From the journal

Mark Riley

Mark Riley | November 9, 2026

Ask for the Tax Bill, Not the Estimate

Two condos in Mission Valley can share a price and an HOA fee and still cost you very different amounts each month. The difference sits on a line most buyers never read.

Mark Riley | November 2, 2026

Underwrite the Rent They're Actually Paying

Mission Valley's new apartment buildings are giving away free months, and that changes what your rental condo can really earn. Here's how I run the numbers before buying.

Mark Riley | October 26, 2026

Match Day Changes the Maths

Snapdragon Stadium turned Mission Valley into somewhere people walk to on a Saturday night. I don't think that's worth the premium some sellers are asking for it, and here's why.

Mark Riley | October 19, 2026

Price the Insurance Before You Price the Offer

Once a buyer falls for a place in Mission Valley, the first call I make isn't to the lender. Here's who I ring instead, and why it can change what you offer.

Mark Riley | October 12, 2026

Twenty Percent Down Isn't the Finish Line

Most first-time buyers pour every pound they've saved into the down payment. I think that's the wrong goal, and here's what I'd have you do instead.

Mark Riley | October 5, 2026

The Quiet Quarter Works in Your Favour

Every autumn, half of Mission Valley decides to wait for spring. I think most of them have it backwards, and here's why the next three months might be the best window of the year.

Mark Riley | September 28, 2026

Go Back on a Tuesday at Six

Sunday at one is the quietest Friars Road ever gets. The showing I actually care about happens on a Tuesday, and you should do it before you write anything.

Mark Riley | September 26, 2026

Read the Reserve Study Before the Rent

The Mission Valley condo that pencils out on rent can still lose you a year's income in a single board meeting. Here's the page I read first.

Mark Riley | September 7, 2026

The Offer Letter Nobody Bothers Writing

Everyone obsesses over price and terms. Almost nobody thinks about the one page that actually gets a seller's attention.

Mark Riley | August 31, 2026

The Pub That Mission Valley Doesn't Have

Mission Valley has everything you'd want within walking distance. Except one thing I keep looking for.

Mark Riley | August 24, 2026

Condos Are Sitting and That Changes Everything

Mission Valley condo days on market have quietly doubled since last year. If you're buying, selling, or holding, this shift matters more than you think.

Mark Riley | August 17, 2026

First-Time Buyers Keep Choosing the Wrong Flat

Most first-time buyers in Mission Valley fall in love with the finish level and completely ignore the one thing that actually protects their money long term.

Mark Riley | August 10, 2026

The Sunday Roast I Can't Find

I've been chasing a proper Sunday roast in San Diego for years. It says more about Mission Valley than you'd think.

Mark Riley | August 3, 2026

Sellers Finally Blinked in Mission Valley

Price reductions are popping up across Mission Valley for the first time in months. Here's what that actually means if you're buying, selling, or holding.

Mark Riley | July 27, 2026

The Rent Number That Actually Matters

Most investors fixate on monthly rent. There's a different number I wish more people would calculate before buying in Mission Valley.

Mark Riley | July 20, 2026

The Inspection Report Nobody Reads Properly

You paid good money for that inspection. But most buyers skim the summary and miss the part that actually matters.

Mark Riley | July 13, 2026

Inventory Is Up and Nobody Noticed

Mission Valley's active listings have quietly climbed this spring. Here's what that actually means if you're buying, selling, or holding.

Mark Riley | July 6, 2026

Your Pre-Approval Letter Means Less Than You Think

Most first-time buyers treat their pre-approval like a golden ticket. It isn't. Here's what actually matters when you're making offers in Mission Valley.

Mark Riley | June 29, 2026

The 1031 Exchange Mistake I Keep Seeing

Investors in Mission Valley love the idea of a 1031 exchange. But I keep watching people botch the timing in ways that cost them real money.

Mark Riley | June 22, 2026

Stop Obsessing Over the Interest Rate

First-time buyers fixate on their mortgage rate like it's the only number that matters. It's not, and I'll tell you why.

Mark Riley | June 15, 2026

The Pub That Doesn't Exist Here

Mission Valley has brilliant food options. But one thing is properly missing, and it's been on my mind.

Mark Riley | June 8, 2026

First Time Buyers Get This Dead Wrong

Most first-time buyers obsess over the monthly mortgage payment. That's not where the real surprise hits you.

Mark Riley | June 1, 2026

A Proper Sunday Roast in Mission Valley

Sometimes the best way to understand a neighbourhood is through what people eat there. Mission Valley's dining scene says more about the area than any listing sheet.

Mark Riley | May 25, 2026

Mission Valley Is Shifting Right Now

Inventory is creeping up in Mission Valley and it's changing the conversation for buyers, sellers, and investors. Here's what I'm seeing on the ground this quarter.

Mark Riley | May 18, 2026

The Offer Price Isn't Your Real Number

Everyone obsesses over what they offer on a home. Fewer people think about the number that actually matters more.

Mark Riley | May 11, 2026

The Mission Valley Fourplex That Changed Everything

A real deal I watched unfold last year shows why small multifamily in Mission Valley still works, if you run the numbers properly.