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 Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real Estate Tips. Show all posts
Monday, September 9, 2013
Friday, May 31, 2013
Plastic bags and Pedicabs...
Summer feels as if it has officially arrived!
A couple items in the news:
1) The California State Senate did not pass the proposed ban on Plastic Bags. While many individual cities (Santa Monica!) have already enacted their own bans, it will not yet be a requirement for all Cali Cities. Culver City just passed a ban on free plastic bags, therefore residents and visitors to CC will need to pay 10cents per plastic bag used.
2) While this article has a very obvious slant (whether you're for or against, just be aware) but the LA Times is reporting on the controversial App that has been buzzing online regarding Malibu Beach Access.
3) Look out! The Pedicabs are coming! LA Times reports on an issue that has been long-contested in the LA area... the pedicabs. Coming to Santa Monica this summer, the pedicabs have both advantages and drawbacks. Having lived in San Diego for many years, the pedicabs downtown were both a bane and a blessing. Being both a college and a military town, there were plenty of people who were.... shall we say..."incapacitated" any night of the week in the downtown and beach areas. The pedicabs were a great at getting those people out of the congested areas, away from the bars and such. You never did know if they were bringing the drunks home, or simply pedaling them to their cars (cars they wouldn't have been able to stumble to on foot, and then drove home). Obviously common sense and social responsibility come into play as in any situation. One could see the pedicabs being a real benefit when the Expo Line is brought all the way down to the Promenade. Pedicabs to and from the Expo could be a truly great solution for getting some of the cars off our streets!
Come see me at 739 Alma Real, Pacific Palisades 90272 this Sunday June 2nd from 2-5pm! Beautiful bright and airy Traditional with 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, a great spa and a lovely kitchen! $3.675.000
A couple items in the news:
1) The California State Senate did not pass the proposed ban on Plastic Bags. While many individual cities (Santa Monica!) have already enacted their own bans, it will not yet be a requirement for all Cali Cities. Culver City just passed a ban on free plastic bags, therefore residents and visitors to CC will need to pay 10cents per plastic bag used.
2) While this article has a very obvious slant (whether you're for or against, just be aware) but the LA Times is reporting on the controversial App that has been buzzing online regarding Malibu Beach Access.
3) Look out! The Pedicabs are coming! LA Times reports on an issue that has been long-contested in the LA area... the pedicabs. Coming to Santa Monica this summer, the pedicabs have both advantages and drawbacks. Having lived in San Diego for many years, the pedicabs downtown were both a bane and a blessing. Being both a college and a military town, there were plenty of people who were.... shall we say..."incapacitated" any night of the week in the downtown and beach areas. The pedicabs were a great at getting those people out of the congested areas, away from the bars and such. You never did know if they were bringing the drunks home, or simply pedaling them to their cars (cars they wouldn't have been able to stumble to on foot, and then drove home). Obviously common sense and social responsibility come into play as in any situation. One could see the pedicabs being a real benefit when the Expo Line is brought all the way down to the Promenade. Pedicabs to and from the Expo could be a truly great solution for getting some of the cars off our streets!
Come see me at 739 Alma Real, Pacific Palisades 90272 this Sunday June 2nd from 2-5pm! Beautiful bright and airy Traditional with 5 bedrooms and 5 baths, a great spa and a lovely kitchen! $3.675.000
Thursday, February 7, 2013
7 Ways to Make Your Offer More Attractive to a Seller
Once again, cash is king here on the Westside of Los Angeles! With the record-low inventory and huge numbers of Buyers, we are not only seeing most homes fly off the shelves with multiple offers, but we are seeing an ever-increasing number of successful bidders offering ALL CASH!
LA TIMES Posts this Article on all-cash offerings in the past year.
As many Buyer's of Residential Real Estate cannot pull together the funds necessary to make an all-cash offer, they are often having to step up their financed offer to a price higher than that of the all-cash offers to even be considered by the Sellers!
Still, there is hope for Buyers looking to take advantage of the low interest rates and still secure the house they have been looking for!
7 Ways to make your offer more attractive to a Seller:
1. A higher price- Some Sellers are more eager to receive a higher number, than to close the sale early.
2. Contingency Removal- The California Residential Purchase Agreement has a default period of 17 days in which a Buyer can conduct all inspections. If you are confident you can thoroughly and diligently complete inspections on the property in a shorter amount of time, this could be a major bonus to the Seller. An early Contingency Removal often makes a Seller feel more confident that you are prepared to Close the sale. A word of warning though- do NOT skimp on inspections because of your shortened timeline!! Spending the time, energy and money to have your house thoroughly inspected is a must, and will likely save you a good amount of money and hassle in the long run. This is your opportunity to find out about the house- use it wisely and inspect, inspect, inspect.
