Dean Rizzi

A Look at the Past and a Look at the Future
December 30, 2009 · · 1 Comment

This time last year we predicted that 2009 would end a lot better than it began. We were right, though it wasn’t a great accomplishment to be right considering how low the housing market, stock market, and overall economy had sunk during the latter half of 2008. As we’ve stated repeatedly over the past year, a low base and a dour outlook provide an excellent buying opportunity, so we weren’t surprised when buyers stepped forward to exploit the opportunities.

Looking ahead to 2010, we see continued improvement in home sales and home prices. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if the market turns to a sellers’ market from a buyers’ market by year’s end. We are almost certain that will be the case if we see a two to three percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. Low mortgage rates and income tax credits are contributing factors in stabilizing the market, to be sure, but no factor is more important than employment in not only maintaining stability but stimulating activity.     Read more

Jean Joh

Are Things Looking Up?
March 11, 2009 · · 10 Comments

looking-up“Jean, a conference room is available for you upstairs…Jean, a conference room is available.”  Such went a page by my trusty colleague Shokoofeh about a week ago.  I was meeting a client in order to submit an offer on a condo, but to my dismay (and some delight too) ALL of our conference rooms were full.  Shokoofeh had just finished meeting with her clients, so she was able to vacate one conference room just in time for me and my client.  At our company meeting last Friday, one of the brokers mentioned how pleased he was to hear this page and that he was hoping it was a sign that things were going in a positive direction.  I couldn’t help but agree. Read more

Jean Joh

The Human Cost of the Troubled Economy
October 5, 2008 · · 1 Comment

Last week, I was “on the floor” answering phone calls for our company, when I received a call from someone who was interested in one of the rentals we had available.  We arranged to meet the following day to look at the house of interest during his lunch hour.  When we met, I was surprised to learn that this gentleman actually lived right down the street from the house we were viewing.  He shared with me that he currently owned his home but that his mortgage payments had become unaffordable and that he was already several months behind.  He said he had no choice but to put it on the market as a short sale, rent for a little while and hopefully try to buy a home again after a few years.  He also told me about his large family and how difficult it was to be going through this process right now.

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