Santa Ynez Valley Real Estate Update

1/27 Inventory and Rate Update

2012-01-27T14:37:00.001-08:00

Week ending rates can be viewed here. They actually went down just a tick in the 30 year conforming if you can believe that.

I was reading a legal bulletin today in which the topic was short sale earnest money deposits (EMD). In a normal sale, the buyer writes a check for 3% (or so) of the purchase price and deposits that into escrow where it remains until either escrow closes or the buyer cancels. In a cancellation situation, a form is filled out that both buyer and seller sign which releases the money back to the buyer. It does require mutual consent for the release of the money. In a short sale situation, the buyer still writes that check but normally it remains with the buyers real estate brokerage of record until such times as short sale approval is issued by the bank and escrow is officially opened. At that time, the brokerage deposits the check into escrow. I guess what some short sale listing agents are doing is requiring the buyer to actually deposit that money into escrow ahead of time when the offer is signed by the seller and in advance of the bank approval. In this way, the buyer will feel more tied to the transaction and less apt to cancel or go looking at other properties while waiting long periods of time for approval. The problem is that in some cases where the buyer has wanted to cancel or approval is not given, the seller has moved and can’t be found (or is uncooperative) which makes it impossible to get their signature and release the deposit funds back to the buyer. Remember, release of EMD funds requires mutual consent i.e. the signature of all buyers and sellers. Some escrow companies have a remedy for this in their escrow instructions but not all do. Remember this potential issue if ever asked to deposit money to an escrow prior to bank approval on a short sale. If the escrow company does not have a provision in which they can release the funds back to you if for some reason they can’t locate the seller, you may want to reconsider. Even though it’s a perfectly legal request, I never have and never will require this of a buyer for any of my short sale listings. Just be aware of this potential pitfall on other listings.

It is going to an absolutely fantastically beautiful weekend. Get out there and have some fun in the sun! I am definitely around and available this weekend if you need me. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if so. I’ll be back here on Monday with all the news.

New Listings

1935 N. Refugio, Santa Ynez (4/4 on 5 acres) $1,399,000 A well designed horse property in a very popular corridor. Land nice and usable. No narrative on water but if I had to venture a guess, I’d say a private or shared well (that’s just a guess – don’t hold me to it). No sign on this flag lot property with no street visibility either. It’s very private. A drive by is pointless other than checking out the general area. If you want to get in, let me know.

Sold

422 Freear, Buellton (3/2 on .28 of an acre) Listed at $309,900 and sold final for $290,000. A pretty good deal for a normal sale in the Thumbelina tract. This development is very popular with buyers wanting big lots and a little elbow room. Houses are on the mature side but the lots are big. A fair trade for many buyers.

Need an agent who knows the inventory inside and out? I invite you to get in touch with me in any way convenient. Phone, email or text message. My contact information is here below. Thanks for visiting. Bookmark this page for easy return.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/26 Inventory Update

2012-01-26T15:02:00.001-08:00

I’ll be sending out the foreclosure update tomorrow to everyone on my confidential distribution list. If you are not already on my mailing list but would like to be, please let me know.

In Escrow

1458 Kronborg, Solvang (3/2 on .48 of an acre) 485K Nice clean home with a pretty good floor plan. Couple of added on rooms make nice offices, play rooms, work out area or ? Almost half an acre situated in a very quiet cul de sac. Views too. I thought this was a pretty good deal and am surprised it was on the market as long as it was (147 days). Normal sale.

662 Hillside, Solvang (3/2 on .30 of an acre) 499K This is a standalone home (not a condo) in the Mission Oaks development and HOA. Normal sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/25 Inventory Update

2012-01-25T18:02:00.001-08:00

It was a beautiful summer day in the Santa Ynez Valley today …. oh wait ….. it’s still winter! Coulda fooled me. 77 degrees at my house this afternoon and sunny with bluebird skies. Green grass popping up everywhere you look. Only in the SYV!

Lots of new escrows. See below. Click here for today’s rates. Still cheap money.

New Listings

1225 Coast Oak, Solvang (3/2 on .29 of an acre) 599K Brand new never been lived in Skytt Mesa home now being offered as an REO. Looking for a nice home in this price range? In love with the idea of owning a home nobody else has ever lived in? Might want to check it out.

617 Central #2, Buellton (3/3 condo) 285K Hey, looky here. Something priced in the 2’s that’s a normal sale. Lots of nice upgrades and new construction styling. Near the dog park, 101 freeway and all the other conveniences Buellton has to offer.

2844 Alta, Los Olivos (3/3 on .33 of an acre) $488,595 Deal alert! We don’t see ‘em in the 4’s very often in Los Olivos. This one sits on a dead end street, so very little drive by traffic. Just up the hill from the coffee house and everything else LO. I remember this one from years ago and if memory serves me, it had a lot of nice upgrades and a good floor plan with over 2400 square feet. I remember a pool but the narrative on this listing doesn’t mention one and there are few pics. Regardless, for the money, this is one sweet Los Olivos deal. Bank owned. The bank is working on cleaning it up but we can still see it. Let me know if you want to get in.

Back on the Market

485 Farmland, Buellton (4/2 on .25 of an acre) 399K Went off market for a bit and is now back on. One of the bigger Meadowridge lots.

In Escrow

3350 Pine, Santa Ynez (4/3 on .23 of an acre) 375K As I said a few days back, this was a good deal with the recent price reduction. It was just a matter of time before someone snapped this one up. A bank owned property.

597 Central, Buellton (2/2 condo) $184,900 No idea why this one lasted as long as it did. I thought it was a pretty good deal. Normal sale.

836 Coiner, Los Alamos (4/3 on .17 of an acre) 389K Normal sale.

455 Scandia, Buellton (3/2 on .24 of an acre) $339,500 Bout time on this one too. One of the best deals left in the under 400K market. Normal sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/24 Inventory Update

2012-01-24T15:04:00.001-08:00

Price Reductions
305 White Oak, Santa Ynez (main house, guest house on 5 acres) Was $1,100,000 with a new price of 995K. Normal sale.

631 Hindfell, Solvang (3/2 on .45 of an acre) Was $427,800 with a new price of $399,900. Dipping down in the hyper competitive 3’s price range. This is a bank owned property. I’ve seen it. If you want to know more, give me a buzz.

2591 Deer Hill, Solvang (6/4 on 2.8 acres) Was 950K with a new price of $899,900. Seen this one too. Could be a pretty cool opportunity and certainly entering the price point where it’s starting to look interesting.

542 Cliffrose, Buellton (4/3 on .18 of an acre) Was 580K with a new price of 570K.

Sold

103 Manzanita, Solvang (4/2 on .32 of an acre) Listed at 350K and sold final to my own clients for 335K. That folks, was a deal. A lot of house (4 bedrooms!) and a lot of land (third of an acre) for the money. In a highly desirable quiet little enclave neighborhood with outstanding views from the front and view deck up above. Super clean home with a really nice floor plan (formal living AND family room). Close to everything yet a stone’s throw from the river frontage walking path, golf, restaurants and the village. This good value couldn’t have gone to anyone more deserving either. Nice people whose resolve, determination and ethics are hard to match. The world would be a whole lot better place with more people like these. Congrats! Enjoy your beautiful home!

