Last year rewarded the prepared. Mortgage rates swung nearly a full point, inventory stayed tight in the best school zones, and well-priced homes still drew multiple offers — while overpriced ones sat through two price cuts. The headline was volatility; the story underneath was discipline.
What actually moved prices
Turnkey homes within walking distance of village centers outperformed by the widest margin in a decade. Fixers, by contrast, traded at real discounts as renovation costs stayed high. New construction with rate buydowns captured impatient buyers; everyone else waited for the right resale.
Neighborhoods that outperformed
Bay-side streets with commute options, foothill pockets with fire-hardened upgrades, and Tribeca blocks with elevator buildings all posted gains while broader averages flattened. The pattern held across all three of my markets: specificity beat generality.
“In a choppy market, the premium goes to certainty — clean inspections, realistic sellers, and buyers who know their number.”
Planning a move this year? The review's full tables are available on request — and a 20-minute call will tell you more than any chart.