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Petaluma, CA Real Estate News

By Cynthia Larsen, Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA
  Petaluma Real Estate Market Report for February 2011     Petaluma, CA is located 40 miles North of San Francisco and 23 miles East of the Pacific Ocean. Some think of Petaluma as two towns, the West side and the East Side, separated by Highway 101. West Petaluma shares its history of the 1800's while, for the most part, East Petaluma emerged after World War II in the early 50's. When buyers visit Petaluma, they usually find one side more appealing than the other almost instantly. With almost 55,000 residents, this Southern most city in Sonoma County is appealing to those who enjoy good old fashion parades, especially the Butter and Eggs Day Parade. The graphs below will help you understand recent trends in the Petaluma Real Estate Market. Data for these graphs is derived from the Bay ...
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By Jen Birmingham
(Coldwell Banker - San Francisco's North Bay/Wine Country)
Petaluma Sheraton Sonoma County is a wonderful place to stay when visiting Petaluma, CA. In my work as a REALTOR in Petaluma, CA, I am frequently asked for hotel recommendations. There are many choices depending on your taste and required proximity to certain locations, but in my personal opinion, the Petaluma Sheraton offers the ultimate home-away-from-home experience. Set on a marina and overlooking the PetalumaRiver, the Petaluma Sheraton Sonoma County offers deluxe accomodations for a competitive price. With serene water views, easy freeway access, a fabulous Friday happy hour Taco Bar in their lounge and wonderful local cuisine in their restaurant Tolay, it is the ideal home-base for visitors toSonoma County's Wine Country. An early-morning walk on the through the adjacent 500 acre...
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By Kelley Eling, Realtor Extraordinaire
(Fathom Realty Group)
As of March 7, 2011 43% of available listings in Petaluma are in escrow. In the month of February 2011 41 homes sold in Petaluma for an average final selling price of $427,610. The average original asking price was $471,253. The range of final selling prices for these homes was from a low of $172,500 to a high of $1,235,000. Of the 41 homes that sold 2 sold at their original asking prices and 7 sold over their original asking prices. It took these homes an average of 156 days to sell. To see everything that is available for sale through our MLS click here. To see some of the many fun things to do around in our neck of the woods click here. To learn more about this area in general search more around this blog, visit my website or contact me directly. Petaluma Post Office in the Early Spr...
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By The Sartori Team, Real People • Real Solutions • Real Estate
(RE/Max PROs)
In episode 1 of The Sartori Team's Sonoma County Business Spotlight we learn more about the Evermay Garden Center in downtown Petaluma. This full service nursery can help you with all of your garden needs from purchasing a few potted plants to landscaping consultation. Tim Sartori is a Buyer Specialist with The Sartori Team of Keller Williams Realty. Phone: 707-583-7007 Email: tim@thesartoriteam.com
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By Cynthia Larsen, Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA
Petaluma Real Estate Market Report for January 2011 Petaluma, CA is located 40 miles North of San Francisco and 23 miles East of the Pacific Ocean. Some think of Petaluma as two towns, actually, the West side and the East Side, separated by Highway 101. West Petaluma shares its history of the 1800's while, for the most part, East Petaluma emerged after World War II in the early 50's. When buyers visit Petaluma, they usually find one side more appealing than the other almost instantly. With almost 55,000 residents, this Southern most city in Sonoma County is appealing to those who enjoy good old fashion parades, especially the Butter and Eggs Day Parade. The graphs below will help you understand recent trends in the Petaluma Real Estate Market. Data for these graphs is derived from the B...
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By Kelley Eling, Realtor Extraordinaire
(Fathom Realty Group)
As of February 12, 2011 37% of available listings in Petaluma are in escrow. For the month of January 2011 33 homes sold in Petaluma for an average final selling price of $411,424. The average original asking price of these homes was $452,353. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $110,000 to a high of $1,275,000. Of the 33 homes that sold (15 of which were distress sales) 3 sold at their original asking prices and 7 sold over their original asking prices.  The remaining 23 sold for less than their original asking prices. It took these homes an average of 149 days to sell. To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS click here. To learn more about this area, including some of the many fun things to do around here, search more around this blog, vi...
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By Jen Birmingham
(Coldwell Banker - San Francisco's North Bay/Wine Country)
Petaluma, CA: Graziano's Ristorante is one of the best Italian restaurants in town. Located in the heart of Petaluma's downtown and set in the historic Wickersham Building at 170 Petaluma Blvd. North, Graziano's Ristorante has a welcoming feel from the moment you walk through the front door. With its large full bar and separate spacious dining area, it is a fabulous place for happy hour snacking or a leisurely elegant meal. My husband and I moved to Petaluma, CA six years ago and Graziano's was one of the first restaurants we tried. I fell in love with their lasagna immediately and he was very excited to find Pollo Dorato (breast of chicken in a light egg batter with lemon butter and white wine) on their menu. Graziano's was the first restaurant we took our daughter to at three weeks ol...
