Part 2 of 3: I sat down recently with Sacramento real estate broker Joel Wright to discuss the 2-4 unit residential-income market in Sacramento. Joel specializes in working with investors and he knows his stuff. We hit on topics such as prices, inventory, rent levels and current trends with duplexes and fourplexes in the Sacramento area. Let me know if you have any questions and check out The Wright Report also for a very detailed analysis of the local market. View Part 1 of this interview series here and watch the new segment below.

Here is a graph of all duplex and fourplex sales in Sacramento County over the past three years. What do you see? Does anything stand out to you?

If you have any real estate appraisal, consulting, or property tax appeal needs in the Greater Sacramento Region, contact me at 916.595.3735, by email, on our appraiser website or via Facebook.

If you want to understand the real estate market in Sacramento, check out The Wright Report. I am not aware of any other report in the area that is so comprehensive. The Wright Report is birthed quarterly by Real Estate Broker Joel Wright. The latest version is packed full of graphs and details to help the reader understand exactly what went on during the last quarter of 2010 in Sacramento’s four county region (Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado). This is helpful for local agents, residents and anyone considering investing in the Sacramento region. I recommend downloading and printing the document since it is over 40 pages.

I’m honored to have contributed a few paragraphs at the beginning of the report too. Check it out below or see a full screen view or direct link).

What do you think?

If you have any real estate appraisal, valuation consulting, or property tax appeal needs, contact me at 916.595.3735, www.LundquistCompany.com or via Facebook.

Here’s a look at all 2-4 unit sales in the 95815 zip code of Sacramento over the past three years. No, these are not single family units. These are duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes. It’s amazing to see how far prices have come down from recent years when so many of these properties sold previously for $300,000-$400,000+. You think some of these might pencil nowadays?

Here is a trend graph of all 2-4 unit sales in the city of Vallejo, CA over the past five years. The information is based on data in Bay Area MLS. The residential-income market sure has been impacted. It’s amazing to see the low point around $250,000 several years ago has now become closer to the higher end of the market over the past few months for 2-4 unit properties.

If you own a duplex, triplex or fourplex in the Vallejo market (or Greater Sacramento region), I’d be curious to hear what has happened to your rent levels over the past five years. Also, has the Assessor decreased your property taxes?

I’m doing some research for a duplex in South Sacramento. I thought readers would be interested to see a trend graph of all sales over the past twelve months for 2-4 unit properties (duplex, triplex, fourplex) within the South Sacramento & Fruitridge market area. It’s amazing to see how low prices have come down. In 2005, for example, something would have been sincerely wrong to see a residential-income property selling anywhere near $100,000 (or below). For reference, 67% of the sales below were REO and 19% were Short Sales.

What do you see? Also, how have you seen the decline in property value impact rents in the Sacramento area? 

You probably didn’t wake up this morning wondering about fourplex sales in the city of Modesto. But if you did, you’re in luck. Even if you didn’t though, have a look at the trend graph below because it’s shocking to see the huge difference in property values from three years ago to now. What do you see? What stands out to you?

If you are a home owner or work in the real estate field, I’d be curious to hear your take not only on the data above, but on property assessments too. Unfortunately I’m finding it especially true that multi-unit 2-4 income-producing properties are often not assessed accurately (even worse than single family homes). Are you seeing a similar trend? Why do you think duplexes and fourplexes often seem to escape the realm of lowered values by the assessor?

If you are a property owner or investor and feel the Assessor has not kept in tune with the reality of the downward trend in property values, let’s talk. Call me at 916.595.3735 or see my property tax appeal website at www.SacramentoTaxAppeals.com.

The real estate market has been hot lately for investors since prices and inventory have both come down so far. I get hits everyday on my website and blog from keywords and phrases such as “duplex bank-owned properties in Sacramento”, or “residential-income units”, or “quadruplex for sale Sacramento”. People are looking to buy and the competition has been fierce lately, hasn’t it?

I figured it might be helpful to provide a list of all duplex and fourplex units for sale in Sacramento County (under $200,000). This information is based on Sacramento Area MLS. Click on the following links to open a PDF file.

Duplexes in Sacramento County under $200K as of 01-15-2010 (pdf)
4-Plexes in Sacramento County under $200K as of 01-15-2010 (pdf)

If you have any questions about the 2-4 residential-income market in the Sacramento area, let me know. I’m familiar with the local market and I do a good amount of work for a handful of local and Bay Area investors. Also, if you see a property in the files above, and you need the Listing Agent’s phone number or other information, I’d be happy to get that to you. Give me a call at 916-595-3735 or email me at ryan@lundquistcompany.com.

