Life and Real Estate in The San Ramon Valley
Archive for January, 2011
San Ramon Real Estate Market Watch – January 2011
January 12, 2011
The San Ramon Real Estate Market
Latest Full Months Statistics for San Ramon Homes
(Source: MAX Contra Costa/Alameda MLS)
(Source: MAX Contra Costa/Alameda MLS)
| Detached Single Family Homes | Condominiums, Townhomes, Others | |
| New Listings | 38 | 34 |
| New Sales Agreed | 46 | 33 |
| Closed Sales | 53 | 30 |
| Median Price (Closed Sales) |
$680,000 | $374,500 |
| Average Days on Market (Closed Sales) |
56 | 53 |
At the time of writing (January 11th, 2011), there were 113 detached single family homes for sale in San Ramon, CA (about 25% less than a month ago) and 80 condos and town homes etc. (again, about 25% less than December). Taking seasonal variances into consideration, this is perhaps to be expected. New home sellers are typically reluctant to list their homes for sale in January and February and we will probably see some increases from March.
The numbers of sales agreed in San Ramon is surprisingly high for December, a typically slow month in terms of real estate activity. In fact the numbers are close to November figures. I know from my own activity level that there were still many people looking for homes in San Ramon right up until the Holidays.
Already it is apparent that buyers are becoming motivated again and with less than 3 months supply of homes for sale, it would not be surprising to see multiple offers arising, particularly for well-priced homes and/or those in the most sought after areas such as Windemere and Gale Ranch. At least there is little chance of significant price increases though. Appraisers tend to be very conservative with their valuations these days, and if a home does not appraise at the agreed sale price, the transaction is unlikely to close.
Low interest rates are a driving force to potential buyers at present, so anybody considering selling in San Ramon is advised to get their home on the market sooner rather than later. When interest rates start to rise, which they inevitably will, homes will take much longer to sell than at the present time.
Bernard Gibbons – “The English Agent” – (925) 997-1585
bernard@bernardgibbons.com
bernard@bernardgibbons.com
www.JustSanRamonHomes.com is the complete real estate resource for home buyers and sellers in San Ramon
Bernard Gibbons, CA DRE License #01331583
J Rockcliff Realtors . 15 Railroad Avenue, Danville, CA 94526
Closing Gifts
January 12, 2011
When I first got in to the real estate business in the San Ramon Valley (in the San Francisco East Bay) around 10 years ago, it was common practice for agents to give their buyers a “Closing Gift” when the transaction closed. Sometimes a $50 or $100 Home Depot voucher, sometimes something a little more personal – perhaps a framed photo of their new home. Gift baskets and bottles of Champagne were others.
Now it seems that this practice is dying out. Sure, the older hands who have been in the biz for years still do it but I don’t see it so much from the newer agents.
I suspect that the reasoning is that real estate should be treated more as a Business, rather than a social activity. Maybe there is some logic in that. After all, when did you last get a gift from the person who sold you your last automobile (even if it was a Mercedes)? Or from your CPA?
What do other AR members think? Is it an out-dated concept? How about home buyers? Is it expected?
And why is it buyers that get the gifts? What about sellers?
Bernard Gibbons – “The English Agent” – (925) 997-1585
bernard@bernardgibbons.com
bernard@bernardgibbons.com
www.JustSanRamonHomes.com is the complete real estate resource for home buyers and sellers in San Ramon
Bernard Gibbons, CA DRE License #01331583
J Rockcliff Realtors . 15 Railroad Avenue, Danville, CA 94526
San Ramon Real Estate Market Watch – January 2011
January 11, 2011
Latest Full Months Statistics for San Ramon Homes
(Source: MAX Contra Costa/Alameda MLS)
| Detached Single Family Homes | Condominiums, Townhomes, Others | |
| New Listings | 38 | 34 |
| New Sales Agreed | 46 | 33 |
| Closed Sales | 53 | 30 |
| Median Price (Closed Sales) |
$680,000 | $374,500 |
| Average Days on Market (Closed Sales) |
56 | 53 |
At the time of writing (January 11th, 2011), there were 113 detached single family homes for sale in San Ramon, CA (about 25% less than a month ago) and 80 condos and town homes etc. (again, about 25% less than December). Taking seasonal variances into consideration, this is perhaps to be expected. New home sellers are typically reluctant to list their homes for sale in January and February and we will probably see some increases from March.
The numbers of sales agreed in San Ramon is surprisingly high for December, a typically slow month in terms of real estate activity. In fact the numbers are close to November figures. I know from my own activity level that there were still many people looking for homes in San Ramon right up until the Holidays.
Already it is apparent that buyers are becoming motivated again and with less than 3 months supply of homes for sale, it would not be surprising to see multiple offers arising, particularly for well-priced homes and/or those in the most sought after areas such as Windemere and Gale Ranch. At least there is little chance of significant price increases though. Appraisers tend to be very conservative with their valuations these days, and if a home does not appraise at the agreed sale price, the transaction is unlikely to close.
Low interest rates are a driving force to potential buyers at present, so anybody considering selling in San Ramon is advised to get their home on the market sooner rather than later. When interest rates start to rise, which they inevitably will, homes will take much longer to sell than at the present time.