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June 26, 2007
Thank God for Guerneville! Where else could you visit charming waterfront homes for under $300,000, then listen to Liszt played expertly by a man barely clad in leather and sporting gilded wings?
Seth Montfort brings aural (and visual) beauty with a classical edge to Guerneville every Sunday afternoon through July. And it gets even better – these concerts take place in a vintage church with awesome acoustics. The Pacifica Tribune said Montfort is, “a man who can memorize over 100 works, and we’re talking complicated works here, send them from memory to fingertips and then while he’s at it, throw in a heap of astounding technique, showmanship and sensual grace to nearly blow the roof from its rafters.”
So if you have a burning desire to hear Totentanz as well as requested favorites from hundreds of other classics, you won’t find a better place to be than inside The Old Chapel on Sunday. Mr. Montfort gets my vote as the best way to wind down after the excitement of viewing homes in the Russian River area, Sonoma County’s least expensive and most interesting neighborhood. $15 gets you past the pearly gates to the sounds of heaven. Montfort’s mission statement on his website is worth a trip as well. (The man is clearly a genius.) By the way, reservations are not necessary but can be made if you wish. To let Mr. Montfort know of your plan to attend, leave your info very clearly at 415.362.6080. Otherwise, try to show up early or you may not get in. Concerts take place every Sunday at 3pm through July; The Old Chapel, 16375 4th St @ Mill, Guerneville. More info: lisztinleather.org
June 23, 2007
Michael Coit of the Sonoma County Press Democrat put on his black cape again today and produced another sad report (italics at bottom). The problem with this kind of story is that it creates fear and inertia. General information can be skewed when it is based on very few numbers, and in this case I think the numbers don’t tell the full story. I’m not slamming the messenger, but buying a home is not a bad idea in Sonoma County; if done thoughtfully, it might be one of the best investments you could make, especially considering the desperation of some sellers right now. Things are not rosy for overmortgaged or poorly mortgaged sellers who need to refi or unload their real estate quickly, and buyers do have more clout than they are accustomed to. YET… houses here are now, and will always be, in demand. Location, amenities and presentation, in that order, will combine to determine the final price a home sells at. Always.
On Redfin’s website you will find listings for properties selling for lots more money than the prices those same properties would have fetched, had they been built here in Sonoma County. I’ve been looking at homes in Palo Alto and the South Bay, and have been amazed at the prices of some very ordinary abodes. Granted those are affluent areas, and will probably always be in high demand. But when you consider what Sonoma County has to offer, now and in the future, and its excellent schools, low crime, open space and recreational opportunities, you will see that this is an area that offers quality of life at some very reasonable real estate prices. So buy smart, borrow smart, and don’t over improve your purchase or use your home as an ATM machine, then try to re-coop money you spent poorly. Real estate in Sonoma County is one of the best investments you could make, and if you take care of it, it will take care of you. Employment opps are many, and though the pay scale may not be as high as in other parts of the Bay Area, the price of homes here more than makes up the difference. The current “slump” combined with historically low interest rates make this an excellent time to jump in. If you’ve been waiting for a good opportunity to make a smart buy, then go take a look at some of the over 3,000 homes currently on the market here. Get ballsy with an offer. This could be your summer of love. ~ Marina Andriola
Sonoma County’s slumping housing market showed little sign of improving in May as sales and prices continued to fall below last year’s levels, when the downturn took hold. May’s median resale price was $575,000, down 4.6 percent from the same month a year ago. Prices have fallen for 11 consecutive months, the longest decline since The Press Democrat began tracking home sales in 1990. The previous record was set in 1992 and 1993, when prices fell for nine months during the region’s last housing downswing. Sales were down 15.1 percent from a year ago. Although May’s sales were up from April, the increase was expected because the home buying season typically heats up heading into summer. The county’s housing market also continues to fare poorly in comparison with the rest of the Bay Area. Sales of new and existing homes and condominiums fell across the Bay Area in May, DataQuick Information Systems reported Thursday. However, prices rose in the nine-county region for the fourth consecutive month. The median price climbed to $660,000 in May, up 3.4 percent from a year ago. The trend is largely the result of sales falling less in higher-priced markets, namely Marin, the San Francisco peninsula and the South Bay, compared with the lower-cost East Bay and North Bay counties. ~ Michael Coit, Press Democrat 6/14/07
