Leaves Are Falling đ But Home Prices Are Not! đđ
Market Update: Is Sonoma County Real Estate Cooling? There's been a lot of buzz about a possible market slowdown in Sonoma County. To clear the air, below we've taken a closer look at the numbers over the past quarter to provide both clarity and insight into how we'll likely end the year. Here's what we found...
Are we in a Housing Bubble in Sonoma County?
I cannot count the exact number of times I have been asked if we are in a housing bubble in Sonoma County. Every agent I know all over the US has also been asked the same question--it is no wonder, as prices seem to be climbing ever upwards and we all (or most of us) remember what happened in 2008-2010! What is so different about today? The Great Recession was driven by excess and abuses in the housing and mortgage markets. This national boom in real estate has been fueled by people reevaluating their circumstances due to Covid and sustained by record low interest rates and a shortage of housing. Brian Buffini and Company produced this solid infographic explaining the differences and root causes in both markets. ...
đ In Sonoma County, autumn is so much more than pumpkin spice lattes…
For those of us who have the great pleasure of residing in the wine country throughout the seasons, we are undoubtedly spoiled. With unparalleled views of rolling hills, amber skies at sunset, and the smell of crisp, fresh air during fall â the wine country experience falls nothing short of stunning. Now that autumn is in full swing, we get to indulge not only in a beautiful display of colors, but we also reap the seasonâs newest crops. Here, autumn is so much more than pumpkin spice lattes. With most of Sonoma Countyâs restaurants committed to the farm-to-fork philosophy, we can be sure dishes will be made with this seasonâs freshest harvest: apples, dates, figs, pears, squash, and eggplant, to name a few. And with a vast choice of wines to top it all off⌠Really, what more can we ask for? A Guide to Sonoma County's Pumpkin Patches: For those seeking that true fall experience, our family farms feature a variety of gourds for your autumnal mood and Halloween creations. Check out this list of local pumpkin patches where you can find entertainment for the little ones, do a little wine tasting, and pick the perfect pumpkins. The Matheson and Roof 106 Open in Downtown Healdsburg: Recently, Healdsburg native chef Dustin Valette opened his much-anticipated new restaurant, the Matheson. The tri-level experience includes the upscale restaurant, a sushi counter, two bars, and a rooftop lounge. Oh, and did we mention 88 wines by the glass? Meet EarthSEED, Sonomaâs First Afro-Indigenous Farm: Located in Sebastopol, EarthSEED honors traditional agriculture, where founder Pandora Thomas practices and teaches African agricultural skills that have endured and evolved despite centuries of slavery and diaspora. The farm boasts fresh fruit, flowers, herbs and yes, even popsicles. ...
Just Listed! Rare Riverfront Home with Private Summer Dock đś
Rare Riverfront Home with Private Summer Dock! An idyllic oasis just west of downtown Guerneville. With vintage flair and tasteful updates, this .26+ acre parcel delights in so many ways: dinner on the deck overlooking the river, an evening hot tub privately located under the stars, views from nearly every room, an expansive usable lawn area lined by mature landscaping, fruit trees, a path down to your private riverside deck with a summer dock overlooking the heart of Russian River fun. There are so many ways you and your friends and family can enjoy the Russian River lifestyle. Please watch our Property Video below and visit the Property Website for more details on this lovely Riverfront Home. ...
