I also love working with first-time home buyers! I enjoy guiding them, making the purchasing process as stress-free as can be. A lot of the time, their targeted type of home may be a condo. This article from my friend, Jay Sondhi (my office’s in-house lending team, Guarantee Mortgage) is only fitting to present. It’s an informative read and is beneficial for first-time condo buyers who are considering city life!

“I’m shocked to hear that there is still this notion out there that “condos are dead” as far as FHA financing goes. This is far far far from the truth. The rules regarding condo approvals for FHA insurance have changed, but they are far from impossible. Many of the new changes have actually had a positive impact on our local market.    

FHA will only finance a unit in a condo project if the unit is on the FHA-approved condo list.

If the project is not currently on this list, we can get that project on the approved list in one of two-ways:

A. Send a condo-approval package directly to HUD for approval.
B. Send a condo-approval package to a lender who is authorized to approve condo projects for HUD.

We have been approving projects for months here at Guarantee Mortgage with great success. There are some finer points to getting projects approved with HUD. It is very important that you work with a mortgage professional with extensive FHA experience. If your package is set up incorrectly, it could spell disaster for your contingency period or can sour your whole offer.

When a condo package is put together correctly, you can expect relatively quick results. I’ve had a package approved within 3 business days. Not bad for a government agency!

Listing agents: It’s a great idea to look into HUD approval if your sellers’ project is not approved. It will open up a much larger pool of buyers.
Buyer’s agents: Don’t let a listing agent who is unfamiliar with FHA guidelines tell you that it won’t work. Why not? They may be surprised to find out that their project can very well be approved.
Buyers: Don’t let your agent tell you that you can only buy in projects that are already approved. It’s just not true.
Sellers: Don’t let your listing agent sweep a good FHA offer under the rug. Make sure that they’ve done their homework on your property. If the highest offer is coming from an FHA buyer, find out why your project will not get approved by HUD. I’ve seen too many sellers accept lower offers because of the financing. It just makes no sense.

Here are some general guidelines for HUD approval:

· Minimum number of units: 2

· Commercial Space: No more than 25 percent of the property’s total floor area.

· Investor Ownership: No more than 10 percent of the units may be owned by one investor. This limitation also applies to developers/builders that subsequently rent vacant and unsold units. For projects with ten or fewer units, no single entity may own more than one unit within the project.

· HOA delinquency: No more than 15% can be in arrears (<30 days late)

· Owner-occupancy Ratios: 51%

· Budget Review: Must be determined to be adequate and include allocations/line items to ensure sufficient funds are available to maintain and preserve all amenities and features unique to the condominium project. It must provide for the funding of replacement reserves for capital expenditures and deferred maintenance in an account representing 10% of the budget.”

Rommel Yema
http://www.ryema.prucal.com/

Of course, there is always the downside in being a nice, dependable realtor. And that is dealing with realtors who, well, just aren’t. Their turnaround time to call you back is 1 to 2 days. They won’t always answer your calls. They might be so busy, they might not even remember who the heck you are when all you are doing is getting confirmation they received the buyer’s offer.

But I digress. Working in whatever industry that focuses on customer service, it is always all about the client and the quality of salesmanship they endure. A good realtor will always be ready to bat for the client and should do so with ethics, integrity and RELIABILITY. It is most likely because of my own bad experiences I place such emphasis on this subject. So for now, it is only fitting that I forward from the National Association of Realtors, the 2010 Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, Duties to Clients and Customers:           

-Rommel Yema

Duties to Clients and Customers    

Article 1
When representing a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant, or other client as an agent, REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly. When serving a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant or other party in a non-agency capacity, REALTORS® remain obligated to treat all parties honestly. (Amended 1/01)

Standard of Practice 1-1

REALTORS®, when acting as principals in a real estate transaction, remain obligated by the duties imposed by the Code of Ethics. (Amended 1/93)

Standard of Practice 1-2

The duties imposed by the Code of Ethics encompass all real estate-related activities and transactions whether conducted in person, electronically, or through any other means.

The duties the Code of Ethics imposes are applicable whether REALTORS® are acting as agents or in legally recognized non-agency capacities except that any duty imposed exclusively on agents by law or regulation shall not be imposed by this Code of Ethics on REALTORS® acting in non-agency capacities.

