

Reporter
Phillip Molnar
Phillip Molnar covers residential real estate as well as other business issues for The San Diego Union-Tribune. He is an award-winning reporter who has worked for newspapers across the country, including the Monterey Herald, The Express-Times and New Jersey Herald.
All Stories

AIA San Diego gave awards to projects in Balboa Park, downtown San Diego and at MiraCosta College.

Should San Diego reduce its minimum size requirement for most residential lots?
There is a 5,000-square-foot minimum lot requirement across more than 80% of San Diego — something on the books since 1923.

San Diego registra la inflación más alta del país por segundo mes
La tasa de inflación de San Diego fue del 3,8% en mayo, superior a la de Nueva York, con un 3,4%, y la de Chicago, con un 3,3%.

San Diego has highest inflation in the nation for second month
The San Diego inflation rate was 3.8% in May, higher than New York at 3.4% and Chicago at 3.3%.

200 San Diego positions will be cut as Trump istration seeks to end job training program
The government says the Job Corps program — which provides training in welding, nursing, carpentry and other vocations — has been ineffective.

Will smaller San Diego lot sizes solve housing woes? New study thinks so
There is a 5,000-square-foot minimum lot requirement across more than 80% of San Diego — something on the books since 1923.

These San Diego luxury homes have been for sale for a year, or longer
San Diego County homes costing $6 million and up are taking an average 633 days to sell.

Should a discounted water rate for San Diego farmers go away?
The San Diego County Water Authority gives a roughly 25% discount to about 1,000 farmers.

Should San Diego move up the start date for paid parking at Balboa Park?
Moving up the date for paid Balboa Park parking could generate $11 million, projection says.

¿Se avecinan rebajas de precios? El aumento de precios de las viviendas en San Diego es lento en el ranking nacional
Los índices S&P Case-Shiller dijeron que los precios de las viviendas en el condado de San Diego aumentaron un 1,67 % anual.

Are price cuts coming? San Diego home price gains slow in national rankings
San Diego metro ranked 15th in the 20 city index for home price gains.

Se cree que agente musical Dave Shapiro y el ex baterista de Devil Wears Prada murieron en accidente aéreo
El baterista de El diablo viste de Prada había publicado fotos del interior del avión horas antes del accidente fatal.

Did Walmart make the right move warning customers about higher prices?
The retail giant said it has no choice but to some costs onto consumers

Music agent Dave Shapiro and ex-Devil Wears Prada drummer believed killed in plane crash
The Devil Wears Prada drummer had posted photos of inside the plane hours before the fatal crash

Las ventas de viviendas en San Diego se desploman a pesar del aumento de propiedades en venta
En un mercado normal, más casas en venta equivalen a más transacciones. Eso no está sucediendo en San Diego actualmente.

‘Look out for a slowdown’: San Diego home sales slump despite more listings
In a normal market, more homes listed for sale equal more transactions. That's not happening in San Diego right now.

Los alquileres de San Diego están cayendo en algunas zonas
Los mercados más caros han visto reducciones de alquiler y las áreas menos costosas, como National City, han visto pequeños aumentos.

San Diego unemployment drops to lowest level in nearly a year
Health care hiring leads the way with ed nurses the most in-demand job in San Diego County.

Is the Trump istration’s plan to tax all Chinese-built ships a good idea?
The new Chinese levies could cost an importer roughly $150 a car.

¿Te apetece un baño en las alturas? La piscina más alta de San Diego ya está lista
A aproximadamente 480 pies de altura, la piscina en 800 Broadway es la más alta de San Diego.

Up for a swim in the sky? San Diego’s highest pool completes construction
At roughly 480 feet in the air, the pool at 800 Broadway is San Diego's highest.

San Diego rents falling in some areas
The most expensive markets have seen rent reductions and less expensive areas, like National City, have seen small increases.

Fatal crash on 94 West snarls freeway
An overturned red sedan could still be seen on the freeway around 7 p.m.

