While I was holding my listing open on San Marcos Road, a neighbor stopped in and whispered to me “Carmel Woods is our hidden secret.” After many showings and numerous Open Houses at this property, I have to agree. Removed from the tourist frenzy of Carmel-by-the-Sea, but just a few blocks from town, this peaceful neighborhood is a treasure. Residents meander through their winding wooded streets taking their daily constitutional waving to their neighbors as they go by. Homeowners “in the Woods” enjoy a rare intimacy with their fellow residents unknown in some of the other areas.

Carmel Woods is located just north of the village of Carmel and includes many lovely homes situated on forested lots – some having ocean views. Good values are to be had by the savvy buyer, since these homes normally sell for less than they would if they were located right in town. For instance, my listing at 24447 San Marcos recently sold for $755,000 and was a lovely 2BR/2BA home on an over-sized corner lot. If you are looking for a Carmel home, consider Carmel Woods as a great alternative to some of the more expensive neighborhoods. I think you’ll be delighted!

Posted By: Susan Clark

When we think about the economy and job loss of 2009, it’s hard to believe that in Santa Clara County we experienced a 44% rise in home sales in December.

2009 was the busiest year for real estate sales since 2006. The year also showed an increase in the median sales price which went up 15% from Dec. 2008. One of the main reasons for the increases is that the high-end home sales in 2009 exceeded those of 2008. Also, in Santa Clara County, 14% of homes sold were for buyers of vacation and second homes, or investors. The federal tax credit for first time home buyers was also a good incentive to buy. This tax credit has been extended until April 2010!

I am hopeful that 2010 will be another good year for the real estate industry. Please contact me for any other information.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

I’d like to start the new year off with some information about possible property tax exemptions as well as some local community information for Los Gatos, CA.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

Jeff gives some information as to why foreign buyers are buying real estate here in the US. He also talks about the existing home buyer and new home buyer tax credit and about how now is a great time to buy real estate. Jeff also gives an update on the Los Gatos community holiday events.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

The 3rd quarter of this year showed that more than 70% of homes sold were considered to be affordable and therefore now is a good time to buy. The affordability of homes along with the $8000 home buyer tax credit helped to drive many home buyers into the market last quarter.

The President and Congress extended the original Nov. 30 deadline for the Federal tax credit which will continue to help stimulate the housing market. As reported by the National Association of Home Builders, a typical American family with the average median income could afford to buy 70.1% of all the homes sold in the U.S. during the 3rd quarter of this year which is quite a leap from the 56.1% in the third quarter of 2008.

So with the extension of the “new home buyer” tax credit of $8000 along with the $6500 “existing home buyer” tax credit, the outlook for continued affordability of homes is looking good. Now is the time to buy!

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

Los Gatos Alain Pinel Regional Manager, Jeff Barnett giving an update on the rise of the median home prices in Santa Clara County and the San Francisco Bay area. Jeff shares some Los Gatos community and holiday event information.

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

There are many wonderful neighborhoods in Carmel Valley and the “Brookdale area” close to the world renowned Quail Lodge and Golf Course is one of the most-desired. It’s just five minutes from Hwy One but far enough from the Coast to have warm sunshine in the summertime instead of the coastal fog. The weather is ideal for outdoor living so whatever your passion may be … golf, tennis, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, or walking on the beach – it’s close by.

There are numerous golf courses (Quail, Rancho Canada, Carmel Valley Ranch) to choose from within a few miles and the nearby Carmel Valley Athletic Club (CVAC) offers swimming, tennis, fitness training and classes.

Just across Carmel Valley Road is September Ranch where you can board your horse and ride on beautiful valley trails for miles. Garland Park is a treasure also with miles of trails for hikers, equestrians, and even bird watchers! The white sands of Carmel Beach are a few minutes away and if you travel south a few miles you’ll experience the phenomenal Point Lobos.

The Brookdale area is served by the Carmel Unified School District. The elementary children go to the highly regarded River School in Carmel, then to Carmel Middle School and High School. There are also very fine private schools not far from this neighborhood such as All Saints and Junipero Serra School. All of these attributes are great, but when you talk to the residents who live here the number one thing they find so desirable is that it is a “real neighborhood” with caring neighbors who look out for each other. Not always easy to find these days. If you’d like to consider living in this fabulous area, give me a call (831-320-6801); I have just the home for you!

