The best month to sell a house in California — from 332,060 sales
Month by month: what happens to homes listed in…
| Listing month | Sales | Sold vs original ask | Median days to offer | Price-cut rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17,660 | 99.2% | 30 days | 28.7% |
| February | 21,117 | 100% | 21 days | 27.1% |
| March | 27,403 | 100% | 19 days | 27% |
| April | 29,261 | 99.9% | 21 days | 27.9% |
| May | 34,366 | 99.8% | 21 days | 28.1% |
| June | 36,617 | 100% | 17 days | 26% |
| July | 35,339 | 100% | 17 days | 26.1% |
| August | 29,940 | 99.4% | 22 days | 30.2% |
| September | 27,245 | 99.2% | 23 days | 30.9% |
| October | 26,773 | 99.1% | 25 days | 31.2% |
| November | 24,820 | 98.9% | 27 days | 31% |
| December | 21,519 | 98.8% | 32 days | 30.6% |
The honest read
- Spring through midsummer is one long good window. The differences from February to July are small — don't panic-rush a March-versus-May decision.
- The real cliff is August through December: price-cut rates jump from about 26% to around 30.6% and stay there. Winter doesn't collapse; it just stops forgiving overpricing.
- Timing is worth roughly $8,000; pricing is worth $48,000. The month you list matters far less than pricing correctly — see what a price cut costs and how to price your home. If you must sell in November, a well-priced November listing beats an overpriced June one every time.
Methodology
Recorded California residential sales closed June 2023 to present (n=332,060). Listing month is estimated as the closing date minus cumulative days on market (relist-proof); zero-market-time sales excluded. Medians; sales under $50K and over $20M excluded. Details: how this site works.
Keep reading
How to Price Your Home to Sell Fast (and for More)
A data-backed method for setting your list price: what priced-right homes have in common, why small cuts don’t fix big misses, and the three-week rule.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a House in California? (2026 Data)
Median days to an accepted offer across California cities, and why priced-right homes sell five times faster than homes that need a cut.
The $48,000 Mistake: What a Price Cut Costs a California Seller
Closed-sale data on what a price cut really costs California sellers — how much longer cut homes take, how far below asking they close, city by city.
Skip the guesswork
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to list a house in California?
June. Homes listed in June went under contract in a median 17 days, at 100% of original asking, with only 26% ever needing a price cut — the best combination of any month across 332,060 sales.
Is it bad to sell a house in the winter?
Not bad — just less forgiving. Homes listed in December took a median 32 days and about 30.6% needed a price cut, versus 26% in June. The market doesn't collapse in winter; it stops forgiving overpricing.
Does the listing month matter more than the price?
No — it's roughly a $8,000 effect on a median California home, while pricing wrong costs a median $48,000. A well-priced November listing beats an overpriced June one every time.