I’d like to take a few moments to reflect on my favorite appraisal assignments of the year. Maybe I’m jumping the gun a bit since 2009 is not quite over, but that’s okay. I won’t get specific about addresses or location because I take client confidentiality very seriously.

Top 10 Favorite Appraisal Assignments of 2009

1. Facuets Left On:  I appraised a bank-owned property in Solano County. It was a very nice property, but unfortunately all faucets and spickets were left on (with clogged drains), so there was extensive water damage. It was unclear if the damage was done by the disgruntled home owner or a vandal.
2. Oak Park Fixers:  This year I appraised quite a few fixer properties in the Oak Park area of Sacramento that were purchased by an investment group, re-habbed, and then re-sold on the open market to first-time home buyers. It’s nice to be a part of a project where the end result is good for the community.
3. Vacant Subdivision Land in Sacramento:  Acting as a property tax consultant, I valued two parcels in Sacramento County under the supervision of an AG (Commercial Appraiser). These sites were scheduled to be finished out as a subdivision, but then the market burst and subdivision building virtually stopped.
4. Spring Water & Cesspool:  I appraised a house in Placer County that was on spring water and a cesspool (as opposed to a well and septic tank). Do you think this would have an impact on market value? How much of a price discount would it take for the typical buyer to look over an atypical feature such as this to purchase the property?
5. Dilapidated Fourplex:  This property was interesting because it had repeated damage from squatters. I had to climb through a window to inspect one of the units too, and I cut my finger on broken glass (that made me remember this property even more).
6. Upgraded Duplex:  The residential-income market in Sacramento saw a huge decline in value over recent years. All of the latest sales in this particular neighborhood were fixers. So what is a bright and shiny upgraded non-bank-owned duplex worth in a marketplace of REO fixers?
7. Rancho Cordova Property:  I’ll be honest. Since my office is located in Rancho Cordova, it sure is nice to get local assignments in the same city. I don’t mind at all driving to other counties, but it’s a great thing to travel a mile from the office to take care of business. My business in Rancho Cordova definitely increased this year.  
8. Divorce Appraisals:  I do work for home owners and attorneys during a difficult time of life. It was a pleasure to provide excellent service to home owners in need this year and at least make the appraisal process smooth in the midst of a challenging situation. I grew up in a divorced home and I know it’s not an easy time of life.
9. Pre-Listing Appraisals for Local Agent:  I am a huge fan of working with local Realtors and it was a pleasure to establish a new working relationship with a particular agent who began to rely upon my knowledge and services this year. This year I had more referral work from Realtors and that’s a wonderful thing!!! I am also really grateful to be more connected to some stellar local real estate agents on Facebook and Twitter too.
10. Ripon New Subdivision:  There was nothing terribly complex about this assignment, but I really felt like I did a solid job on this appraisal in Stanislaus County and my client was very happy with the end-product. It’s just one of those I remember putting in a good amount of time and really enjoying the finished product.

I appreciate all my clients and colleagues who made 2009 a fantastic year. This has been a trying year for the appraisal industry in light of HVCC, but I am grateful nonetheless for all the good things that happened this year. Thank you.

If you are a real estate agent or home owner, what was the best experience you had this year with an appraiser? If you are a real estate appraiser reading this post, what were some of your favorite assignments this year.

www.SacramentoAppraisalBlog.com My Top 10 Favorite Appraisals of 2009

I wrote previously about the “Bursting of the Duplex Market in Sacramento“, so I figured I’d also provide a graph of the fourplex market so we can see visually what has taken place over the past three years in Sacramento County. Yes, I know Sacramento County is a large territory representing many neighborhoods and sub-markets, but I think this trend graph tells a story nonetheless. All blue dots below are sales based on data in Sacramento MLS.

Isn’t it amazing to see the impact of the housing bubble burst? Three years ago many quadruplex units in Sacramento County were selling between $400,000 to $600,000, but the bulk of sales lately have been easily hovering around $200,000 +/- or lower. With prices so low right now, many investors have understandably been purchasing 4-plex units. The ideal scenario would be to pick up a quadruplex, have postive cash flow, and then re-sell the property in a number of years when the market turns around.

I actually just finished a property tax appeal for an investor who purchased a fourplex in late 2009 for under $200,000, but the Assessor still had his property valued in the high $300,000s. He is scheduled to pay over $1,000 too much in property taxes this year because the Assessor’s records are not consistent with realistic trends in the marketplace. This is a common problem for so many properties that sold near the top of the market and are now re-selling in today’s market.

Let me know if you have any questions. Comments are welcome. Ryan 916-595-3735.

www.SacramentoAppraisalBlog.com The Crashing of the Fourplex Market in Sacramento