July 2022

- Tom Brezsny

Shift Happens Part 3

July 25, 2022Continuing the conversation…until recently this was a real estate market that had successfully defied the odds, rewritten the rules, broken all the records and steamrolled over any previously-held notions of normal. It was the longest-running, highest appreciating, craziest-making market of all time, until suddenly, it wasn’t.  With interest rates 2% higher than in March, ongoing stock market volatility,  the highest inflation rate since the 70s and widespread concern about a recession, we’re in the beginning stages of a much broader, more significant shift in the...

- Tom Brezsny

Shift Happens Part 2

July 18, 2022Resuming the conversation… about a real estate market that managed to defy the odds, rewrite the rules, break all the records and steamroll over any previously held beliefs for more than ten straight years… until suddenly, about two months ago, things changed.  The  market that once seemed like it might just keep going up forever now looks increasingly vulnerable. And as more shift happens, buyers will have renewed windows of opportunity at the same time sellers will have to re-learn what it means to compromise....

- Dax Nollenberger

Dax’s Data: 2022 First Half Review

July 14, 2022From all-time real estate highs to a significant regression and fears of a recession, what a wild year 2022 has been. The uncertainty and ever-changing landscape of national and local real estate create unfamiliar fears on both the buyer and seller side. Fears that create inaction for buyers and panic for sellers. The market has certainly changed in the last 6 months. The days of ever-increasing prices and almost guaranteed over-asking bids are, temporarily, over. Replaced by a landscape of increased buyer leverage and more...

- Dax Nollenberger

Rating Santa Cruz Schools- High School

July 11, 2022How are the schools? As a Realtor, this is a question I get almost daily. Frankly, the answer isn’t all that clear. You could ask 100 different students at the school and get 100 different answers because our opinions are shaped by our own experiences. Asking Realtors would produce similar results. So how do we rate schools? It’s a subjective question that is very difficult to quantify. The state of California as well as many internet startups have been trying to answer this question for...

- Tom Brezsny

Shift Happens

July 11, 2022Today’s column begins with a nod to the inevitability of change…  By applying a little poetic license to everyone’s favorite slang expression we get two words that pretty much sum up the state of the real estate market right now: Shift happens!  Yep, the unthinkable has occurred! The Mother of all Markets that was hurtling along at breakneck speed just a few months back, oblivious to rapid inflation or pedestrian concerns like affordability has fallen back to earth and suddenly it seems like it’s human...

- Tom Brezsny

More About Pricing

July 5, 2022For those who have been following the conversation on the shift that’s happening in the market, we’ll return to that next week. Meanwhile... more about pricing. I’m amazed at the number of people out there who still think they have to list their houses higher than what they’re hoping for, in order to get what they really want when they sell. Contrary to the overwhelming evidence this historic, low inventory market has provided, some folks insist on sticking to the powerful conditioning they received in...