Southern California Housing Market Update — October 2026

Pending sales fell 25–48% across all four Southern California counties in October. That is a demand-side signal, not a price signal. Pending sales reflect homes moving into contract; closed sales count deals that already went through.

Watch the October 2026 Market Update

Los Angeles County — Pending Sales Down 41.5%

Los Angeles County pending sales fell 41.5%, from 3,271 to 1,915. Active listings stood at 17,292, up 0.2% on last month. Closed sales came in at 3,417, down 9.6% on last month. Days on market stood at 43, versus 41 last month, and months of supply reached 4.9 (last month 4.6). The median sales price was $1,341,765, up 0.2% on last month, while new listings came in at 5,589, down 13.8% on last month.

Orange County — Steepest Pullback

Orange County pending sales fell 48.0%, from 1,457 to 757 — the sharpest decline of the four counties. Active listings stood at 5,569, down 2.7% on last month. Closed sales came in at 1,483, down 14.2% on last month. Days on market stood at 24, versus 21 last month, and months of supply reached 3.5 (last month 3.4). The median sales price was $1,230,000, up 1.9% on last month, while new listings came in at 1,730, down 24.9% on last month.

Riverside County — Smallest Drop, Still a Drop

Riverside County pending sales fell 24.9%, from 1,731 to 1,300 — the smallest decline of the four counties, but still a pullback. Active listings stood at 8,942, down 0.7% on last month. Closed sales came in at 1,735, down 10.0% on last month. Days on market stood at 51, versus 52 last month, and months of supply reached 4.4 (last month 4.3). The median sales price was $676,992, down 0.3% on last month, while new listings came in at 2,803, down 12.7% on last month.

San Bernardino County — Pending Sales Down 36.1%

San Bernardino County pending sales fell 36.1%, from 1,262 to 807. Active listings stood at 6,770, down 3.3% on last month. Closed sales came in at 1,227, down 15.4% on last month. Days on market stood at 29, versus 28 last month, and months of supply reached 5.1 (last month 5). The median sales price was $535,000, down 2.6% on last month, while new listings came in at 1,778, down 20.4% on last month.

National Financing Context

FRED's national 30-year fixed mortgage rate series (MORTGAGE30US) stood at 7.24% in the observation dated 2026-10-29, down 0.04 percentage points from the observation dated 2026-10-01 four weeks earlier. That is a national series, not a quote. MBA's weekly survey of mortgage applications at reporting lenders for the week ending 2026-10-23 (released 2026-10-28) shows the composite index up 3.4% week over week and the purchase index up 4%, a national lender-survey measure, not local sales or inventory. MBA's economist forecast, published 2026-10-12, is a forecast, not a fact or a promise: it projects a 30-year rate of 7.3% for fourth quarter of 2026. MBA's stated outlook: MBA expects that the 30-year mortgage rate will average 7.3% in the fourth quarter of 2026 and remain above 7% through 2027. MBA notes substantial uncertainty in its forecast, including potential geopolitical or financial-market shocks that could further dampen consumer confidence and slow the economy. National financing indicators add context but do not replace local listings, pending sales, or pricing evidence.

What This Means for Sellers

Price against current buyer behavior. Compare nearby listings, pending activity and recent closed sales before deciding where your home fits. Your street is not a county average.

Frequently asked questions

What do pending sales tell sellers?

Pending sales fell 25–48% across all four Southern California counties in October.

Does a drop in pending sales mean prices are falling?

Not directly. A contract count is not a price measure. Compare prices, completed sales and supply before drawing a conclusion about one home.

---

Paul Fernandez · REALTOR · CA DRE# 01835505 Rise Realty · CA Broker DRE #01957687 · soldwithpaul.com Data sources: CRMLS InfoSparks, October 2026 sealed snapshot (report_date 2026-10-01); FRED (series MORTGAGE30US); MBA Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey; MBA economist forecast.