Sonoma, CA

As of November 6, 2009 an encouraging 40% of available listings in the beautiful wine country town of Sonoma are in escrow.

For the month of October 2009 33 homes sold for an average final selling price of $465,276.

The average original asking price of these homes was $523,709.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $176,000 to a high of $1,200,000.

Of the 33 homes that sold 1 sold at the original asking price and 10 sold over their original asking price. All other sold for less.

14 of the 33 homes were distress sales.

It took these homes an average of 134 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here.

To learn more about this area, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.

I believe we can and I hope other Realtors agree, given the pressures we face from clients, developers, and our own financial needs and goals. Don't get me wrong: I also believe in property owner's rights. However, I think we need to balance those rights with enforceable guidelines for building. Who wants to see this hillside covered with homes?

I felt like I stuck my neck out today when I sent an email to an architect who will be working with new clients that are planning an addition/remodel of a home here in Sonoma Valley. I'm concealing his name and theirs but am posting the message below:

"Hi (Mr. Architect): Thanks for updating me on your discussions with (my clients.) I'm so glad you agree they are extraordinary folks. Thanks, too, for the invitation to lunch. As to "issues and sensitivities" regarding development in Sonoma Valley....and, actually, throughout the county...there are ordinances that the Board of Supervisors has adopted that clearly spell out what can and cannot be done along ridge tops...and in scenic view-sheds.

There was a recent article in the Kenwood Press that gives a pretty good overview of the issues and concerns of a significant number of valley residents. My mom is quoted and, to my surprise at the time, so was I: www.kenwoodpress.com/pub/a/3996?full=1 .

To clarify my position, it's all about doing what we can as individuals to maintain the natural beauty, and corresponding aesthetic and economic value of what we have here. I'm a bit unusual in that I'm a Realtor who looks at the very big picture rather than short-term profit. We have fragile natural resources and I think we must protect them, rather than build those "monuments to ourselves" that so many folks seem to "need." My passionate desire is to bring people into this amazingly beautiful environment who share a vision of a future Sonoma Valley that bears no resemblance to Tiburon or Belvedere. Otherwise, we lose what we have here and that would be tragic. I'm not a crusader and I'm certainly not naive about client demands and expectations but I do believe we can be influential and educational when it comes to more sensitive development. I hope you understand. I look forward to opportunities to collaborate with you and your firm to help shape the future of Sonoma Valley...and, yes, the county, too. We all need to do what we can.

Thanks, Kirsten."

I would love to get feedback on this post. Can we....should we....try to encourage sensitive development?

I don't work for the Sonoma Valley Visitor's Bureau but I could. My family bought property in Sonoma Valley in 1943. There are four generations of us who call it "home" so I figure I'm a pretty good authority on what's to love about living here. How about a visual? Here's my mom, a retired real estate broker riding yesterday through our gorgeous Jack London State Park:

Nice pic, right? So with this image setting the scene, I'll share my list. I'm borrowing shamelessly from a late night talk show guy, when I say these are my "Top Ten" reasons to consider buying property in the Valley of the Moon:

1) Relaxed Lifestyle

2) Extraordinary Weather

3) Scenic Beauty

4) Recreational Activities

5) Great Food

6) Friendly Neighbors

7) Volunteer Opportunities

8) Active Local Art Scene

9) Close to Major Cities

10) Sustained Real Estate Values

I'll elaborate on each of these in future blogs, and add to the list because there are SO many more than ten reasons to buy a home in Sonoma Valley. Did I forget to mention the 300 or so wineries? Well...that's something for yet another blog.

Have a great day where ever you may be!

The chart below helps illustrate what has been going on in the market in the beautiful wine country town of Sonoma.

You can see in second chart (number of homes sold) when the banks stopped lending money freely-September 2007. The average sales price, as shown in the first chart, reflects the high number of distress sales. That's right... the market is taking a beating BUT it's not dead.

I heard on KGO yesterday that about 80% of economists say that the recession is over. They are also quick to caution that the recovery will be painful.

Now that we've all more or less adjusted to the current market I am hoping that people will be creative in their efforts to find new ways to generate revenues for themselves as they find that what they used to do no longer works in this market.

Change, like growing pains, isn't always fun at the time but ends up being better in the long run. I really feel that is true in this case.

As of October 9, 2009 an encouraging 39% of available listings in the beautiful wine country town of Sonoma are in escrow.

For the month of September 2009 33 homes sold (12 of which were distress sales) for an average final selling price of $480,030.

The average original asking price of these homes was $547,628.

The range of final selling prices was from a low of $83,000 to a high of $1,550,000.

Of the 33 homes that sold 3 sold at their original asking price and 10 sold for more than their original asking price. All others sold for less.

It took these homes an average of 99 days to sell.

To see everything that is currently for available for sale on our MLS, click here.

For more information about this area visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.