September 2019

How the sales data reflect the historic relationship between values in each County

September 24, 2019Continuing the conversation…about slowing summer sales and the shift that’s happening in the real estate market. We’ve been reviewing recent sales trends through the end of May, in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties. Today’s task: Look at how the sales data reflect the historic relationship between values in each County and why some of those numbers we’re seeing from over the hill may be both a precursor and the cause of further softening here on the coast. Here’s some history...In the late ‘70s, Santa...

Always ask for more than you want, the theory went

September 16, 2019For those who have been following the conversation on the shift that’s happening in the market, we’ll return to that next week. Meanwhile...more about pricing. I’m amazed at the number of people out there who still think they have to list their houses higher than what they’re hoping for in order to get what they really want when they sell. Contrary to the overwhelming evidence this historic, low inventory market has provided, some folks insist on sticking to the powerful conditioning they received in past...

We left off in 2001…the dot.com bubble was at its inglorious end

September 4, 2019Continuing the conversation...scrolling through the history of the Santa Cruz real estate market, looking at how it has woven itself into the ups and downs of Silicon Valley over the last 30 years. We left off in 2001...the dot.com bubble was at its inglorious end. People were realizing that the threat of the Y2K millennial bug was never about a mass glitch in computer software. Rather, it was about the planetary disruption that could result from the irrational exuberance in human programming. What was billed...

Terry Ballantyne

- Terry Ballantyne

Broken Bones

September 2, 2019As a Realtor I can't tell you how many women come to my open houses and tell me they know they need to downsize but "My husband is not ready". He will never be ready ladies. Accepting your golden years is a shock. You still feel pretty good and because it's so incremental you really have forgotten how much stronger, energetic and durable you were 10 or 20 years ago. It seems reasonable that you can keep going. And since your bones don't report in...