Year over year, almost everything in our local market held steady. One thing moved, and there’s a smart way buyers are getting around it.

Happy October. I hope your fall is off to a fabulous start. Each month, I like to take a close look at what is happening in the Burbank, Glendale, and North Hollywood market. This time, I’m comparing September 2026 with September 2025 to see what has truly shifted over the past year.

Sales volume barely moved. Last September, our market recorded 138 sales. This September, it recorded 137. That is a decline of less than 1%, which is about as close to unchanged as a market can get.

For buyers and sellers alike, that consistency is worth noting. Homes are still selling at essentially the same pace they were a year ago.

Prices held nearly identical. The average sales price followed the same pattern. Last year, it came in at roughly $1.18 million, and this year, it landed in virtually the same place, down just a smidge.

Despite all the headlines suggesting dramatic swings, home values in our corner of Los Angeles County have proven remarkably stable.

“It's a shift in what's selling, not a crash.”

Rates were the real change. If one thing defined the past year, it was interest rates. At the end of last September, the rates I was seeing sat around 6.3%. This September, they were closer to 7.4%, an increase of roughly one percentage point, consistent with Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage rate survey.

Rates were the only thing that really changed year over year, and for many buyers, that one shift is what stands between them and the home they want.

A 3-2-1 buydown eases the transition. The most exciting development I have been involved in with sellers and buyers this season is the 3-2-1 buydown. With a seller’s help, this strategy lets buyers start their mortgage at a lower rate than today’s market typically offers.

The structure is straightforward. With rates at approximately 7.3%, a buyer’s rate begins around 4.3% in the first year. It rises to about 5.3% in year two and about 6.3% in year three, and it does not reach the full market rate of about 7.3% until year four.

Because the rate steps up each year, the monthly payment does as well, so it is important to plan for that. Even so, those early years give buyers valuable room to settle in at a lower cost.

Now is a strong time to buy. There are plenty of opportunities in the market today, with homes available across Burbank, Glendale, and North Hollywood. With the right financing in place, you could be in your new home in time for the holidays and the new year.

A purchase before year-end may also bring tax advantages, which are worth discussing with your tax professional.

If you have questions or comments, I look forward to talking with you, and I am here on standby. Call or text me at  (818) 953-5300, email me at Brad@bradkorb.com, or visit bradkorb.com.

Have a wonderful day, and I hope to hear from you soon.