Pick a Number -- any number (Belmont Sales in Review)

We know, we know...there are a few days left to 2009, and one or two sales may drop in before folks put on the lampshades and dance on tables in anticipation of 2010, but at the risk of jumping the gun, we feel it is nice to put out the sales report for Belmont.

In 2009, 143 single family homes changed hands. This compares to a scant 120 homes in 2008 (Whoopee!!!). Brokers and sales folk will pick that number and tell you the market is up up up by 18% or so. But let us look at a few more numbers...

The brokers had to do Wheel Estate a lot more in 2009...The average home was ON MARKET for 94 days in 2009 against 81 days in 2008. Now I know you folks out there don't care about the wear-and-tear on some agent's Lexus, but holy cow!...all that tootin' up and down Trapelo Road sure puts the cooler in a "wage slave's" Starbucks coffee.

And what with all that driving about, those 143 sales did not churn up the payola per house to the agents as it once did -- the average single family home in Belmont was listed for sale at 764,000 (+/- a few bucks), and sold for 731,000 (+/- a few samolians). In 2008, the average home went on market for 836,960 and passed on to new owners for 801,107 (exactly). That's a 9% drop in price, kiddos!

Looks pretty bleak, eh?...but let us gander to the bright side. Those 120 sales in 2008 grossed out to $96,132,840. If you take a ball park figure that an agent, after all is said and done, comes out with 1% in his or her pocket, then the Lexus agents in Belmont drove off with a collective $961,328 for coffee and new tires in 2008.

In 2009, those depressed sales sold by those depressed souls "overdriving" their Lexuses (Lexii?, perhaps) racked up a gross value of $104,529,711, with the agents pocketing $1,045,297+/-. That works out to a collective 9% INCREASE into the collective glove boxes of "them thar Lexii".

So more sales, longer time selling, and lower prices give us what? Pick a number and you tell us what you want to say about the Real Estate market, but...you can be sure as shootin' the agent's number is on the check.