So we are in the midst of amazing weather for this time of year! Record-breaking warmth - 80? or more? - and brilliant sunshine. One friend said with exuberance, "Wouldn't it be lovely if it were like this all the time?" I have to admit I said no, that I love my cross-country skiing and snowshoes, the clean look of snow under a full moon, the crispness in the air. But these days are intoxicating, and sleep comes easily so that I get up before sunrise, get ready for the day, walk Charlie, and work easily with people who really are intent on buying or selling homes.
Currently there are 90 homes active and available in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 26 are in the Village and another 26 are considered waterfront. Two "new" re-lists came on, both with new prices. A totally new Village home came on the market in the low $400,000 range.
The real story is the number of homes marked contingent in just the past week. There are seven altogether in this category, and four of them are new. (Homes are selling!) One is in the town portion of the MLS and has been on and off the market for a while. The other three are in the Village and range in list price from the low $200,000 to $300,000. Another Village home was also place in the "U" category - again a new sale! Seven others are there already. Although there's nothing new in the pending list, there are 8 properties just itching to close.
And again, another home closed! This is also in the Village and closing out in the low $300,000. That brings to 13 the number of sold and closed single family homes in the Skaneateles area this year so far. Incredible!
But why not? Certainly looking at the trend reveals a great deal. Think Village and under $325,000. You cannot, almost - and I have tried this week - build a new home for that price. I spent the week speaking with builders, both for Skaneateles and other western suburbs, and finding a lot plus building a home, given the price of construction materials, is almost impossible for under $325,000. You can build in some communities that have HOAs for less than that, but outside on a separate lot....hardly. Certainly not in Skaneateles Village!
The good news to be extracted from this - people are looking to build which means people are buying. Hooray! Mark Aberi of Harmony Homes predicts that Parkside off West Elizabeth Street will be totally built out in the next 3 - 5 years. I was amazed to hear him say that, and asked if I could quote him for this blog. He agreed - so buy now, buy often. Grab the lots before the prices increase and the choices dwindle. And above all, enjoy this weather. Oh yes - GO ORANGE!
