Wanted to share an article posted on the Washington Post on why Realtor's job's have not been eliminated as originally predicted by many. Realtor's sell their knowledge and ability to guide a person through the process of purchasing or selling their property. While we see many sites and online resources that make the initial process of house-hunting easier for home-buyers, a Realtor is still critical in terms of guiding a Buyer through the process of an Escrow. Also, Sellers who choose to sell without the benefit of a Realtor potentially open themselves up to liabilities, and the process can be much harder without a buffer/liaison there to protect their interests.
We're back to that time of year when you should be getting your chimney sweep or gas company representative to come and check your fireplace- rates haven't gone up yet since it's still warm out...so it's a perfect time to make sure everything is up and running for the upcoming "cold" season!
Many of you know of the planned Mixed-Use facility proposed for 4th and Arizona. This week, Santa Monica's City Council sent the plans back to the drawing board. Residents can expect a new proposal to be brought forth within the next three months.
Beaches are starting to clear as the tourists are leaving and kids are going back to school. What does this mean to residents? Traffic should be alleviating and shops and beaches should be less crowded. Now is a great time to talk again with your teen about texting and driving- as drivers often find it easier to distracted-drive when there are less cars on the road.
Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real Estate. Show all posts
Monday, September 9, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Smart Car, Smart Realtor!
Why I got a SMART Car for work!
A significant portion of my job is spent in the car. Being a resident of Los Angeles is a little different than other cities I have lived in. While we are making great strides in notching up our public transportation (ie the new EXPO Line, and our ever-improving bussing systems), the sad truth is that our city is not set up to conveniently support public transit yet. In addition, to be a good Realtor, I must be available to my clients. A typical day requires me to jump unexpectedly into the car for any number of reasons including seeing a house with a client that has just come on the market, previewing houses to see if they are the right fit for clients, attending inspections and appraisals, dropping off paperwork to Escrow companies, meeting new clients at their homes, and any number of other random activities.
It was time for me to get a new car, and I spent a lot of time thinking through this decision.
My decision was a SMART car for my work vehicle. While the general consensus amongst Realtors used to be that a 4-5 person car is necessary for agents, a new wave is coming. With all the driving we do as Realtors, I believe it is important to lesson our impact on the environment by being as respectful of our roads as we can be.
Not only do Smart cars use less gas than many cars, take up less room on our crowded streets (especially in areas like Santa Monica and West Hollywood where parking is at a premium), and their light weight is also less damaging in the long run to our roads. With road work being such a problem in LA, especially with the freeway expansions forcing more and more drivers onto surface streets, I feel it is my responsibility to be as friendly to our streets as possible.
Of course the first question I get (aside from the safety aspect) In general, I have found the majority of my clients prefer to drive themselves when we are looking at property. I understand they want to get a feel for driving in their soon-to-be neighborhoods, and that they like the privacy it affords them to have frank discussions about what they've seen and a chance to process their thoughts before we speak next. This works for them, and it may or may not work for you.
Yes, I can take you out to look at houses if you want to carpool! No, I cannot take more than one of you at a time in this car looking at property. Never fear though, I do have another (family) car if our party expands past two people!
So make sure to wave the next time you see me! I hopefully left a great big parking spot for you, while squeezing into something you may not have fit into.
A significant portion of my job is spent in the car. Being a resident of Los Angeles is a little different than other cities I have lived in. While we are making great strides in notching up our public transportation (ie the new EXPO Line, and our ever-improving bussing systems), the sad truth is that our city is not set up to conveniently support public transit yet. In addition, to be a good Realtor, I must be available to my clients. A typical day requires me to jump unexpectedly into the car for any number of reasons including seeing a house with a client that has just come on the market, previewing houses to see if they are the right fit for clients, attending inspections and appraisals, dropping off paperwork to Escrow companies, meeting new clients at their homes, and any number of other random activities.It was time for me to get a new car, and I spent a lot of time thinking through this decision.
My decision was a SMART car for my work vehicle. While the general consensus amongst Realtors used to be that a 4-5 person car is necessary for agents, a new wave is coming. With all the driving we do as Realtors, I believe it is important to lesson our impact on the environment by being as respectful of our roads as we can be.
