#sonomacountyrealestate – Artisan Sotheby's International Realty

Sonoma County Market Trends

Heidi and I share over 40 years of experience in both residential and commercial real estate. We are setting new standards by refining the art of residential brokerage with a practiced eye for identifying the unique value of a property. We are very well versed in current real estate trends and offer our clients exceptional expertise when positioning their homes in today’s market or evaluating and securing an upcoming purchase.

The first couple of months of the year 2022 has been tough for the world, just as recovery from the pandemic seemed within reach, the current war has affected everyone’s lives. It has been an intense year, but we are thrilled to present you with the update on the Spring Real Estate in Sonoma County.

Properties sold 67% higher than last month and 14% lower than the same 1st Quarter of 2021.

The volume of new listings is 43% lower than last month and 49% lower than the same 1st Quarter of 2021.

Average Days on Market is 3% lower than last month and 30% lower than the same 1st Quarter of 2021.

“March sales data continues to suggest strong buying interest and a solid housing market, as the effects of higher mortgage interest rates won’t be realized for a few more months,” said CAR Vice President and Chief Economist Jordan Levine.

Rates may stabilize, rise further, or drop back down – they can change very quickly. The market is unpredictable, that’s why it is important to consult a real estate agent for a specific analysis of the neighborhood where you’re selling or buying. An informed decision goes a long way. Call us to establish a plan to achieve your personal real estate goals.

Adjustable-rate Mortgage

An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is a mortgage loan with the interest rate on the note periodically adjusted based on an index that reflects the cost to the lender of borrowing on the credit markets. The loan may be offered at the lender’s standard variable rate/base rate. There may be a direct and legally defined link to the underlying index, but where the lender offers no specific link to the underlying market or index, the rate can be changed at the lender’s discretion. The term “variable-rate mortgage” is most common outside the United States, whilst “adjustable-rate mortgage” is most common in the United States and implies a mortgage regulated by the Federal government, with caps on charges. In many countries, adjustable-rate mortgages are the norm, and in such places, may simply be referred to as mortgages. (“Adjustable-rate mortgage,” n.d.)

“A 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage has an average rate of 5.03%, an uptick of 13 basis points from seven days ago. For the first five years, you’ll typically get a lower interest rate with a 5/1 ARM compared to a 30-year fixed mortgage. However, you may end up paying more after that time, depending on the terms of your loan and how the rate adjusts with the market rate. If you plan to sell or refinance your house before the rate changes, an ARM may make sense for you. If not, shifts in the market may significantly increase your interest rate.” Justin Jaffe, cnet.com

To know if an ARM is a right fit for you, here are its pros and cons:

Photo from Slide 7 © Rosalinda Parks | Slideplayer.com

Adjustable-rate mortgages are risky, but as interest rates rise, more homebuyers are starting to consider them. ARMs have lower initial interest rates than 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, but the rate will change after a set period. Borrowers must then pay the fixed rate when their lock period expires, which can be risky if interest rates are rising at the time.

If you would like to know whether the ARMs or Fixed Mortgage is for you, Heidi and I will be there for you to give you the knowledge to have an informed decision—with our experience, you can count on us. Call us!

“The answer may not be at the beach but shouldn’t we at least check?”

Are you seeking sunshine, listening to the ocean waves, or vacation property of your own? Our newest listing in Dillon Beach is an extraordinary opportunity to purchase the best of all beach worlds. Take a sneak peek…

Bask in the elements and enjoy unparalleled relaxation from this private Dillon Beach contemporary home.

Sited with perfection on a premium oversized view lot, marvel at panoramic Pacific Ocean and coastline views encompassing Dillon Beach, Tomales Point, Tomales Bay, and Sugarloaf Mountain Peak. In addition to the sights, this home is surrounded by large native Cypress trees that provide a high degree of privacy. Together, the views and privacy create a feeling of sheer contentment.

This four-bedroom, three-bath home on Oceana Drive offers more than 2,700± square feet of indoor and outdoor living. Each bedroom provides a spacious layout, with a sumptuous owner’s suite. All bathrooms have high-efficiency Toto toilets.

