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June in History

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  “Just Thinking" I had my topic picked out and had been holding onto it for a couple of weeks, an article I came across in SFGate back in May. I’ve been keeping it in my back pocket, like a bullet in the chamber, ready to fire at the right moment. But before I get into that, there were several impactful events that took place during the first week of June throughout history. I’ll share a few of them and you can decide if they resonate with you as much as they do with me. June 2, 1935 — Babe Ruth retires from baseball, marking the end of one of the most transformative careers in the history of the game. Yet even as he stepped away, his influence continued to shape generations of the ball players who followed. The first time I remember hearing about Babe Ruth was in the 5th grade, I was a little late to the Babe’s story, but still not as late as Smalls. We had a weeknight game at Balboa Field, one of those cold, foggy evenings in SF. A coworker of my dad’s came out to watch us play...
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Existing-Home Sales Hit Highest Level Since December

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  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter NAR's May 2026 Existing-Home Sales report is out. Here's what the numbers show and how to use them with clients this week. Existing-home sales just hit their highest level since December, up 3.2% month-over-month and year-over-year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million.  Prices reached a record high for May even as affordability improved across every region. Here’s what NAR’s May 2026 Existing-Home Sales report shows and how to use it with clients this week. What the Numbers Show Existing-home sales rose 3.2% from both last month and a year ago, landing at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million in May. That’s the highest sales pace since December, with momentum showing up in three of four regions month-over-month and year-over-year. The national numbers: $429,300 median price, up 1.3% YoY, a record high for May 35th consecutive month of year-over-year price increases 1.55 million units of inventory, up 3.3% ...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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Two Big Reasons To Move This Summer

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 A lot of people who want to move are telling themselves the same thing: "Maybe I'll just wait until later this year once things calm down."   While waiting sounds like a good plan, there's something worth knowing before you decide. Rates aren’t expected to change much, so if that’s the #1 reason you’re waiting, it may not pay off. And there may be other things you miss out on in the meantime.  Historically, Summer is one of the strongest seasons of the year for both buyers and sellers. And if you delay your move until Fall or Winter, some of those opportunities may already be fading. Buyers: Fresh Inventory Is Your Real Summer Advantage One of the biggest frustrations buyers have faced over the past few years has been a lack of affordable options. Maybe you’ve run into that yourself: You find a house you like, but it's out of your budget. You find something in your budget, but you don’t like it. Or worse, nothing interesting hits the market for weeks. Historicall...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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Lower Asking Prices Are a Win for Today’s Buyers

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 If affordability has been the biggest thing standing between you and a home, there's a little good news.   Asking prices have started to come down. The typical seller listed their house for a median of $429,500 in May. That’s 2.4% lower than a year ago, according to Realtor.com . On its own, that won't transform what you can afford, but in today’s market every little bit helps and it signals a broader shift taking place. Buyers Are Finally Catching a Break Check out this data from Realtor.com and you can see this is the first May in years where buyers have caught any sort of break price-wise. Each May from 2022-2025, things held pretty steady. But this year? You can see that more noticeable shift in your favor (see graph below) : While the dip from $440,000 to $429,500 isn’t a big one, it gives you more breathing room. And that’s not a small thing when affordability has been this tough. Now, lower asking prices don’t mean every home is suddenly within your range. But they do...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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Could Moving a Bit Further Out Change Everything About Your Budget?

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  Whether you're dreaming about buying your first home or wondering if it’s time to move on from the one you're in, affordability is probably weighing on your mind. Home prices are still high in many markets, and even though things have improved a bit over the past year, making the numbers work can still feel like a stretch. But the people finding ways to move right now usually have one thing in common. They didn't wait for affordability to come to them. They went looking for it. According to PODS , 61% of people across all generations say affordability is the biggest factor when deciding where to move. And it's led a growing number of people to do one thing – broaden their search to include more affordable areas they hadn't seriously considered before. As PODS , put it: ". . . moving is increasingly driven by affordability, connection, and quality of life. As economic pressures persist, Americans are taking a more intentional, values-driven approach to where ...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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The Wizard of Westwood

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  “Just Thinking" When you think of historic basketball coaches, several legendary names immediately come to mind. Phil Jackson, with his 11 NBA championships, Pat Riley’s five NBA titles, Red Auerbach set the standard, capturing nine NBA championships, Coach Norman Dale, Hoosiers. Coach K with five national championships and three Olympic gold medals, Bobby Knight’s three national titles and a 29 year run at Indiana. Dean Smith, Coach Carter and Jimmy Valvano, “Don’t give up… don’t ever give up.” The list goes on, and many notable figures could be added, but when I think of the truly iconic basketball coach, one name stands above the rest, John Wooden, the “Wizard of Westwood.” On June 4, 2010, Wooden passed away at the age of 99, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy. He was not only revered for his unparalleled success, leading UCLA to 10 national championships, but also for the timeless coaching philosophy and values he instilled in his players and the game itself. Woodend wa...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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Cash Purchases Are at Their Lowest Share Since 2020

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    Check Out This Weeks Newsletter Cash buyers just hit their lowest share since 2020. Here's what the data means for financed buyers and the script to get them off the sidelines. For the past few years, financed buyers have had it rough. On top of affordability challenges, cash offers were everywhere, and sellers loved them. Buyers without a pile of liquid money felt like they were showing up to a gunfight with a water pistol.  A lot of those buyers eventually just stopped showing up.  Good news for those buyers? The water’s getting warmer. According to a new Redfin report, 28.8% of U.S. home purchases were made in all cash in March 2026. That’s tied for the lowest March share since 2020, and it’s down from 29.8% just a year ago.  The all-cash surge that peaked at nearly 35% in 2023 is cooling off, and the buyers who got squeezed out during that run should be on your call list right now. The conditions that made cash offers nearly impossible to beat have ...
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Location: Martinez, CA 94553, USA
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