About Lee Ginsburg

Visit my Website: http://lginsburg.prucalbayarea.com/

I moved to the peninsula area of San Francisco immediately after graduating from Northeastern University in 1976 as Regional Sales Manager for Leonard Silver Mfg. a major gift importer and manufacturer. In 1980 I purchased Designers Center a gift and home accessories store located in the Tanforan Park Shopping Center. My son and his partner are now running it. I have 25 years experience of owning my own business. Every day I was marketing, negotiating, managing people and managing all financial matters. I offer these skills to my potential client, along with my strong commitment to honesty, fairness and hard work. I treat every transaction as if it is my own. Because of these skills I have helped very successfully the Home seller, first time home buyer, the move up buyer and the investor. The majority of buyers and sellers that I have represented were located in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara Counties. When you hire me you will receive 100% Honesty, and 110% Effort. My friends often call me a work-a-holic. I call it living up to my obligations. And I enjoy every minute of it. I will give you all the facts; I will give you the pros and the cons. Being from New York I will give you my opinion but you will make the final decision. I specialize in helping all buyers and sellers looking for an honest real estate agent whom gives 110% effort. I treat each transaction as if it is my own. I do get special enjoyment helping first time buyers. I understand numbers. I personally have been investing in the Bay Area for over 30 years and own investment real estate properties. I have experience in single family homes, condominiums, and multi-unit building with up to 15 units.

lee@leesellsmore.com
Phone: (650) 358-3959
DRE#: 01391378

Here is a selection of recent posts by Lee Ginsburg:

Loan, Gift or Partner to Help Children Buy A Home?

January 9, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 6 Comments

As parents we all love our children and only want to help them. In the Bay Area parents almost have to help with a down payment. Do you give your children a gift or a loan? Is it better to be a co-borrower with them? Maybe be partners. If you help one child, you have to help the others. California is a community property state and that creates other issues. It is difficult to bring it up but more than half the marriages wind up in divorce and gifting child money to purchase a home is possibly giving your child’s ex-spouse a very generous gift. Asking a child to sign a promissory note is not always comfortable. In many families Money is a “taboo” subject. I helped my son purchase a home with the idea he was to pay it back when he could. My wife and I always had a good relationship with my son so we did not see any need to have a signed document. Hope that does not come back to bite us. He got engaged a year later and married a short time later. Read more

Learning to Budget! Kudos To The Teacher.

December 28, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 6 Comments

As many of you are aware my Prudential office in San Bruno, Ca. is the largest single independent Prudential office in the country. We are very progressive and have kiosk in several of the regional malls in the area. As I had my shift just before the holidays, a young boy, I’d say about 12 or 13 was looking at some listings. I let him look for a while and then approached. He told me he was 30 years old and looking for a rental for his family of 4 with a $60,000 annual income. I did a double take and he explained he had a home work assignment to balance a family budget including housing. I helped him find a few rental homes in the area. The reason for me writing about this, I thought it was a great assignment; Reality, Life. I think this should be taught in detail to all high school seniors and to all purchasing a home. I believe saving should be part of a family budget. The savings could be for a down payment, home maintenance, vacation, rainy day, etc. Read more

Bay Area Real Estate’s – Perfect Storm

December 10, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 6 Comments

Perfect Storm = Low Interest Rates, Low Prices, and Lower Inventory.

We have all the ingredients.

If you have been waiting for prices to stabilize you are on the cusp of being late.

Homes in Daly City, San Bruno, San Mateo, San Francisco and South San Francisco are selling. To keep up with the demand Bank of America is falling behind on appraisals and is hiring outside appraisers. I spoke to a termite inspector yesterday. He had 5 inspections scheduled for the day. Need I say we did not speak long. There is a buzz in my office. Conference rooms are filled with buyer’s consultations. Banks dealing with short sales are moving faster and be more aggressively. If you are a first time home buyer or a seasoned investor; jump in, the buying is great. It is a PERFECT STORM for you. Low Prices, Low Interest Rates and Lower Inventory. Getting a Loan in not impossible
http://www.pruvoices.com/2008/12/gettin-a-loan-is-not-impossible/

If you are busy with the holidays maybe meet with me (877-Lee Sells) or your favorite realtor just to get updated on the market so you are ready to take advantage of the Best Buyer’s Market in 30 Years come January.

www.leesellsmore.com
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/30/RE8014CT0J.DTL

Getting a Loan is Not Impossible

December 3, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 10 Comments

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/30/RE8014CT0J.DTL .

I had some good friends over for Thanksgiving. Pretty early in the evening the question came up; “Lee how is the Real Estate Market?” “People can’t get loans? Huh”, he stated. This occurs often. Everyday it is mentioned the “Credit Crunch” we have to loosen up credit. I hope everyone reads “You Can Qualify For a Mortgage, It’s Just Tougher” by Marni Leff Kottle of the S.F. Chronicle, Read more

Offer Pricing

November 14, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

I have several buyers very confused. They offered the asking price for a Daly City home but were outbid by $50,000. This is not supposed to happen in a today’s buyer’s market. The low price is a marketing tool and not a realistic list price. I explained before making a purchase offer, buyers must determine the true present market value. http://www.pruvoices.com/2008/10/what-is-market-value/ Read more

Pricing Homes to Sell in the Bay Area

November 2, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

Pricing homes to sell. Please note I said “To Sell” not just “For Sale”. Correct Pricing in today’s Bay Area’s Real Estate Market is more important than ever. To review market value please check out, http://www.pruvoices.com/2008/10/what-is-market-value/ Overpriced homes do not get viewed. They remain on the market for a long time, become stale and even after chasing the market with price reductions usually sell below market value. Buyers think something is wrong with it; the sellers are frustrated and desperate. Read more

What is Market Value

October 28, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 1 Comment

To determine pricing first one should determine present market value. When assessing residential property four major factors account for I’d say about 75% of the value:

Location · Living area size · lot size· condition/renovations of the property.

Other factors that come into play are the number of bedrooms, baths, bonus areas, in-law potential, color scheme, floor plan, pool, fireplace, single or multi story, attached or not plus more. Read more

HOA Dues: Junk Fees or Good Budgeting?

October 17, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

Many people are under the belief that paying the HOA Dues is like throwing money out the window. I am not sure so let’s review the costs of Home Ownership that is covered under the HOA Dues.

The following costs are approximate present day costs for a 1200 square foot home and a 2 Bedroom Bay Area Condo Read more