This home has several decks: one with a propane fire pit and an enclosed patio with a Jacuzzi® hot tub off the main living area and a second off the owner’s suite for outdoor living. The home is heated by propane and a newer Bryant® furnace. There is also a CLIPPERCREEK charger for your electric car and an additional 30amp outlet.

On the main level, you will find a newer kitchen accented with a wall of mini glass subway tiles in Tahoe Blue. Appliances are all high-end, and the red Aga Range 6 gas burner is the room’s centerpiece. The vent hood is made by BEST® and has a commercial-grade blower attached. There is a Liebherr® refrigerator/freezer in stainless steel and an island that seats 4, housing a Franke® stainless steel double bowl deep sink with a Grohe® faucet. The countertops, including the island, are made of Silestone quartz.

The great room, complete with vaulted ceilings, is currently used for casual dining and entertaining. This room is equipped with a thermostat-controlled propane burning gas fireplace made by Morsøs® for those cold winter nights. The white-washed pine, wide plank floors add warmth and understated elegance to the living areas.

From the great room, wander into a bedroom (currently used as a media room) or up the extra wide staircase to the remaining bedrooms while catching a fantastic view of Tamales Point on the way up. The upstairs hallway/balcony is the perfect spot to showcase art or collectibles, and hay-colored Sisal® carpeting compliments the California coastal atmosphere.

With the owner’s suite on the first level, privacy is plentiful, with views of the coast and an outdoor deck. The en-suite bathroom with shower and soaking tub offer respite from the world.

A trap door in one of the closets allows access to a lower crawl space ideal for long-term storage. Additionally, the main level features laundry facilities with a Miele washer and dryer and the utility room housing the hot water heater and Bryant® furnace. There is also a ClipperCreek® charger for your electric car and an additional 30amp outlet.

Give us a call today for a private showing before this truly remarkable private coastal escape in Dillon Beach hits the market.

The distinctive and unique character of every property we list

Every property we list has a distinctive, unique character. It is our job to find the right buyer who appreciates all its individual qualities.

Heidi and I share over 40 years of experience in both residential and commercial real estate. We offer a deep commitment to providing our clients with exceptional service. Our focus is to listen and understand what you are looking for in a property. We offer our professional guidance by discussing options and alternatives and then establishing a plan to achieve your personal real estate goals.

Take a tour of a few of our current listings in Sonoma County. Reach out to schedule a private showing, or if you are in the market for a new home or real estate investment, you would like to discuss.

4940 Corrick Lane

Nestled high in the Mayacamas mountains at the doorsteps of the Valley of the Moon, this wine country estate takes in sweeping panoramic views from the San Francisco Bay, North, to the vineyards of the Russian River Valley. Combining the effortless sophistication of Hampton’s sensibility with the luxurious grandeur of a European Winery Estate, this is truly a one-of-a-kind residence where East Coast meets the West. Dramatic yet accessible, the thoughtful design enhances the changing atmosphere in each room as one moves throughout the home.

Unparalleled craftsmanship that entailed multiple years of intricately detailed work has come together to inspire columns, beams, and staircases that showcase exceptional residence.

This remarkable 35± acre gated estate offers a lifestyle of privacy overlooking the world-famous Sonoma Valley wine country, gateway to world-renowned wineries, a cyclists’ paradise, and the heart of California gastronomy, all within easy reach of the Pacific Ocean. Above the fog and below the weather, this property enjoys a unique micro-climate that is perfect year-round.

1937 Perth Avenue

Perched on a serene and private hillside in Highland Estates, this warm and inviting single-level home is the ideal country retreat while only minutes to every necessity. Enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings of redwoods, oaks, and a seasonal stream. This home features a great room concept with tons of natural light, gleaming hardwood floors, and updated baths boasting granite countertops and tile flooring. Entertaining is a breeze with easy access to an expansive deck and hot tub underneath the gazebo. The primary suite has a tranquil deck to enjoy your morning coffee while listening to the sounds of nature all around you. The property includes an attached two-car garage and a detached outbuilding ideal as an office, artist studio, or possible guest house. Truly a place to call home.

