Similar to the scene where the first person to swerve away is labeled the “chicken” and loses, in real estate negotiations, the party who concedes first may feel they’ve lost ground or compromised their position.
Continue readingSan Mateo County Rising Home Prices, Plummeting Transactions, and the Impact on Belmont
Despite homes being above water and values steadily increasing on the Peninsula, the overall market is not in top shape, as the number of transactions is at an all-time low.
Overview:
- Home values are consistently rising on the Peninsula.
- However, the number of home transactions is currently at an all-time low.
Recent Data (Q3 2023):
- In San Mateo County, new listings are down 6.7% compared to a year ago.
- Compared to a more typical year, 2018, new listings are down significantly by 18.3%.
- When compared to the Great Recession in 2008, new listings have plummeted by almost 60%.
Sales Trends:
- Sales have decreased by 15% from last year, 20% from 2018, and 26% from 2008.
Home Prices:
- Despite (or because of) the decrease in available homes, home prices are rising.
- Following the basic economic principle of supply and demand, the limited supply is driving up prices.
- In San Mateo County, home values have increased by 1% since last year, 13% since 2018, and an impressive 46% since 2008.
Local Impact in Belmont:
- In Belmont, the impact of higher interest rates is more pronounced.
- New listings are down by 4.5% from last year’s Q3, but significantly lower by 70% since 2018 and 80% since 2008.
In essence, while home prices are rising due to limited supply, the number of available homes for sale and overall transactions has significantly declined, especially when compared to previous years.
Drew and Christine Morgan are experienced REALTORS and NOTARY PUBLIC located in Belmont, CA. They have been assisting buyers and sellers in their community for over 30 years. Drew and Christine have received the coveted Diamond award and ranked among the top 50 agents nationwide and top 3 in Northern California by RE/MAX. To contact them, please call (650) 508.1441 or email info@morganhomes.com.
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This article provides educational information and is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as real estate, tax, insurance, or legal advice, and it cannot replace advice tailored to your specific situation. It’s always best to seek guidance from a professional who is familiar with your scenario.
BROKER | MANAGER | NOTARY
From Snail’s Pace to Silver Linings: Unwrapping the Real Estate Tale of 2023
It’s almost unbelievable to think of any sector in the Bay Area facing an 18% income drop, but when you couple that with a 25% decline in available homes to sell, it paints a picture that’s not just about numbers—it’s a story.
Continue readingMaximizing Your Real Estate Investment: Unlocking $1.5 Million in Untaxed Gain
If you’ve been residing in your Bay Area home for over five years, chances are you’ve already surpassed the $500,000 capital gains abatement threshold.
Continue reading“Unveiling Housing Trends: Navigating New Listings Decline and Market Fluctuations”
We recently published an article titled “Navigating Bay Area Real Estate: Balancing Wealth Optimization and Limited Data Amidst Shifting Market Dynamics” that sparked significant reader inquiries seeking clarity. Within this piece, we delved into the year-over-year assessment of home values for June, a customary method to analyze housing trends.
However, exploring micro trends can prove beneficial during market volatility. This involves observing month-to-month changes. The challenge in doing so is the presence of seasonal fluctuations in the real estate market. The trends we compiled for San Mateo County and our residing city, Belmont, illustrate a gradual price recovery compared to the preceding article, where annual values had receded in quarters Q2-Q4 of 2022.

Though yet to reach the peak levels of 2022, at least for now, home values appear to have stabilized and are maintaining, if not gently appreciating.

We exemplify this by presenting an illustrative graph generated by Fred®, utilizing the Case-Shiller® data methodology linked here. While this data trails the market by three months, it remains valuable for investors analyzing value patterns. The most recent trend depicted suggests we may have surpassed the market trough and are trending upwards.

Opting for gradual growth is preferable due to its sustainability. The graph we provided indicates growth is so gradual that any economic shift could easily reverse the trajectory.
The market correction following the hyper-growth observed in Q1 of 2002—driven by imminent interest rate hikes—seems to have subsided. The question now is the duration it will take for buyers and sellers to adjust and realize that the era of sub-3% loans is unlikely to return, prompting them to proceed with their life plans.
Sales in the Bay Area have declined by 30%, a result of a similar 30% drop in available new listings.
Presently, prevailing market dynamics impact our housing sector, with both sellers and buyers hesitating due to current interest rates, despite their historical below-average nature.
A further incongruous position we have today is the dichotomy between sellers awaiting price rebounds and buyers finding that prices are already too steep.
According to a recent survey by Fannie Mae, the nation’s primary purchaser of secondary market loans, 82% of buyers believe it’s an inopportune time to purchase a home.
The query remains: When will one of these groups move into action?
Drew & Christine Morgan are REALTORS/NOTARY PUBLIC in Belmont, CA. with more than 30 years of experience in helping sellers and buyers in their community. As Diamond recipients, Drew and Christine ranked in the top 50 RE/MAX agents nationwide and the top 3 in Northern California. They may be reached at (650) 508.1441 or emailed at info@morganhomes.com.
For all you need to know about Belmont, subscribe to this blog right here. You can also follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.
The information contained in this article is educational and intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute real estate, tax, insurance or legal advice, nor does it substitute for advice specific to your situation. Always consult an appropriate professional familiar with your scenario.
Drew Morgan—Broker Associate 01124318 | Christine Morgan—Salesperson 01174047
Co-Owners of Morganhomes, Inc. Licensed under RE/MAX Star Properties 01811140