Austin, TX Area Market Recap for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the Austin, TX area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Austin	$290,683	$276,440	⇓
Manor	$164,282	$145,427	⇓
Pflugerville	$163,715	$170,302	⇓
South Lake Travis	$584,784	$444,862	⇓
Cedar Park	$243,414	$199,207	⇓
Georgetown	$257,785	$223,897	⇓
Hutto	$149,148	$152,141	⇑
Leander	$166,891	$164,497	⇓
Round Rock	$304,748	$200,363	⇓
Taylor	$151,523	$141,422	⇓

 

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Austin	559	616	⇑
Manor	19	27	⇓
Pflugerville	65	95	⇓
South Lake Travis	26	17	⇓
Cedar Park	73	70	⇓
Georgetown	76	70	⇓
Hutto	19	34	⇑
Leander	49	62	⇑
Round Rock	148	157	⇑
Taylor	19	11	⇓

Search for Austin, TX homes and condos for sale.  Read neighborhood profiles for the greater Austin area served by ZipRealty.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed, as of 3-24-2008.

Atlanta, GA Market Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Atlanta area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Canton	$282,379	$281,822	↓
Woodstock	$216,610	$197,746	↓
Cartersville	$141,382	$141,258	↓
Marietta	$254,403	$245,695	↓
Cumming	$285,915	$283,626	↓
Atlanta	$332,199	$263,454	↓
Alpharetta	$515,367	$361,017	↓
Lawrenceville	$177,656	$189,001	↑
Dallas	$180,386	$175,411	↓

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Canton	43	28	↓
Woodstock	31	38	↑
Cartersville	18	19	↑
Marietta	134	123	↓
Cumming	60	73	↑
Atlanta	250	278	↑
Alpharetta	59	61	↑
Lawrenceville	93	67	↓
Dallas	52	35	↓

Search for Atlanta, GA homes and condos for sale. Read more about homes and neighborhoods in the Atlanta area.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed, as of 3-24-2008.

Miami-Palm Beach, FL Area Market Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Miami - Palm Beach, FL area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Bal Harbour	$503,818	$319,622	↓
Miami	$330,285	$334,745	↑
Boca Raton	$585,916	$444,240	↓
Delray Beach	$311,617	$268,583	↓
Jupiter	$490,207	$374,946	↓
Lake Worth	$241,391	$257,557	↑
Palm Beach Gardens	$361,678	$521,919	↓
Wellington	$568,422	$851,853	↑
West Palm Beach	$305,367	$200,342	↑

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Aventura	39	45	↑
Miami	268	255	↓
Boca Raton	134	172	↑
Delray Beach	84	103	↑
Jupiter	41	64	↑
Lake Worth	45	75	↑
Palm Beach Gardens	40	55	↑
Wellington	38	45	↑
West Palm Beach	81	93	↑

Search for Miami, FL homes and condos for sale. Read more about homes and neighborhoods in the Miami, FL area.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed, as of 3-24-2008.

Miami, FL (Broward County) Area MLS Update for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Miami, FL area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Coral Springs	$338,624	$292,003	↓
Fort Lauderdale	$591,528	$443,604	↓
Hollywood	$241,007	$321,294	↑
Miramar	$301,659	$324,535	↑
Pembroke Pines	$246,624	$221,834	↓
Pompano Beach	$229,297	$235,203	↑
Sunrise	$147,457	$129,131	&dSarr;
Weston	$543,289	$525,598	↑

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Coral Springs	51	60	↑
Fort Lauderdale	123	119	↓
Hollywood	86	74	↓
Miramar	44	45	↑
Pembroke Pines	76	63	↓
Pompano Beach	78	86	↑
Sunrise	40	56	↑
Weston	32	45	↑

Search for Miami, FL homes and condos for sale. Read more about homes and neighborhoods in the Miami, FL area.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed, as of 3-24-2008.

Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL Area Market Recap for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Tampa	$307,428	$278,491	↓
Riverview	$209,141	$206,883	↓
New Port Richey	$173,707	$136,063	↓
Wesley Chapel	$255,695	$262,059	↑
Spring Hill	$145,595	$155,984	↑
Clearwater	$189,875	$210,893	↑
Dunedin	$189,926	$206,322	↑
Largo	$186,510	$163,434	↓
Palm Harbor	$280,469	$258,327	↓
Saint Petersburg	$293,784	$294,248	↑
Tarpon Springs	$259,939	$230,473	↓

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Tampa	270	285	↑
Riverview	68	49	↓
New Port Richey	59	46	↓
Wesley Chapel	45	37	↓
Spring Hill	18	19	↑
Clearwater	167	206	↑
Dunedin	35	53	↑
Largo	96	93	↓
Palm Harbor	98	115	↑
Saint Petersburg	382	304	↓
Tarpon Springs	31	40	↓

Search for homes in the Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL area.  Read an overview of  Tampa - St. Petersburg, FL neighborhoods served by ZipRealty.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3-24-2008.

Naples, FL Area Market Recap for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Naples, FL area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Naples	$675,589	$720,304	↑
Bonita Springs	$729,580	$527,872	↓
Cape Coral	$259,840	$241,790	↓
Fort Myers	$272,857	$277,179	↑
Lehigh Acres	$160,952	$133,694	↓
Marco Island	$908,360	$669,761	↓

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Naples	256	280	↑
Bonita Springs	4	6	↑
Cape Coral	152	212	↑
Fort Myers	127	226	↑
Lehigh Acres	49	65	↑
Marco Island	25	23	↓

Search for homes in the Naples, FL area.  Read a neighborhood profile information for the greater Naples, FL area.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/24/2008.

Fresno, CA Area Market Conditions Report for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Fresno/Bakersfield, CA (Central Valley South) area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Fresno	$265,547	$243,503	↓
Clovis	$324,428	$322,982	↓
Bakersfield	$237,193	$247,613	↓
Madera	$264,411	$253,297	↓
Los Banos	$214,293	$206,038	↓
Merced	$197,250	$189,470	↓
Atwater	$249,533	$163,125	↓

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Fresno	201	193	↓
Clovis	70	54	↓
Bakersfield	221	236	↑
Madera	18	25	↑
Los Banos	29	21	↓
Merced	22	21	↓
Atwater	12	4	↓

Search for Fresno/Bakersfield, CA (Central Valley South)homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed, as of 3/24/2008.

Los Angeles, CA Market Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Greater Los Angeles County area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Arcadia	$829,714	$801,196	↓
Burbank	$550,632	$584,321	↑
Calabasas	$1,171,813	$1,688,143	↑
Canyon Country	$401,667	$461,436	↑
Carson	$508,006	$397,768	↑
Glendale	$660,628	$666,520	↑
Lancaster	$230,663	$242,324	↑
Long Beach	$449,727	$461,456	↑
Northridge	$546,544	$607,285	↑
Palmdale	$283,688	$277,983	↓
Pasadena	$907,044	$741,907	↓
Redondo Beach	$889,330	$807,783	↓
Sherman Oaks	$795,804	$778,948	↓
Torrance	$579,777	$533,160	↓
West Covina	$598,817	$463,267	↓
Whittier	$504,846	$437,205	↓
Woodland Hills	$584,483	$614,625	↑

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Arcadia	28	31	↑
Burbank	57	42	↓
Calabasas	16	14	↓
Canyon Country	36	34	↓
Carson	25	19	↓
Glendale	60	44	↓
Lancaster	113	101	↑
Long Beach	112	130	↑
Northridge	40	45	↑
Palmdale	88	76	↓
Pasadena	52	45	↓
Redondo Beach	38	30	↓
Sherman Oaks	22	30	↑
Torrance	70	40	↓
West Covina	24	30	↓
Whittier	44	54	↑
Woodland Hills	39	32	↓

Search for Greater Los Angeles, CA homes and condos for sale. Read a neighborhood overview for Los Angeles & San Fernando Valley.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/24/2008.

Orange County, CA Area Market Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Greater Los Angeles - Orange County area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
Anaheim	$416,012	$404,786	↓
Costa Mesa	$563,350	$587,869	↑
Fullerton	$477,317	$544,378	↑
Huntington Beach	$680,377	$621,803	↓
Irvine	$701,981	$732,648	↑
Laguna Woods	$235,565	$243,362	↑
Newport Beach	$1,867,148	$1,825,267	↓
Rancho Santa Margarita	$520,271	$527,947	↑
San Clemente	$914,844	$799,128	↓
Santa Ana	$394,598	$379,217	↓
Yorba Linda	$911,414	$771,364	↓

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
Anaheim	59	67	↑
Costa Mesa	27	32	↑
Fullerton	38	45	↑
Huntington Beach	63	103	↑
Irvine	80	70	↓
Laguna Woods	43	42	↓
Newport Beach	23	27	↑
Rancho Santa Margarita	38	30	↓
San Clemente	31	35	↑
Santa Ana	53	49	↓
Yorba Linda	29	22	↓

Search for Orange County homes and condos for sale. Read neighborhood overview for Orange County.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/24/2008.