183 Mountain Vista Place

Welcome to Northern California’s most exciting and vibrant adult community (55+) – Oakmont Village. This dynamic community offers an abundance of outdoor activities for your enjoyment, including golf, tennis, pickleball, swimming, and a spa. Located in a peaceful cul-de-sac on a sizeable low-maintenance lot, this well-maintained Oakwood Model is light and airy with a great room concept, tile flooring throughout for easy cleaning and mobility. The living room boasts high-beamed ceilings, a fireplace, and large picture windows with views of Annadel State Park. The eat-in kitchen features rich maple cabinets and views of the backyard. The property includes updated baths and an attached two-car garage. Move into this home and play in the heart of the Valley of the Moon and Sonoma County Wine Country.

6695 Oakmont Drive

Take a tour of this well-maintained two-bedroom home conveniently located near the Berger Recreation Center and community activities. Enjoy all the Oakmont Community ( for 55 year-olds and over) has to offer, such as movies, seminars, a swimming pool, community concerts, bocce ball, and other gatherings. Also close to restaurants, tennis, and golf. This home is ready for a fresh look and upgrades.

We also have several commercial listings that might pique your investor interest. Both are multi-unit subdivisions ready for your vision.

6405 Old Redwood Highway

Creekwalk is a proposed 24 unit subdivision which was ready to submit for tentative map in 2016 by BKF Engineering.

6122 Old Redwood Highway

The Oaks is a proposed 36 unit subdivision consisting of three contiguous parcels located on the northeast corner of Merner and Old Redwood Hwy in Windsor.

6119 Old Redwood Highway

Fully leased investment with development potential located in a mixed area of residential and commercial. Two parcels totaling approximately 1.42 acres zoned CC.

Deja Vu

Real estate is not unlike life. We experience pockets of time full of high-energy activity, coupled with slower, more quiet periods where we can reflect and regroup, followed by time frames of equality and balance and very little drama. Real estate is no different.

Once again, we are experiencing a frenzy of activity in the real estate market. Homes are selling before making it to the MLS; bidding wars, combined with higher prices and low inventory, are making buyers and sellers tense. Randy and I have experienced this type of extreme market before and are well versed in navigating both buyers and sellers through the experience.

For many reasons, people are moving all over the country, not just Sonoma County. Some are moving to level up their lifestyle. Some are downsizing, some have experienced a divorce or significant life change, and some want to live in an area more conducive to staying home for long stretches. The pandemic caused the market to skyrocket. Real estate is booming all across the United States; Sonoma County is not alone.

Our advice to both buyers and sellers is to stay calm, be prepared, and align yourself with a professional realtor to look out for your best interest throughout your transaction.

Buyers need to be prepared to overbid and not lose heart. Have an open mind and a realistic picture of what their must-haves are in a home. Ensure you are working with a Realtor who knows the area well and is experienced working with the other local agents, and is willing to be patient and go that extra mile with you.

Even in a seller’s market, sellers need to price at fair market value and have their property show-ready. Buyers are not interested in overpriced homes that are not well maintained.

One of the biggest challenges sellers face right now is scheduling inspections- well, septic and appraisals. Professionals all over the area are booking 3-4 weeks out. We suggest sellers get most of these types of inspections completed before even going on the market if possible. We see many properties under contract before they even come on the market, making the sellers who completed their inspections and property clean-up before listing their homes much better suited to having an easy transfer of ownership.

We recommend taking a deep breath and have confidence; no matter which side of the transaction you are on, you will get through it and enjoy whatever lies on the other side for you.

Spring Has Sprung!

The birds are chirping, the grasses are growing, the flowers are blooming, and real estate is hopping! After such an intense and challenging year, we are thrilled to have a full calendar showing property and the fast-paced nature of Spring Real Estate in Sonoma County.

We have seen a lot of improvement in the Real Estate market. Properties sold 33% higher than last month and 21% higher than the same 1st Quarter of 2020.