As used in this Code of Ethics, “client” means the person(s) or entity(ies) with whom a REALTOR® or a REALTOR®’s firm has an agency or legally recognized non-agency relationship; “customer” means a party to a real estate transaction who receives information, services, or benefits but has no contractual relationship with the REALTOR® or the REALTOR®’s firm; “prospect” means a purchaser, seller, tenant, or landlord who is not subject to a representation relationship with the REALTOR® or REALTOR®’s firm; “agent” means a real estate licensee (including brokers and sales associates) acting in an agency relationship as defined by state law or regulation; and “broker” means a real estate licensee (including brokers and sales associates) acting as an agent or in a legally recognized non-agency capacity. (Adopted 1/95, Amended 1/07)

Standard of Practice 1-3

REALTORS®, in attempting to secure a listing, shall not deliberately mislead the owner as to market value.

Standard of Practice 1-4

REALTORS®, when seeking to become a buyer/tenant representative, shall not mislead buyers or tenants as to savings or other benefits that might be realized through use of the REALTOR®’s services. (Amended 1/93)

Standard of Practice 1-5

REALTORS® may represent the seller/landlord and buyer/tenant in the same transaction only after full disclosure to and with informed consent of both parties. (Adopted 1/93)

Standard of Practice 1-6

REALTORS® shall submit offers and counter-offers objectively and as quickly as possible. (Adopted 1/93, Amended 1/95)

Standard of Practice 1-7

When acting as listing brokers, REALTORS® shall continue to submit to the seller/landlord all offers and counter-offers until closing or execution of a lease unless the seller/landlord has waived this obligation in writing. REALTORS® shall not be obligated to continue to market the property after an offer has been accepted by the seller/landlord. REALTORS® shall recommend that sellers/landlords obtain the advice of legal counsel prior to acceptance of a subsequent offer except where the acceptance is contingent on the termination of the pre-existing purchase contract or lease. (Amended 1/93)

Standard of Practice 1-8

REALTORS® , acting as agents or brokers of buyers/tenants, shall submit to buyers/tenants all offers and counter-offers until acceptance but have no obligation to continue to show properties to their clients after an offer has been accepted unless otherwise agreed in writing. REALTORS®, acting as agents or brokers of buyers/tenants, shall recommend that buyers/tenants obtain the advice of legal counsel if there is a question as to whether a pre-existing contract has been terminated. (Adopted 1/93, Amended 1/99)

Standard of Practice 1-9

The obligation of REALTORS® to preserve confidential information (as defined by state law) provided by their clients in the course of any agency relationship or non-agency relationship recognized by law continues after termination of agency relationships or any non-agency relationships recognized by law. REALTORS® shall not knowingly, during or following the termination of professional relationships with their clients:

reveal confidential information of clients; or

use confidential information of clients to the disadvantage of clients; or

use confidential information of clients for the REALTOR®’s advantage or the advantage of third parties unless:

clients consent after full disclosure; or

REALTORS® are required by court order; or

it is the intention of a client to commit a crime and the information is necessary to prevent the crime; or

it is necessary to defend a REALTOR® or the REALTOR®’s employees or associates against an accusation of wrongful conduct.

Information concerning latent material defects is not considered confidential information under this Code of Ethics. (Adopted 1/93, Amended 1/01)

Standard of Practice 1-10

REALTORS® shall, consistent with the terms and conditions of their real estate licensure and their property management agreement, competently manage the property of clients with due regard for the rights, safety and health of tenants and others lawfully on the premises. (Adopted 1/95, Amended 1/00)

Standard of Practice 1-11

REALTORS® who are employed to maintain or manage a client’s property shall exercise due diligence and make reasonable efforts to protect it against reasonably foreseeable contingencies and losses. (Adopted 1/95)

Standard of Practice 1-12

When entering into listing contracts, REALTORS® must advise sellers/landlords of:

the REALTOR®’s company policies regarding cooperation and the amount(s) of any compensation that will be offered to subagents, buyer/tenant agents, and/or brokers acting in legally recognized non-agency capacities;

the fact that buyer/tenant agents or brokers, even if compensated by listing brokers, or by sellers/landlords may represent the interests of buyers/tenants; and

any potential for listing brokers to act as disclosed dual agents, e.g. buyer/tenant agents. (Adopted 1/93, Renumbered 1/98, Amended 1/03)