High-tech products to pamper your pet đś
When it comes to our pets' health, safety and happiness, no expense can be spared! And thankfully, advancements in digital technology have provided both pets and their parents with a variety of new options for safety, convenience and peace of mind. Since pets and tech are a few of our favorite things, we've searched the web for the latest gadgets and emerging trends and provided a list of standout products below. Love is Being Connected: PetChatz offers two-way audio and visual connections to allow petparents to monitor and interact with their pets when they are away from home. Described as âdigital daycare for the home alone pet,â it is a solution for separation anxiety, both for pets and their parents. Play with Technology Assist: CleverPet Hub is described as âthe world's first game console for dogs,â but it is also adapted to cats. The toyâs touchpads light up and make noise as pets solve puzzles with a treat administered when the correct answer is touched. Pet Care at the Touch of a Button: SurePetcare offers a micro-chip controlled pet door that only opens when it reads the petâs microchip or RFID tag. It then signals a smartphone app when the pet leaves and enters the house and also allows parents to control when the pet can have outdoor time. And an added benefit, it keeps inquisitive raccoons out. Litter Robot puts an end to the smelly and sometimes back-breaking job of scooping waste from the litter box. It automatically senses when the cat is inside and then cleans up after by dropping waste into the bottom drawer that needs emptying only every seven to ten days. Four-Legged Luxury: High-tech also brings a new level of luxury to pets, like the ZenCrate  from Play and Plug Robotics. Positioned to relieve pet anxiety, it also provides motion-sensored fan cooling and a pet-appropriate music playlist when the pet enters its private domain. Solutions for a Healthy Pet Life: Just as people increasingly are monitoring their health and wellness via digital monitoring devices, pet parents are turning to similar devices to monitor their petsâ health. FitBark is a doggie version of a FitBit-type device to monitor activity levels, steps taken and sleep periods. Recorded data is synced to the parentâs smartphone app with the resulting data accessible to veterinarians and other pet service providers....
What’s new in the wine country this month!
With summer winding down, the call of the outdoors still beckons.  This month we're celebrating the opening of a new Healdsburg hidden gem and one of our new restaurants in Sebastopol by the Michelin Guide. Outdoor Activities (Besides Wine Tasting) to Try in Sonoma County: Yes, Sonoma County is a world-class wine and food destination, but we have so much more to offer than the sum of our wineries and restaurants. The natural largesse of the land provides stellar outdoor recreational opportunities in the air, on land and at sea. So get out there. Burn some calories, get the heart pumping and stimulate the senses by exploring the Sonoma you may not know. Forager, a Modern Mercantile Store Opens in Healdsburg: Congrats to our clients and friends who recently opened their new store, Forager, located on the historic Healdsburg Plaza. We stopped by to check out their eclectic mix of objects for the home that elevate practical, everyday living and picked up a few great pieces! Merchandise includes curated, artisanal products that are not seen everywhere else, alongside thoughtfully chosen vintage home goods and decor. To learn more, click here. Sebastopol Restaurant Honored by Michelin: Inspired by the âresilience and creativity of chefsâ during the pandemic, Michelin inspectors have named Sebastopolâs Khom Loi as one of 10 notable new San Francisco and Wine Country restaurants in its online guide. [caption id="attachment_21320" align="alignleft" width="839"] (Photo by John Burgess/The Press Democrat)[/caption] ...
Sonoma County Summer Fun âď¸
Summer in the wine country brings with it scenes of lush vineyards, blooming meadows of lavender, and long, warm sunny days perfect for a beach day, outdoor wine tasting, or dining al fresco. Below discover more of whatâs new this summer in Sonoma County! Live Music Returns to the Wine Country: In yet another welcome sign of a slow return to normalcy, the music is back, more intimately yet just as exuberantly, at these tuneful Sonoma County wineries. Reservations are required and physical distancing is factored into concert setups. Camp in Style this Summer: Letâs face it: Camping it a lot of work. Itâs also a lot of fun. If youâd like to maximize the latter and minimize the former, consider booking one of these six âglampingâ destinations in Sonoma County in which the shiny Airstreams, towering treehouses, and luxury canvas tents are awaitingâno assembly required....
Just Sold $1,300,000 – 23% Over List Price!
This gorgeous country property on Joy Road was popular the day it hit the market late May. With 20 showings over 6 days we asked for offers by Day 7. With 4 strong offers in hand we accepted one at $1.3 million, well over what the comp sales showed! The seller had a generous rentback to allow for a smooth transition and the sale closed with a minimum of fuss. We were able to take advantage of a very hot market for country properties, which seems to be continuing. However, the market is constantly evolving so it is important your strategy evolves along with it!  The successful sale of your home starts with preparation and development of a marketing strategy appropriate to your home and current market conditions.   Please reach out by email or phone, we are happy to discuss your unique needs and circumstances! And don't forget to watch our unique drone listing video below! It really showcases this special spot and helped attract potential buyers to see the property! Property Website ...
