A couple weeks ago Billy Lang from Gallinger/Realty USA in Marcellus passed away. As it said in the paper, he had run his mother's real estate firm (Verna Lang) for 40 years. A friend said he had either "birthed 'em or buried 'em" and sometimes both over the course of his time. His office walls were lined with the heads of animals he had hunted. His hair was long and spoke volumes about who he was. You could always tell when someone was on the phone with Billy - the listener made a lot of agreeing noises, but rarely got a chance to speak. I can still hear his voice. When I heard he was sick, a couple years ago, it was hard to believe because he was so active, so energized all the time. But he was, and will be missed.
On Saturday evening Janet Tardiff from Williams Realty in Skaneateles also passed away. I hadn't heard she had been sick, and thankfully she wasn't for long. I had wondered in passing why she didn't go look at Ten Mile Point when her client asked about it, but she wasn't the first. She was a great reader of this blog - my "JT" - and always wanted to have me print the median price of sold and closed properties, not the mean. She was the owner, with Grace Snook, of Williams Realty until just recently. Pat Snyder, an agent in the company, told wonderful stories yesterday when I spoke with her from my open house at 50 West Genesee. Days when there were no copiers or fax machines at the office (in the building across from RE/MAX, where Paris Flea is now). Days when the listings were sent out by mail to be included in the office's master book. Just like Billy, I can still hear Janet's voice, sort of a drawl with a question mixed in...I liked coming in to the office and seeing her at her desk in the far corner. I will miss her terribly.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Occasional Update (October 17th - 24th)
I don't want to be cavalier about it, but between selling and showing things, closing others and this storm that never materialized in Skaneateles, it's been a long week. I also held an open house at 5731 Sandbank Road in Elbridge and came away with a deeper appreciation for the property. It's an amazing house, as everyone agreed who came through the open a couple days ago. Add the property - 1.5 acres of truly a park-like setting - and it is much more than it appears from the outside. Also, it demonstrates what you need to do prior to listing, if you look at the landscaping. Fall is a great time to put a home on the market for this reason - all those colors! You can see the full listing at REMAX.com or Realtor.com: ML#S280235. (Sorry - I tried to upload a photo but blogger was having none of it today...could it be the storm?)
During this week, there were 104 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 31 were in the Village and 28 were waterfront. There were (despite my suggestion above) no new listings.
In the under contract category there continues to be a fairly high number of single family homes waiting to close, 37 to be exact. Four are newly placed there - two in the Town and two in the Village. Hopefully they will be able to close before the end of the year.
I firmly believe, though, that we will have no problem getting to 100 closings this year. We have three new ones to report, all in the area surrounding Skaneateles. Two of them are on the higher end - we are getting back to the prices that dominated the market a few years ago, as well as the volume. All good news.
During this week, there were 104 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 31 were in the Village and 28 were waterfront. There were (despite my suggestion above) no new listings.
In the under contract category there continues to be a fairly high number of single family homes waiting to close, 37 to be exact. Four are newly placed there - two in the Town and two in the Village. Hopefully they will be able to close before the end of the year.
I firmly believe, though, that we will have no problem getting to 100 closings this year. We have three new ones to report, all in the area surrounding Skaneateles. Two of them are on the higher end - we are getting back to the prices that dominated the market a few years ago, as well as the volume. All good news.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Skaneateles Real Estate - October 3rd - October 17th
Before I forget (as if I would) I have an open house this weekend at my new (sort of) listing in Skaneateles. Please come! Tell me you saw it here! The house is 50 West Genesee, almost across from the new Krebs. If the photo or the location sounds familiar, it is. I listed and sold this last year. The owners are relocating and want the house to move with them, but alas, it can't. So you have the opportunity to buy it! Hooray!
Four bedrooms, three full baths, a third floor that is now being used as a media room. Incredible woodwork throughout - really, a pleasure to show. Check it out online: ML# S280791 It's priced below where we had it last year, even - now $415,000. See you between 1:00 and 3:00 on Sunday.
There are actually only 109 listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 32 are in the Village and 29 are waterfront. Besides this beauty above, five other houses came on the market during this time frame. Three are waterfront, ranging form a low of around $600,000 to a high of two million. The other two houses are in the town, and less than 50 West Genesee - with less space, too.
