Kirsten's Sonoma Real Estate Blog

Sonoma's Neighborhoods - The Rural Side of East Side Sonoma.

Because I sell real estate in Sonoma Valley, people often ask what I love most about where I live.  That's a tough call for me but at the top of my list are our east side Sonoma neighborhoods.   In Sonoma, where living is "laid back" and easy-going, there are some lovely residential developments where homes share similar characteristics.  And we do have a fair number of gated communities with architectural standards and CC&R's intended to instill residential development uniformity.  But I think a big part of Sonoma's charm and it's broad appeal is the ecclectic nature of the homes we have here.  We have grand mansions and stunning architectural masterpieces and elegant wine country estates.  And we have plenty of ...more modest homes here, too....reflecting the diversity of our community.

These two east side Sonoma properties are directly across the street from one another on Castle Road.

And these two properties are minutes apart if you drive down 7th Street on Sonoma's east side.

And not far from them you'll find this old east side Sonoma farm on MacArthur Street.

Sonoma's east side has homes to suit just about anyone's personal taste.  It can take time to find just the right property for sale on the east side of Sonoma.  I worked for four years with one family before they found "it."  So if you are interested in living on Sonoma's east side, my advice is to start looking right now.  Of course you can contact me for help...anytime.  

Sonoma's Neighborhoods - Eye-Popping East Side Armstrong Estates

The majority of homes that are found on the east side of Sonoma are relatively modest if you compare them to the grand mansions in Armstrong Estates.  Armstrong Estates is an east side Sonoma development just blocks from Sonoma's historic 8-acre central plaza.  Developer Steve Ledson teamed up with HGTV in 2009 to promote his construction work in a televised and much advertised "Dream Home Give-Away."

There are about two dozen homes in Sonoma's east side Armstrong Estates and the architectural styles are predominantly Craftsman and Victorian.  When you drive through this Sonoma east side neighborhood you'll see that each home has a unique appearance.  Each has been custom built to the specifications of the individual homeowner.  The original Armstrong home (below) was built in 1870 and Steve Ledson lives there today.

Ledson moved in  1986 and it took ten years for him to get through city planning before he began building the first home of the 26 properties he has built so far in this Sonoma east side development.  There are just as many vacant parcels to be built out in the years to come.  These pictures represent just a sample of the homes in Armstrong Estates.

If you want information on homes in Armstrong Estates on Sonoma's east side you can check out the Ledson Development website by clicking on this link.  And if you are like most folks (including me) who are simply interested in seeing extraordinary homes in Sonoma...give me a shout and I'll drive you by.

Living in Sonoma Neighborhoods - Sonoma's East Side has it all.

Sonoma's east side is the ultimate spot for living in Sonoma for some.  Sonoma's east side has it all...when it comes to architectural diversity and close proximity to the historic Sonoma Plaza.  I've taken a few digital pictures to show just a sample of what you see as you drive through Sonoma's Eastside streets.  Craftsman style homes, like this one on highly desirable 2nd Street East, are very prevalent on the east side of Sonoma.   

There are also many Bungalows on the east side of Sonoma...some updated simply....others in vibrant and colorful ways.

Quite a few homes built in the 1940's through the 1970's have also been given a fresh look.  Because Sonoma's population is older and we have many retirees living here, single level homes are very much in demand.

Sonoma's east side is actually a much bigger area than people often think.  It not only encompasses the older neighborhood within walking distance of Sonoma Plaza and it's charming boutiques and restaurants.  It also includes an area of outlying homes which have a much more rural, rather than urban, feel.  I'll write another post that focuses on these Sonoma east side "country" properties soon but I want to leave you with a pretty spring-time image of the "Italian Garden" which graces the 8-acre plaza at the center of Sonoma's downtown.   The Italian Garden is dedicated to the late August Sebastiani of the Sebastiani wine family which once owned much of Sonoma' s east side and big blocks of land all over our lovely small town.

For more on Sonoma's neighborhoods, stay tuned.

Sonoma County Real Estate Values - Santa Rosa Prices to Rise 6% in 2010?

I'm backlogged on blogs right now but this story about Sonoma County real estate is something that I've got to share.  It's a report on a nationwide forecast that shows Santa Rosa's home prices will see a greater increase this year than will homes anywhere else in the country.  Check out the story in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and please leave a comment.  Can this be true?  Would love to hear from you!

Proof that Spring in Sonoma is Here

Mustard in our meadows and vineyards is one of the first signs that Spring in Sonoma is almost here.  We know that spring in wine country has officially arrived once we can see new growth on the vines.  Those first tender buds tell us without question that Sonoma's spring has sprung.  As I write this post, it's another rainy in mid-March day. I can honestly say I've had enough rainfall this spring. However, this isn't about me and my self-centered desire to get out in my garden. The fact is: in Sonoma's vineyards another day of rain is a most welcome thing.