Sharon Currie
Prudential CA Realty
2933 San Marcos Ave
P O Box 778
Los Olivos, CA 93441
http://www.blogger.com/www.sharoncurrie.com
http://www.blogger.com/sharon@sharoncurrie.com
805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/23 Inventory Update

2012-01-23T16:53:00.001-08:00

New Listings

2725 San Marcos, Los Olivos (4/3 on .17 of an acre) 725K A new Los Olivos listing in my own inventory. Super sweet and absolutely turnkey. No detail left undone. Victorian in its design yet possesses every modern convenience. Kitchen is absolutely gorgeous. Master bedroom is downstairs. One bedroom has private bath and upstairs loft space with separate entrance door making it a possible guest unit. Garage has two private offices in addition to parking space. RV parking on backside of the garage. One of the nicest in town Los Olivos homes I have seen in a very long time. Cute, cute, cute! Normal sale too. Virtual tour to come.

Price Reductions

1015 Ladan, Solvang (main house, guest house on 6 + acres) Was $4,595,000 with a new price of $4,250,000. Normal sale.

1444 Refugio, Santa Ynez (6/6 on .84 of an acre) Was $1,085,000 with a new price of 940K.

In Escrow

2585 Quail Valley, Solvang (main house, guest house on 1.5 acres) 541K Well that was the no brainer of the century. Yes it’s a fixer but at this price, a fantastic buy. Spruce this baby up and it’s going to be a real show place. In a development of much more expensive homes, it definitely makes sense to do a makeover on this one. This is a bank owned property.

Sold

3300 Long Canyon, Santa Ynez (main house, guest cottage on 25 acres) Listed at $2,950,000 and sold final for $2,550,000. One of my personal favorites. Both dwellings were magazine worthy. Super cool car guy barn, lots livestock barns, housing and pastures for furry friends. And the land, wow. One of the prettiest parcels in the entire valley and an ultra private location. Simply magical. Normal sale.

781 Rancho Alisal, Solvang (3/2 on .90 of an acre) Listed at 485K and sold final for 285K. Nope. No typos in that. Almost a 50% discount from asking to selling price. You don’t see that kind of discount too often. This property is in the Alisal on leased land.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/20 Inventory Update

2012-01-20T15:43:00.001-08:00

Even the diehard cynics are starting to change their tune. Of course the public was way ahead of them, as we have seen with big boosts in buyer enthusiasm lately. Still, it’s nice to see credible pundits agreeing with what the people already know. Click here to read the interview article.

Here is your week ending rate sheet. Click here – rates are still awesome.

I will be available on Saturday for anyone who needs me. It’s my brothers birthday celebration on Sunday so I will be out of town and not available in person that day. I will however be available by phone, text message and email at any time so feel free to reach out if there is a need or question on either day. Have a wonderful weekend. I’ll be back Monday with all the news.

New Listings

25 Six Flags Circle, Buellton (2/1 condo) 169K These are good little starter condos, retirement locations, investments, rentals or 2^nd homes. Small but cute and on the perimeter of the development across from the green belt. HOA is $210 per month which includes your homeowners insurance. Very large patio separates the condo from the detached two car garage. It is very unusual to find a condo with a 2 car garage so this attribute all by itself makes this condo one to see. As the narrative suggests, this is a short sale.

630 Rancho Alisal, Solvang (3/3 on 1 acre) 409K This home is in the Alisal Ranch where the properties sit on leased land. Annual lease payment mentioned in the public narrative link above is $26,775. Check out the pics. Good open floor plan and each bedroom has a private patio. Lots of natural light. Enjoy it as is or use the remodel plans available for a makeover.

Price Reductions

9098 Highway 101, Los Alamos (main house and guest house on 5 acres) Was $1,300,000 with a new price of 999K. Wow. I’m paying attention now. We don’t often see 400K price reductions in this range. That is a whole lot of price reduction. If you are looking for a super nice horse property but can’t quite get to the valley proper prices, you might just want to take the 10 minute ride to Los Alamos. Your money goes pretty far there. It’s still a normal sale too.

618 Alisal, Solvang (.17 of an acre, land only) Was $179,500 with a new price of $157,500. Some of the investigation work already done for a new build.

In Escrow

1031 Jason, Santa Ynez (3/2 on 1 acre) 449K Came back on the market today but already went pending with one of my own clients who had been waiting in the wings for this one. Sometimes you just have to wait. My grandmother used to say “patience is a virtue”. Apparently these clients are very virtuous because they sure waited long enough. Anyway, this property has a ton of potential and pretty canyon views to boot. A great makeover prospect on a pretty and mostly flat usable parcel. Central location, just minutes from El Rancho. My grandmother also used to say “good things come to those who wait”. I guess she was right. :)

Sold

1194 Mustang, Santa Ynez (main house plus guest studio on 1.60 acres) Listed at 779K and sold final for 749K. Pretty home with comfortable and well done remodel. Land all flat and usable. Good location. Cute little guest studio is a definite plus. Nice to see the upper priced properties starting to move too. In the last few weeks, we have seen several homes in this price bracket go pending or sell. Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of a thaw in this price range too.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/19 Inventory Update

2012-01-19T16:28:00.001-08:00

As I was sending my “cheat sheet” of local vendors, utilities etc. to a client today, I thought maybe other people might like it as a reference too. If you scroll all the way down to the end of today’s post, you will see an attached PDF which contains a lot of useful phone numbers you might need some day. If you use any of the local vendors on this list, tell them I sent you. You will see utilities, local services and a bunch of vendors I have used or know someone who has with great success.

Price Reductions

745 Nysted, Solvang (4/3 on .46 of an acre) Was 819K with a new price of 794K. Located in the beautiful and highly desirable Sunrise Village Development. Ballard School District. Normal sale. This one is just around the corner from my listing at 1889 Ringsted Drive, also in Sunrise. Also in Ballard School District. Also a normal sale. Priced at 589K, Ringsted is the least expensive available property in Sunrise Village right now. Check this property out by navigating to the dedicated website at www.1889ringsted.com then give me a call for your personal tour.

