Holiday Home Tour, First Sundays, Holiday Follies...

November 30, 2012
December in the Inland Empire begins with the unique events that signal the holiday season.
Saturday the East Valley YMCA gym will be the site of the annual Holiday Boutique. In addition to home baked goodies, there will be 73 vendors with a great variety of crafts and unique items for your gift shopping.
On Sunday, 7 special Redlands homes will be open for the annual Holiday Home Tour. The home of one of the founders of Redlands, the Judson home will be on the tour as well as Kimberly Crest. The committee has selected a variety of architectural styles and this home tour will be one of the best ever. Information at 909-798-9622 or www.ymcaeastvalley.org
Saturday evening at Fontana's Center Stage Theatre the Holiday Follies will be on stage. The show opens at 7 p.m December 1 and will continue through the month of December. Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m  and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dinner and show $39.95-$49.94; $79.95 on December 31. Show only $18. Information 909-429-7469 or www.centerstagefontana.com
December 2 will be another Downtown Riverside First Sunday. Families can enjoy the Riverside Public Library, the UCR Artsblock, The Metropolitan Museum, the Riverside Art Museum and the Fox Theater's participation which will be at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Mission Avenue. Each of the venues will have special participatory crafts for children attending. For more information visit. www.riversideca.gov/musuem
Create memories by enjoying these special holiday events.

Electricity Usage During the Holidays

November 29, 2012
Folks are installing those outdoor holiday decorations all around the area. With the advent of the mini light strings, lighting up your home for the holidays has become a very popular item. Fortunately, for the most part, these mini lights are not big power users. However, they do have an effect on your electric bill.
Since the electric utilities are always educating us on ways to cut our usage, maybe this December will be a good time to incorporate some of the suggestions to offset any extra usage from our decorations.
Electronics use power even when they are on standby. Turning them completely off is a first step, but unplugging will totally stop the power use.
Replacing incandescent light bulbs with the CFLs will further reduce usage. These light bulbs have improved since they were first introduced and can be purchase with different light effects.
Setting timers so that lights are not left on longer than necessary. For sure turning lights off when you leave a room.
Running dishwashers, washing machines and dryers only with full loads.
I followed these recommendations for a month and it my electric bill did reflect the savings. Check it out for yourself.

Holiday Flowers

November 28, 2012
I am not exactly sure when certain flowers became associated with our December holiday season, but as long as I can remember, Poinsettias have been part of holiday decorations. The bright red leaves (only the yellow round centers are really the flower of the plant) and the lower green leaves replicate the reds and greens of the traditional holiday season. If folks do no other decorating, they are likely to have a bright poinsettia.
Another plant that is also popular during the late fall and early winter holidays is the bright red Amaryllis. Obtaining these bulbs around Thanksgiving is usually soon enough to have them grow and bloom by December 25.As a youngster it was fun to watch them grow. They seem to add inches right before ones eyes.
Then there is the "Christmas Cactus" that usually blooms in November/December. It, too has bright red blossoms. Sometimes on plant will have 20 or 30 blossoms which make a great splash of color.
All of these plants now come in a variety of shades of pink and red and even white. To decorate now a days does not require using just the traditional red and green.
Another popular holiday blossom is the white narcissus better known as "Paper Whites". Starttin in mid November, these bulbs can be nurtured to bloom for the holidays.Unlike the above blossoms, these delicate white blossoms emit the most wonderful scent.
These plants all signal that the holiday season is upon us and they add that bright and living dimension to our decorations.

Should I List My Property In December?

