Mesa Market Mojo Report Feb 2016

Five Things You Should Know Before You Remodel

During this year we are featuring stories about home building projects. If you’d like to remodel your present home here is an architect’s checklist. Of course, every owner’s project is different with varying property characteristics. Yours may require less or more information, but the essential items an owner should know for a successful project are:

1. Immediate requirements and long term goals, including priorities such as green construction, energy effi ciency, view maximization, etc.
2. Overall budget for construction, regulatory approvals, design and construction documents.
3. Schedule or timing considerations
4. The cost of construction, architectural design and construction documents
5. Understanding of the project’s regulatory approvals process, its cost and timing

An architect is in a perfect position to assist you in gaining this information, and will discuss the services required for the scale and complexity of the project with you. Choosing the right architect is important and in the process of choosing one you should discuss any anxieties you have about your project with him or her.

This list was contributed by Christopher A. Manson-Hing, AIA, a Santa Barbara architect and Mesa resident since 1990. He can be reached at his firm at 805-966-2423 or chris@mansonhing.com

I represented the seller of the home he bought, but not Chris. The sale transaction is a wonderful story he continues to share with everyone.

Chris’s Story

A good friend and Realtor, who was assisting me in my home search, left a fl yer for a listing on my car seat on his way out of town for a few weeks. He noted in big print that I should go see it right away.

I visited the house and met the owner, a very friendly elderly woman who invited me in and gave me a history of the house and neighborhood. She told me about her happy life there with her husband.

I shared my personal history and engagement to my wife, who was out of the country and would not be able to see the house before it would be sold. From the backyard of the house I called my wife and we decided to make an offer, knowing that there would be other offers for this house.

Scott represented the seller and was honest and helpful to me, knowing I was a first time buyer and my Realtor was out of town. After receiving seven initial offers, the seller decided to solicit further bids. At that point we submitted our offer, along with three additional bidders.

Decision time came, and I was pacing the pavement outside the house when Scott walked up with “good news and bad news.” I asked for the bad news first, and Scott told me I was not the highest bidder. The good news was that the owner wanted to sell the house to me and my future wife, to raise our family. This was one of the happiest days for me and my wife, and I respect Scott for his professionalism on that day.

Mesa Market

On the Mesa there were 7 closings in the past 30 days with 11 pending sales in escrow. That is compared to 6 closings in the previous 30 days with 7 pending. The market picked up in January for both closings and pending. We are now entering the spring sales market. Overall, the January South Coast market is getting a start that is exactly the same as 2015, which was a strong year for sales. The Mesa appears poised to outpace the overall market with an even stronger start. Near-water properties are doing well and I expect strong sales on the Mesa in 2016.

Client Talk…

“My wife and I were searching for Ocean Front, $3 to $5 million, in the Santa Barbara area and Scott helped us fi nd the perfect house. The entire process could not have gone more smoothly. Scott is articulate and professional. He did not pressure us in any manner whatsoever just so he could make a commission. I am a commercial developer and have been in the real estate business for over 30 years. I feel very comfortable recommending Scott Williams.”

– Dale and Tamara Donohoe

Happy Valentine’s Day!