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Jim’s Take on the Market
Current Home Pricing
These graphs are updated on the first of the month so these are the latest numbers and they are interactive so you can scroll over to see the individual data. These are tracking the Coastal North region of SD County. You can see the average and median cost-per-sf is...
Half-Year Report
I asked a few local real estate professionals what they thought about the current market conditions, and where the market might be going. The two big title companies, First American and Fidelity (which insures 13-15 other title companies) said that the year-over-year...
Removing All Contingencies
The somewhat-stagnant marketplace should get interesting in the second half of the year. Buyers will sense an opportunity to make aggressive offers, and they might waive all contingencies to help offset their lower price. Can they still cancel the deal later? Q. If a...
Top 20%
The importance of hiring an experienced agent during tough times can't be overstated. Every agent can handle the easy deals in the absence of chaos and uncertainty. But the deals are going down harder than ever now. Buyers are gaining more control of the market every...
Leucadia New
These are as good as anything else at the beach! Plus a peek at a $3.2M in La Costa Oaks.
The Compass Fight
It looks like the Compass vs. Zillow lawsuit could change the world. A long-time broker/attorney filed his response here, and he thinks Compass has a strong case - and Robert Reffkin added his thoughts in the comment section:...
Inventory Watch
Wow - the stack of unsold listings keeps rising, and now up to 612! Comparing to recent years: 2022: There were 15 weeks when the number of actives was between 400-500. 2023: Only three weeks when the standing inventory was just over 400. 2024: There were 28 weeks...
Lowball Season Now
Usually, the lowball season is limited to the 4th quarter each year. With the excess inventory today, some buyers will be attempting to get a deal now. Buyers - Where do you start? Getting a deal on a fixer can be counterproductive because of the time and money needed...
Future Demand
Our head cheerleader is back at it. He is predicting that sales and pricing will increase this year, which is optimistic: Here are the local YoY comparisons: It's been a miracle that sales and pricing this year have kept up with the 2024 numbers. Any Fed rate cuts are...
Vista Valley Closing
Here's an example of how home sellers can get jammed up by lower sales in the surrounding area and the market turning. During the frenzy, any lower-priced sales nearby were shrugged off by the anxious buyers who just wanted to get any house at any price. Not now. Our...
BubbleInfo TV
Leucadia New
These are as good as anything else at the beach! Plus a peek at a $3.2M in La Costa Oaks.
Open House Report
Buyers and agents are noting that the market has changed. Specifically, fewer people are looking at homes for sale, especially during the week when there is little to no activity. It feels more like October than May/June! There has to be reluctance among buyers about...
Our Favorite Deals
NextGen
Our new listing in San Marcos! Are you looking for an almost-new home that's perfect for multi-gen? This beauty has primary suites upstairs AND downstairs, two en-suite bedrooms for kids, plus a separate office and loft too! Extra-large grass backyard, 3-car tandem...
Home Price Formula
Here’s a formula that works well for buyers and sellers (who are smart to lower their price just to keep up). Listings that don't lower their price will stale quickly.
YouTube History
Like most empty-nesters, I spend a little more time on the internet. Last night, I dug up my history on YouTube, which started almost 20 years ago! Having over 2 million views is incredible, and I appreciate the recent resurgence. But I only dream about getting the...
Cost of Convenience
Part of this story is how the buyer-agent compensation played a role in the outcome. It is a sore subject that I detest - the agents should not be a party to the transaction, but because of the botched lawsuit by NAR, the commission rate not only varies, but the...
Coastal-Home Touring
Here's a look at three new listings that were on broker preview today:
Oceanside Harbor
There is nothing like Oceanside Harbor between Dana Point and Mission Beach!
Party Pad With View
Our new listing! 1200 N. Harbor Drive #1B 1 br/1.5 ba, 1,364sf YB: 1976 HOA = $865/mo. LP = $1,299,000 Looking for a full-blown party pad in the middle of all the action? Check out our new listing at 1200 N. Harbor in Oceanside! An ideal vacation home! I hate to...
Market Conditions
Just Wait?
This agent is expressing the same thoughts being told to sellers all across the country today. The vast majority of realtors have only known a raging seller's market over the last 15 years, and they don't know any different. But what if the buyers don't come? It's why...
Current Market Conditions
More on the market conditions being observed around the country: JtR: I don't see many buyer-agents showing properties at all. Open-house traffic is spotty at best and mostly lookers with casual interest. Homes are still selling but sales will likely slow the rest of...
