Southern California homes do not sell at the same pace all year. Public data shows when buyers are busiest, when prices tend to peak and when homes take longer to sell, so you can plan your own timing.
What the data shows
- Sales are busiest in June (116 on a scale where 100 is an average month) and slowest in January (75). Spring and early summer are the busy season.
- Prices run highest in June, about 3.5% above the yearly trend, and lowest in January, about 4.2% below it.
- Homes go under contract fastest in May (about 32 days) and slowest in December (about 51 days).
- A smaller share of homes see a price cut in January (4.3%) than in October (8.3%).
- The share of homes that sell above their list price is highest in May (51%) and lowest in December (37%).
Sales by month
Home sales by month, as an index where 100 is the average month. The three busiest months are highlighted.
Prices by month
Median sale price compared with the yearly trend (100 is the trend). The three highest months are highlighted.
The numbers by month
| Month | Sales index | Price index | Days to contract | Price cuts | Sale price vs list | Sold above list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75 | 95.8 | 50 days | 4.3% | 100.2% | 42% |
| February | 78 | 98.2 | 43 days | 5.4% | 100.1% | 41% |
| March | 105 | 100.2 | 38 days | 5.7% | 100.9% | 46% |
| April | 108 | 101.7 | 33 days | 5.9% | 101.5% | 51% |
| May | 115 | 102.9 | 32 days | 6.7% | 101.5% | 51% |
| June | 116 | 103.5 | 33 days | 7.4% | 101.3% | 51% |
| July | 111 | 102.2 | 34 days | 7.7% | 101.0% | 50% |
| August | 113 | 101.3 | 38 days | 8.1% | 100.4% | 45% |
| September | 100 | 99.8 | 41 days | 7.9% | 100.1% | 42% |
| October | 101 | 99 | 43 days | 8.3% | 99.8% | 39% |
| November | 86 | 98.7 | 45 days | 7.3% | 99.7% | 39% |
| December | 92 | 97.5 | 51 days | 5.1% | 99.5% | 37% |
What it means for you
- If you are selling: Spring brings the most buyers and some of the strongest prices, which is why many sellers list in late winter. Listing earlier or later can still work well, especially if your home is in demand or has less competition nearby.
- If you are buying: Fall and winter bring fewer buyers and often more room to negotiate, though fewer homes to choose from. In the busy season, being ready with a pre-approval and a plan helps.
- Either way: Interest rates, your job, your family and your school calendar matter more than the month. These are averages, and every neighborhood and price range has its own rhythm.
Want the pattern for your own ZIP code? See our market reports where available, or book a 15-minute call and Rudy will look at your area.
About the data
Sales counts and median sale prices are Zillow Research monthly figures for the Los Angeles and Orange County metro area, which Zillow reports together, averaged over 2013 to 2019 and 2022 to 2025 (2020 and 2021 are left out because the pandemic distorted the usual pattern). The price index compares each month with a centered 12-month average, so a rising market does not make late-year months look better. Days to contract, price cuts, sale-to-list price and the share sold above list are Zillow weekly metro figures averaged by month for 2018 to 2019 and 2022 to 2025. The newest month used is Aug 2026.
Past patterns are not a forecast, and individual homes and neighborhoods differ. Not financial advice.
More guides
- Printable Neighborhood Sheets by ZIP Code — A one-page, printable snapshot of your ZIP code: typical values, rent, days to sell, income and the age of homes.
- Questions to Ask a Mortgage Lender Before You Choose One — A printable list of questions that help you compare lenders on equal footing, and what to look for on the Loan Estimate.
- HOA Dues and Mello-Roos Taxes: What They Are and What to Ask — Two costs that sit outside the mortgage and change what a home really costs each month, with the documents to request before you buy.
- Moving In: Who to Call and What to Update — A checklist of the official places to update your address, start your power and gas, and find your water, trash and school information.