The best time to sell a house in California to maximize returns is June. Last year, the average listing price for California homes in June was $642,333, which is $38,223 more than the annual average.
The best month to sell your house fast in California is April, because that's when homes tend to spend the least amount of time on the market. Last year, California homes sold in April were on the market for an average of 37 days, which is 7 days faster than the annual average.
⚡ Want to sell fast? Get multiple cash offers from vetted local buyers, choose the best deal, and move quickly.
Should I sell my house now?
Whether you should sell your house now depends on multiple fluctuating factors and your home-selling priorities. In addition to understanding the best months to sell fast or aim for maximum returns, consider the following data.
Current market conditions in California
California has approximately 66,283 homes on the market, including 23,852 listed in the last 30 days.
At the moment, these figures and other data suggest California is experiencing a mild buyer's market, with inventory outpacing buyer demand. So market conditions are generally not favorable for sellers.[1]
More houses on the market than buyers means your house could sell for less, no matter what month of the year you sell.However, local conditions within California vary.
⚡ Learn more about your local market. Talk to a top local agent who help you decide if now’s the right time to sell.
Current mortgage interest rates
It may not be a good time to sell if interest rates are high. High interest rates generally deter buyers from entering the market.
As of December 31, 2025, 30-year fixed rate mortgages carry 6.15% interest, which is lower than rates generally seen from 1975-2000, but higher than the historical lows we saw in 2020-21.[2] In 2026, rates are projected to range between 5.9% and 6.2%.[3]
You should also consider the interest rate you have on your current mortgage. If you've locked in a much lower rate on your current mortgage, it may not make financial sense to sell your home now if you have to get a higher-interest rate on your next house.
How much equity you have in your current house
If you have 20% or more equity in your house, you’ll typically be in a strong position to sell.
With that much equity, you'll likely have a decent amount of profit when you sell, leaving you in a strong financial position for your next purchase or move.
Typically, it takes 5-10 years living in a home and paying down your mortgage to build 20% equity.
Best time to sell a house in California for price
The best month to sell a house for top dollar in California is June, when homes sell for an average of $642,333 (or $38,223 more than the annual average).
Historical data can help you understand when prices in California are typically at their annual high and low. While each year will have slight variations, we analyzed recent sale prices to identify trends and average prices for each month.
| Month | Average sale price[4] | Difference from average sale price |
|---|---|---|
| January | $576,130 | -$27,980 |
| February | $591,380 | -$12,730 |
| March | $612,788 | $8,678 |
| April | $619,793 | $15,683 |
| May | $629,951 | $25,841 |
| June | $642,333 | $38,223 |
| July | $622,316 | $18,206 |
| August | $611,180 | $7,070 |
| September | $591,868 | -$12,242 |
| October | $591,087 | -$13,023 |
| November | $586,418 | -$17,692 |
| December | $574,073 | -$30,037 |
| Annual average | $604,110 |
Best time to sell a house in California for speed
In California, the fastest month to sell a house is April, when homes spend an average of 37 days on the market (DOM) — 7 days fewer than the annual average.
When a market has a low average DOM, that's usually an indicator of favorable conditions for sellers, i.e., a high demand among buyers. The annual average in California is 44 days on the market, compared to the national average of 63 days.
When a state's average DOM is less than the national average, it indicates a seller's market in that state. Conversely, when the state average DOM exceeds the national average, it indicates a buyer's market, meaning a less desirable time to sell.
We examined recent data to identify historically favorable months for quick sales in California.
| Month | Days on market[4] | Difference from average |
|---|---|---|
| January | 59 | 15 days slower |
| February | 41 | 3 days faster |
| March | 38 | 6 days faster |
| April | 37 | 7 days faster |
| May | 37 | 7 days faster |
| June | 37 | 7 days faster |
| July | 40 | 4 days faster |
| August | 42 | 2 days faster |
| September | 44 | Equal to average |
| October | 44 | Equal to average |
| November | 49 | 5 days slower |
| December | 57 | 13 days slower |
| Annual average | 44 |
Best time to sell a house in California by location
It's important to note that trends vary from region to region. The table below shows the most lucrative months to sell a house for five cities in California.
| Location | Best month to sell | Typical sales premium | Average days on market[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | May | $62,793 | 39 |
| San Francisco | May | $48,155 | 30 |
| Riverside | April | $4,013 | 51 |
| San Diego | June | $35,607 | 34 |
| Sacramento | May | $16,914 | 36 |
Top ways to sell your house no matter the time of year
If you need to sell your California home and it's not the best time of year to list for speed or price, you still have options.
- Sell your home quickly: Sell to a cash buyer or an iBuyer. Cash buyers are best for sellers who need to sell in a matter of days without investing any money to fix up or stage the home. Services like Clever Offers allow you to compare multiple offers. iBuyers can also close quickly with cash, but your house needs to be in good condition to qualify.
- Save money with a low commission realtor: List with a low commission brokerage in California and work with full-service agents who work for reduced commissions.
- Sell without a realtor: List with a flat fee MLS company in California. You'll save on listing commission, but you'll need to complete every step of the selling process yourself, making this option best for experienced sellers with extra time on their hands.
Compare offers from top cash buyers, plus get an expert realtor's opinion on what your house is worth.
Get Cash OffersFAQs about the best time to sell a house in California
If you're after the best sales price, the best month to sell in California is June when houses sell for 4.20% more than average.
If your priority is speed, April is the best time to sell because homes tend to sell 7 days faster than average.
You may also want to take other factors into consideration.
January is the month when homes sell for the least amount of money.
When it comes to a quick sale, January is the worst time to list. Homes stay on the market for an average of 66 days.
You may also want to take other factors into consideration.
Why trust us
Data sources
Our Research Team uses real estate data from reputable sources such as Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, FreddieMac, and the U.S. Census to determine the best and worst months to sell a house in California. We also analyze and synthesize monthly trends for listing prices, housing inventory, and mortgage rates into our own Clever Market Heat Index to determine the state of local real estate markets. We refresh the data on our pages as the primary sources update.
About Clever Real Estate
Clever Real Estate is a free agent-matching service that has helped more than 187,000 customers. We partner with more than 18,000 top-performing agents nationwide at national brokers including Keller Williams, RE/MAX, Century 21, and more. We also help buyers save money with cash back after closing — no strings attached.
We’ve earned buyers’ trust with a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and over 3,700 customer reviews in total.
Our team of industry-leading researchers is committed to making homeownership more accessible by educating buyers through guides like this one. We've spent thousands of hours analyzing publicly available data, surveying consumers, and interviewing industry experts. Our research has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Inman, Housing Wire, and many more.
