Real Estate Directory

Important News About California Real Estate Agents

California Real Estate Commissioner Jeff Davi says the number of real estate agents in the state is beginning to falling....   At 541,000 licensees, California has more real estate agents than any other state - 1 in every 53 adults is licensed - but that number has declined from 2007 when there were 548,000 licensees.

That means in my neighborhood which has about 25 houses per block, that when I walk my dog I will bump into a Realtor every two blocks. Put another way, there is about 1 sale a year per blocks. So in the whole State of Cali, that leaves each agent one sales commission per block?

From Local to Regional to Statewide MLS

The California Realtors have somehow managed to combine 61 MLSs out of the total of 71 in the State into one giant mega MLS.

It has been said that this move is historic. The real question is how beneficial will this new system be? Will it be like taking the DMV and turning it into a much larger DMV? I do not think that is what the members would want. But that is the risk when dealing with a large bureacratic organization that this could certainly become. Hopefully it will become a shining becon for the rest of the COunty to follow because of it razor sharp efficiency and true representation of its memebers. Achem!

What Happened to the Bubble Sound?

Bakersfield Property buyers not buying the bubble?

In Bakersfield, with foreclosures even being tied to a summer battle with West Nile virus, it’s hard to think real estate could look like a beautiful investment in the San Joaquin Valley.

“We have 225 lots. As a result of tonight, we’re going to sell six-eight homes,” said Jennifer Jordan of Touchstone Real Estate.

And that’s the reality: buyers exist in the 2007 market. Jordan said thousands were invested in the showing of the lots. That’s no small feat for a country club setting.

Another are not reeeling from a Bubble, Recession, Credit Crunch, or whatever you want to call it.

Prices Went Up?

The five cities where prices increased:

Seattle: 5.7
Charlotte: 5.6
Portland: 2.8
Atlanta: 0.8
Dallas: 0.5

FBI Names Ten Safest Cities in the United States

The FBI recently published their yearly report on crime statistics. Four Southern California cities are listed in the top ten safest large cities in America.

The FBI heralded Irvine, California as the top number one safest large city in America. In cities with populations of over 100,000 Irvine had only 87 violent crimes per 100,000. The most dangerous large city, St. Louis had 2,207 violent crimes per 100,000.

Irvine police credits their first place as safest city to their community based policing. Irvine has also adopted crime prevention by environmental design that includes many safety standards such as well-lit parking lots and video cameras at the majority of city intersections.

Other Southern California large safe cities were #6, Thousands Oaks, # 7, Glendale and # 10 Simi Valley. Sunnyvale, in Northern Califonia, made # 5 on the list.

The FBI Top Ten List was determined from information obtained in initial reports submitted by  two hundred sixty-five city police departments. The reports tracked statistics on violent crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault and it also included indexed property crimes such as burglary, larceny and motor theft.

Prices Go Clunk

Prices continue to drop in Cali, while Greenspan is saying the worst is behind us.

California Real Estate

Oceanside CA has a climate ranked the fifth most desirable in the world and the second most desirable in the entire United States an it is a perfect location year round for both visitors and those who are looking to purchase California real estate. If you are looking for an exciting environment offering a great beach, lots of spas and resorts, fishing expeditions and various watersports, you have come to the right place.

Marin County Homes Values

"Buyers have the edge"

Thats what Carla Bova says in her piece in the Marin Independent Journal.

While Nationwide sales of homes have dropped by a half percent, the National Association of Realtors reported Monday. At the same time, the inventory of homes for sale rose 1.5 percent.

• Although Marin's median home price in August remained flat from last year
• Marin single-family home sales in August dropped nearly 7 % from last year
• Marin county condos sales dropped 36 % (DataQuick).
• Total Marin County homes sales dropped 13 %.

"The fact is that Realtors do not set price and, in the end, the sellers do not set the price, either," Nielsen said. "Buyers do, and often it takes time for sellers to accept that reality."

This part I disagree with. Sellers still have to accept the price. In the end the Sellers do not have to move. Which is why the home values in Marin have not dropped despite lower sales volume.

"In Marin County, "the whole reason I think that we are seeing any kind of slowdown at all is because sellers are still pricing as if we are in an appreciating market, and we are not," Frank Howard Allen Realtor Kathleen Clifford said. "My message to sellers is be realistic, price your house appropriately and it will sell. If you have not priced it appropriately, for God's sake, take a price reduction."

This article is an interesting take on the current market slowdown.

Visit a top Frank Howard Allen Realtors Marin County Real Estate Blog.

Fastest Growing Cities

What does the recent Census info tell us?

  Elk Grove, Calif.near Sacramento, had the nation’s fastest growth rate among large cities (100,000 or more population) between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2005, according to new U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.

    A fairly new city, Elk Grove’s population increased 12 percent during the period, to 112,338. It was joined on the list of the 10 fastest-growing cities by three others in California: Moreno Valley (ranking sixth), Rancho Cucamonga (seventh) and Irvine (10th). These last three cities are each located in southern California.

     Florida had three cities among the fastest growing: Port St. Lucie (third), Cape Coral (fifth) and Miramar (eighth). Two cities in Arizona were in the top 10 — Gilbert (fourth) and Chandler, AZ (eighth) — and, relatively nearby, North Las Vegas, Nev., was second. 

     Phoenix had the largest population increase of any city between 2004 and 2005. San Antonio; Fort Worth, Texas; North Las Vegas, Nev.; and Gilbert, Ariz.,were on the list of the five biggest numerical gainers.   

   Who go the biggest city? The Big Apple of course. New York Cityis the  most populous city, with 8.1 million residents in 2005, two times that of LA, which ranked second at 3.8 million. The estimates show that among the 10 largest cities, one change has occurred in the rankings: San Antonio has replaced San Diego as the nation’s seventh most populous city.   

High End Properties In Tahoe

High End Properties In Tahoe Seem To Be Bucking Real Estate Slowdown

Luxury North Tahoe real estate seems to be bucking the slowdown in real estate sales in many parts of the country, as well as the accompanying price declines. An interview with several Squaw Valley realtors by the founder of The Mortgage Resource Center confirmed brisk sales over the past 6 months in Squaw Valley. The likely main culprit for the slowdown is likely rising interest rates. One prominent realtor commented that the slowdown might not have affected Squaw Valley since a large percentage of buyers at this expensive ski resort community are cash buyers and therefore not affected by interest rate fluctuations. Other areas of North Lake Tahoe that aren't as affluent as Squaw Valley, including Glenshire and Truckee , seem to have been affected to a larger extent. You can read about various home financing options (http://www.mortgage-resource-center.com/basic-mortgage-types/types-of-mortgages.php) and more at The Mortgage Resource Center.