{"id":59604,"date":"2025-06-26T10:32:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T17:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=59604"},"modified":"2025-07-14T07:17:52","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T14:17:52","slug":"best-time-to-sell-a-house-in-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/best-time-to-sell-a-house-in-california\/","title":{"rendered":"When Is the Best Time to Sell a House in California?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re getting ready to sell your home in California, timing can make a big difference \u2014 whether your goal is to sell fast or get top dollar. While choosing the right local agent<\/a> and preparing your home<\/a> are important steps, knowing when to list can also give you a stronger advantage.<\/p>\n

To help pinpoint the best time to sell a house in California, we spoke with Jared Martin<\/a>, a top-rated local agent with 24 years of experience. Martin also offers valuable tips and insights to help you attract committed buyers more quickly.<\/p>\n

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\n \"homelight\n <\/div>\n \n

What's Your California Home Worth?<\/h3>\n

Get a near-instant real estate house price estimate from HomeLight for free. Our tool analyzes the records of recently sold homes near you, your home’s last sale price, and other market trends to provide a preliminary range of value in under two minutes.<\/p>\n \n

\n Get Estimate <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/div><\/p>\n

California housing trends<\/h2>\n

According to Martin, California\u2019s housing market is being driven by tight inventory and broader economic challenges, which are leading to fewer sales and softening prices.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s some uncertainty even with still very low levels of inventory. I would describe it still as a seller’s market because of some of the political uncertainties that we’ve experienced this year. I would say that we’re seeing fewer transactions than we normally see this time of year,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Properties in California generally sell within about 21 days<\/a> after listing. This period is referred to in the industry as days on market<\/a> (DOM), indicating the span from when a home is listed until a contract is signed. By comparison, the national average DOM currently stands at 51 days<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The median sales price in California is approximately $900,170, marking a 0.9% decrease compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that the lack of availability of housing in California has affected the ability for homebuyers to purchase a home, and I don’t think that’s just a one-year or two-year thing. It’s something that we’ve seen for over a decade now,\u201d says Martin.<\/p>\n

What does this mean for sellers? A fast, top-dollar sale isn\u2019t always a given in today\u2019s market. To stay competitive, focus on setting the right price and presenting your home well to make your California listing stand out.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

When is the best time to sell a house in California?<\/h2>\n

California traditionally experiences seasonal patterns where sales activity rises during the spring and summer. This makes the period from April to July ideal for achieving the highest sale price. For sellers prioritizing a quick sale, the best time to list in California begins in April. Keep in mind that your specific location within the Golden State will determine the best time to sell.<\/p>\n

Since it generally takes 21 days to locate a buyer and around 40 days<\/a> for a buyer\u2019s loan to close, consider listing your property two to three months ahead of the prime selling season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that in California, it’s a good time to buy a home during most seasons. People, especially young families, want to buy during the spring and summer while their kids are out of school. But, historically speaking for myself, my best quarter has always been the fourth quarter,\u201d says Martin.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s examine local sales data to identify the best time to sell a house in California \u2014 whether your goal is maximizing profits or selling fast.<\/p>\n

Best times to sell a house in Los Angeles<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Selling objective<\/strong><\/td>\nList month<\/strong><\/td>\nClose month<\/strong><\/td>\nBenefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time for higher price<\/td>\nAugust<\/td>\nNovember<\/td>\nYou could sell your house for 2.49% more than the yearly average.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time to sell fast<\/td>\nMarch<\/td>\nJune<\/td>\nYou could sell your house 5 days sooner than if listed in other months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Best times to sell a house in San Diego<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Selling objective<\/strong><\/td>\nList month<\/strong><\/td>\nClose month<\/strong><\/td>\nBenefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time for higher price<\/td>\nApril<\/td>\nJuly<\/td>\nYou could sell your house for 3.02% more than the yearly average.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time to sell fast<\/td>\nFebruary<\/td>\nMay<\/td>\nYou could sell your house 4 days sooner than if listed in other months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Best times to sell a house in San Francisco<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Selling objective<\/strong><\/td>\nList month<\/strong><\/td>\nClose month<\/strong><\/td>\nBenefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time for higher price<\/td>\nMarch<\/td>\nJune<\/td>\nYou could sell your house for 4.58% more than the yearly average.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time to sell fast<\/td>\nApril<\/td>\nJuly<\/td>\nYou could sell your house 6 days sooner than if listed in other months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Best times to sell a house in San Jose<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Selling objective<\/strong><\/td>\nList month<\/strong><\/td>\nClose month<\/strong><\/td>\nBenefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time for higher price<\/td>\nJanuary<\/td>\nApril<\/td>\nYou could sell your house for 6.13% more than the yearly average.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time to sell fast<\/td>\nJanuary<\/td>\nApril<\/td>\nYou could sell your house 6 days sooner than if listed in other months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Best times to sell a house in Fresno<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Selling objective<\/strong><\/td>\nList month<\/strong><\/td>\nClose month<\/strong><\/td>\nBenefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time for higher price<\/td>\nSeptember<\/td>\nDecember<\/td>\nYou could sell your house for 4.94% more than the yearly average.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time to sell fast<\/td>\nJune<\/td>\nSeptember<\/td>\nYou could sell your house 5 days sooner than if listed in other months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Best times to sell a house in Sacramento<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Selling objective<\/strong><\/td>\nList month<\/strong><\/td>\nClose month<\/strong><\/td>\nBenefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time for higher price<\/td>\nFebruary<\/td>\nMay<\/td>\nYou could sell your house for 6.61% more than the yearly average.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time to sell fast<\/td>\nApril<\/td>\nJuly<\/td>\nYou could sell your house 6 days sooner than if listed in other months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Best times to sell a house in Long Beach<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Selling objective<\/strong><\/td>\nList month<\/strong><\/td>\nClose month<\/strong><\/td>\nBenefit<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time for higher price<\/td>\nJune<\/td>\nSeptember<\/td>\nYou could sell your house for 3.96% more than the yearly average.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best time to sell fast<\/td>\nFebruary<\/td>\nMay<\/td>\nYou could sell your house 6 days sooner than if listed in other months.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

All tables are based on historical home sales data, 2014-2024<\/em><\/p>\n

For insights on home-selling trends in other cities, explore our Best Time to Sell Calculator<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With this information, you\u2019ll be ready to consult a top-performing local real estate agent<\/a> who can provide tailored advice on the best time to sell a house in California based on your location, personal situation, and market dynamics.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

See expert timing tips and proven insights that can help you decide the best time to sell a house in California faster and for more money.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":367,"featured_media":59605,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1198,323,319],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59604","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-california-real-estate","category-quick-tips","category-selling-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhen Is the Best Time to Sell a House in California?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"See expert timing tips and proven insights that can help you decide the best time to sell a house in California faster and for more money.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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