Colin Davies

Hi Grace, Lafayette is not insulated from higher rates, it is more selective, and the difference in outcomes is increasingly driven by how a home is positioned rather than the market alone. Homes presented generically as a commodity are experiencing soft demand, longer days on market, and more price reductions, reflecting a buyer pool that is highly sensitive to perceived value. In contrast, a capable agent assesses each property as a Specialty or Differentiated Good. A strategic agent understands a home's architecture, function, form, and setting, then brings that narrative to market with clear intention. This distinction is critical because homes that are properly understood and presented as unique assets are still generating multiple offers and strong sale prices, even in a softened environment. The data alone does not explain performance; presentation and positioning are what determine whether a home is absorbed as a commodity or competed for as a rare opportunity. Who you work with matters even more now.

Zillow is useful for browsing, but it is neither the complete market nor the final authority on a property. A serious buyer's primary tool should be an agent-managed Bay East/Paragon CCAR MLS search, as public portals exclude agent-only information and coming-soon listings. Redfin and private brokerage networks serve as secondary tools for fast alerts and pre-market opportunities. For due diligence, buyers can review county assessor, GIS, tax, and permit records, which portals cannot independently confirm. The effective stack is MLS alerts first, portals for cross-checking, private-network outreach, and official city & county records to supplement disclosures when making a decision.