November....a wild month always in Central New York! I started the month sitting in the sun and actually getting a tan, waiting for the call from Alex announcing his new job - hooray! He will be staying in the City and not taking a position with RE/MAX down there, as he was poised to do. Still, if you want to do business there, please contact me and I can give you the name of a wonderful broker!
I visited a friend in Florida last week. Just briefly, but I got a taste of "The Villages" which I had heard of and to which she and her husband have retired. What a place! As per usual, I brought an arctic cold front down with me - temperatures in the 50s with winds gusting to 30 mph...and as is not usual, nothing sold up here! But what a great few days of getaway time...
Currently there are ONLY 77 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, ONLY 11 are in the Village. There are 23 waterfront properties - a disproportionate amount, because generally they are close to the same number as the Village listings. Also, I would expect to find about a quarter are waterfront, not this high a percentage. Just a bit askew, as it were...
Over the course of the last three weeks only two new listings came on, contributing to the low number.
Three others were re-listed. There are 18 under contract, four of them new in November. Two are within the Village boundaries and two are just outside.
This emphasis on the Village continues...9 closed since the last update! Seven were in the Village, one was waterfront, and the last was in the town. This brings to 101 the number of single family homes closed this year, making this another banner year! Amazing...low rates, well-priced homes, pent-up need to buy and sell, an improving economy...and there's still room for more sales and closings before the end of the year.
So bring it on!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
The Halloween Update - October 16th - October 31st
Spooky times here! The wind came up last night and swirled the leaves. Our new door makes faint howling sounds, I've discovered. Lovely, lovely evening! I was reminded of other Halloweens when Alex was little - our famous Garfield costume and subsequent news item on the Albany local news when he was 7 in Saratoga. Another warm night there, the last time he went trick or treating. And last year when Super Storm Sandy hit, but the Upper East Side where he lives now was spared, and he could take Liam out in his own Garfield costume.
And the beat goes on....There are currently 82 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, only 13 are in the Village, and 24 are waterfront. This is one of the lowest numbers we've had in a very long time, almost half as many as a few years ago! Nothing new came on, just the re-listing of a very lovely waterfront property in the $600,000 range.
There are 22 houses in the contracted categories. Six new ones came under contract - two each in my self-described three areas.
Gloriously, there are 92 sold and closed single family homes as of Halloween. This shows that we have less than a year of inventory out there, so buy now! Seven new ones closed in the two week period. They spread out almost evenly - two Village, two waterfront, and three in the town. Of these, 3 had been on the market for over a year.
As a side note, there are times when the "over a year" listing does not accurately reflect the process. Some owners, recognizing that the market is either overly stocked with homes like theirs, or having the means to wait a bit, will rent out their homes and bring in enough money to pay the mortgage, insurance and taxes plus make a small profit. Houses simply do not sell as well with a tenant in place. Real listing time should be marked from when the home is ready to be sold and can be easily shown and quickly closed.
So as we move into November the time will change this weekend - fall back! Showing times will decrease with this, and ease of movement (as in the arrival of snow). Please come out to my open on Sunday at 149 North Main Street in Jordan - you might see the first flakes of the year falling into the creek!
And the beat goes on....There are currently 82 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, only 13 are in the Village, and 24 are waterfront. This is one of the lowest numbers we've had in a very long time, almost half as many as a few years ago! Nothing new came on, just the re-listing of a very lovely waterfront property in the $600,000 range.
There are 22 houses in the contracted categories. Six new ones came under contract - two each in my self-described three areas.
Gloriously, there are 92 sold and closed single family homes as of Halloween. This shows that we have less than a year of inventory out there, so buy now! Seven new ones closed in the two week period. They spread out almost evenly - two Village, two waterfront, and three in the town. Of these, 3 had been on the market for over a year.
As a side note, there are times when the "over a year" listing does not accurately reflect the process. Some owners, recognizing that the market is either overly stocked with homes like theirs, or having the means to wait a bit, will rent out their homes and bring in enough money to pay the mortgage, insurance and taxes plus make a small profit. Houses simply do not sell as well with a tenant in place. Real listing time should be marked from when the home is ready to be sold and can be easily shown and quickly closed.
