When Is the Best Time to Sell a House in the Bay Area?

The Bay Area real estate market is competitive, to say the least, serving both San Francisco proper and the surrounding locale, including Silicon Valley. Offering everything from oceanfront properties to coveted urban Victorians and every conceivable property type in between, this hot market has a standing tradition of low inventory and high prices.

For sellers, it may seem like any time of year is suitable to list a house in the Bay Area market. But there is data to prove that some months are better than others if you’re wanting to close quickly or at a top selling price.

This post will help you demystify the factors playing into your home sales experience and determine the best time of year to sell your Bay Area property. We’ll gather up the factors influencing this California market and help you understand the months that are optimal to prep, stage, list, and sell your house for its highest possible price and in the quickest time to close.

According to recent statistics from the California Association of Realtors, the median price of San Francisco Bay Area single-family homes hovered around $1,429,000 in March 2022, with prices trending upward over last year, but average area sales dropped by as much as 20%. In April 2022, homes spent a swift median of eight days on the market. With sales numbers dropping and homes selling for an average of 111.6% of their list prices, it can be difficult to know when and how to list your home.

We have pulled together the data on when to list your home to expect the fastest closing, versus when you may want to list to net the highest price. Throughout the sales process, consulting recent data and overall trends can help. Your Realtor® will also be able to provide insight into the quirks of your neighborhood and what buyers are looking for.

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What is the best time to sell a house in the Bay Area?

Top local Realtor® Carl Medford has over 20 years of experience in the field and understands the nuanced local factors that play into selling a home in this market.

“It’s all about the schools,” he stresses, no matter where in the area you’re looking to sell. From the East Bay to Silicon Valley to San Joaquin to the farming valley beyond, he says schools are a consistent and crucial factor in the markets here. Considering the quality of public and private education — as well as the academic calendar — is crucial to a smart sale.

“The market will typically start to pick up in January,” Medford indicates, “and accelerates through March. Normally the ultimate time to be on the market is going to be May through early June,” as closing data trends support. Whether selling with the goal of a quick closing or a higher price, the hottest months fall consistently in spring and summer.

Data for your specific area within the selling objectives will vary, and as with most markets nationwide, the last couple of years have thrown sales trends for a loop. Using the HomeLight Best Time to Sell Calculator can help you to narrow down some good starting points.

Let’s take a look at real estate transaction data for Bay Area markets to find what may be the best time to sell your home whether you want to sell for the most money or sell fast.

Best times to sell a house in San Jose

Best times to sell a house in San Francisco

Best times to sell a house in Oakland

Best times to sell a house in Fremont

Best times to sell a house in Hayward

Best times to sell a house in Santa Rosa

Best times to sell a house in Sunnyvale

Best times to sell a house in Concord

Best times to sell a house in Santa Clara

Best times to sell a house in Napa

All charts based on historical home sales data, 2014-2021

To see home-selling trends in your city, check out our Best Time to Sell Calculator.

If you’re looking for the most precise estimate about when to list your home, talk to a top-performing real estate agent in your area.

Use HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool to connect with top real estate agents in:
San Jose
San Francisco
Oakland
Fremont
Hayward
Santa Rosa
Sunnyvale
Concord
Santa Clara
Napa
All other cities

3 key selling trends in the Bay Area

1. Schools

Medford notes that no matter where in the Bay Area you are selling your home, and no matter whether you are selling a two-bedroom condo or a sprawling single-family property, schools are again “of significance” in this market.

Schools are “up there with eternal salvation,” Medford jokes, though the average buyer in this area is likely to be educated and to value a solid education. 2021 Census data shows 58.8% of adults in San Francisco County hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to a national average of 37.9%.

If prospective buyers have children or grandchildren in the home to consider, area schools will likely be a priority. Even if they don’t, an educated populace is keen to value strong education — so school quality and academic calendars will likely influence this market in the long term.