November 27, 2012
At this time of year, agents may be contacted by potential sellers who are considering putting their properties up for sale. More often than not, a seller will ask: "Should I wait until after thew holidays to put my house on the market?" Different agents may have different answers depending on their past experience. I might give the answer that somewhat frustrates folks: "It depends."
So what does "it depend" on?
First, as a seller, why are you planning to put your house up for sale? Are you moving because of a job change? Have you out grown your present house? Is there another place you would like to live if the house sold? Are you under financial duress? A good starting place in a conversation about when to put a property up for sale is for the seller and the agent to understand the reasons behind a decision to sell.
Next, could be a discussion of the pluses and minuses of listing in December. This year, one definite plus is that there are more potential buyers who have been frustrated by the lack of properties on the market. Many are ready to jump at any new listing that meets their needs and their financial ability. This situation is leading to multiple offers and over listing sales prices. Another plus is that interest rates for buyers have remained at all time lows and buyers feel an uncertainty about where rates will be in the future. If they entered escrow now, they could lock in a present day rate. Another plus could be the decorations and the aromas from holiday baking make a home very appealing. Potential buyers feel the desire to enjoy that type of environment themselves. It often evokes memories that they would like to recreate for their families.
The minus begin with the disruption of the sellers daily life. When a property is offered for sale, sellers must be prepared to show it at any time. During all the additional activities that take place during the holidays, adding the need to keep the property in a showable condition may be seen as too burdensome. If the property does not sell quickly during December, sellers may feel that waiting would have been better as now they are "stale" on the market. I believe that this so-called "staleness" can be overcome by an immediate push to advertise the property in the new year.
 The decision to list or not to list is dependent on the seller's reasons. If the property is ready and the seller truly wants to make a move, any time is the correct time.

Ready, Willing and Able to Buy - But....

November 26, 2012
These are interesting days for anyone who has decided that now is the time to buy a home. First step seems to be to look on line and check out the properties that fit wants and needs. Then contact an agent to set up an appointment to visit the property. Oh, oh. The agent lets you know that the property has already entered escrow and is no longer available. The agent also suggests that you contact your lender and get a pre approval letter so that when you find the right property, you will be able to make an offer. Be sure that pre approval letter also contains your FICO scores as in today's market, sellers are requiring this document as part of an offer to purchase.
Prospective purchasers have discovered that there is a limited supply of properties on the market. They ask "Where are all those bank-owned properties?" "I thought that there was a glut of properties for sale." Maybe somewhere else, but not in Inland Southern California.
It has been a shock to some prospective purchasers that although they are ready, willing and able to buy a home, there are a very limited number of homes available.
As we enter the holiday season, this limited supply may not improve as many sellers will wait for the new year before putting their property up for sale. The best advice for buyers is to be patient, be prepared and act quickly if a property comes on the market. Or possible, re look at the properties that have not sold and have been on the market for some time. Perhaps this may be the time to submit an offer.

Riverside Launches the Holiday Season

November 23, 2012
Beginning today, Downtown Riverside will be transformed into a holiday "Festival of Fun". From 9 a.m. this morning to 3 p.m. this afternoon,  Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Riverside Municipal Auditorium will be the site of the 23 annual Festival of Trees. . More than 50 trees will be themed and decorated. The even benefits the Riverside County Regional Medical Center. Admission is free, but the trees are for sale. Information at www.rcrmcfoundation.org
From noon until 11 p.m. today, 4-10 pm Monday- Thursdays, noon to 11 p.m. Saturdays on Main Street, for $10 per hour per person with $3 skate rental, you can enjoy ice skating with your friends. Information  can be obtained by calling 951-826-5586.
The awesome Festival of Lights at the Mission In will also begin today. 3.6 million lights have been installed and over 400 animated characters adorn the Inn. The lobby of the Mission Inn will also be decorated with a 22 foot tall tree. Information: 951-683-7100 or www.riversideca.gov/fol
If not this weekend, sometime during the holiday season, a trip to Riverside is a great family outing.

Greetings for Thanksgiving Day

November 22, 2012
CENTURY 21 Lois Lauer Realty is thankful for our loyal clients and customoers. We know that we have been blessed with frienships that last. On this day set aside for counting our blessing, we send all of yopu our heartfelt THANKS!

Being Thankful

November 21, 2012
Tomorrow is the day set aside to count our blessings and for our opportunities to share these blessings with family, friends and, whenever possible, with those less fortunate. Can drives have been held by various organizations, the East Valley Association of Realtors has given out turkeys for the past several years food markets have had pre-filled bags of food that you can purchase with your groceries for distribution to food banks. Not only are Americans the first, and perhaps the only people, that set aside a day to be thankful, but Americans are known to support more public charities than folks in other parts of the world.
Let us all be mindful of the need to share our blessings. Let us all enjoy the day set aside for the purpose of being thankful. Along the food, the football and the friends and family let us remember the reason that the day is set aside.

"How Beautiful for Spacious Skies..."