So as we move into November the time will change this weekend - fall back! Showing times will decrease with this, and ease of movement (as in the arrival of snow). Please come out to my open on Sunday at 149 North Main Street in Jordan - you might see the first flakes of the year falling into the creek!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Open House Alert! 149 North Main Street
Such a great place with such a good price....$239,000. Think of it, well under 100 per square foot - can't build any more for that price. And such a building! Built to last centuries - and it will!
OPEN SUNDAY 12:00 to 2:00 Village of Jordan - Main Street north to Route 31 - turn right.
And then there's the added attraction of Skaneateles Creek meandering through the five acres of property. The bridge has been rebuilt so the two or so acres on the other side are now accessible. Go explore! Imagine having your own private - very private - campground over there. Or the place where kids go to be Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer...or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy!
Inside the house is wonderful - a large enough kitchen with walk-in pantry, separate dining room for Thanksgiving and celebrations, a front parlor but also a living room with small office (or another bedroom) off it on the first floor. There's also a new full bath on the same level.
Upstairs are the four very good-sized and interesting bedrooms. I like nooks and crannies - and there are dormers and sloped ceilings. And what I wish we had - an upstairs laundry!
I did have a walk-up attic while I was growing up in Syracuse. We didn't use it except for storage, but there was a good feel about it. This one can be used - the flooring is quite thick. More square footage? It has over 3,000 now!
So come and see it on Sunday, noon to 2:00. ML#S296384 will show you more photos. It's one of those houses people dream about owning.
OPEN SUNDAY 12:00 to 2:00 Village of Jordan - Main Street north to Route 31 - turn right.
And then there's the added attraction of Skaneateles Creek meandering through the five acres of property. The bridge has been rebuilt so the two or so acres on the other side are now accessible. Go explore! Imagine having your own private - very private - campground over there. Or the place where kids go to be Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer...or Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy!
Inside the house is wonderful - a large enough kitchen with walk-in pantry, separate dining room for Thanksgiving and celebrations, a front parlor but also a living room with small office (or another bedroom) off it on the first floor. There's also a new full bath on the same level.
Upstairs are the four very good-sized and interesting bedrooms. I like nooks and crannies - and there are dormers and sloped ceilings. And what I wish we had - an upstairs laundry!
I did have a walk-up attic while I was growing up in Syracuse. We didn't use it except for storage, but there was a good feel about it. This one can be used - the flooring is quite thick. More square footage? It has over 3,000 now!
So come and see it on Sunday, noon to 2:00. ML#S296384 will show you more photos. It's one of those houses people dream about owning.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Open Houses Alert! Saturday and Sunday
The time has come to do a few open houses, and since I have several listings some will be done on Saturdays - at least this Saturday!
Lovely 50 West Genesee will be open noon to 2:00 on Saturday, October 26th. It's perfect for the rare Saturday open house - right down the street from the Sherwood Inn and on Route 20. Visitors to the area who love Skaneateles or have just discovered it will be taken by this turn-of the-century home and its gorgeous woodwork. The fact that it's been updated isn't readily apparent from the street. That's why I want to draw people in, to see the granite in the kitchen and three full baths, the cherry cabinets and stainless steel appliances. They can pick up a copy of the the updates, then go shopping in the Village Center just a short block away. Hopefully the weather will allow them to go on the pier, or sit by the water...Once they own the house, they can sit on their own porch! But I'm getting ahead of myself.....
