By David Lewis, Founder & Listing Broker, David Lewis Group at Compass

Every fall, Cambrian and Los Gatos homeowners ask us the same question: "Should we list now or wait until spring?" It depends on your goals, but for many Silicon Valley sellers the holidays have real advantages.

Fewer listings, less competition

Inventory usually drops from November through early January as many sellers wait for spring. A well-prepared home in 95124, 95118 or 95032 has fewer alternatives competing for a buyer's attention.

The buyers who are looking are serious

People don't tour homes in December for fun. Holiday-season buyers are often relocating for work, starting a new job in January, or working around leases and school calendars. In tech-heavy neighborhoods like Cambrian and Blossom Valley, year-end job changes and bonus timing can drive real demand.

Spring brings more buyers, and more competition

Spring typically brings the largest pool of buyers, especially families who want to move before the school year. It also brings the most new listings, so your home has to stand out among many more options.

When waiting makes sense

If your home needs significant work, or your next move isn't lined up, waiting can be the right call. Use the winter to prepare (inspections, repairs, a staging plan) and list strong in February or March.

What we recommend

Look at your timeline, your home's readiness and current local data for your street, not national headlines. We're happy to walk through the numbers for your neighborhood. See also: When to sell your Cambrian home.

David Lewis Group at Compass helps Silicon Valley homeowners, particularly tech professionals and families, buy and sell single-family homes, with a focus on Cambrian (95124/95118), Blossom Valley (95123) and Belwood/Los Gatos (95032). Led by David Lewis, Founder and Listing Broker (CA DRE 01409243), the team has sold nearly 500 homes since 2004, including 120+ in Cambrian. Questions? Call 408-833-9423 or email david.lewis@compass.com.