San Diego, CA Area MLS Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater San Diego, CA area served by ZipRealty:

Average Sales Price	Jan-08	Feb-08	$ Change
San Diego	$553,390	$518,490	↓
Carlsbad	$608,996	$683,793	↑
El Cajon	$403,246	$386,494	↓
Encinitas	$1,035,438	$942,439	↓
Escondido	$358,743	$405,798	↑
La Jolla	$1,610,420	$1,560,856	↓
La Mesa	$449,771	$408,873	↓
Oceanside	$407,699	$368,677	↓
San Marcos	$494,229	$429,897	↓
Rancho San Bernardo	$597,165	$571,227	↓
Spring Valley	$312,638	$304,544	↓
Vista	$441,882	$425,459	↓

# Transactions	Jan-08	Feb-08	# Change
San Diego	1,332	1,352	↑
Carlsbad	47	71	↑
El Cajon	55	57	↑
Encinitas	24	27	↑
Escondido	45	76	↑
La Jolla	28	30	↑
La Mesa	31	24	↓
Oceanside	76	93	↑
San Marcos	42	52	↑
Rancho San Bernardo	59	53	↓
Spring Valley	35	18	↓
Vista	39	43	↑

Search for homes in the San Diego, CA area. Read detailed neighborhood profiles in San Diego, CA

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/24/2008.

Home Buying Tips, pt. 2

This is the second of a two-part post on tips for buying a home.  Doing your homework will better prepare you in making your dream home a reality.

Research Neighborhoods. Look for neighborhood profiles in the general areas that you are considering. If you are looking to purchase a condo, seek out such information as HOA fees and restrictions. If possible, check with neighbors.  Also, look at nearby conveniences such as  distance to grocery stores, medical facilities, education and day care facilities, religious institutions and distance to your work. Make sure that these places are within an acceptable commute.

You may also want to research local transit options to major shopping and employment centers.  When searching for your new home, make sure to look for links to nearby transit stops. Moreover, a quick search on your favorite search engine for your "city + transit", should lead you in the right direction.

Check out Schools.  If you have school-aged children, make sure to check out the local public school district.  Find out recent test scores in your area, along with teacher to student ratios.  Even if you don't have children, you will find that areas with excellent school districts  are an attractive option for a home's resale value, as well. 

Buying Checklist. When viewing beautiful homes for sale, you may forget to make sure that the kitchen faucet doesn’t drip. A printable buyer’s checklist can help you remember questions to ask when buying a home and things to look for during your tour.  Make sure to take along your digital camera on tours (do ask permission to take pictures!) so that you will have a visual reminder of each property.

If you will be working from home, make sure to factor in your new workspace. Make sure that your high-tech needs can be met. Have a qualified electrician inspect the wiring of the house to see if the system can handle the extra power load that your home office requires. Some older homes may need significant upgrades to handle the extra power, while newer homes are built with more energy-efficient systems to handle the additional power along with heating/air conditioning requirements.

Get a Home Inspection! A home inspector can point out potential problems that could cost you big money down the road. While this may be an additional up front-fee, it is worth it in the long run.

Know recent prices that homes in the area. Make sure to research market conditions for other homes in the area before making an offer so that your bid is in line with similar sales in the neighborhood.  Use an offer comparison tools to see if your offer will be comparable to other selling prices for a particular neighborhood.  This will save you time, so that you can focus your offers based in your specific price range and budget.

Home Buying Tips, pt. 1

Whether you are a first time homebuyer or you are a seasoned real estate pro, buying a home is always a big decision. This two-part post will give you some valuable tips before starting your home buying search.

Check your credit scores.  Before you start your home search, get copies of your credit report and check for any inaccuracies and fix any problems that you find. This step may delay your actual purchase for an amount of time, but will significantly help you save a lot of money down the road with improved interest rates. 

How Much Can You Afford? The price of the home that you can afford depends on many factors including your income, expenses, and credit scores. In addition to using mortgage calculators, make sure to check with your financial advisor for help determining a price that is comfortable for you, that will allow you to comfortably pay for your mortgage and includes all of your other living and entertainment expenses.

