October 26, 2026 · By Alina Mekk
Los Angeles County buyers have more homes to choose from than at any point since 2018, and more room to negotiate than they had this spring. At the same time, closed sale prices are holding close to $1 million, so this fall's Los Angeles housing market is shifting toward buyers without falling apart.
Whether you're thinking about buying in Brentwood, selling in Hancock Park or keeping an eye on your home's value in Sherman Oaks, my partner Brandon Sen and I pulled the latest countywide numbers from Realtor.com, the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) and Freddie Mac. Every figure below is linked to its source.
The Big Picture: More Homes, Fewer Deals
Inventory is at its highest level since 2018
Los Angeles County had 15,374 active listings in September 2026, according to Realtor.com data published on the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis's FRED database. That's up from 15,279 in August and about 4% above the 14,764 of September 2025. It's the highest count of 2026, up from 10,901 in January, and the most active listings in the county since November 2018.
The extra supply isn't coming from a wave of new sellers. New listings slowed to 5,670 in September, the fewest of any month this year and down from 5,882 a year earlier. Homes are simply taking longer to sell, so more of them stay on the market.
Pending sales are slowing
Fewer homes are going into escrow. Pending listings fell to 4,984 in September, down from 5,151 in August and about 9% below the 5,450 recorded a year earlier. By our math, that's roughly 32 homes in escrow for every 100 active listings, compared with about 37 per 100 last September.
Closed sales tell the same story. C.A.R.'s September 2026 sales and price report, released October 19, shows Los Angeles County sales of existing single-family homes down 10.9% from September 2025, though up 5.4% from August.
Prices: Asking vs. Selling
Asking prices are softening
The median asking price in Los Angeles County was $950,000 in September 2026. That's down from $965,000 in August, about 4.5% below the $995,000 median of September 2025 and below this year's high of $999,000 in May. It ties January 2026 for the lowest median asking price in the county since February 2023.
Some of that drop reflects the mix of homes for sale, but prices are easing on a per-square-foot basis too: the median asking price per square foot was $620, down from $638 a year earlier.
Closed sale prices are holding near $1 million
Sold prices are steadier. According to C.A.R., the median price of an existing single-family home sold in Los Angeles County was $994,670 in September, up 5.0% from $946,950 in August and 1.2% from $983,230 a year earlier. For context, the statewide median was $899,720.
Why are asking prices falling while sold prices rise? Medians move with the mix of homes. C.A.R. notes that, statewide, a bigger share of higher-priced homes among recent sales is supporting the median, so a jump like this shouldn't be read as any single home gaining 5% in a month.
Price Cuts and Time on Market
Price reductions are more common. Realtor.com counted 4,178 Los Angeles County listings with a price cut in September, up from 4,124 in August and about 8% more than the 3,874 a year earlier. The median listing spent 56 days on the market, close to last year's 57 days but well above the 45 days of February.
Homes that are priced right still move. C.A.R. reports that the median single-family home that sold in the county took 30 days to sell, the same as August and one day faster than a year ago. Its Unsold Inventory Index, the months it would take to sell every listed home at the current pace, rose to 4.0 months, from 3.9 in August and 3.7 a year ago.
One note on rates: Freddie Mac's October 22 survey shows the average 30-year fixed rate eased to 7.32% from 7.40% the week before, the first weekly decline since late August, though still above the 6.19% of a year ago. Even a small dip can bring a few more buyers off the sidelines.
What This Means for Buyers
More choice. With inventory at its highest level in years, you can compare more homes before you decide.
Room to negotiate. Homes that have been listed for several weeks or have already had a price cut may be open to a lower price, seller credits toward closing costs or a mortgage rate buydown.
Take your time on inspections. A less rushed market gives you room for careful due diligence, which matters with older homes and hillside properties.
Budget for the full monthly cost. Look at the mortgage, property taxes, insurance and any HOA dues, not just the list price.
What This Means for Sellers
Well-located, move-in-ready homes still attract strong interest, as the 30-day median time to sell shows. Homes that need work or start with an ambitious price tend to sit and end up with a price cut. My advice:
Price close to recent comparable sales from day one. In a market with more listings, buyers compare carefully, and an overpriced home loses momentum fast.
Presentation matters. Condition, staging and great photography help your home stand out from the competition.
Know your numbers. A free home valuation is the best place to start.
Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Beyond: A Local Lens
These figures cover all of Los Angeles County, and individual neighborhoods move to their own rhythm. Conditions in Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Century City, on the Westside in Santa Monica, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades, in West Hollywood or in Larchmont and Hancock Park can look very different from the county median, sometimes block by block. That's why Brandon and I always pair big-picture data with recent neighborhood sales. Explore our neighborhood guides or search homes for sale to see what's available in your area.
Let's Talk About Your Plans
Want to know how these trends affect your home or your search? Brandon and I will walk you through what's happening in your neighborhood. Call me at (415) 509-7871 or contact us online. Curious what your home is worth in today's market? Request a free home valuation, with no pressure, just real numbers.
Warmly,
Alina Mekk, Alina Mekk Real Estate Group | CA DRE 02157204 | 9350 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills
Sources: Realtor.com Residential Data via FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis), Los Angeles County, September 2026, the latest month available on October 26, 2026; California Association of REALTORS® September 2026 Sales and Price Report (released October 19, 2026; existing single-family detached homes); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (October 22, 2026; national averages). Escrow-to-listing ratios and percentage changes were calculated by us from the linked figures. Market data is countywide and is not a valuation of any specific property.
Photos: Cover photo of the Los Angeles skyline and neighborhoods by Anastasiya Badun (Pexels License); For Sale sign by SLEEP SLEEP (Pexels License); Los Angeles home by ubeyonroad (Unsplash License); couple meeting an agent by Vitaly Gariev (Pexels License). Photos are illustrative.
