Now that the market is slowing down, many homeowners in Conejo Valley—including Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Camarillo, and Calabasas—who haven’t sold at the price they were hoping for are pulling their listings off the market. According to Realtor.com, the number of sellers taking homes off the market is up 38% since the start of this year and 48% since last June. In fact, for every 100 new listings in June, about 21 homes were withdrawn.

And if you’ve made that same decision, you’re likely disappointed that things didn’t go the way you planned. It can feel discouraging when the local real estate market doesn’t seem to work in your favor. But while slowdowns are tough in the moment, history shows they don’t last forever.

History Repeats Itself: Proof from the Past

This isn’t the first time the U.S. housing market—and real estate here in the Conejo Valley—has gone through a major slowdown:

• 1980s: When mortgage rates climbed above 18%, home sales froze. Once rates dropped, the market surged again.

• 2008: The Great Financial Crisis hit both sales and home prices hard. Yet, once the economy improved, sales rebounded.

• 2020: During COVID, activity nearly disappeared overnight. But demand bounced back faster than anyone predicted once restrictions eased.

The lesson is clear: no matter the cause, the market always rebounds.

Today’s Housing Market: Where We Stand Now

In Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, and nearby markets, sales have been sluggish these past few years. One key reason is affordability. Mortgage rates spiked at record speed in 2022 while home prices continued to rise, pushing many buyers out of reach. With demand slowing, so did sales.

The Outlook: Why Real Estate Will Improve

Here’s the good news: forecasts project sales will pick up as we move into 2026.

Last year, about 4 million homes sold nationwide, and 2024 is trending at a similar pace. But according to Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales are expected to climb to around 4.6 million by 2026.

A big reason behind this growth? Experts anticipate mortgage rates will ease, opening the doors for more buyers across Conejo Valley communities like Agoura Hills, Oak Park, and Simi Valley.

That means today’s slowdown is just part of a natural housing cycle. Just like the 1980s, 2008, and 2020, today’s dip in sales is temporary.

What This Means for Conejo Valley Sellers

If you’ve paused your moving plans, you made the best choice you could at the time. But remember—housing slowdowns don’t last forever.

That’s where working with a trusted Conejo Valley real estate agent matters. The right agent will track mortgage rates, buyer demand, and local market shifts in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, and surrounding areas. When the rebound begins, they’ll help you relist at the right moment so you don’t miss out.

Bottom Line

If the current real estate market feels stuck, keep in mind—it’s never stayed down for good. Housing activity always returns, and people start moving again.

So, let’s connect. Whether you’re in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, or anywhere in the Conejo Valley, we’ll help you decide: as activity picks up, will you be ready to put your home back on the market—or do you need to move sooner?