When Is the Best Time to Sell a House in San Diego?

3 selling trends in San Diego

1. Housing trends vary by neighborhood

San Diego is made up of hundreds of neighborhoods, each with its own charm and character and some with their own specific selling trends. For instance, Henderson points out that sales in the coastal areas, Mission Bay specifically, typically pick up in late summer after tourists come into the area and decide they want to make it their permanent residence.

Due to the diverse nature of San Diego County’s neighborhoods, a simple year-over-year price change doesn’t tell the full story. A closer look shows contrasting trends: while some areas, like Solana Beach, saw prices drop by 13.5% in October 2024 compared to the previous year, others, like Oceanside, experienced a 12.9% price increase.

This variation highlights the importance of analyzing local market conditions rather than relying solely on broad statistics.

2. A solid economic base creates a strong seller’s market

Henderson says that the presence of the military, biotech and high-tech industries, and tourism provides San Diego with a solid economic base.

The median household income in San Diego is $103,674, compared to $80,610 for the U.S. as a whole. So, while prices are high in comparison with other areas of the country, the economy and many homebuyers are able to handle the higher price tag.

3. Housing affordability is a key concern in San Diego

Despite the robust economy and high wages, housing affordability is a real concern in San Diego. One way that San Diego is addressing this issue is through the San Diego Housing Commission’s Affordable For-Sale Housing program.

This program seeks to make homeownership possible for low- and moderate-income families. Eligibility is based on several factors, including meeting income requirements, being a San Diego County resident, and being a first-time homebuyer (or not having owned a home in the previous three years). The availability of these affordable homes is limited.

The housing affordability index reflects how accessible homeownership is in the region. An index of 120 means a family earning the median family income has 120% of the income required to afford a median-priced home under current interest rates. In 2024, affordability remained challenging, with an index of 26 for detached homes and 40 for attached homes.

Insider tips to help sell your San Diego home

“Homes sell the fastest when you’ve chosen the right agent to list and sell your home,” Henderson said, recommending a HomeLight agent. For his part, his team has “a full 21-step process that starts with professional photography, 3D tour, and schematic floor plans. All of these things […] maximize the exposure of our listings [and] help homes sell faster and for a higher price.”

Some homeowners who want to save on agent commission costs choose the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route. While the house may sell quickly in a seller’s market, Henderson points out that these sellers are likely leaving money on the table.

The latest National Association of Realtors (NAR) report shows that for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) homes sold for a median price of $385,000, which is significantly lower than agent-assisted sales, which had a median price of $435,000.

Selling a home fast in this market isn’t necessarily the main concern in San Diego. But selling a house for the most money “is all about preparation and presentation,” Henderson says.

The best strategy is to meet with a top-performing real estate agent. HomeLight’s data reveals that the top 5% of real estate agents sell homes for 10% more than an average agent.

Henderson shares that an experienced agent will develop a plan to meet the seller’s requirements and examine the timeline, asking questions like, “When is the right time to sell for an individual and their circumstances? What do they need to do to get the home ready to sell? Does it need staging? Are there improvements to make?” You need a trusted advisor to give you that advice.

Selling a house is a complicated process, so Henderson recommends finding an agent who has systems and processes in place and can explain them to you, so you know how the system works and how the agent will maximize your net proceeds.

While certain projects, like a beautiful outdoor space, can help the home sell quickly and for more money, Henderson suggests calling in a real estate professional and discussing the changes to ensure the work you do will give you the highest return on investment.

Connect With a Top Agent to Sell Your San Diego Home

It takes just two minutes to match clients with the best real estate agents, who will contact you and guide you through the process. To connect with an agent, simply tell us a little bit about your property and how soon you’re looking to sell.

Our data shows the top 5% of agents across the U.S. help clients sell their home for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent.

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Answers to other San Diego home-selling questions

Are home prices in San Diego increasing faster or slower than in other similar-sized cities?

According to the San Diego Association of Realtors, home prices for all properties in San Diego had increased by 6.4% year over year as of December 2024.

When you look at specific property types, the median sales price for single-family homes reached $1,050,000 in December 2024, marking a 9.9% increase from $955,000 in December 2023. Meanwhile, the median price for condos and townhomes rose 4.7%, reaching $675,000.

ATTOM Data reports that San Diego’s home prices rose 15% year over year. In contrast, Phoenix, Arizona, experienced a slight growth of 2.1%, while Houston, Texas, saw a modest increase of 3.4%. In California, Los Angeles home prices surged 10.4% year over year, while San Francisco recorded a 6.9% rise. These figures indicate that San Diego’s home prices are appreciating at a significantly faster rate than those in other major cities.

To see what your home might be worth now, you can use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. This free tool pulls together transaction data from multiple sources to give you a real-time ballpark estimate based on current market trends and your answers to a few questions.

What if I need a fast sale and closing in San Diego?

Although some properties can sell fast, there’s still no guarantee of a quick sale. If you need to ensure a fast home sale or don’t have the time or money necessary to make needed repairs to your home, consider requesting an all-cash offer with HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform.

In just a few minutes, you can complete a short questionnaire and receive a no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. Simple Sale provides a cash offer on homes in almost any condition in San Diego, so you can skip the preparations, open houses, and repairs and close in as few as 10 days.

What is the biggest mistake San Diego home sellers make?

Henderson says that the biggest mistake sellers make when selling a home in San Diego is not asking the right questions to ensure that they get the best results.

“Oftentimes, people are focused on the commission rate when the real question should be ‘how much can you sell my home for so that the commission rate doesn’t even matter.” Henderson focuses on getting the highest net proceeds and says that’s what home sellers should be focused on as well.

Find a top agent in San Diego for a successful home sale

Choosing the best time to list your home so that it sells faster and for more money doesn’t have to be hard. When you’re working with the right information, you can make informed decisions that will net you more money, maximizing the profit on your home.

Plus, finding a top agent in your area means that you’ll have a trusted partner and advisor to help you achieve a successful home sale. Connect with a proven agent today.

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