Market Report
Where buyers have the most leverage in California
Buyers have the most room to negotiate in Groveland, where 64% of homes for sale have already cut their asking price, the highest share of any California market we track. Homes there sit a typical 119 days before going under contract.
When a large share of listings have already dropped their asking price, sellers are competing for a smaller pool of buyers. That is the clearest sign that negotiating power sits on the buyer side. We rank every substantial California market by that price-cut share, and we break ties toward the markets where homes are also sitting longer, which points the same way.
Based on live market data as of August 28, 2026. Figures refresh on a nightly cycle.
The finding
Across the markets ranked below, buyer leverage clusters in slower, higher-inventory areas. Groveland tops the list with 64% of listings price-cut and an average reduction of 9.1%. A high price-cut share is not the same as a bargain on any single home, so read it as where to negotiate hardest, then pair it with the local market page before making an offer.
The markets where buyers have the most leverage
Ranked by the share of homes for sale that have cut their asking price. Each city links to its full market page.
| Rank | City | Price-cut share | Avg. cut size | Days on market | Median list price | For sale | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Groveland | 64% | 9.1% | 119 | $369,000 | 96 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 2 | Fort Bragg | 62% | 11.3% | 136 | $669,000 | 53 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 3 | Sonora | 61% | 6.9% | 68 | $499,000 | 133 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 4 | Monterey | 60% | 8.1% | 86 | $1,158,000 | 57 | Buyer's Market |
| 5 | Twain Harte | 59% | 7.3% | 75 | $515,000 | 61 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 6 | Port Hueneme | 58% | 4.7% | 51 | $585,000 | 62 | Balanced Market |
| 7 | Canyon Lake | 58% | 5.7% | 65 | $884,900 | 95 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 8 | Big Bear | 57% | 10.8% | 106 | $515,000 | 133 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 9 | Idyllwild | 57% | 7.8% | 72 | $499,000 | 92 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 10 | Helendale | 56% | 6.4% | 85 | $374,900 | 62 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 11 | Atascadero | 56% | 6.5% | 50 | $799,000 | 59 | Balanced Market |
| 12 | Oroville | 55% | 8.1% | 84 | $349,000 | 192 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 13 | Lake Arrowhead | 55% | 9.3% | 99 | $700,000 | 435 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 14 | Hidden Valley Lake | 55% | 8.2% | 93 | $399,900 | 62 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 15 | Crestline | 55% | 8.7% | 65 | $409,500 | 132 | Strong Buyer's Market |
| 16 | Murrieta | 54% | 5.3% | 62 | $699,999 | 397 | Buyer's Market |
| 17 | Tehachapi | 54% | 5.1% | 53 | $529,999 | 61 | Buyer's Market |
| 18 | Newbury Park | 54% | 4.7% | 51 | $989,000 | 78 | Balanced Market |
| 19 | Gardena | 54% | 5.1% | 62 | $780,000 | 69 | Buyer's Market |
| 20 | Rancho Mission Viejo | 53% | 4.7% | 54 | $1,149,000 | 88 | Balanced Market |
| 21 | Santa Maria | 53% | 7.9% | 59 | $789,900 | 94 | Balanced Market |
| 22 | Winnetka | 53% | 5.4% | 41 | $785,000 | 68 | Balanced Market |
| 23 | Aliso Viejo | 53% | 5.1% | 40 | $899,000 | 78 | Balanced Market |
| 24 | Rosamond | 52% | 4.3% | 45 | $429,900 | 63 | Balanced Market |
| 25 | Redondo Beach | 52% | 5.4% | 53 | $1,579,000 | 119 | Balanced Market |
Methodology
What we ranked
Ranked by the share of homes for sale that have already cut their asking price, the clearest sign sellers are competing for buyers. Ties break to the longer average days on market, which points the same way.
Who was included
Cities with at least 50 homes actively for sale, so a couple of price cuts in a tiny market cannot top the list. About 25 markets are shown.
As of
August 28, 2026. Every figure is read straight from the nightly market snapshot, never estimated to fill a gap.
Read it with care
Price cuts and days on market come from live market data on the current active inventory. High leverage often tracks with slower, higher-priced or seasonal markets, so pair it with local guidance before making an offer.
Cite this report
Free to reference with attribution and a link back to Topfind Realty. Copy the line below, or embed the underlying city figures with the widget on the data hub.
Topfind Realty, "Where Buyers Have the Most Leverage in California 2026", August 28, 2026. https://www.topfindrealty.com/california-housing-market-reports/buyer-leverage
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The full dataset behind this report: every city's median price, price per square foot, days on market, and price cuts. Download or embed it.
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