Santa Clarita Valley

53-75 Days to Sell in SCV: Why This is the New Normal (And How to Beat It)

“Why is my home taking so long to sell?”

I hear this question weekly from frustrated Santa Clarita sellers who remember 2024’s 30-day market and think something’s wrong.

Here’s the truth: Nothing is wrong. The 2024 market was the anomaly. The current 53-75 day market is what NORMAL looks like.

But here’s the better news: As your First Responder Realtor, I’m going to show you exactly why some homes sell in 30-45 days while others sit for 90+. The difference isn’t luck—it’s strategy.

SCV Days to Sell: The 2026 Reality

City	Days to Sell (Avg)	Market Speed
Valencia	53 days	Fastest
Stevenson Ranch	68 days	Moderate
Canyon Country	68 days	Moderate
Newhall	75 days	Slowest
SCV Average	63 days	Normal

The key insight: There’s a 22-day difference between the fastest market (Valencia, 53 days) and slowest (Newhall, 75 days).

What this tells us: Location matters, BUT strategy matters more. A well-prepared Newhall home can sell faster than a poorly-prepared Valencia home.

Why 30-Day Markets Are Gone (And Not Coming Back)

Let’s be brutally honest about what created the 2023-2024 frenzy:

The Perfect Storm (2023-2024)

Historic low inventory - 184 Valencia homes (vs. 270 today)
Artificially suppressed interest rates - Fed intervention
Pandemic-driven demand - Remote work, exodus from LA
FOMO buyer mentality - “Buy now before it’s too late”

Result: Homes selling in 7-30 days, multiple offers, waived inspections, over-asking prices.

The Return to Normal (2026)

Normalized inventory - 638 total SCV homes
Market-rate interest rates - Fed normalization
Post-pandemic equilibrium - Remote work stabilized
Cautious buyer mentality - “I’ll take my time and find the right home”

Result: Homes selling in 53-75 days, single offers, thorough inspections, at-asking or slightly-below prices.

This isn’t a crash. It’s a return to pre-2020 normalcy.

Context: 2024 Santa Clarita Real Estate Market Trends

The 2-Year Evolution: How We Got Here

Looking at the trend from January 2024 to January 2026:

Valencia Market Times

January 2024: 31 days to sell
Peak slowdown (Feb 2025): 73 days to sell
January 2026: 53 days to sell

Trend: Market times INCREASED by 71% from 2024, but they’ve IMPROVED by 27% from the 2025 peak.

What this means: We’ve moved through the adjustment period. The current 53-day reality is stable and predictable.

What Changed Between 2024 and 2026?

Inventory normalization:

Valencia went from 184 homes → 270 homes (+47%)
SCV went from ~350 homes → 638 homes (+82%)

Buyer behavior shift:

2024: Panic buying, waiving contingencies
2026: Methodical searching, thorough inspections

Seller reality check:

2024: Could overprice by 10% and still get offers
2026: Must price within 2-3% of market value or sit

Why Valencia Sells 29% Faster Than Newhall

Valencia’s 53-day market time vs. Newhall’s 75-day market time represents a 29% speed advantage. Here’s why:

Factor #1: Buyer Demographics

Valencia attracts:

Dual-income families (faster decision makers)
Relocating professionals (motivated buyers)
Move-up buyers from condos (ready to transact)

Newhall attracts:

Value-conscious buyers (slower, more cautious)
First-time buyers (need more education)
Character-home seekers (niche market, longer search)

Factor #2: Inventory Competition

Valencia: 270 homes with diverse options creates active shopping Newhall: 83 homes with limited options creates choosy buyers

Counterintuitive insight: More inventory can mean faster sales IF buyers feel they have choices and need to act before “their” home is taken.

Factor #3: Marketing Momentum

Valencia: Gets more eyeballs due to reputation → More showings → Faster sales Newhall: Less top-of-mind for buyers → Fewer showings → Slower sales

The opportunity: Newhall homes that are aggressively marketed can break this pattern.

Deep dive: Valencia vs Newhall comparison

The 30-45 Day Outliers: What They’re Doing Differently

While the SCV average is 63 days, some homes sell in 30-45 days. Here’s what they’re doing:

Strategy #1: Price at or Below Market Value

Industry stat: Homes priced within 2% of market value sell 40% faster than homes overpriced by 5%+.

The psychology: In a 63-day market, buyers assume “if it’s priced right, it’ll go fast—I better act now.”

The math:

Overprice by $20K → Sit 80+ days → Eventually reduce by $30K
Price right from day one → Sell in 35 days → Net $10K more

Strategy #2: Professional Photos and Staging

The data: 90% of buyers start their search online. Your photos are your first impression.

What works:

Professional photography (NOT iPhone photos)
Virtual staging for empty rooms
Drone shots for properties with lot size/views
Twilight exterior shots (creates emotional appeal)

Result: Professionally photographed homes get 118% more online views and sell 32% faster (NAR data).

Strategy #3: Active First 14 Days

The critical window: Days 1-14 on market are when you get maximum exposure.

What top sellers do:

Launch with open house weekend 1 (not week 3)
Aggressively promote on social media BEFORE MLS listing
Offer “Coming Soon” sneak peeks to build anticipation
Respond to showing requests within 1 hour

What lazy sellers do:

List on MLS and wait
First open house is week 2 or 3
Slow to respond to showing requests
No social media promotion

The difference: Active sellers generate urgency. Lazy sellers generate indifference.

