Coastal Real Estate and Lifestyles

I was pleased to see a beautiful photo of the Pacifica coastline on the front page of the SF Chronicle’s Real Estate Section.  Dana Perrigan’s cover story about Pacifica, CA highlights its small-town feel, unique character and proximity to San Francisco.

View Larger Map

With Daly City to the north, Millbrae and San Bruno to the east, and Montara to the south, its 38,000 residents (as of U.S. Census 2000) enjoy easy access along with a healthy dose of recreation.  Yes, it’s a cooler climate than more inland areas of the peninsula, but as the article states, sunnier than non-residents might think.  As locals already know, micro-climates are distinct throughout the various neighorhoods along the entire coastside.

An additional point worth mentioning is Pacifica’s schools.  Pacifica offers good school choices, including a home school support system within the District.

City of Pacifica

Pacifica homes for sale in Pro.MLSlistings.com - July 27, 2008

Here are a couple archived articles about Pacifica from this site, Coastside Real Estate and Lifestyles. 

 Pacifica Trends Then and Now

Median Prices and Hyper-Local Trend Watch

“Dear Friends and Family,

Its time for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Relay is the American Cancer Society’s nationwide signature event. I’m captain of a team this year and we are trying to raise money. Throughout the event, my teammates and I will take turns walking around the track and camping out. I am doing this in honor of my Grandpa, who is a survivor of colon cancer for over eleven years.  If you would like to help in the fight against cancer,you can make a contribution to the American Cancer Society through Relay for Life.  Please make sure you give it to me before the event.

The event takes place on Saturday, August 2nd at Cunha Middle School in Half Moon Bay. I would be glad to walk in honor or in memory of someone you know who has been touched by cancer.  For a donation to the American Cancer Society, I will make sure that person’s name is included in the Luminaria Ceremony, when candles are lit and we remember those who have been touched by cancer.

 I understand this is very short notice, but I appreciate your support. There’s no finish line until we find a cure.

Gratefully,
E.O.”

I just received this note and am passing it on.  Since she is a minor, I have protected her identity and contact info.  She is a longtime family friend and local resident.  You will see signs around town for this event.  I expect that lots of people are walking.

Thank you, E. and fellow walkers,  I invite you to walk for my dad, Robert Souza, who died of cancer in 1992 at age 69; my sister-in-law, Barbara Davis, who died of breast cancer at age 50 only a few years ago; and for my cousin’s wife, Debbie Maliani, who just 3 weeks ago died of breast cancer at 53.

Note:  The picture is from Arun’s Picasa picture sharing file.  It is not the location of our local HMB walk.  It is a lovely picture, not only for the foliage; but also for the words “welcome” at the start of the track.

I managed to get in RE BarCamp for a few hours on Tuesday.  It was an informal gathering of social media/technology thought leaders… and those interested in learning about real estate technology trends.  A tremendous networking opportunity…and it was free!

I met a lot of people, here’s a couple to share with you now:

Alex Neth of cribQ.comcompiled a mashup of Craigslist rentals with Google mapping, neighborhood info, and Walk Scores for each rental.  He developed this site to manage his own rental search.

I’m fortunate to already know Kevin.  Kevin Boer of Domus Consulting Group and 3 Oceans Real Estate lead a discussion about whether there was business value in the use of Twitter.  That was one of the largest groups.  What does that tell you?  If you’re on Twitter also, you can follow me at @mariansbennett.

Theresa Boardman of St. Paul Real Estate lead a conversation about photos, Flikr and photo management for websites.  Because of the open and casual nature, discussions veered into cameras, lens choices, other online photo filing systems, how to get the best interior shots, and more.

Looking for home in New Zealand or north Lake Tahoe?…I met Alistair Helm of realestate.co.nz from Auckland, New Zealand.  His company provides one of the largest (or did he say the largest?) real estate web portals in his country.  Also Tracy Saunders, Sotheby’s came to SF from Incline Village, NV. 