November 29, 2012
With the emphasis on "Thanksgiving" I can not fail to mention the beauty that surrounds us in our inland Southern California region. This morning, as I drove to work, the surrounding mountains were crystal clear and the "spacious skies" were bright and blue. Added to that view was the remarkable view of the mountains as I drove home one evening about 4:30 p.m. The sun was on the mountains and they were deep, deep purple in color bringing to mind once more a line from "America the beautiful" ; the purple mountains majesty." Until I moved to Southern California, I had always though that a strange depiction for mountains. Mountains I had know on the east coast were green, definitely not purple.
It was a wonderful idea for the early settlers to create a day set aside for thanksgiving. While it is equally important to awake each morning with thankfulness, setting aside a day when our entire country pauses to be thankful is unique to Americans.
Look around and be thankful!

Six Weeks Until December 31

November 19, 2012
It is hard to believe that the year 2012 will end in six weeks. In many ways it has been a transitional year for real estate. We have seen inklings of a stabilizing market with median prices no longer declining. We have seen the inventory of properties for sale shrink to all time lows.We have seen an influx of buyers eager to make a purchase. We have seen more properties with accepted contracts than there are properties available for purchase. We have seen interest rates continue to be at all time lows.
What will these final six weeks bring?
For prospective buyers, six weeks is enough time to make an offer and to close an escrow.
For sellers, especially short sellers, completing a sale in 2012 allows them to know that the forgiven debt will not be subject to income tax. Next year this may be extended, but uncertainty about its continuation reigns.
Unfortunately, the banks still hold the upper hand in the timing for a short sale closure.
For sellers, the small amount of inventory allows them to attract multiple offers which can be beneficial in obtaining the best possible selling price.
There is much that is positive for both buyers and sellers. For sellers, buyers are plentiful. For buyers, interest rates remain low and prices have not risen substantially.
While holiday times are not often active times for real estate, it will be interesting to watch how the next six weeks unfold. Will folks lay back and wait for the new year or will they continue the increased activity of the past two months?

The Over $400,000 Real Estate Market Numbers

November 13, 2012
I continue to track the number of closed sales of residential real estate that reported selling prices over the $400,000 level. While the under $300,000 market has become very active, the over $400,000 market has not yet made a substantial come back. In general the number of homes closed in each of the fourteen communities that I track has remained fairly consistent - no big decrease in numbers, but no increase.
Banning/Beaumont............Oct/2.......Sept/1.......Aug/0.......July/0.......June/0.......May/0.......Apr/0
  ......................................Mar/1.......Feb/0........Jan/1........................Oct/2005/12
Bloomington.....................Oct/0.......Sept/0.......Aug/0.......July/0.......June/0.......May/0.......Apr/0
........................................Mar/0.......Feb/0.......Jan/0.........................Oct/2005/4
Colton..............................Oct/0.......Sept/0.......Aug.0.......July/0.......June/1.......May/0.......Apr/0
........................................Mar/0.......Feb/0.......Jan/0.........................Oct/2005/5
Fontana............................Oct/3.......Sept/4.......Aug/1.......July/0.......June/1......May/0.......Apr/0
........................................Mar/1.......Feb/3.......Jan/1.........................Oct/2005/124
Grand Terrace..................Oct/0.......Sept/0.......Aug/0.......July/0.......June/0.......May/0.......Apr/0
........................................Mar/0.......Feb/0.......Jan/0........................Oct/2005/2
Highland...........................Oct/2.......Sept/0.......Aug/3.......July/1.......June/4.......May/3......Apr/2
........................................Mar/0.......Feb/1.......Jan/1.........................Oct/2005/14
Loma Linda..................... Oct/0.......Sept/0.......Aug/2.......July/2.......June/0.......May/1.......Apr/1
........................................Mar/0.......Feb/0.......Jan/1.........................Oct/2005/9
Mentone..........................Oct/0.......Sept/0.......Aug/0.......July/0.......June/0.......May/0.......Apr/0
........................................Mar/0.......Feb/0.......Jan/0........................Oct/2005/0
Moreno Valley.................Oct/0.......Sept/0.......Aug/1.......July/0.......June/0.......May/0.......Apr/0
........................................Mar/0.......Feb/0.......Jan/0........................Oct/2005/90
Redlands.........................Oct/12......Sept/7.......Aug/12.....July/13.....June/11.....May/9......Apr/6
.......................................Mar/8.......Feb/10......Jan/5.........................Oct/2005/29
Rialto..............................Oct/0.......Sept/0.......Aug/0.......July/0........June/0.......May/0.......Apr/0
.......................................Mar/0.......Feb/0........Jan/0........................Oct/200525
Riverside.........................Oct/25.....Sept/19.....Aug/20.....July/22......June/24.....May/23.....Apr/20
.......................................Mar/20.....Feb/18.....Jan/18.......................Oct/2005/231
San Bernardino...............Oct/0.......Sept/0.......Aug/1.......July/1........June/1.......May/0.......Apr/0
.......................................Mar/0......Feb/0........Jan/1.........................Oct/2005/14
Yucaipa/Calimesa...........Oct/1.......Sept/3.......Aug/4.......July/7........June/4.......May/3.......Apr/4
......................................Mar/2.......Feb/5........Jan/5.........................Oct/2005/30
There you have it. The number on the far right of the second line of each community is the October number reported in 2005.