In the under contract categories there are 35 houses! Seven are new, including two that made the trip from newly active to contingent during this time period. Priced right and they sold!
As has been our custom, two more homes closed, bringing our total to 92 so far with still 10 weeks to go in the year. Both sold right around the $400,000 mark.....hmmmmm.....kind of like 50 West Genesee.....Let's see if we can add that to the contingent list by the time the next update blog gets written.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Skaneateles Real Estate - Update Sept. 19th - Oct. 3rd
As you can tell, it's still busy and I am still out and about way too much it seems. I pulled together the research for this blog and just never got a chance to write it out. It helped me get a listing - I love knowing what I am talking about and being able to throw out exact numbers. I feel like I could take on a candidate running for Realtor in Skaneateles! I just need to find the time to communicate what I know to my readers. And I know they will decrease without my publishing regularly, so I will do better by writing more often. Starting here today.
During this period there were 111 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 33 were in the Village and 27 were considered waterfront. Eight new listings came on the market, but 5 of these were re-lists with reductions in price. One of the new ones was a beautiful Village home priced just under one million. A home in the town but not far outside was priced around $200,000 and a waterfront camp came on around $300,000.
Six new ones joined the under contract or pending category to bring that number to 30. One Village, 4 in the town, and a waterfront.
We now have 90 sold and closed, year-to date. Incredible! Six new ones were added to this list: one in the Village and five in the town.
This brings the number of Village properties sold year-to date (remember, the end-date is October 3rd) to 34. I went back and looked at 2011; there were only twelve (12!) sold in that time period. We are having a blazingly hot year, especially in the Village. The median prices are slightly down - $285,000 vs. $349,000 - and certainly that is a contributing factor. But so are the mortgage rates. Come to Skaneateles!
During this period there were 111 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 33 were in the Village and 27 were considered waterfront. Eight new listings came on the market, but 5 of these were re-lists with reductions in price. One of the new ones was a beautiful Village home priced just under one million. A home in the town but not far outside was priced around $200,000 and a waterfront camp came on around $300,000.
Six new ones joined the under contract or pending category to bring that number to 30. One Village, 4 in the town, and a waterfront.
We now have 90 sold and closed, year-to date. Incredible! Six new ones were added to this list: one in the Village and five in the town.
This brings the number of Village properties sold year-to date (remember, the end-date is October 3rd) to 34. I went back and looked at 2011; there were only twelve (12!) sold in that time period. We are having a blazingly hot year, especially in the Village. The median prices are slightly down - $285,000 vs. $349,000 - and certainly that is a contributing factor. But so are the mortgage rates. Come to Skaneateles!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Fourth Twenty
I am not sure that I have EVER written a Fourth Twenty - certainly not at this time of year! The Third Twenty was published on August 8th, so we are only about 7 weeks past that. Magnificent!
The list is a bit odd - I will point out where - but I believe that it closely follows what has occurred. We are well into the 80s for closings anyway....
1905 Stump Road - Town of Skaneateles - unpublished sale price
1719 Russells Landing - Town of Skaneateles - $355,000
80 West Elizabeth Street - Village of Skaneateles - $150,000
1863 Sugar Maple Lane - Town of Skaneateles - $198,000 (reported twice)
9 Academy Street - Village of Skaneateles - $295,000
174 East Genesee Street - Village of Skaneateles - $270,000
2812 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $293,000
38 Academy Street - Village of Skaneateles - $349,900
25 Hannum Street - Village of Skaneateles - $225,000
4755 Austin Road - Town of Skaneateles - $278,000
1711 Lancelot Lane - Town of Skaneateles - $280,000
628 Crow Hill Road - Town of Skaneateles - $337,000
2258 Cherry Valley Turnpike - Town of Skaneateles - $170,000
639 School Street - Skaneateles Falls - $87,000
3143 West Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $270,000
2753 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $499,900
3 Ramble Wood Drive - Village of Skaneateles - $557,500
24 East Elizabeth Street - Village of Skaneateles - $220,000
1025 Autumntree Court - Town of Skaneateles - $402,500
The list is a bit odd - I will point out where - but I believe that it closely follows what has occurred. We are well into the 80s for closings anyway....