Un estudio dice que necesitas ganar $258,000 al año para comprar una casa en San Diego
San Diego es el cuarto mercado más caro del país, según estudio de Realtor.com

Should San Diego slash its road-repair budget next fiscal year?
The proposal would slash road-repair spending from $259 million to $83 million.

U.S. to charge Chinese-built boats to dock at ports, including San Diego
The Chinese boat levies would be on top of tariffs enacted by the Trump istration.

Zillow forecasts San Diego home values to drop for the first time in years
Zillow predicts San Diego County home values will drop 1.1% in a year

Study says you need to earn $258K a year to buy a San Diego home
San Diego is the fourth-most expensive market in the nation, Realtor.com study says.

Should lawmakers approve a bill that would speed up Seaport San Diego approval?
SB 675 would require a quicker review of a mega project on San Diego's waterfront.

San Diego home price gains slow compared to rest of U.S.
The S&P Case-Shiller Indices said San Diego County home prices are up 2.75% annually

Should California drivers get charged by the mile?
California's Department of Transportation is studying data to potential create a per-mile road charge

The incredible shrinking apartment: San Diego’s average unit now 827 square feet
RentCafe said San Diego had one of the biggest apartment size drops in the nation.

No tariff shocks yet: San Diego’s jobless rate drops to 4.2%
DOGE cuts are still not showing up in San Diego unemployment rolls.

Los precios de las viviendas en San Diego están aumentando, pero ¿durará esta situación?
El precio medio de la vivienda fue de 886.500 dólares en febrero, un 4,1% más en un año.

Was a trade war with China necessary?
The China trade war has spooked investors, but it also has ers.

San Diego home prices are rising, but will it last?
The county's median home price was $886,500 in February, up 4.1% in a year

San Diego bans ‘price-fixing’ software to set residential rents
San Diego s several other cities that have voted to ban RealPage software, saying it illegally boosts residential rent prices.

Could the U.S. become a manufacturing hub again?
President Trump, hoping to grow U.S. manufacturing, implemented the biggest tariff increases since the 1930s.

San Diego tied for highest inflation in the U.S.
New York and San Diego had an inflation rate of 3.8% in March.

China retaliates against San Diego’s Shield AI in tariff war
Shield AI, an artificial intelligence company that is one of San Diego's most valuable venture-backed firms, is added to China's Unreliable Entities List.

“No nos quedaremos de brazos cruzados”: líderes empresariales de San Diego en Washington D.C. ante la llegada de aranceles
Los aranceles perjudicarán a las empresas y a los consumidores, afirman funcionarios de San Diego

San Diego County property taxes are due in 2 days
If you miss the deadline — Thursday at 11:59 p.m. — you face a 10% penalty.

‘Not going to sit idle’: San Diego business leaders in D.C. as tariffs hit
Tariffs will hurt businesses and consumers, San Diego officials say

Will the new hotel tax hike be enough to expand the convention center?
San Diego said it expects the tax to generate roughly $82M a year

Ex-San Diego Councilmember Chris Cate tapped as new Chamber of Commerce head
Cate replaces former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders who left the role after 12 years

San Diego might be having its slowest year ever for newly built housing
Just 50 new home communities are coming out in 2025 in San Diego County. Here's a preview.

San Diego cae en el ranking nacional de precios de viviendas
Los índices S&P Case-Shiller dijeron que los precios de las viviendas en el condado de San Diego aumentaron un 3,4% anual.

¿Es bueno que el crecimiento de la población de San Diego sea impulsado en gran medida por la inmigración?
El condado de San Diego ganó 24,226 inmigrantes, que ingresaron al país tanto legal como ilegalmente.

No sign of DOGE cuts in San Diego as jobless rate drops
The county added 6,400 jobs last month. Impact of Trump layoffs might be months off.

Is it good for San Diego’s population growth to be fueled largely by immigration?
San Diego County gained 24,226 immigrants, who came into the country both legally and illegally

Escondido home development says it is ‘fire resistant.’ Houses cost $1M
San Diego County development Dixon Trail has buffers between homes, flame-resistant vents, noncombustible gutters.

San Diego falls in national home price rankings
The S&P Case-Shiller Indices said San Diego County home prices are up 3.4% annually.

Are consumer sentiment studies a good measure of the economy?
The University of Michigan's consumer sentiment study fell in March by 11%.

“No es que hayamos visto una gran cantidad de empleos”: el desempleo en San Diego aumenta a principios de año
Las cifras aún no incluyen las pérdidas de empleos federales debido a los recortes de Trump

‘It’s not like we’ve seen a windfall of jobs’: San Diego unemployment rises at start of the year
The numbers don't include federal job losses yet from Trump cuts but the jobless rate was 4.5% in San Diego County, up from 4.2%.

Is it too early to tell what Trump’s policies mean for the economy?
Several economic forecasts for 2025 have been revised in recent weeks. Is it too soon for the downgrades?

El Ayuntamiento de San Diego revierte su postura y aprueba el proyecto de la Iglesia All Peoples en Del Cerro
Más de 100 personas abarrotaron la sala del consejo, y la mayoría se manifestó en contra del proyecto

San Diego City Council reverses stance, approves All Peoples Church project in Del Cerro
A year after rejecting it, San Diego City Council OKs All Peoples Church facility in a 5-4 vote.

“Mucha incertidumbre”: las empresas de San Diego están afectadas por la confusión arancelaria
Las empresas más grandes suelen tener a alguien que puede seguir los cambios arancelarios de Trump

¿Debería San Diego imponer un salario mínimo de 25 dólares para los trabajadores del turismo?
Los partidarios dicen que los trabajadores del turismo tienen dificultades para pagar el alquiler, los alimentos y los medicamentos

‘A lot of uncertainty’: San Diego businesses whipsawed by tariff confusion
Larger companies usually have someone who can track Trump's tariff shifts, but smaller businesses are the ones most shell-shocked from all of the changes, experts say.

Should San Diego mandate a $25 minimum wage for tourism workers?
ers say tourism workers struggle to afford rent, groceries and medication.

Los costos podrían “recaer en nuestros clientes”: empresas de San Diego se preparan para los aranceles y la incertidumbre
“Al final del día, comprometemos la calidad o aumentamos los precios”

Costs could ‘fall on our customers’: San Diego businesses brace for tariffs, uncertainty
San Diego companies that use materials and goods from other nations say in many cases costs would be ed to consumers.

‘Tariffs do not help with housing costs’: San Diego apartment builders brace for steel and aluminum tariffs
The Trump istration said the tariffs are necessary to protect U.S. producers

Is it time to step away from the California high-speed rail project?
The project has also been targeted by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.

San Diego ends the year No. 5 in nation for home price gains. Will it last?
The S&P Case-Shiller Indices said San Diego County home prices are up 5.51% annually

Old, shuttered Point Loma hotel sells for $17.4M
The Consulate Hotel on Nimitz Boulevard will be turned into market-rate and student housing

San Diego has one of the lowest homeownership rates for people under 30
LendingTree said Nashville had the highest number of younger homeowners

Should California back off on 2026 zero-emission car mandates?
Analysts and trade groups say the mandates are unrealistic.

New San Diego apartment complex charges more than $4K for a two-bedroom
The Folia apartment complex has co-working space, a pool, gym, club room, putting green and bocce ball court

Little Italy Food Hall closes its doors for good
The Little Italy Food Hall closed down Sunday after the operators decided to focus on its other business ventures.

National City stabbing at Arco gas station leads to multiple arrests
National City police said the fight included up to 10 people

Around 4,000 new apartments are opening in San Diego County this year — but they aren’t cheap
Many of the new complexes charge well above average, hitting $3,000 a month in some buildings

Should the U.S. create a sovereign wealth fund?
President Trump signed an executive order to create a sovereign wealth fund.

