Harv Balu's blog

The Newark housing market just posted its August 2026 numbers. The median sale jumped, but price per foot fell again, and those two moves tell different stories if you are buying or selling. Here is where things stand for single family homes, citywide.

• Median sold price: $1,465,000, up 10.6% from July.
• But price per square foot fell 10.7% to $708, a third straight monthly drop. The higher median most likely reflects larger homes trading, not a citywide jump in value.
• Closed sales softened: they averaged 99.4% of list, just under asking, after a median of 27 days on market, up from 18....

The Hayward housing market just posted its August 2026 numbers. It is still a seller's
market, but three things moved underneath the headline, and each one matters if you are buying or selling.
Here is where things stand for single family homes, citywide.

• Median sold price: $935,000, up 5.6% from July.
• But price per square foot fell 8.2% to $608, so the higher median reflects larger homes trading, not a citywide jump in value.
• Sold to list: 102.2% of list price, in a median of 16 days.
• Supply: 2.38 months of inventory, steady on the month but 17.8%...

I am hosting the open house at 31967 Albany St in Hayward's Fairway Park this Saturday, October 17 and Sunday, October 18, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Both days, open to the public. Walk in, no appointment needed.

Here is the short version of why it is worth the drive. It is a detached single story house on a flat 5,000 square foot lot, it has been through a full interior remodel, and it is asking $898,000, which is below the median price 94544 houses actually sold for in August. At this price in this ZIP, buyers usually have to choose between a house that is finished and a house that is...