San Diego buyers are getting pickier, and that is changing the market

San Diego Realtor Andrew Bloom says buyers in the county are still competing for the right homes, but they are far more selective about price, condition and lifestyle fit. That shift is helping strong listings draw bidding wars while weaker ones sit, cut prices or miss pending sales.

Why it matters: - San Diego’s housing market is no longer moving as one block. Buyers are rewarding homes that match their priorities and ignoring listings that do not. - That shift affects sellers, buyers and agents. It changes how homes are priced, presented and marketed. - It also shows that local neighborhood identity still carries real value in purchase decisions.

What happened: - San Diego native and longtime Realtor Andrew Bloom said buyer behavior in San Diego County has become more selective. - San Diego County’s median home sale price reached $961,781 in August, up 5.7% year over year, according to Redfin. - About 35.4% of homes sold above list price. - Pending sales fell 13%. - Roughly 22% of listings had price reductions. - Bloom said a strong home priced correctly can still trigger a bidding war.

The details: - Bloom said buyers are still active, but they are choosing homes based on condition, location, lifestyle and value. - Bloom said sellers need a reason for buyers to compete, not just a higher asking price. - Bloom said strategy matters as much as the market, including pricing, presentation and how the home is framed. - Bloom has more than 20 years in real estate and grew up in Alpine. - Bloom said San Diego County can offer very different lifestyles within a 20- or 30-mile drive. - In Alpine, Bloom pointed to small-town businesses and community ties, including Uphori Café inside a Sinclair gas station, a neighborhood farmstand and LovingLifeAlpine. - In Santee, Bloom highlighted lakes, trails and access to Mission Trails. - In South Park, Bloom cited independent businesses such as Secret Sister, Café Madeleine, Station Tavern and Vinyl Junkies Record Shack, plus quarterly Walkabouts. - In Barrio Logan, Bloom pointed to Mujeres Brew House, Provecho! Coffee Co., local galleries, studios and the Barrio Art Crawl. - Bloom said two homes with similar square footage and price can deliver very different day-to-day lives. - During the three-month period ending in August, Santee’s median sale price was $786,979, down 1.9% year over year, while 52.1% of homes sold above asking. - El Cajon’s median sale price was $755,000, up 4.1%, with 39.5% selling above list. - Bloom recently represented buyers for an Alpine home that drew multiple offers, including cash competition, and his buyers won the deal.

Between the lines: - The data suggest San Diego is behaving less like one market and more like many small markets layered together. - That gives well-positioned homes an edge, but it also raises the penalty for weak presentation or mismatched pricing. - Bloom’s framing shows that community and lifestyle are not just marketing themes. They are part of how buyers assign value. - The emphasis on local businesses and neighborhood culture suggests buyers may be looking for identity and daily convenience, not just shelter.

What’s next: - Bloom said the market will keep rewarding sellers who understand what specific buyers want in specific neighborhoods. - Bloom is preparing to launch Bloom Pumpkins & Pines, a seasonal concept focused on family, tradition and local connection. - Bloom’s broader message is that future sales will hinge on helping buyers find a version of San Diego that fits their lives.

The bottom line: - In San Diego, the best homes are still competitive. The difference is that buyers now want a clearer match between the house, the neighborhood and the life they expect to live there. - Bloom said his goal is not to sell one version of San Diego, but to help people find theirs. - More information: Andrew Bloom on Instagram