I got so involved in the statistics that my tea got cold and the sun went down! Fascinating.
This is only a first part of other blogs (or blog) about the area and what happened in 2011 real estate-wise. I just need to feed the dog, figure out dinner, and get some other work done. If I stay with the multiple listing service none of this will happen.
So! In Skaneateles in 2011 we sold and closed 70 homes. Of these, 20 were in the village and 15 were waterfront. This compares with previous years:
2010 75 closed 13 village 17 waterfront
2009 81 n/a 18
2008 66 n/a 20
("Village" as a category was only begun in 2010)
Then I got into the fun stuff. Thanks to JT, I decided to look at median prices, because I know that despite the numbers there was at least the sense of a turn-around.
Going the other way....(for dramatic effect...) Median list price is of homes that closed...
2008 $415,000 median list price $400,000 median sale price
2009 $335,000 median list price $335,000 median sale price
2010 $250,000 median list price $230,000 median sale price
2011 $299,000 median list price $290,000 median sale price
So we are moving up, at least as far as the sale prices go which is a very welcome sign! And if you look at the 2008 figure, that was the year with the most waterfront homes having closed amid the fewest overall closings - a certain influence on the median.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Triskadekaphobic I am Not!
However, after a few hours this morning I was beginning to wonder....
I had made plans with an old friend to meet for lunch at the Hotel Clarence (http://www.hotelclarence.com/) in Seneca Falls, about halfway between her home in East Bloomfield and the Skaneateles RE/MAX office. The purpose was to re-connect, but also to celebrate her birthday. Of course the snow changed everything, and we decided to postpone our lunch.
But I grew up in snow, so to me playing in it was welcome. Bob has a flu thing going for the third day, so I trudged out with Boo for the early morning...well, trudge. Not cold enough for skis, and I wasn't ready for snowshoes. This was just exploratory.
We went up to the fields behind our property and the wind almost took us both away. Boo loved it, running circles while I slid on the mud and wet leaves under the snow coming down the trail. We got to an area we call The Arboretum where we've planted a few trees over the years, a cleared out section in the middle of our acreage. Bob has planted and cleared, I should say. I am the official admirer. This is also where Boo waits to get his treat and a lead put on so he doesn't invade the neighbor's yard on the way back home.
While Boo waited, I noticed that one of the cages surrounding a sapling had fallen over. The sapling (probably less than that) was one of his prized pawpaws. (If you don't know pawpaws, you are not alone...unless you lived in southeastern Ohio or know the kids' jingle..."Picking up pawpaws, Put them in your pocket, Save them for a rainy day..." you may never have heard of pawpaws.) So I picked up the cage - very carefully - and the top two-thirds snapped. I felt so badly!
I 'fessed up when we got to the house. Bob thought and thought, told me it was okay, then dressed in his snowsuit and with Boo went out to investigate. He bound the poor little thing up with red wire, covered the cage with an old t-shirt, and came back home. To find out that I had turned the pellet stove down and it had gone out. Such an awful start to Friday the 13th!
It got better from there. Not that the three properties I am waiting to close got a scheduled closing date, or anything. But we settled in to a quiet day of "Words with Friends" (me) and updating his iPod (Bob). The next Friday the 13th I won't take as lightly! Or make plans!
Enjoy the snow! And if you want more information check out the Pawpaw Festival near one of my alma maters, Ohio University in Athens: http://www.ohiopawpawfest.com/ or www.fred.net/kathy/pawpaws.html for more general information.
I had made plans with an old friend to meet for lunch at the Hotel Clarence (http://www.hotelclarence.com/) in Seneca Falls, about halfway between her home in East Bloomfield and the Skaneateles RE/MAX office. The purpose was to re-connect, but also to celebrate her birthday. Of course the snow changed everything, and we decided to postpone our lunch.
But I grew up in snow, so to me playing in it was welcome. Bob has a flu thing going for the third day, so I trudged out with Boo for the early morning...well, trudge. Not cold enough for skis, and I wasn't ready for snowshoes. This was just exploratory.