3. Offer the Seller a leaseback- Some Sellers may want a quick Escrow to make sure the Sale is complete, but will benefit from being allowed some extra time in the home to get their affairs in order. Consider this gift of time as a way to sweeten your offer if the situation allows!
4. Write a "love letter" telling the Seller about you and why you connected with their home. Some Sellers do care about who takes over the home they have cherished memories in, and if all things are equal, will likely choose someone who they connect with.
5. Submit early- Be prepared to work with your agent as soon as possible to submit an offer on a house that you like. There are many houses in the area that receive dozens of offers; so many that the Seller has a difficult time reviewing them. As always, you must be prepared with a Pre-Approval letter (not a Pre-Qualification letter) from a reputable bank or loan broker. If you are able to be one of the first offers in, a lot of Sellers see that you immediately felt a connection with their house and know it is right for you.
6. Have your agent ask for a Counter Offer- If the Seller has not asked for Best-and-Final offers upfront, make sure your agent communicated to the Listing Agent how intent you are in getting this house. Sometimes something as simple as asking for a response can make a huge difference in the attractiveness of your offer.
7. Allow the Seller to choose some of the Vendors- Some Sellers have confidence in a particular Escrow or Title Company, or have a Termite Company that has knowledge of the house. Speak with your agent and consider whether you want to offer to let the Seller choose these services upfront. In multiple offers, it is likely the Seller will want to choose these people anyways- so show them upfront that you are willing to be agreeable!
As always, I am happy to answer any questions you have so do not hesitate to call me! I am also happy to take your referrals if you know someone looking to buy or sell in the West Los Angeles area.
Good luck out there!
LA TIMES Posts this Article on all-cash offerings in the past year.
As many Buyer's of Residential Real Estate cannot pull together the funds necessary to make an all-cash offer, they are often having to step up their financed offer to a price higher than that of the all-cash offers to even be considered by the Sellers!
Still, there is hope for Buyers looking to take advantage of the low interest rates and still secure the house they have been looking for!
7 Ways to make your offer more attractive to a Seller:
1. A higher price- Some Sellers are more eager to receive a higher number, than to close the sale early.
2. Contingency Removal- The California Residential Purchase Agreement has a default period of 17 days in which a Buyer can conduct all inspections. If you are confident you can thoroughly and diligently complete inspections on the property in a shorter amount of time, this could be a major bonus to the Seller. An early Contingency Removal often makes a Seller feel more confident that you are prepared to Close the sale. A word of warning though- do NOT skimp on inspections because of your shortened timeline!! Spending the time, energy and money to have your house thoroughly inspected is a must, and will likely save you a good amount of money and hassle in the long run. This is your opportunity to find out about the house- use it wisely and inspect, inspect, inspect.
3. Offer the Seller a leaseback- Some Sellers may want a quick Escrow to make sure the Sale is complete, but will benefit from being allowed some extra time in the home to get their affairs in order. Consider this gift of time as a way to sweeten your offer if the situation allows!
4. Write a "love letter" telling the Seller about you and why you connected with their home. Some Sellers do care about who takes over the home they have cherished memories in, and if all things are equal, will likely choose someone who they connect with.
5. Submit early- Be prepared to work with your agent as soon as possible to submit an offer on a house that you like. There are many houses in the area that receive dozens of offers; so many that the Seller has a difficult time reviewing them. As always, you must be prepared with a Pre-Approval letter (not a Pre-Qualification letter) from a reputable bank or loan broker. If you are able to be one of the first offers in, a lot of Sellers see that you immediately felt a connection with their house and know it is right for you.
6. Have your agent ask for a Counter Offer- If the Seller has not asked for Best-and-Final offers upfront, make sure your agent communicated to the Listing Agent how intent you are in getting this house. Sometimes something as simple as asking for a response can make a huge difference in the attractiveness of your offer.
7. Allow the Seller to choose some of the Vendors- Some Sellers have confidence in a particular Escrow or Title Company, or have a Termite Company that has knowledge of the house. Speak with your agent and consider whether you want to offer to let the Seller choose these services upfront. In multiple offers, it is likely the Seller will want to choose these people anyways- so show them upfront that you are willing to be agreeable!
As always, I am happy to answer any questions you have so do not hesitate to call me! I am also happy to take your referrals if you know someone looking to buy or sell in the West Los Angeles area.
Good luck out there!
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Low Inventory in Los Angeles
September is almost here and we have been feeling the heat in LA!
The ocean has been especially warm these last few weeks so it's a great time to sunscreen up and hop in! I like to go to the Pacific Palisades and park on Temescal to walk down to the water, or pop down to Venice and walk around the canals.
Labor Day is this weekend so there may not be as many Open Houses as Angelenos don white pants for the last time and rush the beaches. If you can get your beach time in before the weekend- definitely try! After this weekend, perhaps PCH and the beaches will have less traffic? Let's hope!