In Escrow

930 Hornbeck, Solvang (3/3 on .57 of an acre) 555K As the narrative states, this is a short sale.

637 Roskilde, Solvang (2/2 condo) 259K Normal sale.

Sold

243 Menlo, Buellton (3/2 on .17 of an acre) Priced at 319K and sold in overbid at 325K. Possibly one of the best deals in the valley in this price range for some time. The reason there were 4 offers on the first day on the market was because it was such a solid deal. Clean, ready to go, great neighborhood, excellent condition, super floor plan and close to everything. The thing that really strikes me as special about this one is the floor plan. Very futuristic for when it was built (1988). It has the super high ceilings and wide open great room design we see with much newer construction. Reminds me more of a plan you might see in Meadowridge for instance. Best news yet? Sold to one of my own clients. This new homeowner is going to quickly become part of the valley fabric and enjoy every minute of living in this really nice home. Let’s all say a big welcome to a super nice (and extremely smart) person who is about to find out just how fantastic this beautiful valley really is. Congrats!

Whenever I close a transaction, I always make a donation to my two favorite charities – CAPA (Companion Animal Placement Assistance) in Lompoc and the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society. This time will be no different. Both of these organizations exist on donations alone. They don’t get funding or support from the government. Because they do such a good job of taking care of our homeless furry friends, you too might think about sending them a donation from time to time. There isn’t anything more sad than a homeless and unloved dog or cat. Our donations help these two organizations stay in business and provide these pets much needed shelter, medical care, food and affection until they can find a new human to love them.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Utilities and Misc. Services.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/18 Inventory and Rate Update

2012-01-18T18:19:00.001-08:00

Like I have been saying and you have no doubt been seeing, consumer confidence ( in California anyway) is building some steam. Click here for a good article from the California Association of Realtors which pretty much echoes what I have been seeing locally. Two key paragraphs (my comments in red):

“Home prices are stabilizing for the distressed market, where we see robust demand, but we continue to see downward pressure on home prices in some higher end markets,” said Appleton-Young. As we have been seeing locally, the affordable range is on fire with multiple offer being common while the upper end is very quiet in comparison.

“Housing inventory remains tight throughout California, with the Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes declining to 4.2 months in December, down from 5.0 months in November and down from a 5.0-month supply in December 2010. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate”. We are certainly seeing a lack of inventory in the affordable price ranges here. In the under 500K market, there is a serious lack of inventory. I simply don’t have much to sell in this price range, if anything. These homes are simply gone in a flash, sometimes in the first day on market. Not so with the over 500K and upper end where we have plenty of inventory. Even so, in the higher priced homes, those priced as a good value are selling too. Lesson to be learned? Price it right. Ask your agent “where do I need to price this home to get it gone in 30 days”. Then do it.

Rates are holding steady. Click here for Guy Rivera’s rate sheet for today.

New Listings

920 Nysted, Solvang (4/4 on .52 of an acre) $897,500 Beautiful home with every bell and whistle imaginable. Fully remodeled with taste and style and lots of square footage. Private guest suite is kinda nice too. Normal sale in Sunrise Village.

94 Hollister Ranch, Gaviota (1/1 on 109 acres) $1,195,000 Hang on to your horses. This is a 1/3 fractional ownership. Still pretty cool though. A dream come true for many and the ideal 2^nd home/vacation property solution for the high end buyer needing a little elbow room.

Price Reductions

616 Alisal, Solvang (2/1 on .16 of an acre) Was 299K with a new price of 289K. As the narrative states, this is a short sale.

455 Scandia, Solvang (3/3 on .24 of an acre) Was 349K with a new price of $339,500. Normal sale. I have seen this one many times. Let me know if you have questions or want to see one of the last remaining affordably priced homes in our current inventory.

In Escrow

212 2^nd Street, Buellton (3/3 on .16 of an acre) 339K Need I say more? If it’s in the 3’s, it’s gone. This one only lasted 8 days.

1111 Oak Glen, Santa Ynez (main house, guest house on 1+ acre) $1,495,000 Extensive and remodel that kept the vintage flair makes this one very special. Main house is super gorgeous and as a big plus, guest house very is spacious and just as nice as the main house. Huge car guy garage is nicer than some homes I have been in. Pool plus immaculate and well planned landscaping seal the deal. The historic oak trees alone make this property one to own. A very nice package in the ultra popular Skyline Park. Unlimited water for $85 per month makes irrigating all this lushness affordable.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/17 Inventory Update

2012-01-17T17:48:00.001-08:00

New Listings

2260 Exterior, Santa Ynez (4/3 on 4+ acres) $1,390,000 Tastefully done major remodel. I’m pretty sure there was no stone left unturned. Nice flat open ground in prominent location with barn. Address is Santa Ynez but property is very close to Los Olivos. Normal sale/

In Escrow

2801 Kara Lane, Solvang (1 acre, land only) 275K A listing in my own inventory, going, going, gone! One of the last of the Mohicans. Nice flat buildable parcel in an excellent central location yet private – a very hard combination to find. Even better yet, this one has outstanding views out over a gorgeous groomed vineyard with mountains and horizon in the back ground. A very desirable location accessed by a private road. Water and power already to the site. Have you noticed? Land has been selling lately. A sure sign of buyer enthusiasm and investor confidence. Normal sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/16 Inventory Update

2012-01-16T15:07:00.001-08:00

For those of you that had an extra day off for the holiday, I hope you had a lovely long weekend. Lots of offices were closed today but read below for a bit of news. All good stuff.

New Listings

548 Atterdag, Solvang (3/2 on .18 of an acre) 339K I remember this one from when it was on the market a few months back. Vintage bungalow from 1947. For the year of build, this is an unusually large amount of square footage and the lot is bigger than some other comparable properties as well. Very livable just the way it is and cute enough that doing a vintage makeover would be a fun project. Just a couple of blocks into town for your croissant and latte ….. or a little vino. Brilliantly placed right in the pricing hot spot, I wouldn’t dilly dally around if you like the looks and prospects of this one. Likely will be a hot commodity. Normal sale too.

In Escrow

805 Marcelino, Solvang (4/3 on 1.65 acres) 989K A listing in my own inventory going to just the right buyers. One of the prettiest properties I have ever had the pleasure of selling. Big views, great location and a lot of character. Not surprising at all that it only lasted 11 days on the market. Smart sellers priced this one to sell.

317 5^th St. #E, Solvang (2/2 condo) 150K The least expensive residential (non manufactured home) property in the valley right now which is why it went pending in only 1 day. As the narrative states, this is a short sale. Price must be approved by the lenders. HOA in this development is $229 per month.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/13 Inventory and Rate Update

2012-01-13T15:18:00.001-08:00

Look at all those solds down below here. I like it! Rates are still fantastically good too. Check out the 5 year fixed jumbo below 3.5% by clicking here for today’s rate sheet. Who knew rates could be this good? I will be around and available this weekend if anyone needs me. Of course, I’ll be back on Monday with all the news.

Price Reductions

2955 Calle Bonita, Santa Ynez (main house and guest house on 19+ acres) Was $4,750,000 with a new over million dollar reduction to $3,650,000. That is one impressive price reduction for an equally impressive home. Tara in the Santa Ynez Valley. The fabulous first impression continues on through this entire estate. While it is clearly a beautiful luxury property, this one still manages to be welcoming and feel like home. With something interesting to note at every turn, definitely a property to see if you are shopping in this price range. And it isn’t any old ordinary barn on this property either. This barn is world class with very nice guest accommodations above. All in all, this property is really outstanding and is now offered at a hugely lower price. All good stuff. Normal sale.

