Santa Rosa,Sonoma County Real Estate Radio Show! Now broadcasting on the web!

The Real Estate Hour, on air real estate expert Mike Kelly’s weekly real estate talk show, is now being “web-casted” at www.KSRO.com every Sunday from 9 to 10am PST. You can visit the radio show’s blog at www.MikesRealEstateShow.com and see which guests are coming up, who’s been on the show plus watch past shows in video format. Thinking of challenging your latest property tax assesment? Then go to the blog and see Bill Rouseau, Chief Deputy Tax Assesor and his explanation on how to do this.
Want to get the latest on the escrow process? Listen and WATCH Alice Noel of Fidelity National Title! We will also be posting Janne O’Neal on trusts and how to take title to real estate plus Toni Esposti of OREXCO (Old Republic Exchange Company) on exchanging your investment properties. This and much more! Check us out every Sunday, 9 to 10am PST!! Here locally on the radio at 1350AM, KSRO or tune us in via my blog or at www.KSRO.com. Hope to see YOU on the radio!

Comments (0) | Permalink | Mortgage, Real Estate, Lifestyle, General | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

REO’s and Short-Sales + New Home Sales rule the roost!

Welcome! As a leading Realtor of 30+ years here in Sonoma County I’ve always strived to “know my numbers” when it comes to the local marketplace. My latest analysis of the August data points out a few remarkable trends. Yes, this is a “post-foreclosure” marketplace but only on the “Sales” side of the equation. Huh? It’s like this–the Real Estate Owned or REO market, “post-foreclosure” or after the banks gotten the property back is only 17% of our “Active” listing which number close to 2500 here in Sonoma County BUT–the big news? They make up over 43% of ALL Sales!
Total Months of Inventory for REO’s? just about 2 1/2. The entire market? 6 months! Low inventory, multiple offers, properties going OVER asking price–sound familiar!??! Yes–it’s called a “raging” Seller’s market! And with this we SHOULD have appreciation. Right? I mean, didn’t we have 10,15,20% appreciation when we had these type of scenarios? Yes–but that was THEN and NOW we have NO appreciation! This is the great “connundrum” of our current marketplace.
And you’ve heard, “It’s a Buyer’s Market”–right!? NOPE! Not at the entry level price points or in the Bank Owned or REO segment.
Buyer’s market? Sure–but you’ll need to get over $500,000! 75% of our market is UNDER $500,000. And here’s a real startling fact–when you combine the REO,Short-Sale (post and pre-foreclosure markets) and throw on the new home builder dumping product–a whopping 53% of the market is NOT BUYING ANYTHING when they sell!! This should be very disconcerting to you folks trying to sell a home in the mid-level and upper price points.
Why? Sales are kinda paltry at 421 for August–take away over half and you’ve got only 210 sales and I suspect, but have no solid numbers to bear it out, that many of those 210 are NOT getting BACK into the marketplace. They could be relocating, or just taking their cash and putting it in the.., Geez, I don’t know–where DO YOU put your money nowadays!!
You have a home priced at $650,000 and you are getting NO showings. You get an offer–TREAT IT LIKE GOLD!! It may be the ONLY one you get!

Comments (0) | Permalink | Real Estate | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Blog Probes Real Estate Models

www.REALonomics.net is a blog that is asking serious questions about where the real estate industry is going. More specifically, REALonomics poses challenges to the broker/owners to adopt models that will allow their organizations to become more transparent.

REALonomics.net advocates that the industry open up the property information portals to consumers and upgrade its approach to how it is interacting with the consumer by implementing more social networking such as www.CityBlogUSA.com, a community blogging network for every city in the USA.

Visit www.REALonomics.net.

Comments (0) | Permalink | Real Estate | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

MORTGAGE UPDATE

Lisa asked me to participate with this blog by posting the weekly market update I send to my clients and business partners. My plan is to post these updates once a week, so come back every week to check out the most current one.

