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September 2005 Is The Market Slowing- Or Just
Taking A Break? Typically, during the peak summer months when
school is out, real estate activity slows significantly. Many people are
focused initially on family vacations and then after the vacation, on
preparing for the new school term. Only then do they once more start to think
about moving to another home. Similarly, people with families who are
relocating to a new area generally try to time the sale of their existing
home and purchase of a new one so that their physical move is in the period
while school is out. Again, the sales activity takes place before the summer
really gets under way. This summer has been no exception. Many homes
that were listed for sale in July are still offered for sale and Open House
attendance and showings figures are much reduced. And many of those sellers
expecting to get multiple offers for their home as soon as it was listed for
sale have been sorely disappointed. The busiest time of year for real estate sales
for many agents is spring time – from around mid-February until the end of
June. The second busiest is from the start of the new school year in
September up until Thanksgiving. We know that record sales activity took place
this year between March and July. Much of this was due to a shortage of homes
for sale in most areas combined with an abundance of buyers. A glance at the
table at the foot of Page 2 will demonstrate that we are no longer short of
homes for sale (although neither do we have a major surplus). Provided that buyers come back on the scene in
reasonable numbers we can anticipate another active time ahead. If not, then
perhaps the recent pattern of double digit percentage annual price increases
is over for a while. There is nothing anybody can do to influence this
situation but within two or three weeks we should be able to see where the
market is going. And even if prices were to fall (which seems unlikely), this
is not necessarily a catastrophic state of affairs. Remember that unless you
are relocating, you buy and sell in the same market. It is primarily the
difference in price between your existing home and your new one that you
should focus on. Not the absolute sale or purchase price. Restaurant
Review
Yang’s at Yang’s is the
latest addition to the restaurant scene in San Ramon and very welcome it is
indeed. Yang's at This is a very spacious restaurant with seating for over 100 people and also an attractive and well-stocked full bar. The menu is less than extensive by Chinese restaurant standards but they do have some very interesting dishes as well as a number of “standards”. Sylvia and I opted to share an order of Mu Shu Pork as an appetizer. That is Stir-fried pork with shredded vegetables, served with Hoi sin sauce and thin pancakes for those unfamiliar with this dish. It was delicious. As good as any I have tasted. For our main courses, Sylvia chose the Szechwan Beef while I chose the Braised Sea Bass. Yang’s identifies both of these as “Chef’s Specials”. The beef was delicious and the Sea Bass was absolutely superb. So good, that I will have difficulty in choosing anything else from this restaurant when I dine here in the future. Other dishes on the menu that sound interesting are Mango Chicken and Coconut Curry Shrimp as well as a few old favorites like Chow Fun and Kung Pao Chicken. Chinese restaurants are not really noted for desserts and neither of us had the space for one but it was interesting to note that Yang’s again avoids the stereotype, instead offering such choices as Tiramisu, Raspberry Cheesecake and Triple Chocolate Mousse – maybe next time! The wine list
is short but well chosen with new world wines being well represented as well
as the usual Service was friendly and efficient, even though the staff were still inexperienced here (the restaurant had only been open 2 weeks) and it was pleasing to be given the choice of white or brown rice. Our waitress also offered an ice bucket for the wine which was appreciated. Another thing I liked – there was no feeling that the wait-staff wanted you out of there as fast as possible. I do like to have a relaxing, unhurried meal when I go out to dinner. All in all, this was a very pleasant experience and a great addition to the San Ramon dining scene. Find out more at their web site at www.YangsRestaurant.com. Reviews such as the one above
are included as a service to introduce people to interesting restaurants in
the Homes Currently
Offered For (Figures in parentheses show the
numbers at the middle of last month)
|
|
Address |
City |
|
BR |
Bth |
½ Bth |
SqFt |
|
Sold Price |
DOM |
|
|
|
|
2 |
2 |
0 |
1339 |
13068 |
$790,000 |
15 |
|
261 |
|
|
5 |
3 |
0 |
3052 |
25570 |
$1,200,000 |
13 |
|
|
|
La
Serena |
4 |
3 |
0 |
2700 |
20328 |
$1,250,000 |
7 |
|
5 |
|
Peake |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2404 |
18225 |
$1,275,000 |
23 |
|
|
|
Smith |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3225 |
51836 |
$1,875,000 |
78 |
|
101 |
Blackhawk |
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
2258 |
4320 |
$895,000 |
18 |
|
|
Blackhawk |
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
2666 |
8925 |
$1,075,000 |
12 |
|
3211 |
|
|
4 |
3 |
0 |
2587 |
8624 |
$1,300,000 |
40 |
|
|
|
Eagle |
5 |
4 |
0 |
3647 |
9095 |
$1,715,000 |
6 |
|
|
Blackhawk |
Blackhawk
Meadow |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4289 |
16512 |
$1,899,000 |
0 |
|
3440 Quail Walk |
Blackhawk |
|
4 |
6 |
0 |
5767 |
35625 |
$2,750,000 |
8 |
|
4499 |
Blackhawk |
|
6 |
8 |
2 |
12308 |
87991 |
$6,890,000 |
91 |
|
1157 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
1 |
1301 |
1050 |
$554,000 |
1 |
|
|
|
Tunbridge |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2022 |
0 |
$729,000 |
26 |
|
735 Ynez Cir |
|
|
2 |
2 |
0 |
1373 |
6095 |
$740,000 |
4 |
|
226 Abigail Cir |
|
Maison |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2396 |
4000 |
$799,950 |
5 |
|
|
|
Cameo
Drive |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1191 |
11875 |
$825,000 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
2 |
0 |