Posted By: Susan Clark

Saturday, November 14, 2009 1:00-4:00pm

Why do so many people want to live in Carmel Valley? Come see for yourself this Saturday when Alain Pinel Realtors will have ten Carmel Valley listings priced from $799,000 – $3,800,000 open from 1:00-4:00pm. I currently have several listings in Carmel Valley and am often speaking to prospective buyers who are looking in the area. Everyone has their specific reasons for wanting to be there and nowhere else on the Monterey Peninsula. After digesting their thoughts and having a few of my own, this is what I think Carmel Valley has to offer. I will elaborate on each point in future articles. If there are other great reasons to live in Carmel Valley I haven’t mentioned, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Top Ten Reasons for Living in Carmel Valley
1. Incredible views!
2. Warmth and sunshine
3. Land – lots of land!
4. Golf
5. Great schools
6. Horseback riding
7. Tennis anyone?
8. Hiking, Biking, and … swimming!
9. Rural environment
10. “The Best of Two Worlds”

Come see the fabulous properties we have open. Call me for more information 831-320-6801 or see our ad in the Monterey Herald Friday Real Estate section. Pictured are two of the properties being held open on Saturday. In the much-desired Brookdale area just five minutes from Carmel is 6435 Brookdale Dr. listed at $1,195,000; www.6435Brookdale.com. Closer to Carmel Valley Village a fantastic view property on 11+ acres at 310 Country Club Hgts. listed at $2,295,000; www.310CountryClubHgts.com.

Posted By: Susan Clark

Just one year ago, in the midst of the financial crisis, it would have been highly implausible for most of us to imagine that we would be in an extremely hot residential real estate market today. But that’s exactly where we are, with multiple offers and overbids being the rule rather than the exception. Today’s lower prices, historically low interest rates, higher conforming loan limits, FHA loan availability, and the recently extended and expanded home buyer tax credits are giving the housing market a huge boost. Buyers have clearly recognized this period as the single best home buying opportunity in a generation – and are jumping in with both feet!

Posted By: James Sherman

As we approach the holiday season, I’m glad to be able to share this good news with you. With the best showing in the past two years, the U.S. economy grew 3.5% in the third quarter. Consumer spending on big-ticket goods rose at an annualized rate of 22.3% in the 3rd quarter as well. With the largest jump since 1986, spending on housing developments rose at an annualized pace of 23.4% nationwide!

The outlook is positive for Real Estate:
• According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), sales activity is at the highest level in over two years.
• Existing home sales jumped 9.4 % by October.
• According to Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, NAR, housing supply is the lowest it’s been in two and a half years.

On a local level, inventory is low and buyers are active. As buyers absorb the inventory, home prices are predicted to rise in the first and second quarters of 2010. I’m also seeing some multiple offers for properties that are well-priced. High end properties are still moving slowly. Now may be the time to act. Give me a call with any questions.

Enjoy your Holiday Season!

Posted By: Jeff Barnett

As a result of the number of my transactions I seem to be on everyone’s e-mail list for flyers and notices of status changes of properties in San Francisco. I began to think about what I could be doing with this flow of information and how it might work for my clients and others. Recently I began experimenting with forwarding price reductions of properties to my Twitter account. These price-tweets provide a quick, easy way to be notified of recent trends in the market. In fact I’ve begun encouraging agents to send this type of information to me to be forwarded as tweets. If you would like to receive this type of updated San Francisco price information you’re welcome to follow on my account billwygant at Twitter.

Posted By: Bill Wygant

Although a little windy it’s a beautiful day here in San Francisco.

Charlene Attard (415-608-8585 caattard@aol.com), on of our agents just finished giving our Alain Pinel office a tour of the Albion Castle, a very unique part of San Francisco. It was fun! How often do you get to tour a castle? With Parking!

Located at 881 Innes Drive in the Bayview section of the city, the Albion Castle is built over a natural spring that provides 200 gallons of fresh water daily. The property sits over several underground caves containing reservoirs. The quality of the spring water is pure enough that from 1895-1917 the Albion Ale and Porter company produced beer and ale and for a time also served as an early bed and breakfast inn.

Today the property, which is priced at $2.9 million waits for a new owner with a vision of what a very cool property could be. The access into the area on Evans Boulevard would certainly support tourist traffic coming for tours, or to sample a revitalized micro-brewery. A destination brew-pub, or B&B Inn might fit in well with future plans for a revitalized Candlestick.

Although Charlene has no plans to hold an open house, the underground caves would be a great place to tour on Halloween.

(Here’s a picture of Charlene with Tim Murray Vice-President and Regional Manager for Alain Pinel at the front of Albion Castle.)

Posted By: Bill Wygant

This week several areas of San Francisco real estate show relative gains in price and number of sales as compared to a year ago at the same time.

More Single Family Homes were sold this month and only at slightly lower prices. The San Francisco market saw increased Condo/TIC/Loft sales at about a 15% price discount. 2-4 unit sales also showed an increase in the number of sales and at a 15% gain compared year to year.