Sold

1233 Deer Trail, Solvang (3/2 on 1.30 acres) Listed at 799K and sold final for 760K. This a listing in my own inventory and one of the most beautiful well kept homes in Santa Ynez Oaks. Superb curb appeal , meticulous maintenance, outstanding views. A really great floor plan too with remodeled kitchen (including cozy kitchen fireplace), 5 Star Hotel master bathroom and designer touches throughout. A special home going to special buyers with many happy years ahead. Thank you to my seller clients who could not have been more gracious and a pleasure to work with. Congrats all the way around! Normal sale.

3020 Buttonhook, Solvang (3/3 on 1.3 acres) Listed at 379K and sold final for 360K. Sold to some of my own clients who this home seems to have been custom made for. Every wish list item was checked off with this one. Perfect in so many ways. Likely one of the nicest homes in the Alisal, right on the golf course with over 4000 square feet of gorgeous living space. Homes in the Alisal are on leased land in a gated community. A big thank you to these buyers who knew what they wanted and got exactly that. I was just along for the ride! Congrats on making all your dreams come true. Normal sale.

3521 Tivola, Santa Ynez (3/3 on .24 of an acre) Listed at 475K and sold final for 445K.

3694 Tivola, Santa Ynez (a multi unit property on .80 of an acre) Listed at $1,495,000 and sold final for $1,250,000. An unusual offering in the SYV. We have very few multi unit properties compared to neighboring areas. This one, while multi unit, feels more like a compound. Very special and in a good central location yet adjacent to beautiful unspoiled ranch land. Normal sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/12 Inventory Update

2012-01-12T15:44:00.001-08:00

Today was a bit of a sleeper.

New Listings

317 5^th Street #E, Solvang (2/2 condo) 150K Upper level condo in a complex that does have elevators. Detached garage. HOA fees here are $229 per month. As the narrative states, this is a short sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/11 Inventory and Rate Update

2012-01-11T19:34:00.001-08:00

It’s hard not to get complacent because rates are still great. While obviously they won’t stay this way forever, people are certainly getting sweet deals on purchases and refi’s right now. Here is Guy Rivera’s rate sheet for today. Click here.

New Listings

4909 Baseline, Santa Ynez (main house + legal 2^nd unit on almost 6 acres) $1,195,000 I haven’t seen this one in person yet, but at first blush, I’m going to say strap on your running shoes and trot on over to this one. In this corridor, for this much house plus a legal second unit, on this much land, plus a horse barn, this is a deal. But, for this property type, the secret is to price right from the get go. These people definitely did. Normal sale too. It just keeps getting better.

6271 College Ranch, Santa Ynez (5/4 on 198 acres) $7,800,000 No. There are not any typos’ in that hyperlink. It really is 198 acres (huge!) and it is certainly at the upper end of pricing. However, anyone who knows the value of this unique offering will absolutely understand it. What price can you place on this much land? In this appellation? Who can accurately place a value on real true historical significance anyway? Yes, it’s going to take a special buyer to appreciate it. But rest assured, a property like this may only come along once in a lifetime. If you are looking for a property that is so unique that it can’t possibly be duplicated by anyone, at any price, make the trip to see this one.

212 2^nd Street, Buellton (3/3 on .16 of an acre) 339K

Price Reductions

2213 Alamo Pintado, Los Olivos (3/2 on .32 of an acre) Was 549K with a new price of 495K. Entering the sweet spot of pricing for LO and still remains a normal sale. Few blocks to the flag pole and everything else in LO. Generous sized lot as well. Very clean and ready to go.

In Escrow

64 Valley Station, Buellton (4/3 on .08 of an acre) 349K As the narrative states, this is a short sale. Only on the market 6 days.

35 Freedom Place, Buellton (3/2 on .23 of an acre) 310K Only on the market 7 days. Are you starting to see a trend here? Anything under 400K is gone in a flash.

979 and 985 Old Ranch, Solvang (1+ acre each, land only) $269,900 each. Even land, which we have had a lull in lately, is moving. We saw two other one acre parcels close in the last few months. Incredible. Very pretty parcels in nice exclusive area. Centrally located amongst other beautiful homes. These are both bank owned parcels. My land listing on Kara Lane is still available – for now anyway. :)

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/10 Inventory Update

2012-01-10T14:36:00.001-08:00

Maybe I’m just profoundly dumb, but I’m not understanding how the talked about conversion of REO’s into rentals is going to help …. or more importantly, who it’s going to help. You can read one such article by clicking here. Maybe I’m short sighted, or maybe I just have too many investor clients, but it seems to me that if Fannie Freddie floods the market with an ocean of rentals, our current investors are going to be the ones suffering due to too much rental inventory, therefore driving the rental rates down. The ramifications are endless. Who is going to manage all these rentals? When a tenant is causing a problem, who has any incentive to police them? Where will the quality control come from (who will vet the renters …. what kind of criteria will they be adhering to in order to fill up all these rentals quickly?)? Won’t copious numbers of rentals damage the stability of some neighborhoods instead of improving them? Will any be converted to Section 8 housing? Isn’t Fannie Freddie in the business of creating home ownership not rentership?

And offering up these properties to large investors in bulk instead of the owner occupant or small investor screams of unfair advantage doesn’t it? I think they call that cronyism.

I realize I’m ranting here but just because they paint a picture for us to believe, doesn’t make it good news. For us, here in the heart of desirable locations, we don’t have a problem selling REO’s. Indeed – look around. Do you see a sea of REO’s we can’t get rid of? The answer is no, we don’t. To issue a blanket system like the one they describe spells trouble to me with a capital T.

And lastly, in a few years when pricing starts to rise, who is going to benefit from the appreciation on all these units? Not you or me. Not even Fannie Freddie. It’ll be some big bank somewhere, that’s who. Call me skeptical and suspicious, but I smell a big fat rat here. Cloaking this gift of discounted properties to a few handpicked big investors for their future profit is not going to help real people. But I’m pretty sure the big banks and institutional investors are jumping for joy and planning for the windfall that’s sure to come.

Price Reductions

718 Hillside, Solvang (3/2 condo) Was 469K with a new price of 439K. Normal sale.

In Escrow

1446 Edison, Santa Ynez (4/3 on 5 acre) 850K

345 Bakke, Solvang (3/3 on .23 of an acre) 595K Normal sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/9 Inventory Update

2012-01-09T16:26:00.001-08:00

If your property tax bill contains added on items like a Mello Roos fees, school bonds or many other additional fees, you might have a rude awakening in 2012. Apparently we are all going to have to itemize our property tax deduction into deductible and non-deductible portions. Whereas many (probably most) of us have been deducting the whole thing, apparently that party is coming to an end. You can read the article here. Then call your tax professional to find out which parts of your tax bill are deductible and which ones aren’t. Sounds a bit nitpicky if you ask me.

