Summer Market Q&A: The Questions Buyers and Sellers Are Asking Right Now
Rumana Jabeen and Burt Tsuei recently compared notes on what they're seeing across Foster City, San Mateo, and the Peninsula. These are the questions they're hearing most often.
Q: Everyone says summer is supposed to slow down. Is that what you're seeing?
Rumana
Not really. Inventory has increased compared to earlier this spring, but buyer activity has stayed steady, and in some cases picked up. Buyers are still out there, but they're much more intentional than they were a few years ago. They're thinking carefully about stability, monthly payments, and long-term value.
Burt
I think the market feels healthier, not slower. Buyers have more choices, but demand hasn't disappeared. Good homes are still moving quickly.
Q: Why do some homes receive 15 offers while others struggle to get one?
Rumana
It comes down to one thing: your price has to match your product.
Today's buyers compare everything. They're looking beyond your neighborhood at homes across the Peninsula. If your home is priced correctly for its condition, location, and competition, buyers will respond. If it's priced too aggressively, many won't even make an offer.
Burt
Buyers are incredibly value-driven right now. They'll absolutely compete for a beautifully prepared home, but they'll also buy a fixer if the price reflects the work. Where sellers get into trouble is trying to price a fixer like it's already renovated.
A Great Example
We recently watched three nearly identical condos sell in the same Foster City community.
Our listing at 1051 Beach Park Blvd. #209 listed at $868,000 and sold in just a matter of days for $885,000.
Competing homes went on the market closer to what the sellers wanted to achieve in price, but that was the wrong first move. Buyers saw the value of the homes, compared prices with other homes in the mid-Peninsula, and decided to wait. The final results on these competing homes?
1171 Compass Ln. #113 was listed at $899,000 and sold below-asking for $878,000.
1111 Compass Ln. #105 was listed at $948,000 (later reduced), and sold for $898,000.
Q: What's your advice for buyers and sellers heading into the second half of the year?
Burt
For buyers, there are opportunities. Inventory has improved enough that some homes are sitting a little longer than average. Those can be great opportunities if you're prepared.
Rumana
For sellers, don't mistake today's market for the frenzy we experienced a few years ago. Buyers are still willing to compete, but only when pricing and presentation align with their expectations. The homes receiving ten or fifteen offers aren't lucky, they're strategically positioned.
We leave you with a few final thoughts
For Sellers
- Price for today's competition, not yesterday's headlines.
- Preparation and presentation matter more than ever.
- The right pricing strategy creates momentum.
For Buyers
- More inventory means more choice.
- Great homes still move quickly.
- Be patient, but be ready when the right opportunity appears.
If you are thinking about buying or selling in Foster City, San Mateo, or elsewhere on the Peninsula, let us build a plan based on the realities of today’s market, not yesterday’s assumptions.
June 2026 Market Reports
Below you'll find market information for San Mateo County, the City of San Mateo, and Foster City
San Mateo County Equity Report. This report covers changes in median home sales prices over the last month, year, five years, and ten years using rolling 3-month data.
San Mateo County Market Report.
This report covers changes in median home sales prices, comparing year-over-year data for a single month.
San Mateo City Equity Report.
This report covers changes in median home sales prices over the last month, year, five years, and ten years using rolling 3-month data.
San Mateo City Market Report.
This report covers changes in median home sales prices, comparing year-over-year data for a single month.
Foster City Market & Equity Report.
This report covers changes in median home sales prices over the last month, year, five years, and ten years.
