I have lived in Sonoma County for over 40 years. I know the enigmatic details of the area having grown up and worked here since childhood. My professional experience includes 20 years in Sonoma County as a real estate agent and since 2012, a broker. My contacts with reliable and efficient local professionals make the complicated venture of home purchasing and selling far less daunting. Coming from a Computer Science background, I also have the technical tools to succeed in an ever changing and high tech marketplace. I pride myself in having good listening skills and patience. I prefer to take a low-pressure and cooperative approach with my clients and others, trying to achieve a win-win result for everyone.

Sonoma translates as "valley of the moon" or "many moons" in the Pomo language. Their legends detail this as a land where the moon nestled, hence the names Sonoma Valley and the "Valley of the Moon." Today it is better known as a wine producing region, best known for growing Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot noir, though the area is also known for its Merlot and Zinfandel.

Over its history, Sonoma County has been occupied by Native Americans, Spanish, English, Spanish (again), The Russian Empire, Mexico, and the California Republic before joining the United States in 1850. It is the most north westerly of the nine San Francisco Bay Area Counties.

Sonoma County’s motto is: Agriculture, Industry, Recreation. In addition to drawing tourists for wine tasting, the area also features the lower portion of the Russian River which is a popular summer vacation and recreation spot. The Sonoma coast is a picturesque area with Highway 1 running the length of the coastline. It is estimated that more than 8 million tourists visit the county each year.

Sonoma County is home to Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College. For history buffs, the Pacific Coast Air Museum is located at the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, next to the airplane hangar used in the 1963 Hollywood all-star comedy movie, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. In Santa Rosa you can also find: The Charles M. Schulz Museum, The Sonoma County Museum, and The Luther Burbank Home and Gardens.

These are some stats I like to keep close at hand. Any sudden changes in months supply of inventory can indicate a change in the market. Over 3 months indicates a shift to a buyer’s market, which we haven’t seen in years. Only varying degrees of a seller’s market.

Average listing price and average/median sale prices are pretty self-explanatory.

Sale price versus the original listing price can give you an idea of how competitive the market is.