This time of year, we don’t often see many homes on the market. 2026 is turning out to be no different with low inventory levels throughout Marin County. My first broker used to like to say in meetings, “There’s a reason for every season!” She was right of course. However, the best time of year to sell for you depends numerous factors.
During the winter months, it’s a great time to sell fixer properties. The timing works out for people who want to fix and flip homes, getting them back on the market earlier in the year. The last thing I’d recommend is selling a beautifully fixed-up home November through February. Sure, inventory levels are low this time of year, but your target market is not out looking for houses when the days are short, cold and rainy. A fixed-up home is a premium product. If it’s well done and without significant defects, the home will be differentiated from most of the others on the market. Most homes in Marin County are older and we don’t see a lot of long-time owners doing full remodels before going on the market. If you put a nicely done home on the market March through June, you are likely to do very well.
2025 was different. The market stalled out in May. It didn’t pick up again until the fall, and that was only after significant price reductions and a continued decline in interest rates which recent went under 6% for the first time in years. Even with lower interest rates, nobody really knows what 2026 will bring. Nobody has a crystal ball, but lower interest rates should help the market power through the spring.
Typically, our market slows down after July 4th until Labor Day. The weather gets a lot hotter, people are taking vacations, and families are thinking about ‘back to school’. Inventories are usually lighter during the summer months, so if a house is significantly differentiated from others in the neighborhood the summer can be a good time to sell. Air conditioning definitely makes a difference, especially during Sunday afternoon open houses when potential buyers step out of the heat and into a nice cool home.
Realtors like to say, the best time of year to sell is now! That’s not how I approach selling homes. The best time of year to sell depends on your house, your needs, and market dynamics. Hopefully it will all be good throughout 2026!