Not only do Smart cars use less gas than many cars, take up less room on our crowded streets (especially in areas like Santa Monica and West Hollywood where parking is at a premium), and their light weight is also less damaging in the long run to our roads. With road work being such a problem in LA, especially with the freeway expansions forcing more and more drivers onto surface streets, I feel it is my responsibility to be as friendly to our streets as possible.
Of course the first question I get (aside from the safety aspect) In general, I have found the majority of my clients prefer to drive themselves when we are looking at property. I understand they want to get a feel for driving in their soon-to-be neighborhoods, and that they like the privacy it affords them to have frank discussions about what they've seen and a chance to process their thoughts before we speak next. This works for them, and it may or may not work for you.
Yes, I can take you out to look at houses if you want to carpool! No, I cannot take more than one of you at a time in this car looking at property. Never fear though, I do have another (family) car if our party expands past two people!
So make sure to wave the next time you see me! I hopefully left a great big parking spot for you, while squeezing into something you may not have fit into.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Social Media, LinkedIn and Your House...
Social Media, LinkedIn, and your house...
Sellers across the country are looking for maximum exposure for their homes. In addition to the unparalleled global resources Sotheby's International Realty Provides, as well as my vast, personal network of Buyers and Real Estate agents (the quickest way to market your home to thousands of motivated Buyers), I am incorporating Social Media into what how I best market the homes of the Seller's I work with.
Today we'll look at one particular way I can get your home seen by a large number of professional's with the resources to be true, prospective Buyers. LinkedIn now has reached 200 Million members. That is an unbelievable amount of people.
I work diligently to connect with not only people I know and trust, but people that they know and trust to take advantage of this platform. By posting pictures and details of your listing on LinkedIn, I am guaranteed to reach multitudes of people both in and out of Los Angeles who either are themselves, or are closely connected to Real Buyers who could potentially be the right fit for your home!
To sweeten the pot, I was recently notified that my profile was in the top 10% of profiles searched in 2012. Out of 200 MILLION members, my profile was viewed in the top 10%! Imagine the possibilities for taking advantage of that exposure and getting your home out to the professional public!
Sellers across the country are looking for maximum exposure for their homes. In addition to the unparalleled global resources Sotheby's International Realty Provides, as well as my vast, personal network of Buyers and Real Estate agents (the quickest way to market your home to thousands of motivated Buyers), I am incorporating Social Media into what how I best market the homes of the Seller's I work with.
Today we'll look at one particular way I can get your home seen by a large number of professional's with the resources to be true, prospective Buyers. LinkedIn now has reached 200 Million members. That is an unbelievable amount of people.
I work diligently to connect with not only people I know and trust, but people that they know and trust to take advantage of this platform. By posting pictures and details of your listing on LinkedIn, I am guaranteed to reach multitudes of people both in and out of Los Angeles who either are themselves, or are closely connected to Real Buyers who could potentially be the right fit for your home!
To sweeten the pot, I was recently notified that my profile was in the top 10% of profiles searched in 2012. Out of 200 MILLION members, my profile was viewed in the top 10%! Imagine the possibilities for taking advantage of that exposure and getting your home out to the professional public!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Low Housing Inventory meets Thousands of Eager Buyers.
The new year is in full swing, and the inventory crunch has not gotten much better for Westside Home Buyers. With many homes being snatched off the market in a week or less, some Buyer's are feeling frustration.
An enormous portion of the homes I have seen in the last three months have sold with multiple offers, some receiving dozens of offers per day!With interest rates so low, and the prices seemingly on the rise, many Buyers are hoping to get in while the getting is good, and are finding this is much easier said than done.
We are seeing many Buyer having to wait significantly longer than they did even 6 months ago to find a home, and as such as much more willing to really fight to get it when it comes available. We are seeing the result of this in the prices, as a large amount of homes as selling well over asking.
