4726 Bark Road

Sevastopol

$1,350,000

- 4 Bdrm, 3 ba waterfront home on Lake Michigan

- Birch floors, cherry cabinets & dream kitchen

- Door County stone fireplace

- Library and 3 season room

- Deck to enjoy Lake Michigan sunrises

- 100′ of sand beach frontage

MLS #124442

Listing Agents:  Bob Starr and Lori Raye

5041 County T

Sevastopol

$599,900

- 4 Bdrm, 2 ba completely updated 1911 home

- Located on 20 acs w/many outbuildings

- Picturesque country property

- Maple floors, crown molding, open staircase

- Eat-in kitchen with snack bar & pantry

- Enclosed porch, open porch & balcony

MLS #124596

Listing Agent:  Jan Campbell

Door County Multiple Listing Service  

Generally it takes at least the first 4 months of any given year to glean enough information from the MLS system to find meaningful data. Certainly these months are the slowest of the year and it takes until April to begin to see trends develop. So far I like what I see!  It’s been a “winter from hell” and a spring that is not much better.  Despite this (and weather does affect real estate sales),  sales, volume, and median price have held up well. Following is a summary of the last 5 years:

YEAR	NO. OF SALES	VOLUME (in millions)	MEDIAN PRICE
2010	145	$22.8	$113,000
2011	146	$28.8	$125,000
2012	200	$31.6	$123,250
2013	175	$31.3	$120,000
2014	172	$30.5	$125,000

Relatively stable comparing 2013 to 2014 with a nice 4% bump in median price for year to date values.

Over the next few months as more meaningful data is compiled, we will get deeper into the various property types and how they are performing.  As of today, we see no major issues with residential, vacant land, condominiums or commercial properties.  Activity for each category appears normal for this time of year.

ERA Starr Realty again leads the MLS in number of transactions to date.  We have participated in 55 sales through April.  The second leading office checks in with 32 transactions.

Our goal here at ERA Starr Realty is to serve our customers and clients with precise knowledge of the market.  This helps us help you in fulfilling all your real estate needs in the most expedient manner.  Contact one of our agents:  We are “Always there for You!”

Until next time,

Dennis J. Starr

Realtor Emeritus

Vacation rentals in Door County WI

According to Travel Wisconsin:  “…Known for its picturesque coastal towns, specialty shops, fish boils, cherry and apple orchards and scenic beauty, Door County, Wisconsin is often referred to as the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.” With the waters of Green Bay on one side and Lake Michigan on the other, the Door Peninsula offers spectacular waterfront views, with more than 300 miles of shoreline featuring towering limestone bluffs, rugged rock formations and pristine beaches. Door County offers more miles of shoreline, one of the highest concentrations of lighthouses and more state parks – a total of five – than any other county in the nation. The Door County area offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation and is also known for its art galleries and performing arts.

Explore the Outdoors of Door County

For the outdoor enthusiast, Door County Kayak Tours provides a new perspective on Midwest scenery that few will ever experience. Kayakers will encounter views of time worn bluffs and 1,000-year-old caves to Native American etched petro glyphs and lighthouses. You can bike or hike throughPeninsula State Park on one of the trails. Routes along the eight-mile shoreline and trails through the Weborg Marsh and wooded back roads provide opportunities for all skill levels. Thrill seekers should head to Gravity Trails in Rowley’s Bay for zip-line adventures, kayak tours and biking. The 50-acre property provides access to some of Door County’s most scenic areas including Newport State Park, The Mink River Estuary and Sand Bay Beach.

Another unique way to see the beautiful scenery of Door County is on the two wheels of a Segway Personal Transporter. Glide up and down hills through Peninsula State Park, view lighthouses on a Rustic Road near Baileys Harbor, explore Washington Island or choose one of five other tours withSegway the Door Tours.

Enjoy the vineyards and wineries of the area with a self-guided tour of the Door County Wine Trail. The trail encompasses seven wineries throughout the Door Peninsula area. Visitors can find directions, hours of operation and upcoming events online.