June 20, 2007
The outlook for sellers in Sonoma County has been brutal. Week after week, the Press Democrat has posted reports of a gloom-and-doom market. Sellers have been getting 10% less on average for their properties than they would of had they sold last year. In fact, Sonoma County took the biggest hit on prices in the greater Bay Area. Realtors are furious at the large daily paper, feeling that their front page reporting is creating fear in buyers and a reluctance in sellers to sign listings at all. Some realtors are refusing certain listings unless they feel that the seller is willing to be very realistic about what their home will fetch. The houses that have taken the biggest price hits are condos, mid- to upper priced tracts. and custom tract homes. Yet many listings coming from owners of luxury second homes/vacation rentals in Healdsburg or Bodega Bay remain on the market without price reductions. There were no sales reported on the coast this week; the coastside buzz is that owners are waiting for the market to swing back in their favor before listing, and since many are enjoying unprecedented occupancy in their vacation rentals, they are in no big hurry to sell. There is plenty of inventory in the county in the $400,000 to $800,000 range, and a few steals at around $300,000. Meanwhile, rents are inching skyward again after the easier prices of 2006. With last week being a slowish start to the traditional buying season, and with numerous price reductions and conforming interest rates at well under 7%, it will be interesting to watch what happens this summer. Current inventory: 3,469 homes
Highest price sold: 4729 Muirfield Court, Santa Rosa (single family home) $1,320,000
Lowest price sold: 5020 Warm Springs Rd. Glen Ellen $200,000
Current unsold low price single family home: $207,000
411 E. 1st St. Cloverdale, a 1 bedroom, 1 bath 470 sq. ft. 1920′s era cottage
Agent’s Remarks: Own a small piece of Cloverdale. The Seller is replacing the carpet the week of May 28th. This little home will sparkle. The roof is 3 years old, and the double pane windows were installed 2 years ago, and a new front door to grace the entrance to the home.
June 19, 2007
People that know me know I go big. I plan my big day with coffee grande in a thick- handled mug. I lust over volume spaces that accommodate big furniture with giant pantries that can hold massive ingredients in industrial-sized containers. I cook with honkingly huge pots and pans and often end my day with a long soak in a deep bathtub. If I had my way, I’d put a vast farm table and a twin set of chair-and-a-halfs in every room of my house. (I bought a trashed Ralph Lauren big chair duo at an auction for a paltry $10. Now, recovered in Sunbrella red, they look like oversized heirloom tomatoes.)
Marketing terms like Supersize Me, Jolly Green Giant, Open Wide for Chunky, E ahu la ula (the Hawaiian phrase televised to describe wide traction tires – it translates to “wider is better”), and songs like “Brick House” or “Baby’s Got Back” always catch my attention. Blame it on my favorite decade, the Seventies; era of wide bell bottoms, fat belt buckles, and the lovely Angela Davis sporting her massive Afro.
So it is with some alarm that I find myself (like Oprah did recently on TV) coveting one or more of Jay Shafer’s Tumbleweed Houses. These lilliputian dwellings are big on design and convenience, not to mention style. Ten different house styles are available ranging is size from 60 square feet to 770 square feet. They’re quick to build, inexpensive to own, and quite affordable to live in. There are several people doing just that, right here in the North Bay. Jay’s plans can be bought online; so if you build one yourself, you’ll save even more dough. And you can recycle your vacuum cleaner, because these homes clean up in a flash with just a whisk broom and a damp hankie. Some of these charming dwellings qualify as RVs; it may be possible to have one in your yard without a permit. You could even move your new little house around seasonally for maximum solar gain or change your view by taking it with you on vacation, eliminating the need to Priceline a room. Maybe I’ll find a big lot and open a court motel with set of them, lined up in two rows like Monopoly stash. Yeah, I can dream big, too!
