Print Advertising VS Technology

We've all read it in the news - and chances are high that we did not read it in a newspaper but instead while browsing the Internet - that the newspaper industry is currently threatened with extinction. That means that the approach that real estate agents take to effectively market properties must change, adjust, evolve, and stay ahead of the technological curve in order to succeed.

In the past, we relied heavily upon print ads, especially those found in newspaper real estate sections. However the majority of buyers now do house hunting via the Internet. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that 87 percent of home buyers in the US say they used the internet as an information resource during their home-buying process - and the numbers of online buyers continue to skyrocket. Connecting with those buyers is vital, and that is why I am intensely focused on tech-savvy marketing and why I stay up to speed on all the latest online real estate marketing methods and trends.

Not only do my clients benefit from having their homes marketed on more than 30 unique online sites and extensive email marketing, for instance, but Coldwell Banker just launched iPhone applications especially designed for customized real estate searches. I can use the application to perform lightening fast searches for property in your neighborhood or around the globe. Researching recent home sales data from an iPhone is a breeze, and you can also be alerted when new properties or open houses are made available that meet your criteria. Addresses and directions to homes are also provided thanks to a built-in GPS system.

The future is here, and it is more exciting than any of us could have possibly imagined. Please don't hesitate to call or send me an email if you'd like further information regarding the market.

Home Sales in 92067

Over the past 90 days, there have been 26 properties that have closed escrow in the 92067 zip code. Pricing ranges from $1,449,000 in Hacienda Santa Fe to $5,950,000 in the Covenant. At present there are 18 properties Pending and over 250 Active listings.

The market is gradually regaining itself. The higher end homes ( over $5M) are slower to recover, although there are 3 properties currently Pending over $6M.

Buyers are coming from all across the United States and the world looking for well priced properties in Rancho Santa Fe. The locals seem to be laying low, not moving from neighborhood to neighborhood as has been the norm here for years.

Let's see what develops in the months ahead.

Have a great day!
Danielle

Turning up the Heat in RSF

As we are seeing a rebound in the housing market in San Diego, these changes are being slowly reflected in the higher end Rancho Santa Fe marketplace.

In the last 30 days there have been 7 properties that have closed escrow in the 92067 and 92091 zipcodes, ranging in price from $2M to $5.4M. Currently, there are 11 Pending properties ranging in price from $2,95M to $5,995M.

It is great to see movement in the market. But, it doesn't put quite a dent in the nearly 300 Active listings over $2M in Rancho Santa Fe.

Seems like the heat is slowly increasing in the market. Multiple offers are ocurring on properties that are priced under market, bank owned and short sales. Could be signs of the times.

Fantastic Rental Opportunity In Rancho Santa Fe

For Lease in Cielo in Rancho Santa Fe

$5500/month, 4 bedrooms plus detached guest casita. 3 car garage, clean, bright & open floorplan. Views to forever!
Owner prefers 1 year lease. Pets negotiable.

Call Danielle for more details:
858-759-6502

Real Estate Summary for Rancho Santa Fe

The median sales price for homes in ZIP code 92067 in Rancho Santa Fe from Dec 08 to Feb 09 was $1,700,000 based on 8 sales. Compared to the same period one year ago, the median sales price increased 4.6%, or $75,000, and the number of sales increased 100%.

Average price per square foot for homes in 92067 was $512, a decrease of 4.7% compared to the same period last year.

There are currently 272 resale and new homes in ZIP code 92067 on Trulia, including 1 open house, as well as 17 homes in the pre-foreclosure, auction, or bank-owned stages of the foreclosure process. The average listing price for homes for sale in 92067 was $3,885,831 for the week ending Mar 04, which represents a decrease of 0.9%, or $33,574, compared to the prior week.

Popular ZIP codes in Rancho Santa Fe include 92067 and 92091, with average listing prices of $3,885,831 and $4,456,477.

2009 Real Estate Outlook-On A National Level

Real Estate Outlook: What's in Store for 2009?


What will the new year bring for housing and real estate? It's easy to look at all the negative economic news in the headlines and say - there's no sign that 2009 is going to be any better than 2008.

But here's a different perspective to consider from one of the country's veteran financial analysts -- Richard Bove of Ladenburg Thalmann, an investment banking company.

In a research report issued late in December, Bove said he sees a positive dynamic taking shape in the current cycle. The government has intervened aggressively in the markets to push interest rates down -- most notably in the home mortgage sector.

Though it takes awhile for low-cost money to begin having its effect, Bove said he expects "housing prices to stabilize and/or rise (in 2009) after a likely boom in mortgage refinancings as rates fall and loan applications increase."

Add in the expected massive economic stimulus package being put together on Capitol Hill with the incoming Obama administration -- and there's a good chance we're going to see a gradual transformation of the downward cycle into a slow rebound over the coming several quarters.

Already there are positive signs of the turnaround Bove predicts:

Mortgage applications are off the charts, mainly for refis but also to buy houses at affordable prices.

Rates continue to hover at 50-year lows - five percent and even four and three quarters percent for 30-year mortgages, and still lower for 15 and 20 year mortgage terms.

Plus we're all paying a lot less at the gas pump, and sharply discounted prices for retail goods and autos.

And guess what? Americans are actually SAVING again, the national savings rate took a nearly three percent jump last month. That might sound small, but it's hugely important if it is the start of a trend.

There are also some signs that housing prices are stabilizing in some parts of the country. The latest monthly Federal Housing Finance Agency index found home prices UP by six-tenths of a percent in the Mountain states and UP by two tenths of a percent in New England.

You can ridicule small regional gains as statistically irrelevant, but here's an economic proposal to you for the New Year: Keep your eyes open for the small positive signs that are accumulating out there … because all downcycles tail off and come to an end.

The smartest players in real estate -- consumers and the industry - will make the most of the positives -- low-cost money, low prices, stabilizing local markets -- and thrive in the new year. Written by Kenneth R. Harney

What is 'IN" for 2009?

What is "IN" for 2009?

Sidelined home buyers. Family or lifestyle additions or changes made in buyers households in the last three years are forcing those waiting out the market transition to finally get off the fence and say, it's time for our family to buy the new home that suits our new needs.

Home uplifts. Not a big renovation, but some new finishes that can visually holdover stay-put home sellers. Not a gut rehab to the studs new kitchen, but new flooring, countertops and appliances.

Collaborative home pricing. The old days of home sellers configuring a homes price are out. What's new is that the seller with their agent look at closed comparables, set a price, then the buyer and their agent agree or disagree, but in the end, a mortgage lender and their appraiser will set the price, as they are assuming the most risk in the transaction.

Balanced reporting by real estate and personal finance journalists. Consumers learned in 2008 that the 'doom and gloom' residential real estate market headlines don't apply to all markets. What's been lost in the foreclosure hype is that there are still stories of homes selling in short market times (in as little as 3 days), homes selling at full price and some selling with multiple contracts on the table. Existing home sales will be 5.02 million versus 5.652 million for 2007, a decrease of just over eleven percent, considerably less that the recent correction in the U.S. stock market, plus a realistic view that over five million people purchased a home despite the headlines in 2008.

Creative home seller financing. Exhausted home sellers are turning to self-financing to move properties. Installment sale contracts and lease to own are the most popular and effective ways for sellers to begin to receive income from a property that has languished on the market in 2008.

Property tax appeals. With home prices dropping, many savvy home owners are appealing their property taxes. This is especially attractive to those looking to sell their home in 2009. With a competitive marketplace, those with the most realistic taxes are more likely to offer buyers an overall lower expense in home ownership.