According to a Redfin News report published August 21, 2026, based on a Home Economics and Redfin seasonal analysis originally completed in April.
What the report says
Redfin looked at when the average discount (sale price vs. original list) tends to plateau after rising through late summer. That “best deals” window is not the same week everywhere.
For California and Oregon shoppers, the calendar looks like this:
- Late August: Anaheim, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, and Portland, OR.
- Mid-September: Los Angeles and San Diego.
- Late September: San Francisco.
“Sellers who put their home on the market in the spring or early summer and haven’t offloaded it yet may be open to dropping their price or offering concessions,” said Asad Khan, a senior economist at Redfin.
Key points to know
- Late summer and early fall are when many metros see larger discounts through price cuts and negotiation — then those gains often flatten heading into winter.
- In several of the metros Redfin flagged (including parts of Texas, Nashville, and Atlanta), buyers already hold more negotiating power. California and Portland windows still matter because seasonality can widen the gap between list and sale even when the market is tighter.
- Redfin also notes that “best deals” is only one axis. Buyers should weigh choice (more inventory) against competition (more urgency, stronger offers).
- Agents in some markets are still seeing seller concessions used to help buy down the mortgage rate — a payment lever that sits next to price, not instead of it.
Why it matters if you are buying or already own
If you are shopping in L.A. or San Diego right now, you are inside the window Redfin labels as the typical discount peak for those metros. San Francisco’s window comes later in September. For Anaheim, Oakland, Sacramento, San Jose, and Portland, the late-August sweet spot has just passed — which does not mean deals disappear, only that the seasonal analysis says discounts often stop improving as fast after that inflection.
Owners who listed in spring and are still waiting may see more buyer pressure for price or concessions as the calendar moves. That is a market pattern, not a prediction for any one house.
Rate context still frames every payment: Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey averaged 6.71% for a 30-year fixed loan as of September 3, 2026 (up from 6.66% the prior week). That is a national application average, not a personal quote.
Important limits
- This is a seasonal index analysis of discounts, new listings, and fresh inventory — not a guarantee you will pay less in a given week.
- Metro averages hide neighborhood and price-point differences. A single listing can buck the metro pattern.
- Your timeline (job, lease, school year, rate lock) often matters more than the calendar peak.
Bottom line: Use the Redfin calendar as timing context for CA and OR metros, then underwrite the actual house: price, concessions, payment, and cash to close — not the week alone.
Source: Redfin: Late Summer Is the Best Season For Homebuyers to Score a Deal in These U.S. Metros
Want a payment and cash-to-close picture for a specific house? Start a conversation with RGI Mortgage.
This RGI Mortgage Brief is for general educational purposes only. Programs, pricing, terms, eligibility, and availability may change and remain subject to complete review and lender approval. This is not a commitment to lend.