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Thanksgiving is just two weeks away—have you made your plans yet? If the idea of cooking a massive feast or entertaining a house full of guests sounds more stressful than soulful, it might be time to trade tradition for relaxation. Luckily, Southern California offers a wealth of luxurious Thanksgiving getaways near Los Angeles, all within a few hours’ drive. Whether you’re craving a chef-led holiday meal, a spa sanctuary in the desert, or coastal charm with a side of Cabernet, these destinations are booking up fast. Now’s the moment to reserve your spot for a cozy, unforgettable holiday weekend.

Ojai: Serenity and Spa Escapes

Nestled in the Topatopa Mountains, Ojai is a picturesque escape known for its artsy charm and serene energy. Stay at Ojai Valley Inn, an award-winning resort with Spanish-style architecture, luxe spa treatments, and a Thanksgiving feast at The Farmhouse led by renowned chefs. Explore the charming village for boutique shopping and olive oil tastings, or simply unwind under the oaks with a glass of wine. Book early—holiday weekends fill quickly in this tucked-away haven.

Santa Barbara: Coastal Sophistication

The American Riviera is a timeless destination for a holiday getaway. Stay at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara or Belmond El Encanto, where ocean views, elevated amenities, and curated Thanksgiving menus make the weekend feel special without lifting a finger. Whether you stroll along Butterfly Beach, enjoy a wine tasting in the Funk Zone, or indulge in a spa day, Santa Barbara brings a sense of laid-back luxury perfect for the season.

Palm Springs: Midcentury Magic Meets Desert Calm

If poolside lounging and sunny skies sound like your ideal holiday, Palm Springs offers a glamorous Thanksgiving alternative. Book a stay at Korakia Pensione for Moroccan-inspired serenity or check into Parker Palm Springs for maximalist style and impeccable dining. Many resorts host holiday dinners with gourmet twists on classic favorites, while spas offer seasonal treatments to help you unwind. Make reservations early—Palm Springs is a holiday hotspot.

Laguna Beach: Artful Oceanfront Escape

For a coastal getaway closer to home, Laguna Beach offers the perfect blend of ocean air and artistic flair. Check into Montage Laguna Beach, where oceanfront rooms, gourmet dining, and holiday experiences create a memorable Thanksgiving weekend. Enjoy a scenic hike in Heisler Park or explore the galleries and boutiques that line Pacific Coast Highway. Be sure to reserve your Thanksgiving dinner at Studio or Harvest early—these tables don’t last long.

Paso Robles: Wine Country Warmth

Venture north to Paso Robles for a Thanksgiving steeped in rustic elegance and wine country charm. Cozy up at Allegretto Vineyard Resort or Hotel Cheval, both offering refined lodging and close proximity to some of California’s top vineyards. Local wineries often host Thanksgiving weekend tastings, and many nearby restaurants offer prix fixe holiday menus. Just be sure to book your accommodations and dinner reservations ahead of time—it’s one of the most popular weekends of the season. 

Whether you’re seeking relaxation or a new holiday tradition, these Thanksgiving getaways offer something for every luxury-minded traveler. With just two weeks to go, now’s the time to book that boutique hotel or reservation at the chef’s table. Your stress-free holiday weekend awaits.