1905 Stump Road - Town of Skaneateles - unpublished sale price
1719 Russells Landing - Town of Skaneateles - $355,000
80 West Elizabeth Street - Village of Skaneateles - $150,000
1863 Sugar Maple Lane - Town of Skaneateles - $198,000 (reported twice)
9 Academy Street - Village of Skaneateles - $295,000
174 East Genesee Street - Village of Skaneateles - $270,000
2812 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $293,000
38 Academy Street - Village of Skaneateles - $349,900
25 Hannum Street - Village of Skaneateles - $225,000
4755 Austin Road - Town of Skaneateles - $278,000
1711 Lancelot Lane - Town of Skaneateles - $280,000
628 Crow Hill Road - Town of Skaneateles - $337,000
2258 Cherry Valley Turnpike - Town of Skaneateles - $170,000
639 School Street - Skaneateles Falls - $87,000
3143 West Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $270,000
2753 East Lake Road - Town of Skaneateles - $499,900
3 Ramble Wood Drive - Village of Skaneateles - $557,500
24 East Elizabeth Street - Village of Skaneateles - $220,000
1025 Autumntree Court - Town of Skaneateles - $402,500
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Bi-Monthly Update
Summer is over, sort of, but it doesn't feel like it is. I've had only one new apple so far thanks to the frost, and it was hard! Usually I stop on Route 20 coming out of Lafayette and grab the first of the Jersey Macs. Besides not having time this year, it just hasn't felt right. Maybe because the rush is still on for real estate, and I haven't done the fall open house with cider and donuts because everything is selling. It's just very different this year.
What is really different is the amount of business we are all doing. Hold on to your hat!
Currently there are 117 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 34 are in the Village and 27 are reputed to be waterfront properties. Since I last wrote on September 5th, 13 new listings have come on the market. Five of these are re-listings with a good deal of price reductions. All of the three waterfront listings are in this category. In the Village there are four new homes out there ready for their buyers. They range in price from $400,000 to $800,000 or thereabouts. There are four new ones in the town section. Those range from the mid-$100,000 to higher $300,000s. If the selling continues, I am willing to guess that half of all of these will be gone in two months' time.
In the contingent-under contract-pending category we have a low of 23 waiting to close. Five are new to this, three of the non-waterfront properties averaging around $200,000 are "sold" but not closed. The two new waterfront additions are quite lovely and higher priced, as you would imagine.
So of course if you've been reading this blog you know that if there are so few in the last category, then a lot must have sold and closed. Eight more to be exact! That brings us to 84 for the year, an unheard-of number in recent times. As I have reported since spring, the majority are Village homes. It's been a great year for the Village. In the next week I will publish the Fourth Twenty closings. Incredible!
BUT! If you don't know what to buy or want to wait and see if your favorite Village home will come on the market in the next year, you are more than welcome to lease 31 East Elizabeth Street. It's a Victorian with almost 2,000sf, four bedrooms, two full baths, a detached single car garage, and within easy walking distance of everything - shops, schools, lakefront, parks....The cost is $1,800 per month plus utilities. Nicely-behaved pets are welcome. Enjoy the seasons from the warp-around porch at the corner of Elizabeth and State Street, then stroll on down to our office to the left of Doug's Fish Fry and check out our listings. Not such a bad place to live, work and play.
What is really different is the amount of business we are all doing. Hold on to your hat!
Currently there are 117 active listings in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 34 are in the Village and 27 are reputed to be waterfront properties. Since I last wrote on September 5th, 13 new listings have come on the market. Five of these are re-listings with a good deal of price reductions. All of the three waterfront listings are in this category. In the Village there are four new homes out there ready for their buyers. They range in price from $400,000 to $800,000 or thereabouts. There are four new ones in the town section. Those range from the mid-$100,000 to higher $300,000s. If the selling continues, I am willing to guess that half of all of these will be gone in two months' time.
In the contingent-under contract-pending category we have a low of 23 waiting to close. Five are new to this, three of the non-waterfront properties averaging around $200,000 are "sold" but not closed. The two new waterfront additions are quite lovely and higher priced, as you would imagine.
