Sonoma county Real Estate Market Report 2008

In beautiful Sonoma County there are over 53 miles of Pacific Coastline, 12 miles of San Francisco Bay Coastline, and over 63,000 acres of vineyards. As a child I would travel the two hour distance from Mendocino County to Santa Rosa with my parents for errands or medical appointments.  Later, I was able to convince my parents that I was committed to my piano with regular practice intervals.  (The incentive was if I practiced my piano, I would have to spend less time in the cow barn.)  Eventually, my parents were convinced and this was enough to justify a 2 hour drive to Santa Rosa for a piano lesson.  I loved driving the coastline to Santa Rosa.   Emerald green hills, deep blue Pacific waters, and carpets of mustard blanketing vineyards in the springtime would always remind me of the gifts of this area and my need to be thankful.

Sonoma County Cities

Sonoma Valley, has the granddaddy of all plazas and totals about 8 acres.  The Egg and Butter Basket of Sonoma County, is Petaluma and is  a town filled with technology and far fewer numbers of cows and eggs today. Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Windsor are located on the valley floor and stretch from Petaluma and to Healdsburg.  Sebastopol is located west of Santa Rosa and in the foothills of the Pacific Coast Range.  Great wines and liberal politics are recognized as two strong forces in the community of Sebastopol.   Healdsburg is a serene little town with a large downtown commercial district with top rated restaurants.  In combination the shopping, food and wines coming from the Dry Creek, Alexander, and Russian River Valley are reasons for this community-Healdsburg to become recognized as an overnight tourist destination.

Sonoma County Real Estate Market Values

Sonoma County real estate market values and activity are a function of the uniqueness of the homesite, vineyard terroir, views, and proximity to town squares. From, there, price becomes the compensating reconciler.  The attached Sonoma County real estate market report describes activity by market for cities in Sonoma County.

How does the geography of Sonoma County translate in terms of home pricing?   Areas with big views and phenomenal home sites, less traffic, and unique downtowns are showing increases in the median sales price. Yes, even in this real estate market.   The definition of the median sales price is that price in which h alf the properties for sale are more and half less. 
 

Changes in the Sonoma County Housing Market by City

The table below reflects the changes in the median prices.  As you can see, it varies widely by location and geography.  The numbers are based on MLS recorded sales and prepared by Terradatum.com. 

Location    Feb, 2006 Median Sales Price     Feb, 2008 Median Sales Price    Change
Sonoma Valley          652,000                                  675,000                      3.5%
Healdsburg               537,000                                  735,000                      36.9%
Sebastopol               679,000                                   860,000                      26.7%
Petaluma                 559,000                                   420,000                     -25%
Santa Rosa              525,000                                   399,000                     -24%

What do these numbers say versus two years ago?  Sonoma home sales are more active in highly desirable areas.  Areas that offer a view, close proximity to town, or serenity are dictating higher price points.  Sure, the median price point might be distorted by a sale with large acreage and vineyards, however, what I do know is there is strong interest in country properties and homes located near the center of town that include character and uniqueness.  One of those properties just slipped out of the hands of a client of mine because of a strong belief the value was not there so he did not pursue a counter offer.  It went into escrow 5 days after the first showings.  What I have learned in this business of real estate is that sometimes one needs to pull the trigger when property attributes line up with buyers wants.  This is still what I call, ready, aim, fire.

Real Estate for Sale in Sonoma County, CA

Sonoma County real estate varies widely based on area, school districts, and attractions.  See for yourself by going to the locations below:

Glen Ellen CA Real Estate & Visitor's Guide

Healdsburg CA Real Estate & Visitor's Guide

Kenwood CA Real Estate & Visitor's Guide

Petaluma CA Real Estate & Visitor's Guide

Santa Rosa CA Real Estate& Visitor's Guide

Sonoma CA Real Estate& Visitor's Guide

The Stornetta Team...Here to Help You with All Your Sonoma County Real Estate Needs!

Contacting us is the best way to learn more about the Sonoma County real estate market. You're always welcome to call us at (707) 934-2301. But if you want to read more about how the Stornetta Team can help you, or just want to browse what we have to offer online, then you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for at www.WineCountry-RealEstate.com .  We hope you enjoy your visit!

Click here to visit our website...Real Estate & Visitor's Guide to Sonoma, Kenwood, Petaluma, Glen Ellen, Healdsburg and Santa Rosa, CA...