A client called me earlier this week and asked the question I've been hearing constantly: "Tony, should I just wait until the market picks back up, or is now actually a good time to sell?" I told her what I'm going to tell you right now: in Hermosa Beach, the sellers who adjusted their price are the ones getting results. That is the single most important thing happening in this market right now.
Here is the finding that changes the conversation. Median days on market in Hermosa Beach dropped from 45 days to 31 days, even as asking prices came down roughly 14%. Sellers who repriced their homes stopped sitting. Buyers responded. That is not a market in retreat. That is a market finding its level.
Right now there are 95 active listings in Hermosa Beach (ZIP 90254), which is about 30% above the trailing average of 73. Buyers have more choices than they did earlier this year. If you list at the wrong price, you will feel that inventory pressure immediately. But if you price strategically, the demand is clearly there.
One thing I think every seller deserves to know is what is happening just a few miles away. Asking prices in Redondo Beach moved up 4.8% over the past year while Hermosa Beach asking prices moved down 14.2%. That is a 19-point swing between two neighboring cities. This does not mean Hermosa Beach is a bad place to sell. It means buyers are comparison shopping, and your pricing has to account for what they can get nearby.
At a median asking price of $2.55 million and $1,510 per square foot, Hermosa Beach still commands serious buyer attention. But sellers who price as if it's last year's market are the ones sitting on the market while their neighbors in Redondo see movement.
If you are sitting on a 3-bedroom home in Hermosa Beach, the current median asking price for that segment is $2,249,000. A 4-bedroom home is listed at $3,950,000. That is a $1,701,000 gap between those two tiers, a 76% step up for one additional bedroom. This matters if you are thinking about selling because it tells you exactly how buyers are segmenting value right now. A well-positioned 3-bedroom at the right price has a very different buyer pool than a 4-bedroom pushing $4 million.
Knowing which pool your home actually lands in is not something you can determine from a zip code average. It requires a street-level conversation.
My honest answer: if you need to wait for asking prices to return to their peak, the data does not currently support that timeline. What the data does support is that priced-right homes in Hermosa Beach are moving faster than they were just months ago. The buyers are active. The window is open.
Waiting carries its own risks. Inventory is elevated. If more sellers hold off and then list at the same time later this year, you will face even more competition. The sellers getting traction right now are the ones acting while others are hesitating.
What this article cannot tell you is what your specific home is worth in today's market, and whether the gap between your expectations and the current buyer range is one you can close. That is the conversation I have with every client before they decide anything. If you want that conversation, I am here.
Questions about 90254?
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