Big headlines, local reality, and what matters most?

Last weeks Numbers

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Happy Monday — I wanted to send you a quick market check-in because some of the recent housing headlines are big, and without context they can feel a little overwhelming.

One of the headlines getting attention is that San Jose ranked as the most expensive metro in the country, with a median price around $1.9M. Santa Cruz County (through the Salinas metro data) is also on that “most expensive” list.

That matters — but not because I want anyone to feel discouraged by it.

It matters because in markets like ours, people can make the mistake of focusing only on headline prices, when the better questions are:
What is happening in my neighborhood?
What is my property type doing?
What would I actually walk away with if I sold?

That’s where good decisions get made.

For perspective, Santa Cruz County’s median single-family home price is currently about $1,350,000 — not $1.9M — and even here, the story is not one-size-fits-all. We’re seeing an average days on market around 146, a reduction rate around 26%, and active inventory at 253 single-family homes and 79 condos. Last week alone, 50 new listings came on and 23 went pending.

What that tells me as someone who watches this every day:
We are in a market that is moving, but it is not automatic.
Inventory is coming on.
Buyers are still engaging.
And strategy matters more than ever.

This is also the time of year I watch closely.

Nationally, inventory has been building, and seasonally we typically see momentum pick up between the Super Bowl and July 4th — more listings come on, more buyers step back in, and the market starts to show its spring rhythm. That does not mean everyone should rush. It does mean this is a smart time to pay attention and plan ahead.

And for homeowners especially, I want to share something practical:

Here is your Net Proceeds tool

A lot of people focus on, “What could I sell for?”
But the more important number is often, “What would I actually net?”

This tool is a great starting point to estimate net proceeds:
sellernetproceeds.com

You can plug in numbers and get a rough idea of what you may walk away with after costs. It’s helpful because it shifts the conversation from headline sale price to real-life planning. One thing many people forget to account for is possible capital gains exposure if their gain goes beyond the IRS exclusion limits, so that’s worth factoring in too.

If you want, I can help you run a more accurate version based on your home, estimated costs, payoff, and current local market conditions.

If you’re thinking about buying, selling, refinancing, or just trying to understand your options this year, reply and tell me what you’re trying to figure out. I’m always happy to be your resource.

Warmly,
Kalani

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