50 West Genesee - $400,000
4 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths
Over 3,000sf
ML# S280791
On Sunday I will be out in Borodino holding that remarkable home at the corner of East Lake Road and Nunnery open for the first time. It's taken so long because the owner insisted on putting in a brand new furnace as long as he already was putting in a brand new well! All the big ticket items have been taken care of - the roof, the porch, the deck, paint and reconfiguring of the rooms, and of course the mechanicals. It is lovely and unique, and worth several looks. My favorite part is the dance hall on the second floor. I can hear the music, imagine what it must have been like years ago in softer times. Open Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00....and actually there will be other listings in Spafford held open as well! For photos and more, please go to ML# S298847
Lovely 50 West Genesee will be open noon to 2:00 on Saturday, October 26th. It's perfect for the rare Saturday open house - right down the street from the Sherwood Inn and on Route 20. Visitors to the area who love Skaneateles or have just discovered it will be taken by this turn-of the-century home and its gorgeous woodwork. The fact that it's been updated isn't readily apparent from the street. That's why I want to draw people in, to see the granite in the kitchen and three full baths, the cherry cabinets and stainless steel appliances. They can pick up a copy of the the updates, then go shopping in the Village Center just a short block away. Hopefully the weather will allow them to go on the pier, or sit by the water...Once they own the house, they can sit on their own porch! But I'm getting ahead of myself.....
50 West Genesee - $400,000
4 Bedrooms, 3 Full Baths
Over 3,000sf
ML# S280791
On Sunday I will be out in Borodino holding that remarkable home at the corner of East Lake Road and Nunnery open for the first time. It's taken so long because the owner insisted on putting in a brand new furnace as long as he already was putting in a brand new well! All the big ticket items have been taken care of - the roof, the porch, the deck, paint and reconfiguring of the rooms, and of course the mechanicals. It is lovely and unique, and worth several looks. My favorite part is the dance hall on the second floor. I can hear the music, imagine what it must have been like years ago in softer times. Open Sunday, 1:00 to 3:00....and actually there will be other listings in Spafford held open as well! For photos and more, please go to ML# S298847
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Words with Friends - The Bigger Picture
When I started this blog years ago I said I would write about my life as a Realtor in Skaneateles. As part of that life, I manage my time and make sure I am on-time for appointments. A couple years ago I said I would never rush again (a New Year's resolution) which meant I would always leave early enough to allow some time for whatever came up. Coincidentally Alex got me started on Words with Friends and I was hooked. Now I get places early to play if there are no e-mails or texts to write.
Generally I play with Alex and a couple local friends. But over the course of time I have found - or they found me - a couple women who enjoy playing as I do. In each case they thought I was someone else - Margaret Brooks being a very common name, it turns out. The first woman, Kathy, lives in Manila! The second, Lozza, is in Australia.
Over the course of about a year we've traded information on our areas. She's told me about the Wyangala Waters where she vacationed in a caravan, and I have told her about the Finger Lakes. She has spent more time in the states than I have in Australia (as in no time at all).
Yesterday as I pulled into the M&T branch in Elbridge I heard on NPR about the fires in Australia. I knew she lived in New South Wales, but I never imagined that the fires were in her area. To me, Australia is vast and the states huge. Whenever I worry about my old friend in Colorado - floods, fires, blizzards - he tells me he is well out of the way. But NPR said "The Blue Mountains" and my attention was assured.
I looked up our games, and there was a message from her. Over 200 homes had already burned, but she felt they were safe. Today I got this:
There is an emergency alert out for the whole of the Blue Mountains area for tomorrow. My
daughter-in-law and grandchildren are evacuating but my son will stay with their house. My husband is working at the relief centre but I will try to stay with our house. We have a community fire box at the end of our street where the fire hose can be connected to the main. They can use that to protect the houses from embers if that happens. It is comforting to know that people all over the world are thinking and praying for us.
She sent that 12 hours ago - I wrote back this morning but have heard nothing.
We are so lucky here in Central New York. Last year was SuperStorm Sandy that totally missed us. No threat of fires will ever erupt here - and yes, there may be flooding in the Southern Tier (no small problem for those affected) or an ice storm or blizzard or two in the winter. Yes, the Labor Day Storm of 1998 is still recent enough - but I can't imagine a circumstance where our homes would be totally destroyed, as well as our neighborhoods. Maybe as the climate changes and the years go by we will have our own Super Storm - but for now I feel safe. I certainly hope Lozza and her family get through this...
So as we go about our lives this week, please take a moment to think of her half a world away. I will, of course, keep you posted through this blog, or write to me: MBrooks@remax.net.