San Diego inflation hits highest point in a year
Egg and motor vehicle costs were the biggest drivers of inflation

Wrong-way driver dies in Santee crash
The Sheriff's Office said the crash happened around 8:30 p.m. on Friday

Two San Diego County 7-Elevens robbed at gunpoint
Police said the heists took place at the 7-Eleven near the Encinitas sign, and another in the Convoy District

Downtown San Diego’s biggest apartment building sells for $309M
Park 12 has 718 apartments, the most in downtown San Diego.

Should San Diego rework its ADU bonus program?
San Diego anti-density groups have argued that large ADU projects destroy community character.

La industria fronteriza de San Diego ‘agradecida’ por el retraso de los aranceles; pero preparándose para lo peor
El presidente Donald Trump había amenazado a México y Canadá con un arancel del 25%

San Diego’s border industry ‘thankful’ for tariff delay but preparing for the worst
President Donald Trump had threatened Mexico with a 25% tariff.

UTC’s AMC theater gets big upgrade: Heated seats, recliners and Dolby Cinema
The upgrade comes amid falling revenues, despite recent hits like "Deadpool & Wolverine"

San Diego agregó 1,200 empleos en diciembre. Estos fueron los sectores más importantes
La tasa de desempleo en el condado de San Diego cayó a uno de sus niveles más bajos del año

Is it a good move for companies to roll back DEI programs?
Some of the companies ending diversity programs are Amazon, Meta, Target, McDonald's, Walmart and Boeing

San Diego is falling behind other cities in home price gains
The S&P Case-Shiller Indices said San Diego County home prices are up 4.45% annually

San Diego en camino hacia su año más lento de la historia de ventas de viviendas
Las tasas hipotecarias y los precios de viviendas aún altos han ralentizado el mercado inmobiliario

The Year of the Snake kicks off at City Heights’ Lunar New Year Festival
Ahead of the Lunar New Year on Wednesday, the City Heights festival had games, music and food

‘Don’t count on’ rain, Cal Fire says as fight continues with Otay wilderness fire
The Border 2 fire burned 6,625 acres by 3 p.m., officials said

San Diego added 1,200 jobs in December. These were the top industries
The San Diego County unemployment rate fell to one of its lowest levels of the year.

Should MTS delay or cancel plans to improve trolley service?
The Metropolitan Transit System is considering cutting a service upgrade.

San Diego on track for its slowest-ever home sales year
High mortgage rates and prices have led to low home sales in San Diego County

San Diego economic roundtable points to ‘uncertainty’ with Trump, local housing woes
ists on the annual San Diego County Economic Roundtable say the economic future is unclear with a second Trump term.

San Diego’s biggest home sales in 2024 were in La Jolla
In 2024, affluent buyers mostly put a on being close to the ocean as opposed to mansions in Rancho Santa Fe or other inland areas

Will California insurance reforms be enough to stop insurers from leaving?
California officials say new regulations will keep homeowners insured. Others aren't so sure.

Los compradores de vivienda por primera vez ‘luchan por encontrar oportunidades’.
El aumento de los precios de las viviendas en San Diego ocupa el puesto número 7 en EE.UU.

Miles de personas están en la lista de espera para esta comunidad de Encinitas. Solo quedan 40 casas.
La demanda de viviendas en Fox Point Farms, hogar de una granja, restaurante y mercado, es alta.

Will the domestic box office ever return to its pre-pandemic level of revenue?
All but one movie in the top 10 wasn't a sequel, "Wicked."

Thousands are on the waiting list for this Encinitas community. Only 40 homes remain
Demand is high for housing at Fox Point Farms, a dense development in Encinitas.

San Diego in 2025: Experts predict rising home prices, higher unemployment and more
The San Diego Union-Tribune Econometer of business leaders and economists makes its predictions for 2025.