New Listings

64 Valley Station, Buellton (4/2 on .08 of an acre) 349K The largest floor plan in Valley Station. All bedrooms are upstairs. HOA fee for landscaping in here is $125 per month.

Price Reductions

547 Aebeltoft, Solvang (3/3 on .39 of an acre) Was 769K with a new price of 729K. An extremely dramatic and beautiful home, jutting out over the canyon and above Hans Christian Anderson park. Amongst mature oaks and in a very private location, it really is a special property. Big open floor plan with a great room design. Elegant master and a really cool kitchen. Dining area has simply smashing views. Quality materials throughout. Lots of decking to enjoy the outdoors. Very good location with privacy yet close to everything. Normal sale.

3360 Badger, Santa Ynez (4/3 on 4.7 acres) Was $1,119,000 with a new price of 945K. Normal sale.

In Escrow

1225 Coast Oak, Solvang (3/2 on .28 of an acre) 619K This is a bank owned property.

Sold

3440 Manzana, Santa Ynez (3/3 on .25 of an acre) Listed at 389K and sold final for 370K. Completely redone home with fresh kitchen, flooring, paint – you name it. End of the road location so very quiet and private. This is a good price on a normal sale home.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/6 Inventory Update

2012-01-06T21:12:00.001-08:00

After the busy day we had yesterday, today’s is a bit of a sleeper. Only two items but both a very good. I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’ll be around if you need me. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if so. I’ll be back on Monday with all the news.

New Listings

2585 Quail Valley Rd, Solvang (main house plus guest house on 1.5 acres) 541K I’ve been waiting for this one. Foreclosed on a while ago, its finally coming on the market. Both houses need updating but come on …. Really? A multi unit property with views in one of the most sought after developments in the SYV for this price? That’s pretty amazing. Main house has views. Guest unit has own driveway and is totally separate from main house. If you are looking for a fixer with potential, check this one out.

Sold

1726 Cottonwood, Ballard (main house, guest house on 1 acre) Listed at $1,095,000 and sold final for 950K. Very pretty and well done home in the quaint village of Ballard. Superb curb appeal with an interior to match. Some recent upgrades including redone master and additional square footage for luxurious office space. Guest house is very upscale versus the watered down version we often see. A really nice package including extensively landscaped level parcel with mature trees and a very private location.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/5 Inventory Update, December Stats and Annual Review

2012-01-05T21:53:00.001-08:00

December ended up being a decent month.

As of now, we have 31 properties in escrow. Of those, 25 are under 600K and 6 are higher. 2 are over a million. 13 are normal sales, 13 are short sales and 5 are bank owned.

For December in the sold category, we had a total of 17. 12 of those are under 600K and 5 are over. 2 are over a million. 7 were normal sales, 6 were short and 2 were bank owned.

In the calendar year 2011, we had a total of 207 closed sales. That’s not too bad for this gorgeous but small little enclave. 140 were under 600K and 67 were over 600K. Of those high end, 26 were over a million. 107 were normal sales, 45 were short sales and 55 were bank owned. I had expected to see a larger involvement of shorts and REO’s but normal sales beat the pack by quite a margin. Good to know our little valley is largely ok. With a strong year ahead, I am encouraged.

New Listings

805 Marcelino, Solvang (4/3 on 1.65 acres) 989K Once in a while a property comes along that really stands out. I especially like those properties that are secreted away like this one. The really nice thing, among a string of other nice things, is that while private it is also extremely close to everything. El Rancho is less than 5 minutes away yet when you look out the master bedroom window, you can see forever. This new listing, in my own inventory, is the quintessential SYV ranchette. California Ranch style, on the surface it has a hint of vintage but taking a closer look at the parts that make this pretty home hum, you will find a myriad of new systems, tight controls and extensive remodel. Just enough land to keep the neighbors at bay, but not so much that you need a crew to maintain it. Truly a property that will fit many different lifestyles and offered at a very enticing price. I don’t expect it to last and the sellers would like to review all offers by 1/12 (next Thursday). Call or email for more details or a private showing.

35 Freedom Place, Buellton (3/2 on .23 of an acre) 310K The biggest floor plan in Ranch De Maria combined with what must be one of the biggest lots. Most lots in this development are half this size. At this price, I don’t expect it to last more than a few days. Need more detail before it’s too late? Get in touch with me asap.

560 Augusta, Los Alamos (3/3 on .23 of an acre) 450K Arguably one of the most beautiful homes in Los Alamos. Lots of square footage too. Normal sale.

Price Reductions

3350 Pine, Santa Ynez (4/3 on .23 of an acre) Was 425K with a new price of 375K. Wow. These guys are getting serious. Very nice price drop on this bank owned property. If you are shopping in the 3’s and haven’t seen this one, you should. At this price, it’s looking pretty darn good and likely to attract the large pool of buyers in this price range. Newer build from 2003, this one has a lot of newness for the money. Back yard has a ton of potential too. Across from the SY elementary school. Plus, check it out. You could qualify for 3.5% back in closing cost assistance. Shake a leg because this one just dipped into the pricing sweet spot.

2339 Olivet, Los Olivos (3/2 on .55 of an acre) Was 629K with a new price of 610K. Located in a quiet cul de sac yet close to the village. Very good condition home with fresh kitchen remodel. Pool and nice surrounding gardens add value to this already huge lot. Private spa in little courtyard off the master. Normal sale.

1442 Remington, Santa Ynez (4/3 on 1 acre) Was $916,700 with a new price of 890K.

1646 Refugio, Santa Ynez (3/2 on 10+ acres) Was $1,750,000 with a new price of $1,695,000. Normal sale.

In Escrow

243 Menlo, Buellton (3/2 on .17 of an acre) 319K Ok, well, it was finger nail biting time. Neck and neck, my client and I went to the mat with multiple offers on this super well priced gem. In the end, we prevailed. An amazing buy going to an amazing buyer. Keeping the faith and never giving up actually does work. Congrats to my buyer on this super good value. Even better, it’s a normal sale. Well done!

82 Hollister Ranch, Gaviota (112+ acres, land only) 350K Fractional ownership. Normal sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

pending December.pdf Download this file

sold December.pdf Download this file

sold 0 to 399K sold 2011.pdf Download this file

sold 399 to 599K 2011.pdf Download this file

sold 600 to 999K 2011.pdf Download this file

sold 1 mil plus 2011.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/4 Inventory and Rate Update

2012-01-04T17:29:00.001-08:00

Thank you Guy Rivera for keeping us in the loop on rates. Here is the rate sheet for today. Click here.