Veteran's Day Is a National Holiday

November 12, 2012
Because Veteran's Day fell on a Sunday, the holiday associated with it is also being celebrated today. There will be additional remembrances throughout the nation. At Century 21 Lois Lauer Realty, we are launching our annual participation in "Operation Gratitude". Since its origination in 2003, Operation Gratitude volunteers have shipped more than 815,000 packages to American Military members. The past several years our offices have participated in the collection of items for our service men. In our office at 1998 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands and our office at 36699 Yucaipa Blvd. in Yucaipa, we have boxes for depositing items to be sent to our servicemen.
We fill these boxes with snack items, entertainment items and some personal letters of appreciation. Not only are our agents generous, but the public has also participated by bringing items to our offices.
IN addition to participating in Operation Gratitude, we sent care packages to sons and daughters of our agents who are serving in the military overseas. This gives us a very personal connection with those who are dedicating their lives to serving their country.

It is Important to Remember Our Veterans

November 9, 2012
Veterans' Day is Sunday, November 11, 2012 but as has become customary, when a federal holiday falls on  a non business day, the first business day after becomes the holiday. Remember that government entities and banks will be closed on Monday, November 12.
It was November of 1919 that then President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who dies in the country's service and gratitude for the victory..."
The original concept was for a day to be observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. The idea was that the cessation of hostilities of World War I between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
This year there will be many remembrances, often sponsored by the American Legions around the country.
In keeping with the original idea of stopping at 11 a.m. on November 11, let us all take that moment to remember with gratitude all who have served and all who continue to serve to protect our freedom.

Median Prices - January to October 2012

November 8, 2012
Check for yourselves. Median prices may be showing a bit of an upward trend. They are somewhat better than they were at the beginning of 2012, but they still seem to be bouncing up one month down the next.. Just a reminder that these prices are the result of an unscientific search. I take the number of residential properties reported sold through the CRMLS, divide by two and use the price of the sale at the midway spot.
Banning/Beaumont..........Oct/175,000......Sept/164,000......Aug/150,000......July/149,000
......................................June/158,500.....May/151,000......Apr/160,000......Mar/158,000
......................................Feb/145,000......Jan/156,000
Bloomington...................Oct/150,000......Sept/145,000......Aug/175,000......July/159,000
......................................June/149,000.....May/129,000......Apr/145,000......Mar/175,000
......................................Feb/132/140......Jan/110,000
Colton...........................Oct/125,000.......Sept/130,000......Aug/125,000......July/125,000
.....................................June/110,000......May/139,000......Apr/120,000......Mar/114,000
......................................Feb/121,500......Jan/125,000
Fontana..........................Oct/225,000......Sept/228,500......Aug/215,000......July/216,000
......................................June/198,000......May/220,000......Apr/215,000......Mar/197,000
......................................Feb/210,000......Jan/210,000
Grand Terrace................Oct/185,000......Sept/174,000......Aug/179,000......July/185,000
......................................June/194,600.....May/182,000......Apr/170,000......Mar/199,000
......................................Feb/145,000......Jan/179,000
Highland........................Oct/201,000......Sept.167,000......Aug/170,000.......July/175,000
.....................................June/181,000......May/225,000......Apr/157,000......Mar/184,000
.....................................Feb/145,000.......Jan/160,000
Loma Linda...................Oct/241,000......Sept//245,000.....Aug/200/210......July/270,000
.....................................June/185,000......May/189,000......Apr/230,000.....Mar/195,000
.....................................Feb/185,000.......Jan/230,000
Mentone.......................Oct/126/170.......Sept/72/154........Aug/210,000......July/110/170
....................................June/80,000.........May/180,000......Apr/118,000......Mar/129/155
....................................Feb/140,000.......Jan/115/130
Moreno Valley.............Oct/162,000.......Sept/163,000......Aug/167,000......July/160,000
....................................June/158,900......May/152,500......Apr/149,000......Mar/153,000
....................................Feb/144,000......Jan/147,000
Redlands......................Oct/225,000......Sept/222,500......Aug/200,000.......July/245,000
....................................June/223,000......May/220,000.....Apr/190,000.......Mar/220,000
....................................Feb/186,000......Jan/178,000
Rialto...........................Oct/183,000......Sept/182,000......Aug/167,500.......July/165,000
....................................June/163,000.....May/160,000......Apr/175,000.......Mar/165,000
....................................Feb/165,000......Jan/163,000
Riverside......................Oct/210,000......Sept/200,000......Aug/210,000......July/204,000
....................................June/208,000.....May/189,000......Apr/190,000......Mar/190,000
....................................Feb/180,000......Jan/195,000
San Bernardino............Oct/120,000......Sept/125.000......Aug/126,000......July/120,000
...................................June/117,000.....May/114,200......Apr/110,000.......Mar/105,000
...................................Feb/100,000......Jan/110,000
Yucaipa/Calimesa........Oct/204,000......Sept/199,000......Aug/190,000......July/181,500
...................................June/179,000.....May/154,000......Apr/180,000.......Mar/170,000
...................................Feb/160,000......Jan/189,000
Looks like bouncy market.