The one constant remains that days on market are faily long, mostly due to a more rigorous environment for obtaining financing.

Currently there are 567 Single Family Homes, 1207 Condos/TIC/Lofts and 241 2-4-unit buildings listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service in Districts 1-9 in San Francisco.

Last 30 Days:

225 Single Family Homes sold after an average of 56 days on the market.

• Average Listing Price was $1,104,332
• Average Selling Price was $1,158,747

283 Condo/T.I.C/Loft sold after an average of 84 days on the market.

• Average Listing Price was $731,285
• Average Selling Price was $727,276

48 2-4 Unit Buildings sold after an average of 88 days on the market

• Average Listing Price was $1,415,556
• Average Selling Price was $1,508,690

Same 30 day period 1 year ago:

135 Single Family Homes sold after an average of 48 days on the market.

• Average Listing Price was $1,151,614
• Average Selling Price was $1,164,114

182 Condos/TIC/Lofts sold after an average of 60 days on the market.

• Average Listing Price was $862,780
• Average Selling Price was $854,841

27 2-4 Unit Buildings sold after an average of 66 days on the market

• Average Listing Price was $1,307,111
• Average Selling Price was $1,307,926

The information is based on:
A 3 bedroom 2 bath home of approximately 1817 sq ft., a 2 bedroom 1.5 bathroom Condo of approximately 1,249 sq ft. and a 2-4 unit building of approximately 3,133 sq ft.

· All data subject to ERRORS, OMISSIONS, or REVISIONS and is NOT WARRANTED. – Copyright: 2006 by San Francisco Assoc of REALTORS Copyright ©2007 Rapattoni

Posted by: Bill Wygant

Five minutes ago San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Duffy introduced a motion before the City Council seeking to lift the moratorium on restaurants along 24th St. The motion now heads into a committee process and from there goes to City Planning and if approved would come back to the Council in 2-3 months for final approval. People in Supervisor Duffy’s office felt that his motion had a good chance of final approval and were looking forward to additional restaurant permits being issued along this vibrant corridor in Noe Valley.

Posted by:Bill Wygant

Yesterday I met Lou Waddell, a very talented LEED certified AIA architect waddellarchitecture.com at Starbuck’s for coffee and we ended up talking about sustainable and Green type housing.

The idea of building LEEDS certified Single Family Homes is attractive to me because you are working with existing inventory and not tearing the whole house down and rebuilding it, which defeats the sustainable environmentally friendly aspect of Green housing.

My idea was to put a review process on some of the San Francisco’s larger employers and come out with a mortgage profile of a younger employee that is about to start a family that yields the purchase price of a house for them would be. Then select an existing property, perhaps a bank foreclosure or distressed property along BART extensions that could be remodeled and LEEDS certified. My thoughts are generally centered on 2-bedroom 1 bath homes with a small yard for a garden. I’m wondering if there would even be some community money available, or special loan programs, since these homes would in a sense be anchoring these employees of the area’s larger employers into the community. Perhaps it’s time to bring into the picture the idea of “Barn Raising” events to help neighbors as communities have done in the past?

Once we had the price and the design we would then look for investors to fund each remodel and then market them not only to the general public but through the firms that shaped the vision in the first place.

Basically what we ended up with after our discussion on our Starbuck’s paper napkin (made out of recycled paper) was a picture of an environmentally friendly, affordable house for people in decent jobs in the larger corporations in the city. We also had a series of maybe’s for future discussion.

• Maybe the entire transaction would itself have to be paperless using electronic signatures and a secure transaction website to be in sync with the ethical considerations of the design.

• Maybe the energy design for the home would put power back into the grid.

• Maybe the backyard has a greenhouse to grow vegetables, a compost pile that is easy to maintain.

• Maybe the garage has hookups for electrically recharging an automobile from storage batteries attached to a windmill.

• Maybe the financing comes from investment funds whose ethics are also in line with sustainability.

• Maybe one bedroom is designed to that during the day it can be transformed quickly into an office for the worker that does not have to go to the office every day.

• Maybe there is an income unit attached that allowed the owner to purchase the property using their self-directed IRA and fund a portion of their retirement portfolio off of renting their income unit out.

• Perhaps the private investment model could itself be turned into a regenerating fund that finances future Green housing.

The ultimate goal both Lou and I seemed to agree would be to form a team that designs a LEEDS certified affordable housing stream connecting workers to their place of employment using presently available public transportation….of course everyone in the group would have to ride bicycles to the meetings.

We ended our discussion when Lou mentioned he had to leave to get ready for his daughter’s 2nd birthday, showing me that somethings are always more important than saving the world from itself.

Posted By: Bill Wygant