I did say yesterday that I would produce the stats for December and 2011 today. However, one of my dear friends has become gravely ill and I got side tracked quite a bit. So, if you will forgive me, I’ll post those results tomorrow.

Price Reductions

631 Hindfell, Solvang (3/2 on .45 of an acre) Was $438,750 with a new price of $427,800. I have seen this one several times. If you want more info, call me. This is a bank owned property.

2207 Hill Haven, Solvang (4/3 on 2.8 acres) Was 799K with a new price of 768K. Big views from secluded hill top location. Really cool design. I love the river rock behind the pot belly stove. Nice porches and the basement is an added plus. Entire property is in move in condition. I was very impressed when I saw it last. Off the beaten path so you may have missed this one in your travels. Secluded but very close to everything. Best of both worlds! Normal sale.

Sold

331 Arden, Buellton (4/2 on .21 of an acre) Listed at 475K and sold final for 470K. Not a bad price for a 2001 build, great neighborhood, big lot and a 5^th bedroom and/or bonus room. Good condition home.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

1/3 Inventory Update

2012-01-03T17:11:00.001-08:00

Let’s start the year out with some good news. Here is an encouraging video about 2012 market predictions. Click here. Another good video on the big jump in pending home sales. Watch the video to the end to hear about the numbers in the west. Impressive. Click here.

I’ll give the brokerages another day to report any last minute December closed sales. Tomorrow, I’ll report on the stats for December and also the entire 2011 year.

New Listings

243 Menlo, Buellton (3/2 on .17 of an acre) 319K A pretty hot number. This one already has multiple offers after only one day on the market. Normal sale and a good price. Like I keep telling people, the well priced properties in the under 500K market are frequently multiple offer these days. If this continues, we could start seeing upward pressure on pricing at the low end. For affordable range buyers, you better have your eye balls peeled, an ear to the ground, your loan already preapproved and a real estate agent who is on top of it all.

468 Ballard Canyon, Solvang (4/4 on 44 acres) $6,900,000 Own well. Normal sale.

5574 Baseline, Santa Ynez (4/4 on 5+ acres) $2,295,000 Community water. Normal sale.

Price Reductions

345 Bakke, Solvang (3/3 on .23 of an acre) Was 675K with a new price of 595K. Normal sale.

2591 Deer Hill, Solvang (6/4 on 2.8 acres) Was 979K with a new price of 925K. This is a very cool property with a lot of work already done. Some left to do so you can put your own stamp on it. Great location in SY Oaks but off the beaten track on the upper deck near vineyards and other large parcels. Old barn is kinda cool too. A big house at almost 4500 square feet. I really liked the funky bar and entertaining area. A casual and fun property with sweeping lawns and a lot of mature trees. Call me for more detail on this one.

Calzada Ridge (5 acres, land only) Was 639K with a new price of 599K. Shared well.

In Escrow

3321 Camino Arroyo, Santa Ynez (3/2 on .24 of an acre) 399K This one went in multiple offer as well. Ditto what I said above.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/13 Inventory Update

2011-12-13T17:37:00.001-08:00

New Listings

616 Alisal, Solvang (2/1 on .16 of an acre) 299K This is back on the market from last month. Lower price is nice. As the narrative states, this is a short sale.

2065 Rebild, Solvang (3/2 on .26 of an acre) 495K Narrative says 4 bedroom but mls data says 3 bedroom. Not sure which is correct at this moment but link will update if it gets updated. This one is in Creekside so good central location near the hospital, park and shopping.

In Escrow

455 Scandia, Buellton (3/2 on .24 of an acre) 349K One of the last of the Mohicans at this ultra requested price point, now gone too. We have almost no inventory left in the 3’s. Sold to one of my own clients. I really like this property a lot because it has a very good location, sits up high off the road so has views and extra privacy. In very good time warp condition. Mostly original but very clean and well maintained over time. Sure you can update it and make it even more beautiful but really, it’s basically turnkey just the way it is. This is a very happy house. Each added touch from here will just magnify the already pretty picture. A very good buy for a move in condition home in a neighborhood known for big lots. Surrounded by other well cared for homes. Close to everything.

Sold

517 Quail Run, Buellton (3/2 on .17 of an acre) Listed at $425,830 and sold final for 410K. Check out the pics. Nice house for the money.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/12 Inventory Update

2011-12-12T16:05:00.001-08:00

New Listings

4235 Baseline, Santa Ynez (4/3 on 9.8 acres) $1,539,000 For all you buyers out there looking at the ranch type properties but don’t want an HOA to boss you around, check it out. Sought after location out on Baseline in the flat level area so ground is all usable. Lots of nice mature trees including an old orchard. Own well which is real costs savings when you are irrigating this much land. You just pay for electricity for the pump. Normal sale.

2851 Calzada, Santa Ynez (3/3 on 11 acres) $1,195,000 You may remember this one from last year but at a higher price. On the section of Calzada out off Roblar and Old Calzada. Shared well. Normal sale.

3021 Buttonhook, Solvang (3/2 on .78 of an acre) 395K On leased land in the Alisal Ranch. Call or email me for leasing information. Normal sale.

Price Reductions

2450 Latigo, Solvang (4/4 on 19 acres) Was $2,395,000 with a new price of $2,295,000. Normal sale.

180 Rancho Alisal, Solvang (3/3 on 1 acre) Was $584,500 with a new price of 477K. Wow. That’s a big slash in the price. This is also in the Alisal Ranch on leased land. Annual lease is disclosed on this one in the narrative attached at a little over 17K per year. Normal sale.

Sold

1657 Sky Drive, Santa Ynez (4/3 on 5 acres) Listed at $1,195,000 and sold final for $1,000,000 even. Big house with good bones and built to last. Interesting design sitting on a pretty view lot. Super cool huge barn would make a great car barn, shop, wine storage or convert to guest unit. Normal sale.

2011 Alamo Pintado, Solvang (4/4 on 16 acre) Listed at $1,000,000 and sold final for 925K. Fixer in excellent location. This was a bank owned property.

Need an agent who knows the inventory inside and out? I invite you to get in touch with me in any way convenient. Phone, email or text message. My contact information is here below. Thanks for visiting. Bookmark this page for easy return.

Sharon Currie
Prudential CA Realty
2933 San Marcos Ave
P O Box 778
Los Olivos, CA 93441
http://www.blogger.com/www.sharoncurrie.com
sharon@sharoncurrie.com
805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/9 Inventory Update

2011-12-09T18:20:00.001-08:00

Tomorrow is going to be nice but rain predicted for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. So, do your house shopping tomorrow! Today was so fantastically gorgeous. I took a client walking up on the Mills Property hiking trail and was thinking “holy cow, I live here”! Just a beautiful view of everything the valley has to offer. The rain will only serve to make it even more green than it was today. Have a great weekend. I’ll be around if you need me. Don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’ll be back here on Monday with all the news.

