Check out last month's real estate data for the Bay Area and how it compared to the same month last year.

The overview: Median prices varied from December 2024 to December 2025, with three out of four ZIP codes seeing a decrease in price, and one seeing an increase. The degree to which prices changed varied as well. One, for example, saw a decrease of more than 55%.

Diving in deeper: The majority of all homes sold in the Bay Area in December were between $200,000 and $399,999. Most others fell between $400,000 and $599,999.

Also of note: The total homes sold in the Bay Area varied in December compared to the same month last year. While two ZIP codes saw a decrease, two saw an increase.

One last thing: All four ZIP codes in the Bay Area saw an increase in the median number of days a home sat on the market in December 2025 compared to the same month last year. Three saw the median number of days more than or nearly double.

Gold Rush is set to open a new location at Baybrook Mall, according to the company’s website.

What they offer: Gold Rush specializes in buying precious metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium and diamonds, according to the company’s website. 

Their services include on-site testing, professional valuations and payment options via cash or wire transfer.

Officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County announced Jan. 5 its transition to a new fare system, RideMETRO, which replaces and discontinues the METRO Q Fare Card.

The gist: METRO riders can purchase the RideMETRO $2 fare card, according to METRO’s website, and load money at any of the following locations:

• METRO RideStore locations
• METRO Online RideStore
• RideMETRO app
• Participating retail locations
• Ticket vending machines

Riders can check their balance on the RideMETRO app. After 10 paid trips, riders get one free trip, according to METRO’s announcement.

The cost: No fare increases are taking place as part of the new fare system, according to the METRO website.

A new U.S. Postal Service rule could impact when time-sensitive mail, such as tax forms and mail-in ballots, is considered officially sent.

The overview: Effective Dec. 24, mailed items are postmarked when the USPS processes them, rather than the date items are dropped in a mailbox. A postmark refers to the date and location stamped or printed on most mailed items, indicating when and where the USPS “accepted custody” of a mailpiece, per the federal agency.

Zooming in: According to the Texas comptroller’s office, the updated USPS guidance means items could be postmarked “several days” after they are dropped in a mailbox. This includes date-sensitive items sent by Texas residents and businesses, such as property tax payments, federal tax returns, mail-in ballots and required business reports.

To ensure that mail is postmarked on the day it is sent, customers can take mail into their local post office and request that the item be hand-stamped for free, according to the USPS. Texans can also pay property taxes and submit ballots in-person at county offices.