The first quarter of 2026 ended with a jolt. A gasoline-driven inflation spike, a geopolitical shock in the Middle East, and a Federal Reserve firmly on hold have reshaped the rate outlook for the rest of the year. Here in Berkeley, though, the spring market is...
The first months of 2026 have brought a lot of noise at the national level, between a weakening jobs picture, stubborn inflation, and a geopolitical shock that has upended rate expectations for the rest of the year. Locally, the story in Berkeley is different: tight...
After a few months away from this newsletter, I’m back and there’s a lot to cover. The year started with a national housing market hangover from December’s strong finish, a fresh round of economic data, and a Federal Reserve that remains in...
Will 2026 be the year buyers stop waiting? Forecasters are split, predicting anywhere from 1.7% to 14% growth in home sales. That 12-point gap reveals the central question facing the housing market: how much will slightly lower mortgage rates and slowly eroding...
As we move past the midpoint of the year, the relationship between national economic trends and the local real estate market is becoming increasingly important for both buyers and sellers. My August 2025 real estate market update begins with the most recent economic...