Real Estate

A massive challenge for every Californian Californians have a huge challenge when they want to become homeowners. The average home price in our state is $760,800, significantly above the national average of $428,700. In the Bay Area, it is even worse: $1,084,500 is our regional average.  With these numbers, becoming a homeowner for the first time might seem nearly impossible. On top of that,...

A family-only project no longer Buying a home is a big decision and usually involves a couple or family. This is because the family life cycle usually triggers housing investments: from an apartment for a young couple to a large house with a backyard for a growing family to a condo in a sunny destination for retirement. Family is the biggest motivator for home buying.  So, it might be a surprise...

The "slow" months for real estate are here! Winter will officially begin in our part of California on December 21, 2022. We all have noticed lower temperatures and an end-of-year mood and decorations.  We tend to think Winter is a slow season for real estate sales. But a tight inventory of homes across the country, especially in California, has changed market trends. And there are some reasons why...

Moving is part of life in America Statistics reveal that moving is part of being American. For example, in 2020, 8.2% of all Americans moved from one primary residence to another. That is about 27 million moves! There are significant seasonal trends to moving. For example, 40% of all moves occur in June, July, and August. Conversely, only 5% of moves happen in November and December. The reasons for...

Life is about changes. Life is a series of changes. Every day and every season brings new challenges and the need to adapt to unique circumstances. And not only in our personal lives but also in our decisions regarding our real estate property.  Many different personal circumstances may bring us to the point of choosing between selling a house or renting it to tenants. Those might be long-term (or...

  The cornerstone of the American dream Owning your own home has historically been seen as one of the main lifetime achievements of Americans. This perception is accurate for Americans of all ages and ethnicities that make this great nation.  The most recent data reveals that 66% of Americans live in homes they own. That is impressive compared to other rich countries such as Germany (49.5%)...

We are living now fully in the Fall season of 2022. Temperatures are falling steadily, and our parks and gardens are less lush. People are busy planning their end-of-year holidays or finalizing their financial projections and budgets for 2023.  Is such a family and professional environment the right time to consider buying a home? The answer is that yes, it is! There are many reasons why the Fall...

California leads the nation Our state is leading the nation again! The state enacted legislation banning the sale of gas-powered cars and trucks after 2035. The motivation of this law is to reduce the emission of gasses that contribute to climate change.  We expect many other states to follow California in this monumental change. The implications for supply chains, retail commerce, and housing...

A new normal It's undeniable that the real estate market has been through a very abnormal period since the pandemic started. The graph below shows the % change in pending sales every month from Jan 2018 to Aug 2022. You see a big dip in April of 2020 when the stay-at-home order was implemented. You also see the pending sales dwindling as the interest rate started to rise in 2022. The Bay Area...

A looming slowdown The national housing market is sending signals of a slowdown, including in the Bay Area. As I mentioned in my last blog post, the real estate market fundamentals are changing very fast, and I want to keep you well informed to adapt to these changes.  The trends are changing. More homes are available for sale and potential buyers now have increased negotiation power. In San...