Santa Clara County Market Update - September 2023

As Pearl noted in this week’s Chic vs. Geek, inventory is down throughout Silicon Valley, as indicated by a 27% year-over-year dip in home sales in September for Santa Clara County, and a staggering 37% drop in condo sales. Consequently, median prices are up from this time last year, and homes and condos are spending 35% less time on the market.

The interest rate long game

Despite a huge spike in mortgage interest rates buyers are still actively shopping for their next homes. And even though inventory remains sparse, current rates are pressuring some sellers to lower their prices to make their homes more affordable. Recent national data found that 5.9% of homes for sale in August experienced price cuts, and September saw even more sellers (6.5%) posting reduced prices.

Pricing matters.

You don’t have to take our word for it. Just take a look at the numbers. Homes that go through a price reduction spend nearly two months longer on the market and sell for around 10% less than homes without price reductions. That’s a significant difference, and another reminder to price your home to sell, not to shock.