California: America’s Most Diverse State in 2018

A new study names California as the most diverse state in the U.S., scoring a 70.89 on a 100-point scale based on six major criteria. California ranks as the most culturally diverse state in the country. A separate study released in the spring ranked Los Angeles and Long Beach among America’s 10 most diverse cities. The United States is a nation that was built on...

California Home Listings Improved for the Fifth Straight Month in August

There were 17.2 percent more active home listings in California in August than there were at the same time last year. The median sales price for a single-family home in the state ended the month at $596,410, up by 5.5 percent year over year. The nine-county Bay Area’s median sales price was $935,000, up by 10.0 percent from August 2017 for the 14th consecutive month...

Real Estate Roundup: Silicon Valley Homes Are Selling at the Nation’s Fastest Clip

Here’s a look at recent news of interest to homebuyers, home sellers, and the home-curious. BAY AREA HOMEBUYERS ARE ADVISED TO ACT FAST THIS FALL Intense demand for Bay Area real estate amidst a booming job market means that homes have been selling at a brisk pace for the past few years, and that trend continues as summer 2018 nears its end. Data from the...

Another Survey Highlights the Importance of Schools in the Homebuying Process

Half of Americans with children say that the quality of the school district is important when shopping for a home, compared with only about 10 percent of those without kids. More than one-quarter of homebuyers who have kids delayed a real estate purchase because of child-care expenses. Regardless of whether they have children, 87 percent of all homebuyers employed the services of a real estate...

What Do Americans Want in Their Ideal Home?

More than half of all Americans would prefer to buy a new home. Waterfront homes are the most popular with buyers, while properties near golf courses are the least. Nearly 80 percent of Americans say that their ideal home includes central air conditioning. While a home’s perfect location, size, and amenities are unique to each buyer’s personal situation and budget, about half of respondents to...

Rising Housing Costs Hit the Bay Area’s Most-Affordable Communities the Hardest

Executive Summary: Bay Area home sales decreased by 11 percent year over year in August, the second-largest decline following June’s 10 percent drop, dragging year-to-date sales down by 2 percent. Marin and Napa counties, however, saw increased sales — a positive reversal from previous months. Homes sales slowed notably in Alameda and Contra Costa counties compared with previous months of strong growth. Sales of homes...

Video: August Bay Area Home Sales Report

Check out this short animation offers highlights from June’s Bay Area home sales report. To read the full analysis by Pacific Union Chief Economist Selma Hepp, click here.

Pacific Union’s August 2018 Real Estate Update

The median sales price rose year over year in August in every Northern California region in which Pacific Union operates, ranging from less than 1 percent in Marin County to more than 15 percent in Silicon Valley. Single-family home prices in Napa County reached a one-year high, climbing to $745,000. Click on the image accompanying each of our regions below for an expanded look at...

Real Estate Roundup: East Bay City Ranks Among the Nation’s Best for Families

Here’s a look at recent news of interest to homebuyers, home sellers, and the home-curious. FREMONT NAMED THE THIRD BEST U.S. CITY FOR RAISING A FAMILY Recently named as the least-stressed city in America, Alameda County’s Fremont is now being lauded as one of the nation’s most family-friendly communities. That’s according to an analysis by WalletHub, which ranks the best cities in the U.S. in...