Riverside Pending Home Sales Are Down 21% From Last Year: Is the Housing Market Slowing Down?

By Adam Schwarz | 1903 Realty | October 13, 2026

Redfin just reported that U.S. pending home sales fell 4% from August to September 2026, landing at the lowest level since 2014 outside of the April 2020 pandemic freeze. That's a big national headline.

But real estate is local. A national number doesn't tell you what your home in Orangecrest, Canyon Crest, or Mission Grove will sell for. So I went back through Riverside's MLS history, with active listing data going back to April 2022 and pending data going back to June 2022, to see what's actually happening here.

Here's what the numbers show, and here's what that means for you.

What Is a Pending Home Sale?

A pending home has an accepted offer and is under contract, but hasn't closed escrow yet. The pending count is a snapshot of how much of Riverside's housing inventory is under contract on a given day.

It's not the same as the number of new contracts signed in a month. But tracked over time, it's one of the clearest early signals of buyer demand.

Riverside Pending Inventory: The 2026 Trend

Riverside started 2026 slow. On January 12, the city had just 193 single-family homes pending, the lowest count in my entire dataset. January was the only month on record where pending inventory dipped below 200.

January is always a slow month, so one low reading isn't a crash signal on its own. Spring picked things back up. Then the market cooled again heading into fall:

From July 1 to October 1, Riverside pending homes dropped about 23%, while active inventory rose about 12%.

More homes for sale. Fewer homes going under contract.

That's the trend I'm watching most closely.

October 2026 vs. October 2025

Comparing this fall to last fall makes the shift even clearer:

That's roughly 21% fewer pending homes than a year ago.

Here's the interesting part: active inventory is actually slightly lower than last year. So this isn't a story of Riverside being flooded with listings. It's a story of fewer buyers committing. The balance between supply and demand has shifted.

One note on the data: these are point-in-time snapshots on slightly different dates, not seasonally adjusted monthly figures. The direction is clear, but treat the exact percentages as approximate.

Are Riverside Home Prices Going to Drop?

Not necessarily. A slowdown in activity is not the same thing as a drop in home values.

When buyers write fewer offers, sellers have to work harder. Some Riverside homes will still sell quickly, often well-priced, well-prepared homes in high-demand pockets. Others will sit, especially when they're priced above nearby competition.

To know whether slower demand is turning into price pressure, the next numbers to watch are:

• Closed sales
• Median sale price
• Days on market
• Price reductions

I'll be tracking all four and sharing what I find.

What This Means If You're Selling a Home in Riverside

Don't panic. But don't price your home off what your neighbor got in a hotter market, either.

In Riverside right now, three things decide whether your home sells:

1. Pricing. Buyers have options. Your home is being compared to every listing in your price range and ZIP code, whether that's 92506, 92508, 92503, or 92504. The biggest risk in this market is overpricing in your first two weeks, when buyer attention is highest.
2. Presentation. Condition, professional photography, staging, and pre-listing prep matter more when buyers can be selective.
3. Marketing. When fewer buyers are active, getting your home in front of the right ones is the job.

Homes that are priced right and marketed well still draw strong interest in Riverside. The difference is that buyers are more selective, and the market is less forgiving of mistakes.

What This Means If You're Buying a Home in Riverside

A slower market can work in your favor. Depending on the home and its competition, you may have room to negotiate on price, closing costs, repairs, or other terms.

That doesn't mean every seller is desperate. Some Riverside homes are still getting multiple offers. Others are sitting. Knowing which is which, by neighborhood and price point, is where a local read on the market pays off.

My Take on the Riverside Housing Market

Redfin's national report is worth paying attention to. And Riverside's local numbers confirm a real slowdown in homes going under contract compared with earlier this year and with last fall.

But a slowdown in pending sales is not a collapse in home values. The questions that matter now are how many buyers are writing contracts, how fast those homes close, and what prices buyers are willing to pay.

The numbers don't lie, and I'll keep reporting them right here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Riverside housing market slowing down in 2026?

Yes, by pending sales. Riverside had 222 single-family homes pending on October 1, 2026, about 21% fewer than early October 2025, and pending inventory fell roughly 23% from July to October. Active listings held roughly steady, which points to softer buyer demand rather than a surge in supply.

Are home prices dropping in Riverside, CA?

Slower activity doesn't automatically mean lower prices. Overpriced homes are more likely to sit or need reductions, while well-priced homes can still sell quickly. Closed sale prices and price-reduction trends over the coming months will show whether values are shifting.

Is now a good time to sell a home in Riverside?

It depends on your neighborhood, price range, and competition. Sellers who price accurately against current active listings and invest in presentation are still attracting buyers. A neighborhood-level market review is the best way to know where your home stands.

Data sources: CRMLS historical single-family active and pending listing snapshots, City of Riverside, through October 1, 2026. Local pending counts reflect listings under contract on the dates shown, not newly signed contracts per month. National figures from Redfin's October 12, 2026 report, "U.S. Pending Home Sales Sink Near 12-Year Low". For statewide context, see the California Association of REALTORS® market data. For current mortgage rates, see Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey.