look at the February Inventory of homes on the market
numbers for the four county continued to grow. At the end of
Sacramento area real estate January there were 9,267 homes on
market is encouraging but I have the market. The number available
reservations about being overly in February increased to 9,870. A
optimistic. The Sacramento Bee year ago there were only 3,554
article, “Home Prices Rise in homes to choose from. The average
County”, points out, “After five number of days on the market for
straight months of falling sales homes sold in February was 58
prices for Sacramento County days compared to last year when
homes, values edged up slightly it took an average of 37 days to
in February, signaling a sell.
potential rebound for the regions
most populated county.” In some of the local areas, where
I have been working recently, the
DataQuick, the research firm that median price increases from last
follows and reports the real year were almost all positive. El
estate numbers, indicated all Dorado Hills median price in
four counties, Sacramento, February increased to $606,500,
Placer, El Dorado and Yolo, all up 9.3% from last year but down
saw increases in the median price from January. In Rocklin, zip
for sold homes during February. codes 95677 and 95765 we saw
price appreciation of 34.4% and
The sales volume was also up 7.9% respectively from last year
slightly from January to 1,743 and both areas were up from last
homes sold in the area. Although month in terms of price and
this number is up from January it volume. The three zip codes in
remains 26% lower than February Roseville. 95661, 95678, and
2005. 95747 all had increases in the
median price fro last year and
from January. Sales volume was for sale sign in the front yard.
down double digits from 2005 and Based on my personal business and
flat compared to January numbers. talking with collogues the past
Granite Bay, zip code 95748, few weeks, the steam we started
reported 11 sales, down from last to feel building in mid January
year and January. The median and early February has been
price paid in February for a dampened by the last three weeks
Granite Bay home was $730,000, of winter weather. The rain and
down 3.2% from a year ago but up cold seems to be keeping buyers
$20,000 from last month. For more inside or at least not driving
detail, take a look at the chart from the bay area. Right now, I
by Zip Code produced monthly by am not feeling as bold as I was
the Sacramento Bee. last month when I made three
positive predictions. Even though
The January numbers were “to I was right about modest growth
early to tell” how the 2006 real in the median price and increased
estate market in Sacramento would sales volume, I was wrong in
shape up and now we have February predicting a slight decrease in
reports which are a bit more the inventory of homes for sale.
positive than we have seen for With the prediction for more
the past few months but still rain, I don’t think we are going
don’t paint a very clear picture to see February as the start of a
of what is going to happen this new positive trend for the year.
year. If it were just the I will predict, when the rain
numbers, I would say some of the ends and warmer weather gets
local pundits are correct in here, there should be a nice
predicting a “return to normal” surge in activity as the buyers
after the last five years of start getting out and looking
double digit increases and again.
bidding wars on anything with a
About the Author:
Julie Jalone is an experienced professional Realtor serving the need of buyers and sellers of residential real estate in the Greater Sacramento area including Placer, El Dorado, Yolo and Yuba counties. Some of the communities served by Julie include Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln and Granite Bay. Julie is a wife and mother living in Rocklin. For more information see her website, www.jalone.com, which includes listings, local real estate market analysis, news, resources for buyers and sellers and her daily weblog, ”Keep it Real in Sacramento.”
