Realtor Thursday

 

A conversation with Andrea Scott, Alain Pinel Realtors, Alamo, California

Alamo is a small, upscale suburb of San Francisco and San Jose, CA.  A quick 30 minute BART ride to downtown San Francisco or a 45 minute drive to San Jose, it is home to a great many of the Bay Area’s corporate CEOs. With an enviable combination of good schools, low crime, well educated neighbors who support education and a high rate of home ownership, Alamo has the features that families look for when choosing a community to raise their children.

The per capita income in Alamo in 2010 was about $65,000. This equates to an annual income of over $250,000 for a family of four. The demographics of Alamo are very similar to those of Malibu, CA, although Alamo has been cited for being quieter and less showy about its affluence that it’s Southern California neighbor.

 

The People

Alamo is a white collar town of 15,000. Over 95% of the workforce is employed in knowledge-based, white collar professions and 10% of people telecommute. 64% hold advanced degrees as compared with a nationwide average of 15%.  It is home to many people who could be described as urban sophisticates.  This refers not only to being well off and educated, but also a state of mind.  This urbaneness is expressed in a love of reading, travel, support of the arts and an awareness of local issues and world affairs.

Schools and Taxes

Most Alamo children are served by the exceptional San Ramon Valley Unified School District.  The Academic Performance Index scores for the elementary schools are 918 and 944, the middle school is 922 and the two high schools are in the 890s, on a scale of 1,000. With its outstanding academics, small class sizes and an affluent community that insulates it from budget cuts with their personal funds, Alamo is one of the most desired communities by parents with school age children.  Because Alamo is unincorporated, the property taxes are a mere 1.1% of the purchase price of a home and Proposition 13 insulates homeowners from property taxes that rise with home values.

Economy and Prices

When analyzing how property values have risen and fallen, it is a challenge to decipher what portion of the change in the average sold price is due to the value of a given property falling and what is due to a shift in what is selling.  Alamo residents, on balance, are in the enviable position of being able to wait out markets.  Most of this stable population have been in their homes for a length of time and have sufficient equity and other resources so distress sales uncommon.  That said, property values fell around 30% from the high and have recovered by 10%.  This creates a terrific value for buyers – purchasing into one of the best school districts in California at a 20% discount and at record low interest rates.  This combination of market factors has put Alamo within reach of many buyers who were previously priced out.

The Future

Alamo is a community that is close to commute routes, fine dining, shopping and employment centers; yet enjoys a quiet, rural feel.  The half-acre zoning makes the properties generously large and the open space, mountain and ridge lines give it a rustic, natural beauty.  Recently, there was a movement to incorporate Alamo.  Having been on both sides of this issue at one time or another I saw that both the pro- and anti-incorporation forces wanted exactly the same thing:  they wanted to protect Alamo from change.  The future of Alamo will look very much like it does today if the residents of Alamo have anything to say about it.

Words of Wisdom for Sellers and Buyers

Many Alamo properties are older homes in established communities.  Some sellers need to realize that today’s buyer is different from buyers of the past.  The focus on home fashion is actually stronger than clothing fashion, thanks to the likes of HGTV. These buyers want an updated, fashionable home that looks, smells and feels new inside. Sellers should tour new home developments with their agents and emulate as much as possible how these properties are prepared for sale.  A property prepared and displayed property that is priced right will sell quickly for top dollar.

Buyers are attracted to Alamo by the schools, location, amenities and large lots.  It is important for buyers to understand that new homes are seldom found on large lots in established neighborhoods.  An older home can become everything that a newer home is, but the new home can never change lots or locations. Have vision and embrace the character of an older home, you won’t be disappointed.  A talented architect such as Cynthia Erb can transform a property into your dream home.

Realtors and Technology

Today’s buyers are conducting their home search primarily online. If your Realtor fails to create a stand-out internet presence for your property and advertise on all of the top websites with targeted messages for the right buyers for your property, you have no hope of receiving top dollar. The Realtor’s job is to get you eyeballs – that is, to make sure that your property is seen by the maximum number of interested, qualified buyers.  If the internet presence is outstanding, eyeballs turn into foot traffic – that is, the marketing campaign is reaching and interesting the maximum number of buyers to drive the best price.  My internet marketing campaign is extensive and different from what my colleagues are doing.  I’d love to take a few minutes to share it with you.

About Andrea Scott: Thinking of selling your home? Relocating? Trading up? Downsizing? Whatever your situation, selling your home is an important – and sometimes stressful – decision. You need the guidance of a top professional with the tools, the talent, the team and the technology to sell your home for top dollar in today’s market.

You need Andrea Scott

Andrea will provide you with the information necessary to help you make crucial real estate decisions throughout changing market cycles.  Her background as an economist and her professional experience go to work for you to produce exceptional results every time.  If you are interested in selling your home for top dollar, contact Andrea today.

“Top shelf all the way!”                                                    – Mike Joyce, Alamo, CA

“Above and beyond, the best I’ve worked with!”                – Alison Cordray, San Ramon, CA

“Superb follow-through, very knowledgeable, great counsel and guidance.  A terrific experience!”                                                                                         – Amy Steiner, Danville, CA

For more information please visit: FindAndreaScott.com, call 925.791.2511 or email Andrea@apr.com

**Photo Credits: Cynthia Erb Design: http://www.cynthiaerb.com

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This guest post is part of our Realtor Thursday Series. We invite realtors from towns and cities all over the country, big or small, to participate. Our goal is to “travel” to as many towns as we can in every state. Every town is unique and wonderful to our readers. If you would like to showcase your town, your neighbors and your talents as a realtor, please contact us at liz@dalesiegel.com