Published November 1, 2026 in Market Update

Mortgage rates are still high, but some South Bay areas are moving fast

By Zoltan Peresztegi

Real estate, Sell With Zoli South Bay

The rate pressure is real. Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.24% on October 29, 2026. That is the number every buyer is working with right now. But in the three months ending August 31, 2026, several South Bay ZIP codes kept moving. Speed and payment pressure can hit at the same time. Knowing which side of that tension your street sits on matters.

The fastest corners of South Bay

In ZIP 90504, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 56.9% of homes going under contract within two weeks of listing. That is the highest share in this market for the three months ending August 31, 2026. Only 21 homes were for sale there, down 34.4% from the same months of 2025. With just 1 month of supply, well-priced homes did not wait long.

Prices moved in different directions

Not every area saw prices rise. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows the median sale price in ZIP 90274, Palos Verdes Peninsula, reached $2,730,000, up 11.2% from the same months of 2025. That is the highest median in this market. ZIP 90732, San Pedro, went the other way: the median fell 17.3% to $761,000. ZIP 90503, Torrance, also dipped, down 5% to $1,244,000. Prices are not moving in one direction across South Bay.

Supply tightened in most ZIP codes

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted only 1 month of supply in ZIP 90504, Torrance. ZIP 90505, Torrance, had 1.5 months. ZIP 90717, Lomita, also had 1.5 months. Those are tight numbers. On the other end, ZIP 90802, Long Beach, had 6.2 months of supply, up 0.4 months from a year before. More supply there means buyers have more room to negotiate.

How buyers and sellers fared on price

In ZIP 90504, Torrance, the Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 51.6% of homes sold above list price. In ZIP 90745, Carson, 54.9% did. In ZIP 90744, Wilmington, exactly 50% sold above list. Those are not small shares. But in ZIP 90277, Redondo Beach, only 20.6% sold above list, down 8.7 points from a year before. In ZIP 90802, Long Beach, it was 20.2%. Pricing still matters, and not every home is drawing multiple offers.

Days on market: a wide range

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a median of 28 days on market in ZIP 90504, Torrance. ZIP 90505, Torrance, was 30 days. ZIP 90503, Torrance, was 32 days. Those are fast. Harbor City, ZIP 90710, was 60 days, up 25 days from a year before. Long Beach, ZIP 90802, was 62 days. Speed is not uniform across South Bay.

The broader picture

Nationally, the National Association of Realtors reported existing-home sales rose 1.5% in September 2026, reaching 3.99 million. Inventory nationally reached 1.60 million homes that month. Zillow reported newly pending sales fell 8.5% year over year in September. That national softness is real. South Bay is holding up better in several ZIP codes, but not every part of this market is immune.

Freddie Mac also reported the 15-year fixed rate at 6.60% on October 29, 2026. Buyers who can use a shorter term are paying less, but the monthly payment is still higher. Either way, rate pressure is part of every deal right now.

What this means for sellers and buyers

For sellers, the data from the three months ending August 31, 2026 shows that tight supply and fast turnover are real in parts of Torrance, Lomita, Carson, and Lawndale. But pricing still has to be sharp. ZIP 90503 saw the median price dip 5% even as homes sold quickly. For buyers, the rate is what it is. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows some ZIP codes have more than 4 months of supply, which gives more room to negotiate.

These numbers cover the three months ending August 31, 2026. One street can read very differently from the whole ZIP code. If you want to know where your block actually sits, text me.