Generally I play with Alex and a couple local friends. But over the course of time I have found - or they found me - a couple women who enjoy playing as I do. In each case they thought I was someone else - Margaret Brooks being a very common name, it turns out. The first woman, Kathy, lives in Manila! The second, Lozza, is in Australia.
Over the course of about a year we've traded information on our areas. She's told me about the Wyangala Waters where she vacationed in a caravan, and I have told her about the Finger Lakes. She has spent more time in the states than I have in Australia (as in no time at all).
Yesterday as I pulled into the M&T branch in Elbridge I heard on NPR about the fires in Australia. I knew she lived in New South Wales, but I never imagined that the fires were in her area. To me, Australia is vast and the states huge. Whenever I worry about my old friend in Colorado - floods, fires, blizzards - he tells me he is well out of the way. But NPR said "The Blue Mountains" and my attention was assured.
I looked up our games, and there was a message from her. Over 200 homes had already burned, but she felt they were safe. Today I got this:
There is an emergency alert out for the whole of the Blue Mountains area for tomorrow. My
daughter-in-law and grandchildren are evacuating but my son will stay with their house. My husband is working at the relief centre but I will try to stay with our house. We have a community fire box at the end of our street where the fire hose can be connected to the main. They can use that to protect the houses from embers if that happens. It is comforting to know that people all over the world are thinking and praying for us.
She sent that 12 hours ago - I wrote back this morning but have heard nothing.
We are so lucky here in Central New York. Last year was SuperStorm Sandy that totally missed us. No threat of fires will ever erupt here - and yes, there may be flooding in the Southern Tier (no small problem for those affected) or an ice storm or blizzard or two in the winter. Yes, the Labor Day Storm of 1998 is still recent enough - but I can't imagine a circumstance where our homes would be totally destroyed, as well as our neighborhoods. Maybe as the climate changes and the years go by we will have our own Super Storm - but for now I feel safe. I certainly hope Lozza and her family get through this...
So as we go about our lives this week, please take a moment to think of her half a world away. I will, of course, keep you posted through this blog, or write to me: MBrooks@remax.net.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
The Fourth Twenty
Below are the fourth set of 20 sold and closed single family homes as they appear in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. They are in no particular order, and closed between August 15th and October 1st.
29 Onondaga Street - Village of Skaneateles - $180,000
4662 State Route 41A - Town of Niles - $240,000
1624 Coon Hill Road - Town of Skaneateles - $160,000
3140 West Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $465,000
4380 Jordan Road - Town of Skaneaeles - $158,000
22 Onondaga Street - Village of Skaneateles - $300,000
2148 Singing Woods Drive - Town of Spafford - $530,000
30 Hannum Street - Village of Skaneateles - $295,000
2598 Nunnery Road - Town of Spafford - $590,000
2637 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $1,900,000
3415 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $255,000
70 West Elizabeth Street - Village of Skaneateles - $165,000
3862 Highland Avenue - Town of Skaneateles - $258,500
25 East Elizabeth Street - Village of Skaneateles - $650,000
3542 County Line Road - Town of Skaneateles - $270,000
106 Sinclair Street - Village of Skaneateles - $424,325
3092 County Line Road - Town of Skaneateles - $297,500
2632 Giles Road - Town of Skaneateles - $355,000
6 West Lake Street - Village of Skaneateles - $480,000
3067 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $1,925,000
29 Onondaga Street - Village of Skaneateles - $180,000
4662 State Route 41A - Town of Niles - $240,000
1624 Coon Hill Road - Town of Skaneateles - $160,000
3140 West Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $465,000
4380 Jordan Road - Town of Skaneaeles - $158,000
22 Onondaga Street - Village of Skaneateles - $300,000
2148 Singing Woods Drive - Town of Spafford - $530,000
30 Hannum Street - Village of Skaneateles - $295,000
2598 Nunnery Road - Town of Spafford - $590,000
2637 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $1,900,000
3415 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $255,000
70 West Elizabeth Street - Village of Skaneateles - $165,000
3862 Highland Avenue - Town of Skaneateles - $258,500
25 East Elizabeth Street - Village of Skaneateles - $650,000
3542 County Line Road - Town of Skaneateles - $270,000
106 Sinclair Street - Village of Skaneateles - $424,325
3092 County Line Road - Town of Skaneateles - $297,500
2632 Giles Road - Town of Skaneateles - $355,000
6 West Lake Street - Village of Skaneateles - $480,000
3067 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $1,925,000
Friday, October 18, 2013
Skaneateles Real Estate - The October Update
Ah, October! One of my very favorite months...I went out to the lake today and going down East Lake Road the trees positively glowed. And today really wasn't the most beautiful of days - we had those last week! I told Bob what I loved about this time of year was the light - that painter's gray with sunshine topping the trees. It all foreshadows the winter months to come, but I find myself thinking more and more about cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing....but there are houses to sell...and deals to make before I ski.