When Will Prices Decline?
These ivory-tower guys have explored the topic of rising inventory and it's relationship with declining home prices - and backed up their conclusions with math that every rocket scientist should love!...
Market Hotness
The San Diego metro area is considered 'Warm' by realtor.com, but only because of the fantastic start we had this year. Our ranking among other metros is plummeting: Jan: #65 Feb: #72 Mar: #96 Apr: #132 My green arrow above points out how if it weren't for the hot...
San Diego Forecast
Hunch: 'Rebalancing' might take longer than expected. Executive Summary San Diego housing market exhibits a pronounced -2.38% YoY price decline with 3,245 unit surplus inventory, creating a buyer-favorable landscape with 29.6% of listings showing price cuts (+50.3%...
All Or Nothing
The current chaos combined with the decline of the buyer-agent is causing buyers to stay on the couch - unless they see a compelling deal online. With high rates and prices, you can't blame them for being very picky! Yet there are still lucky sales happening. Ones...
Notes For 2026 Sellers
For those potential sellers who are already writing off 2025 and plan to sell in the new year instead, note how the selling season has been starting sooner than ever. Peak pricing last year in Coastal North was in February, and this year it was January (scroll over):...
Vista Valley Closing
Here's an example of how home sellers can get jammed up by lower sales in the surrounding area and the market turning. During the frenzy, any lower-priced sales nearby were shrugged off by the anxious buyers who just wanted to get any house at any price. Not now. Our...
NSDCC Sales & Pricing, May
The doomers might get excited about the cost-per-sf dropping by 3.1% and 2.6%, respectively, but because sales are holding up well, there isn't any panic. It's a healthy exercise of how pure/unsupported markets should work!
Open House Report
Buyers and agents are noting that the market has changed. Specifically, fewer people are looking at homes for sale, especially during the week when there is little to no activity. It feels more like October than May/June! There has to be reluctance among buyers about...
Thinking of Buying?
Trendy Tuesday – Natalie
Is it possible to own real estate in your 20s? My boyfriend Ryan and I have talked about our desire to buy property for as long as I can remember. We just celebrated our 7-year anniversary and I think we've talked about homeownership the entire 7 years. As we grow...
Buyers Beware
I wrote a purchase contract for a buyer this week. There were 41 pages. Let's add that to the list of hurdles for buyers in 2025. There are several search portals that display home listings publicly and free of charge. But it doesn't make it any easier to find a good...
Getting A Deal
Earlier, I was preparing for the appraisal of our 1,944sf listing on Birdie, which is in escrow for $1,125,000. I always bring the comparable sales with me to help out the appraiser. They want to use comps whose square footage are within 10% of the subject property,...
Home Price Formula
Here’s a formula that works well for buyers and sellers (who are smart to lower their price just to keep up). Listings that don't lower their price will stale quickly.
Sellers Go First
Usually Donna writes the introduction to our newsletter, but I took a stab at it today: Hi, Jim here! I've been asked to describe the current market conditions as we enter summer. Our local market is defying the usual labels. If it were a pure buyer's market, then...
Buyer Testimonial
I'm reluctant because these can be taken as bragging, plus there are the trolls - one of which left the first comment on YouTube (since deleted) that "testimonials = desperation". But this video should help viewers get a feel for what it's like to work with us. I'm...
Sellers: “Full Price or Higher”
They're not going to give it away! Amid growing economic uncertainty, recession fears, and continuing tariff turmoil, there's a glimmer of hope among homeowners who say that they are still feeling very optimistic about getting top dollar for their properties—with many...
Buyer Tip When Making An Offer
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Glennda Baker Atlanta (@glenndabaker)
Real Estate Mistakes
Mistakes when buying or selling a home can be very costly - Get Good Help! https://www.opendoor.com/articles/homeseller-report
What Jim Does
Thinking of Selling?
Notes For 2026 Sellers
For those potential sellers who are already writing off 2025 and plan to sell in the new year instead, note how the selling season has been starting sooner than ever. Peak pricing last year in Coastal North was in February, and this year it was January (scroll over):...
Seller’s Best Interest
Compass agent Ben Faber started a discussion: JtR: If you find a halfway-decent home, it will probably be in the first seven days it’s been on the market. It’s when the listing agent goes into full defensive mode and all communication turns vague because they are so...
