05/18/2026
Monday Morning Blog • Some Things Never Change!
This month marks 30 years in real estate — hard to believe considering I still remember faxing offers and flipping through printed MLS books.
No property videos. No websites. No Zillow. No iPhones.
In 1996, the average U.S. home price was under $150,000 and mortgage rates hovered around 8%. Today, buyers can access more information in 30 seconds than we had in 30 days.
And yet, after three decades of watching markets rise, fall, overheat, cool off, and reinvent themselves, the fundamentals remain surprisingly consistent:
> Judgment Over Timing
The best decisions rarely come from perfectly timing a market. They come from knowing when it’s the right time for you to act.
> The Irreplaceable Always Wins
Long-term value comes from the things you cannot re-create: location, privacy, views, and character.
>Price Is Only a Number
Experienced buyers focus on more than price. They think about how a home will change their lifestyle and what it will feel like to own years from now.
>Exceptional Properties Stay Exceptional
Markets fluctuate. Trends evolve. Truly special homes in the right location hold their ground over time.
Today the market is noisier than ever. More data. More opinions. More headlines. But homes are still all about lifestyle, memories, and connection.
The Kogevinas Group • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties • DRE 01209514
