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.

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)

Not only is San Jose, CA the highest home-value-appreciation area in the US (see 2/10/11 post below), it is also the city with the happiest employees in the country.  This Forbes article puts San Jose on top and San Francisco right behind it.

And, since the majority of those who live in Hollister, Gilroy, and Morgan Hill drive to the San Jose area for work we can safely assume that we are also the happiest employees in the US.  Right?

After all, we have 2 of our own In-N-Out restaurants, the Gilroy Premium Outlets and 3 lakes.

Now if we could just get Hwy. 101 widened from Hwy. 152 in Gilroy to Hwy. 85 in San Jose we would all be a lot happier.

And the winner of the highest appreciation of home values in the United States is: San Jose, CA!

Of course, Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Hollister home values followed in the same direction, as they always do.

The GOOD NEWS in this article is believable when you see the actual single family home value appreciation from 2009 to 2010:

San Jose’s average single family home value ROSE 11.5%.

Morgan Hill’s average value INCREASED 4.5%.

Gilroy homes saw the values RISE 6.8%.

Homes in Hollister enjoyed a healthy JUMP of 11.3% in values!

So, those of you who have been waiting to buy a home may want to take advantage of the incrediblely low interest rates and go buy a home.  Their values have come off the bottom of value slide and are beginning to increase.

You homeowners who have been waiting for values to come back so you can refinance should e-mail or call me.  I will research your home’s current value for you.

2011 is going to be an exciting year – IN OUR AWESOME AREA!  What do you think?

(data source: MLSListings)

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)

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Those who parade their dangerous dog like a warning sign will be responsible for their pet’s conduct: they now have strict liabilities for the costs of insurance, spay/neutering, microchipping and fines.  I just wish such an ordinance was on the books earlier…

The appraiser for one of our sales was attacked by the occupant’s dog even when the dog’s owner was right there with the appraiser.  I was in another part of the home and heard the commotion.  Unless you have experienced it yourself you cannot know the horror such an attack can have.  Not only is the event itself bone-chilling but the vivid memory of the attack lives long in the mind of the innocent person who was assaulted.  To the appraiser’s credit the value of the home was not negatively affected.

A friend of ours little girl was playing with her neighbor friends when their dog attacked her.  The top half of her ear was torn off and she had teeth punctures in her forehead.  The medical treatment included a  rabies regimine.  While she recovered physically that girl had emotional problems for many years after.

What do you think?  Do you think Gilroy’s toughened animal control ordinance went too far, not far enough?   If you think Gilroy, like San Francisco and Santa Monica over reacted to dangerous dogs I have one question for you: have you personally been involved in or know intimately of, a dog attack?   

Click here for the details of Gilroy’s new ordinance.