Long Beach Real Estate Market Update: What's Actually Happening Heading Into September 2026

If you're watching headlines about a "buyer's market" nationally and wondering whether that applies here, it doesn't, not yet. Long Beach is heading into September 2026 still tilted toward sellers, though the edges are softening in a few useful ways. Here's what the numbers actually show.

I'm Diana Galvez, a REALTOR® with HomeSmart Realty Group's Homeverse Team, and I pull this data every month so my clients aren't making six-figure decisions off a headline. Here's where things stand right now.

Prices Are Still Climbing, Just Not as Fast Everywhere

Over the three months ending July 2026, the median sale price in Long Beach was $901,049, up 4.1% year over year. That's a meaningful gain, but it's not uniform: price per square foot actually came in at $619, down 2.2% from last year, which tells you the mix of what's selling (more larger homes, fewer small condos) is skewing the median more than pure appreciation is. Worth knowing if you're comparing your home to "the median" without adjusting for size.

Homes Are Still Moving Fast, But Slightly Slower Than Last Year

Homes are going pending in about 41 to 46 days on average, down from 46 days a year ago, and the city's Redfin Compete Score sits at 65 out of 100, "somewhat competitive." Sale-to-list price is running at 99.9%, up 0.6 points year over year, and 40.1% of homes are still selling above list price. On the other side, 28.3% of listings are taking a price drop at some point before selling, so pricing correctly at the start still matters more than ever.

The truly desirable homes ("hot homes" in Redfin's language) are selling about 2% over list and going pending in around 25 days with multiple offers. Everything else is taking closer to 6 to 7 weeks. That gap between the two tiers is exactly where good pricing and presentation earn their keep.

Inventory Is Still Tight

Long Beach's months of supply is running tighter than the broader LA County average, and homes here are receiving 3 offers on average over the last three months, with 698 homes sold in July, up 7.7% year over year. Buyers, expect competition on well-priced, move-in-ready homes. Sellers, that competition is exactly why proper pricing and prep still generate multiple offers even in a market that's cooled from its 2021 peak intensity.

Rates Have Settled Into a New Normal

Mortgage rates have been holding in the 6.4% to 6.9% range, and most forecasts expect rates to stay in the "5s and 6s" through the rest of 2026 rather than dropping sharply. That stability is part of why some buyers who were waiting on the sidelines for a rate drop are re-entering the market now instead of continuing to wait.

Where Buyers Are Coming From, and Where They're Going

Long Beach is still pulling relocation interest from expensive coastal metros, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago top the list of where inbound buyers are searching from. At the same time, a meaningful share of current Long Beach homeowners are searching to move to Las Vegas, San Diego, and Bakersfield, generally chasing lower costs or more space for the money. If you're on the fence about whether Long Beach is a buy-and-hold market or a sell-and-relocate market, both stories are playing out here simultaneously depending on where you are in life.

What This Means for You Right Now

If you're selling, the data says you still have leverage on a well-priced, well-presented home, but the days of listing high and expecting a bidding war on autopilot are behind us. If you're buying, rates aren't dropping to bail you out, so getting pre-approved and moving decisively on the right home still beats waiting for a market shift that may not come this year.

If you want a read on how this translates to your specific neighborhood or price point, I'm happy to pull the real numbers for your street.

You can reach me at (323) 807-4184 or casasbydianag@gmail.com. Let's talk about your next move.

Diana Galvez, REALTOR®
Homeverse Team, HomeSmart Realty Group | DRE #02040313
Serving Long Beach, and the greater Los Angeles & Orange County area