Best Week to Buy a Home in LA Arrives in October

The best week to buy a home in Los Angeles is almost here. A new report says buyers will soon see better prices, more listings, and less competition.

According to Realtor.com, the optimal window this year is October 12–18 for the LA area. During this stretch, prices typically ease from seasonal peaks and bidding pressure drops compared with summer.

The pattern extends beyond Los Angeles. Buyer-friendly conditions are expected across the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metro and in other markets such as Houston and Washington, D.C. In California, San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Jose are also projected to hit their sweet spot October 12–18. For the Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario region, the prime week comes earlier—September 28 to October 4.

This timing aligns with the usual fall slowdown after the busy summer season, when demand cools and listings spend longer on the market.

Ethan Baik, board chair of the Korean Real Estate Brokers Association of Southern California, said, “Statistically, October brings fewer buyers relative to listings. That reduces competition and increases choices. This year, with supply above pre-pandemic levels, buyers are in an especially strong position.”

Nationwide, inventory has climbed to its highest level since the pandemic and kept rising through summer. That gives California buyers more negotiating room as homes sit longer, pushing some sellers toward price cuts or softer terms.

Hannah Jones, an analyst at Realtor.com, cautioned that these conditions may not last: “As more buyers enter the market, balance will return. If new listings don’t keep up, excess inventory will be absorbed and conditions will tighten again.”

The report estimates that in the third week of October, active listings could be up to 32.6% higher than early this year. Buyers could also save more than $15,000 versus the national median price of $439,450. Experts add that if you want the widest choice, the best week to buy a home is October 12–18; those holding out for extra price drops may need to wait longer.

Baik noted the rate trade-off: lower mortgage rates reduce monthly payments if you wait, but once rates fall, home prices will likely rise. Buyers should weigh both factors carefully.

BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]