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By Kelley Eling, Realtor Extraordinaire
(Fathom Realty Group)
As of January 5, 2011 34% of available listings in Petaluma are in escrow. For the month of December 2010 51 homes (29 of which were distress sales) sold in Petaluma for an average final selling price of $336,860. The average original asking price of these homes was $364,716. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $150,000 to a high of $655,000. Of the 51 homes that sold, 3 sold at their original asking price and 9 sold over. It took these homes an average of 110 days to sell. To see all the homes that are available for sale through our MLS click here. To learn more about this area in general search more around this blog, visit my website or contact me directly. House On A Hill In Petaluma, by Kelley Eling, Marin County Realtor
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By Cynthia Larsen, Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA
I was in Petaluma today to take some photos for a new listing. It was COLD this morning, and even though it was almost noon, the fog was just beginning to lift. I wasn't sure if I was going to get very good photos, but the fog was swirling upward as fast as I was driving toward it. When I arrived at my destination, Edith Street, something in a deciduous tree (sans leaves) sparkled and caught my eye. It's funny, the things you see that can bring a smile. Here was a naked tree with power lines running through it (yikes!) where someone had climbed up and hung huge ornaments. We are all used to seeing ornaments on an Evergreen tree, not something like this. But I have to say, if their intention was to make people smile and feel good, it worked.      
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By Kelley Eling, Realtor Extraordinaire
(Fathom Realty Group)
As of November 11, 2010 only 29% of available listings in Petaluma are in escrow. For the month of October 2010 43 homes sold (19 of which were distress sales) in Petaluma for an average final selling price of $430,067. The average original asking price of these homes was $453,680. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $185,000 to a high of $1,500,000. Of the 43 homes that sold 4 sold at the original asking price and 12 sold over the original asking price.  All others sold for less than the original asking price. It took these homes an average of 105 days to sell. To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS, click here. To see some of the many fun things do around here (another reason why this is such great place to live) click here. To learn mor...
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By Jen Birmingham
(Coldwell Banker - San Francisco's North Bay/Wine Country)
Kastainia Vineyards has been growing and making award-winning wines in Petaluma, CA for years. If you're like most Petaluma residents you've driven by this hilltop winery thousands of times and never stopped in to sample their lovely selections. Set on the West side of the freeway, just a short distance before the Petaluma Boulevard South exit ramp, when heading into town, Kastania Vineyards is a local gem not to be passed by again. Owned and run by Hoot and Linda Smith, the winery sits atop a large parcel of land which has been in the family since the 1860s. Kastania Vineyards has a welcoming feel from the moment you first walk through the tasting room doors. The warmth and richness of the space is complimented well by the friendly and generous nature of the family pouring the wine. Ti...
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By Jen Birmingham
(Coldwell Banker - San Francisco's North Bay/Wine Country)
In the home buying process, there are many steps. In my previous blog Finding a Home in Petaluma, CA, I talked about what is involved in identifying the home on which you wish to make an offer. In this installment, I will discuss the exciting, and possibly daunting process of making an offer on a Petaluma, CA home. 1.) Deciding  how much to offer -Once you have identified the home you want to buy, your agentwill likely prepare a Comparative Marketing Analysis to determine what a good price to offer would be. This, in combination with how many other people are making offers at that time will help to quantify how high or low your offer should be. 2.) Writing the Offer - The offer will be written on a contract. The current California Association of Realtors contract is eight pages long. It...
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By Cynthia Larsen, Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA
Dear new purchaser of 123 "D" Street: Congratulations on your accepted offer on the above referenced property, dated 10/15/2010. Before you remove your contingencies, you are advised to "trick-or-treat" your potential new home on the evening of 10/31/2010, otherwise known as Halloween. The residents of "D" street and their neighboring cross-streets try to outdo each other when it comes to Halloween decorations. Are you prone to peer pressure? Are you the type who needs to keep up with the Joneses? Are you ready to spend every weekend in October decorating your house? How talented are you with a skill saw? Have you ever seen a Victorian turned into a Pirate Ship? How about a Ghost Town with gallows? Are you ready for a mass of humanity to visit you and your bowls of candy? I'm not talkin...