Closed Sales - October -January 2012

November 7, 2012
Here are the numbers for the residential properties reported as "sold" through the CRMLS for each month in 2012. In many ways the numbers are remarkably consistent with slightly higher numbers during the summer months. It is important to remember that closings usually occur 45 to 60 days after a property has an accepted offer. If this observation is correct, the Summer closing reflect an active Spring.
Banning/Beaumont...........Oct/122......Sept/102......Aug/125......July/111......June/149......May/133
.......................................Apr/122......Mar/120......Feb/105.......Jan/96
Bloomington....................Oct/10........Sept/19........Aug/16........July/20........June/29........May/18
.......................................Apr/22........Mar/24........Feb/25.........Jan/15
Colton.............................Oct/35........Sept/22.......Aug/37.........July/29........June/34........May/47
.......................................Apr/44........Mar/46........Feb/42........Jan/29
Fontana...........................Oct/217......Sept/183.....Aug/244......July/207.......June/230......May/257
.......................................Apr/201......Mar/224.....Feb/190.......Jan/188
Grand Terrace.................Oct/9..........Sept/10.......Aug/16........July/16.........June/15........May/16
.......................................Apr/10........Mar/11........Feb/8..........Jan/13
Highland.........................Oct/50.........Sept/40.......Aug/84........July/54.........June/79........May/79
......................................Apr/63.........Mar/46........Feb/46........Jan/45
Loma Linda....................Oct/18........Sept/8..........Aug/15........July/13.........June/15........May/21
......................................Apr/21........Mar/21.........Feb/12........Jan/16
Mentone.........................Oct/7..........Sept/9..........Aug/10........July/11.........June/8..........May/8
......................................Apr/10........Mar/13.........Feb/16........Jan/7
Moreno Valley...............Oct/215......Sept/174.......Aug/242......July/209.......June/219......May/246
......................................Apr/199......Mar/244.......Feb/174......Jan/195
Redlands........................Oct/73........Sept/66.........Aug/77........July/67.........June/98.......May/72
......................................Apr/65........Mar/80.........Feb/55.........Jan/49
Rialto.............................Oct/88........Sept/66.........Aug/110.......July/111......June/110......May/113
......................................Apr/103.....Mar/118........Feb/85.........Jan/97
Riverside........................Oct/369......Sept/333.......Aug/402......July/402.......June/401......May/432
......................................Apr/352......Mar/405.......Feb/364.......Jan/323
San Bernardino..............Oct/186......Sept/126.......Aug/204.......July/154......June/195......May/204
.....................................Apr/175.......Mar/210.......Feb/133.......Jan/189
Yucaipa/Calimesa..........Oct/57.........Sept/60.........Aug/72........July/61........June/79........May/73
.....................................Apr/61.........Mar/78.........Feb/57.........Jan/55

The Word for the Day "VOTE"

November 6, 2012
Today is the day that we are able to exercise our rights as citizens of a democracy. Today is the day we go to the polls and cast our votes. We are free to quietly, and without anyone looking over our shoulders, for the candidates that we believe offer the leadership for our nation, our state, our county and our cities. In California we also have the opportunity to write laws by the initiative process.
The word for the day is "VOTE".