If you're out looking at houses on the Westside, keep in mind that inventory is incredibly low and there are quite a few Buyers out and about (Check out this video featuring Joe Light which talks about the lack of inventory, and the Housing Market Recovery!) Once you decide you're ready to purchase (or almost ready!) get to a lender and get Pre-Approved for a loan. Being Pre-Qualified does not mean much in the Westside Los Angeles market these days- you need to know exactly how much you can spend, and the Seller of the home you fall in love with will want that assurance as well. Since there are so few properties on the market- you want to be prepared to put an offer in as soon as absolutely possible after you've seen your dream home. If you still need to get your funding ducks in a row- chances are, someone else will snap it up.
Joe Light talks about the Real Estate Recovery, and comments on Warren Buffet's
TODAY'S TIP: It seems counterintuitive but now is the BEST time to have your heater serviced and your chimney cleaned. As the air starts to cool and people begin switching from AC to heat, all those heating technicians get busy! Better to get in and get everything cleaned and prepped for winter (and who knows... maybe keep an eye out for specials or deals).
The ocean has been especially warm these last few weeks so it's a great time to sunscreen up and hop in! I like to go to the Pacific Palisades and park on Temescal to walk down to the water, or pop down to Venice and walk around the canals.
Labor Day is this weekend so there may not be as many Open Houses as Angelenos don white pants for the last time and rush the beaches. If you can get your beach time in before the weekend- definitely try! After this weekend, perhaps PCH and the beaches will have less traffic? Let's hope!
If you're out looking at houses on the Westside, keep in mind that inventory is incredibly low and there are quite a few Buyers out and about (Check out this video featuring Joe Light which talks about the lack of inventory, and the Housing Market Recovery!) Once you decide you're ready to purchase (or almost ready!) get to a lender and get Pre-Approved for a loan. Being Pre-Qualified does not mean much in the Westside Los Angeles market these days- you need to know exactly how much you can spend, and the Seller of the home you fall in love with will want that assurance as well. Since there are so few properties on the market- you want to be prepared to put an offer in as soon as absolutely possible after you've seen your dream home. If you still need to get your funding ducks in a row- chances are, someone else will snap it up.
Joe Light talks about the Real Estate Recovery, and comments on Warren Buffet's
TODAY'S TIP: It seems counterintuitive but now is the BEST time to have your heater serviced and your chimney cleaned. As the air starts to cool and people begin switching from AC to heat, all those heating technicians get busy! Better to get in and get everything cleaned and prepped for winter (and who knows... maybe keep an eye out for specials or deals).
Monday, June 11, 2012
LA Times talks Home Sales
The Los Angeles Times featured as it's top story this weekend a commentary on the current housing market in Los Angeles. Citing the Census Bureau, Redfin, the National Association of Realtors and several others, writer Alejando Lazo brings to light what every agent and anyone currently in the market is experiencing: we are in a very unique time in the housing market.
Buyers are enjoying the benefits of record-low interest rates and prices well below they saw during the peak, and Sellers are seeing an extreme lack of inventory which is, in many cases, leading to multiple offers (on the Westside we have seen many properties with over 15 offers, and a few properties with over 30!!).
So if you are a Buyer- please expect to see a LOT of people at every open house you attend, and understand that you must be ready to move quickly if the right property comes along! All cash is usually best to a Seller, if you can swing it, but if you need to go with financing- interest rates are at an all-time low so make sure to get PreApproved (not PreQualified) to put yourself in the best position possible for the Sellers to consider you a serious Buyer!
Tip of the Week: Get a duster, a rag and/or some polish and get to work cleaning those banisters! If you do not have banisters in your house- you definitely have window sills and I bet they'd love a nice scrub before they are opened all summer long! Consider using a homemade formula of vinegar and water, or something natural you find in the grocery store like Nellie's brand products to keep toxins out of your house! Feel free to take a look at these Great Options!
Buyers are enjoying the benefits of record-low interest rates and prices well below they saw during the peak, and Sellers are seeing an extreme lack of inventory which is, in many cases, leading to multiple offers (on the Westside we have seen many properties with over 15 offers, and a few properties with over 30!!).
So if you are a Buyer- please expect to see a LOT of people at every open house you attend, and understand that you must be ready to move quickly if the right property comes along! All cash is usually best to a Seller, if you can swing it, but if you need to go with financing- interest rates are at an all-time low so make sure to get PreApproved (not PreQualified) to put yourself in the best position possible for the Sellers to consider you a serious Buyer!
Tip of the Week: Get a duster, a rag and/or some polish and get to work cleaning those banisters! If you do not have banisters in your house- you definitely have window sills and I bet they'd love a nice scrub before they are opened all summer long! Consider using a homemade formula of vinegar and water, or something natural you find in the grocery store like Nellie's brand products to keep toxins out of your house! Feel free to take a look at these Great Options!
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+
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!
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