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Waymo's fully driverless cars are hitting San Diego streets

The human test drivers will be gone, but only Waymo employees can get rides for now.

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Waymo&#x27;s driverless cars" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/11/03/waymo-san-diego-self-driving-cars" data-vars-content-id="b7ec26ab-5496-4c9c-902a-3091ae5b9fb7" data-vars-headline="Waymo&#x27;s fully driverless cars are hitting San Diego streets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/11/03/waymo-san-diego-self-driving-cars" target="_self">Waymo&#x27;s driverless cars</a> will soon be cruising around San Diego, the company announced Wednesday.The big picture: Waymo has been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="testing its autonomous vehicles" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/01/29/waymo-autonomous-vehicles-testing-drivers-san-diego-las-vegas" data-vars-content-id="b7ec26ab-5496-4c9c-902a-3091ae5b9fb7" data-vars-headline="Waymo&#x27;s fully driverless cars are hitting San Diego streets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/01/29/waymo-autonomous-vehicles-testing-drivers-san-diego-las-vegas" target="_self">testing its autonomous vehicles</a> with drivers locally for over a year, but there won&#x27;t be a human behind the wheel anymore.

Mission Bay bathrooms are now scarcer

Half of Mission Bay's public bathrooms are now closed.

Politics

<div><iframe alt="Google Maps Embed" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=16VNZ4bFk8xEQ-lOeoAQkOjvbwWUp3_E&amp;ehbc=2E312F&amp;noprof=1" data-vars-category="google-maps" data-vars-sub-category="undefined-embed" data-vars-content-id="534673b4-1327-4582-b0ee-88fdbf24b565" width="100%" height="480" allow="fullscreen" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" class="gtmView" referrerPolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe><div style="display:none"></div></div>Starting Monday, 13 bathrooms <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="will be closed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/05/14/san-diego-budget-public-bathrooms" data-vars-content-id="534673b4-1327-4582-b0ee-88fdbf24b565" data-vars-headline="Mission Bay bathrooms are now scarcer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/05/14/san-diego-budget-public-bathrooms" target="_self">will be closed</a> around Mission Bay due to budget cuts.Why it matters: That&#x27;s almost half of the 28 bathrooms in the park.

San Diego buyers can shop for homes before they're for sale

A new platform lets buyers signal interest early while owners explore selling on their own timeline.

Real Estate

San Diego homebuyers struggling to find the right home can now take a shot at ones that aren&#x27;t even on the market with the help of a new website.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Unlisted" data-vars-click-url="https://unlistedhomes.com/" data-vars-content-id="1443f046-2f04-4616-b56c-c3f30ce9b9e6" data-vars-headline="San Diego buyers can shop for homes before they&#x27;re for sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://unlistedhomes.com/" target="_blank">Unlisted</a> allows homeowners to gauge interest in their home before they&#x27;re ready to sell, and buyers can potentially get ahead of their competition by making their interest known.<ul><li>The new tool could shake up San Diego&#x27;s real estate market, which has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="limited homes for sale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/04/san-diego-boomers-empty-nesters-family-size-homes-millennials-redfin" data-vars-content-id="1443f046-2f04-4616-b56c-c3f30ce9b9e6" data-vars-headline="San Diego buyers can shop for homes before they&#x27;re for sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/04/san-diego-boomers-empty-nesters-family-size-homes-millennials-redfin" target="_self">limited homes for sale</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high prices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/23/starter-home-prices-million-dollar-cities-zillow" data-vars-content-id="1443f046-2f04-4616-b56c-c3f30ce9b9e6" data-vars-headline="San Diego buyers can shop for homes before they&#x27;re for sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/23/starter-home-prices-million-dollar-cities-zillow" target="_self">high prices</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historically low sales" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/20/san-diego-home-sales-fell-to-their-lowest-level-in-recorded-history-to-start-2026/" data-vars-content-id="1443f046-2f04-4616-b56c-c3f30ce9b9e6" data-vars-headline="San Diego buyers can shop for homes before they&#x27;re for sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/03/20/san-diego-home-sales-fell-to-their-lowest-level-in-recorded-history-to-start-2026/" target="_blank">historically low sales</a>, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="low turnover rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/01/housing-turnover-san-diego-2025-mortgage-rates-redfin-report" data-vars-content-id="1443f046-2f04-4616-b56c-c3f30ce9b9e6" data-vars-headline="San Diego buyers can shop for homes before they&#x27;re for sale" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/12/01/housing-turnover-san-diego-2025-mortgage-rates-redfin-report" target="_self">low turnover rates</a> as owners stay put.</li></ul>

San Diego's picks for America's Time Capsule

Cali burrito, surf wax, Zoo merch and sewage, to name a few.

