Summer Fun & Things To Do This July in Sonoma County
Welcome to July! Can you believe we’re already in the thick of summer in Sonoma County? I’m loving the blue skies and a healthy dose of sunshine, however the summer months can be a busy time.
Our calendars fill up fast with vacation plans, a plethora of new outdoor events to attend and additional time spent working on the house and in the garden.
It’s important to remember to slow down and literally “smell the roses.” Enjoy the longer days, savor a glass of wine and carve out time to reflect on our goals for the year.
How are we progressing? How do we feel? What’s working and what’s not?
If real estate is a goal that’s on your mind, you’re not alone! This year has been a change of pace for both buyers and sellers. Many have put their plans on hold as they wait out the interest rate hikes and rising home prices.
Keep reading below for more on how our housing market is performing and a list of ways to enjoy summer in Sonoma County!
February 2023 Sonoma County Market Update
The spring housing market is heating up! With inventory in the North Bay down 50 percent year-over-year, we are continuing to see multiple offer situations and sales prices going over asking. While it’s usually not at the same rate or increase that we saw over the last few years, it does tell us that buyers have entered back into the market and sticker shock of the sharp rise in interest rates has settled a bit.
Sonoma County Spring Housing Market Predictions
One thing I love about this month, is the mustard, which pops up in our vineyards towards the end of winter. These beautiful blooms are a welcome sign that spring is right around the corner and with all the rain we are getting it is stunning!
Speaking of spring, the real estate market in Sonoma County is starting to heat up! Rising interest rates, combined with high homes prices led to a slow fall and winter season. A stark contrast from the hot market we had leading up to summer 2022.
Sonoma County Real Estate Market Update: What Happened in September 2022
Market Talk It’s officially fall and inventory is on the rise around the country. View the full report here: September 2022 Sonoma County Market Update. We are seeing the typical seasonal bump in new listings in the Wine Country. However, rising interest rates affect some would-be sellers too. They are holding off putting their homes on the market since they would be doubling their interest rate when buying a replacement home unless they purchase cash of course. And, there are still plenty of buyers in the market place searching for homes! Mortgage interest rates are at their highest level in more than 14 years, sales inventory has ticked up a bit but is still historically low, and fear of a looming recession is still a topic of discussion in the media. What we do know is there are still buyers actively shopping for homes, and desirable properties that show well and are priced correctly have been going into contract, in some cases even with multiple offers and well over asking. One recent country property in Sebastopol priced at $2 million sold for $3,150,000! It’s very important that buyers understand there are a number of loan programs out there that can help offset the higher monthly payment at today’s rates, and rates can vary significantly from lender to lender. You want to make sure you shop around and look at all options, from 2-1 rate buy down programs to credit union rates and special institutional lending programs. Be diligent in your research before choosing a lender to work with. And a flashback to earlier years, some sellers may even have mortgages that are assumable at yesterday's low rates. In the past those were typically adjustable mortgages so again it is important to do careful research. Traditionally, markets like this will stabilize, but when that happens and what "stability" looks like is up in the air. Reach out to your trusted real estate professional to help you decide if it makes sense to make a move now or wait! ...
2022 Sonoma County Summer Housing Market Update ?
Do you have questions about Sonoma County's housing market? As quickly as mortgage rates are rising, the once red-hot market is showing signs of cooling. Home prices are still historically high, but there is some concern (fueled by the media) that they will ease up as well. Today I want to run through some of the latest trends we've been seeing this summer and discuss what they say about the state of our market. For a more detailed overview, be sure to check out the Corcoran Q2 2022 Real Estate Report. First let's address a question I have been getting a lot lately: Is today’s housing market in the same predicament that it was over a decade ago, when the 2007-08 crash caused the Great Recession? The short answer is: no. America’s housing market is in far better health today. That’s thanks, in part, to new lending regulations that resulted from that meltdown. Those rules put today’s borrowers on far firmer footing. But what about rising interest rates? During the pandemic, rates were historically low, but that’s starting to change. For most of July, my clients received interest rates in the 5.5% range. While that seems high, it’s not too far off from where rates were before the pandemic. Why a slight slowdown in our market might actually be a good thing...
