Leave a Message

Thank you for your message. We will be in touch with you shortly.

Good News Despite Challenging Market Conditions

December 12, 2022

Good News Despite Challenging Market Conditions

Good News Despite Challenging Market Conditions

As we approach the end of 2022, we look forward to celebrating the holidays and spending time with our loved ones. We hope that each of you will also be able to get some down time during these final weeks of December.

There is some good news for home buyers as we head into 2023.  Interest rates averages have steadily declined during the past 4 weeks, dropping from a recent high of 7.08% down to 6.33% this week.  This follows the Fed's announcement of easing up on interest rate hikes.  Many of the homes that had trouble selling this year are now offering significant discounts. Additionally, as we head into January and should start to see increased inventory and more choices for buyers to select from.

For most residential sellers, it does make sense to hold off on listing their properties until the upcoming springtime, when buyers will delve into house hunting more seriously. The best date to list will depend on each buyer's timeline and situation.  For some of you, it may be better to get your home to the market sooner rather than later. We keep a daily pulse on the market and can provide you with an appropriate forecast for your home and neighborhood.

From the entire Highland family, wishing you the happiest holidays!

Our Advice

In the current real estate market, interest rates are the hot topic of the day, and for buyers and sellers, our priority is to lay out all the options available to fit their needs. Using our collective experience and knowledge, we’re able to provide holistic guidance to our clients. 

One way we’ve seen buyers work around the recent interest rate hikes is to obtain a loan with an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). These three, five, seven, or ten year loans allow them to buy at a lower interest rate now, with an eye on refinancing when rates eventually come back down to earth. 

For sellers, it’s important to understand that there are still willing and eager buyers out there. There are some who missed out on purchasing when the market was hot, but still have the means and a desire to buy a home. If you have a quality property and showcase it well, you’ll still see competitive offers at a solid price point.  Whatever the market conditions, we can help guide you toward meeting your buying or selling goals. 

What We're Reading

Major Home Improvement retailers like Home Depot and Lowe’s are faring relatively well in the current market, while home sales activity has decreased. This can be attributed to an “Improve in Place” phenomenon right now where homeowners are waiting out any home purchases are sales until the market shifts into a more favorable direction. Some buyers feel priced out because of this year’s higher interest rates and instead are shifting to home renovation projects. Others (especially those sitting on a lot of equity) are getting a head start on improving their homes so that they will be able to get higher dollar once they feel it is the appropriate time for them to sell. Read more here.

Read Our December Newsletter Here

 

Recent Blog Posts

Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.

What Makes Playa Vista Different From Other Westside Neighborhoods

March 12, 2026

The Westside of Los Angeles includes a wide range of neighborhoods, each offering distinct characteristics related to density, access, and lifestyle. Playa Vista stand… Read more

What I Love About Playa Vista. No. 2—Diversity

March 10, 2026

Another reason I have loved calling Playa Vista home for the past 18 years is its remarkable diversity. Not just cultural diversity, but generational and professional … Read more

Why Culver City Feels Like a Small Town in the Middle of Los Angeles

March 5, 2026

Culver City is often described as having a small-town feel, a phrase that surprises people who associate Los Angeles with sprawl and anonymity. Yet for residents, that… Read more

March 2026: Los Angeles Market Update

March 4, 2026

As March begins, the Los Angeles residential real estate market is showing clear signs of seasonal acceleration. Per the MLS, February closed sales increased to 376 tr… Read more

Playa Vista for Professionals: Work, Wellness, and Everyday Efficiency in Playa Vista

February 25, 2026

Playa Vista has become one of the most strategically positioned neighborhoods on the Westside of Los Angeles for professionals seeking efficiency, accessibility, and b… Read more

What I Love About Playa Vista. No. 1—The 29 Parks and Public Spaces

February 23, 2026

One of the first things I share with clients when they are considering a move to Playa Vista is this: we have 29 parks and public spaces woven throughout the community… Read more

Indoor Outdoor Living in Playa Vista: Architecture Design & Daily Function

February 18, 2026

Indoor outdoor living is often discussed as a lifestyle preference, but in communities like Playa Vista, it is better understood as a design strategy. Architecture, bu… Read more

A Local’s Guide to Weekends in Culver City

February 13, 2026

Weekends in Culver City move at a noticeably different pace than much of Los Angeles. While the city sits in the middle of one of the busiest metro areas in the countr… Read more

Parks and Green Space in Playa Vista: How Open Space Shapes Daily Living

February 11, 2026

Access to green space is one of the most significant factors influencing neighborhood livability. In dense urban environments like Los Angeles, the availability, distr… Read more

Let's Talk

You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.