If you’ve been watching the housing market the last few years, you already know it’s been a roller coaster. One month feels hopeful, the next month feels confusing, and most homeowners are left asking the same question:
“Is now finally a good time to sell?”
As we move into spring 2026, the market is starting to answer that question a little more clearly. Not with frenzy. Not with fear. With something sellers haven’t had in a while: stability.
Nationally, the market is calmer (and buyers can plan again)
Mortgage rates have been holding steadier, and that’s a big deal. As of January 29, 2026, the average 30-year fixed rate was 6.10%. A year earlier, it was 6.95%.
That drop might not sound dramatic until you translate it into a monthly payment.
For example, on a $640,000 loan (think a $800,000 purchase with 20% down), the principal-and-interest payment is roughly $4,236/month at 6.95% versus $3,878/month at 6.10%. That’s about $358/month difference, just from the rate move.
And buyers are reacting to that “more predictable” feeling.
On the existing-home side, December 2025 numbers showed sales running at 4.35 million (seasonally adjusted annual rate), with a national median price of $405,400 and inventory at 3.3 months.
That 3.3-month supply is still tight. It’s not a market flooded with choices. Which is why well-positioned listings are still getting attention.
San Diego is holding steady
Here’s where it gets interesting locally.
San Diego County inventory is still lean. In the latest San Diego MLS “Housing Supply Overview” report, months of supply was about 1.7 months for single-family homes and 2.5 months for condos/townhomes.
That matters because anything under about 3 months typically keeps sellers in the driver’s seat. Not automatically, of course. But the leverage is still there.
Prices are also holding up better than people expect when they’re reading national headlines. The same report showed the overall median sales price at $900,000 (up 0.3%), with single-family homes sitting around $1,050,000.
And here’s a stat I love because it tells you what buyers are actually doing, not what they’re saying they’re doing.
In that report, the price range that tended to sell the fastest was $750,000–$1,000,000, with a typical time to sell of about 36 days. At the higher end, $5,000,001 and above tended to be the slowest, at around 75 days.
So yes, homes are selling. But they’re selling on a more normal timeline. Buyers are showing up informed. They’re comparing. They’re selective.
The biggest shift in 2026
This is not the “list high and see what happens” market. Pricing matters more tan ever.
In 2021, you could overshoot and still get dragged up by demand. In 2026, buyers are watching the details. They notice if a home is priced ahead of the comps. They also notice when a home feels like a great value and they move fast when it’s obvious.
A stale listing is expensive. Not just emotionally, but financially. Because once you start reducing, you’re no longer leading the market. You’re reacting to it.
Spring is still prime time
Homes show better. Buyers come back from the holiday lull. Families start timing moves around the school year. In 2025, the height of the market was in February. The year before in 2024, it was in June. When will prices peak this year? An accurate answer is anyone's guess. Aim for the Spring months would be the best best.
What is your home worth?
If you’re curious what your home could realistically sell for in today’s San Diego market, I can put together a quick, no-pressure pricing snapshot. Not just an online estimate.
I’ll look at what’s actually selling in your pocket of the county, what you’d be competing against right now, and how buyers are behaving at your price point.
Even if you have zero plans to move, it’s helpful to know where you stand heading into spring. Reach out to me at 858-335-4597.
Until next week's edition of San Diego Housing Market Mondays!