We went up to the fields behind our property and the wind almost took us both away. Boo loved it, running circles while I slid on the mud and wet leaves under the snow coming down the trail. We got to an area we call The Arboretum where we've planted a few trees over the years, a cleared out section in the middle of our acreage. Bob has planted and cleared, I should say. I am the official admirer. This is also where Boo waits to get his treat and a lead put on so he doesn't invade the neighbor's yard on the way back home.
While Boo waited, I noticed that one of the cages surrounding a sapling had fallen over. The sapling (probably less than that) was one of his prized pawpaws. (If you don't know pawpaws, you are not alone...unless you lived in southeastern Ohio or know the kids' jingle..."Picking up pawpaws, Put them in your pocket, Save them for a rainy day..." you may never have heard of pawpaws.) So I picked up the cage - very carefully - and the top two-thirds snapped. I felt so badly!
I 'fessed up when we got to the house. Bob thought and thought, told me it was okay, then dressed in his snowsuit and with Boo went out to investigate. He bound the poor little thing up with red wire, covered the cage with an old t-shirt, and came back home. To find out that I had turned the pellet stove down and it had gone out. Such an awful start to Friday the 13th!
It got better from there. Not that the three properties I am waiting to close got a scheduled closing date, or anything. But we settled in to a quiet day of "Words with Friends" (me) and updating his iPod (Bob). The next Friday the 13th I won't take as lightly! Or make plans!
Enjoy the snow! And if you want more information check out the Pawpaw Festival near one of my alma maters, Ohio University in Athens: http://www.ohiopawpawfest.com/ or www.fred.net/kathy/pawpaws.html for more general information.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
It feels good to be writing more. This weekly blog becomes one of the things I do, rather than a "to do" to be remembered. As I sit here sipping my tea, waiting for the game to start, I can just roll this off the keyboard. Delightful! And this way I stay in touch with the all-important statistics.
There are currently 99 single family homes actively listed in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 30 are in the village and 21 are waterfront.
Two new listings came on this past week - one is a re-list in the village with a change of price and a change of agent and brokerage. The second is another village listing in the low $200,000.
There are only three properties marked contingent now, none of which are new. Eight are listed under contingent but do not show - the one new one is new construction (hmmm...that could be worded better). Three are pended (and one of mine will be once I finish this.)
The great news is that we have three homes listed as having sold and closed in the new year! One has lake rights and closed in the high $200,000 range. Another is right on the water (this is January, remember!) and almost sold for $500,000. The third is new construction in the town - mid-$400,000.
Nothing more has appeared from last year, so some time soon I will wrap up the year with the final closings and an analysis. But now it's time for Syracuse basketball - Go Orange!
There are currently 99 single family homes actively listed in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 30 are in the village and 21 are waterfront.
Two new listings came on this past week - one is a re-list in the village with a change of price and a change of agent and brokerage. The second is another village listing in the low $200,000.
There are only three properties marked contingent now, none of which are new. Eight are listed under contingent but do not show - the one new one is new construction (hmmm...that could be worded better). Three are pended (and one of mine will be once I finish this.)
The great news is that we have three homes listed as having sold and closed in the new year! One has lake rights and closed in the high $200,000 range. Another is right on the water (this is January, remember!) and almost sold for $500,000. The third is new construction in the town - mid-$400,000.
Nothing more has appeared from last year, so some time soon I will wrap up the year with the final closings and an analysis. But now it's time for Syracuse basketball - Go Orange!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
De-cluttering 101
Last Thursday evening I attended a workshop, I think you could call it, on de-cluttering held at the Onondaga Free Library on Onondaga Hill. There was a confusion about time - the paper said one time and the presenter had another - so I missed a little bit at the beginning. But I found it very interesting, and just when you think you can't learn more there I was scribbling notes to myself.
The presenter and owner of the company, Lisa DeVeau, seemed to hold everyone's attention for the full 90 minutes. There were probably 35 people in attendance, of which four were men. Most likely everyone had homes that needed cleaning out, or their parents did. One person asked about a definition of clutter vs. hoarding. Good question - like any addiction it seems to be if it interferes with your life, then it is hoarding. More my definition....I have to admit my mind rambled to a client I have whose parents are definitely hoarders.
