The housing market in Torrance, CA, shifted over the last year, and a lot of homeowners aren't sure where they stand anymore. That's understandable. But a citywide headline number won't tell you what a buyer will pay for your specific property. To get a realistic figure, you have to look past the broad summaries and focus on how homes just like yours are selling right now.

Key takeaway

A Torrance home's value is best estimated from recent sales of its own property type, not the citywide median, which dropped notably over the past year mostly because townhouse values declined. Single-family owners are in the strongest position, with many recent sales closing above list. Condo owners face slower sales and should price against competing listings rather than last year's comps.

Who this guide is for

You own a home in Torrance and are working out what it's realistically worth before you sell, refinance, or question your property tax assessment.

What is your Torrance home worth?

Torrance's citywide median home price sits at roughly $1,174,441, but that headline misleads owners who assume it reflects their specific property type. It is a blend of diverging trends across different housing styles. Single-family home values are nearly flat, dipping just 0.8% year over year. Condos rose 2.7% yet sell slowly. Only townhouses carry a real decline, dropping 4.7%.

If you own a detached house, a news headline about falling Torrance prices is not a reason to discount your property. If you own a townhouse, it's a factor you need to weigh. Either way, a reliable property valuation in Torrance, CA, has to start from your specific property type's recent sales, not the citywide number. You can review broader market trends and forecasts to see how regional shifts might affect future pricing.

Torrance home values by property type

A detached house in Torrance rarely competes directly with a condo unit in the same neighborhood. Inventory levels and buyer demand vary considerably between these categories, so the pricing strategy that works for one will fail for another.

When you pull comparable sales, you need homes that match your style, size, and condition. The sections below break down what the data shows for each type.

Single-family homes

Detached houses represent the tightest segment of the Torrance market. With only 1.5 months of supply, buyers who lose out on a house have very little else to look at. That scarcity is why pricing at or just under recent comparable sales tends to pull multiple offers.

Nearly half of Torrance single-family homes sold in the last 90 days closed above their asking price. A sold-above-list percentage, though, reflects a deliberate list-price strategy as much as it reflects the home's baseline value.

An above-list sale only holds if the buyer's lender agrees. If the appraisal comes in below the contract price, a financed buyer has to cover the gap or renegotiate. A bidding war doesn't raise your home's value beyond what recent comps can support.

Condos

Condo values rose slightly over the past year, but buyers currently have far more choice in this bracket. At the current pace, Torrance condo inventory would take almost four months to sell through, more than double the single-family supply.

At 3.9 months of supply, an overpriced condo gets compared to active listings and passed over. Price cuts later signal weakness. To sell within a couple of months, price against the active condo listings rather than relying on last year's sales.

There's also a set of factors outside your control. High dues, a thin reserve fund, a pending special assessment, or a complex that isn't FHA-approved can all shrink your buyer pool and your price. Ask your HOA for current monthly dues, the latest reserve study, and any planned special assessments before settling on a number. Check whether your complex is FHA-approved using HUD's condominium approval lookup.

Townhouses

A Torrance townhouse sells for almost the same price per square foot as a condo. Buyers are paying for the extra space, not a higher baseline rate. Because they price so similarly on a per-foot basis, comparing your townhouse to a smaller condo by total price will mislead you. Size is the main lever in townhouse value, so compare per square foot and by total size.

This is also the property type where the year-over-year decline is real. A neighbor's sale from last spring likely overstates what your townhouse will fetch now. Give the most weight to the most recent 90 days of townhouse sales.

How to estimate your home's value

For illustration only: a 1,600-square-foot single-family home at the current median price per square foot gives an estimated value of about $1.32 million. That lands very close to the recent $1,329,470 single-family median sale price. It's a useful ballpark before you talk to anyone, but it's only a starting point.

Per-foot medians generally run higher for small homes and lower for large ones. Lot size and condition push the final number up or down, and location within the city shifts the baseline depending on your specific Torrance zip code and the highest-priced areas nearby. School assignments matter too. Check the local schools and confirm attendance boundaries directly with Torrance Unified School District rather than relying on a listing or estimate.

A 100-square-foot measurement error at that median rate moves the estimate by about $82,400. Confirm your home's square footage on the LA County Assessor record and against permits before applying any per-square-foot figure.

When you pull comps, ask for properties of the same type and similar size that sold within the last 90 days, plus current pending sales to show market direction before they close.

