Sonoma Valley Stars Loved in The Valley of the Moon Not a lot of people know that Sonoma Valley stars get plenty of love and attention here.  Yes, right here in the Valley of the Moon.  It's a little known fact that we have a terrific observatory about fifteen minutes from the town of Sonoma, in the hills overlooking the community of Kenwood.  The Robert Ferguson Observatory is a cool place for star-gazing and you can find out all about it right here.  Don't skip over this link.  You have to check it out...lots of amazing pictures from outer space and other cool stuff, including events and classes. The moon takes center stage here because it looks bigger in Sonoma Valley than in other places. Author Jack London nicknamed Sonoma Valley "The Valley of the Moon."  I've often wondered if Lo... 02/05/2010

One of my favorite hang-outs is Sonoma's Sunflower Caffe, a popular Sonoma restaurant for locals and visitors alike.   That's because it's typical laid-back Sonoma scene --- very low-key.  The Sunflower offers great lattes, mochas, teas, and a menu featuring healthy breakfast items, sandwiches, and some seriously good salads for brunch or lunch.   Mid-to-late afternoons is happy hour with special deals on wine and beer. The  Sunflower is a great place to hook up with old friends and clients which I did yesterday.   Another patron took this picture and you can tell by looking at it that she'd had (steady now) waaaaaaay too much of their tempting coffee.        I've got a special place in my heart for the Sunflower which goes back to the days before its time.    In the '70's there was a g... 01/30/2010

Sonoma County Economic Indicators - Some Good News for Real Estate!  The Sonoma County Economic Development Board has just released a 16 page report looking ahead at our local economy and, among other things, it cites good news about housing affordability. The report says declining Sonoma County real estate values have helped broaden home buying opportunities fhere.  It also says the per-capita income here has exceeded the national average and that new business creation in Sonoma County actually went up in 2009! It's a quick read and definitely worth your time if you are interested in economic news --- and who isn't today? Click here to read the full report.  It's important to point out the county-wide report does not take into account Sonoma real estate micro-markets.  If you want deta... 01/30/2010

As you see in the charts below average sales prices have dipped substantially, proof that the distress sales are the homes that are moving.  Buyers have spoken and they want the deals!  And there are deals to be had, hence the increase in volume.  So, all in all, things are looking up!   To see all the homes that are currently being offered for sale, click here. To learn more about the area visit my website or contact me directly. 01/29/2010

When you come to Sonoma Valley you've got to stop to smell the roses in Sonoma Plaza.  When they are in bloom...and it's often...it's just one of the things I love to do in Slow-noma. I'm posting today to share the latest news in our local paper, the Sonoma Index Tribune, about Sonoma's official acceptance as a member of Cittaslow.  This is the international organization that celebrates a more natural, healthy, and relaxed way of living.  A delegation from Cittaslow has been visiting and you can read all about it in today's edition of the Sonoma IT. The next time you're in Sonoma, be sure to stop in Sonoma Plaza where rose bushes abound.  And if you've got time...as here you should...give me a call and I'll show you my Slow-noma.  Dress casually and wear your walking shoes.  We'll just... 01/29/2010

I hit the road this morning to check out our broker tour for Sonoma real estate listings.  Sixteen properties made the Sonoma tour this week.  Asking prices start at $289,000 for condos - two of which are located in the Spanish-style complex known as La Mancha on the western side of Sonoma.  The condos are about 1200 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths.  Other listings include: 19167 Robinson Rd - $295,000 - 3bed/2ba, approx 1300 s.f., a condo that's a short sale. 17600 Johnson Ave - $323,000- 2bed/1ba, approx 850 s.f. - bungalow built in 1949. 18105 Railroad Ave - $325,000 - 3bed/2ba, approx 1430 s.f. single level, built in '76 290 Mountain Ave - $399,000 - 2bed/2ba, approx 1700 s.f. - 2 story townhouse close to shopping, schools, and the plaza. 592 Baines Ave - $435,000 - 3bed/2ba... 01/28/2010

