So here’s the deal. It’s the holidays. You know, the season of rushing around in 10 different directions, worrying about office parties, shopping, Holiday cards, finding a parking space at the mall, and all the other assorted stresses that send most of us into overload. And if you are trying to sell your home, certainly the last thing you want is to have some Realtor calling you 2 days before Christmas wanting to show your home when you have your whole family coming in from Colorado, and you’re trying to find that recipe for candied yams that you saw on Emerile Live! So you do what most sellers do this time of year… take your home off the market. But is that really the smartest thing to do? I know, the holidays are already stressful enough without adding the pressure of showing your home. But before you take your home off the market, there are several compelling reasons to consider leaving your home on the market this holiday season:

1. Decorations. Few things add to the emotional appeal of a home like holiday decorations. For many, your home never looks better than it does during the holidays. You know, the Christmas tree, the lights, the stockings by the warm fire, Harry Connick playing carols… you get the picture. Your home will often have extraordinary emotional appeal this time of year, and it is appeal that sells homes.

2. Competition. When other sellers take their homes off the market, it improves the chances of your home selling. From the standpoint of supply, it makes sense to have your home for sale when there are fewer homes to compete with.

3. Motivated buyers. While it is true that there are generally fewer buyers out during the holiday season, the buyers who are out looking are generally more motivated than the typical spring market buyers, many of whom tend to be exploring their options. Not many buyers who are willing to make it a priority to see houses this time of year are simply out exploring options. Rather, they tend to be serious buyers with some pressing motivation to find a home NOW.

4. Vacation. Buyers will often have time to see homes during the holidays because they have time off work, and it is easier for them to shop for homes during the week this time of year as opposed to other seasons.

If you are concerned about giving unfettered access to agents to show your home this time of year, you can always remove the lockbox and ask that the home be shown by appointment only so you have sufficient time to prepare for any showings you might get. Buyers are often very understanding about showings this time of year.

So maybe it’s time to keep your home on the market, break out the Martha Stewart decorating tips, and make your home a winter wonderland showplace. You never know, you might end up selling your home and having a real reason to break out the champagne this holiday season.

The Pleasanton CA real estate market slowed as expected in November. While the month of November started out reasonably well, the market stalled towards the end of the month thanks to Thanksgiving (recent studies have suggested that the tryptophan in Turkey not only makes you sleepy, but also slows a person’s desire to buy real estate). Overall, the market was slow but steady. Pending sales were down for the month, ending at 31 pending sales, down from 45 in October. Inventory is also trending down, with 176 single family homes on the market at the end of November, as compared to 199 available homes at the end of October. Again, from a seasonal perspective, this is not unusual, although last year at this time the market had a surge in sales in November, with 55 pending sales. (click on graph to enlarge)

For the low end of the Pleasanton market (under $1 million), sales declined from October, with 15 pending sales for the month of November, as compared to 26 at the end of October. This is certainly a slow sales pace for this price range. Inventory dipped slightly, with 95 homes on the market in Pleasanton under $1 million at the end of November, down from 99 at the end of October. (click on graph to enlarge)

For the mid range of the Pleasanton market (between $1 million and $2 million), sales were up, with 12 pending sales in November, up from 10 in October and 7 in September. Inventory trended down, with 51 available homes at the end of November in this price bracket, down from 64 at the end of October. (click on graph to enlarge)

The luxury segment of the Pleasanton market showed a drop in pending sales in November, with 4 pending sales for the month, down from a strong October showing of 9 pending sales. Inventory drifted down, with 30 available homes at the end of November, down from 36 at the end of October, and 42 at the end of September. Buyers looking for value are a strong driver for the recent activity in this price range. (Click on graph to enlarge)

Overall, the market is obviously slow, but not dead. While sales activity is down from the summer, inventory is also trending down, and that trend is likely to continue in December. The real question is what will next year bring, which is certainly a source of speculation in real estate circles. I expect the national and state wide gloom and doom regarding real estate to continue through the year, with increases in foreclosures and downward pressure on prices on a national level. A lot will depend on the strength of the economy. If the real estate slump tips our economy into recession, then things could deteriorate strongly. If the rest of the economy remains relatively healthy, then I expect the Pleasanton market to see a market very similar to this year, with erratic sales activity, longer market times, and a flat to slowly declining prices, with some neighborhoods and price ranges faring better than others. Again, the long term outlook for Pleasanton is certainly positive, with continued job growth and the migration of families from other areas looking for a highly desirable city with top rated schools.