Back to de-cluttering. There were a lot of questions she asked the group: "Do you own your stuff or does your stuff own you?" "Does the stuff give you energy or take it away?" "Would an item be difficult to replace or get again?" I own my stuff, I know that, but I also know that it depletes me.
For example. One of Lisa's methods for clearing out is to walk in a room and starting on the left, make a sweep. Make piles - DUMP, Give away, Store, NOT SURE, Not at this time....etc. Start left and work right, never leaving the room until your time is up for that day. Fine, I thought, I'll start in the sitting room of the in-law apartment and begin my sweep. Not a big deal, a way to break it all down.... I walked in, turned on the lights, looked left - and there was the buffet I had used as a desk for a few years, stuffed with so much that I had to stop using it. I turned off the lights and left the room. Maybe another day.
(She also is doing a workshop entitled "Overcoming Procrastination" on Wednesday, January 18th at 6:00 PM in North Syracuse. She knows her clientele!)
The company is called "Completely Organized" and their website is http://www.completelyorganized.com/. They are local - Manlius - and work in three main areas: Business, Residential, and also Senior Services. Under the latter they list managing moves, from planning to setting up new homes. I can see where that might be a godsend for a family. When my mother moved out of her home after 58 years she worked weekly with a friend to make the move. They worked for six months - and the closets were still full. Now our basement is, but that's another story.
Just as many of my clients get help with packing when they move and are assisted by relocation, I can see how this service would work well for people with houses to de-clutter and a mandatory timeframe in which to do it.
The presenter and owner of the company, Lisa DeVeau, seemed to hold everyone's attention for the full 90 minutes. There were probably 35 people in attendance, of which four were men. Most likely everyone had homes that needed cleaning out, or their parents did. One person asked about a definition of clutter vs. hoarding. Good question - like any addiction it seems to be if it interferes with your life, then it is hoarding. More my definition....I have to admit my mind rambled to a client I have whose parents are definitely hoarders.
Back to de-cluttering. There were a lot of questions she asked the group: "Do you own your stuff or does your stuff own you?" "Does the stuff give you energy or take it away?" "Would an item be difficult to replace or get again?" I own my stuff, I know that, but I also know that it depletes me.
For example. One of Lisa's methods for clearing out is to walk in a room and starting on the left, make a sweep. Make piles - DUMP, Give away, Store, NOT SURE, Not at this time....etc. Start left and work right, never leaving the room until your time is up for that day. Fine, I thought, I'll start in the sitting room of the in-law apartment and begin my sweep. Not a big deal, a way to break it all down.... I walked in, turned on the lights, looked left - and there was the buffet I had used as a desk for a few years, stuffed with so much that I had to stop using it. I turned off the lights and left the room. Maybe another day.
(She also is doing a workshop entitled "Overcoming Procrastination" on Wednesday, January 18th at 6:00 PM in North Syracuse. She knows her clientele!)
The company is called "Completely Organized" and their website is http://www.completelyorganized.com/. They are local - Manlius - and work in three main areas: Business, Residential, and also Senior Services. Under the latter they list managing moves, from planning to setting up new homes. I can see where that might be a godsend for a family. When my mother moved out of her home after 58 years she worked weekly with a friend to make the move. They worked for six months - and the closets were still full. Now our basement is, but that's another story.
Just as many of my clients get help with packing when they move and are assisted by relocation, I can see how this service would work well for people with houses to de-clutter and a mandatory timeframe in which to do it.
Freaky Stuff
Topic #1 Okay, so I am finally having difficulty with the lack of snow. It is simply not right! I hear last night on the news that even if we come in with one of the lowest snow totals of all-time, we still will have at least three to five feet of snow before this "winter" is over. That's a lot of snow, especially if you cram it into the next two months - because March 15th is about it for major snow. For those of us who were here - there was the mid-March snowstorm of 1993 that dumped several feet on the area - then melted away within two weeks. As I write, it is sort of raining snow.....Sigh.
Topic #2 We must have been watching too many Twilight Zones from the New Year's marathon. I went out to get the paper before 7:00 AM yesterday and there in the northwestern sky was a bright light, hidden by clouds. My first thought was that it was the sun - but wait! That rises in the east, and I see it every day! Slowly the moon revealed itself and I breathed easier. Gorgeous moon, by the way!
