Can a first-time buyer get into Kensington, and who should they work with?
Yes. It's totally feasible, and it depends on what you're looking for. Kensington's biggest listings scare first-time buyers off, but smaller bungalows near Adams Avenue sometimes come up around $1.3 million, and now and then a small condo comes up around $500,000. (Jared Harman's own read, not MLS data.) I'm Jared Harman, a San Diego REALTOR® based in North Park.
Published . Last updated . Figures are from my own records unless a source is linked.
- 800+
- homes personally toured in 2025
- ~$990K
- negotiated in credits and price reductions, 12 months through September 2026
- 46
- five-star Google reviews
Is Kensington realistic for a first home?
It can be. A lot of people think the budget has to be outrageous to get into Kensington. It depends on what you want: a smaller house near Adams Avenue, or one of the few condos. (Jared Harman's own read, not MLS data.)
What Kensington is like day to day is on my Kensington page.
What do first-time buyers get wrong about Kensington?
They see listings at $2 million or $3 million and assume that's standard for the neighborhood. It isn't. (Jared Harman's own read, not MLS data.)
The big sales are the ones people notice. My team, Team MatchPoint at eXp Realty of California, Inc., sold the most expensive recent one, for $3,775,000, in November 2025. (From my team's records.)
What does a first-time budget buy in Kensington right now?
In my read, a house within a couple of blocks of Adams Avenue runs about $1.38 million to $1.6 million. A smaller bungalow sometimes hits the market around $1.3 million. (Jared Harman's own read, not MLS data.)
There aren't many condos in Kensington. When one comes up, a small one- or two-bedroom can land around $500,000. (Jared Harman's own read, not MLS data.)
For the zip as a whole: through October 2026, the median detached house in 92116 sold for $1,349,000, across 128 sales, and the median condo or townhome for $604,000, across 63 sales. Data: San Diego MLS via GSDAR, thru October 2026.
92116 also covers Normal Heights and part of University Heights, and most of its condos are not in Kensington. Medians do not account for seller concessions.
Which Kensington streets should a first-time buyer look at first?
I'd look on the inside of Kensington, on a street like Edgeware Road or Marlborough Avenue, within a couple of blocks of Adams.
Those streets are a little busier, and the homes there are typically a bit smaller. In the $1.38 million to $1.6 million range, they're pretty good bets. (Jared Harman's own read, not MLS data.)
You could also go a little south of Adams and still be part of the community. It's not quite the same vibe, but you still have access to everything.
What should a first-time buyer check on a Kensington house?
The same things as on any house this age: most were built between the 1920s and the 1950s, on raised foundations. My checklist is on the Kensington page: the roof, the sewer line, the foundation and the electrical.
Down payment, loan options and the help that exists are on my first-home page.
Have I helped a first-time buyer into Kensington?
Not yet. I haven't closed a Kensington purchase myself.
My team, Team MatchPoint at eXp Realty of California, Inc., has had a handful of listings there, including the $3,775,000 sale above. (From my team's records.)
The first-time purchases I have closed are elsewhere in San Diego. Here is one in Chula Vista.
How do I pick an agent for a first purchase in Kensington?
Ask every agent for numbers, not adjectives. How many homes have they toured in the last year? Will they personally attend your showings? Can you leave the agreement if it is not working?
My answers: 800+ homes personally toured in 2025, and a cancel-anytime guarantee. (From my own records.) I attend showings personally. On the rare occasion I cannot, it is someone I have trained myself.
The one question I'd ask a first-time buyer agent on the first call.
What do first-time buyers say about working with me?
From my Google reviews. None of these purchases were in Kensington.
- "He made sure I understood each step and the potential impacts of every decision." Edward A., first-time buyer, July 2026.
- "As first-time home buyers, we appreciated how he clearly explained loan options and neighborhood insights without overwhelming us with industry jargon." AJ F., October 2025.
- "Jared helped us buy our first home from start to finish." Melanie N., September 2025.
Who is Jared Harman?
Jared Harman is a real estate agent and REALTOR® in San Diego, California, with 46 five-star Google reviews. He is licensed under DRE 02193879 with MatchPoint at eXp Realty of California, Inc. He is based in North Park and works with first-time and repeat buyers in Kensington, Normal Heights, Talmadge and the surrounding central San Diego neighborhoods.
Jared Harman has 46 Google reviews, all five stars. He has sold $14M+ in real estate so far in 2026. His videos reach about 250,000 people in San Diego every month, which is where his listings get seen. He personally toured 800+ homes in 2025. In the last 12 months he negotiated about $990,000 in credits and price reductions for his clients.