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).
Showing posts with label Sale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sale. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
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.
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!
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