April Market Update: Market Shift

Spring has a way of delivering all at once.

May feels like the season in full stride, and I find myself busier than ever with clients on both sides of the market. I also have a beautiful Lafayette property coming to market after Memorial Day that I cannot wait to share with you. More on that soon.

For now, here is what is happening in Lamorinda and beyond.

April Market Update: Market Shift

The Lamorinda market is changing, and if you have been paying attention, you can feel it.

The challenge in this market has never just been a lack of homes. It has been a lack of the right homes. Buyers are out there, but what they are looking for, a well-located, move-in ready home that checks the important boxes, has been genuinely hard to find. Good inventory in Lamorinda has always been the limiting factor, and that remains true even as the overall number of listings rises.

April data shows new listings jumped an average of 63.5% across Orinda, Lafayette, and Moraga. More homeowners are ready to move, and buyers have more to choose from than they have had in some time. There is a little more breathing room, a little more time to think, and a little more room to negotiate. At the same time, buyer activity has softened, and in Lamorinda the reason is less about hesitation and more about inventory. The number of completed transactions dropped an average of 15.5% across the three communities. When buyers cannot find what they are truly looking for, they wait. With more homes available and fewer buyers moving quickly, prices have adjusted. Median home prices are down an average of 7.4%. That is not a red flag. It is a normalization after a long stretch of exceptional appreciation. Well-priced, well-prepared homes in desirable locations are still generating strong interest. The homes sitting longer on market tend to be the ones that are not quite what buyers are looking for, and in this market, that has to be reflected in the price. Overpricing a home that already requires compromise from a buyer is a difficult position to recover from.

Each community is showing its own personality in this shift:

Orinda has held up relatively well on pricing, posting a modest increase in median price despite fewer closed sales. Demand here remains steady. Lafayette saw a notable rise in inventory alongside softer pricing, suggesting buyers are becoming more selective as their options expand. Moraga experienced the largest jump in new listings of the three communities, contributing to a significant increase in available inventory while sales activity stayed relatively stable.

What does all of this mean for you? If you are a buyer, you have more options and more leverage than you have had in years. But do not mistake a balanced market for an easy one. When the right home comes along, the one that is well located, well priced, and checks the real boxes, be ready to move. Those homes still generate competition, and hesitation is still costly. And if you happen to own that home, the updated house with a yard in a great location, this could be exactly the right time to sell. The buyers who want it are out there and they are ready.

What has not changed is the fundamental appeal of Lamorinda. The schools, the community, the quality of life, the long-term desirability of this area. Those things remain as strong as ever. The shift we are seeing is not a retreat. It is a rebalancing, and for the right buyer or seller, there is real opportunity in that.

Real estate here is always hyper-local. What is happening across Orinda, Lafayette, and Moraga as a whole does not always reflect what is happening on your specific street. If you want to know what this market means for your home, I am happy to walk you through it.

The $56 Million Question: What San Francisco’s Record Spring Means For Lamorinda

San Francisco just had one of the most remarkable real estate seasons in recent memory, and what happens there does not stay there.

The headline sale of the spring: a Pacific Heights mansion at 2898 Vallejo Street sold off-market for $56 million after receiving multiple offers above $50 million. The 15,000-square-foot Beaux Arts estate, with sweeping views of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Alcatraz, drew fierce competition from tech, AI, and venture capital buyers flush with new wealth. A Sotheby’s agent close to the transaction put it plainly: there is a “mansion shortage” in San Francisco. There simply are not enough large, beautifully finished homes with views to meet the demand that exists.

When San Francisco’s most resourceful buyers cannot find what they are looking for in the city, they look east. Lamorinda has always been where that search ends. Better schools. Larger lots. More home for the money. A genuine sense of community. The buyers bidding over $50 million on Vallejo Street are the same buyers who will pay a premium for the right home in Orinda or Lafayette, because what they are really buying is quality of life, and they know it when they see it.

San Francisco’s record spring is not just a city story. It is a signal for this market too. If you have been thinking about what your home might be worth right now, I am happy to have that conversation.

Coming Soon

I have a special Lafayette property coming to market after Memorial Day. Details to follow soon. If you would like to hear about it before it hits the MLS, reach out directly and I will make sure you are first to know.

My Buyer Needs

I am working with several motivated buyers right now. If you know anyone thinking about selling, I would love an introduction.

 Young family relocating from San Francisco seeking a traditional home with a yard in Orinda or Lafayette | Up to $3,000,000

 Young family searching for their forever home, open to renovations | Up to $2,000,000

 Glorietta family on a long search for their perfect home | Up to $4,000,000

 Empty nesters looking for a walkable neighborhood and a fresh start | Up to $3,500,000

 Orinda couple ready to make a move | Up to $1,700,000

 Three-bedroom home in Orinda | Up to $1,500,000

THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING? LET’S TALK!

If you have any real estate questions or just want to catch up, I’d love to hear from you! Whether buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on the market, I’m here to help.

I’d always love to hear from you!