Even as “stale” home listings climb across the country, California’s housing market remains relatively resilient, with most major metros seeing fewer homes sit unsold compared to the national average, a study has found.
Several major California metros reported lower stale listing rates, according to Redfin, which defines a “stale” listing as a home that has remained on the market for at least 60 days without going under contract.
What Does The Study Show?
The Bay Area continues to lead in market strength, with San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland posting the lowest shares of stale listings nationwide.
Los Angeles recorded a 44.1% stale share, while Riverside reached 48.8%, which is the highest among major California metros, though still below the national average.
Across the U.S., the total value of stale listings reached about $347 billion, the highest level recorded for February. This increase is largely driven by an imbalance between supply and demand, with roughly 630,000 more sellers than buyers nationwide. That gap is slowing sales and extending the time homes spend on the market.
Even so, California continues to outperform national trends, with most major metros reporting stale inventory levels below the U.S. average, which is an indication of relatively stronger demand and faster sales activity.
San Jose had the lowest share among large U.S. markets at 19.8%, followed by San Francisco at 24% and Oakland at 31.1%. Other California metros also remained below the national average, including Anaheim at 34%, San Diego at 37.7%, and Sacramento at 41.8%.
These markets range from competitive to near-balanced, suggesting supply remains relatively tight and buyer activity steady despite shifting conditions.
Methodology
Redfin’s data is based on an analysis by its active home listings on its platform dating back to 2012. To calculate total inventory value, Redfin sums the asking prices of all active listings as of the final day of each month.
The most recent data that is available is of February 2026. Listings that are priced above $300 million and those on the market for more than one year are excluded.
The data is seasonal and is typically compared year-over-year for the same month.
Broader Housing Market Dynamics in California
Even though stale listing data points to how quickly homes are selling, it also shows larger shifts in California’s housing market, where supply, demand, and affordability continue to shape conditions differently across regions.
Separate data from Redfin shows California’s housing market is leaning toward a buyer’s market, with sellers outnumbering buyers in several major metros. This gives buyers more negotiating power, though the advantage is less pronounced than in markets with higher levels of unsold inventory. While supply is increasing, it is not rising as quickly as in other parts of the country.
This relative strength comes despite ongoing affordability challenges, which continue to limit buyer demand across the state.
Another factor that is shaping supply is homeowner behavior. California residents tend to stay in their homes longer than the national average, which stood at about 12 years in 2025.
In Los Angeles, homeowners stay for about 20 years, followed by San Jose at 18.7 years and San Francisco at 16.5 years. Longer ownership periods limit the number of homes entering the market, helping keep supply relatively tight.
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