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How do I sell my house in Altadena?

To sell an Altadena home, price it from recent nearby sales, check County records and fire-rebuild status, get your paperwork ready, then list. Sidney Manzo is an Altadena real estate agent who helps owners, heirs and lot sellers through each step, in real estate since 1990. Talk with Sidney about your Altadena home.

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City: Altadena

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Not an appraisal. Equal Housing Opportunity. Sidney Manzo, CA DRE #01108914, licensed in California. Broker: RE/MAX Dream Properties (ASLG Inc), CA DRE #02142193. Terms · Privacy

Median

What is the median home price in Altadena?

$1,380,000

MLS data show a median sale price of $1,380,000 for residential homes in Altadena for 2026 year to date (January–September 2026). This is an area-wide figure, not an appraisal or the value of a particular home.

  • MLS data show a median sale price of $1,266,500 for September 2026.
Median days on market (cumulative)
20 · Sep 2026
2026 YTD: 23
Sale-to-list price ratio
102.9% · Sep 2026
Sale-to-original-list: 102.4% · Sep 2026
Monthly median sale price, Altadena, Residential, Oct 2025–Sep 2026
Monthly median sale price, Altadena, Oct 2025–Sep 2026
MonthMedian sale price
Oct ’25$1,077,500
Nov ’25$1,100,000
Dec ’25$1,450,000
Jan ’26$1,477,944
Feb ’26$1,046,500
Mar ’26$1,000,000
Apr ’26$1,619,000
May ’26$1,400,000
Jun ’26$1,485,000
Jul ’26$1,610,000
Aug ’26$1,810,000
Sep ’26$1,266,500

Source: MLS data, residential, Altadena. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026. Area figures, not a forecast.

Steps

What are the steps to sell a house in Altadena?

  1. 1. Value

    Request a property-specific review of your Altadena address, based on its lot, condition, and comparable sales rather than a citywide median.

  2. 2. Preparation

    Decide which repairs, cleaning, and staging are worth doing before photos, and gather the disclosures the law requires for your property.

  3. 3. Service

    An agent is not mandatory; if you hire one, choose a service level and sign a written listing agreement, which is when representation starts.

  4. 4. Market

    List the home on the MLS with professional photos and descriptions, and schedule showings that work for you.

  5. 5. Offers

    Compare each offer’s price, financing, contingencies, and timeline in writing, and counter or accept only the terms you choose.

  6. 6. Close

    Escrow handles inspections, appraisal if financed, disclosures, and title work until the deed records and the sale closes.

Fees

What does listing service cost in Altadena?

  • 2.5%Essential
  • 3%Full Service
  • 3.5%Signature

Listing-side compensation only. The amount or rate of real estate commissions is not fixed by law. They are set by each broker individually and may be negotiable between the seller and broker. The written listing agreement controls. Signature does not promise a higher price.

Local rules

Which County rules affect an Altadena sale?

General information, not legal or tax advice. Talk with a California attorney or CPA about your situation. Rules as of October 13, 2026; they change, so check the official sources listed below.

County jurisdiction

Altadena is an unincorporated community, so there is no city hall: LA County Regional Planning handles zoning, and Altadena's local development standards sit in LA County Code Title 22, now in the West San Gabriel Valley Planning Area Standards District (Chapter 22.320). Buyers often ask for permit history, so pulling County records early helps avoid delays (accessed October 13, 2026). Source

Transfer tax and recording

Deeds record with the LA County Registrar-Recorder, which lists the countywide documentary transfer tax at $1.10 per $1,000 of value. Only five cities in the county add a city rate (Culver City, Los Angeles, Pomona, Redondo Beach and Santa Monica), and Altadena is not a city, so only the County rate applies. Who pays is set in the purchase contract (accessed October 13, 2026). Source

Eaton Fire rebuild help

LA County runs the Altadena One-Stop Permit Center at 464 W. Woodbury Rd., Suite 210, Altadena, CA 91001, (626) 424-6743, with walk-in hours Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (last call for permits 3:00 p.m.), for help with plans, permits and inspections after the 2025 Eaton Fire (accessed October 13, 2026). Source

Eaton Fire

Can I sell an Altadena home or lot after the Eaton Fire?

Yes. Owners can sell a fire-damaged home or a cleared lot, with or without a rebuild permit in hand. Buyers will ask about debris-removal status, soil testing, utilities and any open County permit, so having those records ready helps. LA County lists rebuild steps and the Altadena One-Stop Permit Center on its LA County Recovers site. Sidney Manzo, an Altadena agent in real estate since 1990, helps fire-area owners compare selling the lot now with rebuilding first, and markets lots to builders and owner-rebuilders.

Market

What is selling in Altadena like?

