Kirsten's Sonoma Real Estate Blog

Sonoma Second Homes and Sonoma Vacation Rentals. 

When I'm working with Sonoma buyers, I frequently hear that they want to buy a property they can rent out as a vacation rental to help cover their costs when they are not using it.   Fact is, many Sonoma County homes can be used as vacation rentals but there are county-wide regulations to be aware of.   And there are rules that vary from town to town....and community to community....that prospective vacation home owners need to know about, too.  For example:

• Vacation property owners everywhere in Sonoma County are charged a tax known as TOT --- the Transient Occupancy Tax --- for every night their home is booked.  If you don't pay the TOT you can get into trouble.  The county also requires you to register as the owner of a vacation property.

• If you own property within the city boundaries of Sonoma, Healdburg, and other places, there are additional municipal code restrictions.

• Some condominium and townhouse complexes do not allow any vacation rentals at all per the CC&R's (Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions) that govern homeowner activities.
  

The prospect of buying a Wine Country vacation rental is a hot topic with value-conscious buyers who recognize the growing popularity of this beautiful and romantic region for wedding planners, travelers, and tourists.   These can be tricky to own, though,  so if you are thinking about buying a Sonoma vacation home you need guidance.  Contact me at my website or call me at 707.337.1182 and I'll help you learn the ins-and-outs of buying and managing a Sonoma vacation rental.  I'll also tell you about the do's-and-don'ts that will help you understand the sensitive issues these properties can raise with full-time residents of Sonoma County.

Are You Looking at ME?!?

Camouflage is hard to come by during the winter in Sonoma Valley when our deciduous Oaks have lost their leaves.  Some residents, like this lovely doe, find it hard to keep a low profile at this time of year when there aren't many places to hide.  We met eye-to-eye while I was showing a Glen Ellen country property.  She wasn't happy to see me---the pleasure was all mine.  If you like the out-of-doors, January is a wonderful month to watch and enjoy Sonoma wildlife.

Looking For Sonoma Foreclosure?

If you're looking for foreclosures in Sonoma Valley you might want to take a look at the statistics I've put together as of January 25, 2010.   Essentially, you'll find Sonoma foreclosures only among the lowest priced properties---those listed at $400,000 or less.  In general, we have fewer distressed properties in Sonoma than you'll find elsewhere because people who buy here tend to be highly qualified second home seekers or retirees.  Sonoma buyers often pay cash or ante up a hefty downpayment when they do get a loan.  We are quite light on inventory right now.  That said, here's the current break-down.

These are statistics pulled from our Bay Area Real Estate Information Service---our local MLS.  If you want more Sonoma foreclosure information or updates as we head into the spring selling season---contact me.  I've got the data you'll want to see.

White House Music in Sonoma County

Sonoma County's Santa Rosa Symphony is gaining international attention and drawing world-renowned artists.   Last night, symphony-goers were given a special treat---a performance by classical guitarist Sharon Isbin.  Isbin, who was raised in Minneapolis and trained with Andres Segovia, has performed with the NY Philharmonic and dozens of symphonies around the globe.  Not long ago, she was invited to perform at the White House.  This video runs 11 minutes.  If you have the time I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Season tickets are reasonably priced and performances fall on Saturday and Monday nights.  Sunday perfomances are matinees.  My savage beast has been soothed by the Santa Rosa Symphony for the past three seasons and I will be reserving my seats for many more.  Hope to see you there.

A Brighter Picture for Sonoma Sellers.

When five hundred people gathered on Tuesday January 19th in Rohnert Park to hear about the 2011 economic outlook for Sonoma County, I was there.  I went as a board member of a non-profit organization but I also got an earful about real estate.  There was one very big take-away that should make Sonoma sellers happy.

Sonoma County housing prices are stabilizing while new home construction is nearly flat.  Given these two factors, it appears that property values are poised to begin rising rather than declining any further.  Even if there continues to be a stream of bank-owned homes entering the market, the stabilizing of median prices seems to show that demand has been keeping up with supply.  An increase in interest rates could result in lower median prices for the short term but demand is expected to rise as unemployment eases and job growth---albeit slow---is expected in Sonoma County throughout the rest of this year and into 2012.

If you are considering sellling a Sonoma home, contact me and let's talk about your situation.  It takes planning time and preparation to get ready for market.  The more you do to market your Sonoma  home as a highly desirable property, the higher the sale price you will get.

Slim Pickin's for Sonoma Homes.

Our Sonoma broker tour for Thursday, January 20th, is puny---just three new listings in all of Sonoma Valley!   We've got one Sonoma REO listed at under 300K, another single family home priced in the mid-500's, and a new Sonoma home at $1.5 Million that I wrote a post about last week.    Depending on your point of view, the listing shortage is either dismal or delightful.