Topic #3 Saturday night we went to see The Amazing Kreskin (his real name, changed officially some years back) at the Auburn Public Theater. He has had a career as a mentalist, and frankly I have no idea how he does it and yes, we were amazed. I have to believe it is some sort of skill-set that he was born with, like the autistic people who can play by ear or remember dates. But he is the total package - at 76 he alluded to having jogged an hour that day between shows. His performance went on for two and a half hours without intermission to a filled auditorium. I honestly believe he has the ability to read minds!
Okay - back to work....but writing is refreshing!
One other thing, in case I forget.....Joe Messina, an unemployed truck driver from Auburn, is competing on The Biggest Loser which airs Tuesdays at 8:00 (like tonight) on NBC. He weights 360 pounds and wants to lose half his size, plus has the goal of getting on rides at Darien Lake. (See http://www.syracuse.com/ for more information) Go Joe!
Topic #2 We must have been watching too many Twilight Zones from the New Year's marathon. I went out to get the paper before 7:00 AM yesterday and there in the northwestern sky was a bright light, hidden by clouds. My first thought was that it was the sun - but wait! That rises in the east, and I see it every day! Slowly the moon revealed itself and I breathed easier. Gorgeous moon, by the way!
Topic #3 Saturday night we went to see The Amazing Kreskin (his real name, changed officially some years back) at the Auburn Public Theater. He has had a career as a mentalist, and frankly I have no idea how he does it and yes, we were amazed. I have to believe it is some sort of skill-set that he was born with, like the autistic people who can play by ear or remember dates. But he is the total package - at 76 he alluded to having jogged an hour that day between shows. His performance went on for two and a half hours without intermission to a filled auditorium. I honestly believe he has the ability to read minds!
Okay - back to work....but writing is refreshing!
One other thing, in case I forget.....Joe Messina, an unemployed truck driver from Auburn, is competing on The Biggest Loser which airs Tuesdays at 8:00 (like tonight) on NBC. He weights 360 pounds and wants to lose half his size, plus has the goal of getting on rides at Darien Lake. (See http://www.syracuse.com/ for more information) Go Joe!
Friday, January 6, 2012
An All-Around Fine Day!
This is the first time I have started a blog this year without a subject in mind. I didn't write yesterday because I went to a de-cluttering class at Onondaga Free Library in the evening. More on that another day....very interesting and helpful! But it deserves a well-thought out blog of its own.
Today was simply a good real estate day. I showed houses in the morning and did something I have negver done before. We went to the house and as I was trying to get in my buyer said "Oh look, they have a dog!" Sure enough, a dog had come to the front hall door to greet us. Hmmmm. I called the agent who called the owner who assured the agent that the dog was very friendly. I said I wasn't going in, especially with children. We compromised with me going in alone and taking the dog outside and chaining her up, while we went through the house. I only did this because I knew the owner and....that still doesn't mean I knew the dog, I realize now. But all was well - the house showed beautifully, the dog behaved herself, and a showing was saved.
The second house I had shown before and my buyers had not liked it. This time everything was in its place - their dog was even in a crate! It looked great and we all went away happy.
I had lunch at Creekside - the loaded potato soup. Excellent! I made phone calls, texted, looked up the map to get to my afternoon showing on my iPhone (so handy!) Then off into the spring-like sunshine to see two radically different houses, both of which I like very much. But not for me to decide!
I got back to the office in time to accept an offer on a house from an agent who dropped it off. Lisa had the door cracked open - it was 49 degrees out - and after a while I couldn't stay inside. I ran off home, grabbed Boo (who was thrilled) and we walked the hills and fields for about 45 minutes until the sun went down. I made tea and toast (Panera whole grain) and completed phone calls.
This is our Boo:
A very pleasant day!
Today was simply a good real estate day. I showed houses in the morning and did something I have negver done before. We went to the house and as I was trying to get in my buyer said "Oh look, they have a dog!" Sure enough, a dog had come to the front hall door to greet us. Hmmmm. I called the agent who called the owner who assured the agent that the dog was very friendly. I said I wasn't going in, especially with children. We compromised with me going in alone and taking the dog outside and chaining her up, while we went through the house. I only did this because I knew the owner and....that still doesn't mean I knew the dog, I realize now. But all was well - the house showed beautifully, the dog behaved herself, and a showing was saved.
