Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home in Fresno or Clovis?

By Jason Cortez, Central Valley Broker Associate

The Question Everyone Asks

Every week I get the same question, someone looks me in the eye and asks, “Jason, is now a good time to buy?”
I’ve heard that question through booming markets, tight ones, and the uncertain ones in between.

After helping families in the Central Valley for over twenty years, I can tell you this:
the right time to buy isn’t about timing the market — it’s about aligning your timing with your goals.

Understanding the Fresno–Clovis Market

The Central Valley doesn’t move in lockstep with California’s coastal cities.
While places like San Francisco and Los Angeles are shaped by global economics and luxury investment, our market moves with local jobs, affordability, and lifestyle shifts — things like hospital expansions, school district growth, and the steady migration of families looking for space and value.

Over the years, I’ve seen Fresno and Clovis evolve from “quiet alternatives” to destination communities — great schools, thriving small businesses, and family-friendly neighborhoods that continue to draw steady demand even when interest rates rise.

Market Cycles Are Normal — and Predictable

One of the biggest misconceptions buyers have is that there’s a “perfect” time to buy.
There isn’t. Markets rise, adjust, and rise again.

But in markets like ours, the long-term trend has always favored ownership.
Why? Because we build slower than we grow.
Even when rates go up, inventory doesn’t always follow — meaning prices often flatten, not crash.

In other words:

Waiting for the market to “cool off” can cost you more in missed appreciation and rent increases than you’d save from a small price dip.

The True Math Behind “Timing the Market”

Let’s simplify it. Imagine two buyers:

• Buyer A waits six months hoping prices fall.

• Buyer B buys now, locks in today’s price, and refinances later when rates drop.

If rates fall even 1%, Buyer B refinances and keeps their equity gains.
Buyer A? They’re paying more for the same home later — or they’re priced out because inventory tightened again.

It’s not about “rate watching.” It’s about wealth watching.

Buyers Who Win Focus on These Three Things

1. Monthly Comfort, Not Maximum Budget
   Don’t let pre-approvals dictate your life. Set a budget that supports the lifestyle you want — not one that drains it.

2. Neighborhood Trajectory
   Focus on areas improving in schools, walkability, and new amenities (North Clovis, Harlan Ranch, and parts of Southeast Fresno are great case studies).
   These are the neighborhoods that quietly appreciate even during plateaus.

3. Long-Term Timeline
   If you plan to stay for 5+ years, temporary market noise fades. Homeownership becomes less about timing and more about stability and equity.

The Real Question: Are You Ready?

Buying a home isn’t about outsmarting economists — it’s about aligning your personal life with financial opportunity.

Ask yourself:

• Do you plan to stay in the area for at least five years?

• Is your job and income relatively stable?

• Do you have savings for a down payment and emergencies?

If you can answer yes to those three, then yes — it’s a good time for you.

What I’m Seeing Right Now in Fresno and Clovis

Without quoting exact numbers (to keep this evergreen), I can tell you this pattern holds true every year:

• Inventory remains high giving buyers the ability to negotiation and have more selection

• Homes that are move-in ready still attract multiple offers.

• Sellers who overprice sit longer, but realistic listings still move quickly.

That’s not a “crash” market — that’s a steady demand market fueled by real families, not speculators.

Bottom Line

If you’re waiting for the market to get “perfect,” you’ll wait forever.
If you buy when your life, budget, and goals align, you’ll look back and realize you timed it perfectly for you.

Next Step 

If you’d like a personalized Central Valley home readiness plan, I’ll walk you through what buying today looks like for your price range — no sales pitch, just clarity.
You can reach me directly through my site at JasonCortez.com.

Sometimes the best time to buy isn’t when the headlines say so — it’s when you’re ready to move forward.