How much did that house sell for? (Jan. 5-11, 2016)

The sales numbers below represent properties that went pending in & around early December -- the middle of the winter market. The winter market is the market that, until 2015, was seen as the slowest of the annual cycle. What you'll see reflected is a market starved for inventory. 

Numbers are out comparing inventory from 2012 and earlier to 2013 through 2015 and they are so much lower it's no wonder we're seeing the competition we are. Though we've lamented the "low inventory" of the past year or two, it's beginning to look like it may be a new normal for a while. Buckle up, we're headed for another competitive year with strong sales ahead.

#staindglass #doors to welcome you beyond the front entry doors. #oakland #victorian #homes #oaklandrealestate #beautifulhome #eastbay #bellavista #realestate #realtor

via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1JGqws5

Talk about a #diningroom. #oakland #oaklandrealestate #eastbay #beautifulhome #realestate #realtor

via Instagram @shannonkellyhomes http://ift.tt/1TQGvEo

Stunningly restored Victorian in #oakland 's #bellavista #neighborhood.

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Open Today & Tomorrow (January 9th & 10th)

Jumping right back into open houses, below you'll find all east bay opens for today & tomorrow. Please note the correct price for 570 Canyon Oaks in Oakland is $429,000, not $94,605 (which is actually the zip code).

Saturday

Sunday

How to refer the right Realtor

With somewhere around 185,000 licensed Realtors in California, you can almost throw a shoe and hit one of us (but please don't). Given that number, the odds are that you personally have a Realtor or two (or five) in your circle. We've all been trained from day one to ask our friends and family for their referrals, but when you know more than one good real estate agent, how do you choose which to refer your friend to? Do you refer them to anyone, or do you end up keeping quiet to avoid causing offense? Here's a simple solution: base your referral on best fit.

Let's look at it from another perspective. Your favorite restaurant is a little Mediterranean place in your neighborhood. You have friends visiting from out of town who ask for a restaurant recommendation, but you know they don't like Mediterranean food. Would you still refer them to your favorite restaurant because you believe it's the best? Hopefully not, you'd be setting them up for disappointment and they might not ask you for another restaurant recommendation. In the same light, you wouldn't recommend a professional to a friend if you know they wouldn't work well together.

In your pool of real estate professionals you know a person's style and personality. Real estate is a personal profession; people invite us into their homes and lives so we can best assist them. Because we spend a lot of time with our clients, the right client-professional fit is important for a successful working relationship and a satisfied client. So when you have the opportunity to refer one of your denizens of Realtor friends to another friend, family member, or acquaintance, consider who would be the best fit.

Other things to consider when referring a Realtor:

Are they a full time professional, or is this a part-time gig?

What is their communication style?

How experienced are they in the industry?

Do they specialize in the target area?

Pragmatics of referring:

People are busy. With the permission of the person who needs help, pass their contact information on to the real estate professional to whom you're referring them. Let us remember to call them so they can focus on other things.

How much did that house sell for? (Leaving 2015, Entering 2016 Data)

The closing sales data for 2015 reflects the busy-ness of the market I've been touting throughout the holidays. Through an informal poll in my office the feelings for what's coming in 2016 are split between prices somewhat leveling or continuing to rise. No one has a crystal ball to accurately predict market nuances or fluctuations, however based on the minimal impact of the recent rate increase and the strength of the holiday market, my guess is that 2016 will be another very strong year for Bay Area real estate. The market is starved for listings, so if you've been thinking about selling, now is the time to start planning and preparing so you can take full advantage of the current surplus of ready and able buyers. Contact me today to make the most of the market.