This article in the LA Times shows some of the trending. They also note that while rates are low- bank criteria is still incredibly stringent and only the Buyers who are absolutely prepared and ready can close in 45 days. This means that if your lender or mortgage broker asks you for something- make it your first priority to get it back to him/her. I generally like to give my clients the Three-Hour rule. If you can get the loan officer or lender the documents they have requested within 3 hours- they can often complete the task that day. If you wait longer, you risk pushing back that part of the process and that could lead to a delay in Escrow.
Today's Tip- Clean out under your sinks. We all know that nice, large area under our sinks can become cluttered with cleaning materials, grocery bags and odds and ends. Take some time to clean it out this week! If you need to do an emergency repair to your sink, or lose something down the drain- the extra accessibility will be so appreciated!
Also-we're hitting record low temperatures in LA, and while our cold is nothing compared to many places across the country... our heaters and fireplaces are in full swing. Practice caution and make sure to keep everything flammable away from those areas!
The new year is in full swing, and the inventory crunch has not gotten much better for Westside Home Buyers. With many homes being snatched off the market in a week or less, some Buyer's are feeling frustration.
An enormous portion of the homes I have seen in the last three months have sold with multiple offers, some receiving dozens of offers per day!With interest rates so low, and the prices seemingly on the rise, many Buyers are hoping to get in while the getting is good, and are finding this is much easier said than done.
We are seeing many Buyer having to wait significantly longer than they did even 6 months ago to find a home, and as such as much more willing to really fight to get it when it comes available. We are seeing the result of this in the prices, as a large amount of homes as selling well over asking.
This article in the LA Times shows some of the trending. They also note that while rates are low- bank criteria is still incredibly stringent and only the Buyers who are absolutely prepared and ready can close in 45 days. This means that if your lender or mortgage broker asks you for something- make it your first priority to get it back to him/her. I generally like to give my clients the Three-Hour rule. If you can get the loan officer or lender the documents they have requested within 3 hours- they can often complete the task that day. If you wait longer, you risk pushing back that part of the process and that could lead to a delay in Escrow.
Today's Tip- Clean out under your sinks. We all know that nice, large area under our sinks can become cluttered with cleaning materials, grocery bags and odds and ends. Take some time to clean it out this week! If you need to do an emergency repair to your sink, or lose something down the drain- the extra accessibility will be so appreciated!
Also-we're hitting record low temperatures in LA, and while our cold is nothing compared to many places across the country... our heaters and fireplaces are in full swing. Practice caution and make sure to keep everything flammable away from those areas!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Almost June!
It's almost June and we are ready to welcome Summer with some exciting news for homebuyers, and homeowners looking to refinance their homes! According to Zunaira Zaki of the Yahoo News team, mortgage rates are reaching new record lows! Most astoundingly, a 15 year mortgage rate is being offered at 2.97%!!
Of course it can be difficult to find or obtain these loans, and near perfect credit is a must, but they are out there! If that isn't a good reason to pack up and
This week I'd also like to talk about the importance of a good Escrow Officer. California handles the Escrow process differently than many other states in that we employ an independent company we call an Escrow Company to act as liaison between Buyer and Seller in the transfer of documents, funds, etc. (For a very lengthy and in-depth look at Escrow Companies check out this Department of Real Estate resource HERE).
As you run around this summer looking for houses, or just enjoying your time outside- make sure to continuously apply sunscreen! Consumer Report issued a statement recently on the best and worst sunscreens to keep an eye out for.
BEST BUYS:
- No-Ad lotion with aloe &vitamin E, SPF 45, $.59/ounce
- Walgreens continuous spray sport, SPF 50, $1.30/ounce
- Coppertone oil-free foaming spray, SPF 75+, $1.67/ounce
WORST CHOICES:
- Alba Botanical natural very emollient sunblock sport, SPF 45
- Banana Boat Kids tear-free, sting-free, SPF 50+
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Spring has sprung!
Spring has officially arrived- and right in the middle of a cold snap!
With this weekend's rain (and hail in some areas) expect a good deal of traffic at next weekend's open houses! There are a lot of Buyers out there with not a ton of properties to choose from. Now is a time where it is absolutely essential to be ready to act quickly if something you like comes available.
That means...
