Buying a Home Right Now: What’s Really Going On — and How to Navigate It.

Let’s be honest… buying a home isn’t exactly a walk in the park right now. Rates are higher than anyone hoped, prices feel like they’re on fast-forward, and every headline seems to contradict the last. No wonder so many people are hitting pause, waiting for some sort of clarity.

But here’s the twist: mortgage rates have come down to around 6.3%, and buyer activity has already started to spike because of it. That’s a good sign, but the real question is what it means for your plans.

Recently, Ryan Serhant, the star of Netflix’s Owning Manhattan, went on FOX Business to break down what’s happening in real estate right now. And what he said might surprise you:

“This isn’t a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. It’s nobody’s market because no one knows what to do.”

Honestly? He’s not wrong.

So let’s talk about what that means for you if you’re thinking about making a move.

Local Market Quick Stats

Latest 2025 numbers in San Diego:

• Median home price for single family detached homes: $1,037,761.00

• Active listings: 4450

• Days on market: 27 Days

What You Really Need to Know About Mortgage Rates

Everyone,  buyers, sellers, even people just watching from the sidelines is unsure right now.

• Buyers are stressed about affordability.

• Sellers are worried about where they’re going next.

• And the whole market feels like it's waiting for someone else to jump first.

Rates have improved from earlier highs, but according to Realtor.com, they’ll likely hover in the low 6s for a while. If you’re holding out for a huge rate drop… that may not be the winning strategy.

Serhant put it plainly:

“New normal is not low rates… it’s not going to happen.”

In other words: waiting for 3% rates again is a losing game.

Creativity Wins in This Market

This is where strategy matters more than timing. Instead of waiting for the market to magically become perfect, the buyers who win are the one who get creative, and have an agent who helps.

Serhant gave a great example:

A buyer who swore they’d never do an adjustable-rate mortgage is now taking one at just over 5%, because they know they won’t be in the house for more than five years. And it works for their monthly budget.

That’s the mindset that opens doors.

There are so many tools available to help buyers move now without overextending themselves.

Smart options for buyers:

• Adjustable-rate mortgages for short-term plans

• Temporary rate buy-downs to lower your monthly payment

• Seller credits to reduce upfront costs

• Expanding your search to include overlooked or off-market opportunities

There are more pathways to homeownership now than ever before, you just need to know which ones fit your goals.

Finding the Right Home in San Diego

Here’s the truth: the biggest risk isn’t buying at the “wrong” time.
The biggest risk is waiting for a perfect moment that never comes.

Ryan said it best:

“If you're paying a lot in rent and you’re looking to build equity and you want to buy, now’s as good a time as any.”

And he’s right.

With the right strategy, this so-called “nobody’s market” can absolutely become your market, especially when you’ve got someone in your corner who eats this stuff for breakfast...me.

If you’re thinking about buying in the future, reach out. I’ll help you make sense of the noise, get clear on your options, and build a plan that actually works in real life… not just in headlines. Book a quick call with me here: https://links.townsites.com/widget/bookings/intro-call-with-shelly