This week marked the 39th day of the government shutdown, the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Investors, who had shaken off the shutdown until this week, sold stocks in the worst stock market week since April, fearing that the shutdown would slow the economy. The University of Michigan consumer sentiment report showed that consumer confidence hit its lowest level since June 2022, when inflation peaked at 9.2%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not release its Jobs and unemployment report, which was due Friday, November 7 for the second consecutive month due to the shutdown. Limited economic data has investors confused about the state of the jobs market, inflation, retail sales, and other factors that they routinely watch to determine the state of the economy. Stock Markets – Stock markets had their worst week since April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 46,987.10, down 1.2% from 47,562.87 last week. Year-to-date, it is up 5.5% from 44,544.66 on December 31, 2024. The S&P 500 closed the week at 6,728.80, down 1.6% from 6,840.20 last week. Year-to-date, the S&P is up 11.4% from 6,040.53 on December 31, 2024. The Nasdaq closed the week at 23,004.54, down 3% from 23,724.96 last week. Year-to-date, it is up 17.2% from 19,627.44 on December 31, 2024. U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 4.11%, unchanged from 4.11% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 4.70% up slightly from 4.67% last week. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates follow bond yields. Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of November 6, 2025, were as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.22%, up from 6.17% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.5%, up from 5.41% last week. The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.  Housing became more affordable in the third quarter of 2025 – The California Association of Realtors reported that 17% of California households could afford to purchase the $887,380 median-priced home in the third quarter of 2025, up from 15% in the second quarter of 2025, and up from 16% in the third quarter of 2024. A minimum annual income of $223,600 was needed to make monthly payments of $5,590, including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a 6.67 percent interest rate. Twenty-seven percent of home buyers were able to purchase the $649,990 median-priced condo or townhome. A minimum annual income of $163,600 was required to make a monthly payment of $4,090. Have a Great Weekend!

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of November 6 2025, were as follows:

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.22%, up from 6.17% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.5%, up from 5.41% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S.

The Federal Reserve dropped its key interest rates by ¼% in October –Unfortunately, in the announcement of the rate drop Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell stated that the Fed does not expect another drop this year at this time. The stock market, bond, and mortgage investors felt that there would be another drop this year. That expectation was built into stock prices, bond yields, and mortgage rates. Those interest rates increased after Powell spoke and stocks dropped a little off their all-time high levels set on Tuesday.

Government Shutdown – Thirty-one days into the government shutdown stock markets have continued to rise to record levels almost every day. There have been lots of issues. Strictly speaking to financials, the jobs and unemployment report, the Producer Price Index, the Personal Consumption Expenditure Index, Retail sales, new home sales, and other data for September were not released in October. The CPI report was released late in the month because it was needed to calculate the annual Social Security benefits increase.

Inflation is showing signs of leveling – The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September was released. It showed that consumer prices rose 3% from one year ago. The 3% CPI rate was the highest level since January 2025, but below analysts’ expectations of a 3.1% rise. The CPI rate dropped steadily after peaking at 9.1% in June 2022, its highest level since 1981. By April 2025 it had worked its way down to 2.3%. Experts felt that we were just months away from hitting the Fed’s 2% target but when the administration began increasing tariffs, some of those tariffs were passed along to consumers and the CPI rate began to steadily rise. Even though the CPI rate was the highest since January, investors felt good about the numbers and stock markets ended the week at record levels. The Core CPI rate which excludes food and energy rose 3%from one year ago as well, down from 3.1% in August. The CPI report was delayed due to the government shutdown. Other reports, like the September Jobs report, the Producer Price Index and others are delayed indefinitely. The government called in furloughed government employees to complete the CPI report because it was needed to calculate the amount of the annual increase to social security payments. The increase was set at 2.8% after the CPI report was released.

The graph below shows the CPI rate since 2021

Stock markets hit record levels almost every day in October – The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the month at 47,562.87, up 2.5% from 46,397.86 on September 30, 2025. The Dow is up 6.8% year-to-date. The S&P 500 closed the month at 6,840.20, up 2.3% from 6,688.46 on September 30, 2025. It is up 13.3% year-to-date. The NASDAQ closed at 23,724.96, up 4.7% from 22,660.01 at the end of September. It is up 20.9% year-to-date.

U.S. Treasury Bond Yields – The 10-year U.S. Treasury bond yield closed the month at 4.11%, down from 4.16% on August 30, 2025. The 30-year treasury yield ended the month at 4.67%, down from 4.73% on August 30, 2025. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates often follow Treasury bond yields.

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 30, 2025, were as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.17%, down from 6.30% last month. The 15-year fixed was 5.41%, down from 5.49% last month.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

September home sales – The California Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors release home sales data on the third week of each month for the previous month. Here is the September 2025 home sales recap. You can run a report on your city or zip code with the same data at RodeoRe.com.

