San Benito Magazine October 2-8, 2020

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF SAN BENITO COUNTY

OCTOBER 2, 2020

A supplement to the Hollister Free Lance

Robust Demand

Home sales continue to boom. But will inventory keep up? P2

PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE P4 | HOME OF THE WEEK P6 | REAL ESTATE P7

Housing imbalance

OCTOBER 2, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

Low interest rates drive continued growth in housing market

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BY ERIK CHALHOUB

T

he booming real estate market during the pandemic is creating an issue as the fall season gets underway: low inventory.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, said scarce inventory has been problematic for the past few years, but has worsened in the past month due to the dramatic surge in lumber prices and the dearth of lumber resulting from California wildfires.

“Over recent months, we have seen lumber prices surge dramatically,” Yun said. “This has already led to an increase in the cost of multifamily housing and an even higher increase for single-family homes.”

Yun said the need for housing will grow even further, especially in areas that are attractive to those who can work from home. As highlighted in NAR’s August study, the 2020 Work From Home Counties report, remote work opportunities are likely to become a growing part of the nation’s workforce culture.

“Housing demand is robust but supply is not, and this imbalance will inevitably harm affordability and hinder ownership opportunities,” he said.

“To assure broad gains in homeownership, more new homes need to be constructed.”

According to the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, 946 single-family residences sold in August. While that was a nearly six-percent dip from July, it represented an increase of eight percent compared to August 2019.

In Gilroy, 66 single-family homes sold, compared to 62 in July, according to SCCAOR data. Inventory dropped from 81 in July to 73 in August.

A total of 63 homes sold in Morgan Hill in August, dropping the current inventory to 66. San Martin has a scarce inventory of three single-family homes for sale as of August, according to SCCAOR. The inventory issue has extended to San Benito County as well. According to Intero Real Estate Services’ Market Snapshot for August, which gathers data

HOT MARKET

File photo

from MLS Listings, there were 66 active listings in San Benito County, a 56 percent decrease from August 2019.

Seventy-three homes sold in August, a slight dip from July’s number of 79.

In Hollister, the 51 active listings in August represented a 58 percent decrease over the previous year, according to Intero Real Estate Services.

The lowest mortgage rates in five decades have enticed buyers. According to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey released Sept. 10, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 2.86 percent, the lowest rate in the survey’s history which dates back to 1971.

“Mortgage rates have hit another record low due to a late summer slowdown in the economic recovery,”

said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “These low rates have ignited robust purchase demand activity, which is up 25 percent from a year ago and has been growing at double digit rates for four consecutive months. However, heading into the fall it will be difficult to sustain the growth momentum in purchases because the lack of supply is already exhibiting a constraint on sales activity.”

Sandy Jamison, president of the SCCAOR, said the summer months saw a rebound in real estate activity after things slowed in spring during the beginning of the pandemic.

“We are seeing a steady flow of motivated buyers along with a surge of first-time homebuyers entering the market due to extremely low interest rates,” she said.

“The low rates combined with our steady job market are continuing to give households the confidence to begin their homebuying process.”

The market is “hot” right now for homes that are in move-in condition and priced right, Jamison said. But with buyers grabbing them quickly, a cooldown could be on the horizon.

“Buyers want updated homes that are move-in ready,” she said. “With the aging homes across San Jose and the constantly low inventory levels, we need to continue to focus on building more housing. With the regulatory hurdles to building new homes, we don’t expect supply to come in-line with demand anytime soon.”

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 2, 2020

The Allendale home project in Hollister is one of the larger developments in the region.

Real estate officials say the housing inventory is struggling to keep up with demand.

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PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE

OCTOBER 2, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

Landscape do’s and don’ts

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HARD SURFACE Gravel mulch is ideal when creating a noncombustible area around the home.

Create a noncombustible area around home

By DWIGHT GOOD

D

uring a wildfire, thousands of windblown embers may pelt your house like hail during a storm. Many of the embers that strike the side of the house can fall to the ground and accumulate next to your home. If your neighborhood is asked to evacuate as wildfire approaches, the embers can lie there, glowing unattended for hours or even days. If the embers are in contact with a house sided

with wood or other combustible materials, or something that can ignite in the flowerbed, your home could be in jeopardy.

The vegetation, landscape materials and other items located immediately adjacent to your home have critical influence on house survival during wildfire and ember attack. Homeowners living in high fire hazard areas need to create a “noncombustible (or low-combustible) area” within three to five feet of their houses.

