When Is the Best Time to Sell a House in Los Angeles?

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If you’re getting ready to sell your home in Los Angeles, timing your sale can make a real difference — whether you want the highest offer or just need a quick close. Choosing a top local agent and prepping your home are important steps, but when you list your property can matter just as much.

To get a better sense of the best time to sell a house in Los Angeles, we spoke with Melinda Elmer, a respected local real estate agent with 22 years of experience. She shares her expert tips to help you connect with motivated buyers and make your sale as successful as possible.

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Los Angeles housing trends

According to Elmer, the Los Angeles housing market is going through a transition.

“A lot of the changes we’re seeing in the market right now are bringing it into a more balanced market, and buyers are getting more,” she says.

Houses in Los Angeles generally sell after approximately 19 days on the market. This timeframe, referred to as days on market (DOM) in the real estate field, measures the duration from the day a home is listed until a contract is signed. In contrast, the national average DOM currently sits at 50 days.

The median price for a home in Los Angeles is roughly $1,280,000, marking a 3.6% rise compared to the previous year.

“We don’t have a flood of inventory — that is not happening and not like anything like 2008, but we are seeing more homes enter the market and sitting a little bit longer. The demand for those homes is a little bit down as well, which is dampening our normally hotter, better pricing months of spring and early summer,” says Elmer.

What do these trends mean for sellers? With more homes coming on the market and buyers taking a bit more time to make decisions, it’s becoming more important to price your home competitively and put effort into presentation. 

When is the best time to sell a house in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles traditionally experiences seasonal patterns, with sales activity peaking in the summer and fall. Consequently, August to November represents the best period to sell for maximum returns. If your priority is a quick sale, the best time to sell a house in Los Angeles begins in March.

Since it generally takes 19 days to find a buyer, plus roughly 40 days for the buyer’s financing to finalize, it’s wise to list your property two to three months ahead of the busiest selling season.

“Right now, with interest rates being high, with a lot of uncertainty in the market, we’re actually seeing a much softer spring market than we typically see,” says Elmer.

To better understand the Los Angeles market and surrounding communities, we’ve analyzed transaction data to help pinpoint the best time to sell your home — whether you’re trying to maximize price or speed.

Best times to sell a house in Los Angeles

Selling objective List month Close month Benefit
Best time for higher price August November You could sell your house for 2.49% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast March June You could sell your house 5 days sooner than if listed in other months.

Best times to sell a house in Long Beach

Selling objective List month Close month Benefit
Best time for higher price June September You could sell your house for 3.96% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast February May You could sell your house 6 days sooner than if listed in other months.

Best times to sell a house in Santa Clarita

Selling objective List month Close month Benefit
Best time for higher price March June You could sell your house for 2.93% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast February May You could sell your house 5 days sooner than if listed in other months.

Best times to sell a house in Glendale

Selling objective List month Close month Benefit
Best time for higher price February May You could sell your house for 4.64% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast March June You could sell your house 5 days sooner than if listed in other months.

Best times to sell a house in Lancaster

Selling objective List month Close month Benefit
Best time for higher price August November You could sell your house for 3.74% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast July October You could sell your house 7 days sooner than if listed in other months.

Best times to sell a house in Palmdale

Selling objective List month Close month Benefit
Best time for higher price September December You could sell your house for 4.52% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast June September You could sell your house 9 days sooner than if listed in other months.

Best times to sell a house in Santa Monica

Selling objective List month Close month Benefit
Best time for higher price December March You could sell your house for 4.94% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast February May You could sell your house 6 days sooner than if listed in other months.

“Much of it, I would say, comes down to when it’s right for the homeowner to make their move. If they have school kids, and they want to move during the summer so that they’re not moving mid-school year, then that’s a great time for that person to make that move,” says Elmer.

For insights on home-selling timing in other cities, explore our Best Time to Sell Calculator.

With this data, you’ll be ready to connect with a top-performing local real estate agent who can offer guidance about the best time to sell a house in Los Angeles based on your neighborhood, personal needs, and market dynamics.


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