As we move through the final quarter of the year, my October 2024 real estate market update provides critical insights into how Berkeley’s housing market is adapting to shifting economic conditions. Despite signs of softening from pandemic highs, the local market...
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September 2024 – Real Estate Market Update
The high interest rate regime that began in March of 2022 was finally reversed when the Federal Reserve lowered it's benchmark rate by 0.50% on September 18th, the first decrease in four years. The move was anticipated but the 'supersized' half-point rate cut was...
August 2024 – Real Estate Market Update
Summer is winding down and we've seen some clear signs that inflation is under control. Unfortunately, it the job market is not looking as resilient as it originally appeared earlier in the year. In my August 2024 real estate market update, I examine the most recent...
July 2024 – Real Estate Market Update
What a rollercoaster the past month has been! A catastrophic debate, an attempted assassination, a vice-presidential pick, a campaign resignation and more. We've also seen quarterly earnings reports from a couple of big tech companies that have had a bearish impact on...
June 2024 – Real Estate Market Update
Welcome to my June 2024 real estate market update! Following early year optimism that inflation had been tamed, the Fed signaled 3 interest rate cuts throughout 2024 in their March Summary of Economic Projections (SEP). Unfortunately, data subsequently released...
2024 Mid-Year Real Estate Market Update
Last December, when the Federal Reserve projected a series of benchmark rate cuts in the coming year, some analysts speculated that mortgage rates—which had recently peaked near 8%—would fall closer to 6% by mid-2024. Unfortunately, persistent inflation has delayed...
May 2024 – Real Estate Market Update
This spring has been quite interesting from a Bay Area real estate perspective. We've seen a healthy increase in homes for sale after a couple of years of very tight inventory. However, even with pent-up buyer demand, comparatively high interest rates have meant many...
April 2024 – Real Estate Market Update
My April 2024 real estate market update comes with some surprising uncertainty. Early in the year it looked like we were on track for a soft economic landing after nearly 2 years of Fed rate increases. The Fed was forecasting 3 rate cuts throughout 2024 and both the...