FAQ - Market & Timing Questions

  1. Are home prices dropping in the East Bay?

    The answer to your question if home prices are dropping in the East Bay is a mixed bag. There are certain communities where home prices have declined a few percentage points in the last 12 months, and some communities where the home values have risen slightly. An appropriate answer is the the home values in the East Bay are balanced today as opposed to high appreciation during the pandemic. If you compare the East Bay home prices to 2022, there has been a general decline since then by 15% to 20%. So, if you purchased your home in 2022, you will likely need to keep the home a few more years in order to have the appreciation catch up.

  2. Is now a good time to sell my home in the East Bay?

    If you are asking if March is a good time to sell your home, the answer is yes. The first five months of the year are typically a “seller’s market” because of having a lower inventory of homes to sell than in the summer time or fall, with lots of home buyers searching for their next home. If you are referring to selling your home in the summer time, we would recommend you wait until the week after Labor to consider launching your home for sale when home buyers are back from all of their summer vacations. Our local schools start their year around August 10th

    Read more about the best time to sell a house in the East Bay.

  3. What would be a reason why my home doesn’t sell?

    There are actually four reasons why a home may not sell after it goes onto the public market with the MLS; 1) The location of your home is not desirable. For example, if it is next to a big electrical tower, or it is on a busy commuter artery; 2) The condition of the home has not been updated. Today’s East Bay home buyers are looking for a turn-key home they can move into and start living on the first day; 3) The price of your home is way over the current fair market value. It is critical to select the proper price for your home or it will be ignored by home buyers; 4) Economic, world or environmental “wild cards” show up. In the Bay Area in 1989 there was a major earthquake that severely damaged the Bay Area. It was not a good time for home sellers to put their home on the market for sale. When we are in the midst of a world war, it is not a good time to sell a home because of economic issues.

  4. Is now a good time to buy a home?

    The historical statistics of home values in the San Ramon and Diablo Valleys shows the best time to buy a home was yesterday. So, it depends on your financial ability to purchase a home. In the East Bay, as opposed to the midwest of the U.S., there has rarely been a year when home values have not increased. For example, forty years ago, the average home prices in the San Ramon Valley were between $112,000 to $132,000. Today an average home price in the same region is $1.8 million.

  5. What is the best time of year to sell a home?

    While many homeowners assume spring or summer is the best time to sell home, data from East Bay markets the past 36 years shows the strongest price-per-square-foot results occur in the first quarter of each year - January through June

    Early in the year, inventory is typically at its lowest while serious, pre-approved buyers are actively searching—creating stronger competition and upward pressure on prices. We’ve written a full breakdown of the data, trends, and what this means for sellers planning ahead. Read more here →

  6. How seasonal is the real estate market in the East Bay?

    The real estate market in the East Bay is seasonal. The first two quarters of the year are when you may get multiple offers and a sold price above your asking price, depending on the home’s condition. The second two quarters of the year are when inventory of homes for sale is at their highest and it is common to not get multiple offers for your home during those months.

  7. What happens to home prices when interest rates change?

    In the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, it is not home prices that are impacted by higher interest rates, it is what we call the “speed of the market.” This means that when lending rates increase it takes longer to find a home buyer. When interest rates drop it creates significant competition between home buyers because there are no more who can afford the same home. Lower borrowing rates often raise home prices because of the competition between buyers causing the purchase prices to rise. Read more here about a common question we get asked often: "Should we wait for interest rates to drop?" 

  8. How does the Bay Area market differ from the rest of the U.S.?

    The Bay Area market differs from the rest of the U.S for a few reasons. One is that there are high-income job centers, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area with the AI boom, Bay Area markets have been skyrocketing. Another reason is there is limited land with strict zoning, which keeps inventory tight, supporting higher prices and long-term value. Also, the Bay Area weather is close to unbeatable. The Bay Area is packed with trails and activities offering endless opportunities to gather with family and friends throughout the year. Read more about why families are moving to the East Bay. 

  9. What do homes for sale with low inventory actually mean?

    A low inventory of homes for sale in the East Bay means buyers will likely face higher competition with other home buyers. This means there is an urgency for buyers to act quickly, often getting into bidding wars and paying more for the home than the listed price. It means that the supply for homes for sale is lower than buyer demand. This is referred to as “sellers’ market." Read The Bay Area 2026 Real Estate Outlook here. 

  10. What is the “Great Stay” and how does it affect buyers?

    The “Great Stay” is a term used to describe Bay Area homeowners staying in their homes for decades, not because they can’t move, but because it makes more financial sense to stay. Some of the reasons homeowners are staying longer in their homes is due to significant home appreciation, ultra-low mortgage rates, and Proposition 13. Read more about The Great Stay here.