October 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update

Almaden Valley single family real estate appears to be easing into its annual holiday slowdown… or at least elements are. Sellers have pulled back on putting their homes on the market as we would expect with the holiday season upon us, with only 10 homes added in October (which is, if not a record low for inventory in our market, pretty close to it). 31 sales closed in October, up over 40% from the 22 closings in September.

When we compare 2021 numbers with those of the same time last year, we can see that tight inventory is running the proverbial show. This October’s data is across the board lower in three key factors: number of homes put on the market (10 this year versus 19 same time last year); number of sold listings (31 versus 39); and number of pending sales (25 versus 30). In 2020 October saw about half a month’s inventory, while this year we’re seeing not much over a week’s worth. In looking at the price per square foot, we can see just how tight inventory is. Last month we saw $868/sq ft, up from $825 in September. The average price per square foot in October 2020 was $712, representing an almost 30% increase.

There is no question that Almaden Valley real estate is highly competitive, even going into the holiday season. If you are thinking about selling your home, call/email/text me and let me show you how selling now can help you take advantage of the high buyer demand we’re seeing!

October 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market

Halloween in Almaden 2021

Halloween Almaden 2021Happy Halloween, Almaden!

It is the most spooktacular time of the year! Ghosts, witches, jack-o-lanterns, and of course, mountains of candies. Halloween is here, and Almaden is a funtastic place to soak in some real scares.

This year some of our more ghoulish neighbors are hosting haunted houses that are definitely worth a visit. At David Vengerov’s home in the Montevideo neighborhood, this year’s theme is “Toy Factory”. Don’t forget to peek into the attached trailer at the property. Says David on his Nextdoor post, “the distinctive features of the house will be the “dynamic” scares.” Address: 1487 Montalban Drive.

Daniel Paulazzo of the Almaden Meadows also invites neighbors and Halloween fans to his haunted maze at “Deadmond Ave.” Address: 1394 Redmond Ave.

For Jamie Lee Miller’s family, Halloween is by far their favorite celebration. Miller promises tricks and treats and invites friends and neighbors to their ghostly display having spent “countless weeks on our family home making it a sight to see and experience to have with your friends/ family and kids”. Address: 1104 Allston Way

Beth Swartz of Glenview Serenity promises a fantastic display with some pop-up scares, skeletons and more! “This year we will have candy in individual bags and pop-up scares that kids can activate themselves. Please drop by our place on Halloween – 6pm – 9pm (or until the candy runs out!)” she says. Located on Corvallis Drive between Elwood and Glenview in Almaden.

For more locations of haunted houses and a quick look at streets to hit for candies and scares, visit: https://nextdoor.com/treat_map/?is=nav_bar

September 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update

Mortgage interest rates have been inching up but buyers are still keen on Almaden Valley real estate. Perhaps the rising mortgage rates are why we saw a dramatic increase of 80% in the number of pending homes last month as buyers may have hastened their purchases in order to lock in lower rates.

August/September is when we usually see the market cool for the holidays, and if it weren’t for this flurry of home purchasing we might be seeing it this year. Inventory is edging upwards and sales were slowing down in a predictable seasonal pattern. However, I anticipate the sold numbers for the next month or so will increase as the pending contracts close.

Average price per square foot has retracted a bit, to $825/sqft from August’s $866/sqft. Still, when compared to the same time last year we’ve still seen an almost 20% increase from $688/sqft in 2020.

Negotiating our unpredictable market requires a high level of experience. If you are thinking of buying or selling, call, text or email me and let me show you how I can help make the best deal!

September 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market

August 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update

Leading real estate information news site Inman recently released their 2021 Fall Housing Market Outlook in which they predict that prices will cool but inventory will remain tight. We are seeing this general trend in the Almaden Valley market, which we tend to see as the year progresses towards the holiday season.

When examining the average price per square foot, we can see that the Almaden Valley real estate market for single family homes has remained pretty stable over the last several months. In April 2021, the average price per square foot was $885 and August ended with $866/square foot. We ARE seeing prices retract a bit, but this is very likely due to fact that inventory has risen and that we are entering the holiday season when the market tends to cool a bit. In May of this year, we were at about .3 months’ worth of inventory, which has gradually climbed to about .5 for August. Although this increase in inventory has relieved some pressure on the upward pricing trend we were seeing earlier in the year, as Inman suggests inventory is still tight.

These are unusual times, with factors affecting our real estate market that we haven’t seen before. If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Almaden Valley, contact me and let me show you what I can do to help get the best deal in this unusual market.

August 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate

July 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update

After over a year of almost meteoric growth, it seems that the Almaden Valley real estate market is taking a slight breather. The current price per square foot of $852 has retracted a bit from the high of $888 we saw in May. The number of homes on the market remained virtually unchanged from June to July, while the number of sold homes dropped from 50 to 42 and the number of pending contracts decreased from 51 to 30 during that time frame. Nationally, most markets are experiencing a similar cooling; in addition, we are approaching the fall/winter holiday season and activity starts to slow this time of year.

Although the Almaden Valley market is still quite active, sales data indicates that inventory is increasing to the point of satisfying buyer demand a bit more than it has in the past. In June, the average days on market for a home was 8 days, which in July crept up to 12 days. When the days on market increase, it can mean that sellers might have to make their homes stand out in order to get that quick sale. However, interest rates remain at bargain prices and all but assure that we will see buyers in the market. If you are thinking about selling your home and want to take advantage of the robust market, call, text or email and let me show you how I can help!