How to Protect Your Family & Home From Wildfires
Fire risk is a huge concern August - October! ? These months can be hot, dry and windy in Sonoma County. Now is a GREAT time to put together an emergency kit (see image below for ideas) and to come up with an evacuation plan for your family and pets. We also recommend implementing informed landscape practices, and creating zones of defensible space. This will help ensure your property is more fire resilient, beautiful and a safer habitat for wildlife. Most house fires are caused by flying embers, not oncoming walls of flames. Embers that land on or near your house can easily ignite plants, mulch, dry leaves or stored items. The first step is to harden your home. This means giving careful consideration to the roof, vents, decks, windows and eaves. For specific actions you can take, check out the University of California Agriculture and natural Resources’ “Preparing Your Home” guide: bit.ly/3Brg4nM. Next, create defensible spaces around your home. This doesn’t mean taking out all trees and plants and replacing them with rocks, leaving you with a moonscape. It means making thoughtful choices about what to keep next to your home and how to maintain your property. Defensible space guidelines define three ignition zones within 100 feet of your home: Zone 0: 5 feet around your home, decks and outbuildings, often called “the ember defense zone” Zone 1: 5 - 30 feet around your home, or to the property line Zone 2: 30 - 100 feet around your home, or to the property line In Zone 0, the ember defense zone, here are some actions you can take to create defensible space: Minimize and remove plants, especially under vents and eaves, and in front of windows and sliding doors. If you live in a highly fire-prone area with greater risk, adjacent to a wildland-urban interface or on a slope, remove all organic materials from this zone. Keep the roof and rain gutters of your home or any outbuildings free of debris, such as leaves or needles. Remove combustible materials like mulches, and replace them with inorganic materials, like gravel or stepping stones. In Zone 1: Create “islands” of plants with organic mulch that are separated by nonflammable materials, such as gravel, pavers or flagstone. Optimally, plant materials in this zone are 3 feet tall or less and primarily perennial, not woody. Using specimen (or individual) shrubs or trees is recommended. Prune all trees and shrubs to reduce combustible material and control their size...
FREE Live Music around Sonoma County!
Who doesn’t love FREE entertainment! One of the best things about summer in Sonoma County is the plethora of weekly options available to music lovers! If you enjoy getting out to see local Live Music, take a look at what is happening around Sonoma County this summer! Healdsburg In The Plaza Tuesdays 6:00pm - 8:00pm 2022 Tuesdays in the Plaza June 14 – Jesus Diaz y su Qba (Afro-Cuban Ensemble) June 21 – The Carolyn Sills Combo (Spaghetti Western Swing) June 28 – The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra ft. Terrie Odabi (Blues/Soul) July 5 – The Coffis Brothers (Folk Rock) July 12 – Marshall House Project (Electric Soul/Funk) July 19 – Los Pinguos (Latin Rhythm/World) July 26 – Soul Horizon (Reggae) August 2 – Luce (Rock/Alternative) August 9 – Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys (Rockabilly/Western Swing) August 16 – Sal’s Greenhouse (Funk/Soul) August 23 – Boot Juice (Bluegrass/Folk) August 30 – The Rubinoos (Power Pop/Pop Rock) Montgomery Village - Sounds Summer Concert Series Santa Rosa Sundays 3:00pm - 6:00pm Village Sound Summer Concert Series June 12 – Pop-Rocks June 26 – Stax City July 10 – Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers July 24 – Mercy and the Heartbeats August 7 – Wonderbread 5 August 21 – Pop Fiction KRUSH Backyard Concerts 3565 Standish Ave, Santa Rosa Thursdays 6:00pm Backyard Concerts 2022 June 16 – Kid Andersen June 30 – Achilles Wheel / Dgiin July 14 – Wreckless Strangers / Amy McCarley July 28 – Janiva Magness / Alex Jordan August 11 – Taylor Rae / Dream Farmers August 25 – Blues Defenders & Soul Fuse September 8 – Full Moonalice / THUGZ Acoustic September 22 – Sonoma County Super Jam Live at Juilliard Park 227 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa Sundays 5:00pm - 7:00pm Live at Juilliard July 17 – Paul Steward July 24 – Lee Vandeveer Band July 31 – Aki Kumar August 7 - Batacha August 14 - Down Dirty Shake August 21 - Caitlin Jemma & The Goodness Wilson Artisan Wineries Summer Music Series Healdsburg Fridays 6:00 – 8:30pm Summer Music Series June 10 – St. Anne’s Crossing, Sonoma Shakers – Rock & Roll, Blues | Wine Country Artisan Pizza June 17 – Mazzocco, The Funky Dozen – Funk, Party | Fa Nino’s June 24 – Jaxon Keys, Solid Air – Americana, Rock & Roll | Wilson Artisan Grilling Team July 1 – Delorimier, The Hots – Rock, Pop | Wine Country Artisan Pizza July 8 – Soda Rock, The Poyntlyss Sistars – R&B, Dance | Dino’s Greek July 15 – St. Anne’s Crossing, Humdingers – Rock & Soul, Jazz | Chad’s Soup Shack July 22 – Mazzocco, The Harvest Band – Motown Soul | Dino’s Greek July 29 – Coyote Sonoma, Nicole Marden Band – Country | Coyote Sonoma August 5 – Soda...