There is an average 5% increase in price-per-square-foot to last month and a 28% increase in price-per-square-foot to 2020.

Rounding out the statistics, the average days on the market, because inventory is still low, is now 23% lower than last month, and 15% lower than last month, and 27% lower than 2020.

There is a lot to be said for the real estate market improving; people are gaining confidence in our economy and the local area. We are seeing statistics reminiscent of Springs past that demonstrate the positive momentum moving into the summer.

Hang in there, Sonoma County. We are looking to fully reopen soon and resume our lives to the fullest.

Happy Spring!

Level Up Your Home

Home decorating and remodeling trends are alluring to us all. Residential improvement fills our minds with enticing projects and grandiose ideas of what we can do ourselves in our spare lockdown time! Luckily the start of a new year is one of the most popular times for every magazine and news outlet to share what’s trending! Here is a summary of what we found this month.

Front porch with chairs — Photo 167204043 © Evgeny Lashchenov | Dreamstime.com

Social Front Yards
Social Distance catch-ups are much more pleasant if an “In an effort to maximize your property and feel more connected to neighbors, social front yards will continue to be a priority,” Tilly Design’s forecast notes. Look out for porch swings, more oversized porches, and bistro-style seating in your neighbors front yard!

Outdoor kitchen and entertaining space — Photo 100963029 © Danny Raustadt | Dreamstime.com

Amped-up Indoor-Outdoor living spaces.
Highlighting a more natural flow between inside and outside living continues to trend high on homeowners’ wish lists. Large sliding or folding glass doors, drop-down screens on the porch, outdoor heating lamps, and outdoor fire pits are all likely must have’s in 2021.

Intensifying seasonal views.
There is nothing like looking outside, only to see a few leaves on a tree. Homeowners are improving their views year-round by adding outside focal points that combine evergreens, perennials, and ornamental grasses to showcase greenery all year round.

Residential raised garden beds — Photo 73365904 © Irina88w | Dreamstime.com

Gardening spots.
Similar to the wave of sourdough starters during the pandemic, many people are returning to the simple life and growing gardens for enjoyment and food production. “Even in small areas, vertical outdoor gardens can not only serve as a great hobby but also as a statement piece, Tilly Design’s report notes. Veggies, fruit, and herb gardens are in high demand.”

Prefabricated flex sheds
The “she shed” on tilt. Once used to store garden tools and boxes of memorabilia, sheds are now utilized as accessory dwelling units for returning grown children, renters, or quiet work-from-home quarters.

Family zoom on TV — Photo 46361881 © Andrey Popov | Dreamstime.com

Video conferencing living rooms.
Modern times have created the need for dedicated zoom space! With so many meetings, classes, weddings, showers, and even funerals happening virtually, seeing and hearing everyone on a small screen is challenging. Homeowners are now adjusting their home entertainment centers to double as a home video conferencing hub.

Warmer color palettes.
We always like to keep up-to-date on the latest paint colors; 2021 is no different! Homeowners are moving away from grays to a warmer, cleaner palette such as Sherwin-Williams’ “Shoji White,” “Sea Salt,” “Breathless,” or “Unfussy Beige.”

Finishing up our trendy home tour, you must check out the latest in custom appliance trends and high-end finishes making their way into 2021 homes. These can be found in Barbara Ballinger from Realtor Magazine’s latest article, A Myriad of Home Trends to Gain Momentum in 2021.

We laughed, we cried, we saw history being made.

Starting in March, historical events began to unfold at every turn. Many of us kept looking at our loved ones, wondering if things could get any stranger. A global pandemic, devastating wildfires for the third year running, looming economic uncertainty, highly controversial elections, lockdowns, food shortages, an odd scarcity in toilet paper have all become the hallmark of 2020. There is even a Christmas tree ornament dedicated to the more globally felt events of 2020.

We feel confident that you have endured multiple personal hurdles that added insult to an already disastrous year. Now on the brink of 2021, we are all holding our breath; what will happen now? Dare we dream? Dare we ask for a calmer sense of normalcy around the corner? No matter the answer, we wanted to take a minute and focus on some of the lighter moments and maybe tickle your funny bone with some of the more amusing tales we found online.

