About Oconee County, GA

I just love it when my fellow community members swing by the pharmacy or see me out in public and ask me how the real estate market is treating me. This has been my best year ever and they always have a shock or smirk on their face when I tell them that EVERYTHING IS AWESOME......FOR ME.that's when they come back with, Really? Huh? Well my house has been on the market.....or my aunt in California has....blah, blah blahblahblah. First of all, If there home is on the market with a competitor, I hope that they did there homework and found an agent that delivers a product. Secondly, homes sell when the prices are right!!!!!!!!! A wise Real Estate wizard grand master once told me that people do not buy houses, they buy benefits. If the price is right for the benefit the house sells. End of discussion. He is the wisest man in his training field. Real estate is not like gas or milk; people don't keep buying it just because the person before them bought it at the same price. at least that's not my way of properly pricing a newly marketed home that is for sale. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but it sure feels good to vent once in a while!

(Photo courtesy of Kyra Edrington)

This morning I pulled up the market reports for Oconee County from the Athens MLS, comparing sales for January 1 through September 10, 2007 and the same period for 2008 and thought I'd share it with you.

South Oconee

Units Sold 2007 42

Units Sold 2008 40

Sales Volume 2007 $14,197,150

Sales Volume 2008 $12,143,302

Difference of -14.47%

Watkinsville Area

Units Sold 2007 222

Units Sold 2008 147

Sales Volume 2007 $74,861,236

Sales Volume 2008 $50,120,061

Difference of -33.05%

West Oconee

Units Sold 2007 118

Units Sold 2008 94

Sales Volume 2007 $32,714,496

Sales Volume 2008 $24,857,879

Difference of -20,02%

Total Oconee County

2007 Units 382

2008 Units 281

2007 Sales Volume $121,772,882

2008 Sales Volume $87,121,242

Difference of -28.46%

On Friday I took our visitine out-of-town friend to the First Friday on Main in Watkinsville to see what was going on. Although there weren't as many people downtown as I have seen in the past, probably due to the fact that there were several high school football games Friday night.

However, there were a lot of events for children, including 2 trains, arts and craft activities, a rock climbing wall, moonwalk and other activities.

Additionally, there was a booth promoting Grace's Birthday Party coming up at Ashford Manor on September 21 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. For more information about Gracie's party, go to WWW.gracesbirthday.com.

It was a bit disappointing that only a few of the shops were open this month. Maybe next time.

Anyway, we had a good time on a pleasant Friday evening.

But the news is still mixed.

In Watkinsville the sliding 12 month sales figures have shown a steady increase in both the average and median sales prices of homes since May with the last two months averages above the figures from Jan. 1.

At the same time D.O.M. has increased by 16% (27 days) from 168 to 195 days and the number of units sold has shown a decrease of about 26%

The following chart shows the sliding 12 month figures:

The news is still mixed.

In Oconee County the sliding 12 month sales figures have shown an almost 8% decrease in the number of homes sold in the area for the second straight month. In the year ending Jan. 1, 2008 the total number of homes sold was 496. In the 12 months from Sep. 1, 2007 to Sep. 1, 2008 the total number sold was 396. That is a decrease of 20% this year, with most of that in the last two months. From Jan. 1 to Sep. 1 D.O.M. increased almost 20% from 180 to 216 days.

From August to September the sliding 12 month median price stayed the sameat $275,000.00. The average price, in the same period went from $309,415.00 to $310,441.00, an increase of about .3%

The following chart shows the sliding 12 month figures:

For more information on buying or selling in Oconee County please contact me by phone or email.