WeRevive blog

Real Report: A Framework for the 2026 Housing Market

brian@werevive.com (Brian Daly) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:35:42 GMT

Last week, I shared my 2026 market outlook through The Real Report. I thought you might want to take a look too.

This isn’t a hype piece or a bold “hot take.” It’s more of a framework for thinking about where we are in the cycle and what that means heading into next year, especially here in San Diego.

So, here goes the short version:

Between 2020 and 2022, we compressed about seven years of appreciation into two. Since early 2023, we haven’t been crashing, we’ve been slowly working our way back to the mean. That process is quiet, frustrating at times, and easy to misread if you’re only looking at headlines.

One of the biggest takeaways from the report is the difference between nominal prices and real values. Prices can appear flat or even slightly up, while real purchasing power is still drifting lower once inflation is backed out. That distinction matters a lot for how you advise clients, price property, and think about timing.

In the full write-up, I cover:

Why Q1 and Q2 of 2026 could still feel solid
Why the back half of the year likely looks more like 2025
Where attached housing continues to struggle
How I’m thinking about mortgage rates longer term
And why California may start to diverge more clearly from the rest of the country

The full breakdown? You can read it here.

And if you want local and macro market updates regularly, you can subscribe as well.

Please note that this isn’t about predicting the future perfectly. It’s about understanding the environment well enough to make smart, grounded decisions. In other words, take what’s useful, question the rest, and make the call that’s right for you and your clients.

The Real Story Behind Holly Brae Lane

brian@werevive.com (Brian Daly) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:33:06 GMT

I’ve had a lot of agents reach out about our Holly Brae Lane project in Carlsbad, so I want to give you the real story.

This one came to us through our partner Laurie Greenfield.

On paper, it looked like a dream.

Prime Carlsbad neighborhood.
An incredible lot.
One of those streets where, if you miss your chance, you probably never get another…

But when we walked around the house, the mood shifted.

Water had been running toward the home for years.

No drainage.
No waterproofing.
The kind of slow damage that doesn’t scream at you until it’s too late.

By the time we finished the walk, we discovered nearly 60% of the framing was rotted… 😵‍💫

The house wasn’t just tired. It was compromised.

Our original plan was conservative… But the more time we spent there, the clearer it became.

We made the call to go all in.

We scraped almost everything…

Re-poured the foundation.

Reimagined the layout.

Moved the garage.

And rebuilt the home to give it a second life, not just a facelift.

It became the largest project we’ve ever taken on.

We went past the original budget intentionally, with one goal in mind.

Build it the right way, not the easy way.

Sure, It wasn’t easy but today, it’s one of the projects I’m most proud of.

If you’ve got a property where the easy route isn’t the right route, reply to this email or book a quick call with Mechelle and let’s talk it through.

More Than Homes: How One Story Turned Into a Second Chance

brian@werevive.com (Brian Daly) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:31:56 GMT

I want to share a story with you.

It started at the beach, with a borrowed surfboard, and a smile that stopped our whole team in their tracks.

Last September, we hosted our second annual WeRevive Beach Day with the San Diego Rescue Mission.

That’s where we met Donald… nine months sober, still in the early stages of rebuilding his life, and stepping into the ocean for the very first time.

He stood up on that board like it was nothing.

Like healing was something he could ride instead of chase. 🏄🏽‍♂️

Fast forward to today, Donald just graduated from SDRM’s Mission Academy, and during the ceremony, we had the honor of awarding him our fifth WeRevive Housing Scholarship. 🥳

That $6,000 housing scholarship covered the deposit and furnishings for his very first apartment since his life got off track - it’s giving him the traction he needs to start fresh.

We provide this scholarship every fall and spring to recognize someone who’s not only overcome hardship, but has chosen healing…

Someone who’s ready to build a new life.

None of this is random.

None of this happens without you.

Because of agents like Seth O’Byrne, Jan Ryan, Jesse Swonetz, Jake Akers, Laura Kelley, Bryan Devore, and Devon Booth, who trusted us with renovation opportunities this quarter, we can say YES to #ONE more.

Donald wrote in his application:

“I’ve learned how to lean on a community of great people that want me to win.”

That line stuck with me.

Because of you (you’re our community), we’re able to do more than just restore homes…we can restore hope in those who lost it.

If you want to be a part of saying YES to #ONE more - book a quick discovery call by clicking HERE, or send us your next property that needs a little (or a lot of) love. 🤗