Hold Period — Cities of California

Cities of California ranked by average flip hold-period.

Public Record

Currently viewing: California · View nationwide

National avg hold

0.93 yr

Fastest-flip state

—

Longest-hold state

—

Flip pairs analyzed

41,295

Fastest-flip states (shortest avg hold)

Longest-hold states

City ranking — California (avg hold period)

Cities in California (sample ≥ 20 flips)

Sorted shortest to longest

#	City	Avg hold (yrs)	Avg hold (mo)	Avg gain %	Sample
1	San Lorenzo	0.43	5.2	+60.7%	22
2	Armona	0.48	5.8	+77.4%	22
3	Bloomington	0.52	6.3	+173.0%	33
4	Carson	0.55	6.6	+43.9%	75
5	Norwalk	0.55	6.7	+40.8%	59
6	Montclair	0.56	6.9	+48.4%	27
7	Lemon Grove	0.57	6.9	+44.9%	66
8	Rialto	0.58	7.1	+45.8%	102
9	La Puente	0.58	7.0	+53.1%	96
10	Dinuba	0.59	7.2	+132.1%	44
11	Cerritos	0.60	7.3	+37.7%	24
12	Wilmington	0.60	7.3	+85.4%	28
13	Concord	0.60	7.3	+44.6%	118
14	Bay Point	0.61	7.4	+52.1%	36
15	Bellflower	0.61	7.4	+64.0%	38
16	Bonita	0.61	7.4	+56.0%	29
17	Union City	0.62	7.6	+56.3%	47
18	Suisun City	0.62	7.6	+58.3%	34
19	San Bruno	0.62	7.6	+103.5%	20
20	North Highlands	0.63	7.7	+49.4%	92
21	Lynwood	0.63	7.6	+45.4%	24
22	Pico Rivera	0.63	7.7	+51.7%	39
23	Pomona	0.65	7.9	+51.6%	128
24	Gardena	0.65	8.0	+45.2%	60
25	Huntington Park	0.66	8.1	+86.9%	21
26	Monterey Park	0.66	8.1	+49.6%	31
27	Delano	0.66	8.0	+71.8%	45
28	Buena Park	0.66	8.0	+40.3%	58
29	Richmond	0.67	8.2	+58.4%	87
30	Spring Valley	0.67	8.2	+53.0%	118
31	South San Francisco	0.67	8.1	+63.0%	22
32	Fremont	0.67	8.1	+44.2%	64
33	South Gate	0.67	8.1	+55.6%	32
34	La Mirada	0.68	8.3	+35.0%	37
35	Whittier	0.68	8.2	+45.6%	157
36	El Sobrante	0.68	8.3	+83.6%	28
37	San Pablo	0.68	8.2	+62.7%	44
38	Pittsburg	0.69	8.4	+63.2%	51
39	Winnetka	0.69	8.4	+48.1%	54
40	West Covina	0.69	8.4	+42.0%	59
41	Vallejo	0.69	8.4	+60.4%	107
42	Hacienda Heights	0.69	8.3	+64.9%	35
43	Lake Los Angeles	0.70	8.5	+62.4%	37
44	El Monte	0.71	8.6	+43.8%	34
45	Castro Valley	0.71	8.7	+67.0%	27
46	Lancaster	0.71	8.6	+80.0%	431
47	Compton	0.71	8.7	+57.3%	174
48	San Bernardino	0.71	8.7	+69.2%	425
49	La Habra	0.72	8.8	+54.7%	61
50	Citrus Heights	0.72	8.8	+62.5%	108

What hold period tells investors

Liquidity signal

Short average holds (under 2 years) indicate a liquid market — properties trade often, exit timing is flexible, and capital recycles quickly. Long holds (5+ years) suggest fewer buyers, slower exits, and higher carry-cost risk.

Flipper vs. landlord markets

Markets where typical investors hold 3–9 months are dominated by fix-and-flip operators. Markets averaging 5–10 years are dominated by buy-and-hold landlords. Choose the strategy that matches the market — don't fight it.

Caveats

This metric reflects only properties that resold. True buy-and-hold landlords who never sold during the data window are invisible here. Treat the numbers as a relative ranking across states, not an absolute hold-period truth. Source: public record.