If you’ve ever thought about selling, you’ve probably heard the conventional wisdom: spring is the best time to sell.
There’s some truth behind it. Seasonality affects buyer activity, inventory and how quickly homes sell.
But does missing the spring market automatically mean waiting another six months?
I looked at recent San Diego County housing data from September through December to see what actually happens as the market moves into fall.
The data shows a slowdown—but not necessarily a reason to sit out the season entirely.
Don’t ask, “Is fall a good time to sell?”
Ask whether it’s a good time for your home. Seasonality matters — but these three factors may matter more.
So, what does the data tell us?
I looked at recent San Diego County housing data from September through December. Three things stood out.
Buyer activity cools after summer—but doesn’t disappear.
Buyer activity relative to available inventory generally softened as the market moved through fall.
The pending-to-active ratio declined into November in the periods shown, indicating fewer pending sales relative to the number of homes available. But the pattern wasn’t a straight decline through year-end: in the two most recent years shown, activity improved somewhat by December.
That distinction matters. Fall brought less buyer activity—but not an absence of buyers.
Less demand raises the stakes on the first impression.
With fewer buyers in the market, sellers may have fewer opportunities to capture attention. Pricing and presentation become more consequential when the buyer pool is smaller.
Buyer Activity Relative to Available Inventory
San Diego County · September–December
Fall didn’t mean sellers gave up more on price.
Despite softer buyer activity, sale prices did not progressively deteriorate through the fall months.
In 2025, detached San Diego County homes closed at approximately 97% of their original list price in September, October, November and December. The ratio remained remarkably consistent, ranging from 97.0% to 97.2%.
And because this measure compares the final sale price with the original list price—not simply the most recent asking price—it reflects price reductions made during the listing period.
The slowdown showed up more in activity than in price.
Individual homes may still have required price reductions, but countywide, the gap between original asking price and eventual sale price remained remarkably consistent through the fall months.
Percent of Original List Price Received
Detached homes · San Diego County · 2025
The trade-off? More patience.
This is where the seasonal slowdown becomes more visible.
For detached homes, average days on market increased from 41 days in September to 44 days in December 2025—a gradual increase as the year progressed.
So while sellers weren’t necessarily giving up substantially more on price, they were waiting somewhat longer to secure an accepted offer.
The clearer fall trade-off was time.
Homes took progressively longer to secure an accepted offer as fall went on. For sellers, that means expectations around timing may need to shift even when pricing outcomes remain relatively stable.
Days on Market Increased Through Fall
Detached homes · San Diego County · 2025
Average days from listing to accepted offer.
Seasonality matters. But it shouldn’t make the decision for you.
The data doesn’t make a case that fall is better than spring. Buyer activity softened, and homes took somewhat longer to sell.
But it also doesn’t support the idea that sellers who miss spring should automatically wait until the following year.
In the 2025 data examined here, buyer activity persisted, sale-to-original-list-price ratios remained relatively stable, and the clearest trade-off was additional time on market.
The better question isn’t simply “Should I sell this fall?”
That’s a decision worth making with property-specific data—not a seasonal rule of thumb.
I’ll personally look at your property, relevant comps, and current competition.
→LET’S LOOK AT YOUR HOME Email: jenncho@soomliving.com
Sources: Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS® / San Diego MLS; Realtor.com Housing Inventory Core Metrics via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Market statistics represent San Diego County and should not be interpreted as a prediction of future performance. Individual neighborhoods and property types may perform differently.
