Blue single-level home with a red brick chimney and a fenced front yard at 1149 Modoc Street, Seaside

Sold $1,039,000Represented the sellersSold in two weeksCase study · Seaside

The story behind 1149 Modoc Street

How careful prep and the right buyers led to a record sale in the neighborhood, in the highest rate environment in 23 years.

$1.039MSold
2 weeksOn the market
~8%Mortgage rates
SellersMy client
RecordSale in the neighborhood
The goal

A record price in a tough market

When my sellers and I started working together, their goal was a record price, even with the market working against us. As we got the home ready in the fall of 2023, mortgage rates were nearing 8%. High rates had squeezed supply and cooled demand, and buying with a loan had become expensive.

We sold 1149 Modoc Street two weeks after it hit the market, for $1,039,000, a record sale in the neighborhood.

Know who your buyer is

I know what drives sales of certain homes at certain price points on the Monterey Peninsula, and where many of the buyers come from. For this home, I believed second-home buyers would help us get a premium price.

Imagine managing renovations, repairs and finishes for a house that’s hours away. Second-home buyers will often pay more for a home that’s move-in ready, so that became the center of our plan: make the house feel brand new before it ever hit the market.

At a glance

  • Sold for $1,039,000
  • I represented the sellers
  • Sold two weeks after it hit the market
  • Rates near 8%, the highest in 23 years
  • A record sale in the neighborhood

See the home and photos →

The prep

Landscaping, repairs, staging, photos, launch

We did landscaping and repairs, then staged the home so it showed like new. Top professional photographers and videographers captured the house, and a high-quality 3D scan of the interior let buyers tour it online, measure rooms and plan furniture.

Aerial view of 1149 Modoc Street on its corner lot in SeasideStaged living room with a brick fireplace at 1149 Modoc Street, SeasideDining area and kitchen with a waterfall-edge peninsula at 1149 Modoc Street, SeasideStaged bedroom with a wood accent wall at 1149 Modoc Street, Seaside
The marketing

A plan built for this home

EmailTo buyers and agents, including Compass, my referral network and luxury agents
YouTubeA video and ads reaching buyers locally and in our main feeder markets
Social mediaPhotos, videos, Reels and teasers on Facebook and Instagram, organic and paid
Direct mailLocally, and to out-of-area buyers who had shown interest in homes here
My networkGetting the word out through my contacts and databases
Open housesA relaxed way for buyers to see the home and meet the neighbors
Key takeaways

Understand the market, know who your likely buyers are, and build a plan to reach them. Prep the home well before it lists. Then launch with targeted marketing that creates demand.

Selling soon? See how I sell homes, browse my past sales, or get a home valuation.

More sales

Other homes I’ve sold

$8,750,0002 La Pradera Lane · Carmel · buyer$7,000,000San Antonio 2 SW of 10th · Carmel-by-the-Sea · buyer$5,540,000Torres 2 SE of 10th · Carmel-by-the-Sea · buyer & seller$4,400,000Lincoln 3 NE of 5th · Carmel-by-the-Sea · buyer$2,950,0001424 Oleada Road · Pebble Beach · buyerSee all past salesFeatured sales under my name
Jonathan Balog, Broker Associate, Compass

Selling or buying on the Peninsula?

Let’s talk about your home

The right prep and the right buyers can make a big difference, even in a tough market. I’ll tell you what I’d do with your home, and what I think it’s worth.

Get a home valuationHow I sell homes831-747-0310

Not ready yet? Get The Balog Report, my newsletter on the Monterey Peninsula market.

Jonathan Balog, Broker Associate, Compass · DRE# 01980970 · Compass DRE# 01527235. Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.