Selling in Santa Monica · CRMLS data · Updated October 17, 2026
What Is the Best Way to Sell a House in Santa Monica Right Now?
By Listlly · Full MLS listing with a licensed agent for a 1% commission instead of the traditional 6%.
For most Santa Monica homeowners the best way is a full MLS listing with a licensed agent at a 1% commission — which is what Listlly does — because the $1,800,000 median sale (up 189.6% from a year earlier) and -day median time to close show the open market is still paying full value, and 1% instead of 6% keeps $90,000 more of it. A cash offer makes sense only when speed matters more than price; FSBO makes sense only if you can live without the MLS.
- Same CRMLS listingThe one MLS every agent in California uses.
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- Licensed agent, start to finishPricing, negotiation, disclosures, escrow.
Brokered by eXp Realty of California, Inc. · DRE #01878277
| Traditional agent | Listlly | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale price | $1,800,000 | $1,800,000 |
| Commission | 6% · $108,000 | 1% · $18,000 |
| Seller closing costs (est. 1%) | $18,000 | $18,000 |
| You net (before payoff and prorations) | $1,674,000 | $1,764,000 |
Difference: $90,000 more kept with Listlly. Any buyer-agent compensation is negotiated in the purchase offer, if at all, and is not part of either listing.
Four options, compared on the median
Same $1,800,000 home, four ways to sell it.
| Option | Commission | Est. net to you | Time to close | MLS exposure | Licensed representation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Listlly 1% listing | 1% · $18,000 | $1,764,000 | ~ days (median) | Yes | Yes |
| Traditional agent | 6% · $108,000 | $1,674,000 | ~ days (median) | Yes | Yes |
| Cash offer | 0% | ~$1,440,000 (15–25% below market) | 1–3 weeks | No | Optional |
| For sale by owner | 0% | Market price, minus what no-MLS costs you | Unpredictable | No | No |
Net figures are before mortgage payoff and prorations; closing costs estimated at 1% for listed sales.
What the Santa Monica market is doing
A low price-cut share means well-priced homes are moving without reductions.
| Metric | Santa Monica |
|---|---|
| Homes sold (12 months) | 354 |
| Median sale price | $1,800,000 |
| Change from a year earlier | +189.6% vs. prior year |
| Median price per sq ft | $1,124 |
| Median days, listing to close | days |
| Homes for sale today | 251 |
| Median asking price | $1,598,888 |
| New listings, last 30 days | 93 |
| Active listings with a price cut | 0% |
When a cash offer is the right call
Probate, major repairs, relocation on a deadline, or a tenant-occupied property. Listlly provides a cash-offer option alongside the listing so you can compare both numbers on the same home.
Frequently asked
Should I sell my Santa Monica house now or wait?
The median is $1,800,000 (up 189.6% from a year earlier). Timing depends on your next move more than on the market; if you plan to buy in the same market, price changes largely net out.
Is a cash offer worth it in Santa Monica?
Only if speed or condition outweighs 15–25% of value. Get a listing estimate and a cash offer side by side before deciding.
What's the fastest way to sell?
A cash offer closes in 1–3 weeks. A well-priced MLS listing in Santa Monica currently takes a median of days to close.
Homes for sale in Santa Monica right now
More about selling in Santa Monica
Figures are computed from CRMLS closed and active listings with a Santa Monica situs city and are updated monthly. Commission examples compare the customary 6% traditional commission with Listlly's 1%; any buyer-agent compensation is negotiated in the purchase offer, if at all, and is not part of either. Closing costs are estimates. Not a guarantee of price or proceeds. eXp Realty of California, Inc. · DRE #01878277.
Thinking of selling in Santa Monica?
Enter your address and see what you keep with a 1% commission — full MLS exposure and licensed support from listing to closing.