Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update

After a long day showing amazing houses in the Skaneateles area I can relax here and write this blog. We do have incredible views, fastidious owners, brilliant interiors that you would never suspect from the road. I love this job!

There are currently 145 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing system. Four "new" ones have come on the market, all of which are re-lists. Two have changed real estate brokerages, two are simply being refreshed. That does seem to work unless you are dealing with a buyer's agent. The listing appears to be new, even if it's been listed many times before for several years even. A buyer's agent would point out the discrepancy, the seller's agent would stay mum. The least expensive new listing is $500,000 and the most just under three million.

There are no new sales or pending listings.

However, there are two new closed properties - hooray! Our number year-to-date is now 63. A gorgeous village home closed for around $600,000, well under its original list price of $850,000. At the other end of the spectrum a small home under $100,000 closed for the asking price. We have it all in this area!

Because of all the million dollar re-lists, I looked at what the chances are for them to sell this year. So far there have been four homes that listed at over one million that have sold. Last year by this time there were only two, but last year was a difficult time for everyone. In 2007, at the height of the bubble, 12 homes had closed. In 2006, only five. We do seem to be returning to "normal," both at the high end and all points down the scale.

There are a lot of beautiful homes on the market - may I suggest their purchase please? While rates are great (4.5% for a fifteen year fixed loan!) and sellers are motivated. You never know when they will turn around and decide it is better to stay rather than sell.