The second house I had shown before and my buyers had not liked it. This time everything was in its place - their dog was even in a crate! It looked great and we all went away happy.
I had lunch at Creekside - the loaded potato soup. Excellent! I made phone calls, texted, looked up the map to get to my afternoon showing on my iPhone (so handy!) Then off into the spring-like sunshine to see two radically different houses, both of which I like very much. But not for me to decide!
I got back to the office in time to accept an offer on a house from an agent who dropped it off. Lisa had the door cracked open - it was 49 degrees out - and after a while I couldn't stay inside. I ran off home, grabbed Boo (who was thrilled) and we walked the hills and fields for about 45 minutes until the sun went down. I made tea and toast (Panera whole grain) and completed phone calls.
This is our Boo:
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
I am enjoying these blogs. I am enjoying the peace that makes them possible, too. That doesn't mean work has stopped. I am waiting for two appraisals, three closings, I put in a new listing today (ML#S264895), and I will show houses on Friday. Just there's a peacefulness about this week.
The update - not much here, but I will see what I can do. The big story is that the active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multipe listing service have dropped under the 100 mark for the first time in (possibly) two years. At least! We have 98 active, of which 27 are in the Village and 21 are waterfront. I know a lot expired at the new year, and I am sure several have ended because waterfront is not easy to sell in 10 degree temperatures. Two re-lists came back on as part of the 98. There are still 5 contingent, 7 under contract, and 5 pending properties - all the same as last week.
We did add one new closing to bring the 2011 total to 69. This was actually waterfront, closing in the low $200,000 after being on the market for a while. I still want to wait a bit before pronouncing the year officially closed.
So to round out this blog I thought I would introduce three properties that may catch your eye and certainly might not have. The first two are on Craigslist, so feel free to find them there.
1 - Hong Kong Apartment Swap - people in Hong Kong would like to swap their place for a home in Skaneateles for three or four weeks this summer, mid-July to mid-August. Ideally they want to be within walking distance of the Village. (Thanks to Karen, our first PAFD in the Skaneateles office of RE/MAX for sharing this in mid-December.)
2 - Manhattan Windowed Office Space - 180sf for $2,000, month-to-month, near Bryant Park (Midtown West); utiliities included plus shared use of conference space. If you are interested, please contact Alex through http://www.ramapoforchildren.org/.
3 - 158 Shire Way, Camillus - now $219,000 and open Sunday, 12:00 to 2:00. This 3-bedroom, 2-full bath ranch in Westshire has been on the market before, but never at this price. Come see it before it is snapped up - or swapped!
The update - not much here, but I will see what I can do. The big story is that the active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multipe listing service have dropped under the 100 mark for the first time in (possibly) two years. At least! We have 98 active, of which 27 are in the Village and 21 are waterfront. I know a lot expired at the new year, and I am sure several have ended because waterfront is not easy to sell in 10 degree temperatures. Two re-lists came back on as part of the 98. There are still 5 contingent, 7 under contract, and 5 pending properties - all the same as last week.
We did add one new closing to bring the 2011 total to 69. This was actually waterfront, closing in the low $200,000 after being on the market for a while. I still want to wait a bit before pronouncing the year officially closed.
So to round out this blog I thought I would introduce three properties that may catch your eye and certainly might not have. The first two are on Craigslist, so feel free to find them there.
1 - Hong Kong Apartment Swap - people in Hong Kong would like to swap their place for a home in Skaneateles for three or four weeks this summer, mid-July to mid-August. Ideally they want to be within walking distance of the Village. (Thanks to Karen, our first PAFD in the Skaneateles office of RE/MAX for sharing this in mid-December.)
2 - Manhattan Windowed Office Space - 180sf for $2,000, month-to-month, near Bryant Park (Midtown West); utiliities included plus shared use of conference space. If you are interested, please contact Alex through http://www.ramapoforchildren.org/.
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