Real Estate Archives - San Lorenzo Valley Post

Different Markets, Different Directions

April 8, 2025April 15, 2025 slvpost.com

By M.C. Dwyer Last month, there were 14 single family home sales in the San Lorenzo Valley – about the same as January, about 8% more than in February 2024. The number of sales is too small to be statistically accurate, but it seems clear prices rose (3% for the month and 13% for the year). Yet, a full 25%… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Real Estate Market News

March 5, 2025March 14, 2025 M.C. Dwyer

By M.C. Dwyer Septic Disclosure Update Santa Cruz County just extended the acceptable timeframe for home sellers’ Septic Point of Sale Disclosure from 6 months to one year. The point of sale requirements include leach field flow tests on their ability to absorb a brief plumbing problem. The new form still allows a seller to transfer repairs to a buyer.… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

2025 Housing Forecast: Calm Transition or Chaos?

January 13, 2025January 30, 2025 M.C. Dwyer

Economists are Cautiously Optimistic By M.C. Dwyer The 2025 economic and housing outlook for California and the U.S. is a mixed bag: forecasts predict modest price growth and a slight rebound in the number of sales. But costs constrain home buyers — California’s affordability just dropped to a depressingly low 14%, about half the rate of 30% back in 2020… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Housing Market Update November 2024

November 9, 2024November 21, 2024 slvpost.com

By M.C. Dwyer The housing market tends to slow in November as people begin to plan for winter holidays, and home touring activity is affected by the weather. This year, home buyers and sellers are also contending with war in the Middle East, political uncertainty in the US, and higher mortgage rates. As California retains the #1 position with the… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Real Estate: Housing Market Update

October 4, 2024October 11, 2024 M.C. Dwyer

By M.C. Dwyer Unable to sleep the other night, I wandered outside to enjoy the crickets. A mesmerizing mist drifted through the redwoods and across the sky, intermittently floating across the moon. A bright circle with hints of rainbows shimmered around the moon, and I remembered that, as a child, I’d heard farmers predict a change in weather after a… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Real Estate

Late Summer Housing Market Update

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024 slvpost.com

By M.C. Dwyer As we move toward the end of summer, the housing market is showing resilience and adaptability. After peaking at 7.8% last fall, 30 year fixed mortgage rates fell dramatically. Lower inflation and softer national employment figures have led the Federal Reserve to hint at a potential rate decrease as early as September. While the Fed doesn’t directly… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Summer Housing Market Update

August 7, 2024August 29, 2024 slvpost.com0 comment

By MC Dwyer Consumer sentiment recently improved on two fronts: about 80% of consumers expressed improved job security while 66% feel it’s a good time to sell, but only 25% thought mortgage rates would decrease. After reaching a peak of 7.8% in October of ’23, 30 year fixed mortgage rates have settled into a range between 6.75% and 7.25%, rising… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Real Estate Market Update and Ben Lomond’s Valley Oak

July 1, 2024August 29, 2024 M.C. Dwyer0 comment

By M.C. Dwyer Remember the gorgeous valley oak that graced downtown Ben Lomond for over a century, in front of Scarborough Hardware store? A few years ago, the giant tree fell over as it succumbed to rot. Fortunately, there’s another heritage oak still standing in front of Henflings. Few people knew it would fall, because the tree still looked strong… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Could the Housing Market be Shifting?

June 11, 2024June 19, 2024 slvpost.com0 comment

By M.C. Dwyer For years, everyone in the housing market has been lamenting the housing shortage – not enough homes for sale to satisfy buyer demand. That created a sellers’ market with multiple offers leading to rising home prices. But recently I’ve watched a new trend emerging on my daily hotsheet on the MLS: the number of homes sold has… Read More

Column: MC Dwyer Columns Real Estate

Downsizing and Relocating

May 6, 2024May 25, 2024 slvpost.com0 comment

Plus the REALTOR Compensation Update By M.C. Dwyer Selling and then buying another home can feel more daunting as people get older. They often need mortgage advice and tax and estate planning as well as assistance preparing the property for market. Still, surveys show up to 30% of homeowners 62 or over are considering moving! Many in the 60+ group… Read More