East Bay buyers gain negotiating power

September 11, 2026

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Homes are selling at a steady pace, but buyers have more time and choices

Home sales remained steady in July across the East Bay, but buyers have more time to make decisions, more homes to choose from and, in some parts of the market, more room to negotiate than they did during the pandemic housing boom.

House hunters in the East Bay are finding a much different market than they would have encountered a few years ago. Homes are taking longer to sell, bidding wars are less common, and buyers generally have more breathing room before making an offer.

In July, the typical home sold in 42 days, compared with 37 days during the market frenzy of July 2021. Sellers also received about 101.5% of their asking price on average, down from nearly 110% during the summer of 2021.

That does not mean demand has disappeared. A total of 1,811 homes sold in July, almost identical to the 1,831 sold a year earlier. But today's buyers are competing in a market that looks much less frenzied than it did during the pandemic boom.

More homes are available than during the boom.

Buyers also have more choices.

The East Bay had 6,158 homes on the market in July, with 3.72 months of supply. While inventory was slightly lower than a year ago, both measures remain well above the exceptionally tight conditions seen during 2021 and early 2022.

More choice often translates into greater negotiating power. Buyers can spend more time comparing neighborhoods, home features and pricing rather than feeling pressure to move immediately. Sellers, meanwhile, face more competition than they did during the boom years, when inventory was far more limited.

The result is a market that feels more balanced. Well-priced homes still attract interest, but sellers can no longer assume every listing will spark multiple aggressive offers.

Condo shoppers are finding some of the best opportunities

Negotiating power is especially evident in the condo market.

Condo sellers received about 97.3% of their asking price in July, while detached-home sellers received about 102.8%. Condos also spent a median of 54 days on the market, compared with 40 days for detached homes. At the same time, condo supply reached 5.57 months, well above the 3.27 months recorded for detached homes.

Pricing tells a similar story. The median condo sold for $525,000 in July, down from $600,000 in July 2024. Detached homes, by comparison, still commanded a median price of $1.05 million and continued to sell above asking price on average.

For buyers who have been priced out of the detached-home market, condos may offer the strongest opportunities to negotiate on both price and terms.

What this means for buyers and sellers

For buyers, conditions are far more favorable than they were during the pandemic-era rush. There are still thousands of homes available across the East Bay, and many sellers appear more willing to negotiate than they were a few years ago.

For sellers, demand remains, but it is more selective. Detached homes continue to perform relatively well, particularly when priced appropriately. Condo sellers, however, face more competition and may need to adjust expectations as buyers gain leverage.

The bottom line: The East Bay housing market is no longer defined by bidding wars and rushed decisions. Buyers have regained some negotiating power, especially in the condo market, even as home prices remain high by historical standards.

Key takeaways:

Home sales were nearly unchanged from a year ago, suggesting the market has settled into a steadier pace.
Buyers still have plenty of options, with more than 6,100 homes on the market and nearly four months of supply.
Condo buyers continue to have the strongest negotiating position, while detached homes remain more competitive.

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Chuck Barberini Real Estate