If you’re hoping to score a great deal on a home in Carlsbad, there’s one place smart buyers are looking right now: homes that have been sitting on the market for a while.
When a property lingers, sellers usually get more flexible, more realistic, and more open to negotiation. And that’s where savvy buyers, working with the right agent, quietly secure opportunities others overlook.
Why This Works: 1 in 5 Homes Has Had a Price Drop This Year
Data from Realtor.com shows that about one in every five listings (20.2%) has lowered its price at least once. This trend is consistent across the country, and it applies directly to buyers in Carlsbad.
Whether you’re searching in:
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Solana Beach
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Oceanside
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Greater San Diego coastal communities
Every price drop is the seller signaling:
“We’re ready to talk.”
That’s your cue to explore the listings most buyers are ignoring.
Your Strategy: Target Homes That Have Been Sitting the Longest
This is where the right local expert makes all the difference. Colucci & Co. Realty Group, led by Nadia Colucci, monitors days-on-market patterns and identifies which sellers are most likely to negotiate.
Why focus on these listings? Because the longer a home sits on the market, the more eager the seller becomes to make a deal.
As Realtor.com puts it:
“Less competition means fewer bidding wars and more power to negotiate the extras that add up.”
These extras often include:
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Closing cost credits
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Repair concessions
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Home warranty perks
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Flexible pricing
Bankrate adds even more insight:
“Sellers may be more willing to lower their prices, or offer concessions, to attract buyers who are still looking.”
And according to the National Association of Realtors: homes that sit longer almost always sell for less than their original asking price.
Translation: patience pays.
Even a Small Discount Goes Further Than You Think
Say you buy a home at 94% of its original list price. It may not seem dramatic at first, but on a median-priced Carlsbad home, that could mean tens of thousands of dollars saved upfront.
Zillow advises buyers to pay attention to these listings:
“Look for homes that have been on the market for a while… You may find a motivated seller who is more willing to negotiate.”
And those savings don't stop today. They can:
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Reduce total interest paid over time
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Lower insurance and closing costs
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Free up budget for renovations or upgrades
Bottom Line: Smart Buyers Look Where Others Aren’t
If you want the best deal possible in Carlsbad, start with the listings that have been patiently waiting for attention.
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1 in 5 sellers are dropping prices
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Many become more flexible each week
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Homes that sit longer often offer significant savings
The best way to find these overlooked opportunities?
Work with a seasoned local expert who knows where the quiet deals live.
That’s where Colucci & Co. Realty Group comes in. With 149 five-star Google reviews, $79M+ closed volume in 2025, and 550+ lifetime transactions, Nadia Colucci brings the insight, negotiation strength, and strategy Carlsbad buyers need.