My New Favorite Orinda Story

My New Favorite Orinda Story

I have to share the biggest news of my year. I'm a grandma! My first grandchild arrived this summer, and I am completely smitten.

And here's the sweet part. Her parents, my son and daughter-in-law, actually first met right here at The Orinda Preschool, nicknamed TOPS. Just two little kids playing in the sandbox, with no idea what was ahead. They grew up and became high school sweethearts, and now I have my first grandchild, a baby girl.

I tell this story to clients all the time now, half joking, that they'd better choose their preschool carefully. You never know who your kid is going to sit next to at circle time. That little friendship at age four might turn into a college roommate, a best man at a wedding, or in this case, the person they end up marrying. It's wild when you think about it. This town has a way of connecting people for the long haul. Families put down roots here and those roots tangle together in the best ways. It's part of why I love representing Lamorinda. I'm not just helping people buy a house, I'm helping them join a community that might shape their whole life.

Prices Up, Listings Growing, Sales Slowing

Here's what's happening in the Lamorinda real estate market right now. Prices keep climbing, more sellers are putting homes on the market, but fewer deals are actually closing. It's a market worth paying attention to if you're thinking about buying or selling in Orinda, Lafayette, or Moraga.

Across the three towns, the average median home price is around $1.81 million. That's up 16% from this time last year. New listings are up 34.6%, so buyers have more to choose from than they did a year ago. But closed sales are down 11.1% across the same period.

I think that slowdown has more to do with summer than anything deeper. It's always a quieter season, and this year's inventory just wasn't exciting enough to pull a lot of buyers off the sidelines. I'm already hearing about more homes coming to market this fall, and I expect it to be a strong one.

What does this mean for you?

If you're selling, price it right and present it well. Buyers have more options now, so your home needs to stand out to get the attention it deserves.

If you're buying, more inventory means more chances to find the right fit. Just know that great homes in good locations are still getting strong prices.

And if you've been holding off on listing because you figured you missed your window, you haven't. Fall is a great time to sell in Lamorinda. Serious buyers are still active, competition often eases up compared to spring, and you can absolutely get a home sold and closed before the holidays if you get moving soon.

Lamorinda is still a high value market. It's just gotten a little more nuanced. Prices are holding steady, inventory is opening up, and buyers are  being more selective about what they choose. The numbers can also vary a lot by neighborhood, property type, and price point, so if you want a read on your specific street or home, I'm always happy to talk it through.