San Diego Market Update, What I’m Seeing Right Now

When Markets Get Messy

Tariffs. Iran war. Headlines every morning that make your stomach drop. When that kind of uncertainty hits, people do one of two things — they panic and freeze, or they move their money somewhere it feels safe.

Stocks got hammered. Crypto's volatile. And suddenly everyone remembers that real estate is a real thing you can actually touch, live in, and build wealth with. That's not a theory — we're seeing it play out right now.

Here's what's actually happening with rates: the 30-year fixed just dropped to around 6.3%, down from 6.46% last week and 6.62% a year ago. When fear hits the market, money floods into bonds, bond prices go up, and yields come down — which pulls mortgage rates down with them. So the same uncertainty making people nervous is also quietly making it cheaper to borrow.

But there's a catch. If someone just watched their retirement account take a hit, or they're worried about their job, they don't call their realtor. They sit tight. They wait.

So right now you've got two groups. One group moving money into real estate because it feels safer than everything else. Another group paralyzed, waiting for certainty that isn't coming.

If you're in that second group — I get it. But understand that waiting doesn't protect you. It just means you're sitting still while the first group makes moves.

What This Means for Buyers

The good news: You have more leverage than buyers have had in three years. More inventory to choose from. More time to think. More room to negotiate — especially on price, credits, and closing costs. And rates are trending down, which means you can always refinance later if they keep dropping.

The catch: The well-priced, move-in-ready homes in desirable areas are still moving fast. If you see something you love and it's priced right, don't assume it'll be there next week. Hesitation is still costing people.

My take: This is the best window buyers have had since pre-pandemic. But "best window" doesn't mean "wait forever." It means be ready, know your numbers, and move when the right one shows up.

What This Means for Sellers

The good news: Serious buyers are still out there, and they're motivated — especially the ones moving money out of the stock market. If your home is priced well and presented properly, it's still moving.

The catch: Overpricing by even 5% is a death sentence right now. Buyers are paying close attention to days on market, and once that number creeps up, people assume something's wrong. The stigma is real. Homes that miss on pricing or presentation are sitting, and sitting turns into price cuts, and price cuts turn into leaving money on the table.

My take: Preparation matters more than it has in years. Pre-marketing, staging, pricing strategy — all of it. The sellers who treat this like a business decision instead of an emotional one are the ones getting top dollar. The market rewards strategy over timing right now.

As always, I'm here if you want to talk strategy, timing, or options.