There’s a weather lie we tell ourselves every September: Summer is over.
Except around Folsom and El Dorado Hills, the thermometer doesn’t seem to know that. Technically, summer doesn’t officially end until around September 22. And around here, September can deliver some of the best summer weather of the year. The calendar may say fall, but the forecast often says, “Not so fast.”
Yet September really does feel different. The kids are back in school. Vacations are over. Schedules fill up. Life starts moving again. And maybe that’s what September is really about. Change.
When my kids were younger, September meant the familiar back-to-school routine. Shopping for school supplies and clothes. Picking out a new backpack. The race to see “The List”. Who’s your teacher? Which of your friends will be in your class? Then came the scheduling. Oh the scheduling. Who’s needs to be where and when? Who’s picking up? Are we dropping off other kids? Soccer. Dance. Gymnastics. Tae Kwon Do. The class du jour. Somehow, parents were expected to get everyone where they needed to be while keeping track of homework, dinner and the occasional missing shoe.
Then, almost without noticing, something happened. College tours replaced school-supply shopping. College applications replaced class schedules. Instead of asking who the teacher was, we were asking where they wanted to go. Eventually, our kids left home for college, work and new adventures. It’s a strange thing to watch. You spend years teaching your kids how to get through the day. Suddenly, they have friends I’ve never met. They travel to cities without asking. They navigate airports and customs in foreign countries.
That’s when you realize September is really about moving forward. In a way, it’s an unofficial New Year. Maybe that’s why September feels different. Everything around us seems to be changing. Kids move up a grade. Young adults leave home. Families settle into new routines. And, in a normal year—whatever “normal” means anymore—the local real estate market starts moving again, too.
Residential real estate in Folsom and El Dorado Hills typically slows down during August, and this year that slowdown has been especially noticeable. Listings seemed to sit longer, open house traffic was lighter, and buyers appeared to be taking their time.
Yet the year-to-date numbers tell a somewhat different story. Through August, 476 single family homes have sold in El Dorado Hills compared with 415 last year, an increase of nearly 15%. Folsom has seen a similar increase, with 520 homes sold compared with 458 last year.
But the two communities are behaving differently. El Dorado Hills has 6% more homes for sale compared with last year, while Folsom’s inventory has actually dropped 12% in same period. El Dorado Hills’ median sales price is also down about 6%, while Folsom’s is down less than 2%. And homes are taking longer to sell, particularly in El Dorado Hills, where the average is now 50 days compared with 44 last year.
So while the numbers say homes are selling, the market feels more measured. Buyers are being patient and selective, and sellers are having to pay closer attention to pricing and preparation. September will tell us whether the usual fall pickup is finally underway.
Of course, there’s one part of September that doesn’t seem interested in changing. The weather. Around here, September can be pretty terrific. The days are still warm, the evenings begin to cool down, and there is still plenty of time for golf, pickleball, hiking, outdoor dining and enjoying Folsom Lake.
So while other parts of the country are pulling out sweaters and pumpkin decorations, we’re still looking for the air conditioner remote. I’m not complaining. I love our fall weather. Summer isn’t quite ready to leave. And I’m okay with that. Maybe September is simply giving us a little more time to enjoy what’s here before we move on to whatever comes next.
I’m Pat Quan. I live and work in the area and enjoy helping people make thoughtful real estate decisions when the time comes. And with a little planning—and a good Realtor (I happen to know one)—the next move can go smoothly. 916.812.4341 | www.PatQuan.com | pquan@cbnorcal.com. CA DRE #01918240
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