Happy 4th of July – Where to Enjoy Fireworks this Year in Sonoma County
I'm happy to hear that 4th of July Fireworks celebrations are happening across Sonoma County, after several years of cancellations due to the pandemic and wildfire danger. Here's a list of dates and locations for Fourth of July Fireworks planned in Sonoma County. We will keep the event list updated as well with the most current information, so be sure to keep checking back. And hey--you may be able to see some of these from the comfort of your own home, or at a friend's home. From my house I can see Sebastopol and Windsor on July 3rd, and downtown Santa Rosa (though this year it seems they won't be held July 4th). In years past I have gone to the beach on the Russian River in Guerneville--super great place to watch, but it appears those are not happening this year. The event at the Green Music Center in Rohnert Park will feature the Santa Rosa Symphony and Transcendence Theatre Company. [embed]https://youtu.be/8eh9cobS8dU[/embed] There are lots of great options to choose from this year! Visit the Press Democrat article on Where to celebrate July 4th around Sonoma County for even more on what's happening around the county. Be sure to check Facebook and Press Democrat for the most up to date information as well. Whatever you do, stay safe and enjoy a Happy 4th of July! Sonoma Monday, July 4 - Dusk Sonoma Fireworks General Vallejo's Field Petaluma's Laser Light Display Monday, July 4 - 9:30pm Petaluma Light Show Viewable from Downtown Area to Sonoma Mountain Rohnert Park Monday, July 4 - 7:30m-11pm Rohnert Park Fireworks Green Music Center Sebastopol Sunday, July 3 - 6:15pm-10pm Sebastopol Fireworks Analy High School Windsor Sunday, July 3 - Starts at 7:30pm Windsor Fireworks Keiser Park Healdsburg Monday, July 4 - 9pm-11pm Healdsburg Fireworks Healdsburg High School Cloverdale Monday, July 4 - 9pm Cloverdale Fireworks Cloverdale High School ...
A Behind the Scenes Look at Home Staging with Woodland Stylists
Styling a home for sale is not just about ‘making it look pretty’, it's about building a vision and helping buyers form a strong emotional connection with a house. There are also several reports that show staging sells properties faster and for higher value. So what exactly goes into staging a home? We recently partnered with the designers at Woodland Stylists to get our Healdsburg listing ready to hit the market and gain in an inside look at their approach to the process. We have worked with their team in the past and continue to be impressed with their attention to detail and talent for maximizing a home's potential. Not to mention the results were AMAZING! We were featured on Patch.com and the article was picked up by MSN, offering great exposure for our clients. Watch the video below for a behind the scenes look at how the home staging process works and the benefits. These guys are true artists and do a spectacular job showcasing a home's charm and character! We hope you enjoy it! ...
Sonoma County Market Update | Q4 2021
Sonoma County Market Update: It's our pleasure to bring you the Corcoran 2021 Q4 Real Estate Market Report. Flip through this album depicting real estate sales stats town by town and county wide! Even though we're well on our way to a busy market in 2022, it's important to pause and reflect on how the last quarter provides context for the housing market trends we see today in Sonoma County. Here is a quick recap. Sales activity remained steadfast in Q4. Sales did slow down a bit over the holidays, which is a typical seasonal pattern. The median home price reached $769,000, which was a 9.9% year-over-year increase. Overall, we ended 2021 with solid growth (exceeding predictions) for Sonoma County real estate and the promise of another fruitful year ahead. Some of the hottest local markets right now include: Sebastopol (29.9% median price increase!), Sonoma & Healdsburg! Throughout the county home prices saw significant price appreciation although unit sales were down when compared to 2020. Sonoma County Market Update | Q4 Market Highlights: >>>VIEW THE FULL MARKET REPORT<<< Home prices continued to trend upward in most Sonoma County communities as inventory constraints remain. For example, year-over-year prices in Sonoma exponentially increased in the fourth quarter to a median sales price of $1.2 million (+42.4% increase year over year). Sebastopol and Sonoma were tied for the highest median sales price in the county at $1.2 million. What To Expect This Year...