Chuck Barberini Real Estate

  If you’ve seen headlines or social posts calling for a housing crash, it’s easy to wonder if home values are about to take a hit. But here’s the simple truth. The data doesn’t point to a crash. It points to slow, continued  growth . And sure, it’s going to vary by local area. Some markets will see  prices  rise more than others. And some may even see  small , short-term declines. But the big picture is:  home prices are expected to rise nationally, not fall, over the next 5 years. The Real Story Is in the Expert Forecasts In the  Home Price Expectations Survey  (HPES)  from  Fannie Mae , each quarter over 100 leading housing market experts weigh in on where they project home prices will go from here. And in the report that was just released, the experts agree prices are projected to climb nationally through at least 2029 ( see graph below ): Here’s how to read this visual. Each bar in that graph shows an increase, not a loss. It’s just...

  “Just Thinking" This week’s newsletter is a follow up to the September 19 th  article about leaving California, I had so many notes leftover that I decided to make a leaving California part II, this is a non-political, somewhat emotional, article with my opinions and some facts. A musical quote from Guy Clarks L.A. Freeway and a movie recommendation. Pack up all your dishes Make note of all good wishes And say goodbye to the landlord for me That son-of-a-bitch has always bored me Throw out all them L.A. papers And that moldy box of vanilla wafers Adios to all this concrete Gonna get me some dirt road back street If I can just get off of this L.A. freeway Without getting killed or caught I'll be down the road in a cloud of smoke To some land I ain't bought… Fire and Water The year started in horrific fashion with the Palisades Fire which began on January 7, the fire began in the Santa Monica Mountains area, near the Pacific Palisades, it was not fully contained until Janu...

  In its latest September Rent Report, Realtor.com found that the typical U.S. household now spends less than a quarter of its income on rent for the first time in two years. It’s a milestone that marks the 26th consecutive annual decline in rents and a rare stretch of good news for Americans who’ve been feeling the squeeze of housing costs on all fronts. The median asking rent for 0–2 bedroom units across the 50 largest metros dropped to $1,703 in September, down 2.1% year over year and $10 month over month. That puts rents $56 below their August 2022 peak, though they remain 16.5% higher than before the pandemic. Rent growth has been muted throughout 2025, with asking prices up just 0.4% year to date, compared with 1.9% over the same period in 2024. For renters, that moderation is starting to add up to something meaningful. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com, summed it up best. “Two years of gradual rent declines have given renters a bit more breathing room. Still, eve...

  If you paused your plans to move because of high rates or prices, it may finally be time to take a second look at your numbers.  Affordability is  improving   in 39 of the top 50 markets, according to  First American.  And that’s the  5th straight month  where buying a home has started to get a little bit easier. Let’s break this down into real dollars, so you can see the difference this could make for you (and your move). Monthly Payments Are Coming Down One of the clearest signs of this shift is in monthly payments. The latest data from  Redfin  shows  mortgage payments on a median-priced home are now $283 lower than they were just a few months ago  ( see graph below ): This kind of monthly savings adds up fast, and totals nearly  $3,400 over the course of a year . While this isn’t enough to completely change the affordability game overnight, think about it this way. When you’re putting together a homebuying budget, a ...

    After a couple of years where the housing market felt stuck in neutral, 2026 may be the year things shift back into gear.  Expert forecasts show more people are expected to move – and that could open the door for you to do the same. More Homes Will Sell With all of the affordability challenges at play over the past few years, many would-be movers pressed pause. But that pause button isn’t going to last forever. There are always people who need to move. And experts think more of them will start to act in 2026 ( see graph below ): What’s behind the change? Two key factors: mortgage rates and home prices. Let’s dive into the latest expert forecasts for both, so you can see why more people are expected to move next year. Mortgage Rates Could Continue To Ease The #1 thing just about every buyer has been looking for is lower mortgage rates . And after peaking near 7% earlier this year, rates have started to ease. The latest forecasts show that could continue through...

  There’s a trend taking hold in real estate right now: more buyers are choosing newly built homes. And it’s not just about getting the latest technology or modern floorplans. It’s because they may be able to get a better deal. Builders are offering serious incentives today, and people are jumping on them.   In fact,   new home sales  just hit their highest level in over two years  ( see graph below ): Why Builders Are Throwing in Perks There are  more  newly built homes for sale right now than there have been in years. And as a buyer, that can help you in two big ways. It gives you more options to choose from on the market, and it motivates builders to sell their inventory before they build more. That’s exactly why more buyers are scoring incentives like these: Mortgage rate buydowns  to shrink your monthly payment Price cuts  that make homeownership more attainable Help with closing costs  and even upgrades in some communities The best...

  “Just Thinking" I want to start by acknowledging my two-week hiatus from my weekly newsletter. Some unexpected circumstances came up and disrupted my schedule, and I appreciate your patience during that time. I had been working on a follow-up piece to my leaving California article, which I plan to finish and share with you soon. In the meantime, this week’s focus shifts to two timely and important events: Columbus Day and Fleet Week, coupled with the Bay Area’s Indian Summer and the onset of fall, this weekend is traditionally iconic San Francisco. The history of Fleet Week in San Francisco dates back to 1908, when the Great White Fleet visited “The City” during its global tour. This historic stop came at a pivotal moment, San Francisco was still rebuilding after the devastating 1906 earthquake. The arrival of the fleet was more than a naval display; it became a symbol of San Francisco's resilience and renewal. Thousands of residents lined the waterfront to welcome the ships...

Check Out This Weeks Newsletter The U.S. government shut down at midnight on October 1, and the fallout may ripple through the housing market. According to  HousingWire , the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is unable to issue new policies, leaving as many as 1,400 home sales in limbo each day across 22,000 communities. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac quickly stepped in with temporary relief for lenders, but the shutdown’s impact is far-reaching, from delayed closings to stalled verifications. The NFIP Freeze The most immediate disruption is the NFIP lapse. Existing policies remain in force and can transfer to buyers at closing, but without authority to issue new coverage, transactions in flood-prone areas are at risk. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) underscored the stakes. Shannon McGahn, NAR’s chief advocacy officer, said, “According to NAR research, the NFIP supports roughly half a million home sales annually, generating 1 million jobs and contributing $70 billion t...