Sacramento Housing Market: More Homes for Sale, But What’s Driving the Increase?

More homes are available across Sacramento County, and it’s not only because more sellers are listing. Fewer homes are going under contract, so the ones already on the market are staying there longer and inventory is building.

With mortgage rates climbing again this fall, affordability remains a challenge for many buyers. Some are taking longer to decide, and the latest Sacramento numbers reflect that shift.

Here is what September showed.

🏡 2,446 homes for sale, up 9.7% from a year ago and the highest count in the 15 months of county data I track.

📉 914 closed sales, down 6.9% from last September, while pending sales fell 11.3%.

⏳ 35 days on market on average, up from 32 in August and still a little faster than last September.

💰 $555,000 median sold price, up 2.8% from a year ago. The average price per square foot held steady at $336.

📊 2.7 months of inventory, up from 2.3 a year ago.

What does this mean for Sacramento buyers and sellers?

For buyers, more inventory means more choices and potentially more negotiating room. Homes that have been sitting longer may offer opportunities to negotiate on price, closing costs, repairs, or a mortgage rate buydown.

For sellers, buyers are more selective and your competition is growing. Pricing accurately, preparing your home thoughtfully, and presenting it well are essential. Homes are still selling, and strategy matters more than ever.

The bottom line is that Sacramento is still well short of a buyer’s market by the usual inventory measures, and the balance is gradually shifting toward buyers. This is a market adjusting to affordability pressures and changing buyer behavior, not a market in decline.

📲 Thinking about buying or selling in Sacramento, Elk Grove, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, or nearby communities? Let’s review what’s happening in your neighborhood and build a strategy around your goals.

Reach out anytime to schedule a consultation here. Call or text at 916-619-2645 when you’re ready and we will map out which options work best for you.