Culture

California buried some <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pretty cool stuff in America&#x27;s Time Capsule" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/24/americas-time-capsule-california-artifacts-250th-anniversary" data-vars-content-id="7353d7a0-2992-4db5-b996-8d77d8126541" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s picks for America&#x27;s Time Capsule" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/24/americas-time-capsule-california-artifacts-250th-anniversary" target="_self">pretty cool stuff in America&#x27;s Time Capsule</a> over the weekend. But we figured our readers had better ideas for items that truly represent San Diego at this moment in time.Here&#x27;s what we&#x27;re saying future generations should uncover in 250 years to really understand who we are.

Real Estate Eye Candy: $24M Coronado Cays mansion

This property is basically on its own island.

Next up in our new series on local real estate you can&#x27;t help but ogle: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="3 The Point" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/08/12/coronado-cays-mansion-to-be-auctioned-off-in-hong-kong/" data-vars-content-id="67b255c3-302b-4216-ac93-be829f72435d" data-vars-headline="Real Estate Eye Candy: $24M Coronado Cays mansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/08/12/coronado-cays-mansion-to-be-auctioned-off-in-hong-kong/" target="_blank">3 The Point</a> mansion.The big picture: This property is basically on its own island and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sold for $24.1 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/24/coronado-cays-mansion-goes-for-24m-at-hong-kong-auction/" data-vars-content-id="67b255c3-302b-4216-ac93-be829f72435d" data-vars-headline="Real Estate Eye Candy: $24M Coronado Cays mansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/09/24/coronado-cays-mansion-goes-for-24m-at-hong-kong-auction/" target="_blank">sold for $24.1 million</a> at a Hong Kong auction in September 2025.

Real Estate Eye Candy: $30M La Jolla home

Ocean views, a sand volleyball court and an infinity pool make this home hard to ignore.

Welcome to Real Estate Eye Candy, our new series featuring unique or jaw-dropping local home listings that we can&#x27;t take our eyes off of.First up, this <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="La Jolla hillside property" data-vars-click-url="https://danesoderberg.com/properties/5416-candlelight-dr-la-jolla-ca-us-92037-260012750" data-vars-content-id="4b6b85f5-ade3-468d-9735-1ee352a6f8b7" data-vars-headline="Real Estate Eye Candy: $30M La Jolla home" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://danesoderberg.com/properties/5416-candlelight-dr-la-jolla-ca-us-92037-260012750" target="_blank">La Jolla hillside property</a> with 220-degree panoramic ocean, bay and city views.

How San Diego real estate agents turn social media into sales

Local agents say sharing neighborhood news helps earn trust long before a client calls.

San Diego real estate agent Bern McGovern can&#x27;t go out in North County without being recognized. Not because he&#x27;s sold everyone&#x27;s house, but because of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="his Instagram" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/northcounty_sd/" data-vars-content-id="81806f79-657c-4c33-82e6-8777185ac2cb" data-vars-headline="How San Diego real estate agents turn social media into sales" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/northcounty_sd/" target="_blank">his Instagram</a>.Why it matters: McGovern and other local agents are leveraging social media to build clientele and their brand in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="market where buyers, sellers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/04/san-diego-boomers-empty-nesters-family-size-homes-millennials-redfin" data-vars-content-id="81806f79-657c-4c33-82e6-8777185ac2cb" data-vars-headline="How San Diego real estate agents turn social media into sales" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/06/04/san-diego-boomers-empty-nesters-family-size-homes-millennials-redfin" target="_self">market where buyers, sellers</a> and dreamers eat up <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="real estate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/real-estate" data-vars-content-id="81806f79-657c-4c33-82e6-8777185ac2cb" data-vars-headline="How San Diego real estate agents turn social media into sales" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/real-estate" target="_self">real estate</a> content.<ul><li>&quot;You have to separate yourself somehow,&quot; McGovern told Axios.</li></ul>

5 San Diego County cities where starter homes top $1 million

Even entry-level buyers are seeing seven-figure price tags.

