Nearly every day people ask me the same question relative to home values: “Are housing values at the bottom yet?”  The answer varies depending the area you are asking about.

In this article Forbes provides mixed answers:  homeowners in the San Francisco Bay Area may “be there”.  Other places in CA and around the country, however, may have a ways to go yet before their house-value-slide ends.

San Jose was specifically listed as one of the few metro area where values seem to have leveled.  This continues to be good news for Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Hollister home values.  With the majority of South County residents commuting up into the Bay Area, home values in these three cities will continue to follow San Jose’s lead.

So, Johnny, we’re there –  but we won’t be returning to increased values for some time to come.

Watch the VIDEO Tour of this nice home.  You’ll note that nearly everything, even the plumbing, has been redone.  Have you heard the term: “turn key“?  This home is it.  Just put in the key and move right in.  There is virtually nothing left to do.

The wide side yard access to the huge back yard provides endless possibilities: A large garage/workshop, toy barn, pool etc. could easily fit into this back yard.  In the VIDEO you can see what the neighbor did with his same sized lot.

From this home you are less than a quarter mile from Hwy 25’s extension for an easy drive to Gilroy’s Premium Outlet Center and CalTrain for a convenient commute.  Schools, shopping and medical facilities are within walking distance.  Veteran’s Memorial Park with its 5 baseball diamonds, skate park and picnic area is also just a short walk.

As close as this home is to everything, Bonnie View Rd. is not a through street so there is little traffic.  It is a quiet neighborhood.

This is NOT a short sale or bank owned sale. You will deal with the actual seller and can expect to close in a matter of weeks.

For your own personal tour of 1291 Bonnie View Rd. just call/text or e-mail me and I will arrange it for you.

This 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, 2,005 sq. ft. home is just a few blocks from all of the boutique shops and restaurants in San Juan’s village.  Everything here; the Mission itself, the grocery store, the school – are all within walking distance.

Since this home is only 3 miles from Hwy. 101 you can be on the beach in 20 minutes, Gilroy’s Outlet Center and, CalTrain in 15 minutes, and in downtown San Jose in 45 minutes.  Hollister is just 10 minutes away.  It’s an easy commute from here to Monterey or San Jose.

Take a couple of minutes and watch this VIDEO Tour then, let me know what you think.

The seller had no money.  Our buyer could not pay for any of the repairs.  The listing agent and I had already agreed to put up a portion of our commissions toward the cost.  Yet there remained a list of repairs to do.  At the close of escrow no more options were available.  We were at a stalemate.  

The seller offered to help to fix a couple of repairs with materials he already had.  I took the remaining list of items and figured out a plan to get them done.  I bought the necessary supplies, rounded up 3 others and on the Saturday before it was to close we spent 7 hours doing those repairs. 

With Western Exterminator’s pre-set re inspection on Monday morning and e-mailed clearance to the lender that same day we funded on the very last day possible. IT CLOSED!  The seller was freed up. My buyer bought a great home at a great price.  The listing agent and I got a little bit for our 4 months of work. Everybody came out okay.

Winston Churchill’s famous, 5 word speech comes to mind: “Never, never, never give up”.

With little land left few homes are being built.  Therefore, the varied employment opportunities which provide a fairly consistent demand for housing, are tipping the supply/demand scale in favor of firm-to-increasing values.

Natural migration for affordable housing therefore, continues to be South of the Bay Area, namely: Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Hollister.  Many families are investing a slightly longer commute in order to have a desirable place for their family to enjoy.

Here is a good indicator of value: “Price per square foot“.  When you look at a home’s cost/sq. ft. it quickly becomes clear - your housing dollar goes much further in our “South County” areas:

A 3 bedroom, 2  bath, 1,700 sq. ft., on a 7,000 sq. ft. lot costs:

• San Jose             $303.87/sq. ft.
• Morgan Hill          $247.10/sq. ft.
• Gilory                    $206.48/sq. ft.
• Hollister               $146.71/sq. ft.

If you have been waiting to make your next housing move, I wouldn’t wait any longer.  Home prices, in our area, are rising.  The home loan rates are still extradordinarily low – FOR THE MOMENT.  You will be disappointed if you stay with an abritary “wait for 6 months to a year” idea.

BTW: The “City Tours” tab above will provide you with video tours of each of our communities.  Enjoy.

If you have wanted to refinance, you should send me an e-mail with your address.  I will be happy to provide you an updated market value.  Your home’s value may be high enough now to take advantage of these low rates.