Price Reductions

1548 Laurel, Solvang (3/2 on .16 of an acre) Was 315K with a new price of $299,900. This also just came back on the market from falling out of escrow (no fault of the property). Cute vintage home from 1923. Couple of blocks to the town center. One of the lowest priced single family homes on the market at the moment. Needs a bit of cleaning but is largely in very good condition including wood floors. Remodeled kitchen, large master with private bath. Cute yard. If you like vintage, you’ll like this one. Very romantic. This is a bank owned property.

In Escrow

103 Manzanita, Solvang (4/2 on .32 of an acre) 350K Technically, I should eat my hat because it didn’t actually sell the first weekend on the market. But, it was pretty close. Sold to my own clients who are just the most darling people and absolutely deserving of this super good value. Clean, new paint, new garage doors, basically turnkey in a truly super great neighborhood down by the river and golf course. Four bedrooms and this big lot size (.32 of an acre) are rarely if ever seen at this price point. This is an excellent buy.

601 Central #3, Buellton (3/3 PUD) 229K Well, that’s 2 of the 3 available units in this development gone in a span of just a week. One short sale left. Click here for details on that one.

Sold

4801 Baseline, Santa Ynez (main house and guest house on 39+ acres) Drum roll please …… listed at $4,250,000 and sold final for $4,000,000 even. The highest selling residential property on the MLS in the valley for 2011.

1651 Fredensborg Canyon, Solvang (4/2 on 3.4 acres) Listed at 695K and sold final for 560K. Wow. Pretty big discount of 135K. As the narrative states, this was a short sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/8 Inventory and Rate Update

2011-12-08T16:33:00.001-08:00

Click here for Guy Rivera’s rate sheet from yesterday. I received it too late to post yesterday but rates are probably not much different today. Still great.

New Listings

1239 Calzada, Santa Ynez (3/2 on 1 acre) 675K I remember this one from earlier in the year. Clean well maintained home on flag lot so don’t let the Calzada address scare you. Not on the main street at all. Tucked away and private. If you have a lot of rolling stock, this big paved campus will be ideal. Normal sale.

Price Reductions

3350 Pine, Santa Ynez (4/3 on .23 of an acre) Was 450K with a new price of 425K. Newer home built in 2003. Read the info in the narrative about the possibility of 3.5% coming back to you in closing cost assistance on this bank owned property. Contrary to narrative instructions, you do not need to call the listing agent to find out about that. Any licensed agent with REO experience can explain how that works. For instance, you could call me. Big home for the money at almost 2200 square feet. This home is located across from the elementary school.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/7 Inventory Update

2011-12-07T18:02:00.001-08:00

Price Reductions

2591 Deer Hill, Solvang (6/4 on 2.8 acres) Was 999K with a new price of 979K.

1861 Laurel, Solvang (4/2 on .28 of an acre) Was 515K with a new price of 489K. Ok, now I’m paying attention. I saw this house just today as a matter of fact. Yeh, it has some crazy paint choices but all in all, the house is in very good condition for a foreclosure. Excellent location in a quiet cul de sac. Newer construction from 1999 and almost 2400 square feet of newer style construction. Big living room, generous family room off the kitchen for a great room effect. Very good sized kitchen (which has not been raped – it looks great). Views from the living room of Alisal foothills, very nice. Huge master with private bath. Loads of natural light from big windows, south facing orientation and a lot of sky lights. Three car garage with one bay being used as a gym/office ….. bonus area (easy reconvert to garage space). Surrounded by other very nice homes. I’m liking this one a lot at this new price. This is a bank owned property. Should be a hot ticket now it’s under 500K.

3635 Paloma, Santa Ynez (3/2 on .23 of an acre) Was 333K with a new price of 299K. We don’t see single family homes in the 2’s very often. If curious about this one, get in touch with me.

In Escrow

1233 Deer Trail, Solvang (3/2 on 1.30 acres) 799K Here is a listing in my own inventory going pending. This is one sweet property with so many upscale yet homey touches throughout, it just reaches out and grabs you. This one has it all with curb appeal and interior appeal both. Gorgeous views, horse facilities and located in a premium location within Santa Ynez Oaks. Centrally located yet very private. Normal sale.

603 Central #2, Buellton (3/3 PUD) 225K My favorite in this development right now. Upscale touches throughout including granite in the kitchen, move in ready condition.

1726 Cottonwood, Ballard (main house, guest house on 1 acre) $1,095,000 A real class act amongst smaller bungalow type homes, this one really stands out in the crowd. Lots of recent remodel inside the main house. Guest house was already very well done. Enter through motor court surrounded by a privacy wall and mature trees. A real gem in Ballard. Normal sale.

Of Mention from My Travels

1885 Augustenborg, Solvang (main house plus legal second unit on .96 of an acre) $1,199,000 I will admit, when this one came on the market, I thought the price was too high for the area. Wow. Was I wrong. From the instant you enter the gated driveway, this one just screams sophistication and comfortable elegance. If you can find a speck of dust in here, I will be forever amazed. Immaculate with attention to every possible detail. Beautiful wood floors, big spacious well equipped kitchen, sprawling rooms that have so much character they still feel homey. In almost 5000 square feet, this property has so much to offer. But note, including bonus room (art studio) and garage, square footage is over 6000 square feet! Tasteful everything with a floor plan that really works yet is unusual and interesting. Big windows and lots of natural light. Quality materials throughout. Legal 2^nd unit or guest house is well, legal. That means you can rent it out legally or just provide opulent housing for your favorite guests and loved ones. It is just as tasteful as the main house which in itself is highly unusual. Usually we see scrimping on amenities in guest units but not with this one. Gorgeous. Landscaping is fantastic with the backyard focus being on this super gorgeous pool with rocked beach entry – very inviting and out of this world beautiful. So, if you are looking for something a cut above, centrally located but extremely private without a ton of yard maintenance, this is your baby. Come and see it. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Oh, and the price? Like I said, I was wrong. It’s worth every penny. Pics don’t do this one justice. I’m not sure it’s possible. You must see it in person. This is a normal sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/6 Inventory Update

2011-12-06T21:18:00.001-08:00

Price Reductions

601 Central #2, Buellton (3/3 PUD) Was 249K with a new price of$237,500. HOA is $189 per month. Call me for financing information. Normal sale.

3635 Paloma, Santa Ynez (3/2 on .23 of an acre) Was 333K with a new price of 299K.

In Escrow

603 Central #2, Buellton (3/3 PUD) 225K

990 Refugio, Santa Ynez (3/2 on 1 acre) 649K Normal sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/5 Inventory Update

2011-12-05T16:27:00.001-08:00

Guess who’s office sales are up over 1000% from last year? You guessed it, mine. And no, I didn’t add a zero. Here it is phonetically – one thousand percent! The valley is certainly on fire and my brokerage, Prudential CA in Los Olivos, totally rocks! We hire the best and the brightest and it shows up in the results. Now more than ever, experience counts! Of course it doesn’t hurt that we are in one of the most beautiful places on earth. It isn’t too awful hard to sell paradise. :)

New Listings

141 Sharon, Buellton (3/2 on .15 of an acre) 395K No pics at the time I am writing this but the link will refresh itself when they are loaded. Keep checking back. This one backs up to the open space where the off leash dog park is so no neighbor behind. Call me for other special information. Normal sale.

