Sellers Outnumber Buyers by 63% Nationally — What That Means for Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree & Twentynine Palms Homeowners
National headlines this month are loud: sellers outnumbered buyers by 62.6% in September 2026 — the widest gap since Redfin began tracking the data in 2013. Buyer activity hit its lowest level in those records, while the number of sellers rose to the highest point since March 2020.
You can read the full Redfin report here:
https://www.redfin.com/news/buyers-vs-sellers-september-2026/
That is a clear national buyer’s market. But the Hi-Desert is not Miami, Houston, or Nashville. What matters for you is how this plays out in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Landers, Morongo Valley, and Twentynine Palms.
I’m Sean Dittmer. I was born and raised in Joshua Tree and have been selling homes across the Morongo Basin for years. Since 2021, I have successfully closed over 500 transactions totaling nearly $176 million in home sales. If you want a straight local read on whether to list now and at what price, call me directly at 760-553-5306 and ask for Sean.
What the National Numbers Actually Say
Redfin estimated roughly 928,900 active buyers versus 1.51 million sellers in September. Forty-one of the 50 largest metro areas were classified as buyer’s markets (more than 10% more sellers than buyers). Extreme surpluses showed up in Sun Belt cities where new construction kept adding supply while demand cooled.
Prices still rose in true seller’s markets, but much more slowly where buyers had lots of options. The economist quote that sticks is that this is “a buyer’s market born out of caution, not strength.” High rates, high costs, and uncertainty have kept many people on the sidelines.
Full report: https://www.redfin.com/news/buyers-vs-sellers-september-2026/
What This Looks Like Locally
In the Hi-Desert we have not seen the same flood of new construction or the same extreme seller surplus as those Sun Belt metros. Our market is driven more by lifestyle buyers, local families, military PCS moves (especially in Twentynine Palms), and people coming from coastal California.
Recent local signals still show that correctly priced homes can sell, but buyers have more leverage than they did a few years ago:
Homes in Yucca Valley are often going pending in the 40–70 day range depending on price and condition.
Many sales close a few percent under list.
Overpriced listings sit longer and then need reductions.
Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms continue to have their own rhythms — more lifestyle-driven in Joshua Tree, more military- and value-driven in 29 Palms.
The national story is real, but it does not mean every Hi-Desert house is suddenly unsellable. It means the margin for error on price and presentation is smaller.
What Sellers Should Do Right Now
Price to the town and the current comps.
A house that would have sold quickly in 2021–2022 needs a different number today. Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Twentynine Palms do not price the same.
Make the house easy to say yes to.
Clean, well-photographed, and free of obvious deal-breakers (roof, A/C, well/septic issues left unaddressed) still matters. Buyers with more options will skip the ones that feel like work.
Watch the first 10–14 days.
Strong showings and feedback early are a good sign. Silence or repeated “too high” comments mean the price or presentation needs adjustment while the listing is still fresh.
Know your buyer pool.
In Twentynine Palms, PCS timing and VA-friendly condition still drive a lot of activity. In Joshua Tree, lifestyle and presentation matter more. In Yucca Valley, practical family buyers are common.
Do not list at a number that only works if the market returns to 2021.
That approach is what creates the long days-on-market that the national data is reflecting.
Local Advantage Still Exists
Because we do not have the same volume of new construction as the extreme Sun Belt markets, a well-priced, well-prepared home can still stand out. The buyers who are active tend to be serious — they just have more choices and are willing to negotiate when something is overpriced or needs work.
That is why local knowledge of recent closed sales, current inventory, and what is actually getting offers matters more than the national headline.
Ready for a Local Pricing Plan?
If you own a home in Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, Landers, Morongo Valley, or Twentynine Palms and want to know how the current buyer’s-market dynamics affect your specific property, call Sean Dittmer directly at 760-553-5306. Ask for Sean.
I will look at your house against recent local sales and tell you what a realistic path to a closed sale looks like right now.
Call or text Sean Dittmer: 760-553-5306
Email: [email protected]
Cameron Wortman & Sean Dittmer Real Estate Team
C & S Real Estate
DRE #02038631
Sean Dittmer — born and raised in Joshua Tree. Local expertise for Hi-Desert sellers navigating the 2026 market.
Source: Redfin, “Home Sellers Now Outnumber Buyers By 63%,” October 14, 2026 — https://www.redfin.com/news/buyers-vs-sellers-september-2026/