of 7.24% (week of October 29, 2026), principal and interest come to about $8,450 a month. That loan is just under Santa Clara County's 2026 conforming limit of $1,249,125, so it can be a high-balance conforming loan, and lenders will review the condo project as well as you: owner-occupancy share, reserves, pending litigation and how much of the building one owner holds. A newer building with many unsold units may not qualify until sales pick up.
FHA and VA approval for Los Altos condo buildings
FHA and VA loans need the building itself to be approved. Search the HUD and VA condo approval lists for the address before you make an offer. Small new buildings are often not on either list, and getting one approved takes time and the HOA's cooperation.
Condo fees and costs in Los Altos
Ask for the exact monthly HOA dues and what they cover. In downtown buildings with elevators, underground garages and rooftop decks, dues usually cover the garage, elevator service, common-area insurance, water for common areas and reserves. Property tax adds a large share on top. The 2025-26 Santa Clara County rate for the main Los Altos tax area is 1.14910%, so on a $1,549,954 condo the base tax is about $17,811 a year, or $1,484 a month, before parcel taxes. Check the seller's tax bill for parcel taxes and any special taxes. See our Santa Clara County property tax guide.
Los Altos condo buyer checklist
Documents to request for a Los Altos condo
- The HOA budget, reserve study and the last two years of meeting minutes.
- The balcony and deck inspection report, if the building has balconies.
- The master insurance policy and deductible.
- Any pending special assessment or lawsuit.
- Rental rules and pet rules.
- For a below-market-rate unit, the deed restriction and resale formula.
Checks on the unit and building
- How many parking spaces come with the unit and whether they are deeded.
- Noise from First Street or El Camino Real traffic and deliveries.
- The builder's warranty, for a newer building.
- The FEMA flood map and CAL FIRE zone for the address.
For more on Los Altos as a whole, see our Los Altos homes for sale guide and Los Altos housing market report.