Trending in 2026, why it creates home buyer opportunity.

  • 5 months ago
  • 0
Ramon Ortega Realtor - San Diego homes for sale and San Diego County real estate services across coastal and inland cities

Mortgage rates are flirting with the 6% psychological threshold

Multiple major outlets are reporting the average 30-year fixed rate around ~6.06%, the lowest level in ~3+ years, and agents are already seeing buyers “come back.” Opportunity: If you’re pre-approved and ready, you can act before demand heats up further—especially ahead of the spring push.

San Diego inventory is still extremely tight

The Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS® / SDMLS “Housing Supply Overview” (data current Jan 5, 2026) shows market-wide inventory down ~50.6%, with ~0.8 months supply for single-family and ~1.3 months for condos/townhomes. Opportunity: Buyers can find leverage by targeting property types/segments where supply is less tight—often condos/townhomes compared to detached homes.

The “value pockets” are shifting by price range and time-on-market

Same SDMLS report highlights:

  • Overall median sales price ~ $900,000

  • Single-family median ~ $1,050,500

  • Fastest-moving price range: $1.25M–$2.0M (~37 days)

  • Slowest-moving: $5M+ (~74 days)

Opportunity: If you want negotiating room, look where time-on-market is longer (often higher price points, unique properties, or homes needing updates).


 

In early 2026, buyer opportunity in San Diego is being shaped by a rare mix of lower mortgage rates and still-tight local inventory: the average 30-year fixed has slid to about 6.06% (a 3+ year low), which is already pulling more buyers back into the market, while San Diego County inventory remains constrained—down ~50.6% year over year with roughly 0.8 months of supply for single-family homes and 1.3 months for condos/townhomes (current as of January 5, 2026).

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