Yesterday was the first day of Connect. More about that and last Sunday’s web-cam experiment in Healdsburg to come.  In addition to my clients and family…the priorities!… I’m fitting in these activities this week. 

A few days ago Pam Buda announced in our Homescopes meeting that her Healdsburg listing will be featured LIVE on Trulia’s Blog via webcam.  When our Sonoma County colleague and owner of wine country real estate blog, WineCountryandHorses.com, invited me to join her at her Open House this Sunday, July 20th, I jumped at the opportunity to witness this cutting edge listing tool in action.  As with any listing, most agents will plan a marketing strategy to maximize exposure to the most likely potential buyers.  When an opportunity like this . . . Trulia offering to do a live webcam of your open house . . . is added to the marketing of the home, it opens up even more possibilities to powerful online exposure.  WOW.

Pam has taken another terrific step by involving her Homescopes associates.  When I write a blog post about an Associate’s listing, my readers are exposed to new information they may not know about otherwise.  For example, my readers span San Mateo County, all of California, and beyond.  My Google Analytics report shows the top worldwide visitors to my site:  United States, United Kingdom, Norway, India and Canada.  Pam’s Analytics report may show her readers come from other places.  In any case, it’s additional exposure for her listing - more exposure means greater chances of the right buyer.

The perfect buyer for this adorable vintage craftsman bungalow in the heart of the wine country may come from anywhere.  If you have ever thought of exploring Sonoma County, or Healdsburg in particular, for either a second home, a vacation rental property, a legacy home, or a ’downsize’ home, what better way to attend an open house if you can’t physically be in Healdsburg?!  Check out this online open house tomorrow, Sunday, July 20 between 1-3;30 on Trulia’s Blog.  The home is located at 414 Piper Street, Healdsburg, CA and will be physically open from1-4 p.m.

The use of these 2.0 real estate technology and social media tools are at the heart of an exciting and transparent trend for our industry that will benefit buyers and sellers.

To view the invitation, either click HERE or go directly to the main page titled *Limo* on the header bar.

Highlights:

• See parts of the San Mateo County Coast that only a local would know.
• Complimentary tour in private, stocked limo (air-conditioning if needed, but, remember, this is SF!).
• Gifts from local businesses that you can use for yourself or as client gifts once you return home.  No extra paper to have to fit into the suitcase.
• Views, stops, fun, sights, comraderie, fully stocked limo, gifts, fun, pizza…hope to see you.
• Make the most of your trip to SF for RE Connect.

To my contacts on Homescopes, WCR Blogs, Twitter and Active Rain:  I would sure appreciate your help in passing this one-time offering on to those who you think may be interested.  There is room for 5 people, so if anyone is interested, don’t wait.

Thanks!

Marian

The Half Moon Bay Coastside Limo Tour, available on a first-come-first-served basis, is open to all Real Estate Connect participants.  The limo will depart Friday afternoon following the conference from the Palace Hotel.  The short, entertaining excursion into Half Moon Bay will include a scenic drive over Devil’s Slide to view the beautiful new bridges and the now famous tunnel work in progress, through local neighborhoods, a coffee and snack stop, and a return trip over Hwy 92 to view some local flower, tree, pumpkin, and horse farms.  Guests will be returned to the Palace Hotel by mid afternoon.

I thought of this idea because Half Moon Bay is about 30 minutes away from SF and this will give visitors a unique hyper-local look at my real estate market and community.  The official invitation will be posted in the next couple of days and linked to my Active Rainblog also.

Charise and Michele of the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce greeted me a few days ago in in their new digs at 235 Main St, HMB.  It’s one of the older Main Street bungalows transformed into a welcoming business space.  The two friendly golden retrievers and colorful backyard completed the charming effect for which Half Moon Bay is so loved!  Charise and Michele’s input was very valuable as I outlined my tour for them.  They quickly gave me names and contacts of local businesses that I could include in my “gift bag” for each tour guest.  Since I expect out-of-area agents who may have relocation clients interested in my community, we thought of gifts that the agents could use once they got back home; i.e. referencing businesses with a good online presence who already service clients all over the country.  If you know of a local business who would like to be included, simply comment or email and let me know - soon.