Sold

3143 Box Canyon, Santa Ynez (3/3 on 5+ acres) Listed at 699K and sold final for 570K. The deals just keep rolling in! This was a fixer but a good one. Great bones and a super location. On the market 80 days which I thought was a long time considering what a good deal it was. Somebody got a fun and worthwhile project at a very attractive price. Normal sale.

1290 Edison, Santa Ynez (3/2 on .23 of an acre) Listed at 385K and sold final for 378K. Wow, this was the day for deals alright. Clean and ready to go property in the hot price range. This was a short sale.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/2 Inventory Update

2011-12-02T16:21:00.001-08:00

I read an article today that addresses a recurring theme that I keep hearing. Rentals are hot hot hot! The rental market is alive and well. Click here for just one of many articles I have read on this subject lately. Good time for investors to reap some benefit. Scooping up those lower end well priced properties isn’t a bad strategy. Even investor rates are totally awesome right now.

And in other news, turns out Fannie Mae has a heart after all. They are halting foreclosures during the holidays. Click here for more information. Several other banks are following suit. If you are an auction watcher, the court house steps might not have much going on for the next few weeks.

Click here for Guy Rivera’s week ending rate sheet. Still great.

I will be around this weekend. If you need me, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’ll be holding open my listing at 1889 Ringsted in Solvang priced at 589K on Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00. Come on by and say hello! I’ll be back here on Monday with all the news. Have a great weekend!

New Listings

7910 Cat Canyon, Los Alamos (5/5 plus managers quarters on 100 acres) $3,200,000 Here is something you don’t see every day. A full scale producing vineyard with stylish home. This isn’t any old vineyard either with Verna’s Vineyard being part of the Melville Vineyards and Winery Estate. You can check out the winery website by clicking here but Google away yourself too. Plenty of hits will come up. Avoid the mystery of the $$ involved in planting your own vineyard, not to mention the work and waiting while waiting for the fruit to start appearing. This is a pretty amazing vineyard opportunity. They just don’t come along very often. It goes without saying, this is a normal sale.

3635 Paloma, Santa Ynez (3/2 on .23 of an acre) No pic, no narrative at the time of this writing. If they are still missing when you are reading this, check back every now and again and click the link. It will automatically refresh when the pics and narrative are uploaded by the agent.

103 Manzanita, Solvang (4/2 on .32 of an acre) 350K Deal alert! This is a lot of house and land for the money. 4/2 on about a 1/3 of an acre for 350K? This is a great neighborhood too. Alisal Glen is down by the river, past the golf course. Pics look nice with remodeled kitchen and baths with the entire package looking well cared for over time. Unbelievably, it’s a normal sale too. If it lasts the weekend, I’ll eat my hat.

1807 Stallion, Santa Ynez (manufactured home on 10+ acres) 950K I used to board my horse on this property some years ago. Very pretty location with creek bed nearby. Big barn with small apartment. Fenced and cross fenced, much of which is in big solid pipe that is strong enough for draft horses or cattle. Land is all flat and usable. Surrounded by beautiful estate homes. Plenty of room to build one of your own on this piece.

Price Reductions

2163 Rebild, Solvang (3/2 on .26 of an acre) Was 575K with a new price of $569,500. Normal sale.

2035 Edison, Santa Ynez (3/3 on 10 acres) Was $1,350,000 with a new price of $1,295,000. Instant ranch. Just bring your furry friends. Everything else you need is already here. Normal sale.

Sold

27 Henry, Los Alamos (3/3 on .12 of an acre) Priced at $245,480 and sold final for 245K. This was a bank owned property.

28 Henry, Los Alamos (3/2 on .16 of an acre) Priced at $239,900 and sold final for same. Normal sale too on this really good buy.

Cerrito lot and Cedar lot Both just a hair under a quarter acre, both closed at 195K each. Land only.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog

12/1 Inventory Update and November Stats

2011-12-01T15:51:00.001-08:00

If you are thinking about listing your home, or know someone who is, or are just curious, please check out my new link over the right à.

November turned out to be a pretty decent month. Here are the numbers and also please see the attached PDF property reports at the bottom of today’s post for photos etc.

In November, a total of 14 properties closed escrow. Normal sales = 6, Short Sales = 3 and Bank Owned (REO) = 5. Of the total sales, 9 were under 600K and 5 were above, which is a pretty good portion of upper end compared to some months past. 3 in the 900K range and one over a mil. So, the upper end is coming back slowly but surely.

With regard to pending sales, we have a total of 30 in the pipeline. Normal sales = 9, Short Sales = 18 and Bank Owned = 3. Note the huge portion of short sales. They are leading the pack on transaction type and have been for some time (mostly because they make up so much of the available inventory). Of the total 30, 23 of them are under 600K and 7 are above. Of those higher end, 3 are over a mil ($1,195,000, $1,495,000 and a whopper at $4,250,000). Again, good news for the high end but still, the affordable range is holding steady with lots of good deals to be had.

All in all, November was good. December looks to be good too if we can get some of the short sales moving down the pipeline.

New Listings

225 Camino San Carlos, Buellton (4/3 on 1 acre) 825K Shared well. Normal sale.

Price Reductions

1240 Ladan, Solvang (3/5 on 4+ acres) Was $1,695,000 with a new price of $1,395,000. Wow. That is a big chunk of change coming right off the top in one big reduction. Big house in exclusive development of Regency Hills. Centrally located, close to everything. This is one of those rare bank owned luxury properties. This new price makes it one to investigate sooner rather than later.

Sold

532 Dairy, Buellton (3/2 on .26 of an acre) Listed at 447K and sold final for 400K. Normal sale too. Lucky buyers moving in just in time for Meadowridge to bust out for the holidays. It’s quite something to behold.

1460 Jennilsa, Solvang (3/3 on 5 acres) Listed at at $1,000,000 and sold final for 915K. Wow. Now that is surprising. On REO’s, usually we see much closer sold price to list price but on this one, the foreclosing bank took quite a hit right up front. Only on the market 23 days. Another unusual infiltration of foreclosures in the luxury market. This one was particularly beautiful with custom everything built in 2000. A pretty good deal.

Sharon Currie

Prudential CA Realty

2933 San Marcos Ave

P O Box 778

Los Olivos, CA 93441

www.sharoncurrie.com

sharon@sharoncurrie.com

805.448.2727

pending 12 1 11.pdf Download this file

sold in November.pdf Download this file

Posted via email from Sharon Currie's Real Estate Blog