Natural History Museum on South McClelland Street in Santa Maria, CAHow many houses are for sale in Santa Maria right now? I get this question all the time. Many buyers feel as if there are no houses for sale in Santa Maria. When I surveyed the MLS this morning, there were 163 houses listed for sale in the Santa Maria and Orcutt CA area. Of those 163 homes, 29 were foreclosures (REOs) and 45 were short sales. It is interesting to note that the average list price of the these active listings was $377,000, which is much higher than the average price of homes sold in Santa Maria in 2009 ($218,000), and also higher than the average price of homes sold in Orcutt in 2009 ($333,000). So, it appears that most of the available houses for sale in Santa Maria and Orcutt are at the higher end of the market. So, that may explain why most buyers feel as if there aren’t any homes on the market.
In addition to the 163 houses for sale in Santa Maria there were 162 contingent listings. Twenty were contingent REOs (foreclosures), and 138 were contingent short sales. A contingent REO is a foreclosure listing where the bank has verbally accepted an offer and they are waiting on the parties to complete the contract paperwork. A contingent short sale is a short sale listing where the owner has already accepted an offer and they are waiting on the bank to approve that offer so they can begin the escrow period.
If you are interested in buying a home in the Santa Maria or Orcutt area in the near future, please call me today at (805) 878-9879 to schedule a buyer consultation. Or, send me an email and request a list of available properties in the Santa Maria and Orcutt areas.
*Based on the information from the Central Coast Regional MLS. Neither the Association, the Multiple Listing Service, or Mint Properties guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.
Legal Aid's Annual Taste for Justice Wine Tasting Event is coming around again. The event will return to the Loading Dock in Orcutt. Last year, we held it at the Discovery Museum in Santa Maria and it was a blast. We also introduced the first Gourmet Gavel food competition and beer tasting. Both new elements were a huge success and we are going to continue them. Allan Hancock College culinary students will compete and will be judged on a challenge dish they prepare. Local restaurants will provide appetizers, local breweries and wineries will pour, and a live auction will be held. Tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the door. The event this year will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2009 from 1pm - 4pm. If you would like to buy a ticket, give me a call at (805) 878-9879 or click here and buy tickets online.
I know the Santa Maria Sun publishes a list of local favorites every year, but because I LOVE sushi so much, I feel qualified to publish my own list of favorite sushi restaurants in Santa Maria. If I were going on a business lunch or going out to dinner I would probably go to Ichiban (805) 614-9808 at 2011 S Broadway (next to Family Health & Fitness) great authentic food, private booths and sushi bar seating available.