Supply is down in Lafayette's real estate market. Demand is not. And when that happens, prices rise. That's not opinion, it's basic supply and demand, and it's the same mechanism driving what we're seeing play out in San Francisco, Marin, and the Peninsula.

While Lafayette isn't a world-class destination like these areas, it is a luxury suburb, and the biggest reason is our schools. The Lafayette Elementary School District ranks in the top 5% of school districts statewide, according to Public School Review. In the most recent statewide testing, reported by Niche using 2024-25 CAASPP results, 80% of students scored proficient in both math and reading, compared to roughly 37% in math and 49% in reading statewide per EdSource's 2024-25 results. That is not a small gap. It's the kind of difference that brings serious, motivated buyers to Lafayette year after year, regardless of what rates are doing or what the headlines say.

That demand is durable, and it's also seasonal in a way worth noting. Families searching now for schools are in their last push to make the start of the 2026-27 school year! And, kindergarten registration for Lafayette schools opens in January, which means families thinking ahead for the following year are quietly starting that search this summer too. If you're a buyer, this is the window to be ready. If you're a seller, this is exactly the audience that's out there right now.

The supply side of the equation has not kept pace with any of this. Pending sales across Lamorinda were down roughly a third this spring compared to a year ago, even as buyer activity stayed active. Fewer homes are coming to market while the number of families who want in keeps growing. That imbalance is what pushes prices higher, and it is already evident.

Here's the second half of the opportunity. The Lafayette market has been largely flat for four years, and we still have not returned to 2022 peak pricing. That means the upside is still ahead of us, not behind us. Sellers who move now, particularly with updated homes in the neighborhoods buyers want most, are positioned to catch that upside as it plays out rather than chase it later.

You don't have to sell the traditional way if that doesn't fit your life right now. We can sell on market, off market, quietly, or publicly, whatever fits your situation.

The Dana Green Team has been the #1 real estate team in Lamorinda for 18 straight years. That kind of time in one market means we've seen almost every version of this decision before, and we know which approach actually fits a given home and a given family.

If you're curious what your home could do in today's market, let's talk. No pressure, just information.