patrick.net

This is a zip code I am pretty familiar with, having lived there about 2 years. Specifically, I rented one similar to this:
http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Jose/972-Nattinger-Way-95125/home/1698438
This is a smaller unit but they are all close in size. Had a 3 bdrm and the bdrms were so small I couldn't fit my furniture in them - bdrm 2 was consumed by a dresser and bdrm 3 by a desk/computer. Unless they were child's rooms I don't see how you could use them. Not a bad area though, edge of Cambrian/Willow Glen.
In 2005-2007 these were selling for $629,000+. I saw a 3 bdrm listed at $729,000. No brainer for me NOT to buy then. I couldn't believe it. Now $450,000 and not selling. I'd be curious if it ever sells, and I'd bet it won't at $450,000. In 1999 it went for $262,500.

... and near the townhouses are these which I call 'patio homes', i.e. fairly large but with tiny, tiny lots. Plenty of these in San Jose. I remember being astonished these were selling in the $800s+, some in the $900s. Now NOT selling in the $600s.

http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Jose/951-Sunbonnet-Loop-95125/home/1347682

'Willow Glen area'? It ain't Willow Glen, but ok, it's the 'area'.

pkowen says

Now $450,000 and not selling. I’d be curious if it ever sells, and I’d bet it won’t at $450,000. In 1999 it went for $262,500.

How can we get notified when it sells, if ever? Or get a notification that it didn't sell by a certain date? Is there some service for that, or should I try to start it myself?

Redin shows recent sales but not sure how quickly they get them. I noticed a place near me that sold about a month ago, and now it shows up in redfin recent sales. Sales records get recorded at the Counties, but often aren't accessible for a while. Then there's title companies. I think PropertyShark (and possibly Redfin) scrapes the title companies for sales info. That might be the fastest way to see recent sales. 'Not selling', I don't know - sometimes I save links from Redfin and go back to them, the property is found and shows up as no longer listed or sold (sometimes).

So, the info is out there but maybe not focused and convenient. Perhaps your entreprenurial spirit has found a new business here.

pkowen says

Redin shows recent sales but not sure how quickly they get them. I noticed a place near me that sold about a month ago, and now it shows up in redfin recent sales.

Normally redfin shows sale price fairly quickly. It collects sale record from county.

Redfin seems limited to the coasts. I tried to find data about my parents' house in Michigan, and they didn't have anything in the Midwest.

I'm impressed they deal with the counties though. I've been looking at the county websites, and they are generally horrible. Slow and hard to navigate, and then don't necessarily have the data.

Yep.. mid 200Ks is about right. and add 30 perc for inflation get you back to the long term trend line.

I wish more people would get this, instead of thinking somehome 500K is normal..

Patrick, I know, I work for a County. Counties do have the data, but some are better than others in terms of Internet applications for the public. I have seen tax assessors offices that have great web sites, but it's hit or miss as you search different places. In their defense their first order of business is not necessarily to make real estate information super easy to find for your or my personal purposes - it is to record the information for tax and legal purposes. Some are more public service oriented and try to provide useful web site tools. Most have a way to search by parcel number, address, names ... That said, I actually think Redfin is getting some of this from title companies. Could be from Counties too but title companies have closing (sales) information as immediately or before the County.

And yes, they (Redfin) only cover a few markets.

I just realized you are from MI. I grew up in a little town not too far away - DeWitt, MI, just north of Lansing ... somewhat familiar with Chelsea.

Thanks pkowen, which county do you work for? Do you know whether there is a way to get a complete dump of ownership data from a county? Probably varies by county.

Good point about the title companies. They are probably a better source of data than the counties, but then again, they are in business and don't give away data. Do the counties have any relationship with the title companies?

I've heard of DeWitt. I bet it's quite a lot like Chelsea. Chelsea is actually pretty nice, but I'm in love with California.

Patrick, yes you can get a dump but it isn't free (in my County). How do I email you offline ? I clicked email and it didn't seem to work. Fills the from but I don't see your 'to' address.
-Pete

My email is p@patrick.net

The email link above each comment is to mail that comment to someone. How could make that clearer? Maybe "email this" instead of just "email"?

How can we get notified when it sells, if ever? Or get a notification that it didn’t sell by a certain date? Is there some service for that, or should I try to start it myself?

As someone already said, redfin does a pretty good job. You can add it to your favorites, when the status changes(like getting in contract), they send an update to your email. But, again, they cover very few areas.

You can also use propertyshark, which is very good, they get county data and present it in a very nice way.

I posted this over a month ago - now it's been reduced. Listed as "On Redfin: 3 days" right now @ $425,000. The price reduction is not shown, and if you hdan't already lookd you'd think it was just listed.
Lying liars.

Yeah... for kicks I sign up for updates on many properties on Trulia, Redfin, realtor.com I've seen the realtors play tricks like take it off the market a few weeks after it's been sitting on the market for hundreds and hundreds of days. Then they will relist it and it will say it was just listed.

Too bad the average "Joe" doesn't understand the tricks realtors play. Still lots of room to fall. Still LOTS of foreclosures to come.