July 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate

Almaden Valley Summer Concert

Almaden Valley Summer ConcertThe Almaden Valley Summer Concert will be performed by the Silicon Valley Houserockers on July 22nd, 2021! Be sure not to miss their only summer show performed at Greystone Park, from 6:30-8:30 P.M. It is advisable to bring your own lawn chairs, drinks, and snacks to enjoy this soul-rock cover band’s amazing live music. There is no entry fee into the event, so bring your friends and family. This event is sponsored by the Almaden Senior Association and the Almaden Advisory Council.

Featuring ten members including guitarists, vocalists, drummers and trumpeteers, the Houserockers provide an enchanting experience reviving all the greatest hits in rock, R&B, soul, and blues from the last few decades. Including covers of the Rolling Stones, Hall & Oates, Bruce Springsteen and Bruno Mars, their performances are not to be missed!

To learn more about The Houserockers, head to their website at https://svhouserockers.com/
Enjoy the show with your friends and family!

Event Information:
July 22nd; 6:30-8:30pm
Free entry
Greystone Park located at Camden Avenue and Mt. Carmel Drive, San Jose, CA 95120

Almaden Community Center and Almaden Library Updates

Almaden Community Center and Almaden LibraryExciting updates from the Almaden Community Center and Almaden Library!

The Almaden Branch Library is now open for all in-person activities after the pandemic restrictions are lifted. Check out the new hours here.

While the Almaden Community Center is still awaiting opening for indoor in-person activities, there are a lot of sports camps and outdoor activities that you can register for. Some of the activities that are still open for July registration are:

Camp Dance:
July 19 to July 23. For kids aged 3 to 12 years. At the Almaden Community Center, Tiny Town Courtyard. This is an outdoor activity, masks are required.

Camp San Jose Strong at Vista Park: Full Day
July 6 to July 9, July 12 to July 16, July 19 to July 23. For kids aged 5 to 12 years. This is a full day camp from 8 am to 6 pm at Vista Park.

Camp San Jose Strong at Almaden: Half Day
July 6 to July 9, July 12 to July 16, July 19 to July 23, August 2 to August 6. For kids aged 3 to 5 years. This is a half day camp at the Almaden Community Center.

Beach Volleyball at Almaden Lake Park:
July 14 to August 4. For kids aged 8 to 12 years. Wednesdays from 3:45 to 4:30 pm.
July 26 to July 30. For kids aged 10 to 14 years. 9 am to 12 pm.
These are outdoor activities, masks are required.

Spots fill up fast. Register for activities here: https://apm.activecommunities.com/sanjoseparksandrec/Activity_Search

Happy summer! Stay safe, everyone.

May 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update

May was another month for the record books in Almaden Valley. Fifty single family homes sold last month, which is a whopping 285% increase from the 13 that sold May 2020. Fourteen single family homes were on the market May 2021 compared to 38 in May 2020. Although the number of pending sales dropped slightly to 45 from 50 this past April, it was dramatically ahead of the 32 we had in May 2020. The average price per square foot edged up slightly, $888/sqft in May 2021 compared to the $885/sqft we saw in April. Compare this to the $639/sqft we had in May 2020 and we can see that the market is absolutely crazy!

What is even crazier is the fact that at this rate, we have about NINE DAYS worth of inventory based on the rate of sales. Well-priced homes in move-in condition are finding an eager market. Although homes are often selling within days of hitting the market and with multiple offers, the rapid pace means that there are many details that can get overlooked that can cost both sellers AND buyers money. If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, contact me and let me show you how I can help you get the best deal!

May 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market

April 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update

The Almaden Valley residential real estate market continues to skyrocket. Average price per square foot has reached record levels. In fact, April’s $895/sqft represents a major jump from the previous month’s $795/sqft.

We HAVE seen a dramatic jump in homes coming onto the market. In March, there were 12 single family residences listed for sale while in April, we saw 20. But inventory is so tight and buyers so keen that this 67% increase in inventory was snapped up, leaving buyers clamoring for more. Homes are lasting an average of ten days on the market before finding a buyer, often after spirited bidding wars.

Although many people are expressing concern about a potential bubble burst, this soaring real estate market is quite different from the bubble and burst of the early 2000’s. The Great Recession was caused in part by a mad rush for homes fueled by easy money from banks. Our current vigorous market is fueled in part by historically low interest rates and a shortage of homes due to builders having been slow to pick up their building pace after the recession.

It’s a great time to be a seller. Buyers, however, aren’t left out of the good times. The aforementioned historically low interest rates make it quite attractive to jump into the market. If you are thinking about selling or buying, contact me and let me show how I can help YOU make the best of this wild market!

April 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market

March 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate Market Update

The supply of single family homes in Almaden Valley continues to be incredibly tight, a phenomenon that much of the country is seeing. Many homeowners who might consider moving are hesitating to do so, knowing that they would very likely be facing the exact scenario as a buyer that benefits them as a seller; fierce competition for a limited number of homes offered on the market that often results in bidding wars that increase the purchase price of listings. This well-considered hesitance to sell homes is perhaps the biggest bottleneck we’re seeing in the tight supply of homes. In one Texas market, a Realtor reported receiving over NINETY offers on a listing, with many being cash above list price with no concessions asked of the seller.

There are many factors fueling this unprecedented market. One is a slowdown in new home construction that started during the Great Recession, which not only removed new homes from the market but also resale homes as original owners put their once-new homes on the market. Increasing interest rates are motivating buyers to make purchases sooner rather than later. We are also seeing an increase in the number of younger and first-time home buyers. All these factors are creating an extremely challenging market where the number of homes that have sold has gone down only because there aren’t enough homes offered for sale. Contact me if you’d like more information.

March 2021 Almaden Valley Real Estate