Find a Good Agent. The professional help of a real estate agent can really help in the buying process. Make sure to evaluate references of previous clients and make sure that he or she is responsive and available to you. You may not know exactly what you want in terms of a new home, and your agent should work with you to determine your needs and help you find a property that meets your immediate and future needs. Your agent should be familiar with the area where you plan to move. Talk to your family and friends for successful agent referrals. Ask them how satisfied they were with his/her services and if they would use them again.

Your agent will work with you through the entire home buying process, from start to finish. Your can offer valuable guidance and negotiate on your behalf with the seller.  Your agent will also work on necessary contracts, agreements, and work with all of the required and inspections for a smooth closing.   

Get pre-approved for a loan. This step shows sellers that you are really serious about buying their real estate and that you are financially able to do so. Pre-approval simply means that you have worked with a lender to determine the maximum loan amount that you can obtain with that lender. Pre-approved buyers have several advantages, including increased negotiating power, since the seller knows that you can complete the transaction.   This important step can make a difference when sellers are considering your offer.

Even if you don’t have the traditional 20% down payment for a new home, there are many home buying programs available that may offer some assistance.  Research available mortgage programs with your financial expert, mortgage broker, or talk with your real estate agent.

The next segment will cover the next steps to take once you've decided that now is the time to buy.

Ventura County, CA MLS Recap for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Ventura County area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Camarillo	28	$535,629	24	$726,542
Newbury Park	16	$588,063	20	$640,200
Oxnard	53	$558,358	35	$489,104
Simi Valley	69	$517,810	77	$492,957
Thousand Oaks	57	$632,061	39	$1,267,723
Ventura	44	$562,585	22	$680,136

Search for Greater Los Angeles, CA homes and condos for sale. Read a neighborhood overview for Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/17/2008.

Riverside, CA Area Market Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Greater Los Angeles - Riverside County area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Beaumont	19	$279,959	25	$266,335
Cathedral City	30	$317,353	33	$292,024
Corona	132	$421,181	136	$398,158
Hemet	54	$234,902	71	$229,063
Indio	38	$322,958	56	$359,878
La Quinta	66	$751,816	72	$690,643
Moreno Valley	89	$256,301	118	$248,209
Murrieta	88	$362,830	132	$382,167
Palm Desert	90	$635,812	93	$474,718
Palm Springs	67	$408,202	72	$500,028
Rancho Mirage	38	$948,039	41	$815,561
Riverside	115	$357,367	121	$334,748
San Jacinto	40	$223,777	30	$216,246
Temecula	76	$449,938	89	$398,499

Search for San Gabriel Valley: Riverside, Corona, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Temecula homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/17/2008.

San Bernardino, CA Area MLS Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Greater Los Angeles - San Bernardino area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Apple Valley	47	$71,474	66	$71,507
Fontana	42	$353,371	71	$343,739
Hesperia	58	$72,369	51	$86,661
Ontario	22	$339,945	33	$303,164
Rancho Cucamonga	37	$486,485	64	$442,090
San Bernardino	61	$244,211	64	$215,887
Victorville	98	$95,569	102	$65,415
Yucaipa	25	$366,612	27	$301,644

Search for San Gabriel Valley & Inland Empire homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/18/2008.

Tucson, AZ Area Market Update for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Tucson, AZ area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Central Tucson	73	$208,352	105	$197,529
Marana	25	$362,128	25	$258,176
Oro Valley	37	$370,201	44	$419,089
Sahuarita	13	$184,243	19	$195,389
East Tucson	40	$266,050	53	$209,589
North Tucson	56	$545,396	47	$649,241
Northwest Tucson	77	$236,412	93	$245,384
Southeast Tucson	49	$217,180	53	$225,901
Southwest Tucson	27	$180,369	38	$177,023
West Tucson	27	$273,789	37	$248,434
Vail	20	$265,032	21	$322,327

Search for homes in Tucson, AZ and read detailed neighborhood profiles of the Tucson, AZ area.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/17/2008.

