From Castro Valley to San Francisco, Menlo Park to Livermore and Walnut Creek, we’re hearing that buyer activity is surprisingly busy for this traditionally slower time of year. In some areas, this can be attributed partly to the great selection of value priced homes on the market. It can also be attributed to the fact that there are fewer buyers and fewer sellers around during the holiday season and the ones that are in the market are very serious about buying or selling a home as quickly as possible. Negotiations between buyers and sellers still remain fierce in many areas one of our office reports that up to five and six counter offers are not uncommon before a deal can be closed.

Attendance at open houses was as scattered as our micro-markets are. Sebastopol reports light attendance at opens, but lots of sales activity on properties near $1 million and over a fact illustrated by a five acre property with a small farmhouse that was listed at $850,000, received seven offers and sold for almost $1 million. Buyers haven’t slowed down in the Peninsula housing market either. Menlo Park reports that many agents are as busy now as they usually are during more traditionally busy months, and that open houses were "surprisingly well attended." One listing in Palo Alto had 10 offers and was ratified at approximately 20% over the asking price. "Above average" to brisk open house attendance is also being seen in Half Moon Bay and San Francisco .

A large majority of Coldwell Banker offices reported steady or increasing sales activity, while listing inventory in our markets saw mostly steady or declining levels. While inventory remains high and sellers are willing to negotiate some great deals, now may be the best time to buy.