Experience the Arts in Door County

There are plenty of one-of-a-kind activities for art enthusiasts in Door County. A night at thePeninsula Players Theater, America’s oldest professional resident summer theater, is one for the memory books. Nestled in a fragrant cedar forest overlooking the waters of Green Bay, patrons can stroll along the shore and enjoy a relaxing picnic while watching the sunset before a live theatrical performance. The Hands On Art Studio is a unique walk-in art studio offering endless possibilities for fun with ceramic, wood, glass, metal, mosaic and pottery art. Enjoy a full symphonic orchestra, featuring world-class musicians and educators at Birch Creek Performance Arts Center, which offers a summer-long concert series.

Shop ’til You Drop in Door County

One must-do activity while on any vacation is shopping. Door County is home to an extraordinarily diverse retail community. Antiques, art, home décor, apparel, lighthouse treasures and gifts galore grace the communities of the Peninsula.

Foodies will really enjoy a hands-on cooking class at the Savory Spoon Cooking School, housed in a charming 1877 historic school house. The Savory Spoon chef and owner will guide students through a three-hour evening of learning tips for making a range of local to global cuisine. Or visit their new artisan cheese shop, Schoolhouse Artisan Cheese Shop in Egg Harbor. Labeled a “European Style” cheese shop, visitors to School House Artisan Cheese will find that the store is reminiscent of a small cheese shop you’d find in France or Italy – except that it’s in Door County, Wisconsin.

Where to Dine in Door County

There is no shortage of good eats in Door County. The White Gull Inn took first place in the “Good Morning America Weekend” national Best Breakfast Challenge in 2010 for their Cherry Stuffed French Toast. In addition, the inn offers a scrumptious array of breakfast, lunch and dinner options as well as a traditional fish boil. The Inn at Kristopher’s and the Mission Grille in Sister Bay are also amazing dining experiences. Both restaurants take pride in using the freshest ingredients by purchasing locally-sourced meats, seasonal fruits and vegetables. The Trio Restaurant in Egg Harbor offers an exquisite Italian option in a casual bistro atmosphere.

No Door County trip is complete without a stop in the tiny village of Ephraim for an old-fashioned ice cream cone at Wilson’s Ice Cream, a cool and delicious Door County tradition for 100 years. Further north in Sister Bay, stop at Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant to see the goats on the roof and dine on whitefish, meatballs and pancakes (Swedish, of course).

Places to Stay in Door County

Rest your head in style. From quaint bed and breakfasts to big resorts and private homes, there are many beautiful places to stay in Door County. Nestled amidst the Historic District of Ephraim, theEagle Harbor Inn is just steps away from the waterfront, unique shops and galleries. The Chadwick Inn in Sturgeon Bay is another picturesque B&B featuring original woodwork from 1895 when the house was built.”  To read more from the folks at Travel Wisconsin, click here: http://www.travelwisconsin.com/article/things-to-do/discover-door-county-wisconsin

For the BEST long term rentals in Door County, please click here:  

COLD winter update and HOT summer rentals

February 2014 MLS Report & Featured Properties

As always, the first two months of any year in the Door-Kewaunee Real Estate market is not much of an indicator of what the year has in store for buyers and sellers.

However, crawling out from the “winter from hell” (if that makes sense) we would expect activity to be worse than usual.  Not the Case!

Compared to 2013, both number of sales and median price have shown solid increases.

There were 88 sales in the first two months of 2014 compared to 75 the previous year for a very nice increase of 17%.  Meanwhile, we see an increase in the median price of 8%, moving from $120,000 to $130,000.  Let’s hope this is a continuing trend.

I am a little cautious about these numbers because of the delay time between putting sales under contract and the eventual closing.  Most of the January and February closings were put under contract in November and December when weather, although bad, was not as brutal as these last two months. Hence, sales during the next 2 to 3 months will give a better reflection of just how the weather affected real estate activity.