So of course if you've been reading this blog you know that if there are so few in the last category, then a lot must have sold and closed. Eight more to be exact! That brings us to 84 for the year, an unheard-of number in recent times. As I have reported since spring, the majority are Village homes. It's been a great year for the Village. In the next week I will publish the Fourth Twenty closings. Incredible!
BUT! If you don't know what to buy or want to wait and see if your favorite Village home will come on the market in the next year, you are more than welcome to lease 31 East Elizabeth Street. It's a Victorian with almost 2,000sf, four bedrooms, two full baths, a detached single car garage, and within easy walking distance of everything - shops, schools, lakefront, parks....The cost is $1,800 per month plus utilities. Nicely-behaved pets are welcome. Enjoy the seasons from the warp-around porch at the corner of Elizabeth and State Street, then stroll on down to our office to the left of Doug's Fish Fry and check out our listings. Not such a bad place to live, work and play.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Summer-Ending Update
The past three weeks is the longest time I've been away from this blog ever, in the five or so years I've been writing it. But business has never been better! I start the day before dawn when Charlie gets me up if I'm at home, and then fall into my chair at night around 8:00, content to have a Corona Light and talk about the day, or just sit there. If I'm at the lake I skip dinner altogether and go straight to a movie and falling asleep in my wicker chair. "Make hay while the sun shines..." It's been a bit cloudy over the past few years, not in my business, but in the market as a whole. August. Who knew?
So to catch up. In the listings area there really wasn't much action. Currently there are 109 active single family homes in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 30 are in the Village and 27 are listed as waterfront. In the past three weeks only 6 homes have come on the market for the first time. Each and every one is a Village home! They range in price from the low $200,000 to almost a million.
There is not a great deal of change in the numbers of the "contingent, under contract" homes - still a hefty 31. However, 11 of these are new to this category. Six come from the town, two are waterfront, and three are Village properties. That's remarkable in that the percentages are similar to the active listings.
Let's think....if there hasn't been a sizable increase in the contracted properties, then where did the others go? To the CLOSED category!
We now have 76 homes sold and closed this year - so far - in the Skaneateles area. Eleven are new, with four coming from the Village and five from the town, and two waterfront homes rounding it out. Soon we'll have the Fourth Twenty homes to publish. Last year at this time only 46 homes had closed. In all of 2011 there were 70. Yes, we are on a roll!
More interestingly, all the newly closed homes were listed this year. So if they went under contract approximately in late June, then none of them were on the market longer than five and a half months at the very most. Of course some were refreshed, or changed agencies perhaps, but I can only see one that was listed in 2011.
So this means that it is time to buy. With this much demand the prices will undoubtedly rise soon - just the nature of the business! Rates are still low, but as I cautioned someone today they have risen just a bit in the past two weeks. We are doing well, and only now going into the fall season.
I can't wait!
So to catch up. In the listings area there really wasn't much action. Currently there are 109 active single family homes in the Skaneateles area of the multiple listing service. Of these, 30 are in the Village and 27 are listed as waterfront. In the past three weeks only 6 homes have come on the market for the first time. Each and every one is a Village home! They range in price from the low $200,000 to almost a million.
There is not a great deal of change in the numbers of the "contingent, under contract" homes - still a hefty 31. However, 11 of these are new to this category. Six come from the town, two are waterfront, and three are Village properties. That's remarkable in that the percentages are similar to the active listings.
Let's think....if there hasn't been a sizable increase in the contracted properties, then where did the others go? To the CLOSED category!
We now have 76 homes sold and closed this year - so far - in the Skaneateles area. Eleven are new, with four coming from the Village and five from the town, and two waterfront homes rounding it out. Soon we'll have the Fourth Twenty homes to publish. Last year at this time only 46 homes had closed. In all of 2011 there were 70. Yes, we are on a roll!
More interestingly, all the newly closed homes were listed this year. So if they went under contract approximately in late June, then none of them were on the market longer than five and a half months at the very most. Of course some were refreshed, or changed agencies perhaps, but I can only see one that was listed in 2011.
So this means that it is time to buy. With this much demand the prices will undoubtedly rise soon - just the nature of the business! Rates are still low, but as I cautioned someone today they have risen just a bit in the past two weeks. We are doing well, and only now going into the fall season.
I can't wait!
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