Highlights

• According to CoreLogic, homeowners across the country are gaining significant equity.
• Over the past year, the average homeowner gained $9,800 in equity, growing their overall net worth.

If you’re ready to sell your current house and ready to look for your dream home, contact me to learn how your home equity can help make that possible.

Lynne Watanabe MacFarlane, MCDM, SRES

831-346-2743 text/voice

Today  we feature three properties in Redwood Estates, Ben Lomond, and Los Gatos mountains that allow multi-generational housing, acreage for spreading out and the proximity of being near major tech hubs and headquarters. The properties in Santa Cruz Mountains offer exceptional views, peace & tranquility – what better place to gather family with a sprawling compound and room to play!

21399 Lee Dr Los Gatos, CA 95033 3 bedroom/ 3 bath 2,535 SqFt, 1 acre lot Listed by Compass at 1.45M

For more info: https://bit.ly/340XLDv

Wonderful neighbors, great community and excellent Los Gatos schools.

Coming Soon – Ben Lomond 3 bedroom / 5 Bath 5,656 SqFt 200+ acres Listed at 4,250,000.

Call me for more details: 831.346.2743

485 Cresci Road Los Gatos, CA 95033

4 bedrooms / 3 bath 3,263 SqFt, 4.5 acres Listed at 1.249 by Coldwell Realty

For more info: https://bit.ly/331c9ws

This property at the time of recording has been on the market for 138 days, but don’t let the days on market worry you about the stigma of ‘something must be wrong with the property’!

Often these mountain properties have longer days on market but also remember we had the CZU fires (Here’s my vlog post https://youtu.be/gLbKNZ9SX9I ) and sometimes new buyers who aren’t used to the features of country living (such as living with septic, well water, foundation inspection, just to name a few) all these new systems can be a bit alarming to ‘city folks’! Having an inspection and becoming familiar with reports is important so buyer and seller know how to proceed.

If you’re interested in any of these listings or interested in discussing what your home is worth, give me a call 831-346-2743 text or voice.

I’ll help you get through any new transitions you’d like to make with ease and confidence so you can focus on what’s important in your life. 

831-346-2743 text anytime!

Lynne Watanabe MacFarlane, MCDM, SRES | Realtor

PFAC Silicon Valley affiliate

Intero | A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate

Text/voice: 831-346-2743

DRE# 02066698

www.lynnemacfarlane.com

Last May, the Brookings Institution wrote about the post-Covid19 recovery as having several possible shapes of recovery (Z-shaped, V-shaped, U-shaped, W-shaped, L-shaped, and even the Nike Swoosh) but here are four major financial institutions predictions for recovery (below image).

In a Realtor.com study-  we have seen a similar V-Shape recovery, but recently there’s been a deceleration as potential sellers found it harder to list and show their home as wildfires spread through the West coast.

Housing Market Recovery Index Highlights – Week Ending September 12

California has shown that social distancing and economic resilience continue to be key factors driving local differences in the housing recovery. Per Realtor.com’s research, the spread of COVID-19 is closely linked to the housing slowdown, with markets with higher cases per capita more likely to see a bigger impact on supply and the pace of sales. The speed and sustainability of the reopening, and each market’s ability to contain COVID-19, are dictating the speed of recovery across the regions. Finally, resilient economies may have an edge in the housing recovery, and areas with strong job markets before COVID-19, especially those with thriving tech sectors (such as in the SF Bay Area), are seeing buyers and sellers reconnect faster than the rest of the country.

Below are the V-shaped curved found in the northern California communities. Notice the downward trend in Aug – Sept due to the numerous wildfires.

The higher the index value, the higher the level of recovery. The lower the index value, the lower the level of recovery.

Recovery of Roseville, Sacramento, Arden, Arcada, California from Feb 1, 2020 – Sept 1, 2020

Recovery of San Francisco, Oakland, Hayward California from Feb 1, 2020 – Sept 1, 2020

These are photos taken as my husband and our Chihuahua, Angel, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Sept 9th, 2020 –  11AM Smoke and fog

Recovery of Recovery of SJ, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara California from Feb 1, 2020 – Sept 1, 2020

Thank you to the brave California Fire Department for coordinating a fantastic job containing many of the fires in California, we applaud their heroic service as many sacrificed their time, energy away from their families to protect people and properties throughout California.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/california-fire-map/

https://www.fire.ca.gov/

How is your family and how are you handling the aftermath of the fires? I hope you and your family are doing well, but just know that it has effected everyone. It’s been a very rough few weeks here in northern California and the housing market certainly has been effected by the enormity and tragedies around us. Be safe & let me know if there’s anything we can do to assist.

