Author Archives: Frank Atrash

2023: A ho-hum year– but definitely not 2008

Sunny San Diego has been not-so-sunny over the past week and a half, with a much needed rainfall to make our city more green. The weather isn’t the only thing that’s overcast, however- 2023 is shaping up to be a cloudy year for real estate.

The good news is that it won’t be as bad as it could be- prices will be in flux, but it won’t be nearly as bad as things were in 2008. The economic landscape is shifting in a good way thanks to multiple outside factors.

National Forecast

San Diego Forecast

Overall, things are looking sunny for the future, despite things being overcast right now. Just like the rain in San Diego, wait it out and you’ll be rewarded with green as far as the eye can see.

Swimming Through Statistics

Hello everyone, it’s great to sea you again. Life in sunny San Diego is looking up, so there’s no need to fish for good weather- just head on down to the beach to catch some sun and hook up with a relaxing afternoon! And if that’s not good enough bait to enjoy the city, then it’s a good thing your surfing has brought you here, because I can take you on a deep dive through the local area statistics from this past month.

Last month, the San Diego real estate market swam upstream at a historic pace, rushing through the rapids like the average days on the market- which fell to 18 days! The countywide median home price continues to tread water at around $850,000, and plenty of deals around San Diego are finishing with a bang! Don’t play koi with this market- things are looking up, so water you waiting for?

If you’re looking for more information on the statistics, you can coast on over to this website. And if you’re reeling from this information and can’t make heads or tails of it, then give me a call! I’m always willing to help you wade through information you don’t understand.

Marching Forwards in Economics

Howdy all! It’s been a busy year so far, and it’s only getting busier. March brings some good news for the market, and some positive trends that will hopefully remain throughout the year. More jobs, unemployment is down, improvements around the city, and more!

It’s not all good news though- less people are selling their homes, which means parts of the market are at a standstill. Additionally, homes that have a lower price aren’t appearing on the market as frequently! But the sales of homes with high prices were up this year, so it’s not all bad news either.

If you’d like more information, feel free to read through this packet. And if you’re still confused afterwards, feel free to give me a call.

Early Year Updates

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all doing well! It’s a new month, and that means that new information has come into the market. Based on the information that’s been gathered, things are looking up!

The Sales and Price Report from January indicates that not only are Mortgage payments up from last year, but the median home price has declined to the lowest it’s been since March of last year. Sales have had the smallest drop they had in six months, and the median time on the market remains below pre-pandemic levels.

On the other hand, the February housing sentiment index indicates that people are shying away from the market. While many people are interested in selling their homes, not many people are interested in buying – nor do they believe it’s a good time to buy a home in the first place. While the market is in good condition, people are hesitant to engage in the market.

If you’re worried about the housing market or have any questions about it, let me know and I can walk you through it!

Cheaper to rent than buy?

The long and short of it is… it depends! In some places, it’s cheaper to rent than it is to buy. But in others, it’s much more practical to buy than it is to rent.

The data largely depends on where you are and what you’re looking for, with a dash of how much money you make. Of course, the best option is to do your own research, whether that means gathering information on your own, or contacting someone—like me!—who can walk you through the process.

If you’d like to do your own research, this article is a good place to start. It goes more into depth about why it may be more effective to buy than rent or vice versa. If you have any questions, or need any help with the market, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Is a Real Estate crash coming?

Short answer? No! In fact, things are looking up for 2022. The market is stabilizing as we slowly even out into something resembling a functional economy in the aftermath of the pandemic.

The long answer is that while a crash isn’t coming, it’ll take some time to balance the market properly. New houses aren’t going to be ready until the latter half of 2022, which means that the first half of the year likely won’t see that much in major changes to the Real Estate market. There’s also a consensus that the price growth rate will decelerate in turn, so that more people can afford to have a place of their own- but these numbers will likely only slow down once there’s more houses for everyone.

With how chaotic the world has been over the past two years, it’s difficult to determine exactly what’s going to happen- but with more of the world coming out and seeking out changes, it’s safe to say that while the market will stabilize we’re not out of the woods just yet.

If you’re looking for more details, check out this article– and if you’re looking for clarification or have any questions, feel free to reach out to me.

Give Thanks and Give Back!

Happy Thanksgiving to all. This month I would like to encourage my friends and family to Give to those in more need. I am raising money for Feeding San Diego, a local non-profit that helps those in most need. We can not imagine a Thanksgiving without food so let’s help others with that joy.

FOUR FOR ONE!

For each dollar you give, I will match it. The organization’s corporate donors will do the same. So let’s stretch your donation four times by giving now.

FREE COFFEE OR PIE!

If you give I will also personally thank you with a pie or coffee on me. And hopefully, I can do so in person with you and remember that the best thing about Thanksgiving is the people we spend it with.

Click here to visit my fundraising page!

Thanks in advance! Enjoy your family and have a great holiday season!

Something’s Phishy!

Do you know how to tell if cybercriminals have gone “phishing” for your personal information? Learning to spot the red flags of a suspicious email helps make it so the identity thieves never get their big catch. The below info-graphic gives some tips for identifying fake emails so you can click with confidence and keep your personal information protected. Remember these best practices whenever you run through your inbox!

In addition, you can apply some of these methods to suspicious phone calls as well. Before you leap into action, consider the following:
• Is the call coming from an official business phone number? If you don’t know it, check the company’s number online.
• Verify whether or not what actions they want you to take can be handled elsewhere. If what they want can only be done over the phone, there’s a good chance that it’s someone phishing for information or money.

Don’t allow phony deadlines to cloud your judgement- think carefully before you take any action, no matter the circumstances!

Would You Believe? 1 Million New Jobs Added Last Month In The U.S.!

Hello everyone! Hope you’re keeping well as we move into the school year. With bodies bustling around and people traveling to drop off students more frequently, it’s important now more than ever to do everything you can to maintain good health and the safety of those around you.

In more recent news, there’s more job opportunities in our country, and unemployment numbers are down! 1 million new jobs are in need of filling, and unemployment is down to 5.4%. With job opportunities everywhere, the future is looking bright!

If you want more detailed information, then this information packet will have what you’re looking for.

As always, it’s great to hear from you. If you have any questions- whether about the information packet, real estate in general, or anything else- don’t hesitate to reach out to me!

Booming Economy Drives Resales In Latest News On Home Front

Hey all! Hope you’re staying cool this summer. It’s looking to be a hot one, so remember to stay hydrated and make sure your furry friends have a cool place that they can rest.

This month we’re looking at the economic report from last month. As the country starts to recover from the Covid Pandemic, the numbers on a country-wide scale are looking up. Unemployment has gone down, as have Initial Unemployment Claims, and the amount of jobs have gone up. In addition, those with a college degree have a low unemployment rate as well.

San Diego’s rates are looking good as well, with many of the same trends on a grander scale. In addition, California has a lot going for it- with more venture capital, business starts, and college applications.

If you’d like to see more information on that and more, check out the following PDF!

That’s all from me for this month. If you have any questions about what you’ve just read, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.