Anja Kerstens - Signature Homes and Estates

Eagle Ridge Golf Community real estate update

Last month Eagle Ridge Golf Community had 5 homes which closed escrow with prices ranging between $500,000 and $695,000.

Average sale price of these homes is $635,400. These homes were on the market for 98 days. This number is low because one of the properties sold in 2 days.

Currently we have the following statistics:

Current Inventory: 13

Homes under contract: 14

Home price range of current inventory: $559,950 - $995,000.

This is in line with the statistics for Gilroy

Four homes are listed as either short sale or bank owned.

Market Update for Gilroy Real Estate of Single Family Residential Properties.

Healthy conditions are returning to the Gilroy housing market. Sales are up and inventory is down.

May continues to be a strong month for real estate sales.

There are currently 244 single family homes in inventory with 62 new listings and 58 sold properties. In May of last year those numbers were significantly different as can be seen on this chart.

During that time Gilroy had 527 active listings with 33 properties sold and 112 new listings. There was not a big difference in the number of days on market. This is the number of days it takes to sell a home from the time it is first listed to the day it closes escrow.

The statewide median home price for single family homes was $256,700 in April 2009

When inventory decreases prices go up. The third chart shows that home values have decreased from May 2008 but are slowly recovering.

Gilroy is truly a special and wonderful place to call home.

My daughter graduated from high school today and it was an emotional and moving event. As I am reflecting back on the years since we moved to Gilroy from the East coast I realize what an amazing and small city Gilroy is.

We enrolled our children at St. Mary, a great elementary school, and with it we gained a big family. Everybody was nice and welcoming and we knew we had arrived "home". That feeling has continued through the years since we moved here.

Gilroy rallies together when someone or a group is in need of support. People reach out to those less fortunate to help them improve their lives. Organization such as the Gilroy Foundation, Community Solutions, and Hearts of Gilroy a non-profit organization started by a dear friend of mine. St. Joseph Family Center is another important life line for many in our community, such as the elderly and homeless, providing meals and services.

Every year the city organizes their biggest non-profit fundraising event, The Garlic Festival.

The money raised goes to a large number of non-profit organizations. Each year the Garlic Festival attracts over 100,000 visitors who flock to Gilroy to enjoy the fine food, music and arts and crafts. When you live in Gilroy you volunteer and participate in the event whether you work behind the scenes, sell water, beer, lemonade, or cook the delicious food in the Gourmet Alley.

St. Mary School organizes a spaghetti dinner event twice a year and half the town comes out to enjoy the food and wine. If you are new to Gilroy there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and see how rewarding the experience is.

Yes, looking back to the years since we moved here I must say that we truly live in a wonderful place we call home.

Who says you have to go to Napa to have a wonderful time wine tasting?

The South Bay has some excellent wineries where one can taste excellent wines. One doesn't have to go to Napa and deal with congested roads to enjoy a good wine. Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Hollister and other towns in the South Bay offer great wine tasting events.

Last weekend Solis organized a wonderful event: Syrah and Sausage Grill, that lasted three days. Solis is a small family business on Heckers Pass Road in Gilroy. A few years ago Vic and Michael Vanni took over the ownership from their parents. They remodeled the area in the back of the tasting room facing the vineyards. They added a nice lawn and enlarged the deck overlooking the vineyards. On Saturday and Sunday visitors were entertained by Flamenco guitarists and on Monday the music was provided by the Zinfandel Stompers a New Orleans Jazz Band. This event was their "Solis Event Debut" as they called it. The event was posted on their facebook page and open to all. Usually they organize several member events during the year.

Clos La Chance is another winery that I count as one of my favorites and is located in San Martin and adjacent to the renowned CordeVall Golf Club . Every Thursday evening they offer wine tasting and entertainment from 5:00 - 9:00 pm. On May 28th they will kick off their "Summer wine release" weekend. Pack your picnic and meet friends for a wonderful time. The views are great and the wine is wonderful.

Sarah's Vineyard, Martin Ranch Winery and Fernwood Cellars are other wineries that I enjoy visiting. Fernwood Cellars has excellent wines especially their ZInfandel is wonderful. Fernwood Cellars and Martin Ranch Winery are located on Redwood Retreat Road in Gilroy. Martin Ranch Winery opened its tasting room about one year ago and offers tastings every third Saturday of the month from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

I can not forget to mention Leal Vineyards in Hollister which organizes a number of events during the year. We enjoyed music and comedy while tasting their wonderful wines with friends. These events sell out but as a wine club member we always enjoy just driving down to pick up our wines.

Eagle Ridge Golf Community, tucked in the Gavilan foothills, is surrounded by these fine wineries. They have an active group of wine lovers who meet once a month to taste wines. The group GLOW (Gilroy Lovers Of Wine) is not exclusive to Eagle Ridge Homeowners and at the moment they have a waiting list.

New Marketing strategies for the innovative agent.

I am working in my "office" here at Starbucks this morning waiting for my girls while they are taking their finals at school.

I am working in my "office" now for more than one hour and am amazed by the number of clients that continue to stream in. There is a line out to the door all morning long.

For a moment I allow myself to daydream and imagine that this line of clients in line for my real estate services. If these customers are willing to pay top dollar for a cup of coffee than sure they could be potential buyers and sellers.

All kinds of marketing strategies bubble to the surface of my thoughts.

• I should have a company name plaque and contact information on the outside of my computer
• pile a stack of real estate books and file folders right next to it.
• Wear professional business clothes such as a suit
• I can't forget to pin my badge to my suit
• Don't overdo your stay. Only an hour or two; you are a successful agent and shouldn't set up shop too long.
• Repetition is good. There are quite a few regulars going to your local coffee shop and when you become the friendly professional face at the shop you will have people approach you with their questions and concerns.
• Know your local market and the inventory such as the number of actives and listings under contract.
• invite your prospective clients for coffee at your "new office" from time to time
• That will do the trick.

What do you think? Do you work out of your "office" at local coffee shops.