Learn more: Complete Santa Clarita Real Estate Marketing Plan

Strategy #4: Mandatory Buyer Feedback Loop

The problem: Most sellers have NO IDEA why buyers aren’t making offers.

My solution: After every showing, I contact the buyer’s agent and get written feedback:

“Price is $15K too high for condition”
“Kitchen is dated—buyer would need $30K remodel”
“Perfect home, buyer is writing an offer today”

Result: You make data-driven decisions about pricing, staging, or repairs instead of guessing.

Industry stat: 87% of agents don’t collect this feedback. I do it for 100% of showings.

The Fatal Mistakes That Push You to 90+ Days

After analyzing hundreds of slow-selling listings, I’ve identified the mistakes that turn a 63-day market into a 90+ day nightmare:

Mistake #1: “Let’s Test the Market at This Price”

What sellers say: “We’ll start high and see what happens. We can always come down.”

What happens:

Week 1-2: Some showings, no offers (buyers sense you’re overpriced)
Week 3-4: Showings drop off (buyers assume “something’s wrong”)
Week 5-6: You reduce price by $10K (but damage is done)
Week 7-12: You reduce again by $20K (now you’re “that listing”)

Result: You sit 90+ days and sell for LESS than if you’d priced right from day one.

The better approach: Price at or slightly below market value, create urgency, get offers in week 2-3.

Mistake #2: Poor Photos or No Staging

What sellers say: “Buyers can see the potential.”

What happens:

Your listing gets scrolled past in 3 seconds online
Buyers never schedule a showing
You sit on market wondering why

The reality: 90% of buyers eliminate homes based on photos alone. If your photos are poor, you never get a showing.

The fix: Invest $500-$1,500 in professional photos and staging consultation. The ROI is 500-1000%.

Mistake #3: Restrictive Showing Availability

What sellers say: “I need 24 hours notice for showings. And no weekends.”

What happens:

Buyers looking at 10 homes this weekend skip yours
You miss qualified buyers who are ready to make offers
Your competition (who allows same-day showings) gets the offer

The reality: In a 63-day market, buyers have options. If you make it hard to see your home, they’ll see someone else’s.

The fix: Make your home available for same-day showings, including weekends. Use a lockbox, stay flexible.

Mistake #4: No Price Adjustment After 30 Days

The 30-day rule: If you haven’t received offers after 30 days, your price is wrong.

What stubborn sellers do: Wait 60-90 days before reducing price What strategic sellers do: Analyze feedback at day 25, adjust price at day 30

The difference: Strategic sellers re-ignite interest. Stubborn sellers become “stale listings.”

My First Responder Approach to Beating Market Times

As a 25-year first responder, I bring the same discipline to real estate that I brought to emergency response:

1. Mandatory Pre-Listing Strategy Session

Before we list, I provide:

Real MLS sold comps (not Zillow estimates)
High-ROI repair/staging recommendations
Competitive pricing analysis
Marketing timeline and open house schedule

Goal: Launch your listing at maximum strength, not “test the market and adjust.”

2. Professional Accountability Systems

100% Visitor Sign-In at Open Houses

Every visitor signs in using California Association of REALTORS® official forms
I know who walked through, their contact info, and agent
I can follow up for feedback and track buyer interest

Written Feedback Within 24 Hours

After every showing, I contact buyer’s agent
I get specific reasons why they did/didn’t make an offer
You make data-driven decisions, not emotional guesses

No Dual Agency Ever

I represent sellers exclusively
I never represent both buyer and seller (creates conflicts)
Your interests come first, always

Why this matters: From Advocate to Adversary: When the Selling Agent Becomes Your Buyer

3. AI-Optimized Marketing

Where buyers ACTUALLY search in 2026:

ChatGPT: “Find me a 4-bedroom home in Valencia under $900K”
Perplexity AI: “Compare SCV neighborhoods for families”
Google SGE: AI-powered search results
TikTok/Instagram: Short-form video tours

My listings are optimized for AI discovery with:

Detailed descriptions (AI crawls text, not photos)
Neighborhood context and local amenities
Keywords buyers use (“large lot,” “updated kitchen,” “no HOA”)

Learn how: How AI is Revolutionizing Real Estate Marketing

The Bottom Line: 63 Days is Normal, But You Can Beat It

The SCV market reality:

Valencia: 53 days average
Canyon Country/Stevenson Ranch: 68 days average
Newhall: 75 days average

The strategic seller reality:

Price right: Sell in 30-45 days
Prepare professionally: Beat your city’s average by 30%
Work with accountable agent: Get buyer insights others don’t

The lazy seller reality:

Overprice and hope: Sit 90+ days
List “as-is”: Watch buyers skip your home
Work with passive agent: Wonder why nothing’s happening

Which reality will you choose?

Ready to Sell in 30-45 Days Instead of 63+?

Let’s talk strategy. I’ll show you:

Real sold comps from the past 30 days in your neighborhood
High-ROI upgrades that accelerate your sale
My mandatory accountability system that gives you insights others never get

Call or text: 661.400.1720 Email: connor@santaclaritaopenhouses.com Book your free consultation: Get Started

See what’s coming: SantaClaritaComingSoon.com - Coming Soon listings 21 days early

About Connor with Honor: 25-year first responder turned full-time Santa Clarita Realtor. I bring accountability and discipline to every listing. DRE #01238257 | SYNC Brokerage

Related market timing resources:

Sources:

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