I hope you find it usefull and feel free to contact me or Lisa if you have any questions…

Enjoy…

Loose Lips, Bond Slips

Comment (1) | Permalink | Retirement, Real Estate, General, Education, CityBlog | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Equus 2008 Award Ceremony

This year’s Equus Awards, put on by the Sonoma Horse Council, will be held on March 15th at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa. Every year, the Sonoma Horse Council honors those horsepeople among us who have contributed their time, effort and talents to the wider equestrian community, particularly those people who are doing good things for the horses. This year’s honorees will be announced soon, but for now, save the date. This is the only real gala event that our sport hosts each year and is a great time to see what all our equestrian friends look like dressed up!

Dinner, Dancing to Manzanita Moon and a GREAT Silent Auction

For more information, contact me at 707.579.LISA or email me and I’ll be happy to reserve a space for you.

Comment (1) | Permalink | Real Estate, Retirement, Sports, , Lifestyle, Government, CityBlog, Education, General, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Country Property Market is Strong!

The Country Property Market is Strong!I’ve recently completed an analysis of the Sonoma County country property market and it tells a vastly different story from what you’re reading in the national and local press. Much of what is affecting home prices today has to do with entry level property… the kinds of things that first time buyers, lower income households and investors were purchasing over the past 2-4 years. But if you actually study what happens at different price points or different market segments, there is much more relevant information to glean.

For a look at how country property has fared over the past 2 years, see the attached report, The Country Property Market is Strong!

For more information, call me at 707.579.LISA or email me. I’m always here to answer your questions and to help in any way I can.

Comments (0) | Permalink | Retirement, Sports, , Real Estate, Lifestyle, CityBlog, Education, General, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

For Sale By Owner

If you are trying to sell your home on your own in Sonoma County, you can advertise you home for free on this web page. Just sign up as a Blog Author and create a post that describes the features of your home. You can add photos and direct visitors to email you for more information.

If you need more information on how to set up the listing information, feel free to call Lisa Thomas at 707.579.LISA or email me and I will help you.

Comments (0) | Permalink | Real Estate, Retirement, Lifestyle, Healthcare, CityBlog, General, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Nice Napa Horse Farm

Photo

Nicely redone with style, charm and filtered valley views. Currently set up with stalls for horses, but seller will remove stall to re-convert to a seven car garage if desired. Gated entry and city water make this a comfortable country weekwnd getaway, or stylish cottage home for a car enthusiast or workshop hobbiest.

Knoll Top
Stalls for Horses
Stalls can be re-converted
Gated Entry
City Water
Nicely Redone with Style

Just $1,195,000

For more information, call 707.579.LISA, visit my website or email me.

Comments (0) | Permalink | Real Estate, Retirement, Sports, , Lifestyle, Healthcare, CityBlog, Education, General, Government, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Estate Quality Acreage

Photo

Beautiful, private and quiet, this 40+/- acre estate quality parcel is ready to go. Easily accessed, it has very pretty views of the neighboring vineyards. This lovely piece of property has been perc tested for a 7 BR septic and has abundant water available. Easy to improve and accessible from two different directions. You’ll feel like you’re worlds away, yet this NE Santa Rosa location is just minutes to town!

40 +/- acres
7 BR perc
Abundant Water
Easy Access from 2 Directions

Bargain priced at just $550,000

For more information, call 707.579.LISA, visit my website or email me.

Comments (0) | Permalink | Real Estate, Retirement, Sports, , Lifestyle, Healthcare, CityBlog, Education, General, Government, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Charming Home and Studio

Photo

Absolutely charming and chock full of wonderful features. From the white gingerbread trim on the quaint front porch to the useful detached studio with 1/2 bath and 1/2 kitchen, there is a LOT to like about this lovely property.

Set on a pretty 1/4 acre +/- lot in the village of Graton, just outside Sebastopol, this home is walking distance to dining, shopping and countryside.

3bedrooms, 2 baths
Detached Studio Unit
Large 1/4 acre +/- lot
Luxurious Master Bath
Granite counters in kitchen
Workshop

Just $649,000

For more information, call 707.579.LISA, visit my website or email me.

Comments (0) | Permalink | Real Estate, Retirement, Sports, , Lifestyle, Healthcare, CityBlog, Education, General, Government, Chamber of Commerce | Flag as offensive

Loading Form....

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...