Sonoma County Animal Shelter and Rescue Resources
Does your familyâs emergency plan include your animals? Catastrophic weather-related eventsâfloods, wildfires, hurricanes, and stormsâcan have a devastating effect on our pets and livestock, as well as humans. Now that we're officially into California's fire season, it's important to know how to prepare and where you can shelter or locate both large and small animals in an emergency. Here's some Sonoma County resources, we hope will help. Please let us know if you have any others to share, we would love to add to our list. Important Links: County of Sonoma Animal Services Humane Society of Sonoma County Sonoma Cart CDC Pet Safety Tips Sonoma Action for Equine Rescue Lost Hearts and Souls Horse Rescue Sonoma County Horse Council Shelter Resources: 24/7 ASSISTANCE: Sonoma CART hotline (707) 861-0699 Sonoma Sheriff (707) 565-2511 Napa CART (707)-732-1555 info@napacart.org /Â www.napacart.org Sonoma Community Animal Response Team 1415 Fulton Rd, Ste 205-415, Santa Rosa, CA www.sonomacart.org | www.facebook.com/sonomacart Hotline: (707) 861-0699 Sonoma County Animal Services Dog / Cat / Companion Animals /Â www.sonomacounty.ca.gov 1247 Century Ct, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | (707) 565-7103 (open 8am-5:30pm) North Bay Animal Services Dog / Cat / Companion Animals /Â www.northbayanimalservices.org 840 Hopper St, Petaluma, CA 94952 | (707) 762-6227 (open 9am-6pm) Sonoma County Horse Park All Horses / Donkeys / Mules / Ponies (equids) /Â www.sonomahorsepark.com 7600 Lakeville Hwy, Petaluma, CA 94954. Enter long driveway, turn right at Giant Steps, Left at KMC barn. Look for signs for Large Animal Evac / CART Intake. Main contact to text/call when enroute (707) 861-0699 Petaluma Fairgrounds Livestock / Goats / Sheep / Camelids 100 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA . Enter on Payan St. Finley Center Human Shelters Allowing Dog / Cat / Companion Animals 2060 W College Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 Sonoma State University Human Shelters allowing Dog / Cat / Companion Animals 1801 E Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 Sonoma County Fairgrounds 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa, CA | (707) 545-4200 Contact information: Cliff Sanders | (707) 529-8464 How to Prepare for an Emergency: Microchip your pets whenever possible Talk to your local veterinarian about disaster planning Identify best travel routes for any scenario and always have an alternate route as a backup. Prepare property access for first responders and animal response teams. Have a Disaster Plan binder ready, including: proof of ownership, multiple emergency contacts, vet records, medical directives, photos, brand registration, microchip info, insurance contacts and proof of insurance, out of area emergency contacts. Stay plugged into your local community! Often times, locals pitch in to help in the event of an evacuation. If you have horses or livestock, good barn and field maintenance can reduce danger. ...
Are we in a housing bubble in Sonoma County?
Sonoma Countyâs vibrant housing market became even hotter through the first three months of 2021 as a rush of Bay Area residents continued to flee dense urban areas for the Wine Country, sending the countyâs median home price to an all-time high at the end of Q1! Watch the video above for a quick recap on what's happening in our local real estate market. Untethered from the office, many house hunters sought bigger living spaces and a more relaxed lifestyle. North Bay home prices that are viewed as a bargain compared to many other parts of the Bay Area were also a draw. And historic low interest rates spurred homebuyers to take advantage of attractive mortgage terms. The median price for a home in Sonoma County has increased 13% since March 2020, when the lockdown began. Over the first three months of 2021, the median price was $745,000, a 15% bump from the same period in 2020. During first quarter of 2021, 1,049 home sales were finalized, a nearly 30% spike compared to the previous year. These figures represent a remarkable turnaround for a local housing market that basically shut down for a couple of months last spring. *Note: These stats reflect single family homes in Sonoma County and do not include condominiums. Are we in a housing bubble? Today, most home loans are 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with historic low interest rates. Thanks to lending reform, people don't get approved for a loan they can't pay like they did in the 2000s when the market crashed. This means that even though houses are selling for top dollar, the buyers that purchase them can afford it. The amount of cash (often from stock rich tech workers) we have in the market continues to impact multiple offer scenariosâand while we can't predict what will happen in the coming months, all we can say is that this market looks nothing like it did back when the bubble burst in 2008. There is a national shortage of housing stock that is a trailing effect of the great recession. So, we think it's safe to say that we are NOT in a housing bubble. What To Expect As We Look Ahead to Summer 2021...