Inventory Watch
It's obvious this year that the market is tough and sellers aren't able to demand everything they want like before. It will probably cause more sellers to cancel sooner, and others to not try at all. The inventory count may hover around 500-ish for a couple of more...
Home Price Formula
Here’s a formula that works well for buyers and sellers (who are smart to lower their price just to keep up). Listings that don't lower their price will stale quickly.
Sellers Go First
Usually Donna writes the introduction to our newsletter, but I took a stab at it today: Hi, Jim here! I've been asked to describe the current market conditions as we enter summer. Our local market is defying the usual labels. If it were a pure buyer's market, then...
Donna’s Advice for Sellers
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Klinge Realty Group @ Compass (@klingerealtygroup)
NSDCC Monthly Listings
With the unsold listings piling up everywhere, I went to check the stale factor (above) and was surprised to see that the ratio of the active listings on the market for 15+ days was actually lower than it was previously. It must mean that there has been a flurry of...
Today’s Home Sellers
According to Opendoor’s new First-Time Home Seller Report, the COVID-era buying spree is not only over, it is biting back. The low-interest rate buying frenzy in 2020 and newfound flexibility with remote work led to a wave of regret - 79% of first-time home sellers...
More Seller Tips
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Klinge Realty Group @ Compass (@klingerealtygroup)
Sellers: “Full Price or Higher”
They're not going to give it away! Amid growing economic uncertainty, recession fears, and continuing tariff turmoil, there's a glimmer of hope among homeowners who say that they are still feeling very optimistic about getting top dollar for their properties—with many...
North County Coastal
Current Home Pricing
These graphs are updated on the first of the month so these are the latest numbers and they are interactive so you can scroll over to see the individual data. These are tracking the Coastal North region of SD County. You can see the average and median cost-per-sf is...
Current Market Conditions
More on the market conditions being observed around the country: JtR: I don't see many buyer-agents showing properties at all. Open-house traffic is spotty at best and mostly lookers with casual interest. Homes are still selling but sales will likely slow the rest of...
More on May Sales
Bill is showing a 9.4% decrease in SD May sales, year-over-year. But around the north coastal area, sales have been holding up. The NSDCC sales in May were +7% YoY, and for the first five months, it's +6%! We can live with those! The number of off-market sales (which...
La Costa View One-Story
I have curated this group of NSDCC one-story listings for several years now. If you want to subscribe to this feed, either send me your email or you can set up an account at compass.com. I mention it today because I think Julie's listing on Fosca (second listing) has...
Tariffs Behind Us?
The tariff talk is settling down, the stock market looks fully recovered, we got a new pope, and the President is getting a new airplane. Can we get back to selling homes now? Usually we consider a 'healthy' market to have a ratio of 2:1 actives-to-pendings. Above is...
NSDCC 2025 First Third
Let's compare the year-to-date action to last year! The sub-markets in green are holding up nicely. The additional listings coming to market are being absorbed, and the current number of active listings are around 4 months' worth or less. Rancho Santa Fe is a good...
NSDCC Monthly Sales
Today, let's judge our market purely by the number of sales. Sales are the precursor of where the market is going. NSDCC Monthly Sales, Jan 1 - Apr 30 2024: 570 2025: 578 There have been 166 closings this month so far, and with one day to go plus the late-reporters,...
NSDCC Sales & Pricing YoY
The NSDCC sales and pricing looks a lot like it did last year, which is the definition of Flat City. It gives us some assurance that the market is steady, at least in the rear-view mirror. But let's break it down into the individual areas to see if there are any...
NSDCC Below & Above $3,000,000
A reader asked to split the market at $3,000,000 and take a look around. They made a good point. All that matters is what's happening in your neighborhood of interest. Analyzing larger samples can only give us suspicious facts. I keep saying how another 15% to 20%...
Frenzy Monitor
Frenzy may not sound applicable these days.....but look at La Jolla getting off to a hot start and leading the pack with 38 pendings, just like last year! The 92067 is angling towards their pre-covid standard with a 9:1 ratio of actives-to-pendings. Our normal gauge...
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Get In Touch
You can call, text, or email us to see how we can help. We're happy to discuss your situation and offer our assistance.
Jim Klinge @Compass
682 South Coast Highway 101, Suite 110
Encinitas, CA 92024
(858) 997-3801 call or text
klingerealty@gmail.com
CA DRE #01527365, CA DRE #00873197