U.S. existing-home sales – September 2025 – The National Association of Realtors reported that existing-home sales totaled 4.06 million units on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate in September, up 1.3% from the number of homes sold in August and up 4.1% from the number of homes sold last September. The median price paid for a home sold in the U.S. in September was $415,200, down 1.75% from $422,600 in August but up 2.1% from $406,700 one year ago. There was a 4.6-month supply of homes for sale in September, up from a 4.2-month supply last September. First-time buyers accounted for 30% of all sales, up from 28% last month. Investors and second-home purchases accounted for 15% of all sales, down from 21% in August. All cashpurchases accounted for 30% of all sales, up from 28% last month. Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 2% of all sales

California existing-home sales – The California Association of Realtors reported that existing-home sales totaled 277,410 on an annualized basis in September, up 5% from 264,240 in August. Year-over-year sales were up 6.6% from a revised 260,340 annualized home sales last September. The statewide median price paid for a home was $883,640 in September, down 1.7% from $899,130 in August and up 1.8% from $868,150 in September 2024. The unsold inventory index showed that there was a 3.6-month supply of homes for sale in September.

The graph below shows CAR sales data by county for Southern California.

The Federal Reserve dropped its key interest rates by ¼% in October –  Unfortunately, in the announcement of the rate drop, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell stated that the Fed does not expect another drop this year at this time. The stock market, bond, and mortgage investors felt that there would be another drop this year. That expectation was built into stock prices and bond yields and mortgage rates. Those interest rates increased after Powell spoke, and stocks dropped a little off their all-time high levels set on Wednesday.

Stock Markets – Despite the government shutdown, stock markets closed the week at record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 47,562.87, up 0.8% from 47,207.12 last week. Year-to-date, it is up 6.8% from 44,544.66 on December 31, 2024. The S&P 500 closed the week at 6,840.20, up 0.7%from 6,791.69 last week. Year-to-date, the S&P is up 13.3% from 6,040.53 on December 31, 2024. The Nasdaq closed the week at 23,724.96, up 2.2% from 23,204.87 last week. Year-to-date, it is up 20.9% from 19,627.44 on December 31, 2024.

U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 4.11%, up from 4.02% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 4.67% up from 4.59% last week. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates follow bond yields.

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 30, 2025, were as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.17%, nearly unchanged from 6.19% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.41%, down slightly from 5.44% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Have a Great Weekend!

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 30 2025, were as follows:

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.17%, nearly unchanged from 6.19% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.41%, down slightly from 5.44% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S.

Inflation is showing signs of leveling – On Friday, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September was released. It showed that consumer prices rose 3% from one year ago. The 3% CPI rate was the highest level since January 2025, but below analysts’ expectations of a 3.1% rise. The CPI rate dropped steadily after peaking at 9.1% in June 2022, its highest level since 1981. By April 2025, it had worked its way down to 2.3%. Experts felt that we were just months away from hitting the Fed’s 2% target, but when the administration began increasing tariffs, some of those tariffs were passed along to consumers, and the CPI rate began to steadily rise. Even though the CPI rate was the highest since January, investors felt good about the numbers, and stock markets ended the week at record levels. The Core CPI rate, which excludes food and energy rose 3% from one year ago as well, down from 3.1% in August. The CPI report was delayed due to the government shutdown. Other reports, like the September Jobs report, the Producer Price Index, and others are delayed indefinitely. The government called in furloughed government employees to complete the CPI report because it was needed to calculate the amount of the annual increase to social security payments. The increase was set at 2.8% after the CPI report was released. The graph below shows the CPI rate since 2021 Interest rates – The Federal Reserve will conduct its Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) next Tuesday and Wednesday. It is widely believed that they will reduce their key interest rates by ¼%. That’s pretty much built into the stock market prices. A larger drop will rally stocks a smaller increase could cause stock prices to drop. Stock Markets – Despite the government shutdown down stock markets closed the week at record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 47,207.12, up 2.2% from 46,190.61 last week. Year-to-date, it is up 6% from 44,544.66 on December 31, 2024. The S&P 500 closed the week at 6,791.69, up 1.9% from 6,664.01 last week. Year-to-date, the S&P is up 12.4% from 6,040.53 on December 31, 2024. The Nasdaq closed the week at 23,204.87, up 2.3% from 22,679.98 last week. Year-to-date, it is up 18.2% from 19,627.44 on December 31, 2024. U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 4.02%, unchanged from 4.02% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 4.59% almost unchanged from 4.60% last week. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates follow bond yields. Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 23, 2025, were as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.19%, down from 6.27% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.44%, down from 5.52% last week. The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year. U.S. existing-home sales – September 2025 – The National Association of Realtors reported that existing-home sales totaled 4.06 million units on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate in September, up 1.3% from 4.0 million homes on an annualized rate sold in August and up 4.1% from the number of homes sold last September. The median price paid for a home sold in the U.S. in September was $415,200, down 1.75% from $422,600 in August but up 2.1% from $406,700 one year ago. There was a 4.6-month supply of homes for sale in September, up from a 4.2-month supply last September. First-time buyers accounted for 30% of all sales, up from 28% last month. Investors and second-home purchases accounted for 15% of all sales, down from 21% in August. All cash purchases accounted for 30% of all sales, up from 28% last month. Foreclosures and short sales accounted for 2% of all sales Have a Great Weekend!

