Photo above: Aerial view of Martinez, California, the Carquinez Strait and the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, October 2015. Alfred Twu, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Price it right off recent Martinez sales, fix the things a buyer’s inspector will find, and get it in front of as many buyers as you can in the first two weeks. In August 2026 the typical Martinez home sold at 100.1% of its list price, and 31.2% of listings had to cut their price first (Redfin, Martinez housing market page, checked September 24, 2026).
That second number is the one to worry about. Here’s how to stay out of it.
What are Martinez homes selling for compared with their asking price?
Right around asking, with fewer bidding wars than last year. Redfin’s August 2026 figures for Martinez (Redfin, Martinez housing market page, checked September 24, 2026):
| All homes | Single-family | Townhouse | Condo or co-op | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $813,462 | $849,502 | $677,545 | $449,864 |
| Sale-to-list price | 100.1% | 100.2% | 100.1% | 99.2% |
| Sold above list | 44.5% | 48.2% | 29.9% | 28.5% |
| Had a price drop | 31.2% | 30.8% | 31.3% | 34.7% |
| Median days on market | 20 | 18 | 31 | 25 |
A year earlier, about 56% of all Martinez homes sold above list. In August 2026 it was 44.5% (same source). Buyers still pay up for the right house, but they’re pickier. Townhouse and condo figures rest on 10 and 7 sales, so treat them as rough.
How should I set the price?
Off the last few months of sales that match your house, not off the city median or what a neighbor got in 2022. Martinez’s median sale price peaked at $915,000 in May 2022 and was $813,462 in August 2026 (Redfin, five-year history, checked September 24, 2026). If your number in your head comes from the peak, it’s probably high.
Pick sales that match on type, size, lot and condition, and on location. A house on a quiet street off Alhambra Avenue and one on a busy stretch of Pacheco Boulevard can be the same size and sell for different prices. Redfin’s median price per square foot, $485 in August 2026, is a sanity check, not a price (same source).
Price a little high and you’ll likely pay for it later. The homes that cut their price sat longer, and buyers watch the days on market.
What should I fix before I list?
The things a buyer’s inspector will write up. Leaks, roof wear, old electrical panels, drainage and anything that hasn’t worked in years. Those turn into repair requests or price cuts in escrow anyway. A pre-listing inspection shows you the list before a buyer does.
If your house is older, systems matter more than finishes. Fresh paint and a clean yard help. Before you start a big remodel, price it against what similar updated homes nearby actually sold for. Ask your agent to walk the house and tell you which three things to fix and which to leave.
What will buyers ask about in Martinez?
Plan for these, because they come up.
- The refinery. The Martinez Refining Company refinery, owned by PBF Energy, sits next to the city. Contra Costa County says the plant has had three major chemical accidents or releases since 2022 that led to health advisories or shelter-in-place orders, and it posts its oversight records on the county Fire Protection District’s Martinez Refining Company Oversight page (checked September 24, 2026). Don’t guess at answers. Point buyers to the official page.
- Commute. Martinez has no BART station. Buyers who work in San Francisco or Oakland will ask about the Amtrak station at 601 Marina Vista Avenue and the County Connection buses from there to Concord, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek BART (Capitol Corridor, Martinez station page, checked September 24, 2026).
- Schools. Most of Martinez is in Martinez Unified, but Mt. Diablo Unified serves portions of the city. Tell buyers to verify the school for your address with the district, and see our Martinez schools answer for the details.
What does it cost to sell a house in Martinez?
More than people expect. Plan for these, and get exact figures in writing from your agent and escrow officer before you list:
- Agent commission. There is no set rate. Commissions are always negotiable and are not set by law. Get it in writing, including any amount you offer toward the buyer’s agent.
- Transfer tax. Martinez’s total is $1.10 per $1,000 of the sale price: $0.55 to the city and $0.55 to the county, since Martinez has no extra city transfer tax (California City Finance, city documentary and property transfer tax rates, effective December 1, 2025). On an $813,462 sale that works out to about $895. Who pays it is set in the purchase contract.
- Escrow and title fees, which vary by company and price.
- Repairs or credits from the buyer’s inspection.
- Your loan payoff, plus any prorated property taxes and HOA dues.
For the tax on your gain, talk to a tax professional. IRS Publication 523 explains the home sale exclusion. For contract or disclosure questions, talk to a real estate attorney.
What do I have to disclose when I sell?
California requires most sellers to give buyers written disclosures, including a Transfer Disclosure Statement and a Natural Hazard Disclosure (California Civil Code sections 1102 and 1103). Disclose what you know. If you’re unsure whether something counts, ask a real estate attorney. Leaving something out tends to cause bigger problems after closing.
When should I list?
Spring has been the strongest window in Martinez the last few years. Homes that closed from April through June sold for more over list and faster than homes that closed in the fall and winter, per Redfin’s monthly data. Our separate answer on the best time to sell in Martinez lays out the month-by-month numbers.
Questions people also ask
How much do Martinez homes sell over asking?
Not by much right now. In August 2026 the median Martinez home sold at 100.1% of list price, and 44.5% sold above list, down 11.2 points from a year earlier, per Redfin, checked September 24, 2026. Single-family homes did slightly better at 100.2% and 48.2% above list. Condos closed a little under asking, at 99.2%.
What is the transfer tax when you sell a house in Martinez?
Martinez homes pay the standard $1.10 per $1,000 of sale price, split between the city and Contra Costa County, with no added city transfer tax, per California City Finance’s rate table effective December 1, 2025. On an $813,462 sale, that is about $895. Your purchase contract sets who pays it, so ask your escrow officer.
What is the typical real estate commission in Martinez?
There isn’t one set by law. Commissions are always negotiable between you and your agent, and any amount offered toward a buyer’s agent is negotiable too. Ask each agent you interview what they charge, what that covers and what it would cost you on your likely sale price, then get the final terms in writing.
Do I need a pre-listing inspection to sell in Martinez?
It isn’t required, but it helps you price and plan. A pre-listing inspection shows you what a buyer’s inspector is likely to flag, so you can fix it, price around it or disclose it up front. California still requires your written seller disclosures either way. For questions about what to disclose, ask a real estate attorney.
Your next step
Want to know what your Martinez home would sell for this month, and what to fix first? Talk to a Martinez agent on our team or call (510) 949-5525. We’ll pull the sales that match your house and walk it with you.
More on Martinez: Best time to sell in Martinez · What a house costs in Martinez right now · Is Martinez a good place to live? · What’s my home worth?
By Bill Davis, DRE #01880656, The Davis Team at eXp Realty, Martinez, CA. Updated September 24, 2026.
Sources
- Redfin Martinez page, August 2026 numbers for all homes and each home type, plus the five-year median chart: redfin.com/city/11767/CA/Martinez/housing-market (read September 24, 2026)
- California City Finance, “California City Documentary and Property Transfer Tax Rates,” effective December 1, 2025: californiacityfinance.com/PropTransfTaxRates.pdf (read September 24, 2026)
- Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Martinez Refining Company (MRC) Oversight: ca-contracostacountyfpd.civicplus.com/374/Martinez-Refining-Company-MRC-Oversight (read September 24, 2026)
- Capitol Corridor, Martinez (MTZ) station page: capitolcorridor.org/stations/martinez (read September 24, 2026)
- Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Schools page, for the “portions of Martinez” service area: mdusd.org (read September 24, 2026)
- IRS Publication 523, Selling Your Home: irs.gov
- California Civil Code sections 1102 and 1103 (seller disclosures): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov