Updated guide: For our current, in-depth take, read Ignoring the headlines on property values.Last week Zillow had to cut 25% of their personnel, leaving more than 6,400 unemployed, after their program where they were buying, renovating, and selling homes themselves, did not work. They were relying solely on their “Zestimates”, the property values determined by their algorithm. But, as I mentioned...

Quick answer: Solana Beach is a compact, coastal North County community — walkable, design-and-train-connected, family-friendly, and supply-limited — that rewards lifestyle and long-horizon buyers. Like all scarce coastal markets, it is durable on value but unforgiving on pricing and diligence: buy it for the location, underwrite it conservatively, and verify everything before you commit. Table of...