In some ways, this year has seemed like the "year of the off-market deal." There's been a range of pocket listings and off-market sales that have been headline-worthy at times. (See, for instance, "Some Off-Market Deals," and this week's "Martyrs Is Hoppin'," and stay tuned for bigger news later this month.)
Buyers…
In some ways, this year has seemed like the "year of the off-market deal." There's been a range of pocket listings and off-market sales that have been headline-worthy at times. (See, for instance, "
Some Off-Market Deals," and this week's "
Martyrs Is Hoppin'," and stay tuned for bigger news later this month.)
Buyers dissatisfied with the public offerings seem to rush to see the off-market options when they hear about them. Hope springs eternal that there's something better over the horizon, or off the radar.
Here's the thing about an off-market property: You could overpay, maybe by a lot, for the privilege.
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2212 Manhattan Ave. |
Today's case in point concerns
2212 Manhattan Ave. (4br/4ba, 2600 sq. ft.), a lovely, newer Spanish TH that sold way back in early April. In an off-market deal, the TH traded for
$2.5m.
If that sounds like a bubble-era price for a not-so-big TH, it should. That's because the same TH traded when new 4 years earlier, in April 2007, for
$2.450m.
Who gets a markup these days over April 2007 prices? The very question seems so absurd, we won't even research it. We'll just answer:
No one does. Let's see if someone wants to contradict that.
Looking at recent trades all over MB, you'd expect to see a rewind of 10%-20% or more on a 2007 purchase reselling here in 2011. We provide examples every week.
But somehow, there was no rewind at 2212 Manhattan Ave., a spot magically isolated from the last 4 years' price declines.
Let's look at a more direct comp. That'd be the newly closed sale at
2211 Bayview. This TH,
directly attached to 2212 Manhattan Ave. and right up behind it, was built at the same time as part of the same 4-unit set of THs. Style and size are the same – well, it's very slightly bigger (4br/4ba, 2660 sq. ft.).
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Ocean Views from 2211 Bayview |
More importantly, it's up the hill in back and has ocean views over the rooftops – over the rooftop of 2212 Manhattan Ave. and the homes across Manhattan Ave. The views are clearly better than 2212 Manhattan could offer, thanks to that extra height. In fact, the 2007 listing for 2212 Manhattan does not display any ocean views, except for stock photos of MB – and those don't count.
The layouts of the two attached TH's appear to be identical, or nearly so – they both feature a top level with the same layout. For the record, though, we haven't seen 2212 Manhattan Ave. – and we probably won't be invited over any time soon after this story posts.
Now you're wondering, if Bayview has the bay views, isn't that unit worth extra money?
Not according to the public market.
2211 Bayview originally traded for slightly less than 2212 Manhattan:
$2.370m in Sept. 2007, or a (nearly trifling) total of $80k less than the front unit.
When Bayview hit the market this year at $2.299m, they cited the off-market sale in front as evidence for the price. But the market didn't buy it.
2211 Bayview just sold for
$2.065m, a drop of $305k
(-13%) from 2007, and a full $435k
(-17%) less than the front unit sold for off-market just a few months ago.
So next time you're shopping for off-market properties, ask yourself this: Am I getting a deal? Am I overpaying? Am I overpaying by 17%, as if the last 4 years never happened?
Do we need to say it again? Buyer beware.
Please see our blog disclaimer.
Listings presented above are supplied via the MLS and are brokered by a variety of agents and firms, not Dave Fratello or Edge Real Estate Agency, unless so stated with the listing. Images and links to properties above lead to a full MLS display of information, including home details, lot size, all photos, and listing broker and agent information and contact information.