Roadmap with Irina - October 2024

We're in the middle of the spooky season, but there's been nothing too scary in the real estate field since last month. In September, the median sale price for single-family homes in Santa Clara County increased by 4% compared to August, which isn’t a huge jump in the big picture. However, the number of sold homes decreased by 16%, while inventory grew by 13%. The average days on the market rose from 18 to 21 days, indicating more available homes and a longer selling process. The condo market showed similar signs of slowing down: more new homes came on the market, fewer were sold, and it’s taking longer to sell them. Currently, there are 1,724 houses and condos for sale in Santa Clara County, with 1,068 pending and contingent listings.

As we approach the holiday season, market activity typically slows down in November and December. However, for buyers, this can be the best time to make a move. Some sellers are eager to finalize a sale before the year ends, due to personal or financial goals, and may become more flexible. This could be a great opportunity for buyers to negotiate better prices and terms. So, dear buyers, don’t give up on your dream home just yet. Stay focused, watch for opportunities, and be ready to act when you find the right one. Hopefully, you'll start the new year in your new home!

If you are thinking about buying or selling, let’s connect, talk about your options, run some numbers, and see if this is the right time for you. Call me, I am always here for you.

When we were kids, we told scary stories during sleepovers or at camp. As we got older, we realized that real-life stories can be much scarier. These days, you can just watch the news and feel frightened to even go outside. But I don’t want to talk about that, I just want to share a few spooky experiences from my real estate practice.

Once, I showed a vacant house two days in a row. On the second day, it looked like there had been a party: food leftovers in the fridge, empty plates and cups scattered around, and a full garbage can. I assumed the seller’s agent had hosted a twilight open house for the neighbors and hadn’t had time to clean up. I called her to mention what I’d found, but she was puzzled—there had been no event in the house the night before. Later that day, she called me back to say they had discovered a homeless person who had sneaked into the house and made himself at home. The scariest part? He had been in the house while I was showing it to my clients, hiding in one of the closets. Thank goodness we didn’t open that closet.

Another unsettling incident happened last year when I was selling a house in the East Bay. One day, I arrived for an open house and couldn’t find my realtor’s lockbox with the keys. It had been on a gas pipe the day before, but now it was gone. Luckily, I had a spare key, so I went inside, turned on the lights, and opened the blinds. That’s when I noticed the washer and dryer, flat-screen TV, and a few small appliances were missing. The sellers had already moved far away, so it was clearly someone else. The house was in a cul-de-sac, so there wasn’t much traffic. I called the police to report the break-in. They spoke to the neighbors, and one surveillance camera captured a white truck arriving around 6:30 a.m. and leaving 15 minutes later. During that time, the thieves cut off the lockbox, got the key, and took whatever they could. They were fast! It turned out to be a very strange open house, with police hanging around, a locksmith changing the locks, and buyers coming and going. In the end, I was just relieved that the intruders didn’t damage the house, and the neighbors helped me to keep an eye on it until it sold.

Once, I hosted an open house for a colleague and immediately felt uneasy inside. The atmosphere was creepy, so I stayed outside, welcoming visitors to explore the house themselves. Later, another realtor told a story about a ghost in a house—and I realized she was talking about that very house! I don’t know how she knew about the ghost, but I definitely felt unsafe and never went back there.

I’ve heard a few stories about selling "murder houses." One of the most recent was sold in Santa Clara with multiple offers and even went for a premium price! It seems not every house is stigmatized by past tragedies, and the new owners must have nerves of steel.

Another time, I was selling a house without a back fence, and there was a creek behind it. One day, during an open house, a coyote wandered into the backyard. Luckily, there were no visitors around at the time! The owners clearly lived very close to nature.

I also sold a home where the sellers disclosed that they had buried two cats and a dog in the backyard—think "pet cemetery." I remember the buyers requested the sellers to remove the pets' remains before closing the deal, and the sellers complied.

I’ve heard even more chilling stories from my colleagues, and I’m grateful I haven’t had those experiences. So, as you head out for trick-or-treating this year, be careful! Let the good spirits watch over you. Wishing you a happy and safe Halloween!

Always yours, 
Irina