Blog > No Tricks, All Treats! J&J's October Newsletter

No Tricks, All Treats! J&J's October Newsletter

by Jim & Jennie Real Estate Group

We can't be-leaf it's already October, which means all things fall are in full force! The sun is setting earlier, making for shorter days and cooler nights. We're prepping for our Halloween traditions, which include giant candy bars for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters and an annual chili cook-off! The market finally saw a little shift last month, in a good way for most buyers and sellers. Rates dipped and inventory stopped climbing for the first time in a long time. We can tell you more about it, but we don't want to bore you with the details in this intro paragraph! You should know that you could always call or text us if you're ever curious about a little market update in San Diego.

In this month's newsletter we're sharing our activity with clients, insight to San Diego's newest development for Pechanga Stadium, a fantastic buyer's benefit, October's best events in our county, updated monthly market stats, and the cheesiest joke to top it all off. We hope you have a wonderful month ahead, and look forward to connecting soon!

In this month's newsletter you'll find...

Our Recent Activity — Check out our most recent listings & sales activity.
The REALTOR® Report — Why it's a great time to sell.
San Diego Spotlight — San Diego's most radical new neighborhood..."Neighborhood Next"
Home Warranty — What is it and why is it important?
San Diego Activities — Kids Free Ocotber, Haunted Trails & Hayrides, and Oktoberfest!
Holidays & Happenings — Happy Halloween!
Local Market Statistics — San Diego's market based on last month's statistics.
Punny I'm Home — Our joke section... Though we're the first to admit we're not funny.

Recent Activity

A Great Time to Sell

We've always stressed that timing the market doesn't work. Nobody has a crystal ball, otherwise we'd all be rich! Instead, we try to focus on life situations that tell you it's time to make a move. When those events happen, good or bad, we work with our clients to cater a strategy in whatever market we happen to be in. This is why we can report a successful year helping several clients, friends, and family make moves despite the headlines telling a different story (an extremely slow year in real estate). So why, then, are we telling you it's a good time to sell? Some people need to hear the good news before they make the decision to give us a call and get the ball rolling. And although we don't think a good time to sell is a good reason to sell, we still feel responsible to tell you what's been going on and what's to come.

We knew it would happen at some point. Rates would fluctuate, and they would impact the market for better or worse. Luckily, rates improved the way we all hoped them to. Last month interest rates hit a year-long low. In September, we saw them dip into the lower 6% for conventional loans and upper 5% for FHA & VA). It's exciting to see buyers get some relief, and nationally there's a spike in loan applications and refinances. It's important to note, however, that although buyers are potentially getting a better rate they will also be met with an increase of buyers in the market. Sellers, on the other hand, will have more showings due to the bump in buyers re-entering the market. One thing we don't think will change is that homes that are considered turn-key will sell quicker for a higher price, while homes that have deferred maintenance and a laundry list of repairs will sit if priced incorrectly. Industry market times are around 30 days, which means that unless your house is the exceptional "must have turn-key" property and it's priced right, you'll be on the market for 30 days or more. The good news is that we are getting multiple offers on properties using our pricing strategy. Reach out if you want to know more.

San Diego's Most Radical Neighborhood

Imagine ripping up the old Sports Arena (you know, Pechanga Arena) and planting an entirely new district in its place — one with over 4,200 new homes (half of them affordable), a 16,000-seat entertainment center, acres of parks, and shops, cafés, bike trails, transit upgrades — basically, a city within a city (some call it "Neighborhood Next"). That’s what Midway Rising, the proposed development, has envisioned.

Over the past three years, the City and the Midway Rising team have been hashing out every last detail — negotiating, studying the environmental impacts, running public workshops across all nine Council districts. Just this week, the San Diego Planning Commission green-lighted a major component by approving the land-use entitlements and recommending it to the City Council. With that win for Midway Rising, the dream moves one step closer to reality.

Why “radical”? Because it doesn’t just tinker around the edges. It plans to transform 49 acres where investment’s barely touched since the ’60s and turn them into an engine of mobility, affordability, and urban life. And yes — “walkable neighborhood” is the goal. The proposal includes designs for pedestrian facilities, bike paths, and transit-friendly infrastructure. What’s less clear: claims that there will be very little street access aren’t fully backed up by the sources — while mobility improvements are part of the vision, they don’t yet show a radical elimination of streets. If it gets full approval this fall, ground could break as early as 2026 — and when it does, San Diego may get the boldest, most ambitious neighborhood its ever seen.

Home Warranty

Have you ever heard of a home warranty, or had one yourself? If you've bought a property with us before, odds are that you have! A home warranty is essentially an insurance plan that helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing major systems and appliances in your home when they break down from normal wear and tear. Unlike homeowner's insurance, which protects against unexpected events like fire or theft, a home warranty focuses on everyday essentials and appliances, like your HVAC, water heater, refrigerator, pool equipment, washer, or dryer. For new homeowners, this coverage is typically purchased for the first 12 months after closing, with the option to extend it beyond that. It’s designed to take the stress out of those unexpected, high-ticket repairs—especially during the first year when your budget is still adjusting to a new mortgage! Sellers will typically pay a buyer's first year of home warranty. For sellers, it’s a relatively low-cost and problem-solving option (usually a few hundred dollars) that can help ease buyer concerns about potential repairs after moving in and also reduce the risk of a seller getting pulled back into a problem at the old place. Even if the warranty never gets used, it offers peace of mind knowing that if something can’t be fixed, it will be replaced.

San Diego Activities

Kids Free Ocotber Haunted Trails & Hayrides Oktoberfest

Visit Website Visit Website Visit Website

October is full of fall's iconic events. If you have kiddos, don't miss out on the free things happening all over our county this month with Kids Free October! We've left some fun ideas for the adults to enjoy here too. We hope you get out of the house and have some fun this month, and we'd love to hear what you enjoy! Curious about any of these activities? Click on the photos or the buttons beneath them to visit the respective attraction's website to find out more info.

Click on the photos or the buttons above them to visit the respective attraction's website!

Holidays & Happenings

October 31st: Halloween

Market Update

This data is pulled from last month and based on all residential sales in San Diego County.

Median Sales Price: $899,950

Essentially the same as last month.

New Listings: 2,814

That's how many homes were added to the market last month.

Active Listings: 5,805

Slightly less active inventory than last month.

Pending Sales: 2,012

Consistent amount of escrows the last few months.

Closed Sales: 1,927

About the same amount of deals closed than last month.

Average Days on Market: 35

Homes are taking about a month to go under contract, with some exceptions.

Median % of Asking Price Received: 98

Properties are selling slightly below their asking price, but we're motivated to sell our listings for over asking!

Punny, I'm Home!

What's a zombie's favorite room?

The living room!

Thinking about buying property this year? Reach out for a FREE buyer consultation! We break down the home buying process for you, and run actual numbers to show you how much of a home you can afford in your desired timeline. Text/email us with FREE BUYER CONSULT, and we will schedule with you!

Homeowners, want to know how much your home is worth? Reach out for a FREE home valuation that’s more accurate than your online Zestimate is! You don't need to give us a reason, and we don't expect you to sell if you ask for one. Reply back to this email with FREE HOME VALUATION and we will get to work on yours!

Whether you're planning to make a move soon, considering to rent vs. sell, or maybe you're making a plan for years down the line — We're here to provide insight, guidance, or just a friendly conversation about the market. We are all ears for your feedback on this newsletter too. Let us know what you think or how we can add more value to your real estate journey! Reach out, let's talk!

Growing Together,

Jim & Jennie

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Jim & Jennie

License ID: 01879102 & 02163353