San Diego County is home to five cities where the typical <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="starter home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/10/17/unaffordable-starter-homes-income-salary" data-vars-content-id="638ade07-b1c8-46c1-b3e8-fc37597b1514" data-vars-headline="5 San Diego County cities where starter homes top $1 million" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/10/17/unaffordable-starter-homes-income-salary" target="_self">starter home</a> costs $1 million or more, according to new Zillow data shared with Axios.

San Diego's bigger homes tied up by boomers

Boomers own nearly twice the share of large homes as millennial parents in San Diego.

Empty nesters are sitting on San Diego&#x27;s family-size homes.Why it matters: The people who have the space aren&#x27;t necessarily the ones who need it — and that&#x27;s making a tight <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" data-vars-content-id="fc694c86-ea3d-48af-bb8d-83b61d9b975f" data-vars-headline="San Diego&#x27;s bigger homes tied up by boomers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" target="_self">housing market</a> even tighter.

1 in 4 San Diego County homes don't have AC

Air-conditioning can feel like a much-needed luxury here with heat waves and high electricity costs.

About a quarter of San Diego County homes don&#x27;t have air-conditioning, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new census data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/2023-lace.html" data-vars-content-id="8d4746be-371d-4e4f-bfb6-6ea94519af58" data-vars-headline="1 in 4 San Diego County homes don&#x27;t have AC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/2023-lace.html" target="_blank">new census data</a> shows. Why it matters: AC can feel like a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="much-needed" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/08/06/most-san-diego-students-in-extreme-urban-heat-zones" data-vars-content-id="8d4746be-371d-4e4f-bfb6-6ea94519af58" data-vars-headline="1 in 4 San Diego County homes don&#x27;t have AC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2025/08/06/most-san-diego-students-in-extreme-urban-heat-zones" target="_self">much-needed</a> luxury here, with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rising electricity costs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/23/electric-bills-rise-50-percent-5-years-analysis" data-vars-content-id="8d4746be-371d-4e4f-bfb6-6ea94519af58" data-vars-headline="1 in 4 San Diego County homes don&#x27;t have AC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/23/electric-bills-rise-50-percent-5-years-analysis" target="_self">rising electricity costs</a> and record-setting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heat waves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kpbs.org/news/quality-of-life/2026/03/13/record-setting-heat-wave-grips-sd-county-socal" data-vars-content-id="8d4746be-371d-4e4f-bfb6-6ea94519af58" data-vars-headline="1 in 4 San Diego County homes don&#x27;t have AC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kpbs.org/news/quality-of-life/2026/03/13/record-setting-heat-wave-grips-sd-county-socal" target="_blank">heat waves</a> in the winter.The big picture: Nationally, just 6.9% of U.S. households lacked AC in 2023.<ul><li>It was most uncommon in San Francisco, where 65% of homes lacked AC. </li><li>And Los Angeles County had the highest overall number of homes without AC at nearly 702,000.</li></ul>Between the lines: AC is part cultural and part economic.<ul><li>Some places don&#x27;t get hot often enough to warrant AC installations, which could be an argument for San Diego&#x27;s coastal neighborhoods.</li><li>In other places, pumping cool air through the house is too costly because of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high energy rates" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/23/electric-bills-rise-50-percent-5-years-analysis" data-vars-content-id="8d4746be-371d-4e4f-bfb6-6ea94519af58" data-vars-headline="1 in 4 San Diego County homes don&#x27;t have AC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/04/23/electric-bills-rise-50-percent-5-years-analysis" target="_self">high energy rates</a>. </li></ul>What&#x27;s next: As climate change makes heat waves more common and more intense, more people may install AC to stay cool and healthy.

