All about Life & Real Estate in Silicon Valley – Broker Michael Koo's Blog.

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Check your true 2025 value now because neighborhood-level shifts hide big equity wins.

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Capture pre-winter curb appeal fast since soft fall light makes homes look instantly warmer.

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Fix hidden issues early because pre-inspections stop stressful renegotiations and protect your final price.

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Review taxes now since credits, deductions, and capital-gains rules can massively change your payout.

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Plan your next move early because tight inventory and rising rents can trap unprepared sellers.

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“2026 homebuying feels like marriage—exciting start, lifelong costs most people forget.”

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“Rates stay around 6%, so waiting for miracles quietly shrinks your buying power.”

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“Slower price growth hides rising taxes and insurance quietly eating monthly budgets.”

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“Huge equity gains won’t trigger a borrowing boom because financial insecurity is rising.”

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“Sitting on equity strengthens long-term security, even when 2026 feels financially unpredictable.”

Median sale price as of Oct: $1,597,483
Sellers: 2,564
Buyers: 2,525
Sellers outnumber buyers by 1.6%.
Nationally, sellers outnumber buyers by 36.8%.
San Jose remains extremely expensive but highly balanced.

Bay Area Google stock surged ~65% in 2025, boosting employee home buying power.
NASDAQ investors’ total compensation rose 20%, making Bay Area homes increasingly affordable.

Appraised value is a time-specific professional assessment influencing mortgage terms like loan-to-value ratios.

Appraised value may differ widely from market value, which reflects what buyers are willing to pay.

Lenders rely on appraisals to determine borrowing limits, insurance needs, and overall loan underwriting decisions.

Property conditions, comparable sales, location factors, and neighborhood amenities significantly affect a home’s appraised value.

Strategic improvements such as renovations, energy upgrades, and curb-appeal enhancements can increase a property’s appraisal outcome.

Bay Area home values are expected to decline gradually, with a 6.1% drop by mid-2026.
San Francisco faces steeper decreases than Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles, or San Diego.
Lower mortgage rates in 2026 may boost buyer interest and slow the price slide.
Strong demand, limited inventory, and economic resilience prevent a full market collapse.
Buyers may find opportunities, while sellers should prepare for longer timelines and realistic pricing.

California sees 2% projected listings, still high in absolute numbers.

Movement is slower than other states due to market saturation.

Coastal and suburban areas remain active despite slower turnover.

High home prices limit some buyers’ market participation.

Real estate agents monitor California for selective investment opportunities.

Slide 1 — The Core Secret

Restrictive zoning massively limits LA housing supply — driving prices higher.
Source: JDJ Consulting

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About 74% of LA’s residential land is single‑family only, preventing density.

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Long permitting processes and complex regulations delay construction and increase expenses.

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LA land is extremely expensive; in multifamily projects, it’s ~1/6 of development costs.

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LA’s hills and limited buildable land, plus high labor/construction costs, worsen supply shortages.