Cerritos has held its value through a year of higher mortgage rates, and homes that are priced right still sell quickly. What has changed this fall is supply. There are more homes for sale in the 90703 ZIP code than a year ago, and buyers are using that to negotiate. Here is a look at the latest numbers for Cerritos and what they mean if you plan to buy or sell.
Where prices stand
According to Zillow's home value index, the typical home value in Cerritos was about $1,086,000 in September 2026, up 3.6% from September 2025. Zillow's figure covers all homes in the city, including condos and townhomes, and it estimates value whether or not a home sold.
For closed sales, California Regional MLS (CRMLS) data shows that single-family detached homes in Cerritos sold for an average of $1,221,457 in the third quarter of 2026 (July through September). That is up 0.9% from $1,211,063 in the third quarter of 2025, and down from an average of $1,300,152 in the second quarter of 2026. Spring and early summer were the strongest months of the year for price. Month by month, the same data shows an average of $1,269,579 in July, $1,240,284 in August and $1,155,450 in September.
Looking at the whole year, the same CRMLS figures show 149 single-family sales in Cerritos from January through September 2026 at an average of $1,256,515, about 2.8% above the $1,222,607 average for the same months of 2025.
Averages in a city this size can move with the mix of homes that close in a given month. A few larger homes in one month can lift the number, and a run of smaller homes can pull it down. The quarter and year-to-date figures give a steadier picture than any single month.
How many homes are selling, and how fast
More single-family homes sold this summer than last. CRMLS data shows 59 closed single-family sales in the third quarter of 2026, up from 50 a year earlier, with about 20 sales in each of July, August and September. Counting all property types, Property Focus reported about 275 residential sales in Cerritos over the past 12 months as of November 2026.
Homes moved fast. The same CRMLS figures show an average of 17 days in the MLS for Cerritos single-family homes in the third quarter of 2026, down from 25 days a year earlier. Sellers received 99.7% of their original list price on average in the quarter, compared with 100.6% in the third quarter of 2025 and 101.7% in the second quarter of 2026. In other words, homes still sell close to asking, while the bidding that pushed prices over list in the spring has cooled.
Inventory heading into the holidays
Supply is the biggest change from last year. According to Realtor.com's October 2026 data for ZIP 90703, there were 42 active listings in Cerritos, up from 27 in October 2025. New listings for the month were 36, double the count from a year earlier, and 22 listings were pending.
Realtor.com reported a median list price of $1,108,000 for 90703 in October 2026, down 12.2% from a year earlier, with a median of 34 days on market for listings and a median asking price of $649 per square foot. A median list price moves with the mix of homes listed in a given month, so it can swing more than values do. Closed sale data and Zillow's value index both show Cerritos values up over the year.
For wider context, the California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported a Los Angeles County single-family median of $994,670 in September 2026, up 1.2% from a year earlier, with sales down 10.9% and a median of 30 days on market. C.A.R.'s Unsold Inventory Index for the county was 4.0 months, up from 3.7 a year earlier. Cerritos prices run well above the county median.
Mortgage rates
According to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the average 30-year fixed rate was 7.11% for the week of November 12, 2026, down from 7.18% the week before and up from 6.24% a year earlier. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.45%. C.A.R.'s third quarter 2026 affordability report estimated that a buyer of the median-priced Los Angeles County home ($958,450) needed a minimum income of $244,000 to cover a monthly payment of $6,100 including taxes and insurance. At Cerritos prices, the income needed is higher.
Living in Cerritos
Most of the housing in Cerritos is detached single-family homes on tract streets, along with townhome and condo communities. Cerritos is part of ABC Unified School District, which runs Cerritos High School, Gahr High School and Whitney High School in the city. For daily life, Cerritos has the Los Cerritos Center and the Cerritos Towne Center for shopping, the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, and the Cerritos Millennium Library.
For commuting, the 91 Freeway runs through the north part of the city and the 605 runs along its western edge, with the 5 a short drive away. That puts Long Beach, downtown Los Angeles and north Orange County within reach.
What this means for buyers
- Use the extra inventory. With about 42 homes listed in October against 27 a year ago, you have more to compare. See several homes in your price range before you write.
- Be ready for well-priced homes to move fast. The average single-family home sold in 17 days last quarter. When the right home comes up, have your pre-approval, proof of funds and a plan for your offer in place.
- Offers near list are normal. Sellers received close to 100% of list price over the summer. Most of your room to negotiate is on homes that have been listed longer or have had a price cut, and on repair credits after inspection.
- Keep your contingencies. Inspection and appraisal contingencies protect you. With more homes on the market, you are in a better position to keep them.
- Budget at today's rate. At 7.11%, a small change in price makes a real difference to the monthly payment. Know the number you are comfortable with before you start touring.
What this means for sellers
- Price to recent sales. The second quarter average was higher than what homes are selling for now. Pricing to a spring sale tends to add weeks on market and a later price cut.
- You have more competition. New listings in 90703 doubled from last October. Buyers are comparing your home with more homes in the same week.
- Prepare the home. Fresh paint, clean landscaping, working systems and good photos help a home stand out when buyers have more choices. Pre-listing inspections can head off repair negotiations later.
- Plan for credits. Buyers paying more than 7% on their loan often ask for help with closing costs or a rate buydown. Knowing what you can offer up front makes negotiations smoother.
- Think about timing. Activity usually slows from Thanksgiving through New Year's. Listing now means fewer buyers, and it also means fewer competing listings than in the spring.
The bottom line
Cerritos values are up a few percent over the year, homes priced right are selling in a few weeks at close to asking, and inventory is higher than last fall. Buyers have more choice and more room on terms. Sellers who price to current sales and prepare their homes well continue to get results.
Figures are from Zillow (September 2026), CRMLS data (third quarter 2026), Realtor.com (October 2026), Property Focus (November 2026), the California Association of REALTORS® (September 2026 and third quarter 2026) and Freddie Mac (week of November 12, 2026), and were current as of November 2026. Market data changes monthly.
If you want to know what your Cerritos home is worth, or you want a plan to buy, contact Tony Ayoub. Tony is a REALTOR® and mortgage loan originator (NMLS ID 2359276) with The Real Estate Solution in Cerritos, licensed in real estate since 2007, and he speaks English and Arabic.
