The 2026 Market Wakes Up: Sellers Rush Back in Week 1
The 2026 Market Wakes Up: Sellers Rush Back in Week 1
Week Ending January 4, 2026
Happy New Year, San Diego! The holiday hibernation is officially over.
If you were waiting for a sign that the 2026 real estate market has started, this is it. After a quiet end to 2025, the first data set of January shows a massive surge of fresh energy. Sellers who held off during the holidays are back in force, and buyers are already responding.
However, the headlines don't tell the whole story. This data captures the holiday weekend, so we aren't seeing a "full" non-holiday work week just yet. While we saw a flood of new listings, many of these are properties that were pulled off the market for the holidays and relisted to appear fresh. Simultaneously, the total number of homes for sale actually dropped. Why? Because Dec 31st is the expiration date for hundreds of stale listings that didn't sell last year. The result is a market that feels fresher and more active than it has in weeks.
Here is your first market update of 2026.
🏠 DETACHED HOMES: A Flood of Fresh Options
The "New Year Spike" arrived right on schedule, though it requires some context to understand. We saw 182 new listings hit the market this week, which is a staggering 139% increase from last week's holiday lull. While that number looks dramatic on paper, it is actually lower than the 241 new listings we saw during the same week last year. This suggests that while sellers are returning, we aren't seeing an abnormal flood of inventory, just a return to business as usual. Despite this influx, Total Active Inventory dropped by 6.9% to 1,980 homes as old listings expired. Prices remain the steady anchor here, with the 4-Week Rolling Average Median Price essentially flat at $1.078M. We did see a slight "speed bump" in the Median Days on Market, which ticked up to 27 days, but this is almost certainly due to the holiday weekend stalling negotiations rather than a shift in buyer demand.
🏢 ATTACHED HOMES: Inventory Velocity
The attached market (condos and townhomes) woke up even faster than detached homes, but the story is similar. New Listings appeared to skyrocket by 274%, jumping from just 38 last week to 142 this week. Again, while this triple-digit jump feels huge, it is fairly standard for the first week of the year and still trails the 165 new listings we saw at this time last year. The good news for sellers is that buyers didn't sleep in. Pending Sales jumped 22% despite the holiday, signaling that the demand for affordable entry points remains very sharp. The 4-Week Rolling Average Median Price showed strength, ticking up 6.1% to $669,000, while the Median Days on Market dropped to just 25 days. The attached market is moving fast, and the good units are not waiting around.
💡 What This Means For You
🛒 For Buyers
The "wait and see" period is over. You have significantly more fresh options to look at this week than you did in December. However, the drop in total inventory means the "stale" bargains are gone. Focus on the new inventory. If a home looks good and is priced right, be ready to move. Rates are always a factor, so keep an eye on Mortgage News Daily for the latest shifts.
💰 For Sellers
Welcome back. If you listed this week, you joined a wave of competition. The good news is that buyers are active (pendings are up). The key for 2026 will be pricing accuracy. The listings that expired on Dec 31st failed because they ignored the market data. Don't make that mistake. Price for the current market, and you'll find eager buyers.
🪺 For Homeowners
Your equity made it through the holidays unscathed. With prices holding steady or rising slightly across the board, 2026 is starting on a solid foundation. If you aren't moving, sit back and watch the spring market develop. It's shaping up to be a healthy one.
📞 Ready to Make Your Move?
The 2026 market is officially open for business. Whether you are looking to buy your first home or sell and trade up, you need a strategy that fits this specific moment. Let's look at the numbers together and build a plan.
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