Southern California homeowners are in a rare position in today’s housing market: very few owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth. A new first-quarter 2026 snapshot shows “underwater” mortgages are scarce across the region—especially in Orange County, Ventura County, and San Diego County. That’s

National City is confronting a fast-growing budget deficit, and newly hired City Manager Doug Schulze has warned that—without major changes—the city could face insolvency within the next several years. The City Council’s recent decision to remove a proposed business license tax from the November ballot has intensified

Southern California’s fuel supply picture may be changing after major energy companies approved a massive pipeline investment aimed at moving more refined gasoline and jet fuel into the West. For San Diego drivers, the headline is simple: more supply options could mean fewer price shocks and less

California’s housing debate is back in the spotlight after a Times of San Diego commentary (originally published by CalMatters) argued that voters can reduce costly delays by modernizing how California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) challenges are handled—without weakening core environmental protections. The piece, written by Jenna Abbott

Congress is showing rare movement on housing. A newly advanced bipartisan federal bill—the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act—aims to help communities build more homes, but local experts warn its benefits could be limited in California because the biggest obstacles are often state and local approval delays.

San Diego renters are reacting to a surprising headline: some landlords have issued rent increases as high as 82%, raising new questions about how California’s rent cap law works in real life. Beyond the shock factor, this kind of sudden hike can trigger rapid tenant turnover, property