Check it out here.:
April 30, 2007
Last week, this home at 21617 Villa Maria Court in Cupertino was one of two South Bay $3,000,000+ homes that were big hits on the Daily Stats. A contemporary multi-level home of 4,424 square feet, it sits on over an acre, has 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, and many of the amenities that high-end homes like this have: 3 fireplaces, two master suites, guest house, pool (solar) with cabana, hot tub, and security system and electric gate to keep the riff raff out. Some nice touches include a library, central fire alarm and sprinkler system, intercom, solar water heater, satellite dish, bidet, and there is room to add a tennis court–all for the low, low price of $3,800,000. (Down from the original asking of $4,100,000.)
The view from the property is tremendous, and I would be happy breakfasting by the waterfall, lounging by the pool, or even working in the library, which has the same gorgeous view. But not everyone shares that sentiment, or has the money to make it happen, as this property has been on the market for over 200 days. And this is the biggest, baddest home in the area, with nothing even comparable in price showing up on Zillow in the nearby surrounds.
Our shack today is a real shocker. Located at 509 So Hwy One, Bodega Bay, this 2 bedroom, 1 bath property sits on almost an acre. My first shock is the acreage – how much of it is under water and how much is useable? The second shocker is that it is listed as a fixer upper – but in actuality it looks like it is ready to fall down around your ears and there does not appear to be a straight wall in the place. And for the big shocking finale, the owners have listed it for $950,000! (For more on this property, our intrepid mavin Marina Andriola will be reviewing this property later in the week.)
Recent Sweet Digs Bay Area Posts:
Living Large in a Coleman Valley Rd. Bungalow
Fremont: The Mission District
SF: You Can Bargain on this One
Berkeley: Perfectly Placed Craftsman
Milpitas: If I had A Hammer
Palo Alto: Ship-Shape Ranch
Berkeley: Family Home With Flair
Fremont: Livin’ Large
Eichler 101
April 25, 2007
- Anna Marie Hibble
- Bahn Lee
- Brenda Keener
- Katie Speraw
- Kris Newby
- Marina Andriola
- Sue Herz
- Susan Brady
- Tracey Taylor
April 25, 2007
Get the scoop on past sales, good deals, open houses and what’s on the market in your neighborhood.
January 17, 2007
Today’s most popular home is located in Berkeley and looks like a catcher. Priced at $1,080,000 with over 3,000 square feet, nice views and a modern look, this home looks like a great deal at first. The views alone are worth it. Add the house and a million eighty is an awesome price. On the market for over 2 months, the seller is motivated and the listing agent is great to work with (based on my past experience with her of course).
The only downer is Berkeley charges a $15 dollar city transfer tax per every thousand a house sells for. It is split 50/50 with the seller, but that still leaves you with a $8,100 bill. And no this isn’t your property tax bill. This is in addition to it.
October 30, 2006
Life in the Bay Area can be very different as we have a wide range of lifestyles available – sometimes by choice and sometimes not.
Our most expensive listing that popped up this week is located in Palo Alto. With 5 bedrooms and 4 plus baths, this home has over 12,000 square feet of living space. That is the average size of some lots in the neighborhood. It has almost 3.5 acres and great views of the Valley and Bay. We’re not sure what the interior’s condition is, but it is a great opportunity to make it your own for a mere $19,500,000 plus remodeling costs.
The least expensive listing that came on the market this week is located in Concord and is perfect for first-time homebuyers. This property qualifies for a program the City of Concord has where they can assist with providing you with a down payment. Click here for more info.
The unit has 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 644 square feet and home owner dues of $254 a month. Priced at $164,000, this is definitely a looker.