Online estimate, CMA, or appraisal: which do you need?

Online automated valuation models can't see your home's condition or recent upgrades. According to Zillow's published accuracy data, the nationwide median error rate for off-market homes is 7.20%, and according to The Boston Globe's analysis, Redfin's median error rate for off-market homes is 7.52%.

If you're planning to list in the next few months, a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent provides a specific pricing opinion based on local knowledge, and it's usually free. Mercedes Van Pelt can prepare a CMA based on recent same-type Torrance sales to help you prepare for selling a home.

If a lender is involved for a refinance or a buyer's mortgage, the number that counts is an appraisal by a licensed appraiser. You can verify any appraiser's license with the California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers.

If your real question is your property tax bill, assessed value is a separate number from market value. Under Proposition 13, your assessed value is set at purchase and capped, so look up your current assessed value on the LA County Assessor portal before comparing it to market value. If you're just checking your position, the at-a-glance figures and the worked example above are enough. If you're preparing to list, reviewing recent comps and planning your home staging will help you maximize your return.

At a glance

• All homes (90 days ending 2026-09-30, 266 sales): median sale price $1,174,441, down 4.9% year over year; median $717 per sq ft; 34 median days on market; 100.7% sale-to-list; 40.8% sold above list; 2 months of supply; 176 homes in inventory
• Single family (90 days ending 2026-09-30, 177 sales): median sale price $1,329,470, down 0.8% year over year; median $824 per sq ft; 29 median days on market; 101.3% sale-to-list; 49.4% sold above list; 1.5 months of supply; 88 homes in inventory
• Townhouse (90 days ending 2026-09-30, 49 sales): median sale price $871,510, down 4.7% year over year; median $613 per sq ft; 40 median days on market; 99.9% sale-to-list; 27% sold above list; 2.2 months of supply; 35 homes in inventory
• Condo (90 days ending 2026-09-30, based on 35 condo sales, a modest sample): median sale price $692,929, up 2.7% year over year; median $609 per sq ft; 51 median days on market; 99% sale-to-list; 23.5% sold above list; 3.9 months of supply; 44 homes in inventory

Torrance property valuation FAQs

How much are houses in Torrance, CA?

The median sale price for a Torrance townhouse is approximately $871,510, while condos sit around $692,929. For a detached house, the per-square-foot math shown in the earlier worked example will give you a closer estimate than a single median figure. A median describes the middle sale in the market, not the specific value of your home.

How accurate are online home value estimates in Torrance?

Algorithms can't see your home's condition or upgrades. Zillow's published accuracy data puts the nationwide median error rate for off-market homes at 7.20%, while Redfin's median error rate for unlisted properties is 7.52%. On a million-dollar single-family home, a 7.5% error means the estimate could be off by $75,000 in either direction.

How much does a home appraisal cost in Torrance?

The cost varies depending on the property, and condos or larger homes can cost more to appraise. The lender usually orders the appraisal and sets the fee, so ask your lender for the exact amount before proceeding.

Is Torrance a buyer's or seller's market right now?

Overall conditions still favor sellers, but less so for condos. Across all 266 homes sold in the most recent 90-day period, Torrance has about 2 months of supply, a median 34 days on market, and a 100.7% sale-to-list ratio.

What's the difference between my assessed value and market value in Torrance?

Assessed value is set at purchase and rises by a capped amount each year, so long-time owners often see an assessed value well below what a buyer would pay today. Under Proposition 13, the maximum property tax levy in LA County cannot exceed 1% of a property's assessed value, and increases in assessed value are limited to 2% annually except when the property changes ownership or undergoes new construction. You can look up your specific assessed value on the LA County Assessor portal.

Can I get my property taxes lowered if my Torrance home's value dropped?

It depends on whether your current market value has fallen below your assessed value. The annual Decline-in-Value (Proposition 8) Review filing period with the LA County Assessor is July 2 through November 30. This review is most relevant to recent buyers, particularly given the townhouse decline recorded over the last year, but confirm your specific situation with the Assessor since this is not tax advice.

Sources

• Redfin: Data Center
• Los Angeles County Assessor: Real Property
• Los Angeles County Assessor: Decline-in-Value
• Los Angeles County Assessor: Property Search
• The Boston Globe: Home value estimates Zillow Redfin
• California Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers: Search Appraisers
• HUD: Condominiums
• Torrance Unified School District: Enrollment Services