Standard of Practice 1-13

When entering into buyer/tenant agreements, REALTORS® must advise potential clients of:

the REALTOR®’s company policies regarding cooperation;

the amount of compensation to be paid by the client;

the potential for additional or offsetting compensation from other brokers, from the seller or landlord, or from other parties;

any potential for the buyer/tenant representative to act as a disclosed dual agent, e.g. listing broker, subagent, landlord’s agent, etc., and

the possibility that sellers or sellers’ representatives may not treat the existence, terms, or conditions of offers as confidential unless confidentiality is required by law, regulation, or by any confidentiality agreement between the parties. (Adopted 1/93, Renumbered 1/98, Amended 1/06)

Standard of Practice 1-14

Fees for preparing appraisals or other valuations shall not be contingent upon the amount of the appraisal or valuation. (Adopted 1/02)

Standard of Practice 1-15

REALTORS®, in response to inquiries from buyers or cooperating brokers shall, with the sellers’ approval, disclose the existence of offers on the property. Where disclosure is authorized, REALTORS® shall also disclose, if asked, whether offers were obtained by the listing licensee, another licensee in the listing firm, or by a cooperating broker. (Adopted 1/03, Amended 1/09))

Article 2
REALTORS® shall avoid exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of pertinent facts relating to the property or the transaction. REALTORS® shall not, however, be obligated to discover latent defects in the property, to advise on matters outside the scope of their real estate license, or to disclose facts which are confidential under the scope of agency or non-agency relationships as defined by state law. (Amended 1/00)

Standard of Practice 2-1

REALTORS® shall only be obligated to discover and disclose adverse factors reasonably apparent to someone with expertise in those areas required by their real estate licensing authority. Article 2 does not impose upon the REALTOR® the obligation of expertise in other professional or technical disciplines. (Amended 1/96)

Standard of Practice 2-2

(Renumbered as Standard of Practice 1-12 1/98)

Standard of Practice 2-3

(Renumbered as Standard of Practice 1-13 1/98)

Standard of Practice 2-4

REALTORS® shall not be parties to the naming of a false consideration in any document, unless it be the naming of an obviously nominal consideration.

Standard of Practice 2-5

Factors defined as “non-material” by law or regulation or which are expressly referenced in law or regulation as not being subject to disclosure are considered not “pertinent” for purposes of Article 2. (Adopted 1/93)

Article 3
REALTORS® shall cooperate with other brokers except when cooperation is not in the client’s best interest. The obligation to cooperate does not include the obligation to share commissions, fees, or to otherwise compensate another broker. (Amended 1/95)

Standard of Practice 3-1

REALTORS®, acting as exclusive agents or brokers of sellers/ landlords, establish the terms and conditions of offers to cooperate. Unless expressly indicated in offers to cooperate, cooperating brokers may not assume that the offer of cooperation includes an offer of compensation. Terms of compensation, if any, shall be ascertained by cooperating brokers before beginning efforts to accept the offer of cooperation. (Amended 1/99)

Standard of Practice 3-2

To be effective, any change in compensation offered for cooperative services must be communicated to the other REALTOR® prior to the time that REALTOR® submits an offer to purchase/lease the property. (Amended 1/10)

Standard of Practice 3-3

Standard of Practice 3-2 does not preclude the listing broker and cooperating broker from entering into an agreement to change cooperative compensation. (Adopted 1/94)

Standard of Practice 3-4

REALTORS®, acting as listing brokers, have an affirmative obligation to disclose the existence of dual or variable rate commission arrangements (i.e., listings where one amount of commission is payable if the listing broker’s firm is the procuring cause of sale/lease and a different amount of commission is payable if the sale/lease results through the efforts of the seller/ landlord or a cooperating broker). The listing broker shall, as soon as practical, disclose the existence of such arrangements to potential cooperating brokers and shall, in response to inquiries from cooperating brokers, disclose the differential that would result in a cooperative transaction or in a sale/lease that results through the efforts of the seller/landlord. If the cooperating broker is a buyer/tenant representative, the buyer/tenant representative must disclose such information to their client before the client makes an offer to purchase or lease. (Amended 1/02)

Standard of Practice 3-5

It is the obligation of subagents to promptly disclose all pertinent facts to the principal’s agent prior to as well as after a purchase or lease agreement is executed. (Amended 1/93)

Standard of Practice 3-6

REALTORS® shall disclose the existence of accepted offers, including offers with unresolved contingencies, to any broker seeking cooperation. (Adopted 5/86, Amended 1/04)

Standard of Practice 3-7

When seeking information from another REALTOR® concerning property under a management or listing agreement, REALTORS® shall disclose their REALTOR® status and whether their interest is personal or on behalf of a client and, if on behalf of a client, their representational status. (Amended 1/95)