-Figure out an area you would like to purchase in
-Find an agent you trust who knows the area
-Get a pre-qualification letter (or better yet, a Pre-Approval) from your lender. This is crucial because what you feel comfortable spending may not be what the bank feels comfortable with you spending! We are in a period of conservative lenders, and as such expect banks to be cautious.
-Keep your finances in place as much as you can and try not to open new credit cards or move monies around.
-Attempt to be flexible in your schedule-- if your agent calls you and says a new property is on the market and looks like something you are interested in (s)he may try to get you in before the Open House. This is for your benefit- we are seeing many occasions where there are 3 or more offers on a property before it has even had an Open House! Your agent is working hard to schedule you in and get you a chance to make an offer that will be seriously and carefully reviewed- before the masses pour in! :)
Most importantly, know that your Agent is here to help you and can be an invaluable resource. I get calls from clients looking for a trusted plumber years after they have purchased their home. Most agents can refer you to a good agent in another city or state if you have a family member moving. We know appraisers, moving companies, roofers, lawyers and people from all walks of life- chances are we can connect you with someone you'd like to connect with. We are happy to answer questions and try to be as accessible as possible- and we are always happy to hear from you.
Lastly, I'd like to share a VERY brief article from the MLS regarding interest rates-
Tip of the Week- Spring is here and hopefully we will be moving into some warmer weather! Now is a great time to flip or replace your mattress. There are all kinds of yucky things (Google it if you are interested but prepare to be grossed out) that hide in mattresses, and with the pollen count preparing to skyrocket as we change seasons, do what you can at home to reduce allergens.
With this weekend's rain (and hail in some areas) expect a good deal of traffic at next weekend's open houses! There are a lot of Buyers out there with not a ton of properties to choose from. Now is a time where it is absolutely essential to be ready to act quickly if something you like comes available.
That means...
-Figure out an area you would like to purchase in
-Find an agent you trust who knows the area
-Get a pre-qualification letter (or better yet, a Pre-Approval) from your lender. This is crucial because what you feel comfortable spending may not be what the bank feels comfortable with you spending! We are in a period of conservative lenders, and as such expect banks to be cautious.
-Keep your finances in place as much as you can and try not to open new credit cards or move monies around.
-Attempt to be flexible in your schedule-- if your agent calls you and says a new property is on the market and looks like something you are interested in (s)he may try to get you in before the Open House. This is for your benefit- we are seeing many occasions where there are 3 or more offers on a property before it has even had an Open House! Your agent is working hard to schedule you in and get you a chance to make an offer that will be seriously and carefully reviewed- before the masses pour in! :)
Most importantly, know that your Agent is here to help you and can be an invaluable resource. I get calls from clients looking for a trusted plumber years after they have purchased their home. Most agents can refer you to a good agent in another city or state if you have a family member moving. We know appraisers, moving companies, roofers, lawyers and people from all walks of life- chances are we can connect you with someone you'd like to connect with. We are happy to answer questions and try to be as accessible as possible- and we are always happy to hear from you.
Lastly, I'd like to share a VERY brief article from the MLS regarding interest rates-
Mortgage rates move up, still offer high affordability for buyers
Mar 15 2012 3:40PMA recent report reveals that mortgage rates for the week ending March 15 increased but are still below 4 percent, providing potential buyers and current homeowners great opportunities for purchasing and refinancing.
Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate averaged 3.92 percent, up from the previous week when it averaged 3.88 percent but is much less than this time last year when the 30-year FRM averaged 4.76 percent.
The 15-year FRM rate was also up, averaging 3.16 percent compared to the week before when it averaged 3.13 percent. Freddie Mac notes that a year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.97 percent.
Additionally, the 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage rate averaged 2.83 percent, higher than last week's average of 2.81 percent and well below this time last year when the 5-year ARM rate averaged 3.57 percent.
While many potential buyers in Southern California have been waiting for rates and home prices to reach their lowest before looking for a home, real estate experts say the market will continue to be in their favor.
Tip of the Week- Spring is here and hopefully we will be moving into some warmer weather! Now is a great time to flip or replace your mattress. There are all kinds of yucky things (Google it if you are interested but prepare to be grossed out) that hide in mattresses, and with the pollen count preparing to skyrocket as we change seasons, do what you can at home to reduce allergens.