Some of the important do’s and dont’s include: • Do use hard surfaces such as concrete, brick and rock • Do use green, healthy well-maintained lawn • Do use gravel or rock mulches • Do use irrigated herbaceous plants such as annual and perennial flowers and groundcovers • Do use short deciduous shrubs (but don’t locate them in front of foundation vents) • Don’t locate the firewood pile, or other combustible materials such as lumber in this area • Don’t use wood, bark or rubber mulches • Don’t have uncovered garbage cans or recycling bins here • Don’t have dried grass and weeds, fallen pine needles and leaves or dead branches located in this area • Don’t use ornamental evergreen plants, such as shrub junipers Having a noncombustible (or low-combustible) area next to your home is an important part of protecting it from wildfire. Don’t wait—take action now before the embers arrive.

No matter where you live, the most common reason homes burn during a wildfire is because embers land on something easily ignitable around the home.

Make changes now to reduce the ember threat to your home.

Remove leaves and pine needles from your rain gutters, clean out debris from under your deck, and remove flammable plants from around the base of your house.

You can learn more at www.emberaware.com.

Fire Marshal Dwight Good, MS, EFO, serves the Morgan Hill Fire Department, South Santa Clara County Fire Protection District and Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit. He has 25 years of fire service experience. For questions or comments, email Dwight.good@fire.ca.gov or call 408.310.4654.

SPOKING MY MIND

Pedaling into Halloween

October favorites now offering virtual options

By CURT HENTSCHKE

A

pproaching seven months of pandemic cycling, we’re now mixing in our fire season with hazardous air alerts. Prayers go out, not only to the many heroic firefighters, but also to all who have suffered wildfire losses.

We are now experts on riding with face coverings, though smoky air adds a whole new dimension. Monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) before you ride.

SAVE THE DATES Remember that soot from wildfires contributes to the particulate matter in the air, and most cloth masks don’t capture that tiny stuff. N95 masks are preferred, provided they have been properly fitted. Moreover, don’t forget that we’re breathing up to 10 times harder while riding.

Ugh! Let’s pedal onto some positive news.

• While many event rides continue to cancel, some October favorites are offering virtual

Discovery Classic Bike Event, Hollister–CANCELLED OCT. 10–Coyote Creek Cycling Classic–VIRTUAL OCT. 25–Cycle of Hope–habitatebsv.org–VIRTUAL Curt “Cycle Guy” Hentschke has pedaled more than 60,000 miles of South Valley and San Benito County trails. Send your cycle celebrations to heycycleguy@gmail. com. Check for last minute changes before attending.

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 2, 2020

Curt Hentschke

PUMPKIN TIME It’s beginning to look a lot like October.

options. The Coyote Creek Cycling Classic will take place the weekend of the 10th, with participants choosing their own five- to 50-mile routes.

The Cycle of Hope, benefitting Habitat for Humanity, will take place between the 10th and the 25th.

• Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Commission Chair Zach Hilton (who just happens to be running for Gilroy City Council) continues to spearhead the BikeMatch Program, acting as a conduit between folks who have bikes to donate, with folks who desperately need them.

So far, he has orchestrated 73 matches here in South County! Outstanding!

• Finally, congratulations to Morgan Hill’s Bike Therapy, who recently celebrated their third birthday! In 36 months, this “butts on bikes” cycle shop has done tons for South County: flat-fix clinics, weekly community rides, kids’ bike rodeos, Holiday Lights rides, Amgen TOC events, charity ride support and the South County Composite Mountain Bike Team.

Awesomeness!

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HOME OF THE WEEK

Submitted photo

OUTDOOR AMENITIES This Hollister home’s spacious backyard

OCTOBER 2, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

includes a gazebo.

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Ranch living in Hollister Nine-acre property includes horse barn, gazebo and orchard

T

his nine-acre ranch property offers plenty of room to roam.

Located at 7701 Fairview Road in Hollister, the 3,150-square-foot home includes four bedrooms and four bathrooms.

It features separate living and dining rooms, an open concept kitchen/family area, wood flooring

throughout, and an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances.

The backyard has a large gazebo, and the property is equipped with a mature apricot and walnut orchard as well as a horse barn with three stalls, pasture areas and more.

The home, built in 1991, is listed at $1,428,000 by Nino Real Estate. For information, visit tinyurl.com/y2qxk7wh.

