The honest answer: it depends — but probably not for the reason you think. “Is it a good time to buy?” is really two questions wearing one coat. One is about the market. The other is about you. And after walking a lot of San Diego buyers through this, I've learned the second one matters far more than the first.
Let me explain how I'd think it through with you.
Trying to time the San Diego market usually backfires
San Diego isn't a market that's waiting for you to outsmart it. It's one of the most desirable places to live in the country, with limited land, steady demand, and not nearly enough homes to go around. That mix has kept long-term pressure under prices for decades. People who sat on the sidelines waiting for a dramatic crash have mostly spent years paying someone else's mortgage instead of building their own equity.
That doesn't mean prices only ever go up, or that you should rush. It means timing the perfect bottom is a game even professionals lose. The better question isn't “is the market about to dip?” It's “does buying make sense for my life right now?”
The questions that actually matter
When a client asks me if now's a good time, here's what we actually talk through:
How long will you stay?
This is the big one. If you'll be in the home five or more years, short-term market wiggles matter very little — time smooths them out. If you might move in a year or two, buying gets a lot riskier, and renting might genuinely be the smarter call.
Are your finances steady?
A stable income, some savings beyond the down payment, and a clear handle on your monthly comfort zone matter more than any headline about interest rates.
Can you carry it comfortably — not just barely?
I'd rather see you buy a home you can live in happily than stretch into one that owns you. We'll look at the real monthly number, all in, not the rosy one.
But what about interest rates?
Rates get all the attention, and they matter — they shape your monthly payment. But two things people forget. First, you're not married to your rate: if rates fall later, refinancing is on the table. Second, waiting for lower rates often means buying into more competition and higher prices when everyone else jumps back in too. “Marry the house, date the rate” is a cliché because it's often true. Either way, we'll run your actual numbers, so it's a real decision and not a guess.
The best time to buy isn't when the market is perfect. It's when your life is ready and the numbers genuinely work.
Sometimes the right answer is “not yet”
Here's the part you won't hear from a lot of agents: sometimes I'll tell you not to buy. If the timing doesn't serve you — your job's uncertain, you're not sure you're staying, the numbers only work if everything goes perfectly — then waiting isn't losing. It's smart. I'd rather earn your trust now and your business when the time is genuinely right.
So… is it a good time?
For a lot of San Diego buyers right now, yes — if you're planning to stay a while, your finances are steady, and you find a home you can comfortably afford and actually love. For others, the honest answer is “let's wait and get you ready.” The only way to know which one you are is to look at your real situation, not the headlines.
That's exactly the conversation I'm happy to have — no pressure, no obligation.