5 San Diego Housing Market Numbers Every Homeowner Should Know Before Selling.

Most homeowners don't spend their days watching the real estate market, and honestly, you shouldn't have to.

What you really want to know is:

• If I listed my home today, would it sell quickly?
• Would buyers expect me to negotiate?
• Are home prices still holding up in my neighborhood?
• Should I sell now, or would I be better off waiting?

The good news is you don't need to follow the housing market every day to answer those questions.

There are five key numbers that tell us almost everything we need to know about what's happening in the San Diego housing market. Together, they paint a clear picture of buyer demand, seller competition, and whether it's a good time to make a move.

These are the five metrics I watch closely with every listing consultation, because the market is always talking to us. My job is to listen to what it's saying and help my clients make smart decisions based on facts, not headlines.

1. Inventory: How Much Competition Do You Have?

Inventory is simply the number of homes currently for sale.

I tell my sellers all the time that this is one of the first places I look because it tells me exactly how much competition we'll have before we ever hit the market.

When inventory is low, buyers have fewer choices, which means your home has a better chance of standing out and attracting strong interest. As inventory grows, buyers have more options, making pricing, preparation, and marketing even more important.

The question I always ask is:

Is inventory in your neighborhood increasing, decreasing, or staying about the same compared to last year?

If inventory is climbing, buyers have more homes to compare yours against, so pricing correctly becomes even more important. If inventory is shrinking, your opportunity to sell with less competition may be better than you think.

Here's what I'm seeing across San Diego:

• Detached homes currently for sale: 3,047
• Compared to one year ago: Inventory is down 26.1%

Even though buyers have more choices than they did during the frenzy of 2021 and 2022, inventory remains historically low by long-term standards. Well-presented, well-priced homes are still attracting strong interest.

2. Days on Market: How Quickly Are Homes Actually Selling?

Days on Market tells us how long homes are taking to go under contract.

I like to think of this as the market's report card on pricing.

When a home sits for too long, buyers naturally start wondering what's wrong with it. Even if there's nothing wrong at all, perception becomes reality, and suddenly the buyer gains negotiating leverage.

So here's the question:

Are homes similar to yours selling in days, or are they sitting for weeks?

If Days on Market is increasing, the market is telling sellers something about pricing. If homes are still selling quickly, buyers are responding to homes that are priced correctly from day one.

Here's what I'm seeing across San Diego:

• Median Days on Market for detached homes: 32 days
• Compared to one year ago: Down approximately 3%

Homes are actually selling slightly faster than they were a year ago. That tells me buyers are still active and motivated when they see a home that's priced well and presented properly.

3. Price Reductions: What Buyers Are Telling Us

This is one of my favorite indicators because it tells us how buyers are responding to today's pricing.

If you've followed me for any length of time, you've probably heard me say this before. I sell homes, I don't just list them.

There's a big difference.

Some sellers want to "test the market" with an aspirational price. I'm happy to have that conversation, as long as we also have a strategy if the market tells us otherwise.

When buyers repeatedly pass on a home, price reductions usually follow.

That's why I always believe it's better to price strategically from the beginning than spend weeks chasing the market down.

The question I ask is:

Are buyers embracing homes at their current price, or are sellers having to make adjustments?

Homes that are priced correctly from day one generally receive more attention, generate stronger offers, and often produce a better final sales price than homes that require multiple price reductions.

Here's what I'm seeing across San Diego:

The median detached home price is now $1,125,000, which is 5.1% higher than one year ago.

That's a great reminder that even in a market where buyers have become more selective, well-priced homes continue to hold their value.

4. Months of Supply: Who Really Has the Advantage?

Months of Supply measures how long it would take to sell every home currently on the market if no new listings became available.

It's one of the clearest indicators of overall market conditions.

Generally speaking:

• Under 3 months is considered a seller's market.
• 3 to 6 months is considered a balanced market.
• Over 6 months is considered a buyer's market.

The important question isn't just where we are today.

It's where we're headed.

Markets change gradually until suddenly they don't. That's why I pay close attention to trends, not just snapshots.

Here's what I'm seeing across San Diego:

• Months of Supply: 2.4 months
• Compared to one year ago: Down 29.4%

At 2.4 months of inventory, San Diego is still firmly in seller's market territory. That doesn't mean every home will sell quickly. It means sellers who understand the market, prepare their home properly, and price it correctly continue to have an advantage.

5. Mortgage Rates: Why Sellers Should Care Too

Mortgage rates don't just affect buyers.

They affect sellers because they determine how many buyers can realistically afford your home.

Even a small increase in interest rates changes a buyer's monthly payment, which can reduce the number of qualified buyers shopping in your price range.

There's another piece of the puzzle that many homeowners overlook.

If you're one of the many homeowners sitting on a mortgage rate around 3%, selling isn't just about what your home is worth today. It's also about what your next monthly payment could look like.

That's why I always encourage homeowners to look at both sides of the equation before deciding whether it's the right time to move.

Here's where mortgage rates stand today:

According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is 6.66%, up slightly from 6.58% the previous week, and just below 6.72% one year ago.

While rates certainly influence affordability, buyers have shown time and again that they adjust. They buy when life happens. New jobs, growing families, downsizing, divorce, retirement, and relocation don't wait for the perfect interest rate.

The Bottom Line

The national headlines don't always reflect what's happening here in San Diego.

Every neighborhood is different. Every price point behaves a little differently. That's why I always encourage homeowners to look at local data instead of making decisions based on what they're hearing about the national housing market.

Right now, the numbers tell me that San Diego remains a healthy market. Inventory is still relatively low, homes that are priced correctly are selling, values continue to hold up, and buyers are still actively making moves.

If you've been wondering whether now is the right time to sell, let's look at the numbers together. I'll put together a personalized market analysis for your neighborhood, walk you through exactly what your home could be worth in today's market, and help you decide what makes the most sense for your situation.

Because at the end of the day, the best time to make a move isn't when the headlines tell you to. It's when the numbers, and your goals, align.