You need to make $50 an hour to afford rent in San Diego

A new report shows the county's $2,606 average rent is out of reach for many workers.

Local households need to earn about $50 per hour to afford the average monthly asking rent of $2,606 in San Diego County, according to a new housing report.The big picture: San Diego is the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="12th-priciest rental market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/05/13/san-diego-no-longer-among-the-most-expensive-rental-markets-its-not-even-in-the-top-10/" data-vars-content-id="096558bd-dc11-4b1d-bb28-8ce1d3c366e5" data-vars-headline="You need to make $50 an hour to afford rent in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/05/13/san-diego-no-longer-among-the-most-expensive-rental-markets-its-not-even-in-the-top-10/" target="_blank">12th-priciest rental market</a> in the U.S., and while <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="renting is cheaper than homeownership" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/05/renting-cheaper-than-owning-san-diego-home" data-vars-content-id="096558bd-dc11-4b1d-bb28-8ce1d3c366e5" data-vars-headline="You need to make $50 an hour to afford rent in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/05/renting-cheaper-than-owning-san-diego-home" target="_self">renting is cheaper than homeownership</a>, it&#x27;s unaffordable for many.

What San Diego homeowners do for a living

Even high earners struggle as prices make buying a home challenging.

Business professionals and STEM workers are most likely to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="own homes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" data-vars-content-id="eec25da1-7d1f-4d4f-afc2-0ace37039a7e" data-vars-headline="What San Diego homeowners do for a living" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/19/affordable-homes-metro-income" target="_self">own homes</a> in San Diego, according to a recent real estate analysis.The big picture: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="occupations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/ai-job-risk-tool-betting-odds-predictions" data-vars-content-id="eec25da1-7d1f-4d4f-afc2-0ace37039a7e" data-vars-headline="What San Diego homeowners do for a living" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/ai-job-risk-tool-betting-odds-predictions" target="_self">occupations</a> with the highest homeownership rates haven&#x27;t changed much in the past decade, but a few saw notable shifts.

HOA fees keep rising in San Diego

Monthly dues climbed to $367 last year, adding to costs that already make renting cheaper here.

More <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="San Diego homes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/02/saving-down-payment-san-diego-home-takes-30-years" data-vars-content-id="e28dff32-84e5-4b75-bd60-b33987b2ac19" data-vars-headline="HOA fees keep rising in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/02/saving-down-payment-san-diego-home-takes-30-years" target="_self">San Diego homes</a> for sale last year came with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homeowners association" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/condo-hoa-fee-state" data-vars-content-id="e28dff32-84e5-4b75-bd60-b33987b2ac19" data-vars-headline="HOA fees keep rising in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/09/29/condo-hoa-fee-state" target="_self">homeowners association</a> fees, and those dues continued to climb, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Realtor.com" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" data-vars-content-id="e28dff32-84e5-4b75-bd60-b33987b2ac19" data-vars-headline="HOA fees keep rising in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/research/homeowners-associations-2025" target="_blank">Realtor.com</a> data shows.Why it matters: Rising HOA fees add to the already <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="high cost" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/07/23/hidden-costs-homeowners-california-property-taxes-insurance-2025" data-vars-content-id="e28dff32-84e5-4b75-bd60-b33987b2ac19" data-vars-headline="HOA fees keep rising in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/07/23/hidden-costs-homeowners-california-property-taxes-insurance-2025" target="_self">high cost</a> of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homeownership" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/22/median-earners-priced-out-san-diego-real-estate-market-homes" data-vars-content-id="e28dff32-84e5-4b75-bd60-b33987b2ac19" data-vars-headline="HOA fees keep rising in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/01/22/median-earners-priced-out-san-diego-real-estate-market-homes" target="_self">homeownership</a> here that makes <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="renting cheaper than owning" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/05/renting-cheaper-than-owning-san-diego-home" data-vars-content-id="e28dff32-84e5-4b75-bd60-b33987b2ac19" data-vars-headline="HOA fees keep rising in San Diego" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/02/05/renting-cheaper-than-owning-san-diego-home" target="_self">renting cheaper than owning</a>.

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