Skaneateles Real Estate - The More Regular Update

We are getting back to normal here after that very rough winter.  The sun is shining, my slider to the deck is open, Boo is barking at some other dog, and I can hear new construction in the background.  Not only that, but our nephew is working his way through LeMoyne by painting our house this summer!  That is, when it's not the day after he and his buddies had all you can eat wings at Quaker Steak and Lube...(uncompensated advertisement).

The Skaneateles housing market has been roaring!  At least in the listings area.  A couple days ago I sent out new listings that were comparable to the owners of one of my listings so they would have a better sense of their competition, and it was one listing after another!  There are currently 89 single family properties listed as active in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service.  Of these, 22 are in the Village and 22 are waterfront.  (I love it when they are the same number - happens fairly often, too!)

Thirteen - as in 13! - listings came on the market in the past 17 days since I last posted.  Of these, only 3 were re-lists.  Their prices range from a low in the mid-$100s to almost $800,000.  Four are in the Village and 3 are waterfront.

We seem to be getting a logjam of "under contract" homes.  There are 25 waiting to close, and there were 21 the last time I wrote.  Four of these are new - one Village and one waterfront - but there were 8 during the last period.  Definitely the sales have slowed, as have the showings.  Now it's time for those houses that are under contract to actually close.

We had one closing in the past 17 days.  I won't even write what the numbers were by this date for the past two years because they will give the wrong impression.  I know that a number of these homes will close, and by mid-June we will be at least competitive with the past few years.  Again - houses need to be priced right to get showings; also sellers must be aware that the market is seasonal.  If it's active weeks are missed, then either a great deal of patience is required or it is time to reduce the price to get action.

We have a great product - Skaneateles - and great homes, both for year-round living or as second homes. Think of it - people come to upstate New York to buy a second home not because it's on the water, but because of the draw of the Village and the area.  We are so very, very lucky to live here!

The First Twenty

I just went back and looked at last year for the 2013 First Twenty post.  It was written that horrible Friday after the bombings at the Marathon.  My friend Rebecca lives in Watertown and we texted all day.  Turned out there was a reason to be worried for her safety.  This year is different - her daughter may come to Syracuse University for her Master's, and all is calm and strong in Boston.  Here, too, I might add.

In no particular order:

2019 Woodland Lane                     Town of Spafford                       $475,000

3809 Highland Avenue                    Town of Skaneateles                   $167,000

2887 Nunnery Road                        Town of Spafford                        $305,000

657 Crow Hill Road                        Town of Skaneateles                   $309,000

1992 West Lake Road                    Town of Skaneateles                   $900,000

112 Sinclair Street                           Village of Skaneateles                  $431,760

3512 County Line Road                   Town of Skaneateles                   $318,900

2512 Wave Way                              Town of Skaneateles                   $835,000

1990 West Lake Road                      Town of Skaneateles                  $500,000

3390 Rickard Road                           Town of Spafford                       $170,000

25 Griffin Street                                 Village of Skaneateles                 $265,000

1553 Red Tail Lane                            Town of Spafford                      $600,000

79 Woodlot Landing                           Town of Niles                           $310,000

20 Leitch Avenue                                 Village of Skaneateles               $700,000

23 State Street                                     Village of Skaneateles               $175,000

3825 East Street                                   Town of Skaneateles                $175,000

876 West Genesee Street Road             Town of Skaneateles                $245,000

9 Wicklow Drive                                   Village of Skaneateles               $335,000

6909 County Line Road                         Town of Skaneateles                $340,000

54 East Lake Street                                Village of Skaneateles               $245,000

Skaneateles Real Estate Update - Finally Warm Edition

Warming up - both the weather and the sales!  I have the slider open to the deck, Charlie is at my feet taking care of me, and Boo is sunning himself as I write.  The leaves have finally opened and in the next week all those lovely trees on East Lake will be in bloom - take a ride out to Borodino!  (You can also admire the house at the corner of Nunnery and Route 41 while you're there....)

Currently there are 80 single family homes in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service that are on the market.  Of these, 18 are in the Village and 19 are considered waterfront.

Eleven "new" ones came on since the last time I published an update on April 27th.  Of these, only four are truly new - the others are re-lists of property that did not sell and are now being freshened for the spring market.   I rarely write about these, but they each have a lot in common - high end (over $700,000) and gorgeous.  

There's nothing wrong with the four really new ones that range in price from the lower $100,000 to almost $500,000.  Only one is in the Village, and it's my listing at 89 West Elizabeth Street.  We held the first open yesterday and even though it was Mother's Day we had a great turnout.  And why not?  New Village listing - .83 acres:  4 (could be 6!) bedrooms, and over $120,000 in updates and structural improvements.  The price is under most Village listings - $274,900.  Add to that the private lot...hmmmm...on brokers' open tomorrow, Tuesday, from 11:30 to 1:00 if you want to see it.  Or call me: 315-447-0441.

(ML#S310283)

So what sold - and why were we all running around showing things if not to sell them?  Actually, even if only 4 new listings came on the market, 8 other properties received offers and are under contract.  This is a very good ratio, and another reason to get out there and choose your new home soon, before it's sold!  Three of the new sales are Village, 1 is waterfront, and the other 4 are in the area.  The total number is now 21 under contract.

Sold and closed - hooray! - we have now reached the magic number of 20.  The two that closed are in the Town portion, bringing the waterfront, Village and Town to fairly even numbers.  The  median price this year is $327,000 and that's a slight increase over the last couple years.  Fewer homes have sold by this time, however, reflecting the fewer homes on the market.  In 2013 there were 26; 2012 there were 29 homes closed by May 12th.  We will catch up in the next month - still my solid prediction!

So get out there and see what's there to see!  I will publish the list of the First Twenty sales of 2014 in the next few days.  Please watch for it!