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 23 2025, were as follows:

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.19%, down from 6.27% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.44%, down from 5.52% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S.

Jobs report and CPI report delayed due to government shutdown – The September jobs report was not released last Friday as scheduled, and the September CPI report that was expected to be released on Wednesday was also delayed due to the government shutdown. These reports are essential to determine the strength of the economy and for important decision making by the Federal Reserve, who have an interest rate meeting on October 28 and 29. The CPI report is also needed to calculate increases in Social Security benefits. It was announced last week that some workers were called back to work at the Bureau of Labor and Statics to get the CPI report done. Nevertheless, it was not ready on Wednesday as planned and an announcement was made that the government was shooting for Friday, October 24th to release the CPI report. No announcement was made regarding the jobs report. Stock Markets recovered from last Friday’s sell-off – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 46,190.61, up 1.6% from 45,478.60 last week. Year-to-date, it is up 3.7% from 44,544.66 on December 31, 2024. The S&P 500 closed the week at 6,664.01, up 1.7% from 6,552.51 last week. Year-to-date, the S&P is up 10.3% from 6,040.53 on December 31, 2024. The Nasdaq closed the week at 22,679.98, up 2.1% from 22,204.43 last week. Year-to-date, it is up 15.6% from 19,627.44 on December 31, 2024. U.S. Treasury bond yields – The 10-year treasury bond closed the week yielding 4.02%, down slightly from 4.05% last week. The 30-year treasury bond yield ended the week at 4.60% down slightly from 4.63% last week. We watch bond yields because mortgage rates follow bond yields. Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 16, 2025, were as follows: The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.27%, down slightly from 6.3% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.52%, nearly unchanged from 5.53% last week. The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year. Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S. September home sales – This week, the California Association of Realtors released its September 2025 home sales report. You can run a report on your city or zip code with the same data at RodeoRe.com. California existing-home sales – The California Association of Realtors reported that existing-home sales totaled 277,410 on an annualized basis in September, up 5% from 264,240 in August. Year-over-year sales were up 6.6% from a revised 260,340 in September 2024. The statewide median price paid for a home was $883,640 in September, down 1.7% from $899,130 in August and up 1.8% from $868,150 in September 2024. The unsold inventory index showed that there was a 3.6-month supply of homes for sale in September. The graph below shows CAR sales data by county for Southern California. Have a Great Weekend!

Mortgage rates – Every Thursday, Freddie Mac publishes interest rates based on a survey of mortgage lenders throughout the week. The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey reported that mortgage rates for the most popular loan products as of October 16, 2025, were as follows:

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.27%, down slightly from 6.3% last week. The 15-year fixed was 5.52%, nearly unchanged from 5.53% last week.

The graph below shows the trajectory of mortgage rates over the past year.

Freddie Mac was chartered by Congress in 1970 to keep money flowing to mortgage lenders in support of homeownership and rental housing. Their mandate is to provide liquidity, stability, and affordability to the U.S.