🍰 La Jolla’s Sweetest Secret, a Real Estate Wake-Up Call & the Rule Your HOA Can’t Ignore

We don’t send this to just anyone, but if you live for ocean breezes, great coffee, and keeping your home equity strong, this one’s for you.

In this edition of Coast & Key SD, we’re walking through La Jolla’s real-life storybook views (and a home to match), two cafés where desserts hit different, and why condo owners need to talk to their HOAs, now.

Plus, the market shift you can finally feel, and a Mission Valley move that could shape the next wave of urban growth.

August’s Coast & Key SD is packed with real-time updates and local flavor:

• 🎥 Aumann on Air: How a Blanket for Mom Sparked a Nationwide Movement

• 🍴Coastal Culture: Eat & Do: Cake, coffee, + coastal playgrounds

• 🏡 The Condo Corner: The rule that’s hitting your pocket

• 📈 Market Moves: Inventory is up 50%, and condos are feeling the pressure

• 🤖 AI Advantage: The tools that actually save time

• 🏗️ On the Horizon: New HQ in Mission Valley

LET'S DIVE IN ↓

🏆 TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Ty Aumann Named to Tom Ferry’s 2025 Top 30 Under 30

We’re proud to share that Ty Aumann has officially been named to the 2025 Tom Ferry Top 30 Under 30.

What makes this so remarkable isn’t just the recognition, it’s the journey.

Two years ago, Ty was recovering from a near-fatal car accident that took a full year to heal from. Since joining us, he’s brought focus, humility, and drive to every single day, often the first to arrive and the last to leave our La Jolla office.

His grit, consistency, and commitment to serving at the highest level have made him a true professional in the luxury space, and this honor is well-deserved.

We can’t wait to celebrate with him at the Tom Ferry Success Summit in Dallas later this year.

📲 See the full story (and Ty’s surprise pitch to join our team before he even graduated) on our Instagram here.

🎥 AUMANN ON AIR

From Blankets to Building Communities: Bob Dalton’s American Dream

What if social media actually brought us closer instead of pushing us apart?

In this month’s episode of American Dream TV San Diego, Robert sits down with Bob Dalton, the visionary behind Sackcloth & Ashes and now founder of LOCL, a new social platform built to reconnect people where it matters most: in their own communities.

Bob’s journey started in 2014 with a simple promise: For every blanket sold, donate one to a local shelter. That idea grew into a nationwide movement, with hundreds of thousands of blankets given to those in need.

Along the way, Bob saw a gap in how neighborhoods communicate, and LOCL was born.

In the interview, Bob shares:

• How a personal family crisis sparked his entrepreneurial mission

• Why current social networks fail at local connection

• LOCL’s plan to verify real people in an AI-saturated world

• The bold vision for LOCL as a future economic engine for local economies

It’s an inspiring conversation about purpose, innovation, and the future of connection.

📺 Watch the full interview on YouTube here

📲 Want to be part of the movement? LOCL is live now on the App Store and Google Play, join today and start building real connections in your community.

🍴 COASTAL CULTURE: EAT & DO

Cake, coffee & coastal playgrounds

Hinar Dessert Bar & Cafe

Tucked into a quiet block of East Village, Hinar feels more like a gallery than a coffee shop, except here, the art is edible.

Each mini cake is a quiet showstopper:

• Banana Krokan with caramel layers and crunch

• Black Sesame Strawberry that’s earthy, fresh, and delicate

• Biscoff Tres Leches for that rich-meets-light sweetness

Even the drinks here lean artistic, orange blossom lattes, matcha that tastes like a tea ceremony, and staff who care about the craft as much as the calm.

There’s not much seating, but maybe that’s the point. You don’t come to Hinar to camp out. You come to pause. To taste. To let a fork and a soft moment reset the day.

📍 454 13th St, San Diego, CA 92101

 🎥 Watch our Reel on IG for a peek at the cakes, space, and vibes

Immersion Coffee 

Closer to the coast, Immersion takes coffee minimalism to the next level.

White walls, clean lines, and drinks that look like modern art pieces.

Their signature strawberry matcha latte is divine. Orange creamsicle matcha, house-made syrups, and ultra-smooth espresso round out a menu designed for coffee lovers who appreciate restraint.

The space is small and airy, perfect for an aesthetic coffee date or a solo reset after the farmers market.

📍 6905 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037

 🎥 Check out our IG Reel for a taste of the drinks and that clean café calm

Kellogg Park at La Jolla Shores

This is the one for beach-loving families like us who also want space to spread out.

Kellogg Park sits just steps from the sand and boasts one of the best playgrounds in the area, along with a massive grassy field perfect for frisbees, tag, and post-picnic naps.

The Map of the Grand Canyons of La Jolla, a colorful tile mosaic near the boardwalk, is a hit with curious little ones (ours thinks it’s “like a pirate map but for the ocean”).

There’s plenty of room to breathe here, with coastal breezes and no tourist crush.