Phoenix, AZ Market Update for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the Baltimore area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Phoenix	571	$323,844	613	$293,974
Anthem	33	$314,230	33	$329,173
Avondale	46	$207,613	84	$201,725
Buckeye	48	$258,086	71	$197,000
Fountain Hills	44	$615,014	47	$599,002
Gilbert	156	$286,460	208	$293,849
Glendale	136	$239,919	145	$231,177
Mesa	257	$252,352	319	$223,978
Peoria	86	$287,896	125	$280,441
Paradise Valley	12	$2,282,500	10	$1,944,800
Scottsdale	291	$612,997	333	$635,753
Sun City	65	$164,502	102	$156,695
Surprise	140	$241,157	156	$240,626
Tempe	63	$267,252	69	$264,149
Tolleson	22	$188,299	29	$186,108

Search for Phoenix, AZ homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed, as of 3-17-2008.

Dallas, TX Market Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater Dallas - Fort Worth, TX area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Dallas	600	$234,440	639	$413,140
Fort Worth	398	$138,231	470	$148,135
Arlington	212	$130,404	242	$134,609
Plano	159	$240,234	196	$230,573
McKinney	124	$232,815	146	$217,910
Frisco	87	$266,505	63	$317,224
Allen	72	$240,442	104	$227,402
Keller	44	$333,388	70	$274,731
Mesquite	83	$101,335	107	$93,777
Irving	98	$167,639	96	$188,460
Grand Prairie	35	$141,195	43	$168,812
Garland	132	$108,943	147	$105,261
Desoto	59	$130,504	60	$137,505

Search for homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth (East) area or homes in Dallas-Fort Worth (West). Read detailed neighborhood profiles in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/18/2008.

San Francisco, CA Market Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater San Francisco, CA city served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
San Francisco	234	$990,658	285	$930,600
Bernal Heights	12	$789,292	9	$820,920
Inner Mission	14	$668,071	7	$598,357
Noe Valley	8	$1,119,813	15	$1,215,367
Pacific Heights	13	$1,096,508	7	$871,143
Russian Hill	5	$2,431,000	9	$,176,667
South Beach	9	$859,940	7	$1,010,000
South of Market	11	$995,123	14	$772,449

Read detailed neighborhood profiles in San Francisco Bay Area, CA.

Search for San Francisco, CA homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/17/2008.

San Francisco North Bay: MLS Update for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater San Francisco Bay Area (North Bay) area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Napa	28	$548,091	25	$588,290
Mill Valley	13	$1,494,396	12	$1,092,896
Novato	14	$661,143	26	$662,375
San Rafael	21	$1,167,090	30	$996,122
Tiburon	6	$3,544,667	6	$2,592,039
Petaluma	23	$773,783	25	$461,800
Santa Rosa	79	$493,942	83	$428,244
Fairfield	26	$285,940	36	$330,689
Vacaville	32	$368,374	39	$412,084
Vallejo	51	$321,621	32	$345,981

Read detailed neighborhood profiles in San Francisco Bay Area, CA.

Search for North Bay homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/17/2008.

SF Peninsula MLS Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater San Francisco Bay Area - Peninsula area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Burlingame	10	$1,084,800	9	$1,132,000
Daly City	20	$621,500	30	$559,007
Foster City	13	$788,692	15	$937,207
Menlo Park	13	$1,466,692	25	$1,851,800
Pacifica	13	$603,867	20	$665,340
Redwood City	26	$929,583	35	$1,036,676
San Bruno	14	$493,000	24	$442,608
San Carlos	20	$1,135,800	14	$1,131,135
San Mateo	26	$861,019	42	$779,623
South San Francisco	24	$540,690	21	$555,998

Read detailed neighborhood profiles in San Francisco Bay Area, CA.

Search for SF Bay Area Peninsula homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/17/2008.

Silicon Valley/Bay Area MLS Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater San Francisco Bay Area (Silicon Valley) area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
San Jose	271	$669,407	230	$676,621
Cupertino	13	$970,591	25	$1,139,200
Palo Alto	17	$2,115,941	22	$1,594,441
Milpitas	14	$606,143	13	$716,192
Mountain View	22	$722,792	29	$767,371
Santa Clara	33	$616,009	53	$659,888
Sunnyvale	23	$736,721	45	$783,013
Saratoga	21	$1,653,452	21	$1,693,271
Santa Cruz	28	$799,272	20	$697,104
Hollister	11	$451,227	16	$371,769

Read detailed neighborhood profiles in San Francisco Bay Area, CA.

Search for Silicon Valley/San Jose - South Bay homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/17/2008.

