Lamorinda just had its strongest September in years. 110 Homes sold last month, about double last September and more than any month since the Spring of 2021. This is unprecedented and bucks historical curves. What makes it even more striking is that it happened while mortgage rates were climbing, briefly reaching 7.5% in early October.

Because sales in one month mostly reflect offers accepted the month before, this also tells us buyers were active in August, a stretch that is often quieter. After a long stretch on the sidelines, many buyers seem to have decided the wait is over. We are seeing it firsthand. Our team has a full slate of fall listings coming to market, and buyers are ready to act.

What the chart tells us about timing

• Our market has a clear rhythm. Activity typically peaks in May or June and slows considerably through the winter months.
• A September this strong, with rates moving higher, points to real momentum. If it carries into Spring, competition for the best homes could be especially intense.
• That makes the weeks ahead, before the Spring rush, a smart window to consider.

Why waiting rarely pays off

No one can predict where rates go from here, but September showed us that buyers in our market are not standing still waiting on them. If rates ease, even more buyers are likely to return and competition will pick up. If they improve after you buy, refinancing may be an option. Waiting often means competing with everyone else who waited too.

In my experience, the people who look back with regret are rarely the ones who bought. When my husband and I bought our home, it was not the finished, picture-perfect version we imagined. We lived with it as it was for five years before taking on the major changes we wanted. The right home does not have to be the finished home. A house with great bones can get you into the neighborhood you love now, and you can make it yours over time.

A word for sellers

• September’s surge shows buyers are out and ready, exactly the moment sellers hope for.
• Listing this fall likely means less competition from other sellers than you would face in a crowded Spring market.
• Homes that are thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented are drawing the most attention, and often the strongest offers.

A few questions worth asking yourself

• Do I see myself staying in a home for at least seven years?
• Are my income and credit in a strong place today?
• Could I happily live in a home for a while before making it perfect?
• Am I waiting for a real reason, or simply out of habit?

If your honest answers point toward “ready,” that is worth paying attention to. If they don’t, that is perfectly fine too. The right time is personal, and it is different for everyone.

A month like September is a good reminder that the market rarely waits for us. Twenty-five years later, we are still in that house, and I am so grateful we didn’t wait. Here’s to finding the place where your own story unfolds, whenever that may be.