Should You Take Your Luxury Home Off the Market During the Holidays? Not So Fast.

Every year, as the holidays approach, I hear the same question from sellers: “Should we take our home off the market and wait until spring?”

My answer? Not necessarily. In fact, I often encourage my sellers to look at the holiday season as an opportunity rather than a reason to step away.

Having spent nearly 30 years in real estate, I’ve seen firsthand that beautiful homes can and do sell during the holidays. I’ve even sold homes on Thanksgiving! While some sellers are pulling their properties off the market, others have an opportunity to stand out with less competition.

Here in Rancho Santa Fe, Newport Beach, and throughout Southern California’s luxury markets, the holidays also bring visiting friends and family, some of whom may be discovering the lifestyle for the very first time. And sometimes, all it takes is one visit to imagine calling this beautiful part of the world home.

Of course, every property and every seller’s circumstances are different. The key isn’t simply deciding whether to stay on the market or take a break. It’s understanding how to position your home strategically, regardless of the season.

Selling During the Holidays: Less Competition, More Opportunity

Every year, homeowners begin withdrawing their properties from the market as the holidays approach, assuming buyers are too busy celebrating, traveling, or spending time with family to consider purchasing a home.

But what happens when those homes come off the market?

Suddenly, buyers have fewer properties to choose from.

And while there may be fewer people actively searching, those who are looking often have compelling reasons to make a move.

Do luxury buyers really shop during the holidays?

Luxury buyers in Southern California do shop during the holidays, because they don’t necessarily follow the traditional spring selling calendar. In Newport Beach and Rancho Santa Fe, some are purchasing second homes, some are relocating to be closer to family, and others are seeking an entirely different lifestyle. For these buyers, finding the right property matters far more than the time of year.

Sometimes all it takes is one buyer. And you never know when that buyer will arrive.

The Holidays Bring More Than Family Together

Here’s something I’ve witnessed repeatedly throughout my career.

Families gather for the holidays. Children come home to visit their parents. Parents travel across the country to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas with their children and grandchildren.

And somewhere between morning coffee, family dinners, and a leisurely afternoon exploring the neighborhood, something happens.

They begin imagining what life could look like if they lived here, too.

I’ve seen this particularly with East Coast visitors spending time with family in Southern California.

They arrive for a holiday visit, enjoy the sunshine, explore our communities, and suddenly the idea of making a move becomes very appealing.

Perhaps it’s a morning walk along Newport Harbor, the tranquility of Rancho Santa Fe, or the opportunity to spend Christmas overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

There may not be snow on the ground or a traditional white Christmas, but there’s something extraordinary about waking up to palm trees, sunshine, and the beauty of Southern California in December.

The holidays last a few weeks. The Southern California lifestyle is something you can enjoy all year long.

And a holiday visit can become the beginning of an entirely new chapter.

Your Luxury Home May Never Look Better Than During the Holidays

Another reason I love showing homes during the holidays?

They often look absolutely spectacular.

Beautifully decorated trees, soft lighting, fresh greenery, inviting fireplaces, and thoughtfully arranged holiday tables create an atmosphere that’s difficult to replicate at other times of the year.

A well-presented home doesn’t just show buyers its rooms, architecture, and amenities.

It helps them imagine living there.

The warmth, the gatherings, the memories they might create with their own families.

Real estate is certainly about location, architecture, and value. But it’s also about emotion.

And the holidays have a wonderful way of bringing that emotional connection to life.

Don’t Underestimate a Holiday Open House

I’ve always believed that you never know who might walk through the door of an open house.

During the holidays, that becomes even more interesting.

Who comes to a holiday open house?

A holiday open house can draw visitors who are in town for family rather than for a home search. It might be a couple visiting their adult children, grandparents considering a move closer to family, or someone who has spent years dreaming about exchanging cold winters for a more relaxed coastal lifestyle. They may not have arrived intending to purchase a home, but seeing the right property can change that, even if the sale comes in the new year.

When Taking a Break Makes Sense

Of course, keeping a property on the market through the holidays isn’t the right decision for everyone. The important distinction is between making a thoughtful decision and simply following the crowd.

When does it make sense to take a luxury home off the market for the holidays?

Taking a luxury home off the market for the holidays makes sense when the pause has a purpose. The home may benefit from refreshed photography, updated staging, landscaping improvements, or a revised pricing and marketing strategy, or the owners may simply want privacy while entertaining family. For certain luxury properties, private marketing may keep qualified buyers and select agents aware of the home during a quieter season.

Before You Pause Selling Your Home for the Holidays

Ask yourself a few important questions.

Is my home positioned correctly for today’s market?

Does the asking price reflect current market conditions, recent sales, and the property’s unique attributes?

Am I reaching the right buyers?

Does my marketing strategy extend beyond the immediate neighborhood to reach qualified buyers nationally and internationally, including those visiting Southern California during the holidays?

Would waiting until spring genuinely improve my position?

Or would I simply be competing with more inventory when other homeowners decide to return to the market?

And perhaps most importantly, what opportunities might I miss by taking my home off the market?

The Right Buyer Doesn’t Follow a Calendar

Whether your home overlooks Newport Harbor, sits on a private estate in Rancho Santa Fe, or enjoys one of Southern California’s spectacular coastal settings, the decision to remain on the market should be strategic, not seasonal.

Extraordinary properties attract buyers for extraordinary reasons, and those opportunities don’t always arrive on schedule.

I’ve negotiated transactions on holidays, welcomed buyers who were simply visiting family, and watched people fall in love with communities they never imagined calling home.

So before you decide to take your home off the market this holiday season, consider whether staying visible might be your greatest advantage.

Because while everyone else is waiting for spring, your next buyer might already be making plans to visit Southern California for Thanksgiving.

Thinking About Selling or Repositioning Your Property?

Every home has a story, and every property deserves a thoughtful, individualized strategy.

Whether you’re considering selling, evaluating your current listing, or planning for the year ahead, I welcome the opportunity to share my perspective on today’s Southern California luxury real estate market.

Melinda Davala Stockmal
Luxury Property Specialist
Coldwell Banker Global Luxury®
Rancho Santa Fe | Newport Beach | Coastal Southern California | Boston

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