Standard of Practice 3-8

REALTORS® shall not misrepresent the availability of access to show or inspect a listed property. (Amended 11/87)

Standard of Practice 3-9

REALTORS® shall not provide access to listed property on terms other than those established by the owner or the listing broker. (Adopted 1/10)

Article 4
REALTORS® shall not acquire an interest in or buy or present offers from themselves, any member of their immediate families, their firms or any member thereof, or any entities in which they have any ownership interest, any real property without making their true position known to the owner or the owner’s agent or broker. In selling property they own, or in which they have any interest, REALTORS® shall reveal their ownership or interest in writing to the purchaser or the purchaser’s representative. (Amended 1/00)

Standard of Practice 4-1

For the protection of all parties, the disclosures required by Article 4 shall be in writing and provided by REALTORS® prior to the signing of any contract. (Adopted 2/86)

Article 5
REALTORS® shall not undertake to provide professional services concerning a property or its value where they have a present or contemplated interest unless such interest is specifically disclosed to all affected parties.

Article 6
REALTORS® shall not accept any commission, rebate, or profit on expenditures made for their client, without the client’s knowledge and consent.

When recommending real estate products or services (e.g., homeowner’s insurance, warranty programs, mortgage financing, title insurance, etc.), REALTORS® shall disclose to the client or customer to whom the recommendation is made any financial benefits or fees, other than real estate referral fees, the REALTOR® or REALTOR®’s firm may receive as a direct result of such recommendation. (Amended 1/99)

Standard of Practice 6-1

REALTORS® shall not recommend or suggest to a client or a customer the use of services of another organization or business entity in which they have a direct interest without disclosing such interest at the time of the recommendation or suggestion. (Amended 5/88)

Article 7
In a transaction, REALTORS® shall not accept compensation from more than one party, even if permitted by law, without disclosure to all parties and the informed consent of the REALTOR®’s client or clients. (Amended 1/93)

Article 8
REALTORS® shall keep in a special account in an appropriate financial institution, separated from their own funds, monies coming into their possession in trust for other persons, such as escrows, trust funds, clients’ monies, and other like items.

Article 9
REALTORS®, for the protection of all parties, shall assure whenever possible that all agreements related to real estate transactions including, but not limited to, listing and representation agreements, purchase contracts, and leases are in writing in clear and understandable language expressing the specific terms, conditions, obligations and commitments of the parties. A copy of each agreement shall be furnished to each party to such agreements upon their signing or initialing. (Amended 1/04)

Standard of Practice 9-1

For the protection of all parties, REALTORS® shall use reasonable care to ensure that documents pertaining to the purchase, sale, or lease of real estate are kept current through the use of written extensions or amendments. (Amended 1/93)

Standard of Practice 9-2

When assisting or enabling a client or customer in establishing a contractual relationship (e.g., listing and representation agreements, purchase agreements, leases, etc.) electronically, REALTORS® shall make reasonable efforts to explain the nature and disclose the specific terms of the contractual relationship being established prior to it being agreed to by a contracting party. (Adopted 1/07)

-via Luke Mullins, USNews.com (April 8, 2010)

As the selling season gets underway, many Americans will be looking to take advantage of the lower real estate prices, attractive mortgage rates, and federal tax credit by purchasing a home. But remember: Not all of the costs associated with homeownership are reflected in the listed price. Indeed, many buyers — particularly first-time buyers — may be surprised by the amount of cash they’ll need to set aside for housing-related expenses that they hadn’t previously considered. These often-overlooked expenses can include everything from title insurance to lawn mowing. To give would-be home buyers a better sense of the budget they’ll need to buy and maintain a home, U.S. News spoke with a handful of real estate experts and compiled a list of 12 hidden costs of homeownership:

1. Home inspection. Since a home purchase is likely to be the largest financial investment of your life, it’s a good idea to have it professionally inspected beforehand. A home inspector can point out areas of the property that may need repairs. Buyers can use this information as leverage during home-price negotiations or simply to determine whether or not the property is worth purchasing. “It’s not required, but certainly I recommend it to buyers,” says Judy Moore of Re/Max Landmark Realtors in Lexington, Mass. “It is actually very helpful in that [buyers] learn about the property and how to maintain it and it also alerts them to any potential issues that may be coming up in the near future or need to be taken care of.” The cost of a home inspection, which can run several hundred dollars or more, is typically incurred by the buyers before they go to closing, Moore says.   

