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BUYER BRIEFING Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, CA Market Analysis

Why now may be the right time to buy in Los Angeles, CA.

LA's single-family market sits in mild seller territory, but list prices have softened 8.4% from their peak — giving prepared buyers a rare window to lock in before demand tightens again.

Median Price

Midpoint listing price across the market. The key benchmark for overall market value and tracking price trends over time.
Median Price Single Family (Sep 2025 – Sep 2026)
Median Price Single Family (Sep 2025 – Sep 2026) in LOS ANGELES, CA — latest: $1.4M (Sep 2026)
Price & Value
Counts & Metrics
Percentages
CTRL+Click to display two data sets
Data provided by Altos
Median Price: Midpoint listing price across the market. The key benchmark for overall market value and tracking price trends over time.
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Median List Price
$1.42M
Down from $1.55M a year ago (-8.4% YoY) and off the $1.50M peak in May. Prices are cooling — act before inventory tightens and bids heat back up.
Months of Inventory
2.55 mo
At 2.55 months, supply remains historically tight. Down from 2.71 mo a year ago — this is firmly a seller's market with little room for buyers to wait.
Median Price/Sq Ft
$804/sqft
Per-foot value at $804, down from $814 a year ago (-1.2% YoY). A rare dip in LA's cost-per-foot — buying now locks in today's lower rate before it rebounds.
Days on Market
63 days
Median DOM held flat YoY at 63 days but dropped sharply from 91 days in Feb 2026 — homes are moving faster each month, shrinking your negotiation window.
What This Means

A Rare Soft Spot in a Chronically Tight Market

LA prices have pulled back nearly 8% from their peak with only 2.55 months of supply — this combination rarely lasts. Buyers who move now can negotiate on softened prices before absorption rises and competition returns to peak levels.

Honest Caveats

With 26% of single-family listings taking price cuts and median DOM steady at 63 days, sellers are not panicking — you won't find deep discounts. Mortgage rates remain a wildcard that could offset any list-price savings depending on your financing timeline.

See homes for sale in Los Angeles, CA
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Jon Watts
Real Estate Agent
jonwatts22@gmail.com (234) 447-777
Source: September 2025 - September 2026 Market Data
Updated September 16, 2026
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BUYER BRIEFING Altadena, CA
Altadena, CA vs Los Angeles, CA Market Analysis

Why Altadena is the smarter buy right now.

Altadena is a deep seller's market with a Market Action score of 45.13 and only 1.65 months of inventory — meaning homes move fast and hold their value. Buyers who act now lock in before prices climb further.

Median Market Action

An index of market activity pace. Values above 30 generally favor sellers and below 30 favor buyers — a quick health check.
Median Market Action Single Family (Sep 2025 – Sep 2026)
Los Angeles, CA · Altadena, CA
Price & Value
Counts & Metrics
Percentages
CTRL+Click to display two data sets
Data provided by Altos
Median Market Action: An index of market activity pace. Values above 30 generally favor sellers and below 30 favor buyers — a quick health check.
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Market Action Index
45.13 vs 35.34
Altadena's MAI of 45.13 signals a strong seller's market; LA sits at 35.34. Altadena demand is significantly more competitive, up from 37.3 a year ago.
Months of Inventory
1.65 mo vs 2.55 mo
Altadena has just 1.65 months of supply vs LA's 2.55 — 35% tighter. Less supply means stronger price support and less time to negotiate in Altadena.
Absorbed Sale Price
$1.5M vs $1.22M
Altadena buyers are closing at $1.5M — up +42.8% YoY from $1.05M in Sep 2025 — showing rapid appreciation vs LA's flat absorbed prices near $1.22M.
Days on Market
42 days vs 63 days
Altadena homes sell in 42 days vs 63 in LA — 33% faster. Altadena DOM has held steady at 42 days for 4 straight months, confirming consistent demand.
What This Means

Altadena Is Moving — and Values Are Proving It

With inventory at just 1.65 months, a MAI of 45, and absorbed prices up over 40% year-over-year, Altadena is outperforming LA on every buyer-critical signal. If you're serious about long-term value, Altadena is the clear choice right now.

Honest Caveats

Altadena's median list price of $1.65M is higher than LA's $1.42M, so entry cost is steeper. The area is also smaller with fewer listings — about 34 active homes vs nearly 2,000 in LA — limiting your options if you need specific features or timing flexibility.

See homes for sale in Los Angeles, CA
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Jon Watts
Real Estate Agent
jonwatts22@gmail.com (234) 447-777
Source: September 2025 - September 2026 Market Data
Updated September 16, 2026