Stay tuned. More news about spring in Sonoma will be coming your way soon.

Another Sonoma County Artisan Cheese Festival.

I have to make two confessions.  The first is I'm addicted to Sonoma County Artisan Cheese.  The second one is more embarrassing---I forgot to tell you about our very own Sonoma Valley Artisan Cheese event which was held last month.   OK.  Now that's off my chest, I've got more information for you about the February Sonoma Valley Cheese Fair, which is an annual event,  in this link to SonomaUncorked.

Upcoming later this month in Petaluma is the 4th Annual California Artisan Cheese Festival.   This is big.  So big that some events are already selling out.  I think you can still get into the barn dance and dinner at Green String Farm but some of the classes are booked up.

I won't spend any more time blathering ---and drooling---about it.    I'll just tell you this artisan cheese festival features cheeses from Sonoma County, Marin County, Mendocino County...even Washington state and Oregon.  It lasts for four delicious days!  Here's the link to the California Artisan Cheese Festival.   If you go, you've got to try Ig Vella's Dry Jack.  That's a Sonoma Valley Artisan cheese and it's my favorite.

Sonoma County Foreclosures---Where are the Sonoma REOs?

For weeks we've been expecting lenders to put their Sonoma County foreclosures on the market.  An earlier post of mine detailed the hundreds of Bank Of America Sonoma County foreclosures that are said to heading into the marketplace.

Well...where are they?  The spring market is upon us and and new listings are showing up on the MLS.  One BofA REO hit the market in Sonoma Valley last week and two days ago a GMAC Sonoma Valley REO showed up, too.  But in recent days, that's all.  Real Estate Economy Watch, a nationwide online real estate market analysis service, just posted on the mystery of the Sonoma County foreclosure inventory...and here's their take on the situation.

I'm willing to speculate that the lenders have done a brilliant job using the media (and bloggers like me)  to hype anticipation for the introduction of this shadow inventory.    The longer the banks delay in getting these properties on the market, the greater the likelihood of stronger pent-up demand.   The Sonoma real estate market needs more inventory and I'd like to see the banks start moving this next wave of foreclosures toward us as soon as they can. 

Mortgage Banker Attacks Plan to Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure.

This video clip from a Fox News broadcast caught my attention because it raises a whole boatload of questions in my mind.   I'm not going to share them with you because I'd like first to hear your reaction to the video.  It's short.  And what he's saying is definitely worth a listen:

So what are your thoughts about the homeowner assistance plan?  And what's your reaction to the banker's opinion?  Let's get a conversation going here.  I'll weigh in after you do!

Sonoma Luxury Homes Are Selling.  The North Bay Area Real Estate Information Services MLS statistics for February show there were four sales last month of Sonoma Luxury properties priced from $1.4 million up to $3.5 million.

Why report just four sales?

Because, during the same period last year there were ZERO sales of over $1 million in our Sonoma Valley real estate market.  Can we draw any conclusions based on just four sales? No, not yet.   If this trend continues through the current month of March, though, we will be seeing evidence that Sonoma luxury properties are beginning to move again.  How can I make that statement?  Because in March of '09 there were also ZERO sales of $1million-plus properties in Sonoma Valley.

It's worth noting that none of the February 2010 Sonoma luxury property sales involved distressed properties.  While the $3.5 million dollar sale of the home on Gehricke Road skews the averages significantly upward, it is interesting to see the average sales price per square foot at $623 on these upper end Sonoma Valley homes.

And the original asking prices on these Sonoma properties?

Kinneybrook started out at $1,495,000

Castle Road at $1,995,000

2nd St. East at $1,895,000

Gehricke was first listed in 2006 at $5,500,000.

Stay tuned.  I'll keep you posted on Sonoma Valley luxury property sales and other Sonoma real estate news.

Spring in Sonoma is almost here.  This is Slow-noma so we are fine with spring taking its time to arrive.  Plus the delayed profusion of Sonoma County wildflowers and balmy days has been due to unusually generous rainfall.  We've had much more rain this winter in Sonoma than in the past four years.  Now, this doesn't mean the dangers of drought have been wiped out.  It takes more than one year of rainy weather in Sonoma for that to happen.   But with rainfall at nearly or at above normal levels our Sonoma landscapes are as beautiful as I can ever remember them.   I'll let my pictures tell the rest of the story...

It's time to celebrate the beauty of Sonoma in spring.  I'm inviting you to join me for that.  If you are interested in Sonoma real estate (and how can you NOT be with scenery like this?) call, text, or email me and I'll happily show you around.  Bring your camera to capture spring in Sonoma. I promise you'll have images---and memories---you'll cherish for a long time.