Homes Are Taking Longer to Sell in Bakersfield. Here Is What That Really Means for Buyers and Sellers.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Bakersfield, one number quietly shaping your experience right now is how long homes are taking to sell. Not because it signals a crash or a slowdown, but because it reveals how buyer behavior has changed.

Homes are still selling. Prices are still holding. What has shifted is the pace and the psychology behind it. And understanding that difference can mean protecting your equity as a seller or avoiding costly assumptions as a buyer.

To see what is really happening, we need to look beyond headlines and into the data that shows how the Bakersfield market is functioning today.

What Is Days on Market and Why Does It Matter?

Days on Market, commonly referred to as DOM, is the number of days a property is listed for sale before it goes off the market. In most cases, this means the number of days between when a home is listed and when it goes pending.

When people hear that homes are “taking longer to sell,” they are usually referring to an increase in average Days on Market. This metric is calculated using sold listings only, not homes that are currently active. In other words, it reflects how long properties that actually sold took to find a buyer.

That distinction is important. DOM is not a guess or a projection. It is based on real, completed sales.

What the Current Data Shows in Bakersfield

Right now, the average Days on Market for single family residential homes in Bakersfield is 45 days. One year ago, that number was 37 days. On paper, that is a 21.6 percent increase. In real life, it means homes are taking about eight days longer to sell.

Eight days may not sound dramatic, but in today’s market those extra days often fall at a critical point. The first few weeks of a listing now carry more weight than they did last year. That early window is when buyer interest is highest, online traffic is strongest, and pricing expectations are being formed. When a home does not gain traction early, it tends to sit longer, not because something is wrong with the market, but because buyer attention has already shifted.

The Most Important Context: Homes Are Still Selling Near List Price

While homes are taking longer to sell, the percentage of list price that sellers are achieving has not changed.

Currently, the Sold to Original List Price Difference is 97 percent, the same percentage we saw at this time last year.

To understand why this matters, it helps to understand what this metric represents. When a home is first listed, the original list price is the price entered into the MLS. That price may change over time if the seller adjusts their strategy. The Sold to Original List Price Difference compares the final sales price to that original number.

A 97 percent ratio means that, on average, sellers are still walking away with very close to what they initially asked for, even if it takes longer to get there.

This tells us something important about the current market. Time on market has increased, but seller leverage has not collapsed. Buyers are being more thoughtful and deliberate, but they are not demanding deep discounts across the board.

This is where we see the difference between homes that feel like a good value and homes that feel like a question mark. A well priced home that shows well may take a few extra weeks to sell, but it often still attracts a serious buyer willing to come close to asking price. On the other hand, a home that enters the market priced for last year’s conditions may not see the same outcome. Instead of selling for more, it simply spends more time waiting for the market to correct the price.

The result is not a dramatic price drop, but a quieter erosion of leverage. Fewer showings, slower momentum, and eventually a price adjustment that could have been avoided with the right strategy from the start.

Why Homes Are Taking Longer to Sell Without Losing Value

The Bakersfield market is not weakening. It is normalizing.

Buyers today are more payment conscious due to interest rates, more selective about condition and layout, and more likely to pause before making a decision. That naturally extends the amount of time a home spends on the market.

At the same time, sellers who price appropriately and present their homes well are still being rewarded. The stable Sold to Original List Price percentage confirms that buyers are willing to pay close to asking price when a home feels like a strong value.

This combination creates a more balanced environment. Homes do not sell instantly, but they do sell for solid prices when the strategy is right.

Why This Information Matters If You Are Selling

For homeowners thinking about selling, the biggest takeaway is this. Pricing and presentation matter more now than they did in a faster market.

When Days on Market increases, the margin for error decreases. Homes that are priced based on last year’s peak conditions are more likely to sit. Homes that launch with a clear strategy, accurate pricing, and strong marketing tend to capture buyer attention early and protect value.

The longer a home sits, the more leverage shifts toward the buyer. That makes the initial approach more important than ever.

Why This Information Matters If You Are Buying

For buyers, the increase in Days on Market offers breathing room, not bargaining power at any cost.

You may have more time to think through a decision, compare options, and avoid rushed offers. However, the fact that homes are still selling at roughly 97 percent of their original list price means waiting for dramatic price drops may not deliver the outcome some buyers expect.

Understanding where flexibility exists and where it does not requires careful analysis, not assumptions.

Thinking About Buying or Selling in Bakersfield?

This market is no longer about speed alone. It is about understanding timing, buyer behavior, and how small missteps can quietly cost sellers time and leverage. The data shows that homes are still holding their value, but the path to a successful sale has narrowed. Precision matters more than ever.

At The McCarty Group, we focus on interpreting these shifts before they show up as problems. Whether you are selling and want to protect your equity or buying and want clarity on where opportunity truly exists, having a clear strategy is no longer optional.

If you are considering a move in Bakersfield, call or text The McCarty Group at 661-665-SOLD. Understanding the market is helpful. Knowing how to act within it is what makes the difference.

Market data sourced from the Golden Empire MLS. Statistics are current as of December 18, 2025.