Monday, January 16, 2012
New Year- New Ways
So we are well on our way into the New Year and celebrating today one of our historic leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King embraced change and progress; championing a way forward. While we enjoy a day of relaxation to remember Dr. King and the the changes he helped bring forward we too must progress and embrace change.
This is an exciting time for real estate as we embrace new changes in all aspects of our community. From allowing all members of each community to access lists of Open Houses online, to sites like Zillow and Redfin, to those great QR codes on signs you can scan on your phone and see Virtual Tours and all the details for the home you are standing right in front of- technology is coming and coming quick.
Check out this LINK to see another new technology we are going to be seeing soon- taking a page out of the video game industry's book.
TIP OF THE WEEK- Take down all your Holiday decorations, and properly dispose of anything that is flammable. Many troups of Boy Scouts will collect your Christmas Trees and Hanukkah Bushes for free. In addition, cities like Santa Monica have designated areas you can drop them off to keep them from sitting in your front yard until trash day.
Happy January! Special TIP #2- Now is a great time to go through your sock drawer and empty out any old or mismatched socks. Do you really need them? If it's even a question, the answer is probably no!
Dr. King embraced change and progress; championing a way forward. While we enjoy a day of relaxation to remember Dr. King and the the changes he helped bring forward we too must progress and embrace change.
This is an exciting time for real estate as we embrace new changes in all aspects of our community. From allowing all members of each community to access lists of Open Houses online, to sites like Zillow and Redfin, to those great QR codes on signs you can scan on your phone and see Virtual Tours and all the details for the home you are standing right in front of- technology is coming and coming quick.
Check out this LINK to see another new technology we are going to be seeing soon- taking a page out of the video game industry's book.
TIP OF THE WEEK- Take down all your Holiday decorations, and properly dispose of anything that is flammable. Many troups of Boy Scouts will collect your Christmas Trees and Hanukkah Bushes for free. In addition, cities like Santa Monica have designated areas you can drop them off to keep them from sitting in your front yard until trash day.
Happy January! Special TIP #2- Now is a great time to go through your sock drawer and empty out any old or mismatched socks. Do you really need them? If it's even a question, the answer is probably no!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Local News
With the holiday season here I thought you might want to take a little break from the cleaning, cooking, shopping, shuttling people to and from the airport, and the million other tasks we find this time of year.
There have been some great articles out lately outlining the unique place our market is in, so get your fireplace ready and get ready to relax with some good reading!
--Santa Monica's Simon Salloom speaks on the differences between our market and that of the rest of the country, as well as specifically outlining the fundamental difference of opinion we see between buyers and sellers on the Westside (and what it means to you).
http://www.smdp.com/Articles-opinion-and-commentary-c-2011-12-05-73068.113116-Keeping-it-local.html
--Daniel Miller announces the opening of the new Google offices in Venice and tells us what he thinks that means for Venice Residents (and Prospective Residents!)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/google-los-angeles-venice-beach-real-estate-269597
Tip of the Week: Clean out your refrigerator and freezer! By now some of those Thanksgiving leftovers are starting to get a bit funky. Time to clean up and reclaim those Tupperware you will need for any holiday baking! Minimize those extra ingredients with handy sites like Allrecipes.com and Cooks.com that allow you to search ingredients you have already to give you ideas for fun meals to throw together.
There have been some great articles out lately outlining the unique place our market is in, so get your fireplace ready and get ready to relax with some good reading!
--Santa Monica's Simon Salloom speaks on the differences between our market and that of the rest of the country, as well as specifically outlining the fundamental difference of opinion we see between buyers and sellers on the Westside (and what it means to you).
http://www.smdp.com/Articles-opinion-and-commentary-c-2011-12-05-73068.113116-Keeping-it-local.html
--Daniel Miller announces the opening of the new Google offices in Venice and tells us what he thinks that means for Venice Residents (and Prospective Residents!)
