January Market Update

Feb 1

Happy January,

Hopefully everyone got to enjoy some down time over the holidays and spent some time with family and friends. We were able to take a short break and it was lovely!

Here we are nearing the end of January already, and we are back to work in earnest, preparing several homes to share with you over the next few weeks and months. These are lovely homes and we can't wait to show them to you!

We are also back to touring each week, to see the new inventory for our clients, and connect with our colleagues across brokerages to get a sense of what else may be coming to market soon. It’s still winter, and the inventory levels remain pretty low, but the market already feels to be picking up, and there were several homes to see on tour this Thursday.

Below is a Year in Review for our Inner East Bay market in 2025. It’s always fascinating to look back at the year we have just completed, and see how the data matches up with our personal experience with our clients.

Between us, we helped 41 clients to sell and purchase homes this year, which keeps us among the top tier of agents in our community. There were several other people we were also able to help by referring them to trusted colleagues who practice in other cities and states–so feel free to reach out even if your plans include a move farther afield. We’ve got an amazing network of colleagues who practice with the same high standards and values that we can connect you with!

As you’ll see, 2025 saw mixed results overall, but aggregated data doesn’t tell the full story. Our East Bay communities, neighborhoods and homes are so diverse and varied that no two homes are the same, and that can get lost in charts and graphs. If you’d like for us to prepare some custom data for your specific neighborhood and type of home, please reach out and we would be happy to provide you with more tailored information.

While the overall market was somewhat flat and even down in some areas, the upper segments of the market got stronger as the year picked up, in part buoyed by a stronger stock market in the second half of the year, as well as other factors.

As we head into this new year, we are seeing an easing of interest rates (finally!), with most mortgage loans under 6% for the first time since late 2022.

As always, please reach out with any questions, or if you’re considering moving; we’d love to hear from you!

Warmly,
Maria, Corey, Anita and Carla

INNER EAST BAY MARKET UPDATE

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

The Inner East Bay housing market demonstrated notable stability and resilience in 2025, outperforming many broader regional and national trends. While higher interest rates early in the year created headwinds, demand across the Inner East Bay remained steady, supported by the area’s strong employment base and lifestyle appeal.

Single-family homes continued to anchor the market. The median sales price held firm at $1,200,000, and homes moved quickly, with a median of just 14 days on market. Despite a slight dip in price per square foot, activity increased modestly, with both contracts and closed sales finishing the year higher than 2024. Competition remained elevated, with nearly three-quarters of homes selling above list price and sellers receiving an average of 113.4 percent of asking, underscoring consistent buyer demand for well-located, quality properties.

The condominium market told a different but encouraging story. Prices adjusted meaningfully in 2025, with the median condo price falling 11.9 percent to $528,000. This reset improved affordability and helped unlock demand. Contracts rose 7.8 percent and sales increased 6.4 percent year over year, signaling renewed momentum after a slower period. While condos took slightly longer to sell, more than a third still traded above asking, and sellers generally achieved full list price, reflecting healthy absorption for well-priced units.

Economic fundamentals across the Inner East Bay remained supportive throughout the year. Employment conditions stayed solid, and the region continued to benefit from proximity to major job centers in technology, healthcare and education. Toward year end, falling mortgage rates added an important tailwind, restoring purchasing power and improving buyer confidence as the market transitioned into 2026.

Looking ahead, the Inner East Bay enters the new year from a position of strength. Stable single-family pricing, improving condo activity and easing borrowing costs point to an active spring selling season. Buyers should expect competitive conditions for desirable homes, while sellers are well positioned to benefit from steady demand and limited supply across this highly sought-after region.