22% of Sellers Are Cutting Their Price. Here’s How Inland Empire Sellers Can Avoid It

22% of Sellers Are Cutting Their Price. Here’s How Inland Empire Sellers Can Avoid It

Quick Answer: A record 22% of home sellers with active listings cut their asking price in the four weeks ending October 11, up from 20.9% a year earlier, according to Redfin. In the Inland Empire, single-family homes are still selling for about 99% of list price, but buyers signed 25% fewer contracts in Riverside County and 30% fewer in San Bernardino County this September compared to last year. Sellers who price for today’s buyers on day one are the ones avoiding cuts.

Nobody lists a home planning to drop the price three weeks later. Yet right now, more sellers are doing exactly that than at any point in Redfin’s records.

Here’s what I want you to understand. Most of what causes a price cut happens before the sign ever goes in the yard. That means you have far more control over it than you think.

What Is Actually Happening With Price Cuts Right Now?

Nationally, more than one in five sellers has had to lower the price. That’s a sign that a lot of homes are hitting the market priced for last year’s buyers, not this year’s.

Locally, the picture is more mixed, and I’m not going to force it into a scary headline. Here’s what the September 2026 CRMLS data shows for single-family homes:

Riverside County

• Median sales price: $625,000 (up 0.8% from $620,000)
• Homes for sale: 6,784 (down 16% from 8,072)
• Months of supply: 4.0 (down from 4.6)
• Pending sales: 1,293 (down 25% from 1,725)
• Percent of list price received: 99.0%

San Bernardino County

• Median sales price: $560,000 (up 2.8% from $544,995)
• Homes for sale: 5,832 (down 9.6% from 6,451)
• Months of supply: 4.9 (down from 5.2)
• Pending sales: 933 (down 30% from 1,333)
• Percent of list price received: 99.0%

Fewer homes for sale and steady prices are good news for sellers. But that drop in pending sales is the number I’d pay attention to. Buyers are still out there. There are just fewer of them signing contracts.

One more thing. That 99% figure is measured against the final list price, not the original one. A home that started too high, got cut twice, and then sold still shows up in this report looking like a near full-price sale. The number doesn’t tell you what that seller lost along the way.

Why Are Mortgage Rates the Real Story for Sellers?

Rates decide how many buyers can afford your home before they ever see it. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.40% as of October 15, 2026, compared to 6.27% in mid-October 2025.

On a $500,000 loan, that’s the difference between a principal and interest payment of about $3,085 and about $3,462. That’s roughly $377 more every month for the exact same house. Some of the buyers who could afford your home last fall simply can’t qualify for it today, and that’s what is showing up in those pending sales numbers.

How Do You Price for Today’s Buyers?

Price off what is selling now, not what your neighbor got last spring. The market moves faster than that, and rates have moved even faster.

When I run pricing for a seller, I look at homes like yours within about a mile, including what’s active and what’s pending right now, not just what closed months ago. Actives tell you who you’re competing against. Pendings tell you what buyers are actually saying yes to today. Closed sales from six months ago tell you about a market that no longer exists.

Why Is Your List Price an Invitation, Not a Starting Point?

Your asking price decides who shows up. Price it in line with similar homes and buyers walk through the door. Price it too high and those same buyers scroll right past to the home that looks like a better deal.

More attention means more showings, and more showings give you a real shot at a solid offer. Starting a little lower than you hoped can feel wrong. But a home that draws a crowd early almost always ends up in a better position than one that starts high and chases the market down.

Why Do the First Few Weeks Matter So Much?

The first few weeks are when your home gets the most eyes. Buyers who have been waiting set up alerts, and a fresh listing lands at the top of their list.

In September, single-family homes in Riverside County spent a median of 49 days active in the MLS, and San Bernardino County homes spent 47. That gives you a baseline. A home that blows past that window without serious interest starts to collect questions. Buyers wonder what’s wrong with it, even when nothing is. Getting the price and presentation right on day one does most of the heavy lifting for you.

What Is Your Plan If the Phone Is Quiet?

Decide this before you list, not after. Sit down with your agent and agree on what a healthy first two weeks looks like for a home like yours. How many showings is normal in your neighborhood right now? When should you expect an offer?

Then ask the harder question. If the activity isn’t there, what do we do? Adjust the price? Refresh the photos? Change the marketing? When you agree on that ahead of time, a slow start becomes a plan you’re executing, not a crisis you’re reacting to.

How Do You Win the First Impression Online?

Almost every buyer sees your home on a screen before they see it in person. If the photos don’t grab them, they never book the showing.

Before photo day, clear the countertops and tuck away personal items so every room has breathing space. Clean the windows, because smudges show up in photos more than you’d think. Turn on every light and open every blind. Mow, trim, and put a potted plant or two by the front door, since the front photo is often the one that decides whether a buyer clicks. And make sure your best feature, whether that’s the kitchen, the backyard, or the fireplace, is spotless and ready for its close-up.

Is Lowering the Price the Only Option When Buyers Push Back?

No. Sometimes what a buyer really needs is help with closing costs, a few repairs handled, or money toward buying down their mortgage rate. These are called seller concessions, and they are everywhere right now. Redfin found that sellers gave concessions in 44.7% of U.S. home sales in August, the highest share for that month since at least 2020.

With rates above 7%, a rate buydown can solve a buyer’s real problem, which is the monthly payment, while keeping your sale price where you want it. Keep in mind that the CRMLS price figures above don’t account for concessions, so the true net to sellers can be a little lower than the median suggests. Talk through your options with your agent before a buyer ever asks, so you’re ready to negotiate instead of scrambling.

The Bottom Line

National headlines are a gut check, not a price tag. What your home will sell for comes down to your street, your price range, and what Inland Empire buyers are doing this month. Sellers who price for today’s buyers, prepare before day one, and know their plan if things are slow give themselves the best chance to get their price without cutting it later.

If you’re thinking about selling, I’ll pull the active and pending homes within a mile of your address and show you exactly where your home fits right now. Reach out and let’s look at your real numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many home sellers are cutting their price right now?
A record 22% of U.S. sellers with active listings cut their asking price in the four weeks ending October 11, 2026, according to Redfin. That is the highest share in Redfin’s records and up from 20.9% a year earlier.

Are home prices dropping in the Inland Empire?
Not on a county-wide basis. In September 2026, the median single-family sales price was $625,000 in Riverside County, up 0.8% from a year earlier, and $560,000 in San Bernardino County, up 2.8%, according to CRMLS. Individual neighborhoods and price ranges can still vary.

How long does it take to sell a house in the Inland Empire?
In September 2026, single-family homes spent a median of 49 days active in the MLS in Riverside County and 47 days in San Bernardino County, according to CRMLS. Well-priced homes often move faster, while overpriced homes tend to sit longer.

Should I lower my asking price if my house isn’t selling?
It depends on why it isn’t selling. If showings are low, the price is usually the issue. If showings are strong but offers aren’t coming, presentation or condition may be the problem. The best approach is agreeing on checkpoints with your agent before you list.

What are seller concessions?
Seller concessions are money or credits a seller gives the buyer, such as help with closing costs, repairs, or a mortgage rate buydown. Redfin found sellers gave concessions in 44.7% of U.S. home sales in August 2026. They can help close a deal without lowering the sale price.

How do higher mortgage rates affect home sellers?
Higher rates shrink the number of buyers who can afford your home. On a $500,000 loan, the move from about 6.27% to 7.40% adds roughly $377 to the monthly principal and interest payment. Fewer qualified buyers means pricing correctly matters even more.