DEAL or NO DEAL

September 23, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 3 Comments

Deal or No Deal?

Everyone’s definition of a “DEAL” is different.

Many of today’s buyers are in the mindset that a “Deal” is purchasing a home below current market value. What is current market value? It is the price a willing and capable buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept. Below Market sales do not occur in today’s web 2.0 world. Information is plentiful for both the buyer and the seller. Properties priced below market value are not kept a secret for long. Homes listed at below market prices wind up getting multiple offers and sell at the price determined by the bidders which is now the market price. Many of these people looking for this type of “DEAL” have not purchased anything and may not because they continue to offer below the market price. They are not the only buyer out there. I recently heard of aproperty with 89 offers. The demand is still very strong. Before the internet many properties were kept a “secret” because it took more time, effort and money to get the information out; so yes purchasing below market value was possible then but not now. Read more

IS THE FED BAIL OUT A GOOD THING FOR THE ECONOMY?

September 21, 2008 · Brian Boisson · 3 Comments

The Media is mixed, the WSJ says……..the NY Times says…….. CNN is sure the bail out will………….

MSNBC believes it ………………….. What caused the problem? Can it all be blamed on SubPrime loans? Everyone has an opinion, good , bad, now, later, caused by…………? Does the past even matter except to learn from it? If so what should we have learned?

Your Thoughts?

8 Reasons why you should have a real estate professional on your team

September 18, 2008 · Roweena Nastor · 1 Comment

Most of us do not purchase or sell real estate monthly or yearly but there is much more available from a real estate professional than buying or selling a property. If someone were to ask you, “Do you have a real estate agent?” what would your reply be? Read more

Is the Bottom In Sight?

September 18, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · Comment here

The window is open but could be closing soon. The window I am speaking about is “The Window of Opportunity”. In the Bay Area we might be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The bottom might be in sight. Why am I saying this? It is economics 101; Supply and Demand. On the Supply side in the Bay Area we are seeing the Supply stabilize or even decrease in certain areas. Read more

What is TDS?

September 17, 2008 · Shokoofeh Nowbakht · 1 Comment

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“What is TDS?” my client asked. It is a 3 page Transfer Disclosure Statement which the seller is required by law to fill out. The main purpose is for the sellers to disclose to the buyers anything they know about the condition of the house. Read more

How To Be A Great Real Estate Client

September 14, 2008 · Jean Joh · 1 Comment

“How can I be a great client to my real estate agent?” Okay, this is probably not on the top ten list of Frequently Asked Questions…probably not even the top one hundred…I’ll admit it – I have NEVER in my real estate career been asked this question by a client. I have invested countless hours into preparing to be the best agent I can be – reading books and articles, attending classes and seminars, keeping on top of the inventory in the area – but I have yet to see a book called, “Being a Great Real Estate Client for Dummies” or the like. And so, I thought it would be an interesting exercise to turn the tables and talk a little about what it takes to be the type of client that a real estate agent would love to work with. Read more

Knock Knock is anyone Home? (I hope not)

September 10, 2008 · Sophia Lin · Comment here

Should a Seller be present when a Buyer is previewing their home? As an experienced Buyer’s and Seller’s agent, I understand both sides. I believe it is in the best interest of both the Buyer and Seller for the Seller not to be present at a showing (unless in some understandable circumstances) I like to use the simple analogy of when one goes to the store to buy a pair of pants. We look around for what we like, we see if we could afford it, and then we try it on (the most important part, if it doesn’t fit, we don’t want it). Now when shopping for a house the part where we try it on is when we are previewing the home (the most important part) When Buyer’s are Read more

Bay Area real estate “shake up”!

August 30, 2008 · Karin Cunningham · Comment here

Can you shake it up anymore in the East Bay right now? What I mean is, I have been showing property to different sets of clients in Pittsburg, Antioch and Hayward and all the homes have 10-20 offers on them! What the heck is going on?? I thought this was a buyer’s market!

Well, what we have observed is the real estate market in those areas have reached rock bottom! Read more