The value of your home has never been higher, and the interest rates have never been lower!

Call me to discuss your selling options and purchase options in this HOT market and don’t miss out!

Listing prices in California have risen 34% since January as inventory shriveled amid the pandemic according to Mercury News (click link below.)

California housing market continues recovery as median home price breaks $700,000 mark, C.A.R. reports

– Existing, single-family home sales totaled 465,400 in August on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, up 6.3 percent from July and up 14.6 percent from August 2019.

– August’s statewide median home price was $706,900 up 6.1 percent from July and up 14.5 percent from August 2019.

– Year-to-date statewide home sales were down 6.8 percent in August.

Seller’s ‘Love Letter’ to a buyer is a good idea – The seller can elaborate about their favorite best features of the property and the memories attached to the home. Also sometimes included in a letter to prospective buyers are neighborhood shops, restaurants, and parks. This love letter from the seller describes the pros and perceived cons and how much they think their home is worth and why. If you’re a seller would you consider writing a buyer love letter to your prospective buyers? Do you think this would benefit the sale of your home?

Leave your comments below and. your questions!

Curious to see the home which seller was referring to?

Check out the post here

Lynne Watanabe MacFarlane, MCDM, SRES, SRS | Realtor PFAC Silicon Valley affiliate Intero | A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate

Text/voice: 831-346-2743

DRE# 02066698

www.lynnemacfarlane.com

Here’s my search for all Saratoga homes listed on the market, click here:

https://lynnemacfarlane.realscout.com/homesearch/map?geo_type=city&geo_id=0670280&for_sale=1&for_rent=0

It’s the Weekly Update look at real estate activity in the five SF Bay Area counties (San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey). Take a look at the contrast between 2019 vs. 2020 (March 1st – Aug 22nd) and how far we have bounced back from SIP looking at May, June and July differences between the years. In July 2019 we had a total of 2,757 Closed Sales, but July 2020 we had 3,134 Sales, that’s a 13% Year over Year difference.
#realestate #bayarearealestate #sfbayarea #housingmarket #bayarearealtor #Intero #MLSlisting #Aculist

Today in this video we share the areas of the wildfires in the Greater SF Bay Area. We also discuss the importance of creating a Wildfire Safety Plan for Older Adults who are living alone. Also, please note that if you and your family have evacuated Intero has a special discount with Country Inn and Suites –  Address: 1350 N 4th San Jose  Phone: (408) 467-1786

If you or a loved one are in need of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to call.

(831) 346-2743 text anytime
LMACFARLANE @ INTERO .COM

Thank you, take care & be safe.

Packing an emergency kit: Assemble an emergency suitcase your family elder can quickly grab in the event of a fire. When a wildfire requires evacuation, every second counts.

Establishing good practices: Developing precautionary habits can keep an older adult safer when it comes to a home fire or a wildfire. Put glasses and hearing aids on the bedside table. Always have cell phones charged. If an older adult uses a wheelchair, walker, or cane, encourage them to keep it nearby.

Purchasing an emergency radio: In the event of a power outage, an emergency radio allows older adults to stay connected. Whether it is a crank radio or a battery-operated one, there are a variety of options to choose from.

Planning evacuation routes: It’s also important to plan escape routes from every room in the house. For rooms upstairs or homes on a higher elevation, you may want to order fire escape ladders that attach to windows. If your loved one may have trouble climbing down a ladder, they should stay close to the ground floor.

Creating a neighborhood escape plan: Just like you need two escape routes from the senior’s home, you also need two separate ways out of their neighborhood. If one is blocked by fire, they won’t lose time trying to figure out what to do. When the order comes to evacuate, it’s also important to know where a safe place to retreat is.

California Fire Resources

If you or your friends are affected by the California wildfires, below are links to some helpful resources:

Fire Resources for Realtors®

·        C.A.R. Disaster Relief

General Fire Resources

·        California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) website

·        Fire Incidents Map

·        Evacuation Checklist

·        Air Quality Information

·        Wildfire Relief Funds