The AI Boom and Bay Area Real Estate

Market Insights | September 2026

New opportunities. Lasting value.

AI & tech sector signals

AMD jumped +9.6% and crossed a $1T market value as AI demand fuels growth across tech. OpenAI is hiring aggressively (818+ open roles across San Francisco and the Bay Area). Anthropic continues expanding with 67+ open roles. Bay Area tech employment was up +4.7% year over year (May 2025) — a strong job market that supports housing demand.

Berryessa market snapshot — single-family homes | August 2026

Homes sold: 22 (↑ 8.3% from July; ↑ 21% from August 2025)

Homes for sale: 46 (↑ 2.2% MoM; ↑ 39% YoY)

Homes under contract: 29 (↑ 26% MoM; ↑ 7.4% YoY)

Median days on market: 13 (↑ 46% MoM; ↓ 7.1% YoY)

Median price per sq. ft.: $957 (↑ 2.4% MoM; ↑ 4.5% YoY)

Months of inventory: 2.1 (↑ 12% MoM; ↑ 77% YoY)

Median sold price: $1,750,000 (↓ 1.5% MoM; ↑ 10% YoY)

Current 30-year fixed mortgage rates (as of September 2026)

Jumbo / conforming examples include Chase 6.500% / 6.375%, CitiBank 6.500% / 6.750%, Golden 1 6.500% / 6.750%, Origin Point 6.550% / 6.850%, Wells Fargo 7.000% / 7.125%, US Bank 7.125% / 6.875%, and Bank of America 7.250% / 7.000%. Rates move daily — always confirm with your lender.

Key takeaways

1. AI is driving real economic growth. More high-paying jobs and equity wealth can support long-term housing demand.

2. Berryessa remains strong. Despite higher rates and more inventory, the median sold price is up 10% year over year.

3. Higher rates don't automatically mean lower prices. Limited supply and strong incomes can keep values resilient.

4. Strategy matters more than ever. The right time to buy, sell, or invest depends on your goals, finances, and the specific neighborhood.

If you want a Berryessa (or nearby South Bay) buy/sell plan based on your budget and timeline, reply or contact me — I'll run comps, payment scenarios, and neighborhood tradeoffs with you.