Is Listing Low the New Strategy?

November 5, 2012
It has been interesting of late to track new listings, particularly those listed as short sales. The list prices seem to be less that the price of similar properties that have sold. As soon as these properties are published in the Multiple Listing Service, there is a flurry of activity. A constant stream of potential buyers and their agents tour the property and often write offers. Since the agents and prospective buyers are aware that there may me multiple offers, they write offers that are over the listed price. The listing agent and the seller usually let it be known that they will be looking at offers a few days after the property goes on the market. I know of at least one instance in which the seller received twenty-four offers.
Is this a new way to have buyers and sellers determine the market value of a property? Will appraisers takae into consideration the fact that the accepted selling price was the result of multiple offers? Will the short sale lender be willing to approve a price that may exceed the current comparables?
We are clearly in a transitional market. It will be interesting to track how these multiple offer properties affect the prices.

The San Bernardino County Museum Hosts First 5

November 2, 2012
This Saturday from 9 1.m. to 5 p.m. First 5 San Bernardino will be presenting the inaugural "All Aboard the Reading Railroad" workshop at the San Bernardino County Museum. The program is a step toward supplying children with the tools that they need to begin reading early and to be ready for preschool. Children under 5 years of age will be admitted to the museum free of charge and will obtain free books and backpacks. Families will be able to receive information about community educational opportunities.
First 5's Hands on Health Express Truck, Radio Disney and a number of other agencies will be on hand to provide entertainment, school readiness information, community resources and educational materials for families. There will be fun face painting, balloon art and read aloud activities.
Admission for adults is $8, $6 for military persons and seniors, $5 for students, $4 for children 5-12.
For additional information call 909-386-7706

Listings, Pendings, Back-ups - November 1, 2012

November 1, 2012
The month of October 2012 is now history. As is my custom, on the first of each month I pull the data from the CRMLS for active listings, properties under contract either as pendings or back-ups and the ratio between actives and those under contract.
Banning/Beaumont............List/211......Pend/246......Back-up/122......Ratio/1.744
Bloomington.....................List/23........Pend/49........Back-up/19........Ratio/2.957
Colton..............................List/31........Pend/88........Back-up/33........Ratio/3.903
Fontana............................List/200......Pend/514......Back-up/221......Ratio/3.675
Grand Terrace..................List/16........Pend/31........Back-up/9..........Ratio/2.500
Highland...........................List/64........Pend/119......Back-up/44........Ratio/2.547
Loma Linda......................List/20........Pend/35........Back-up/12........Ratio/2.350
Mentone...........................List/11........Pend/15........Back-up/6..........Ratio/1.909
Moreno Valley..................List/128......Pend/480......Back-up/208......Ratio/5.375
Redlands...........................List/152......Pend/111......Back-up/67........Ratio/1.171
Rialto................................List/84........Pend/195......Back-up/83........Ratio/3.310
Riverside.......................... List/433......Pend/746......Back-up/342......Ratio/2.501
San Bernardino.................List/266.......Pend/408......Back-up/141......Ratio/2.064
Yucaipa/Calimesa.............List/106.......Pend/112......Back-up/77........Ratio/1.783
It is interesting to note that Moreno Valley has the highest ratio of properties under contract to active listings and Redlands has the lowest ratio. Since my home market area is basically Redlands, I was curious about the low ratio. Like other communities, Redlands has a very low inventory of properties in the market. It also has a higher proportion of properties on the market that are listed over the $400,000 mark. The data suggests that the current sales are driven by first time home buyers and investors, not the move-up buyers that would be purchasing the higher priced homes  It could also be that the East Valley area has not yet experienced the activity that other areas of the Inland valleys are experiencing. Stay tuned.