Neal's Blog

As we enter the traditionally "slower" part of the year, there is an interesting mix of changes in the market that are important to point out as we try to figure just how long-and how deep-the price declines in our valley will be.  No one can predict the future, but there is enough information that I think it's clear that the worst is behind us -how much lower can we go anyway?.  Still,  for most of Santa Clarita we aren't at bottom yet.  To jump ahead, I will explain why price softness and

Almost everyone knows the name "Angelo Mozilo"-he's the former CEO of Countrywide and he's been in the news a lot in the last few years, mostly with negative connotations. This morning I  had the opportunity to meet and listen to Andrew Gissinger. It's likely you haven't heard his name much, but I think you might in the future, and if you do I suspect it will  be with good connotations. Andrew (he goes by "Drew"), is the new Executive Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at

Wow, what a difference a few years make! It is at this time of year that I write to you and recap the previous year and lay out what I expect to happen in the New Year. In December 2004 I wrote that 2005 should see a soft landing in housing prices. At that time, the inventory had risen to over 1400 homes, the demand was slower but steady, financing was available and there were delays in the expected new construction. Myself and virtually all of the top agents I network with-in and out of Santa