Whether you're buying, selling, or simply exploring the San Diego market, this is your go-to resource for strategic real estate guidance, tax-smart planning tips, and a curated look at the best homes across the county. As longtime local experts with decades of experience, we share real-world strategies we use with our clients every day, plus honest opinions on property values, neighborhood insights from true locals, and smart advice for those looking to invest in coastal San Diego.
Share
Story time - Fast negotiations, multiple offers & escalation clauses.
Published 17 days ago • 7 min read
We’ve been BUSY!! We’re incredibly grateful for the trust our clients place in us and for the referrals that continue to come our way. This has been a challenging market for some agents, but we’ve been fortunate to work with exceptional clients who value strategy, communication, and results. That connection is what drives us to fight hard for the best possible outcome every time. We have a great success story below that’s a perfect example of that.
We also have some great property picks this week. Working throughout San Diego and along the coast, we’re lucky to see and sell some truly special homes, many with incredible stories and history. This week we toured the new listing at 7301 Encelia Drive, offered at $9,950,000. This home once belonged to none other than Dr. Seuss. Many of the books we all grew up with were written here. The property was gifted to UCSD and is being sold through a sealed bid process, where offers are submitted and selected by the UCSD Regents. A very unique opportunity and a fascinating piece of San Diego history.
Story time - Fast negotiations, multiple offers, and escalation clauses.
We just closed an incredible oceanfront condo at 441 S. Sierra in Solana Beach for a great client. This was the perfect property for them, and exactly the kind of client you go to bat for. The home hit the market and immediately attracted multiple offers. It was bid up quickly and went through several rounds of counteroffers.
Before the offer process even began, I spent time speaking with the listing agent and asking very intentional questions:Why the seller was moving, what mattered most beyond price, timing, comfort level, and how well the agent knew his clients. I built a professional, respectful rapport, reviewed the agent’s sales history, and did my homework so I knew exactly who we were negotiating with. All of that informed our strategy at every step.
When it came down to our offer and one other, we learned we were competing against an escalation clause. Same terms, but the other buyer was willing to beat the next highest offer by a set amount. We’ve negotiated these many times and understand the technical nuances. If you put a high number in writing, it can be used against you to trigger the escalation clause. We didn’t do that.
We submitted a strong written offer and communicated a higher number verbally, with a clear commitment that if our terms were accepted, we would immediately put it in writing and make it binding. The seller got the number they wanted without using our offer as leverage to push the escalation higher. We also highlighted our track record, closing history, and reliability compared to the competing agent, and gave real context on who our buyer was and why we were the safest, cleanest path to closing.
We won the negotiation. Another buyer may have been willing to pay more, but the seller felt confident, protected, and comfortable with the outcome. Everyone walked away happy. This is the simplified version of a very technical deal, but it’s a perfect example of why experience and strategy matter.
Below are our eight property picks this week. In addition to the Dr. Seuss home, 538 4th Street stands out as a strong oceanfront value, and 619 Bonair offers a great opportunity with two homes on a full-size lot.
As always, reach out if you want to talk strategy, opportunities, or what we’re seeing in real time.
Encinitas
538 4th Street
4 BD | 4 BA | 2,531 SF
$6,500,000
Perfectly nestled along the ocean’s edge in the heart of Encinitas, this legacy coastal residence is offered for the first time on the market. The seaside retreat is filled with natural light and enhanced by panoramic Pacific-facing exposure that frames sweeping ocean views.
La Jolla Village
7455 Draper Ave #2
3 BD | 3 BA | 2,355 SF
$2,299,000
Nestled in the heart of La Jolla Village, this luxury townhome offers a warm and inviting coastal lifestyle just moments from beloved cafés, boutique shopping, and iconic beaches.
Windansea La Jolla
619 Bonair Way
5 BD | 4 BA | 3,123 SF
$2,950,000
A short stroll to Wind N’ Sea beach, we are delighted to offer you a four bedroom, two and a half bath two story Euro inspired beach house of approximately 2560 square feet plus a one bedroom, one bath 740 square foot ocean view ADU or guest house.
La Jolla Mesa
5512 Candlelight Drive
4 BD | 3 BA | 2,197 SF
$3,000,000-$3,200,000
Single-level ocean-view home with stunning white-water coastline views! Perched high on a hill overlooking Pacific Beaches, this tastefully remodeled 4BR/3BA residence offers an open floor plan, large central kitchen, and seamless flow to dining and main living areas.
La Jolla Country Club
7301 Encelia Drive
4 BD | 4 BA | 5,004 SF
$9,950,000
Perched high above the Pacific with panoramic views suspended between sea and sky, the former home of Theodor Seuss Geiselknown globally as Dr. Seuss, the most famous childrens author in the worldcomes to market as one of La Jollas most storied residential offerings.
Sunset Cliffs
1011 Devonshire Drive
3 BD | 3 BA | 2,373 SF
$3,225,000
Revel in the Southern California coastal lifestyle featuring panoramic ocean views in this stunning Sunset Cliffs Craftsman charmer.