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By Jen Birmingham
(Coldwell Banker - San Francisco's North Bay/Wine Country)
Without a doubt, buying a home is a complex process - As a Realtor working in Petaluma, CA, I enjoy each part of the home buying process. I begin by going over the details with my clients and demistifying each step ahead of time. An educated client is prepared for what lies ahead and has more realistic expectations. 1.) Prequalification with a Mortgage Broker - This is one of the most important steps and it needs to occur at the beginning of the process. Once you have decided that you want to buy a home, you need to know three things: a.) how much of a loan you qualify for; b.)what your monthly payments will be with that loan; and c.) how much money is needed for a downpayment and closing costs. Becoming prequalified for a loan is a simple process and can be done very quickly online, in...
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By Cynthia Larsen, Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA
Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a holiday celebrated in Mexico and in areas rich with Hispanic populations such as Sonoma County. This holiday is a cultural ritual to honor those we love that have passed before us. Traditions include building altars honoring the deceased using their favorite foods and beverage. Another tradition is to decorate sugar cubes to look like tiny skulls. Dia de los Muertos is officially celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. In many communities in Sonoma County, this celebration has grown into a cross-cultural event. In Petaluma, the celebration of Dia de los Muertos is quite popular. The Petaluma Arts Center is the venue for their 10th annual celebration in the gallery through November 7th. Latino artists from all over the Bay Area have their exhibits on...
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By Cynthia Larsen, Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA
The first memory I have of the Vietnam War was in my 5th grade classroom. I was 11 years old. My classmate, Rita Silver, shared a sad story with us that put war into perspective. Her Dad, Edward Silver, was missing in action. Many of us wore bracelets with his name inscribed on them, with hope that someday he would come home. He never did. When I found out about an exhibit in Petaluma called "The Vietnam Experience ... A Soldiers Story", I was inspired to go. As I entered the museum, I passed under 15 dog tags hanging from a promotional banner, symbolizing the 15 men from Petaluma who lost their lives in the the Vietnam war. Many of the items on display are from Veterans or their surviving families from Petaluma, arranged in handsome display cases. One photo exhibit told a story about a...
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By Cynthia Larsen, Independent Broker In Sonoma County, CA
The Petaluma Pumpkin Patch and Amazing Corn Maze is a literal traffic stopper. Highway 101, the North/South gateway through Sonoma County overlooks the pumpkin patch below and drivers can't seem to keep their eyes on the road. What's to look at? Well how about 4 acres of corn 10 feet tall carefully cut into a maze? There is only one way in and one way out. In the middle of the maze, 6 rows meet. Now which way do we go? If you are REALLY adventurous, try the corn maze at night! There is plenty for the family to do here to eat up the good part of the day. There is a huge pyramid of hay bales for the kids to play king of the mountain. Right next door are the barnyard animals for the kids to pet. Four acres of pumpkins and wheelbarrows will keep kids busy for quite some time trying to find ...
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By Kelley Eling, Realtor Extraordinaire
(Fathom Realty Group)
As of October 6, 2010 31% of available listings in Petaluma are in escrow. For the month of September 2010 54 homes sold in Petaluma for an average final selling price of $445,801. The average original asking price of those homes was $532,202. The range of final selling prices was from a low of $175,000 to a high of $1,460,000. Of the 54 homes that sold (22 of which were distress sales) 5 sold at their original asking price and 10 sold over. It took these homes an average of 89 days to sell. To see everything that is currently available for sale through our MLS click here. To see some of the fun things to do in our neck of the woods click here. To learn more about this area in general search more around this blog, visit my website or feel free to contact me directly.
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By Jen Birmingham
(Coldwell Banker - San Francisco's North Bay/Wine Country)
The East side versus West side comparison is something commonly brought up when people from out of town are interested in learning about Petaluma, CA. Both have their appeal and unique qualities. It mostly depends what an individual's preferences are. Petaluma's East and West sides were formerly distinguished by the town's division by the Petaluma River. Today, Interstate Highway 101, which runs North and South through the town, defines the boundary. Simply explained, Petaluma's West side includes the historic downtown area of its 1885 incorporation as an agricultural river town. The West side holds the largest collection of surviving Victorian homes in Northern California, since they went unscathed in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Over time, as land was sold off from those gran...
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By Jen Birmingham
(Coldwell Banker - San Francisco's North Bay/Wine Country)
Finally, a positive slant on Home Buying today. Brent Arends wrote this article in the Wall Street Journal: Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership.Sure, maybe there's more pain to come in the housing market. But when Time magazine starts running covers that declare "Owning a home may no longer make economic sense," it's time to say: Enough is enough. This is what "capitulation" looks like. Everyone has given up. The Sept. 6 cover of Time magazine: This is what capitulation looks like. After all, at the peak of the bubble five years ago, Time had a different take. "Home Sweet Home," declared its cover then, as it celebrated the boom and asked: "Will your house make you rich?"But it's not enough just to be contrarian. So here are 10 reasons why it's good to buy a home. 1. You ...
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