Sonoma, CA

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.

As you will see in the charts below the lower priced distress sales are driving the market in the beautiful wine country town of Sonoma. A picture is worth a thousand words, eh?

I'm not sure why the image is not filling the space or what has happened to the quality of the image, but I do apologize.

If you have any questions, just ask.