Solano Real Estate Scene: Jim Porter
Article By: Jim Porter – January 16, 2026
Supply and demand are what controls the Solano and Yolo county markets.
It’s funny how from mid-2022 till the fall of 2025, many of us in the real estate and mortgage business suffered through a low volume lousy market. Interestingly, because of a shortage of homes for sale, it remained a strong market for the home sellers and the top producing listing agents.
Since Halloween night 2025, the market has been a real treat for some homebuyers and buyer’s agents because the number of homes for sale has doubled over the past 12 months. As of today, there are 500 homes and condos for sale in Solano County under $500,000 for first-time homebuyers.
Thirty-five years ago, I asked the late, great real estate broker Dick Cardosi why this listing on Deodara Street in Vacaville wasn’t getting any offers. He told me something so simple and at the same time powerful that I never forgot.
He came to Travis Air Force Base and raised his family here after his service, including being shot down in Vietnam, from his hometown in Rhode Island. With his New England dialect, he said, “Jimmy, the reason is always the same exact thing, it’s the price.”
The housing affordability problem that everyone is talking about today will be solved, and it is happening right now with mortgage rates dropping from an average near 7% a year ago to 6.25% today, and inventory has doubled over the past 12 months too. The home prices have come down over the past 3.5 years and with these lower rates, housing affordability is substantially better today than it was in 2022.
Solano County has 2.8 months of inventory, and Yolo looks like it is 3.25 months today, while a healthy balanced market is four to six months, so there is plenty of room for more listings for those of you thinking about selling. Now is a great time to begin planning your move up or out in the spring.
Jim Porter, NMLS No. 276412, is the branch manager of Solano Mortgage, NMLS No. 1515497, a division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS No. 1850, licensed in California by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the CRMLA / Equal Housing Opportunity. Jim can be reached at 707-449-4777.