2. Pest inspection. Buyers should consider obtaining a separate inspection for wood-destroying insects, such as termites. Although no laws mandate pre-transaction pest inspections and not all lenders require them, Greg Baumann, senior scientist for the National Pest Management Association, says buyers would be smart to have the procedure done prior to closing. “If you buy a house and you don’t have an inspection and the house is riddled [with termites], you go to closing and now the house is yours,” Baumann says. “It happens at a time in their lives when [homeowners] can least afford repairs.” Termite inspections typically cost between $50 and $200, Baumann says.

3. Appraisal fees. Before you can purchase a home, your lender will require you to have the property valued by a professional real estate appraiser. Lenders use such appraisals when determining the amount of money to offer mortgage borrowers. In years past, appraisal costs were often rolled into the fees that borrowers paid at closing, says Tom Vanderwell, a mortgage officer for Fifth Third Bank in Michigan. Today, however, he makes sure to collect this fee up front. “We’ve got to pay the appraiser whether the deal goes through or not,” he says. “And with the way that the market has been, there is certainly a substantial percentage of deals that are not going through.” After buyers pay the fee-which typically ranges between $350 and $400-it appears as a credit on their closing statement, Vanderwell says.

4. Closing costs. When you arrive to sign your closing documents, be prepared to pay thousands of dollars in assorted fees. Such expenses-known as closing costs-can include processing fees, underwriting fees, recording fees, survey fees, and title insurance fees. “This industry has done a bad job of explaining to people that there are legitimate fees which must be paid in order to grant you a mortgage loan,” says Keith Gumbinger, of HSH.com. “There are various service providers who are involved in this process-they have their costs and [lenders] have some of [their] own administrative costs as well.” But savvy consumers can limit these expenses. Gumbinger recommends that would-be buyers ask several different lenders for so-called good faith estimates, which outline closing costs in detail. (Lenders, however, are under no obligation to offer you such information before you apply, he says.) “If lender A charges a document preparation fee and lender B doesn’t, that might be one of the considerations,” Gumbinger says. Closing costs vary, but they usually range between 2 to 3 percent of the mortgage loan amount, he says.

5. Moving expenses. Buyers face an additional wave of costs once their home purchase is complete. Take moving expenses. Unless your new house is around the corner or you have a large group of helpful friends, you’ll likely need some professional help to transport your belongings. Such expenses can reach several thousand dollars or more, depending on the distance of the move. “Moving is a significant expense-particularly across the country,” says Gail Cunningham of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. For those moving on account of a job, Cunningham recommends asking your new employer to chip in for some of the costs associated with the transition. “I know that people are probably so excited to get the job that they don’t want to rock the boat, but that’s a pretty normal question,” Cunningham says. “A lot of these companies have standing contracts so it is certainly a question worth posing because you don’t want to have to cough up that out-of-pocket expense unnecessarily.”

6. Furniture. Once you’ve lugged all of your furniture into your new property, you may find that your old sofa and dining room table aren’t nearly enough to fill out the house. “Maybe [the buyers] came from a one-bedroom apartment and they are buying a three-bedroom house,” Cunningham says. “They are really going to have some major expenses just to furnish the house with the basics.” The beds, lamps, and tables often needed to furnish additional rooms can add up quickly. “The expense of that can really catch you by surprise,” Gumbinger says.

7. Property taxes and homeowners insurance. If you have never had a mortgage, be aware that your monthly bill won’t simply reflect the loan amount plus interest. It will also reflect property taxes and premiums for homeowners insurance, which all mortgage borrowers are required to obtain. For that reason, housing experts encourage buyers to think of their baseline monthly mortgage payment as encompassing “PITI,” or principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Annual homeowners insurance premiums typically range between 0.5 to 1 percent of the mortgage loan amount, Gumbinger says. Property taxes will vary a great deal, but can run several thousand dollars a year or more.

8. Supplemental insurance. Consumers who buy homes in areas exposed to flooding may have to purchase a supplemental insurance policy, says Guy Cecala, the publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance. “[For] just about any mortgage you get now that’s in the 100-year flood plain, you have to get flood insurance,” Cecala says. Buyers can use online tools to determine if the property they are considering is located in such an area. “There is no real cheap private alternative. You really have to get into the federal flood insurance program, and it’s relatively affordable,” he says. Premiums on such policies will cost most homeowners less than $20 a month, he says.

