November 2009

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Until we get around to seeing the new flick AVATAR, we will just have to work with the real world as we see it. The special effects of this new James Cameron movie are supposed to be beyond anything before now; Cameron invents a new world and new language to make it all work. Until the day we can relocate to his new world, we are stuck here in Santa Fe, NM, which is a pretty nice place to be stuck. Speaking of proper names, can you think of any other Santa Fe that can be considered our equal? I know there are lots of similar names that appear in states and countries all over. Which Bloomington have you been near lately? But we seem to have the bragging rights with our little Santa Fe. And that’s the way it should be. Love those bragging rights. As much as we can disagree about the future of our town, we still are proud to call it home, and brag to our friends that can only visit.

One of the most talked about and most examined segments of business in Santa Fe was always residential real estate. Maybe that’s why this newsletter has become widely distributed. We know the personality types that plug into the local real estate scene in their own special way. And we have usually welcomed that for diversity and for that flow of cash into our market. While that has not stopped, it has downsized dramatically. Second home buyers are still coming and growing families are still moving up in size and price. It’s just not as fast as we all want. The latest news is the recent extension of the first time homebuyer tax credit. Without the information available to be exact, it seems to have really helped sales of homes in Santa Fe the last few months. Great news!

So what is there to say today? Seems like the same message as always; now is the time to buy. Going back thru the full range of emotions we have all experienced over the last 3 years, we know if we are still here that we have accomplished something. Many others have moved on or faded away or simply moved to other pastures. We know the rules of financing have changed (and are still changing) and that has kept some from purchasing, and thus affecting some who hoped to sell. We now realize our homes should not have been treated like ATMs and we now understand that the value of a home does not always go up. We might feel complicit in the economic difficulties of recent years; then still wonder why we are being punished for the ‘sins’ of others. We know there is a limited “best” time to buy, yet we have been talking for months about now being that time. And the good news is that the right time to buy will continue for a few more months. After that, you will have waited too long. Price increases are likely to begin just a few months into the next year. Wait at the risk of paying more next summer than you would pay now.

The usual absorption rate chart is attached and this time it shows improvement in most categories. We know some of that can be seasonal, but inventory is down while sales are mostly steady; therefore the # of months has come down that it would take at current levels of sales to absorb all inventory. In addition to the attachment, the chart below has a running count of sales of improved residential property in Santa Fe City and County. The best news could be an improvement from this month this year over same month last year. Just as good is that October 2009 shows the single largest monthly total so far this year. So there you have it. All your hard work may be starting to pay off. Maybe this winter will not be a predictable off season as buyers realize bargains are there and grab what they want now, while it’s available, instead of next June, when it may be gone.

Santa Fe City/County Residential Sales of Homes Monthly
     Jan      Feb      Mar      Apr      May      Jun      Jul      Aug      Sep     Oct    Nov   Dec   Totals

2002

124

139

169

189

234

189

216

224

179

232

169

174

2238

2003

154

130

189

188

174

211

241

245

219

233

183

188

2355

2004

143

154

197

241

220

247

217

242

208

222

239

227

2557

2005

157

163

203

215

222

284

256

278

260

249

279

232

2798

2006

170

182

247

203

269

235

230

201

180

196

183

178

2474

2007

129

114

179

157

192

180

169

172

137

133

146

122

1830

2008

101

104

97

102

132

116

113

144

125

128

83

105

1350

2009

47

63

94

84

84

108

124

107

116

130

Updated Monthly
All numbers are from SFAR MLS system & are deemed reliable but not guaranteed

Once again, if anyone has other statistical studies they would like to see, please let me know.

Posted in Posts & Updates, Santa Fe area real estate.

The writer is a 68 year-old young man engaged as an active REALTOR (associate broker) with Keller Williams, in real estate sales and management in the Santa Fe NM market area. My career has been in and around the real estate industry for more than 35 years, ranging from mortgage lending (interim, commercial, residential); residential property management and leasing; shopping center development and leasing; real estate sales; sales training; title insurance as an executive and an escrow officer; various management positions; consulting and other related activities. That plus a bunch of banking experience including our family-owned Bank of Santa Fe in the 1980s. Where has the time gone?
My background means you have my working knowledge of the entire transaction process at your disposal. That comes with honesty and no bullshit.