Davis Homes

Josh Fisher | Dance your PhD

Josh Fisher is a colleague of my husband, Kevin Tu.  They are both scientists that do research that seems too complex to give a cute label to.  Josh currently holds a post-doc position at Oxford University doing something with climate models.  My eyes always glaze over whenever science talk starts so anything that makes science a little more fun, I'm all for.

Did you know that there is an annual science dance contest?  I didn't either.  Well leave it to the internet, there is a contest where scientists can dance their PhD thesis.  This is Josh's entry:

Visit the contest website if you dare, but be warned it is pretty hard core science stuff.

I did like this entry by Sommer Genrty, an Assistant Professor of Mathmatics at the US Naval Acadamy:

The information from the site states: This dance is NOT choreographed. Dorry is leading spontaneously, and Sommer is really blindfolded. The dancers are wearing black to draw attention to the arms, where the haptic communication (the only communication that the follower gets from the leader) is occurring.

I like that Sommer's dance is all about trust and communication.  These issues seem to be critical in my life right now.  It is a great feeling when clients trust that you will lead them in the right direction and I'm trying to be more trusting with people in my life as well.

Thanks Josh for letting me post your video and I hope you win your category.

On why I haven't posted lately...

Earlier tonight I realized I have five blogs (thought I had six), all focused on real estate:

• Discover Davis Homes Blog  The blog on my website.
• http://activerain.com/blogs/cgjerdetu Active Rain social networking site
• Real Estate Webmasters Blog my blog on REW
• Discover Sacramento Homes  a quick wordpress site
• Davis Homes  this one on typepad. 

Over the past year I have probably spent more time blogging on active rain than anywhere else primarily because I seem to be motivated by rewards. Active Rain rewards users by giving points for every blog post written (up to 10 a week).  The users with the most points show up higher in the results for a given area. As of right now I have the top result for Davis and the second spot for Yolo County.

This blog right here was my first blog.  I started it when I only had a very basic one page company provided website and a vauge idea that maybe if I wrote about what is happening in Davis that people might find me..  I learned to put in some widgets although I'm not sure I did get everything in correctly.  It is a typepad blog, because at the time I set this up I was reading a lot of parenting blogs and many of them were using typepad. 

Not sure what I'm really planning for this blog but I will try to update this space a bit more often.

Photos of Davis

Flickr has a nice pool of  Davis photos that have been submitted by Flickr users.  While some are more personal photos there are many photos of buildings around town, events.  If you are trying to get a visual sense of what Davis is all about it is a good resouce. 

I like that many of the users who have decided to post to flicker have also decided to let others use their photos with a proper credit back to the photographer.

Personally I have not participated in posting photos to flickr but it is on my list of things I am planning on doing, adding to the collection of photos for Davis, Woodland and the surrounding communties in Yolo County.

Photo of North Davis Greenbelt not from Flickr but taken by me. 

You can always visit my website to see photos and information about Davis homes for sale

Custom home search for Davis, Woodland and beyond

I have not been updating this blog often enough and forgot to share that Discover Davis Homes has gone through a major transformation and now includes an integrated search for Davis homes and also has a blog about Davis, Woodland and beyond.

I am continually adding more information that is of value to buyers, sellers and anyone else who is interested in both Davis and Woodland. 

The home search is really my favorite part of the new site.  It has the ability to view multiple photos allowing the user to "mouse" over to see the next photo, save favorite homes, save searches and will soon automatically send email property updates of saved searches. There is also a map search using Google maps that shows homes for sale in a particular area.

I will continue to work on expanding out the neighborhood pages and information specific to Davis, Woodland and other relevant areas.   Let me know if there is other information that you would like to see on my web page.

Davis CA home search

UC Davis Arboretum

Davis market snapshot

The housing market in Davis for most of 2007 has been fairly brisk with fewer homes on the market than during the corresponding time in 2006 and equal or greater  number of closed sales than what was seen last year.  July was an exception. 

July 2007 there were 135 single family homes listed for sale, 31 homes pending and 44 closed sales.

Inventory is still lower than last year, July 2006 saw 191 single family homes listed for sale, 47 homes pending and 61 closed sales.

There are several factors that seem to be slowing the market down in Davis. 

1.  The troubles in overall housing market.  Worries over financing, short-sales and foreclosures, while not a significant factor in the Davis market are starting to have a spill over effect even in a much more stable area.

2.  The media.  Constant stories about the turmoil in the housing market is worrisome to  buyers who are only fed spoonfuls of information. 

3.  Average active price is increasing.  The average active price in 07/2006 was $699,000.  Nearly every other place in the Sacramento Region has a lower average active price from one year ago.  Today the Average Active Price is $712,000. 

Statistical data courtesy of Trendgraphix.

I would be happy to provide you with specific data and how it relates to the value of your property or your home search.

Coming soon:  Is now a good time to buy a house?

Money Magazine's Best Places to Live 2007

Davis nor any other place in Yolo County made Money Magazine's top 100 places to live for 2007. 

Money's site still does have good information about Davis,  Woodland,  Dixon and Sacramento.  Two cities in the  Sacramento region were included this year in the top 100,  El Dorado Hills and Granite Bay.  Both Granite Bay and El Dorado Hills are communities with many newly developed homes.

Central Woodland update

Data for Central Woodland, May 2007 vs. May, 2006

At the end of May, 2007 the area of Central Woodland had 53 homes on the market, 8 pending sales and 9 closed sales.  The average list price was $416,000 and the average sold price was $317,000.   

May, 2006, Central Woodland had 61 homes on the market, 12 pending sales and 11 closed slaes.  The average list price was $472,000 and the average sold price in the area was $406,000. 

This neighborhood has many Victorian and Craftsman style homes and with a little patience you may be able to find a great bargain.

To search for your new home in Woodland, or anywhere in the greater Sacramento region, visit me at www.discoverdavishomes.com

Davis Easter Parade

One of the main reasons my family moved to  Davis was for the small town community feel that still exits here.   

Last Saturday was the Easter Parade.  I imagine it really was no different than many spring parades  held across the country in the last couple of weeks.  A fire engine led a crowd of a several hundred parents and children around the streets of Davis followed by the UC Davis Marching Band-Uh that is an ever present fixture in Davis events. 

The children, walking, riding in little red wagons, strollers, pushing scooters, riding bicycles followed the fire truck and moved forward in time with the music of the band.   

I don't have any photos from the parade as my husband was out of town that day and it was too difficult to juggle a camera and my three year old son.   My son had a great time and loves the marching band.

Next Saturday, April 14th is Picnic Day one of the largest community events for UC Davis.   If you are looking for a good place to watch the parade, stop by my office at 401 Second St.  Our office is just one of many who will be hosting picnic day events.  Looking for breakfast before the parade?  The Oddfellows lodge will be serving a pancake breakfast (the lodge is next door to Lyon on 2nd St).

If you are wondering if Davis is the right place for you,  come to something like the Easter Parade or Picnic Day to get a sense of the community; the Davis Experience.

Central Davis Market

Think the real estate market in Davis is slow?  While homes are not selling for the stratospheric prices  of 2005, the right house listed at the right price will draw attention.

This house on Elmwood Dr, just went on the market last week.  It is a rare find, a beautiful mid-century modern home that has been in the same family since it was built.  It is also on a large lot and has a  swimming pool.  There were 10 offers on this home.  Negotiations are ongoing, but it is a pretty safe bet that this home will soon have a new owner.

If you live in Central Davis and are thinking about selling, give me a call, now may be the right time to make your move.

Looking for a great home in Central Davis, let me help you navigate through the homebuying process.