It is dismal if you are a buyer or a buyer's agent looking for new Sonoma listings---some fresh inventory to get excited about.  I'd like to see some new offerings.  We've got less than 160 homes on the market here right now in all price categories....about 25% of these are distressed properties.

The shortage of non-distressed properties is delightful news if you are a Sonoma seller.  Here's the backstory.  I just love that term as a former reporter.  It's a cool replacement for "background" which sounds so dry and boring.  But I digress....

Sellers should be paying attention and starting to rejoice because here where flowers are blooming and convertible tops are down, in good times and bad, there is basically a never-ending demand for Sonoma real estate.  While people are freezing in the Midwest and buried in snow on the east coast, it's gorgeous here.  It was in the mid-60's today.   The periwinkles are going into garden planters,  winter veggies are growing, great wines are ever-flowing. 

Sonoma homes are an hour from San Francisco, one of the most beautiful, romantic, and interesting cities in the world.  Our breath-taking coastline is also an hour from my Sonoma Plaza office and if my skis were in my car I could wrap up my work day and be in Tahoe or Heavenly Valley in time for dinner and some night-skiing under tonight's full moon.

Here's what I'm saying:  Spring's coming and it's beginning to feel a lot like sellers have their minds made up that this isn't the time to sell because unemployment is still dragging down the economy and government budgets are whacked out.  In Sonoma those things don't matter all that much.  And that's evident because we are seeing a gradual uptick in buyer activity.  Slim Pickin's for Sonoma buyers could mean a good deal for Sonoma sellers if they step up this Spring.

Buying or selling?  Contact me soon---time's a wasting'.

Great Deals on Sonoma Foreclosures?!?

It's a question Sonoma agents get a lot these days'''Where are all the great deals on Sonoma Foreclosures?"  Here's a look at some charts on the Sonoma foreclosure market provided by ForeclosureRadar:

If you want more detailed information on these Sonoma foreclosure charts here's the link to that page on ForeclosureRadar.  We are heading into the Spring market and, as ususal, we expect demand for Sonoma real estate to exceed supply---especially when it comes to nicer properties.   If you want to talk about our market, contact me soon.

Friends on Sonoma Plaza.

On Sonoma Plaza....new friends and old (er) friends.

My Sonoma real estate office is conveniently located at 109 East Napa Street just off our charming, inviting, and historic eight-acre Sonoma Plaza.  This picture reminds me of my childhood and the many times my grandfather Ernie Smith brought us here----to get us out of Grandmother's hair---to run around the lawns, visit the playground, and feed the ducks.  In those days the poor birds got crumbs of Wonderbread!  Today, I don't think we should feed them at all but the Sonoma ducks are a story I'll save for another day.

Bones in your Sonoma Backyard?

Old Sonoma homes are much more common than new Sonoma homes.  When you live in Sonoma or buy a home in Sonoma Valley you are living with the ghosts...or as my mother says...the "Tinkerbells" of others.   Whenever I visit an old home in Sonoma, a turn-of-the century farm house in Kenwood, or a Glen Ellen home built many years ago, it's fun to wonder about the skeltons that were once stashed away in closets --- what we'd hear if the proverbial "walls could talk."  Thanks to Sonoma sleuth Arthur Dawson we can now find out about the history of Sonoma real estate.  Arthur has a business called Baseline Consulting and, while his passion is historical hydrology, he's also got a niche business investigating old homes.  It's created a lot of buzz.

For as little as $200 Arthur will dig up old maps showing the location of your place long before the neighborhood around you existed.  If you want a complete written history, an extensive collection of maps and photographs, and detailed information about prior owners, Arthur's detective work can cost well into the thousands of dollars.  He is offering a FREE 30 minute consultation if you are interested.

Arthur Dawson is a delightful, bright guy who has lived in Sonoma Valley for 20 years.  He and his wife, Rebecca,  are raising two children here---they are soon expected their third.  He really knows his stuff---he's the author of the local 1998 best-seller, Stories Behind Sonoma Valley Place Names and two other books...one co-written with Rebecca.  He's also interviewed old-time locals, including my mom (please don't tell her I called her "old"!!!) to further his ongoing research into the history of Sonoma Valley.

Baseline Consulting's website isn't up yet but you can reach Arthur at 707.996.8728 and his email address is baseline@vom.com.  You're welcome to meet Arthur Dawson at my office if you'd like.  I'm right off Sonoma Plaza, know a lot about the Sonoma real estate market and serve a great cup of coffee!

Just for Fun - Here's the Word.

     This one's for my Sonoma friends who love words!

    Got another good one??