Spring, for most sellers. In Contra Costa County in 2026, single-family homes sold fastest from February through June, at a median of 12 to 13 days on market, and the county median price peaked in May at $935,000 (C.A.R., the statewide real estate association, monthly sales reports, checked September 24, 2026).
That’s the pattern. Your timing still depends on your house, your next move and how ready you are. Here’s the data, and how to use it.
What does the month-by-month data show?
A clear spring bump, then a slide into winter. These are C.A.R.’s figures for existing single-family homes in Contra Costa County:
| Month | Median price | Median days on market |
|---|---|---|
| December 2025 | $839,500 | 21 |
| January 2026 | $802,000 | 29 |
| February 2026 | $819,000 | 13 |
| March 2026 | $870,000 | 13 |
| April 2026 | $875,000 | 12 |
| May 2026 | $935,000 | 13 |
| June 2026 | $920,000 | 13 |
| July 2026 | $875,000 | 15 |
| August 2026 | $875,000 | 20 |
Source: C.A.R. monthly home sales and price reports for January, March, May, June and August 2026 (each report also shows the prior month), checked September 24, 2026.
Two cautions. Part of the spring rise is mix: more larger homes tend to sell in spring, which pulls the median up even if no single home gained value. And this is the whole county, not Rodeo.
Does Rodeo follow the county pattern?
Probably, but Rodeo is too small to prove it on its own. Redfin shows just 10 Rodeo home sales in August 2026. Over the three months ending August 2026, the median sale price was $705,783, up 38.4% from a year earlier, and the median home took 30 days to sell, compared with 11 days a year earlier (Redfin, Rodeo housing market page, checked September 24, 2026).
With that few sales, one or two homes can swing any monthly number. So use the county pattern for timing, and recent sales near your street for price.
What does national research say about timing?
It lines up with spring. Zillow’s analysis of 2025 sales, published March 18, 2026, found homes listed in the last two weeks of May sold for 1.7% more nationwide, about $6,000 on a typical home. It also found the best week varies by metro, with San Francisco among the markets that see their strongest premiums in spring and San Jose peaking as early as the first two weeks of February (Zillow, “Best time to list: Homes sell for $6,000 more in late May,” March 18, 2026).
That’s a national average and a metro pattern, not a promise for your house.
Is it a mistake to sell in fall or winter?
No. It’s a different market. Fewer homes compete with yours, but fewer buyers are out looking, and in 2026 January was the county’s slowest month at a median of 29 days on market. If you list in the cold months, the price has to be right on day one. There’s less room to test a high number and come down later.
If you need to move in the fall, don’t wait six months just for the calendar. Carrying costs, a job start date or a home you’re buying can matter more than a seasonal bump.
How do I time a sale if I’m also buying?
Work backward from the date you need to be out. Most of the prep before a listing (repairs, paint, a pre-listing inspection, the sewer lateral certificate the Rodeo Sanitary District requires when title transfers) takes weeks, not days. Rodeo is unincorporated, so that certificate comes from the sanitary district and permits come from Contra Costa County, not a city hall. If you want a spring launch, start the work in winter.
If you’re buying your next home too, talk to a lender early about your options, such as buying first, selling first, or asking the buyer for a short rent-back. Each has costs and risks. Get the numbers from the lender and your tax professional, not from a blog.
Questions people also ask
What month do houses sell fastest in Contra Costa County?
In 2026, Contra Costa single-family homes sold fastest in April, at a median of 12 days on market, with February, March, May and June close behind at 13 days, per C.A.R.’s monthly reports, checked September 24, 2026. January was the slowest at 29 days. Rodeo is a small market, so check recent sales near your street as well.
What month do homes sell for the most in Contra Costa?
In 2026 so far, May had the highest Contra Costa median sale price for existing single-family homes, $935,000, followed by June at $920,000, per C.A.R., checked September 24, 2026. January was lowest at $802,000. Part of that swing is which homes sold, not only what each home was worth, so price your home from comparable sales.
Is fall a good time to sell in Rodeo?
It can be. Fewer homes are for sale, so a well-priced home stands out, but buyers are fewer too. In August 2026 Contra Costa’s median days on market rose to 20, from 13 in June, per C.A.R. In Rodeo, Redfin’s August 2026 median was 30 days. If you list in fall, price it right from day one.
When should I start getting ready for a spring sale in Rodeo?
In winter. Repairs, paint, a pre-listing inspection and the Rodeo Sanitary District’s sewer lateral certificate all take weeks. Rodeo is unincorporated, so any permits for repairs go through Contra Costa County. Work backward from the week you want to list, and leave room for a contractor who runs late.
Your next step
Thinking about spring? Now is when the prep starts. Send us your address and your ideal move date, and we’ll build a backward timeline with the repairs, the sewer certificate and a pricing check. Talk to a Rodeo agent on our team or call (510) 949-5525.
More on Rodeo: How do I sell my house in Rodeo for the most money? · Rodeo real estate market update · Living in Rodeo, CA · What’s my home worth?
By Bill Davis, DRE #01880656, The Davis Team at eXp Realty, Rodeo, CA. Updated September 24, 2026.
Sources
- C.A.R. (California real estate association), monthly home sales and price reports: January 2026 (released February 18, 2026), March 2026 (April 21, 2026), May 2026 (June 17, 2026), June 2026 and August 2026 (September 16, 2026): car.org (checked September 24, 2026)
- Redfin, Rodeo housing market, data for the three months ending August 2026: redfin.com/city/25362/CA/Rodeo/housing-market (checked September 24, 2026)
- Zillow, “Best time to list: Homes sell for $6,000 more in late May,” March 18, 2026: zillow.mediaroom.com (checked September 24, 2026)