If you’ve put your home search on hold over the past few years, you’re not alone — but you’re also not out of opportunities. In fact, now could be the perfect moment to take another look, especially here in North County, San Diego. With more homes hitting the market, prices starting to level out across many neighborhoods, and mortgage rates showing signs of easing, today’s market is offering something buyers haven’t seen in a while: real options and room to move.

Experts agree, buyers are in a better spot right now than they’ve been in quite a long time. Here’s what they have to say.

Affordability Is Finally Improving 

Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist at Bright MLS, says affordability is finally starting to turn the corner:

“Slower price growth coupled with a slight drop in mortgage rates will improve affordability and create a window for some buyers to get into the market.”

Mortgage rates have eased from their recent highs, price growth has slowed, and that one-two combo is making homes more affordable than they’ve been in months.

There Are More Homes on The Market

And a big reason prices are easing is that there are more homes on the market. According to the latest from Realtor.com, there are 17% more homes for sale today than there were at this time last year. That means more options, less competition with other buyers, and a chance to find the space that actually works for you.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), shares:

“Homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years to find the right home and negotiate for a better price. Current inventory is at its highest since May 2020, during the COVID lockdown.” 

Take a look at the numbers.

As Yun notes, inventory is up everywhere. Compared to this time last year, every region of the country has more homes on the market than at this time last year (see graph below):

That translates to more homes to choose from, whether you’re looking for a bigger backyard, a shorter commute, or finally ditching your rental.

But not all markets are the same…

When you compare current inventory growth to pre-pandemic norms (2017–2019), the picture changes a bit, depending on where you are (see graph below):

The green bars show where inventory has fully recovered (and even grown above pre-pandemic levels) in the South and the West. Supply, however, is still tighter in the Northeast and Midwest, as shown in the red bars, where inventory is still below normal.

And here’s why that’s still a win — especially here in North County, San Diego.

When you look at the bigger picture, inventory is up across every region, and that means more choices for buyers everywhere — even if some areas have more homes for sale than others. In North County, this increase in listings is giving buyers more flexibility and more opportunities to find the right fit.

With fewer buyers in the market and more homes available, sellers are increasingly open to negotiating to get a deal done. All of that adds up to a real win for today’s buyers.

It’s also why working with a local expert matters more than ever. What’s happening in your specific zip code or neighborhood — whether it’s Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Marcos, or Vista — might look very different from the national trend. But the takeaway is clear: with more homes on the market, buyers in North County have more leverage than they did a year or two ago.

So, if you paused your home search because things felt too competitive, too pricey, or too stressful, this could be your moment to take another look. And if you’re not quite ready to dive in, that’s okay — now’s the perfect time to start planning.

Working with Shafran Realty Group means having a trusted, local team that can help you break down your budget, narrow your search, and prepare so you’re ready when the right home hits the market.

Bottomline

Want to know what’s really happening in North County, San Diego? Let’s have a conversation. We’ll give you a custom overview of what’s available right now and help you create a strategy that fits your goals and timing.

Because this isn’t 2021.
It’s not even 2023 or 2024.
This is a new market — and you might be surprised by what you find with Shafran Realty Group by your side.