📍 8277 Camino del Oro, La Jolla, CA 92037

🏡 THE CONDO CORNER

SB 326 is Here and It’s Already Hitting HOA Budgets

If your HOA has been talking about special assessments, higher dues, or reserve shortfalls lately, here’s why: California’s SB 326 balcony inspection law is officially on the clock.

And for many buildings, time is running out.

This law requires structural inspections every 9 years for any condo building with three or more units and elevated elements like balconies, decks, or walkways more than 6 feet off the ground.

What’s new:

• The compliance deadline is now January 1st, 2026, but many HOAs are still behind

• Inspections must be conducted by a licensed engineer or architect

• Repairs must be completed and approved to stay in compliance

• Findings must be factored into the HOA’s reserve study and annual budget

We’re already seeing the impact in San Diego:

More inspections + More repairs + Higher reserves = Higher dues.

In coastal communities like La Jolla, where salt in the air accelerates wear and tear, buildings that haven’t prepared are seeing significant fee increases.

Pro Tip: Ask your HOA if your inspection is done, and if the findings are included in your 2025 budget. Early action on issues like dry rot or failed waterproofing can save tens of thousands in emergency repairs.

Did You Know? SB 326 requires a representative sample of elevated structures to be inspected, not just a unit or two. That means even if your balcony looks fine, your unit could still be flagged for follow-up.

Want to stay ahead of the curve? Download our free guide ↓

📈 MARKET MOVES

San Diego Inventory Surges: What That Means for Buyers (and Sellers)

After years of tight supply, San Diego’s housing market just experienced its biggest inventory spike since before the pandemic.

As of July 2025, there are 5,664 active listings on the market, up 50 to 59% year over year.

That shift is reshaping the landscape:

• Detached home values are still rising, up 3.9% to a median of $1,070,000

• Condo and townhome prices have dropped 6.8%, with a new median of $652,500

• Homes are sitting longer: average days on market is up 40%

What’s driving this? Inventory expansion. Slower buyer urgency. And mortgage rates that are still hovering around 7%.

Here’s what to watch in August:

• More choice: Buyers now have more options than they’ve seen in years

• Pricing pressure: Especially for attached homes, many sellers are adjusting

• Longer timelines: Less competition means buyers can take their time

• Early signs of a buyer’s market: Not quite there yet, but condos are closest

The best opportunities right now?

• Condos and townhomes that have been listed 3+ weeks

• Homes priced just above recent comps

• Properties where sellers need to move fast

Want a deeper dive?

Check out our full breakdown below, including which price segments are moving, where buyers are relocating, and why San Diego is not in a bubble.

🤖 AI ADVANTAGE

Quick Win for Busy Professionals: A tool that actually saves time

AI Email Management

Imagine cutting your inbox time by 60%.

With Gmail’s smart filters, your emails get sorted by urgency so the important stuff rises to the top.

Pair that with Superhuman’s triage, which drafts responses to those repeat questions you get all the time, and all you have to do is review, tweak if needed, and hit send.

The result? You spend less time buried in emails and more time doing what actually moves the needle: making decisions, connecting with people, and building relationships.

🏗️ ON THE HORIZON

New Development Services HQ Opens in Mission Valley (Here’s Why That Matters)

Starting this week, San Diego is officially moving its Development Services Department (DSD) into a brand-new headquarters at 7650 Mission Valley Road, consolidating key services like permit reviews, planning hearings, and zoning consultations under one roof.

Why it matters:

• Easier public access (trolley, bus, and free parking)

• Faster service turnaround and streamlined processes

• In-person and online support for everything from ADUs to major renovations

More than 500 city employees will now work out of the Mission Valley facility, replacing the outdated City Operations Building downtown.

There’s also a new public records viewing room, enhanced plan check areas, and The Edric Hearing Room for Planning Commission meetings.

What this means for homeowners and developers:

• Expect better coordination and faster updates on permits and inspections

• Public hearings and planning reviews are now easier to attend (or stream)

• Major development projects and infill proposals may start to move more quickly, especially near the Mission Valley corridor

Whether you’re planning an ADU, keeping an eye on growth near Mission Valley, or just wondering how San Diego’s next wave of development gets approved, this new HQ matters.

More efficiency behind the scenes means more housing delivered, and more clarity for buyers and sellers navigating what’s next.

BEFORE YOU GO…

Looking beyond San Diego?

We’re proud members of The Private Client Network, the leading collective of top luxury brokers in the U.S. In fact, our network was recently featured on the back cover of The Wall Street Journal.

From Aspen to Austin, Palm Beach to Park City, we offer insider access and white-glove service across 80 of the most desirable luxury markets in the country.

If you, or someone you know, needs trusted guidance in any of them, we’re your first call.

Thanks for reading this month’s Coast & Key SD.

Whether you’re tasting strawberry match lattes in La Jolla, navigating SB 326 with your HOA, or eyeing a new listing with negotiation potential, we’re here to help you stay a step ahead in San Diego real estate.

As always, if you’ve got questions about the market, need a trusted referral, or want the inside scoop on a pocket listing, we’re just a reply away.

Thanks for reading,