Are Bidding Wars Still Happening? The Real Data

A lot of buyers assume bidding wars are either finished or still happening on every halfway decent house. Neither is true. In Los Angeles, and especially across parts of the Valley, multiple-offer situations are still happening, but they are far more selective than they were a few years ago.

That is the real shift. During the frenzy years, a fairly ordinary listing could still attract competition if the market was moving fast enough. Now, the fight tends to concentrate around homes that are well priced, properly presented, and hard to replace. The best houses still create urgency. The mediocre ones don't get saved by optimism.

Where bidding wars are still happening

The homes most likely to attract multiple offers are the ones buyers can understand immediately. Good street. Sensible floor plan. No nasty surprises. A list price anchored in reality rather than wishful thinking. In neighborhoods like Studio City, Valley Village, and parts of Sherman Oaks, that formula still works.

Strong competition also remains below key price thresholds, where demand is deeper and buyers are more likely to be competing for the same limited pool of decent houses. Entry-level homes in desirable pockets can still move very quickly when they're done well and priced properly.

Where they are not

What has changed is the market's tolerance for compromise. Homes with awkward layouts, noisy locations, stale finishes, or pricing based on a seller's memories of 2022 are not producing the same reaction. Buyers are more disciplined now. They compare more. They hesitate more. They negotiate harder.

I have buyers ask whether they should automatically offer over asking because they're afraid of losing. Usually the answer is no. Not every listing is a bidding war. Sometimes it's just a seller who priced aggressively and hoped fear would do the rest.

The numbers that actually matter

If you want to know whether bidding wars are still happening, the more useful indicators are not the dramatic anecdotes. Look at sale-to-list-price ratios, days on market, and how often well-priced homes go pending in the first week. Those tell you whether buyers are really competing or merely browsing.

The broad LA market is no longer behaving like one giant auction. It's more segmented than that. Some homes still get fought over. Others sit. That gap is the story.

For buyers, the takeaway is simple: don't assume every house is a battle, but be ready when the right one is. For sellers, the lesson is even more useful. If you want multiple offers, you usually have to earn them. Good presentation helps. Smart pricing matters more.

If you're trying to work out whether your home is likely to attract competition, or whether the house you want is genuinely hot or just dressed up to look that way, I'm happy to talk it through.

Anj Catalano, The Agency  |  310.404.6955  |  hello@anjinla.com