WINE

REAL ESTATE

Laura Ness

ZOOM GOURMET Jason McKinney and Tyler Vorce lead a

virtual cooking class hosted by Aver Family Vineyards.

Timeout for some truffles Aver Family Vineyards hosts virtual cooking classes By LAURA NESS

P

andemics, firestorms, hurricanes, social justice, earthquakes—2020 has been a lot to process. Sometimes, we just need a timeout. John and Carolyn Aver of Aver Family Vineyards have the perfect solution.

In July, my husband and I signed up for one of their exceedingly fun, informative and delicious live Zoom cooking classes with Truffle Shuffle. On the menu that evening: black truffle risotto paired with Aver Family Mourvedre. Each kit costs $100 and includes all the ingredients you need to make dinner for two, plus a bottle of Aver Family wine. A guaranteed good, gourmet time.

Our instructors were two entertaining chefs, Jason McKinney and Tyler Vorce, who worked at The French Landry and are ardent

truffle freaks. We learned the correct way to finely mince onion, then sweat it with Balinese Truffle salt until translucent, before adding carnaroli rice and butter-toasting it to a tantalizing aroma. By the time we had stirred in all the warm chicken stock, parmesan cheese and Australian black winter truffle carpaccio, and topped it with a splash of Champagne vinegar, we were all risotto experts. Well, close. But we were well fed and very happy!

Aver has several more Saturday Supper Clubs upcoming. The next one is Oct. 10 at 4pm, featuring Roasted Chicken Demi Deuil, paired with 2016 Aver Family Album Carignane.

You needn’t be a wine club member to participate and you can gift this to family members so you can cook together across time zones.

For more information Contact 408.842.5066 or email classifieds@newsvmedia.com

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SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | OCTOBER 2, 2020

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Virtual

Open House

Located in Historic Downtown Gilroy

October 17, 11:00am – 12:00pm

RSVP to admissions@mountmadonnaschool.org to receive the Zoom link

Food for the

Holidays

CAIS & WASC accredited Independent, nonprofit school Nonsectarian Bus transportation

Made Easy!

408-847-2717 / MountMadonnaSchool.org

Call 408.767.2868 cafe152@charter.net Food for the How many from 10 to 100 Tell Us We’ll work with your budget MADE

Holidays

CATERING EASY! Made Easy!

Enjoy

Drop Off Free in Gilroy On Site at Cafe 152 Bread Co.

Call cafe152@charter.net

408.767.2868 Here are some ideas!

Assorted Gourmet Sandwiches How many from 10 to 100

Tell Us

Mini SandwichesWe’ll work with your budget Variety of Market Salads Drop Off Free in Gilroy

Enjoy

Site at Cafe 152 Bread Co. Audrey’s FinestOn Chocolate Chip Cookies and many other Desserts Here are some ideas!

Here are some ideas!

Exceptional Breakfast • Assorted gourmetAssorted sandwiches Gourmet Goodies • Mini sandwiches Sandwiches

Pastries and Coffee • Variety of market salads

Mini Sandwiches

Fall Bites • Harvest ChocolateSmall chip cookies Variety of Market Salads Menu • Exceptional breakfast goodies

Audrey’s Finest Chocolate

• Pastries and coffee Sliders - Burger BarChip Cookies and many • Burger sliders other Desserts Buffet Dinner for drop off • Buffet dinner for drop off

Appetizer Party at Exceptional Breakfast • Appetizer party atGoodies Cafe 152 Bread Co. Cafe 152 - BYOW BYOW Pastries and Coffee

Office parties and events

408.767.2868

Catering

Fall Harvest Small Bites Menu Sliders - Burger Bar Buffet Dinner for drop off Appetizer Party at Cafe 152 Bread Co. BYOW

408.767.2868 • cafe152@charter.net

• Steaks, Seafood & Pasta • Beautiful Ambiance • Patio Dining • Early Bird Dining • Sunday Champagne Brunch 8am • Full Service Bar / Happy Hour 3-6pm • Early Bird Dinner Specials 4-6pm • Ask About Our Banquet & Catering Services Weddings, Rehearsal Dinners, Line Dancing Baby Showers, Receptions Wed • 7pm FREE Lessons Open daily 8:00am for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Sunday Brunch 8am-1pm 7400 Monterey Street, Gilroy • 408.842.3454 www.oldcityhall.biz