Welcome,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for stopping by our site. This past month has found San Luis Obispo enjoying fantastic weather. This is one of the best times to see San Luis Obispo and the surrounding areas. The hills are green and the days are a wonderful 70+ degrees, and that's why we moved here.

If you're coming to San Luis Obispo in the near future, remember to stop by our "World Famous" Farmer's Market (and street festival) on Thursday evenings (all year long, rain does cancel this event). BBQ's, music and a full farmer's market make this the best attraction between Santa Barbara and San Francisco. The Downtown Association has put together a great selection of talent for you to enjoy each week, so come and have a good time.

Also stop by our office located at 570 Marsh Street right next to the Jack House Gardens. We would love to help with any of your real estate questions. Also you are welcome to view Tom's eNewsletter

I wanted to introduce two new additions to Real Property Investments. Robert Petterson and Sandra Foxford. Robert is a San Luis Obispo local with over 8 years in SLO real estate and Sandra comes from the legal world with a strong background in contract creation and negotiation. Both Robert and Sandra will be working in commercial sales and leasing. You can reach all of us at the office number shown below or via email at Information at RPISLO.

Best Wishes, Tom Swem, GRI, CCIM

The Local Economy as of April 2009... As of April 20, 2009 the local real estate economy is continuing with homes getting showings if properly priced. The market for single family homes as well as the condo/PUD market has been effected by the ecomonic downturn and you can see the difference from a year ago. Based on sales from March 1, 2009 to date, the average single family home sale price in the City of San Luis Obispo was $649,635. This was 93.3% of list price at time of sale (and 81.4% of the original list price) and related to a average cost per square foot of $338.58. 23 homes sold with an average Cummulative Days On Market of 166. COMPARED WITH THE SAME TIME PERIOD ONE YEAR AGO... there were 28 sales at an average SP of $757,825, an average cost per sqft of $402.75 and avg DOM of 119. This relates to a 14.3% decrease in sale price from last year and a 15.9% decrease in cost per square foot.

The average Condominium/PUD sale price in the same period is $428,400 which was 97% of the list price at time of sale (and 90.1% of the original list price) based on 7 units sold at an average cost/sqft of $327.5 with an average Cummulative Days On Market of 107. COMPARED WITH THE SAME TIME PERIOD ONE YEAR AGO... there were 19 sales at an average SP of $392,866, an average cost per sqft of $359.14 and avg DOM of 48. This relates to a 9% increase in sale price from last year and a 8.8% decrease in cost per square foot.

In the investment arena, investors are sitting on the sidelines waiting for the really "Great Deal", although they will never define what that is. The Owner/Users of commercial investment properties seem to be best suited for taking advantage of this market. Inventory is increasing and the available properties are being listed between 6.5% and 8% Cap Rates. These are properties that were valued at 5%-6% a couple of years ago. Many sellers are considering equity trades for their properties and may consider out of area property.Call us if you have property that you would want to trade into commercial property in this area.

All in all, San Luis Obispo is seen as a great "Growth Possibility". CNN Financial has researched the 10 best places to buy real estate. Click Here for another reason we all live and invest here.

Sunset magazine names SLO a top 10 dream town....

By Pat Pemberton It's nice to be envied. The current issue of Sunset magazine shows San Luis Obispo a lot of love this month, featuring the city as one of its top 10 Dream Towns - or, as the editors say, places to go "for the perfect vacation, or the perfect rest of your life." Grouped with locations such as the town of Eastsound on Washington's Orcas Island and Butte, Colo., the two-page spread starts with a flattering line: "For your consideration: San Luis Obispo is the most Californian place in all of California." In particular, writer Matthew Jaffe notes the weather, Thursday's Farmers Market, and funky favorites, including Linnaea's Cafe and the Palm Theatre - "the only solar-powered picture show in the country" - as proof of San Luis Obispo's charm.

Sunset readers have previously voted San Luis Obispo the "Best Downtown" in the country. But the 110-year-old magazine isn't the first to heap praises on the city: Surfer magazine ranked the near-the-beach town as one of the top 10 surf towns in the country. Runner's World, meanwhile, ranked it one of the top 10 cities for running. While Sunset noted the still-high cost of living, it was particularly impressed by the city's outdoor options, noting its "relentlessly fit" population. "People often talk about California as a state of mind," Jaffe wrote, "Well, in San Luis Obispo, it's also a a way of life."

Fast Facts Calif. median home price - February 09: $247,590(Source: C.A.R.) Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region February 09: Santa Barbara So. Coast $715,000 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region February 09: High Desert $121,970(Source: C.A.R.) Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Fourth Quarter 08: 59 percent (Source: C.A.R.) Mortgage rates - week ending 4/9/09 30-yr. fixed: 4.87% Fees/points: 0.7% 15-yr. fixed: 4.54% Fees/points: 0.7% 1-yr. adjustable: 4.83% Fees/points: 0.5% (Source: Freddie Mac)

In summary, the residential market should continue moderately through the Spring. Investment property is being consistantly considered by investors and will remain a solid opportunity given the number of properties on the market and the "No Growth" attitude in the area. Downtown SLO Retail/Office Property is the current "Hot Ticket" due to the dramatic increase in mixed use development projects in the pipeline. Also, owner/user commercial/industrial properties are being seen as a great opportunity based on the SBA removing the "Points" they charge for a loan and the seller's motivation's increasing. Creative structuring of transactions (last seen in the 80's) is back!

In all regards, it is a good time to consider real estate as an investment and a great time to purchase a home. e-mail me with your questions and thoughts, I'll get back to you as soon as possible.