Altadena is a community of owners. The Census Bureau counted 42,846 people across 8.47 square miles in 2020, living in about 15,092 households, and close to 76.9% of homes there are owner-occupied. It has no city government: zoning comes from LA County Regional Planning, and local standards now sit in Title 22 under the West San Gabriel Valley Planning Area Standards District. Public schools belong to Pasadena Unified, whose 76-square-mile district takes in Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre. Because Altadena is not a city, a sale carries only the County documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 of value; only five cities in the county add a city rate. After the 2025 Eaton Fire, LA County Recovers publishes the rebuild steps that buyers of affected parcels review, and the County's Altadena One-Stop Permit Center on Woodbury Road helps with plans, permits and inspections.

Preparation

How should I prepare an Altadena home for sale?

Start with County records, since Altadena has no city hall to ask. Pull the permit history for the house and any additions, and confirm the zoning standards that apply to your lot. If the property was touched by the Eaton Fire, collect debris-removal sign-offs, any soil testing results and the status of each open permit; the Altadena One-Stop Permit Center on Woodbury Road can help with plans and inspections. For a standing home, clear brush near structures, service the roof and gutters, and fix small repairs a buyer's inspector will list. Then gather disclosures and schedule photos. Keep copies ready for buyers to review.

Timing

How long does an Altadena sale take?

After an offer is accepted, escrow length is set by the contract's loan, appraisal and contingency periods. Lot sales to a builder can move faster, or slower if a buyer wants extra days for soil and utility checks. Before listing, leave time to pull County records. No one can promise how long a home will take to sell.

Situations

What if my Altadena sale involves a special situation?

Areas

Areas of Altadena Sidney works in

Your agent

Who reviews Altadena homes here?

  • Since 1990In real estate
  • 155+Closed sales
  • English & SpanishFluent

Sidney Manzo, Agent, CA DRE #01108914.

  • In real estate since 1990
  • 155+ closed sales
  • RE/MAX Hall of Fame
  • Member, Pasadena Association of REALTORS® and C.A.R.

About Sidney

RE/MAX Dream Properties (ASLG Inc), CA DRE #02142193

Last reviewed by Sidney Manzo.

Questions

What do Altadena sellers ask most?

What is my Altadena home worth?
For a standing house, the answer comes from recent Altadena sales of similar size, lot and condition. For a fire-area parcel, buyers price the land, the cleanup status and the cost to rebuild, so comparable lot sales matter more than house sales. Sidney Manzo, in real estate since 1990, reviews the sales that fit your address and gives you an opinion of likely price. It is not an appraisal.
Is it a good time to sell in Altadena?
That depends on your plans, your rebuild choice and your next move. Per MLS data, the Altadena Residential median sold price for 2026 YTD was $1,380,000. That median covers the whole community; it is not an appraisal and not the value of a particular home, and it reports past sales without predicting where prices go. The useful comparison is your home or lot against recent nearby sales.
What do Altadena buyers look for?
Since the Eaton Fire, buyers ask for debris-removal records, soil results and permit status, and they read LA County Recovers guidance before writing. They also ask which rules govern a rebuild: zoning comes from LA County Regional Planning, with local standards in Title 22 under the West San Gabriel Valley Planning Area Standards District, and the County's Altadena One-Stop Permit Center on Woodbury Road handles plans and permits.Source: LA County Recovers: Eaton FireSource: LA County: WSGVAP Planning Area Standards District ordinance (Title 22, Chapter 22.320)Source: LA County Recovers: One-Stop Permit Centers
Does Prop 19 apply to an Altadena home damaged in the Eaton Fire?
For owners whose homes were damaged or lost in the Eaton Fire, it can. Per the State Board of Equalization, Proposition 19 lets an owner whose principal residence was substantially damaged or destroyed by a wildfire or a Governor-declared disaster transfer its base year value to a replacement home anywhere in California, when the damaged home is sold and the replacement is bought or built within two years of that sale (BOE Publication 802). Whether a home qualifies depends on its facts, so confirm with the BOE or the LA County Assessor before relying on it; this is not tax advice. Sidney will confirm pricing and preparation for the property side.Source: State Board of Equalization: Proposition 19Source: State Board of Equalization: Disaster Relief for Damaged or Destroyed Property (Publication 802)Source: LA County Assessor: Proposition 19
Do County rules, not city rules, apply to my Altadena sale?
Yes. Altadena is unincorporated, so LA County Regional Planning sets zoning and the local standards in Title 22, Chapter 22.320, and County permit records are what buyers review. There is no city resale inspection, and the documentary transfer tax is the County rate only. Pulling County permit history early avoids surprises during escrow.Source: LA County: WSGVAP Planning Area Standards District ordinance (Title 22, Chapter 22.320)
Do I need a real estate agent to sell my home in Altadena?
No. California lets owners sell without one, including owners of lots. Representation begins only with a signed written listing agreement covering services, term and fee. A value review, a phone call or a walk of the lot with Sidney creates no listing agreement. Many owners start there and decide later whether to list.

Sources

Where can I read more about selling in Altadena?

Sources

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Request an Altadena home-value review

A property-specific review of your Altadena address. Not an appraisal and not a promised price. A request does not create a listing agreement.

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Market figures: based on information from California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. (CRF flexmls), retrieved 15 Oct 2026, and/or other sources. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed accurate. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information. © 2026 California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved.