Are you counting down the days until the kids are back in school, or feeling a little sad that summer adventures are winding down? For many of us, this time of year is bittersweet. It’s easy for me to say I’ll miss my boys when school starts—especially since I’m not the one keeping them entertained all day—but there’s something special about having them home, running around, and spending their days outside. Still, I’m excited for fall to kick in! This is when our family jumps into AYSO and other sports, so our days get wonderfully full—full of joy, laughter, and a little bit of sideline cheering.

What was the highlight of your summer? And what are you most looking forward to as we head into our “late summer” season here?

Now, onto the market… July was a bit of a challenge. New listings dropped about 10% compared to this time last year, and homes took nearly twice as long to sell—an average of 65 days on the market compared to just 35 days last year. That’s a big shift! Sellers were also more willing to negotiate, with the average sold-to-list price ratio dipping to 94%—the lowest of the year outside of January. Last year, homes were selling for just over 97% of list price.

That said, my last two listings sold over asking price—proof that when a home is priced right and presented beautifully, the buyers will come.

Thinking about selling or curious what your home might be worth? Let’s chat about how to get your property market-ready and maximize your value.

Mortgage rates hit 10-month low. Will buyers bite? 

Lower rates may not be enough to motivate buyers amid inflation concerns and stalling inventory growth, but economists say a fall upswing is still possible.

The recent drop in mortgage rates has prompted more homeowners to refinance their loans, but it remains to be seen whether the downward trend is tempting enough to spur potential buyers to action.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.58% this week, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey. Though rates are now at the lowest level since late October 2024, they are still higher than this time last year. 

Much of the recent decline occurred after a weak jobs report and mixed inflation data bolstered hopes that the Federal Reserve would start cutting short-term interest rates in September. But those hopes took a hit this week as the U.S. Labor Department reported that producer prices rose 0.9% in July, much higher than the 0.2% consensus forecasts.

If mortgage rates continue to drop despite sticky inflation indicators, future buyer activity will depend on local market conditions and buyers' financial circumstances, according to Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS.

"Markets with more inventory and more room for buyers to negotiate on price could see more buyers taking advantage of slightly lower rates," Sturtevant said. "In addition, higher-income buyers who are feeling more economically secure right now may jump on lower rates. The downtick in rates may not ease the affordability hurdle of other first-time and moderate-income buyers."...

California housing affordability dips in second-quarter 2025, improves from year ago, C.A.R. reports

Nearly one-third of major U.S. housing markets now see falling home prices

Over the last century, L.A.’s love affair with the single-family home has created a suburban sprawl of epic proportions.

Three bedrooms. A white-picket fence. A square of grass for the barbecue.

But for many, the dream of home ownership will never be realized. Home prices have soared, wages haven’t kept pace, and more than half of L.A. residents rent their home. What’s more, the fires in Altadena and Pacific Palisades earlier this year destroyed thousands of homes, sending droves of homeowners scrambling back into the rental market.

The Los Angeles City Council has given final approval to a sweeping rezoning plan to meet state-mandated housing goals, clearing the path for an additional 255,000 homes to be built. But single-family zones will be left largely untouched; the new housing will be developed along commercial corridors and existing dense residential neighborhoods. In the meantime, some municipalities are fighting the state’s housing mandates. 

Market fluctuations and legislative uncertainty make predictions challenging. But some observers believe that by 2050, the fate of L.A.’s housing stock will be decided by one of two competing ideologies:

One of them is associated with many corporate landlords and investment firms, which buy up increasing shares of homes and rent them out to tenants. If they prevail, it’s likely that 2050 will look the same as it does now, only the chasm between the rich and the poor will grow. Home prices will keep rising, as will L.A.’s percentage of renters, according to Tiena Johnson Hall, general manager of the L.A. Housing Department.

The other view comes from a coalition of policymakers, nonprofits and aspiring homeowners who are hoping for a future where L.A.’s homes are within reach of its working class, and properties are owned by the people who live in them.

Their shared vision looks like this: Denser neighborhoods. Smaller homes, some modular or 3-D-printed. Properties co-owned by friend groups instead of just families. ADUs in backyards across the city, many of them separated from their original properties and bought and sold as separate homes.