Changes are coming for the Sonoma Farmer's Market but not without great controversy.  Beginning each year in early April and running through October, local fans of the Sonoma Farmer's Market combine produce shopping with socializing in the center of town on Sonoma Plaza.  It's a charming, yet relatively small-scale, market that many of us cherish.   The future of the Sonoma Farmer's Market has been murky due to criticism of its management. But now, a vote by the Sonoma City Council has shed some light on what may lie ahead.  A story in the Sonoma Index Tribune provides details on how market managers won the council's suppport to retain leadership of this popular local event.  You can read the story here. It's a relief to many that changes in the operations of the Sonoma Farmer's Market ... 01/22/2010

Thursday of each week we have our broker tour of Sonoma real estate listings.  Today the tour of Sonoma real estate listings was short with  five properties ranging in price from $189,000 to $799,000.  Here's a quick run-down: $189,000 - Attached Single Family Home.  4bed/2ba, approx 1300 sq.ft., 2 story.  This was a bank-owned property sold to a broker last year at $160,000 who is re-selling it now.  It's described as "move in ready and renovated."  It's located just of highway 12 in "The Springs" area of Sonoma Valley. $380,000 - Detached Single Family Home.  3bed/2ba, approx. 1339 s.f., single story.  This property is a short sale.  The owners paid $650,000 for it in September '05.  Located on Sonoma's "west side" near bike path. $409,000 - Detached Single Family w-separate unit.  2b... 01/21/2010

I've often heard people  say,  "I want to retire in Sonoma."  Lots of folks do.  The median age here in Sonoma is 47, according to officials at City Hall.   That fact may have had something to do with a t.v. commercial that was shot in town today.  It could  just be a co-incidence but I found the linkage between the subject of the ad and the mature and relatively well-heeled population of this lovely town quite interesting.    As I drove into the office on Sonoma Plaza today I noticed a production crew on nearby First Street East.  Curious ex-reporter that I am, I went over to find out what was going on.  A security guard said MJZ Productions out of LA was shooting a commercial for Merrill Lynch about its retirement planning programs. Two actors caught my attention.   Posing as shoppers... 01/20/2010

  Since the start of 2010, I've counted 30 "new" Sonoma Valley Real Estate Listings.  They're priced from $297,500 to $3,895,000.  There's absolutely no way this last estate property offering can be considered new.  It's been a real estate listing for sale on and off since November of 2007 when it hit the Multiple Listing Service at $5,500,000.  Quite a few of the other newbies have long listing histories, too. Today's sellers need to know their properties aren't going to sell if they are over-priced to begin with.   My advice to sellers in Sonoma Valley today is "price to sell" while the buyers are showing interest.  And buyers are shopping for property right now...due to low interest rates, available inventory, and who-knows-what else in their personal lives.    I'm going to be introd... 01/15/2010

I've heard many people say that they feel like things are picking up.  Some times it's just a feeling and sometimes it's just the way it is.  The charts below show the average sales price and number of homes sold, month by month, for the past nine years.  Obviously, we have taken a beating.  But we look to be making at least a small rebound. To learn more about this area visit my website or feel free to contact me directly. 01/12/2010

    How's the real estate market in Sonoma, CA?  A number of buyers have asked me that question since the first of the year.  So, as of today....January 9, 2010....here's what the MLS listings for Sonoma Valley show, starting with active listings: There are 156 residential properties for sale ranging in price from $105,000 to $13,500,000 24 are condos or townhomes priced between $105,000 and $875,000 Of the entire listed, 35 are distressed sales (foreclosures, in default, or REOs.) And the MLS listings now in escrow: 77 homes are in contingent status priced from $299,000 to $3,100,000 and 10 of those are condos. We have 14 pending sales priced from $135,500 to $1,975,000 and one of these is a condo. As for distressed properties under contract, nearly two-thirds...about 65%....are distre... 01/09/2010

Wanna boogie and have fun in Sonoma, CA? This May it'll be time to get down and groove to the sounds of Earth Wind and Fire, the headliners for the annual Sonoma Jazz Plus music festival.  Hey.....listen up people....and get your moves on!     The Sonoma Jazz Plus festival runs May 21-23. Earth Wind and Fire tickets are going on sale Monday, January 11th exclusively for folks who live in Sonoma Valley. Ticket sales open up on January 12th for the rest of the world. Earth Wind and Fire tickets cost $60-$110, and can be purchased online atwww.sonomajazz.org. The rest of the line-up hasn't been announced yet but it's always fun in Sonoma during Jazz Plus. Hope to see you there. Wanna dance? And...yeah...there'll be lots of great food and wine, too. 01/06/2010