Residential Waterfront Homes is a major category in our MLS.  Following is a summary of activity in that property type:

 

With relatively few sales for this category, it’s hard to make any firm final conclusions regarding value, but we do see some definite trends.  This is especially true for the last couple of years where the median price has dropped below $400,000.  We see a softening of price accompanying an increased number of sales.

Here at ERA Starr Realty our goal is to keep on top of the market in order to better serve our customers and clients.  Buying and selling decisions are huge undertakings and the better informed you are, the better your chances of a positive result.  Contact one of our associates for the latest information regarding your real estate interests.  We are “Always There for You!”

See this month’s featured properties below:

Until next month,

 

Dennis J. Starr

Realtor Emeritus

3191 Meadow View Lane
Sturgeon Bay
$165,500
- 3 Bdrm, 2 ba home with 1,640 sq ft
- Woodburning FP; Family Room
- Huge deck
- 1.54 acre landscaped/wooded lot
- Attached 3 car garage
- New roof in 2013
MLS #122843
Listing Agent: Bob Gray 920-743-4321

Door County House Market Report 2013

2013 SUMMARY

Door County Multiple Listing System (MLS)

 

Solid progress…….this would be a viable description of the real estate market in Door County, Wisconsin for 2013.

 

Following is a 2012 vs. 2013 comparison of median price and number of sales for the primary types of properties listed and sold in the MLS.

                                   Number of Sales             Median Price           

Property Type              2012           2013         2012             2013             % Change

Residential Inland             383             372         $126,800      $147,750         +16.5%

Sturgeon Bay Homes     104               98           $104,150      $124,000         +19.0%

 

Residential Waterfront    78                81          $352,500      $366,000         + 3.8%

 

Vacant Land                  107              134            $55,000        $52,250         -   5.0%

 

Residential Condo         110              114          $205,000      $240,000        +17.1%

 

Hotel Condo                    44                32             $69,500        $51,950         – 25.3%

 

All Properties                 814              824          $134,250      $140,250         + 4.5%

Over the next several months when sales activity is at its lowest, I will break down the above numbers by area: Door vs. Kewaunee counties and Northern Door vs. Southern Door for example.

As always, if any of our readers want a deeper analysis of a specific type property or area, contact any ERA Starr Realty agent.  We Are Always There For You!

 P.S.  For 13 out of the last 14 years, ERA Starr Realty listed and sold more properties than any other agency in the MLS.  We did it again in 2013!

Until next time,

Dennis J Starr, Realtor Emeritus

Dennis.Starr2@ERA.comm

920-743-4321

After a rather pedestrian October, it’s good to see some great numbers for November. This continues to reinforce what has been a mostly positive year for the real estate markets in the Door-Kewaunee area.

With 85 sales in November, we experienced the highest number of sales and the highest volume for any November since 2005.

The 85 sales this year compared to last year’s 75 sales is a solid 13% increase. Volume for the month was $16.7 million compared to last year where we showed $16.5 million in volume. Incidentally, these volume numbers were also the highest since 2005.

Typically, once we hit December the sales start their annual off-season swoon song. However, the first 11 months of the year were strong enough to insure an overall very successful year.

Median price of sales is always one of the most telling statistics in evaluating a market’s health. Good News Here! Median price for the MLS system for all areas and all type properties shook out at $139,950 through November. That’s an 8% increase over 2012 where the median price was $130,000.

This, of course, does not mean you can automatically assume whatever you own is now worth 8% more than it was worth last year. Certainly each individual property has to be separately evaluated and compared to similar properties in similar areas.

Here at ERA Starr Realty, we can do this for you. A careful market analysis will help you zero in on the true value of not only what you currently own, but also on any contemplated purchase. Let us help, we are “ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU”!

Until next time,

Dennis Starr
Realtor Emeritus
dennis.starr2@ERA.com
920.743.4321