SF East Bay MLS Snapshot for February 2008

Here are the latest top-level summary of market conditions for Single Family Residences (SFR) and Condo sales only in these areas within the greater San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay) area served by ZipRealty:

City	January #Sales	Jan-2008 Average Sales Price	February #Sales	Feb-2008 Average Sales Price
Alameda	18	$652,661	22	$584,318
Fremont	82	$791,932	94	$628,749
Livermore	28	$570,821	44	$665,541
Hayward	28	$430,938	39	$408,608
Oakland	91	$452,775	104	$513,861
Antioch	40	$361,344	63	$320,768
Concord	52	$389,087	75	$367,465
Pittsburg	20	$315,040	25	$290,904
Richmond	28	$392,598	31	$385,929
San Ramon	44	$765,945	39	$707,597
Walnut Creek	35	$730,305	39	$682,424

Read detailed neighborhood profiles in San Francisco Bay Area, CA.

Search for East Bay homes and condos for sale.

All numbers are from the MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of 3/17/2008.

Home Staging Defined

Just what is Home Staging?  Home staging is what happens after you have cleaned out the clutter, painted, and patched holes in the walls. Staging a home for sale is preparing the house with extra decorative touches that entice potential buyers.  Professional home stagers are artists who can accentuate a home’s positive characteristics.  Some common “props” can be:

• Mirrors
• Plants
• Rugs
• Pillows
• Lamps
• Furniture
• Towels tied with ribbons
• Baskets
• Scented Soaps

Home stagers can do just about anything using existing furniture or bringing in rented furniture and arranging it in a more advantageous setting to adding unique decorations to mantels and bookshelves that the buying public would find appealing. Not only do these professionals accentuate the inside of a home, but they can also create outdoor curb appeal for that all important first impression. 

What are the fees for home staging services?   It depends on your home and your needs.  Some home staging companies will offer free estimates. Get several estimates and talk to your real estate agent for references. Some home stagers charge by the hour and others charge a set fee. Fees can range from $500 to $10,000 dollars depending on the extent of services supplied and the area of the country where the staging services are provided.

Is this something that my house needs?  Talk to your real estate agent. Sometimes the return on the home may not be worth the investment of a professional home stager’s expertise. Find out up front what the stager is planning to bring in and at what cost. The specialist cost should balance with the expected benefit of a higher selling price.

Tips to Sell Your Home Faster - Part 2

The following post is from a guest writer, Kathy Wells:

The for sale sign was only in my yard one week when my house sold! In my last post, I shared the first five secrets that can get your home sold fast. Ready for the rest of the home selling tips?  Some of these may really surprise you!

Scented candles
Some scents remind us of home like homemade pie or coffee. Our agent suggested having one of these candle scents in our house to stir this kind of emotional attachment in buyers.

Make your house look like a model home!

• Wash windows
• Pressure-wash the house and driveway
• Sweep porches and sidewalks
• Re-caulk tubs, showers, and sinks
• Vacuum daily
• Dust regularly
• Hang fresh towels
• Replace worn looking rugs and comforters

Closets and drawers
Buyers want lots of storage space, so make sure that every bit of this out of sight space is enticing for buyers -– they will look! Clean out drawers and organize closets.  You may want to rent a storage facility  for unneeded furniture, such as cleaned-out bookshelves, table leafs, etc.

Listen to your real estate agent!   Our agent didn’t advise this, but I am. Each home is unique and your agent can offer their own personal tips from experience that will get your house sold fast.

To keep your move as low stress as possible, check out  this handy “Moving Checklist Generator” with a personalized step-by-step list of moving tasks. This printable list is designed to guide you before, during, and after your move. The move planner also has money-saving coupons and special offers that could save you hundreds in your move.

Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that these tips will get your home sold in 7 days like mine, but all of these tips are a must when selling your home. These tips combined with your agent's expert knowledge may have a sold sign on your home in no time!

 Kathy is a freelance writer from central Florida.  Kathy’s work can be seen both in print and online publications on topics including human interest articles, biographies, and real estate.

Tips to Sell Your Home Faster - Part 1

The following post is from a guest writer, Kathy Wells:

In this two-part post, I will share with you the secrets to selling a home fast that our Zip Agent shared with us. With a little preparation, your home could be in high demand, too.  Here are the first five tips that sold our house in one week:

Fresh paint inside and out.
This one step made the house look new!  Neutral paint inside is more pleasing to buyers.

Remember Curb Appeal!

• Clean