Is NOW the Best Time to Sell a House in California?

✏️ Editor’s Note: Realtor Associations, agents, and MLS’ have started implementing changes related to the NAR’s $418 million settlement. While home-sellers will likely save thousands in commission, compliance and litigation risks have significantly increased for sellers throughout the nation. Learn how NAR’s settlement affects home sellers.

Surprisingly, yes. March is ideally a good time to start prepping your California home for sale. The housing demand is at its peak but inventory is still tight. With the median home price currently at $739,200, major forecasts expect home prices to continue rising in 2024. 

But home prices aren’t the only factor expected to increase. Mortgage rates, though lower than their 7.79% peak in October 2023, are also inching their way up. The current 6.88% mortgage rate favorably treats home shoppers. But it may not do so in a month’s time.

If you want to take advantage of this trend before the housing inventory tightens up, list your home on the MLS in California NOW!

What Is the Best Time to Sell a House in California?

Selecting the best time to sell a house depends on your goals, whether you want to earn profits or sell your home quickly.

1. Best Time to Sell Your House for a Higher Price

April, June, and July are the best months to sell your house in California. The median sale price of houses in June 2023, was $796,400, which is expected to grow more in 2024.

However, cities like Arcadia and San Mateo follow an upward trend throughout the year.

» Home Value Calculator: You can find your property’s current FMV in a few seconds and list the home accordingly.

2. Best Time to Sell Your House Quickly

Again, June and July are the best months to close your house sale quickly. During these months, homes spend an average 24-27 days on the market, which is 10-15 days less than the rest of the months.

Fewer days on the market is considered an indicator of a seller’s market. However, people who have to move due to job relocation tend to do it during November and December. Such sellers are usually eager and have a strict home-selling timeline.

3. Best Day of the Week to List Your California House

Thursday is the best day as 21% of homes across the nation are listed on Thursday and get better exposure. Homes listed at the start of the week had to stay longer on the market.

People searching for houses attend home tours on the weekends. If you want to take advantage of the time game, list your home on Thursday after 5 p.m. This is the time when most buyers and sellers return from work and start looking online.

4. Best Season to Sell Your House in California

Spring is the primary housing season of the year. If you have time flexibility, listing your home in late spring or early summer can yield quicker sales and higher profits.

These seasons are ideal for three advantages:

• Families can settle without disrupting their kids’ schooling.
• Fall and winter are busy seasons, leaving little time for house-hunting.
• Summer offers longer daylight hours and better weather, ideal for scheduling house showings.

But winter still holds an opportunity for a home sale in warmer regions. Buyers visit California to invest in a second home for their holidays.

When Is the Best Time of the Year to Sell a House in California?

California’s net population rate has decreased by 0.9% from 2022. Having said this, it indicates that the market conditions are favorable to list your property now.

Check for this table to find the best and the worst time to sell your California house:

Month	Average Home Sale Price	Houses Sold	Days on Market
January	$693,700	14,951	55
February	$704,800	17,076	49
March	$742,100	24,079	37
April	$763,600	21,799	31
May	$784,100	26,621	26
June	$783,600	26,424	24
July	$796,400	23,051	25
August	$792,100	25,249	27
September	$785,400	21,778	28
October	$797,500	21,949	30
November	$793,000	18,917	31
December	$756,900	18,403	38

When Should You Sell Your California House?

Here’s when you can consider selling your home:

When You Need a Change in Life

Sometimes there are situations that demand a change in your life such as:

• Job-Relocation: Say, you have received an appealing job offer, but it demands relocation. A situation like this can force you to sell your house in a slow market.
• Adverse Neighborhood: You may need a safe neighborhood for your family or a house closer to your kids’ school.
• Divorce: Homes often hold a sentimental value for couples. But after a divorce, you may think of selling it as a practical option.

When Market Conditions Are in Your Favor

Favorable market conditions can get you a top-dollar rate. Some factors that affect the real estate market are:

• Economy: Economic indicators like manufacturing activity, GDP, employment rate, costs of goods, etc., influence the California real estate market.
• Interest Rates: Lower interest rates boost the demand for mortgages. This affects the real estate sector, thus, increasing the price of the homes.
• Government Policies: The government can temporarily create a favorable housing market by implementing tax credits, subsidies, and deductions.

When You Are Financially Prepared

Here are a few factors to know if you are financially ready:

• Affordability: The average mortgage rate affects the affordability of buyers. Check in advance if the interest rates on surge or are expected to decline.
• Downgrade Your Expenses: If you own a bigger house and are looking to save on your property taxes, homeowners insurance, and HOA fees, you can sell the bigger house and move into a smaller one.
• Equity for New House: When your current home has procured enough equity to fulfill a healthy down payment, you can sell it at the right time.

Is Now a Good Time to Sell a House in California?

Yes, this is the right time to list your California home. Spring will be here soon and the forthcoming summer season will mark an excellent time for the home sellers.

If you want to sell your house in California quickly and for higher profits, list it on the MLS. Houses listed on the MLS sell for 17.5% more than those off the MLS.

Houzeo can get your California home listed on the MLS for a flat fee. With Houzeo, your listing gets syndicated to the online database of homes for sale. You can also save up to 3% on agent commission.

Eager to Know how Houzeo Works?

We’ve got you covered. Check out the following video to understand how Houzeo works and why it is one of the best For Sale By Owner websites in the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Best Time to Sell a House
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