50 West Genesee
There are currently (as of the 15th) 92 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, ONLY 17 are in the Village and 26 are waterfront. I stress the the "only" because that is a low number, and usually about the same as waterfront properties...but the Village is selling!
This period covers the days between September 18th and October 15th. During that time only four - four! - single family homes came on the market. Two were in the Village and the two others were in the town, none waterfront. Nothing was re-listed, which is a hopeful sign that things are moving without having to re-list.
There are 23 properties listed in the under contract category. "Surprise" - 8 are Village homes, and one each for waterfront and the town. The median list price of these homes is $244,000. Just drive up Onondaga Street - they all seem to have sold within weeks of each other, and I am sure account for the slightly lower price.
And now my favorite paragraph - the SOLD paragraph. We have (drum roll please) 85 homes that have closed year-to-October 15th. Eleven are new - and oddly 3 in the Village and 8 in the town. But think of that - in the same time frame 11 closed while only 4 came on the market - a reversal of trends? Time to buy? Of course! And the median price of the sold listings is $297,000...more like it!
Last year at this time there were 95 sold and closed homes. But let's remember that last year was a record year, and not reflective of the previous decade. In fact, in 2011 there were only 55 closings by mid-October, but with the (almost) same median price. That's a huge difference! I am glad we are on the up side of it!
So if you are out there wondering what to do this weekend, please stop by my open house at 54 Onondaga Street between 12:00 and 2:00 on Sunday. I know we just had the first open a couple weeks ago, but the sellers took to heart the comments made at the brokers' open and have worked feverishly to make a few recommended changes. One of the changes is the price - $325,000.
50 West Genesee
There are currently (as of the 15th) 92 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, ONLY 17 are in the Village and 26 are waterfront. I stress the the "only" because that is a low number, and usually about the same as waterfront properties...but the Village is selling!
This period covers the days between September 18th and October 15th. During that time only four - four! - single family homes came on the market. Two were in the Village and the two others were in the town, none waterfront. Nothing was re-listed, which is a hopeful sign that things are moving without having to re-list.
There are 23 properties listed in the under contract category. "Surprise" - 8 are Village homes, and one each for waterfront and the town. The median list price of these homes is $244,000. Just drive up Onondaga Street - they all seem to have sold within weeks of each other, and I am sure account for the slightly lower price.
And now my favorite paragraph - the SOLD paragraph. We have (drum roll please) 85 homes that have closed year-to-October 15th. Eleven are new - and oddly 3 in the Village and 8 in the town. But think of that - in the same time frame 11 closed while only 4 came on the market - a reversal of trends? Time to buy? Of course! And the median price of the sold listings is $297,000...more like it!
Last year at this time there were 95 sold and closed homes. But let's remember that last year was a record year, and not reflective of the previous decade. In fact, in 2011 there were only 55 closings by mid-October, but with the (almost) same median price. That's a huge difference! I am glad we are on the up side of it!
So if you are out there wondering what to do this weekend, please stop by my open house at 54 Onondaga Street between 12:00 and 2:00 on Sunday. I know we just had the first open a couple weeks ago, but the sellers took to heart the comments made at the brokers' open and have worked feverishly to make a few recommended changes. One of the changes is the price - $325,000.
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