2. The tech industry

Silicon Valley hiring and layoff waves influence the market very heavily across the Bay Area, says Medford. “The closer you get to Silicon Valley, the higher prices go,” he states, indicating that large employers nearby and high-quality schools are, especially when paired together, dominant edges your property can have in this market.

“So many of the workers in Silicon Valley come in from offshore,” he adds, “you’re dealing with that layer on top of everything else.” Depending on these workers’ backgrounds, employers, and needs, relying on your Realtor®’s intensive and current knowledge of the market is crucial. Be sure your agent has a keen awareness of this nuance and recent related data impacting sales in the area.

3. Condos and townhomes are trending upward

California condo and townhome median prices hit a new high in April 2022 at $700,000. This number has been trending upward for quite some time, more-or-less on a steady rise since 2013. In fact, this median price growth has outpaced that of single-family homes in this market.

With single-family homes increasingly out of reach for many buyers, the market for condos, townhomes, and similar property types is increasingly in demand. And because of this demand, tighter inventory has driven average prices up.

This fluctuating inventory may influence your decision to sell now or wait. Check with your real estate agent to gauge whether the historical data is holding true in your area now, or if you might consider other local factors in your decision to list– or to hold off.

Connect With a Top Agent to Sell Your Bay Area Home

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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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Insider tips to help sell your Bay Area home

Even if you have months to go before the best listing time in your area, it’s never a bad time to consider home improvements in the Bay Area market.

Unlike some other markets, your investment will likely pay off if you opt to invest in home improvements before listing, Medford asserts. “Sellers know that they’ll be making [up to] $4 for every $1 they put in,” he says, and this confidence guides the advice he gives to clients.

With costs as high as they are in this region, he notes, “Buyers are going to want a turnkey property.” So on the front end of working with clients, Medford explains that “we will sit down and start walking through a prep plan.” This meeting involves strategizing what parts of the home to clean up, repair, or remodel — from steps as simple as a fresh coat of paint to as involved as a kitchen remodel. “We’ll do whatever we need to do to get that home into top condition,” he says.

But lead time can extend your plans, Medford advises. “We’ve got a substantial backlog of contractors in the Bay Area right now,” he says. “Tie that together with a shortage of materials, and suddenly you’re in a situation” where projects could double in time and go over budget easily. This complicated backlog operates as a domino effect; even once supply chain issues are resolved, the Bay Area market will likely not see any kind of rapid fix.

Even if you are waiting for a certain month to list your home, consider tackling improvement projects right away. Having these knocked out ahead of schedule can give you a competitive edge.

Answers to other Bay Area home-selling questions

How do I settle on a list price?

Prices in this market are consistently high, but how can you as a seller settle on a list price that maximizes your price potential?

HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator is a great starting point. Start by plugging in your address and get a real-world ballpark home value estimate in less than two minutes. Simply tell us a little bit about your property (the address, type of property, its condition, and the year it was built) and how soon you’re looking to sell.

To set a final list price, consult your Realtor® who can provide a comparative market analysis (CMS) and should also have a good understanding of the city’s neighborhoods and nuances.

What if I just need to sell my Bay Area home fast?

In today’s market, chances are you’ll sell your home with no long delays. But if you want to skip the hassle of repairs, staging, listing, and showing your home, you may consider an all-cash offer option like HomeLight’s Simple Sale.

Simple Sale provides cash offers for homes in almost any condition in the Bay Area. So if you don’t have the time or the means to fix the place up or move through the listing process, you can skip the repairs and showings and close in as few as 10 days. Complete a short questionnaire and receive a no-obligation cash offer within 48 hours.

Find a top agent in the Bay Area for a successful home sale

If you haven’t identified an agent to work with, HomeLight Agent Match Tool can connect you with a performance-proven real estate expert in your local market. This free tool can match you with professionals who have expertise in selling properties similar to yours. Start with a shortlist of agents to interview, and prepare to list and close. Your next adventure awaits!

Header Image Source: (Cedric Letsch / Unsplash)