San Diego Market Is Heating Up: Why “Spring” Starts in Late January

As we approach the end of January 2026, I’m seeing a noticeably busier San Diego market in real life: more showings, more open house traffic, and more listings receiving multiple offers.

The Spring market isn’t a season — it’s a timeline. Most sellers need time to prep, market, and close. That typically turns into a 3–4 month runway.

Markets don’t move in straight lines. Mortgage rates and buyer confidence can change quickly with geo-political events, financial market swings, and economic shocks. If you’re planning a move in the next few months, the time to map it out is now.

San Diego County market snapshot

• Median sale price: about $900,000 (Dec 2025)
• Median days on market: 42 days
• Sale-to-list price ratio: 98.8%
• Homes sold above list: 30.5%
• Homes with price drops: 21.3%