9. Homeowners association/condo fees. Consumers who buy into certain developments will have to pay an additional monthly fee on top of their payments for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance. Condominium and single-family developments often charge residents for services that benefit the community, like lawn mowing or employing a front-desk attendant. “Condo fees are specifically for condominiums. Home association fees can also be for single-family home developments,” Moore says. “They are essentially the same thing but different variations.” Such fees will vary, but can total more than $100 a month.

10. Utilities. You may be surprised by how much you’ll need to budget to keep your house warm and the water running. “You might have been renting an apartment and you [were] paying some portion of your utilities or maybe all of them, but the first cold winter you are in your house, you [might] say, ‘Wow, look at these power bills,’” Gumbinger says. “That’s one of the costs I think you really don’t think about.” Utility costs will vary by region and consumption. To get a sense of the costs, home buyers should ask sellers for monthly utilities estimates before they close the transaction.

11. Ongoing maintenance. Although that big backyard might be a great place to grill burgers, it’s also an expense. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to keep your property maintained. That means raking the leaves, mowing the lawn, trimming the hedges, and clearing out the gutters, among other tasks. (Unless, of course, you live in a development that handles these chores for you.) To maintain the exterior property, you may have to buy a lawnmower, a hedge trimmer, or other equipment that you didn’t need when you lived in an apartment. “If you are a first-time buyer, you may fail to appreciate just how much stuff you need to buy in order to manage your home,” Gumbinger says.

12. Repairs. Remember, when you move out of that apartment, there’s no longer a landlord to call when the sink backs up. Instead, it’s up to you to contact—and pay—the plumber. And the sink is just one of the many home features or appliances that homeowners may one day need to repair. Homeowners are encouraged to set aside funds to take care of such repairs when they become necessary. And because broken appliances can be a major hassle and a significant expense, Ron Phipps, a broker with Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I., recommends that buyers put key appliances under warrantee. “What we really recommend is that the buyer negotiate into the transaction a home warrantee for one year,” Phipps says. “That’s about a $500 item, and if [the buyer] gets the seller to pay for it, that minimizes [the cost].”

Shared by:
Rommel Yema
http://ryema.prucal.com/

     Mondays…we all love them.  For us Realtors, it is the day after holding an Open House.  For myself, Mondays are the day my lockbox key is to be updated.  On this particular Monday, I was in Berkeley showing single family homes to my client.  I’m usually consistent in making sure my key is updated every Monday morning before doing anything else.  That afternoon was the rare exception.  As soon as I parked my car to walk over to the clients in front of the property, it dawned that we were not immediately going to be able to enter the home.  I sincerely explained to them what happened and managed to make another appointment to meet with them in another hour and half.  Driving back to the San Bruno office and then back to Berkeley was not exactly an appealing idea. 

      Quickly, I thought there must be another way where I could at least stay in Berkeley to update my key and prevent wasting precious gas.  Several Prudential California Realty office locations came up on my Blackberry.  After a few calls, I finally spoke to a helpful sounding agent who invited me to stop by and use their key updating station at her office.  Although it was located on the other side of where I was in Berkeley, I certainly didn’t mind driving there considering how much time and money I was saving.   

      Upon arriving in the parking lot, I was reminded of a younger age where my employer Starbucks sent me to other locations to work there for the day.  As soon as I stepped in, like every Prudential California Realty office, I was greeted promptly and was asked how I could be helped.  I was soon introduced to the agent I spoke to over the phone and quickly made a friend/referral source.  While waiting for the key to be updated, I remembered that I had to submit an offer on a bank owned (REO) property that same day for another client.  This office in general seemed so nice, I put my shame to the wind and asked if I could use their one of their computer stations to download and print the offer documents to submit later after this appointment.  Their broker gave me somewhat of a hard time in giving me his printer access code but in the end was as friendly as can be.  My entire experience as a visitor to another Prudential realty office was a success and then some, considering I was even offered food. 

      Fast forward to this past Sunday….  I had held an open house for my Berkeley listing and came across a buyer wanting to purchase in the area.  I instantly thought of the person who welcomed and assisted me as a fellow agent.  I quickly returned the favor by giving the contact info of the buyer I had met and she expressed joy in acceptance of the referral.  It certainly feels good to not only have access to a great set of brokers and staff from my own office here in San Bruno, but to gain the same friendly support from another, all the way in Berkeley.  At Prudential California Realty, agents help other agents….as long as we exceed our clients’ expectations in the end.

Rommel Yema
Prudential California Realty
http://ryema.prucal.com/