Fireworks are back in Bodega Bay!

After a 3-year hiatus, fireworks are coming back to Bodega Bay in 2006 on July 2. While there's no charge for the event, these things aren't free and the fundraising efforts have begun. My wife, Tammi, is this year's Head Firecracker and is heading up the task to raise about $8000 - she needs your help.

Please donate at Gourmet au Bay (913 Highway One) or mail a cheque to the Bodega Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 1175, Bodega Bay, CA 94923 (reference "Fireworks"). Any amount will be appreciated.

Several restaurants are gearing up with events to coincide with the display so it should be a great weekend to be on the Coast...

Click here for an event poster including info on the Bodega Bay Firefighters Annual Pancake Breakfast taking place in the morning...

One in 13 California Homes Sell for a Million Bucks

DQNews - DQNews - Million Dollar Home Sales Press Release

The number of $1M+ homes in California increased again in 2005 to 1 in 13. That's a significant rise from 2004 where one in 20 sold for a million dollars or more. Here in Bodega Bay, there were 36 million dollar homes sold out of a total of 80 (average = $994,754). If you'd like a complete market summary, email me and I'll send one out.

Lower sales volume in 2006

Realtors see 4.7% drop in 2006 home resales

While it's expected that California will see a 2% drop in sales volume this year, the National Association of Realtors is predicting a 4.7% drop nationwide. Once again, the Golden State should outperform national averages and is expected to have the third best year on record. Not too shabby for a market that the media has pounded for a couple of years now with talks of bursting bubbles and collapsing values.

And here on the Coast, our usual protections of relatively low availability/high demand still exist. We're beginning to see much more buyer activity as inventories reach two year highs (coming out of extreme lows). We're positioned to find some balance in a market that has gone from a strong sellers market in 2004/2005 to a buyers market in late 2005/early 2006.

Prices seem to be holding fairly steady after an adjustment period where listings were regularly reduced in order to attract nearly non-existent buyers. Price growth is slated for about a 5% increase overall in 2006.

Go to www.bodegabayproperties.com to see what's available.