Coastal Real Estate and Lifestyles

“Independent businesses are an intregal part of why we live here and what gives Half Moon Bay a unique identity.” writes Barbara C. in the Coastsider on 9/17/09.  It just occurred to me to make my first Twitter list for ”Local Biz” so that my followers can see the local businesses in one handy place, not to mention this is FREE exposure for all of us doing business in Half Moon Bay, El Granada, Moss Beach, Montara, Pacifica and Pescadero.  Please check out these businesses and community services next time around if you don’t rely on them already.  The business has to have a Twitter account to be able to get on the list.

Ten Small Business Social Media Marketing Tips - Mashable 10/28/09.

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A Visual Explanation of Twitter

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As I’ve gotten to know more about my new listing on 430 6th Street, Montara, it’s quite clear that it has gone through quite a transformation.  One area of major improvement was the yards, both front and back.  This is a picture from 1997 before the front yard landscaping began…

Here is what it looked like freshly finished back in 1998, ready for the plantings to grow, designed for privacy and garden views from all the windows…which you’ll see in the panorama slides below.

Here’s what it look likes now…

 TO GET THE FULL IMPACT, HERE ARE SOME PANORAMAS.

This amazing little house with a big personality is now available.  It will be in the Multiple Listing Service by the end of today, first Broker Tour this Tuesday, 6/16.

Montara average and median home prices have consistently trended up over the last ten years. That’s as far back as the MLS data will go. Annual sales volume has also gone up…that is, until 2008. Why?

In my opinion, the top reasons are: a market correction that was first noticed in weaker markets in Q4-2006, fewer qualified buyers due to tighter lending qualifications, credit markets unstability, and lack of understanding of available loan products. Add California’s economic woes creating jobs uncertainty and the homeowners who have Option ARMS with a reset date coming in 2009 to this. (Look for an upcoming post on why homeowners with these loans will affect you.)

Overall, Montara has not taken the hit of other San Mateo County and California areas because there have been qualified buyers out there who want to live here and pay to do so. Median sales prices have risen most years since 1998 and are now in the $830K range. Average sales prices have also risen most years since 1998. 2008 average sales price for Montara single family homes to date is $926,800.

However, the higher price points have already begun to adjust. For example, a 3rd Street home was listed for $1,299,000 and sold for $1,150,000 in Oct 08 (the last sale in Montara). A Cedar Street home started out at $1,200,000 in July 2007 and sold for $998,000 in July 2008. Looking at the expireds, cancels, and price reductions in the last two months confirms the trend is continuing. Montara’s 2008 entry level price points in the $600K-$800K range have sales prices more in line with the list price so far; we’ll see what happens. Q4 usually quiets down, but the higher inventory may be causing more sellers to rethink strategies.

2008 Median sold prices by Quarter:

* Q1 - $740,000
* Q2 - $830,000
* Q3 - $847,500

# of closed sales in 2008 - 15
($599K to 2.6Million Sold prices)
# of available homes - “Active” in MLS - currently - 20
($375K to 4.5Million)
# of available lots - 9 ($199K to $4.5Million)

Don’t let the average and median prices fool you…Montara is an eclectic community that offers a wide range of price points. One sale can alter the numbers significantly. Since newspapers report median and average numbers, that is why I will include those numbers in these neighborhood posts. Search Montara homes to see all the price ranges and home styles.

The calendar was blocked out one recent Saturday morning so that I could spend a wonderful morning with long time friends at The Clay House in Montara making succulent wreaths!  We made them now so that they will be a little more filled in by the Holidays.  One of the organizers used Martha’s instructions as a guide, then bought the supplies and a few plants and we all split the cost.  We were to all bring succulent cuttings from our gardens.  Doing it this way, it cost us $17 each to make a wreath.

On prior Martha Stewart projects I would sometimes attempt, I have found her instructions to be for the natural born crafter, of which I’m not.  So I was happy when we started by making one together to see what “worked” and what didn’t.  Then we each began on our own wreaths. 

We cut the 24 inch wide wire roll into 8 inch lengths, filling it with moistened sphagnum moss and soil, then closing the wire together, bending it into the wreath shape and securing the ends.  I know it sounds easy, and it is.  The hardest part - basically requiring a little patience and manual dexterity, oh, and close-up vision - was securing the wire together.  A small pair of pliers does the job.  We used chopsticks to poke holes in the wreath, but as the instructions say, you could use a pencil or screwdriver.

It took about 2 hours to make our wreaths, including laughter, sharing stories, helping each other, and admiring along the way.

This is what I made.  If I can do it, anyone can!

Thank you to Clay House team!

You can always call Nancy at The Clay House for class & event information - 650-728-CLAY.