Fresno Real Estate Market Update for December 2025

Fresno Real Estate Market Update for December 2025

A Market Finding Its Balance

Fresno's housing market closed out 2025 in a state of recalibration. Gone are the frenzied bidding wars of recent years, replaced by a more measured pace that's giving both buyers and sellers room to breathe—and negotiate. The data tells a story not of collapse, but of normalization: a market where deals still get done, just with more deliberation and less desperation.

The December Numbers

Prices: A Tale of Two Trends

The county and city are telling slightly different stories. Fresno County's median home price hit $415,000 in December, up 8.5% year-over-year but down 4.8% from November's peak. Within the City of Fresno itself, the median settled at $379,000—essentially flat, down just 0.66% from December 2024. What this divergence reveals: while broader county demand remains solid, city-specific dynamics are creating genuine negotiating opportunities.

Time Is Now on Buyers' Side

The clearest signal of shifting dynamics? Homes are lingering. County-wide, properties now sit for an average of 32 days (up from 24 last December). In the city, that figure has nearly doubled to 58 days, compared to 32 a year ago. This extended timeline marks a dramatic departure from the snap-decision environment of 2022-2023.

Inventory Edges Higher

Months of inventory climbed to 3.5 months county-wide, up from 3.2 months last December. While still short of the 6+ months that typically defines a buyer's market, this represents meaningful improvement for those searching for options.

Transactions Stay Robust

Here's the surprise: despite the cooling, 292 homes sold in Fresno city during December—up 11.5% from 262 closings the previous year. Translation? Motivated buyers and sellers are still connecting; they're just taking more time to find common ground.

What This Means for You

If You're Buying:

Your negotiating power has returned. With homes sitting nearly twice as long, bidding pressure has evaporated. Focus your search on properties that have been listed longer than the 58-day city average—these sellers may welcome price reductions, closing cost credits, or repair allowances.

With Fannie Mae projecting mortgage rates to ease to around 6.4% by year-end (and 5.9% by late 2026), locking in a rate now while shopping deliberately makes strategic sense. You have time to be selective.

If You're Selling:

Solid prices are still achievable—but only with the right approach. The days of listing high and getting multiple offers above asking are behind us. With 3.5 months of inventory and extended market times, overpricing means sitting, then cutting.

Price near recent comparables—the December medians ($379K city, $415K county) provide realistic benchmarks. Then invest in presentation: repairs, staging, and professional photography aren't optional extras in a market where buyers have choices and time to compare. Stand out, or sit.

The Bigger Picture

C.A.R. Chief Economist Jordan Levine notes that the combination of lower mortgage rates and growing supply should draw more buyers into the market in 2026, creating "a more balanced market" ahead. The National Association of REALTORS projects existing-home sales to rise 6% in 2025 and 11% in 2026, with moderate price growth as rates gradually ease.

For Fresno, this translates to continued, steady transaction activity—without the volatility of recent years. Not a boom, not a bust: balance.

The Bottom Line

Fresno's market isn't overheating or crashing—it's normalizing. Buyers have leverage they haven't enjoyed in years. Sellers can still capture strong prices with realistic expectations and smart positioning. And both sides have something that's been in short supply: time to make informed decisions.

That's not a crisis. That's an opportunity.

Data sources: California Association of REALTORS, Redfin, National Association of REALTORS, Fannie Mae Economic & Strategic Research Group