Get It On? Or Wait Until Spring?
In what has become an annual debate among homeowners, many sellers are once again asking whether it makes sense to wait for spring before listing their property.
Spring traditionally brings increased market activity. More buyers begin looking. More homes come to market. The assumption, naturally, is that more activity equals better results.
That assumption deserves a closer look.
What Happens If You List Now
Inventory is typically lighter in the late fall and winter months.
With fewer comparable homes available:
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Your property may receive more focused attention.
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Serious buyers have fewer alternatives.
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Well-positioned listings tend to stand out more clearly.
Buyers active during this period are rarely casual observers. In 90402, particularly at higher price points, most winter buyers are deliberate and prepared.
Reduced competition can create momentum.
What Happens If You Wait for Spring
Spring does bring more buyers.
It also brings more listings.
When inventory rises, buyer behavior shifts. With greater choice, buyers often take more time. They compare more aggressively. They assume additional options will follow.
Increased activity does not automatically translate into stronger leverage for sellers. In some cases, it simply creates more noise.
The Broader Reality
There is no universally “best” season to sell. There is only the right moment for a particular property.
That moment depends on:
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Competing inventory at your price level
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Current buyer depth in your segment
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Pricing discipline
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Preparation and presentation
A well-prepared home introduced strategically in February may outperform a poorly positioned listing launched into a crowded April market.
The calendar alone does not determine the outcome. Positioning does.
For 90402 Sellers
Micro-markets such as 90402 do not always follow broad seasonal assumptions. Inventory can shift quickly. Buyer pools are finite. Each price band behaves differently.
The relevant question is not whether spring is coming. It is whether your property is positioned to capture demand when it presents itself.
A review of current inventory and recent sales activity will often provide a clearer answer than the calendar.
If you are considering selling and weighing timing, we are happy to review the data specific to your property and discuss what makes sense.
Seasonality is part of the conversation. Strategy is the rest of it.
In 90402 Real Estate News…
Right now there are 18 Active listings.
The most expensive is listed for a staggering $110M. The least expensive is listed for $2.395M (don’t get too excited, this lot is under 5,000 sq ft).
The median listing price is currently $11,245,000.
Of those 18 active listings, six are brand new construction (or still being built).
The newest listings:
506 Georgina Avenue - Listed for $6,495,000. This is a development opportunity on an oversized, 11,000+ sqft lot. The current house is just under 2,500 sqft and it is on the market for the first time in over 50 years.
241 19th Street - Listed for $9,495,000. This is a large, 6,700 sqft Country English home with pool. It was built in 1990, so it has a spacious, 3-story, floorplan. It isn’t totally new, but has been tastefully updated over the years. Last sold in 2014 by Pence Hathorn Silver for $4,850,000.
328 21st Place - Listed for $15,995,000. This is currently under construction. The finished home will be approximately 7,500 sqft with an ADU and pool, on a 9,000 sqft lot. The lot was purchased in 2023 for $3,800,000.
450 15th Street - Listed for $12,995,000. This is also a currently under construction. The finished home will be approximately 6,200 sqft with an ADU and pool, on a 7,500 sqft lot. The lot was purchased in 2024 for $3,000,000.
There are five properties in escrow:
431 Lincoln Blvd - Listed for $4,999,999.
428 10th Street - Listed for $8,995,000.
618 10th Street - Listed for $7,995,000.
739 18th Street - Listed for $3,995,000.
203 24th Street - Listed for $4,997,000.
So far this year there have been just two closings:
225 23rd Street - Sold for $4,470,000. Originally listed for $4,495,000.
250 20th Street - Sold for $5,100,000. Originally listed for $4,799,000.
