January Is Traditionally the Quietest Month for Listings in Sonoma County
Every year around this time, I hear the same concern from buyers: Why does it feel like there’s nothing to choose from?
The answer is simple—and reassuring. January is almost always the slowest month of the year for new listings.
The above graph shows two full years of Sonoma County data, and the pattern is clear. The light green bars, which represent homes for sale, drop sharply each January. This happens consistently, year after year. Sellers tend to pause during the holidays, wait for better weather, or plan for spring photography and launch dates. The result is a temporary dip in inventory, not a lack of demand.
What’s especially interesting is what happens next. While listings are low in January, the red line—pending sales—begins to rise soon after. Buyers don’t disappear. They stay active, watching closely, and they step in as soon as the right home appears. Closed sales, shown in dark green, follow shortly after. This seasonal rhythm plays out reliably across Sonoma County.
This past weekend was a perfect example of that early momentum. I hosted open houses on Anthony Street and had around 50 groups come through over Saturday and Sunday. With the sunny weather we’ve been having, it already feels like spring, and buyers are absolutely out looking. The energy on the ground tells a very different story than the January listing count alone.
For buyers who want an edge, this is also the time when having the right agent matters most. I am a full-time agent, attending the local broker meetings and learning about properties before they go live. I send these to my clients and many times we tour things before they ever hit the market. That early access allows them to tour properties with less pressure and, in many cases, make an offer before the crowds arrive.
If you’re thinking about buying this year and want to be positioned well as inventory grows, I’d love to help. The quiet of January is just the opening chapter, not the whole story.