email marion

July, 2008

The real estate beat goes on!
Despite the economy, despite the uncertain credit markets, despite oil prices, despite the stock market, real estate in Santa Fe continues to sell! I donÕt want in any way to minimize the plight of many sellers who are seeing longer times on the market, more competition, and in some cases declining values, but the fact remains that 680 homes in Santa Fe have sold this year. This is a marked decrease from last year in all price categories, but once again, the realistically priced homes in the best condition continue to sell while over priced and under maintained homes languish on the market. Just to give you a wonderful example, I listed a middle aged home in the northwest area (Las Campanas) at what the owners agreed was fair market value in April. The owners had completely re-stuccoed and re-roofed the home before we put it on the market. Within weeks it was under contract and ready to close later this month. What it takes is a team effort to make this happen.

To illustrate that all real estate is local, compare these two locations; in Rancho Viejo, 31 homes have sold this year with an average price of $394,001 compared to 74 last year. In Las Campanas 23 homes have sold this year with an average price of $1,452,083, compared with 26 last year with an average price of $1,286,828. More generally in the city of Santa Fe, the average price of a home has decreased to $450,852 or 7.7% from the first half of last year. In the county, the average price has increased by 14% to $612,276.

One trend that seems to persist throughout the area is that sales of vacant land have stagnated. Sales in the city and county have fallen by 37.9%. I believe that this reflects not only general market conditions, but also the fact that many spec builders have elected to sit on the side lines until the economy sorts itself out and inventories start to decline.

On a very positive note, we are seeing the return of buyers who know that there is more inventory to choose from and who know that there is no fool proof way to time the bottom of any market. I hear time after time ÒWeÕre not getting any younger and weÕre going to live where weÕve always wanted to!Ó So Ð at the risk of sounding like a broken record, be sure your home is best in class if youÕre a seller. This is a challenging market, but with outstanding marketing and a team effort, yours can be the home that sells. If you are a buyer, enjoy all of the choices you have and take advantage of the still very low interest rates while we have them!

Some things can't be controlled by us, but the ones that can be controlled, should be in this market! Please call me or e-mail me if I can be of help to you or your friends in answering any of your real estate questions.


HOME SALES SANTA FE CITY AND COUNTY -JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 2008
As reported to the Multiple Listing Service
SALES 2008 2007
Total number of sales 680 1018
Number of sales under $499,999 454 637
Sales from $500,000 to $749,999 118 214
Sales from $750,000 to $999,999 51 83
Number of sales over 1 million 57 84
Average sales price $527,291 $511,779
Total dollar volume $358,558,162 $520,991,348

HOME SALES SANTA FE CITY ONLY - JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 2008
As reported to the Multiple Listing Service
SALES 2008 2007
Total number of sales 358 528
Number of sales under $499,999 252 341
Sales from $500,000 to $749,999 64 111
Sales from $750,000 to $999,999 22 38
Number of sales over 1 million 20 38
Average sales price $450,852 $488,347
Total dollar volume $161,405,652 $257,847,438

HOME SALES SANTA FE COUNTY ONLY - JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 2008
As reported to the Multiple Listing Service
SALES 2008 2007
Total number of sales 322 490
Number of sales under $499,999 202 296
Sales from $500,000 to $749,999 54 103
Sales from $750,000 to $999,999 29 45
Number of sales over 1 million 37 46
Average sales price $612,276 $537,029
Total dollar volume $197,152,510 $263,143,910


LAS CAMPANAS REPORTED LOT SALES - JANUARY 1 JUNE 30, 2008
As reported to the Multiple Listing Service
Individual Lots Sold:
Total Average Price Median Price
15 $195,833 $199,000
Bulk Sale Sold Price
1 $1,625,000 Bulk Sale of Parcels B & H (24 Lots)


LAS CAMPANAS HOME SALES - JANUARY 1 TO JUNE 30, 2008
As reported to the Multiple Listing Service
Total Average Price Median Price
23 $1,452,083 $1,250,000

Homes Completed in Las Campanas: 604
Homes Under Construction: 82
Homes in Design Review: 62


LAS CAMPANAS MEMBERSHIPS STATISTICS
As reported to the Membership by Las Campanas
Equity Golf Memberships allowed 980
Equity Golf and Unlimited Memberships issued 828
(includes "reserved" Equity Golf Memberships)
Remaining available to be issued 152
Equity Social Memberships allowed 437
Equity Social Memberships issued 254
(includes "reserved" Equity Social Memberships)
Remaining available to be issued 183
Equity Club Memberships allowed 300
Equity Club Memberships issued 43
(includes "reserved" Equity Club Memberships)
Remaining to be issued by Developer 257
Additional Memberships "Reserved" category
(Equity Golf, Equity Social, etc... unspecified)
16
Equestrian Residency Priveleges 43