eightbitrealtor-blog

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Low on space and high on product?  A perfect way for a small house to gain a big storage space by using space that would otherwise go to waste.

Stairs in a live/work studio - to store large pieces of work

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SmartTech of the week is.... the Roost Smart Battery!  I hear you thinking.. a battery?  How can that improve my home?  Well, if any battery can this is the one.  The Roost Smart Battery plugs into any existing 9V smoke or CO detector and turns it into a Smart Device.  It alerts you when the alarm is off and you’re not home, allows you to alert the police from the app, and shut down the alarm in the case of a smokey sear.  It also alerts you when the battery is going low so there’s no chance of a 3AM misadventure.  A little more expensive than a typical battery, but it also has a 5 year life in addition to all the extras so well worth your money.

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An interesting alternative to traditional storage!  Built-in storage allows for a unique look without sacrificing functionality

Nice recessed headboard with matching (painted) dresser. Also like the built-in storage instead of traditional closet.

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A fun pick for a modern look!

Fancy pendant light over kitchen island

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This week’s Smart Home Tech item is...  Smarts Locks!  Smart locks are a growing market for both homeowners and car owners and can be a valuable addition to your home security system.  The August Smart Lock Pro allows for complete control over your entryway from your phone with an automatic unlock when you near the door with your phone as well as an auto-lock system when your device is removed from the vicinity.  

The included Connect module allows for remote access to your lock so you can invite guests inside while you’re out or lock up after errant housemates.  Built-in sensors also notify you if a door is open or shut remotely to prevent surprises while you are not home.

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Looking to replace your roof?  This may be something to look into!  While not available just yet this option will be available later this year and is a traditional option toward modern energy outlook.  Future home buyers will also appreciate the lifetime warranty on this extra-durable roof along with power savings.

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What’s the Market Like?

One of first questions a Realtor gets asked is often the most complex - what is the Market like?  This is a complicated question given how many factors go into determining the market.  It’s also a question that can have several answers depending on the date, location, and price where a person is looking.  What is true at $400,000 is not always true at $600,000 and is almost never true at $1,000,000.  What holds true for Sacramento may be radically different in Auburn. So, with that said, what is the market like in our area?

To begin, let's take a look at our inventory.

 A good Realtor will have these numbers at their fingertips and be able to assist in deciphering what it all means. This first graph is fairly simple.  It shows you how many months it would take to completely sell out of houses with current trends if no new houses were put on the market.  

The second is a little more complex, but not much.  It shows the total number of houses for sale, sold, and pending sale in each month. This graph will also show you the trends over a single year (or multiple years) to help you better understand the market. 

At the time of posting Placer county has a low amount of inventory (houses on the market that have not yet sold). Visible in the next graph is the clear trend of the market becoming tighter in winter before expanding in spring. What does that mean for you, the buyer and you, the seller? 

 For a seller this means that buyers are facing far more competition per house than they will later in the year. Houses listed for sale can expect to see a healthy amount of interest as buyers look to the slim amount that is available.  This also allows sellers to be more picky with the offers received to get top dollar for their home.

 For buyers this means that purchasing a house may take more time and be at higher prices due to scarcity than it might later in the year. For those that can wait it may be advisable to wait until later in the year for a greater selection but of course this is not always available for each buyer.  If you must buy be prepared for multiple counters and to present an offer that is stronger than you might offer in the spring to win a multiple offer situation.

For Placer county these add up to a Seller’s Market when looking at all sales.  The market moves fast and houses can expect to sell at or above list price regularly.  Waiting to put in an offer is often the kiss of death for that offer as it will likely go pending between writing it up and when it is sent to the seller.  But remember how we qualified about price earlier?  In the same county for houses above $700,000 we are actually in a neutral market, favoring neither buyer nor��seller as seen below.

Dropping the price $300,000 gives us a very strong Seller’s market once again as houses at this range are very rare and those in a condition that a VA or FHA loan will find acceptable have heavy competition the day they hit the market.

To conclude.. the market is quite good right now, thank you for asking.

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Introductions

Everything set up so here we go with some introductions!  I made this blog for the purpose of discussing realty in the Placer county and surrounding regions as well as general questions about real estate that people might ask.  There’s a lot of mystery around our profession that, imo, doesn’t need to be there (don’t get me wrong, a Realtor is still needed for a great many things!) and clearing it up can only lead to cleaner closings and happier buyers and sellers.

Mandatory Disclosure: I cannot advise you on what you should or shouldn’t do, nor if a contract is valid or invalid without being your agent.  I cannot provide counsel for any agreement I am not part of.