792 sold. 619 didn’t. What's happening in San Diego Housing
George Lorimer
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Which Side of the Fence Will Your Home Be On?
In the last 30 days, 792 homes sold in my San Diego search. Another 619 listings expired or went off market without a reported sale. That is a lot of sellers who prepared for showings and waited for an offer that never came.
Free San Diego Home Buyer Master Class
Thursday, October 1 at 7 p.m. Pacific • Live, 30 minutes
Your questions set the agenda. Explore down payment grants and assistance, potential mortgages in the 5% range, homes with potentially assumable 2%–4% loans, and up to $1,250 in incentives.*
Register Free for the Buyer Master Class
Your questions set the agenda. Explore down payment grants and assistance, potential mortgages in the 5% range, homes with potentially assumable 2%–4% loans, and up to $1,250 in incentives.*
*Incentive eligibility and terms apply. Rates, grants, assistance and loan assumptions depend on qualification, lender approval and availability.
The market at a glance: 2,468 active listings • 911 pending • 792 sold • 324 expired • 295 otherwise off market. At the recent closing pace, active inventory equals about 3.1 months of sales.
Why do some homes sell while others do not?
In my experience, when a listing gets little action, I look at four things:
1. Showing condition. Does the home look inviting in photos and in person? Are repairs, clutter or showing restrictions holding it back?
2. Marketing and exposure. Professional photos, compelling presentation, agent outreach and a thoughtful showing plan give buyers a reason to visit. Phone photos and passive marketing can cost attention.
3. Buyer demand for the location and property type. A rural property or condo with high HOA costs may require a different strategy and timeline than a detached home in a larger buyer pool.
4. Price relative to value. We must compare your home with both recent sold comps and the competing homes buyers can tour today. A past comp or online estimate does not show the whole picture.
Outdated homes, homes on busy streets, smaller lots and properties needing work sell every day. They sell when buyers see enough value to offset the drawback. That value may come from improvements, terms, a price adjustment or a combination.
If a home is not getting showings or offers, a 5%–10% adjustment may be appropriate in some cases, but there is no automatic number. First, we review the actual competition, feedback, condition and likely net proceeds. If your target price no longer matches the market, the question is whether a sale at today's realistic price still helps you make the move you want.
My three-step plan if your home did not sell
1. Find the real sale range and estimate your net at several prices.
2. Test your next move against that net and your timing.
3. Relaunch with a written plan: preparation, professional presentation, exposure and checkpoints for adjusting while on the market.
My expert contractor team can help identify work worth doing. A pay-at-closing option may be available for qualifying improvements, so approved costs do not have to be paid up front. You can also compare a cash offer with the likely proceeds and timeline of an MLS sale.
Get a Free Home Value & Sale Plan Compare a Cash Offer vs. MLS Sale
Need to prepare the home? See preparation and pay-at-closing options.
Buyers: More choices, more ways to negotiate
There are 2,468 active listings in this search. On the right property, you may be able to negotiate the price or request a seller credit for eligible closing costs or a mortgage-rate buydown. Compare the full payment and cash needed to close with your lender; a temporary buydown's lower initial payment does not last for the full loan term.
I can help you look beyond the newest listings: unlisted and off-market homes, overlooked homes, recent reductions, properties that fell out of escrow, potentially assumable loans, and suitable probate or distressed properties when available. Foreclosure, notice-of-default or divorce records do not mean a property is for sale or available at a discount.
Chasing the 3% mortgage you remember can keep you on the sidelines. An assumable FHA or VA loan may offer an attractive existing rate, but the buyer must qualify and may need substantial funds to cover the difference between the loan balance and purchase price. Let us compare the actual numbers for homes you would want to own.
What is your best next move?
Tell me your address for a free sale analysis, or send your area and budget for a free matched list of buyer opportunities. If you plan to act in the next 30 days, let us put a specific plan together.
Call George: 619-846-1244
Prefer an appointment? Book a free 20-minute strategy call.
George Lorimer | ProWest Properties | DRE #01146839
619-846-1244 | GeorgeLorimer.com
Your Home Sold Guaranteed, or I'll Buy It!*
*Conditions apply to guarantees, incentives, improvement programs and offers. Loan rates, grants, assistance, assumptions and seller credits require eligibility and applicable approvals. SDMLS search through September 29, 2026, $500,000–$5 million, excluding Inland East and Inland South. Status counts are not a cohort tracked from listing to sale; the 295 off-market listings may relist or sell later.
619-846-1244 | GeorgeLorimer.com
Your Home Sold Guaranteed, or I'll Buy It!*
*Conditions apply to guarantees, incentives, improvement programs and offers. Loan rates, grants, assistance, assumptions and seller credits require eligibility and applicable approvals. SDMLS search through September 29, 2026, $500,000–$5 million, excluding Inland East and Inland South. Status counts are not a cohort tracked from listing to sale; the 295 off-market listings may relist or sell later.
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