(data source: MLS Listings)

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Little ole Hollister’s marching band will represent CA in a 10th Anniversary of 911.

The marching band from San Benito High School will be one of only two schools from California to march in the 2011 New York Veterans Day Parade. 

The Free Lance Newspaper article provides some of the basic information but is lacking one, very important angle: when and where are the fund raisers going to be? 

Sending all of the band members, their instruments and leaders to New York will not be an inexpensive event.

A recent change in the typical fund raising events, however, is going to cause some interesting challenges.  It seems that band member families and supporting friends will not be allowed to have bake sales.  No more homemade cookies, pies and cakes.  Something to do with health code issues?  Could it be that the First Lady’s influence has already affect our little community?  Or, is it local bakeries complaining about competition?

Are we going to have to devise a different slogan?  It’s always been: “Good old mom and apple pie”.  Will we have to say: “Cellophane-wrapped, expiration date stamped, virtual pie”?

We are thrilled about our home town band being selected!   There is nothing like the sound of horns and drums blaring down Main Street USA.  Couldn’t we keep some of the same emotional foundations like home made goodies?  And, by the way, who says my wife’s killer homemade fudge can’t help the tuba player go to New York?

What are your thoughts?

Related articles

• Amazing Marching Band Animation(gamevip.com)

Due to the Buyer’s Market we are in, now is an excellent opportunity for you to buy this executive estate.

The 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home sits in 5 acres of manicured apricot trees in North San Benito County (Hollister).  There is a separate formal living room, spacious dining room, family room, library, utility room and a guest home.

The guest home or game room (however you want to use it) has it’s own walk in closet, full bath, custom Oak shelves, Franklin Stove and approximately 600 sq. ft. of  fun space.

The 875 sq. ft., 3 car garage has lots of nice, built in cabinets and a utility closet.

There is a 18 x 36 Anthony pool, spa, gazebo and a lighted tennis court on these grounds.

Actually, there are too many amenities to list here.  So, since the interest rates are at an all time low and, home prices have bottomed out, now is the absolute best time for you to move up to this excellent family estate.

Why not call, text, or e-mail me for your own, private tour.

Also, please share your comments about this Video here.

If you have been waiting to refinance your current home today is the day.

Neither these rates nor the sale prices will remain down here much longer.  Some day soon the bills for “CHANGE” will come due and we’ll see the rates begin to rise.

Look at this AP article for more details.

Gilroy home values have already bounced off the bottom.  Likewise, Morgan Hill and Hollister homes have seen a balance in demand and supply.

Time for your co-workers, friends and family to make their move.

What do you think?

We all know home values have dropped over the last 3 years.  Will that slide continue?

Single family home values in Hollister dropped by 41.6% from 2007 to 2008.  In 2009 they fell another 17.4% . Townhomes values have likewise dropped: 54.3% from 2007 to 2008 and 25.5% from 2008 to 2009. 

The average sales price of Hollister homes in 2007 was $548,562.  In 2008 it was $320,419, and $264,601 the average sales price for 2009.

Townhome sales show a similar pattern: their average sales price was $339,780 in 2007, $155,354 in 2008, and $115,725 in 2009.

However, it appears that the value slide has hit bottom.  A closer look at 2009 average values suggests that we may have bottomed out in 9/09 and are beginning to see a rebound in both single family residence and townhome values.

Morgan Hill & Gilroy home and townhomes reflect a similar trend in values although the downward adjustments in value are more dramatic as you go south to Hollister.

(Data: MLSListings)

We have all watched the sales prices of homes drop over the last 3 years.  The question is: Will that slide continue?

Single family home values in Gilroy dropped by 35.5% from 2007 to 2008.  In 2009 they fell another 18.4% . Townhomes values have likewise dropped: 38.5% from 2007 to 2008 and 29.5% from 2008 to 2009. 

The average sales price of Gilroy homes in 2007 was $796,676.  In 2008 it was $513,913, and $419,228 was the average sales price for 2009.

Townhome sales show a similar pattern: their average sales price was $426,627 in 2007, $262,566 in 2008, and $185,070 in 2009.

However, it appears that the value slide has hit bottom.  A closer look at 2009 average values suggests that we may have bottomed out in 9/09 and are beginning to see a rebound in both single family residence and townhome values.

Morgan Hill & Hollister home and townhomes reflect a similar trend in values although the downward adjustments in value are more dramatic as you go south to Hollister.

(Data: MLSListings)