What December 2025 Data Tells Us About Selling a Home in Santa Cruz County

If you are thinking about selling a home in Santa Cruz County, December 2025 delivered a clear message.

This is no longer a market where you can throw out a number, wait for bidding wars, and let momentum do the work for you. Strategy matters. Pricing matters. And timing matters more than most sellers realize.

Here is what the data actually says and what smart sellers are doing differently because of it.

Homes Are Taking Longer to Sell

In December, homes sold in about 85 days on average, which is a 13 percent increase year over year.

That alone changes the conversation. Eighty five days is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Sellers who succeed in this environment are prepared from day one with a plan that assumes time on market and builds confidence rather than urgency based on hope.

Pricing Per Square Foot Shows a Wide Range

The median list price per square foot was $714, but the range tells a bigger story.

Low priced homes came in around $335 per square foot, while high priced homes reached $3,691 per square foot.

That spread is not random. It reflects location, condition, desirability, and most importantly pricing strategy. Sellers who anchor to the highest number in the neighborhood without backing it up with value tend to sit longer and adjust later.

Most Homes Are Sitting Beyond Five Weeks

Nearly 89 percent of active listings have been on the market for more than five weeks.

That means buyers are not rushing. They are watching. They are comparing. And they are waiting for price corrections or better value.

This is exactly why first impressions matter more than ever. Once a listing becomes stale, the leverage shifts hard to the buyer.

Fewer Buyers Are Paying Over List Price

Only 26 percent of buyers paid over list price, which is down 16 percent year over year.

Overpaying is no longer the norm. Buyers are cautious, informed, and negotiation focused. Sellers who price expecting multiple offers are often the same sellers who end up chasing the market downward.

Nearly Half of Sellers Reduced Their Price

This is the stat that matters most.

Forty nine percent of sellers reduced their price, up 10 percent year over year.

Price reductions are not failures, but they are usually avoidable. The sellers who win in this market are the ones who price it right from day one instead of testing the market and reacting later.

The Takeaway for Sellers

This market rewards preparation, realism, and strong guidance.

The sellers who succeed are not guessing. They are positioning their homes correctly, pricing strategically, and understanding that today’s buyers respond to value, not optimism.

If you are thinking about selling in Santa Cruz County, the question is not whether your home will sell. The question is how long it will take and how much leverage you keep along the way.

That is where the right strategy makes all the difference.

If you want a clear pricing plan, a data driven strategy, and honest guidance tailored to your specific home and neighborhood, let’s talk. Call or text me at 831 331 5977 and we can walk through what selling smart looks like for you.