My MetroList subscriber log-in screen has a message for me this morning. It shows a couple of beaten-up New Years Eve noisemakers and this note: "Have a Fine 2009." I wonder if the marketing crew at MetroList were limited by space requirements for characters or if they simply decided that it's cute to rhyme 2009 with fine, but it makes me scoff. A fine 2009? Is that the best they can do? I'm not going to have a "fine 2009," I'm looking forward to a spectacular 2009. But that doesn't rhyme.
I don't even like the word "fine." For one thing, it could be construed to mean a penalty, as in a traffic fine. It's a word women sometimes use when a significant other asks what's wrong, and the answer is: "Nothing; I'm fine," when in reality, fuming would be closer to the truth. You can appreciate fine wine or fine silk, but when it comes to life experiences and journeys, fine is a lousy adjective. We deserve to enjoy life a cut above fine, don't you think?
You might ask how I know 2009 will be spectacular. Apart from the fact that all of us have the power to create our own reality, I've already been inundated with business (while champagne corks are still rolling around the floor -- amusing my cats to no end). The last 3 Januarys have started out this way, and this year, apparently, is no different.
Yesterday was my first day back from Kauai, yet I've entered two listings into MLS and am gearing up for a busy week setting appointments with other clients. The Sacramento real estate market is starting out the New Year with a bang. Nobody is waiting for us to sweep up the expired noisemakers. We're tromping over them. So, hang on, 2009 is likely to be a bumpy yet spectacular ride.
The Short Sale, by Elizabeth Weintraub, coming from publisher Archer Ellison in January 2009.
Photo: Adam Weintraub: fireworks in Kauai 2009
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Certified HAFA Specialist
My Sacramento Real Estate Listings
Elizabeth Weintraub is an author, home buying columnist for The New York Times-owned About.com, a Land Park resident, and a Land Park real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown and East Sacramento. Weintraub is also a Sacramento Short Sale agent who lists and successfully sells short sales throughout the four-county Sacramento area. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put 35 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at Lyon Real Estate. DRE License # 00697006.
The Short Sale Savior, by Elizabeth Weintraub, available at Amazon.com.
Lyon Real Estate is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender. Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.
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The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of Lyon Real Estate.
Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice. It could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.
Elizabeth - LOL I sure would like to have a better than FINE 2009. But it does rhyme :) ~Rita
Elizabeth- sounds like you are hitting the ground running. I have also been busy. In fact I had to get up and leave the Georgia BullDawgs and go show property at half time on New Year's Day. I had no problem with that either, my car has a radio.
My phone has started ringing too! It always happens this way in January after you feel that your career has ended. Welcome back home!!
Well, 2009 could be DEVINE. LOL. Looks like we're the only agents working today, though.
There you go Elizabeth - "Time to be devine in 2009"
Elizabeth,
Then I wish you a bumpy yet spectacular 2009. And wish you riding it with a bang. Which, I am sure, you would do anyway.
A fine 2009? Well, that's creative. Granted we're only a few days into the new year but so far it's off to a great start here as well! You're right though, it is exactly what we make it.. and we plan to make it a stellar year.
Hi Myrl, Jon and Jesse: I am totally amazed at the activity. I expected it to start after the 5th, but it's been really busy since Jan. 1. Both buyers and sellers are calling, so that's a good thing, no? Oh, and Jon, I may have a referral for you shortly.
I'm deadly curious - what exactly is "buying and selling" in this market? Are you guys still basically doing short sales? Are sellers finally getting realistic about prices, or clinging to 2004 marketing brochure numbers? Are foreclosure numbers falling significantly?
Hi Jeremiah: Well, 72% of all the sales in Sacramento County last November were REOs. The average price per square foot dropped to $124. The average sales price was $203,000.
To put that in perspective, the last time we saw those kind of numbers was in January of 2002, when the average price per square foot was $129 and the average sales price was $205,000. Sellers who don't want to take 2002 prices aren't putting their homes on the market, for the most part, so yes, I'd say sellers are becoming more realistic and realizing that if they want to sell, they better use REO pricing.
Only 6% of the sales in Sacramento County in November were over $400,000.
The over $750,000 market has been hit hard due to financing restrictions and rate hikes on jumbo loans. There aren't a lot of move-up buyers in this marketplace. However, I just put a listing on MLS at $599,000, and we have had two showings today. But the bulk of the buyers and investors are looking at homes under $200,000. Some homes, believe it or not, are selling sight unseen.
Moreover, some areas of Sacramento are holding relatively steady and sales are hot, even though prices may not have appreciated greatly over the past several years, they also haven't fallen as much as rest of Sacramento -- areas such as Midtown, East Sacramento and Land Park. The average price in 95818 where I live, for example, is $435,000 for November of 2008, and the closest comparison was December of 2006 when the average price was $444,000.