 These are just a few of the businesses I will be contacting for gift pack gift ideas. . .to pique your curiosity!

Harley Farms

Elegant Cheesecakes

Savvy Skirts

Dayle Dunn Gallery

* * * Look for the Connect participants Limo invitation shortly!  * * *

This is the pre-invitation heads up…and a special thanks to the HMB Chamber for their assistance!  Also, please forward this to anyone who you think may be interested and send a comment so I can add interested parties to the first-come-first-served list or send a private email.  Since I’ve never done this before, and am sponsoring this myself, I really don’t know if there will be lots of interest or none at all.  So let me know what you think!  What I do know is this will be a one-of-a-kind trip for a lucky few.

Is 2008 shaping up to be as bad as some think?  It’s all a matter of perspective.  Here’s a look at some single family home numbers for Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach and Montara combined, comparing the 2006, 2007 and 2008 from the raw monthly data between January 2006 and May 2008.

The good news is the San Mateo County Coastside real estate market as a whole is not suffering the reality being experienced by other areas.  The sale prices have not been diving…unless sellers start out too high to begin with; however, they are continuing their moderate correction, so far.

**Highlights**

• Median sale prices drop of approximately 5%, roughly $50,000 off the median price, in the first half of the year.
• The number of transactions dropped 50% in the first part of 2008.  Significantly fewer buyers in the market so far this year.
• The number of homes for sale (inventory) increased about 30% from the same time period last year (only June listings missing).  Overall inventory has dropped about 10% from the first half of 2007 to the second half of 2007.

Median Price: (method used:  monthly medians averaged; no June figures yet)

• January to June 2006 - $908,750
• July to December 2006 - $861,667
• January to June 2007 - $895,875
• July to December 2007 - $967,417 (mortgage crisis announced in media)
• YTD 2008:  January to May - $855,666

Coastside Inventory: (method used:  same as above)

• 2006.1st half - 90
• 2006.2nd half - 111
• 2007.1st half - 99
• 2007.2nd half - 112 (mortgage crisis announced)
• 2008 Jan-May -118

Closed Sales: (method used: same as above)

• 2006.1st half - 17
• 2006.2nd half - 20
• 2007.1st half - 22
• 2007.2nd half - 13 (mortgage crisis announced)
• 2008 Jan-May - 13

** Summary **

The potential buyers for your home are different than those of a few years ago.  The flippers, wheeler-dealers, and speculators are few and far between.  What buyers there are have the funds to complete their purchase.  As financing continues to gain quality control (again) and buyers come to the table with some down-payment, I am seeing fewer wishful buyers and more prepared buyers.  Sellers are not testing the market, they are listing their homes because they want or have to sell.  Most are beginning to figure out that it pays to price it right the first time…and it can really hurt to have an overpriced listing at the peak of exposure - the first two weeks.  The rest of the sellers are reducing the list price or taking solid offers with a lower than desired price or even considering lease-options.  This is the maket correction in action, happening now.  Another way to watch the market is to check periodically the Local Stats on this site which are the local market’s leading indicators provided by Altos Research.

Recent articles of interest:

 (National) Business Week 6/30/08 - “The Next Victim of the Real Estate Crisis”

(County/Local) San Mateo Daily Journal - “Tax Roll Shows Healthy Economy”

And my camera was the conductor while holding 620 Ruisseau Francais, Half Moon Bay open last weekend.  This is a 5 bedroom home in the quaint neighborhood of Frenchman’s Creek.  Offered for sale for $899,000 by the CBHMB Bell-Fisher-Fowler team.