As of January 5, 2010 an encouraging 40% of available listings in the beautiful wine country town of Sonoma are in escrow.  Of course, many people take their homes off the market for the holidays making inventory shrink and the percentage of homes in escrow rise as a result. For the month of December 2009 37 homes (14 of which were distress sales) sold for an average final selling price of $704,514. The average original asking price of these homes was $840,472. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $92,500 to a high of $3,500,000. Of the 37 homes that sold, 2 sold at the original asking price and 3 sold over.  The remaining 32 sold for less. It took these homes an average of 150 days to sell. To see everything that is currently available for sale on our MLS, click here. To... 01/05/2010

    Sonoma, CA...has now officially earned the name Slow-noma by becoming the first city in the United States to be awarded the title "Slow City."  It's an honor bestowed upon us by Cittaslo, the Italian organization that celebrates the "Slow Food" movement.  This is big news, folks.   We made the top story on our San Francisco Bay Area CBS station KPIX.  Slow-noma was featured in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.  And the City of Sonoma sent out this news release.  A progressive community, fine food, great wine, wonderful weather, lovely landscapes, beautiful homes---all within an hour's drive of San Francisco are the reasons most people move to Sonoma.  And now all of these qualities of life here in Sonoma have been recognized by the outside world.  Sonoma has earned an international des... 01/05/2010

I found this video today that just blew my mind. The company, called NuFormer Digital Media, has a way to create 3-D images and project them onto a building using the building's multilayered features as part of the image. Now, it looks to me like you need a large surface area to make these projections, but I can foresee having this used on a smaller scale as the technology evolves. Can you imagine driving by a house at night to see one of these projections on the front of the house? Hmm. Enjoy.   Projection on Buildings from NuFormer Digital Media on Vimeo. BTW- if you have an iphone, here's a new list of cool apps that are real estate related you might want to check out:  Apple’s Top Free Real Estate Related iphone apps for Realtors and home buyers in Sonoma County Wine Country 01/02/2010

Brilliant news on this grey and drizzly day here in Sonoma Valley.   Folks who live in Sonoma, Glen Ellen, Kenwood and other communities throughout the valley are making the most of our generally sunny weather by solar-powering their homes.  Check out the story published today in our local paper, the Sonoma Index Tribune:  http://www.sonomanews.com/articles/2009/12/23/news/doc4b32cd1141ed7339920822.txt If you want information on real estate in Sonoma Valley, please contact me when the time is right!   12/28/2009

People move to Sonoma Valley and greater Sonoma County for lots of reasons including a slower pace of living and Sonoma's world renowned bounty of locally grown foods and wines.   And then, many folks are drawn to the natural beauty we are blessed with here.   It's not just the landscapes and our stunning valley, hillside and coastal views.  We have such an abundance of plant and animal life that's it's easy to feel naturally at home or "one-with-nature" here.  So, it's only logical that there's growing interest in another upcoming holiday season event:  the Sonoma Valley Christmas Bird Count. The bird count actually takes place on New Year's Day...from early daylight to dusk.  I participated last year and it was terrific fun, even in the rain.  The day ends with a pot luck gathering at... 12/21/2009

I may be living and selling real estate in what we affectionately call Slow-noma but folks in Sonoma Valley are working quickly to utilize the internet and the ubiquitous I-Phone to reach out and stay in touch as reported in this newspaper story.   What's really interesting to me about this is we've got the highest median age for our residents of any town or city in the entirety of Sonoma County.  Most recently I believe it was somewhere around 45.    We are a popular second home market, though, and many of these part-time home-owners are younger and they work in the San Francisco Bay Area's technology sector.  And, we actually have a fair number of retired and very successful technology pioneers living in Sonoma, Glen Ellen, and Kenwood (all in Sonoma Valley) full time.  But, an I-Phon... 12/20/2009

As you will see in the charts below the average sales price of homes in the beautiful wine country town of Sonoma have come down to the levels that they were in 2001 and 2002. The number of homes being sold, however, is up slightly from 2007 and 2008. I think 2010 is going to be a better year.  Stay tuned.   For more information about this area visit my website or feel free to contact me directly. 12/19/2009