Curl up on the sofa, get a cup of hot cocoa, and laugh with us awhile.

The “dumpster fire that is 2020.” People got creative with their holiday greetings. USA Today shares a few people’s stories.

The failure of the Rockafeller Christmas tree, reported by USA Today.

A few zoom mishaps from our year online will give you a belly ache from laughter.

We could not leave out the now-famous comedian Robyn Schall for the relatable Instagram post of her 2020 goals and how now they are trolling her.

And finally, a video tweeted around the world of a Ukrainian woman who repeatedly fails to walk across an ice-covered street. As many news outlets have stated, if the ice-covered street is a metaphor for 2020 – we are right there with this woman! Keep trying; we will get to the end soon!

We depart with this final quote from Bruce Sanguin and sincerely wish you all the best holiday 2020 can bring you! We are still here and always willing to support you in any way we can!

Solidify Your Love for Your Home Forever

We are living in a time when staying home is the best option for our collective health. This new way of living in our homes leaves us wandering the hallways, thinking about what we want to change, add, and make existing spaces multifunctional. To quote Appollo 13’s Marilyn Lovell, “I can’t deal with cleaning up. Let’s sell the house.” Maybe not because I don’t want to clean the house, but I can’t cope with my current home’s dysfunctionality now that we are here so often. I, too, have fallen to the question, should we sell and buy something else? How about you?

Selling your house is a viable option. I will additionally suggest you sell your house and build the “perfect for you” home. Creating the “perfect for me” home has occupied my thoughts a few times during the pandemic. Imagine this: you have total control of how everything in your home looks, feels and flows. You are in charge of creating only the rooms you need to live your ideal lifestyle. Do you need a home office? Home gym? Yoga studio? Separate wing for extended family? Dream it up and never wander the hallway again, thinking what if.

So, now that you are eager to lay your plans to paper and get building – consider this. We have the ideal spot for your new home, 6562 Williams Place in Sebastopol. This oak-studded lot is located down a private lane and offers you plenty of privacy and relaxation from the hustle and bustle of life, but still mere minutes from downtown Sebastopol. Enjoy a bountiful harvest from the numerous fruit trees, including apple, pear, fig, and peach. The heavy lifting has already been accomplished with an installed 3-bedroom septic system, electricity at lot line, shared well, water storage, and fire hydrant. Building plans for a 2,500± square foot dwelling is included. The lot is close to schools, fine dining, shopping, wineries, and outdoor adventures. Now is time to build your dream home. Give us a call!

We are checking in Sonoma County!

Randy and I know it has been a challenging year and an incredibly troublesome fire season, but we also feel your endurance and ability to adapt and come together. We Californians have a way about us that enables adjustability and persistence in the face of adversity. Sonoma County has the incredible gift to make us all forget the hurdles with one whiff of its intoxicating sea air, a cool breeze, and warm rays from the sun.

Randy and I know the environmental challenges we face living in this incredible landscape. As a whole, we believe we are getting better at meeting the obstacles head-on. The First Responders, CalFire, and all the other vital organizations we need in crisis have done an incredible job identifying the threats, organizing the responses, and working towards a successful conclusion. The capacity to pivot in times of stress is an essential part of changing and lasting.

While we face still more challenges ahead, think of the things that are uniquely Sonoma County. The picturesque landscapes right outside your door, long walks on a sandy beach, hiking, biking, running, canoeing, and a wide variety of other outdoor activities you can enjoy well up into December and then again as early as February. The people. A wealth of people of different origins, thought processes, and beliefs. The food, the lifestyle, the culture. Stop and remember all that is good and beautiful about our community and savor the feelings they summon. These characteristics are worth pivoting for in difficult times. New threats may creep in and remind us we are not indestructible, but we are strong enough to push through, and each time we do, we will get better at it.

Remember, we will get through this time, and we will come out more knowledgeable and committed to our state and each other. Hang in there. We are with you!