Karen Spechler's Real Estate Blog

Pictures of 5177 San Lucas Way

2010-04-21T13:49:00.001-07:00

2010-04-21T13:48:00.001-07:00

New Listing! Splendid San Lucas Way Home, priced at $729,000. This updated home features expanded master suite with bath, great spa and deck, all dual paned windows, solid oak doors, ceramic tile floors, smooth ceilings, recessed lighting, leaded glass entry door, new paint, new hot water heater, all new plumbing lines in the attic, beautiful landscaping, great garden area to the right of the driveway and very open floorplan.

2010-04-19T14:04:00.001-07:00

First Quarter Update 2010

Happy Spring! It is hard to believe we are well underway into the second quarter of 2010! The first quarter of this year was much more active than the first quarter of 2009. We are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of open escrows. During the first quarter, escrows for single family homes almost doubled compared to last year and condo escrows increased by about 47%. Our number of closed sales, as well, almost doubled from last year.

Unfortunately, the median price for homes and condos is still at 2003 price levels. However, for the most part prices are stabilizing and we are feeling some upward pressure for home prices below one million. There has also been more activity in higher priced condos which should bring up the median for the category.
If you are wondering if this is the right time for YOU to sell please call for confidential interview. I also have been doing many short sales and REOs and can answer questions.
-Karen Spechler

2010-04-14T14:17:00.001-07:00

New listings coming soon...2 bd/2 ba condo with two car garage, catherdral ceilings, quiet end unit, fireplace,patio deck off master, new carpet and paint at $499,000. Call me for address and details 563.7265

NEWLY LISTED 984 MIRAMONTE DR 4 AT $479,000!

2010-04-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

2010-04-07T14:30:00.001-07:00

Great Anacapa Townhouse with the bedrooms upstairs and cathedral ceilings. Updated kitchen with newer cabinets and appliances, updated baths, tile floors in kitchen, dining and entry and tile private patio. Nice views from both bedrooms, lots of closet space and very quiet location. Priced to sell! Listed at $479,000 call me for more info!

2010-03-31T14:11:00.001-07:00

2 Bedroom Santa Barbara Highlands condo coming soon under $500,000!

2010-03-29T13:49:00.001-07:00

California Home Prices Head Higher
By: Cari Tuna for the Wall Street Journal

The California housing market is showing more signs of stabilization—at least for now—as sales of bank-owned and bargain-basement homes in inland areas partially give way to sales of costlier homes toward the coast, according to a new report.

In Southern California, the median home price rose 10% to $275,000, led by a 13% rise in San Diego, while the number of home sales rose from year-earlier levels for the 20th consecutive month.

The increase in the statewide median price—the biggest year-over-year jump since March 2006—partially reflected a shift in the types of homes being sold in the state, as fewer foreclosures and stiff competition for bargains ate up inventory at the market's lower end, said DataQuick analyst Andrew LePage. "There has been a shift in what's selling and what's not selling," Mr. LePage said. "The high end has woken up, whereas it was comatose a year ago."
But prices are "still way below any peak we saw two or three years back," he added.
"The rebound in prices is artificial," boosted by federal and state efforts to stimulate demand among buyers and stem foreclosures, said Sam Khater, a senior economist at First American CoreLogic, a Santa Ana, Calif., research firm. "I think that the market is going to struggle for some time."

"You've got quite a bit of road to go before you see the light."

2010-03-24T13:48:00.001-07:00

New Listing at 29 Dearborn Place 22 listed at $239,500! Top Floor End Unit close to UCSB with dramatic Cathedral Ceilings! Recently remodeled with new tile in kitchen and bath floors, counters, shower and beautiful newer Brazilian Cherry wood floors in living room and bedroom. Newer appliances. Very nice sunny view deck off living room, great for morning coffee or a sunset glass of wine. This great unit will sell itself!

Home Buyer Tax Credit FAQ's

2010-03-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

2010-03-15T14:49:00.001-07:00

New Listing Coming Soon...
Offered at $239,500! 1 bd/1bath condo, cathedral ceilings, newer kitchen and bath, sunny view deck near UCSB.

2009-2010 Survey of California Home Sellers- Highlights

2010-03-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

The 2009-2010 Survey of California Home Sellers Report is a detailed account of seller behavior. It covers their reasons for selling, their experience with various aspects of the transaction, their relationship with their agents and much more.

Distress resonated among California homeowners who sold their home in 2009. According to results from the 2009 Survey of California Home Sellers, trouble making mortgage payments, job losses, and increases in monthly mortgage payments played significant roles in sellers’ decisions to sell their homes in 2009.

• Nearly three-quarters of all sellers in California sold as a result of financial difficulties. Job and
income uncertainty led nearly 20 percent of sellers to sell. Fifteen percent of sellers reported
they needed to sell their home as a result of their mortgage payment increasing, compared with
16 percent in 2008, and 5 percent in 2007.

• The current mortgage loan environment played a prominent role in homeowners’ being concerned
about their ability to sell: tighter lending standards and higher down payments contributed to the
worries. Buyers’ ability to secure a loan was one of the top three concerns among sellers this
year. For 74 percent of respondents, this was among the most worrisome components of the
home selling process.

• Nearly half of all sellers owned the home for two years or less, compared with only one-third in
2008, and almost two-thirds (59 percent) of those sellers were first-time sellers, compared with
only one-third (33 percent in) 2008.

• While only 7.5 percent of sellers reported they had a fixed-rate mortgage (FRM), 92.5 percent
reported they had an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM)—a two-year fixed, a three-year fixed, a
five-year fixed, or negative amortization.

• Fifty-four percent of sellers interviewed more than five real estate agents before selecting the
one they worked with, compared to 50 percent last year, and 21 percent in 2007.

• Close to two-thirds (64 percent) of all sellers sold their home with an agent other than the agent
with whom they initially listed the home.

• More than one out of three (34 percent) sellers moved out of California in 2009, compared to
23 percent in 2008.

• The number of first time home sellers increased to 44 percent of all sellers, compared with 33
percent in 2008.

• The largest age cohort of sellers ranged between 35 and 44 years (38 percent), with a slight
decrease from 45 percent in 2008. The average age of sellers was 39 (the median was 37),
with ages ranging from 23 to 62.

• Sellers under 40 made up of 61 percent of the seller population, outpacing baby boomers,
who consisted of 22 percent of sellers in 2009.

Members can download the report for free at http://www.rebsonline.com/product/1311/
using the following code "cahomesellers".

Article from the car.org

3727 GREGGORY WAY 5

2010-03-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

Rarely available 3 bdrm, 2 bath end unit with loft/den/sitting room off Master. 2 bdrms & bath downstairs & master upstairs w/views & huge bath & walk-in closet. Cath ceils in LR, DR & Master, custom Cherry cab & new appl in kit, sunny & spacious patio overlooking greenbelt & fountain, quiet location in complex, 2-car garage(some have put door into gar from front bdrm), french drs, laundry & more. Offered at $689,000!

New Listing

2010-03-03T15:04:00.001-08:00

New Listing! 2727 Miradero # 201 , 2 bd/2 bath, fantastic condo with mountians views, upgraded kitchen and bath listed at $499,500!