Crown Point
3634 Crown Point Dr
4 BD | 3 BA | 1,926 SF
$3,150,000
First time on the market since it was built in 1960, this property features a 3bed 2bath 1326sf front house, with a 600sf rear 1bed 1bath casita guest house.
North Mission Beach
3921 Ocean Front Walk
4 BD | 5 BA | 2,354 SF
$7,500,000
Welcome to one of the most iconic North Mission Beachfront properties. This rare coastal gem sits on a coveted corner lot with an expansive 60-Foot Frontage, offering breathtaking panoramic ocean views on the Sand.
441 S. Sierra Ave Unit 308
Buyer Representation | Solana Beach
$2,900,000
This stunning top-floor, oceanfront residence at Solana Beach & Tennis Club delivers commanding coastal views and an elevated beach lifestyle. Vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and refined finishes create a light-filled interior where 180-degree panoramic ocean views stretch from La Jolla northward to the horizon.
So, we have a permit driver in our house. If you see this car rolling past you, it’s probably us. Simone is actually doing really well, but we had a bit of a rough start. Her first lesson after passing her permit test was with an instructor who just wasn’t the right fit, and it definitely affected her confidence and desire to get back out there.
Thankfully, we found someone new. Mr. P drives the bus at the girls’ school and has for over 20 years. I introduced myself to him last year because he’s such a dynamic person. He treats his passengers like they’re his own kids, says hello to everyone, and is genuinely kind. He’s also a retired vet, which says a lot. That’s exactly the kind of person we want teaching Simone.
He’s taking her out this weekend to work on parking, because we all know I probably shouldn’t be the one teaching her. Sometimes I honestly wonder how I still have my license 😂
If you’re looking for driving lessons, look up this company and request Mr. P as your instructor, or feel free to message me and I’ll share his number.
Help us raise money for a good cause while getting the chance to win money back during each quarter of the upcoming Super Bowl!
Text Tracie to buy squares!! 619-886-5294
“
"We had dreamed of owning a vacation home in La Jolla for years and had been casually searching for quite some time.
Tracie was incredibly patient throughout the process — never pushy, never rushed us, and always supportive as we figured out exactly what we wanted. When the right property finally came on the market, Tracie moved fast.
She immediately did a video tour for us, stayed in constant communication with the listing agent, and made sure we didn’t miss the opportunity — even from a distance.
Most importantly, she proved to be an outstanding negotiator. Quite honestly, we don’t think this purchase would have happened without her skill, persistence, and strategy.
Ryan was also a huge help, walking us through detailed rental income projections and expense scenarios so we could make decisions with realistic expectations and full confidence.
Beyond their expertise, what stood out most was how personal the experience felt. We always knew we had a team truly looking out for us.
We couldn’t be happier with our La Jolla home and highly recommend Tracie and Ryan to anyone looking for thoughtful guidance and exceptional results. We are very grateful for their help."
After years of affordability challenges, the housing market is entering a new phase of improved affordability, not through a dramatic price correction, but through an extended period of flat home prices, rising incomes, and gradually falling mortgage rates.
See the full breakdown from our Chief Economist at Compass, Mike Simonsen
We were featured in the latest edition of SD Voyager Magazine!
The article speaks to our careers before we met (at the office in 2004), how we got started in the business together, to challenges & lessons we've learned along the way, and finally what sets us apart from others in the industry.
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California operating under multiple entities. License Numbers 01991628, 1527235, 1527365, 1356742, 1443761, 1997075, 1935359, 1961027, 1842987, 1869607, 1866771, 1527205, 1079009, 1272467. All material is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description or measurements (including square footage). This is not intended to solicit property already listed. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.
Whether you're buying, selling, or simply exploring the San Diego market, this is your go-to resource for strategic real estate guidance, tax-smart planning tips, and a curated look at the best homes across the county. As longtime local experts with decades of experience, we share real-world strategies we use with our clients every day, plus honest opinions on property values, neighborhood insights from true locals, and smart advice for those looking to invest in coastal San Diego.
If you have worked with us, you know that Tracie is extremely efficient, organized, detail oriented, and manages escrow like a true professional. When we open a new escrow, we are under a tight timeline to perform and protect our clients. We have a current escrow with an out of town buyer. We can handle 90% of a sale for clients who are out of the area. Tracie is managing about 10 inspections, multiple vendors, phone calls, bids, and estimates. Calls with clients, escrow, title, the seller's...
With the warmer weather, the market is behaving more like mid-summer than late winter. There is real momentum right now. In conversations with agents across the coast, most are working with active buyers, but there continues to be limited new inventory coming to market. We’re not seeing prices bid up week after week, but homes are selling and good properties are moving. If interest rates were to come down, this could turn into a much faster-moving market. There is a large group of would-be...
If the current momentum in the market continues as it has over the last two months, 2026 could be a good year for San Diego real estate. In the first three weeks of January, we have four pending or closed sales. All of them have been cash buyers, and three were multiple-offer situations. While this is a small sample of the market, it’s a real-time, first-person snapshot. We picked five new listings this week. See our commentary below on why we like them. Tracie is putting a fun spin on her...