"Anna, are homes still selling right now?" It's the question I hear most from homeowners in Elk Grove and across the Sacramento area. My honest answer is yes, homes are selling. But pricing matters more today than it has in years.
I'm Anna Chi Huang, founder and team leader of The Superior Realty Group with eXp Realty. I've sold more than 1,200 homes over 18 years, and I also own InnovaBuild, a licensed general contracting company. That lets me look at a home both as an agent and as a builder: what it's worth today, and what a repair or update will actually return when you sell.**What the Numbers Say**Of the Sacramento-area homes that went under contract in October, about 60% sold at their original list price. The other 40% had to cut their price first, by an average of 6.7%. That doesn't mean values fell 6.7%. In most cases the home was simply priced too high on day one, sat, and then had to come down.Homes are taking about 47 days on average to go under contract. Still, roughly a third get an accepted offer within two weeks. New contracts in September were down 12.3% from last year, which tells me buyers are more patient and pickier. They compare carefully, and they skip homes that feel overpriced.
There's also a common myth that "it's all cash buyers now." In October, cash buyers made up only 18.6% of sales. About 80% of buyers are still using loans, so appraisals and lender guidelines still keep prices grounded.**What I See on My Own Listings**Last week I looked at the showing and online-view activity across my team's active listings. Our busiest home had 10 agent showings and more than 1,100 online views in a single week. Several others had only one showing, and a few had none. It's the same market and the same week. The difference comes down to price and condition.**My Advice for Sellers**Price it right from the very first day. The first two weeks bring the most attention, and a home that misses that window often ends up selling for less after cuts. Get the home show-ready: fix the obvious issues, freshen paint, and clean up the curb appeal. With my contractor background, I help sellers decide which repairs are worth the money and which aren't. And if the feedback says the price is off, adjust quickly rather than waiting months.**My Advice for Buyers**You have more choices and more room to negotiate than you did a few years ago. But well-priced, well-kept homes still go fast, so get fully pre-approved before you start touring.**Thinking About Buying or Selling?**If you're wondering where your home or budget fits in today's Elk Grove and Sacramento market, I'm happy to give you an honest, numbers-based opinion. My team serves clients in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Spanish.Anna Chi Huang | The Superior Realty Group, eXp Realty | DRE# 01851808Data: Sacramento Appraisal Blog (Ryan Lundquist), October 2026
