Pat Quan commentary: It's the Great Pumpkin Pie

It's pumpkin season! Pumpkins everywhere. OK, it's my birthday this month, too. Maybe my mom thought of me as a pumpkin when I was little. But no, she didn't call me her "li'l pumpkin." To start the holiday season, every year I host a little gathering for friends and clients at a local brewery. And every year, I provide my guests with a pumpkin pie to take home. Yes, they also get a free flight of beer (and in past years, it would be free wine tasting, but this column is about pumpkins. LOL). The gathering has grown over the years and is a really great way to enjoy this beautiful area and have some fun. But back to pumpkins. Pumpkin pie is the go-to pie and is the preferred favorite at this time of year. You can get pumpkin pies at lots of bakeries, grocery stores and even your favorite-always-crowded-warehouse-store (along with a tank of gas and filled prescription. … But again, I digress). Or, as many people prefer, mom and grandma's pie are chart-topping favorites. As everyone digs in to enjoy their pumpkin pie, wouldn't it be fun to be the Cliff Clavin of pumpkin pie facts. So go on! Be the great pumpkin authority and commit these little-known facts to memory. Oh, the Great Pumpkin? According to Linus Van Pelt of Peanuts fame, the Great Pumpkin rises from the pumpkin patch on Halloween carrying a large bag of toys to deliver to believing children. I wonder if he had a pie for every family to take home, too? Just as astonishing, 50 million pumpkin pies are baked every year. More than enough to supply my little gathering for sure. We've come a long way from the first pumpkin pies, which were actually whole pumpkins stuffed with assorted spices and apples. And supposedly, according to the American Pie Council, one out of five Americans has eaten an entire pumpkin pie by themselves. What? I gotta say, it must be much smaller than the largest pumpkin pie on record. That one weighed in at a hefty 80 pounds of pumpkin, was five feet around and baked for six hours! But wait, the Guinness Book of Records says its largest pumpkin pie was made in Ohio in 2010 at 20 feet in diameter, and 3,699 pounds. First, you start with more than 1,200 pounds of pumpkin. Then you invite 3,000 of your closest friends. On your next trip to Illinois, check out the pumpkin patches, as that is where most pumpkins are produced. And if you're watching your calorie intake, go with pumpkin pie. Not only is it lower in calories compared to other pie alternatives, it is rich in carotenoids, which act as antioxidants that have widespread health benefits that can aid in preventing illness. It also has lots of fiber, so EAT pumpkin pie! OK, the crust, not so good for you so if you're playing the "healthy" card to eat more pie, well, maybe toss the crust, but don't give it to your dog. Did you know National Pumpkin Day lands on Dec. 25? What? Seriously? Now I'm torn between which holiday to celebrate. I was planning to fly to Illinois to celebrate the day, but I spent my plane ticket money on the extra presents I had to buy my loved ones for Pumpkin Day. I sure hope they like the pumpkin socks and pumpkin videos. The movie "Halloween" is a favorite and it was released 45 years ago this October. So, go get a pumpkin latte and revel in the satisfaction that you could win in Pumpkin Jeopardy. On to local real estate in Folsom and El Dorado Hills (EDH). Let's knock on the door and take a peek. A trick or a treat? Spooky or ordinary? You decide. Maybe a treat if you're a buyer, a trick if you're a seller? As usual, while the numbers are different, the trends in Folsom and EDH are similar. In Year-To-Date through the third quarter of 2023 compared to same period in 2022, numbers are down and homes take longer to sell in both markets. For Average Sold Price, Folsom is $771,000, down from around $841,000 in 2022. EDH is currently more than $1.07 million, down from almost $1.09 million in 2022. A big change is in the decline of number of homes sold. In Folsom, the decline is more than 25 percent and just under 25 percent in EDH. The Sales Price to List Price ratio is also down. Both areas were selling for an average of 1 percent over list price in the first three quarters of 2022 but more like 1 percent under list price through Q3 of 2023. Homes that sold also took an average of 33 percent longer to sell. But sellers are still receiving multiple offers as inventory remains low. So there's a treat in there for everyone. I love where I live. I'm excited to continue to help more families in 2023 with their real estate needs. With proper planning and a good Realtor (Luckily, I know a really good one …), you can smoothly get to your next stage in life. For more tips on how to successfully navigate the real estate purchase or sale, or suggestions on Folsom topics, please contact me at Coldwell Banker Realty, 916-812-4341, pquan@cbnorcal.com, www.PatQuan.com. CA DRE #01918240