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/google-los-angeles-venice-beach-real-estate-269597
Tip of the Week: Clean out your refrigerator and freezer! By now some of those Thanksgiving leftovers are starting to get a bit funky. Time to clean up and reclaim those Tupperware you will need for any holiday baking! Minimize those extra ingredients with handy sites like Allrecipes.com and Cooks.com that allow you to search ingredients you have already to give you ideas for fun meals to throw together.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Things are looking up!
My Christmas present came early this year in the form of documented reports showing what I have seen to be true... there is positive movement in the Real Estate world here in Western Los Angeles!
While the rest of the country looks at our beautiful homes, impeccable weather, well-known neighbors, and healthy environment- we know there is certainly a cost to living here. Where a moderately large home in a nice neighborhood costs as little as a tenth of what we pay here... I think Angelino's are the first to admit whatever we pay is worth it.
Check out this article about our market, specifically noting the significant decrease in turnaround time for homes over $3M... I think you will be fascinated!
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111117005334/en/WEA-Survey-Shows-Luxury-Housing-Sales-Keeping
Tip of the week: Take a minute to clean out your gutters and remove the debris that may have collected on the rooftop during the crazy wind storm we had last night. You may be putting up holiday decorations, or adjusting your satellites after the storm, but make sure your roof is free and clear of debris so you can easily spot and fix any damage before it becomes a large problem!
While the rest of the country looks at our beautiful homes, impeccable weather, well-known neighbors, and healthy environment- we know there is certainly a cost to living here. Where a moderately large home in a nice neighborhood costs as little as a tenth of what we pay here... I think Angelino's are the first to admit whatever we pay is worth it.
Check out this article about our market, specifically noting the significant decrease in turnaround time for homes over $3M... I think you will be fascinated!
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111117005334/en/WEA-Survey-Shows-Luxury-Housing-Sales-Keeping
Tip of the week: Take a minute to clean out your gutters and remove the debris that may have collected on the rooftop during the crazy wind storm we had last night. You may be putting up holiday decorations, or adjusting your satellites after the storm, but make sure your roof is free and clear of debris so you can easily spot and fix any damage before it becomes a large problem!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Fall is Here!
Fall is here and I am sure the hustle and bustle has already begun at your house! Planning the meals, preparing for guests or preparing to travel- we all have a lot going on.
This week's tip is to get your chimney cleaned! Properly cleaning your chimney can help prevent house fires, smoke damage, keeps neighborhood animals out (squirrels, birds and opossums) and allows you light your fireplace to have some extra special cheer when your guests have headed out and you are ready to finally relax for a minute.
The second tip of the week is to run your oven's self-cleaner either now or not until after the holidays. It is not uncommon for an oven to break down during this process... so try at all costs to avoid it when you absolutely cannot risk a problem!
This week's tip is to get your chimney cleaned! Properly cleaning your chimney can help prevent house fires, smoke damage, keeps neighborhood animals out (squirrels, birds and opossums) and allows you light your fireplace to have some extra special cheer when your guests have headed out and you are ready to finally relax for a minute.
The second tip of the week is to run your oven's self-cleaner either now or not until after the holidays. It is not uncommon for an oven to break down during this process... so try at all costs to avoid it when you absolutely cannot risk a problem!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Introduction
Every story needs an introduction. Here is mine!
My name is Britta Diaz, I am a Real Estate Agent for Sotheby's International Realty in the Western Los Angeles area. I hail originally from South Dakota, enjoyed the beauty of San Diego for awhile and settled for good in Los Angeles.
I love this town. It has everything you could ever dream of; wonderful people, beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, homes of every shape, color and style, and a vibrancy and energy that is undeniable, all the while maintaining it's small-town feel.
It is for these and many other reasons that I have chosen to call this city home, and proudly represent buyers and sellers here.
My name is Britta Diaz, I am a Real Estate Agent for Sotheby's International Realty in the Western Los Angeles area. I hail originally from South Dakota, enjoyed the beauty of San Diego for awhile and settled for good in Los Angeles.
I love this town. It has everything you could ever dream of; wonderful people, beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, homes of every shape, color and style, and a vibrancy and energy that is undeniable, all the while maintaining it's small-town feel.
It is for these and many other reasons that I have chosen to call this city home, and proudly represent buyers and sellers here.
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