Julie Cleland

Your words say “Yes” but your actions…not so much!

July 24, 2009 · Julie Cleland · 4 Comments

for sale  photoIn any sales position, a person’s living depends a great deal on their ability to figure out who is ready, willing and able to buy and who isn’t.  In addition to understanding real estate, a Realtor® has to be able to analyze how serious a potential client is and then determine the amount of energy appropriate for that client.   We’ve all had buyers who insist buying is something they really want, when every other signal the buyer is sending screams “Not in this life time!”.  If you feel as a buyer you are not getting the attention you deserve, it could be the realtor, or it could be time for a little self reflection.     Read more

Jean Joh

5 Tips To Improve Your Odds in a Multiple Offer Situation

June 23, 2009 · Jean Joh · 12 Comments

auction“Multiple offers?  I thought we were in a Buyer’s Market?”  Well, it certainly IS a great time to buy in that we are seeing interest rates that are still at historical lows coupled with housing prices that are more affordable.  But on the other hand, here in the San Francisco & Peninsula area, we are seeing an increasing number of multiple offer situations.  For example, on the last home my clients submitted an offer for, there were 26 (yes TWENTY-SIX!) offers, all of which were put in within the home’s first two weeks on the market!  Whatever the reasons for this, it’s become clear that if a home is well priced or below market value, there’s a good possibility that prospective home buyers will find themselves in a multiple offer situation.  Here are five tips to help make your offer stronger:

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Terry Birt

Missed Opportunity ?

May 22, 2009 · Terry Birt · 6 Comments

buyers-choiceRecently, it seems that all the buyers have come out of the wood work….
We have been inundated with large groups at our open houses and receiving large amount of “sign calls” and inquires on our websites…
But the one thing that has not changed is fear…Depending on where the property is and the price range that it is in, there is a different strategy on how to make an offer. I think the public understands that the interest rates are great, and  inventory has lessened, and  buyers are hearing about multiple offers; but there is something that is preventing them to make a move. My advise: Work with your agent…let them help you understand… ask a lot of questions.

Just this week, I have encountered buyers who I met a few weeks ago, they saw this home in their price range, and have their financing in order, but they needed time to “think about it”.  When they came back to reconsider the home, it was gone (in escrow with multiple offers).  Had they written a couple of weeks ago it could have been theirs.

 Don’t lose your opportunity. There are several ways to protect yourself from competition and allow you to participate in obtaining home with your price and terms.

Nicole Machado

The “Runaway Buyer”…

March 12, 2009 · Nicole Machado · 9 Comments

pk-grannyJust a quick post on a funny note… I have encountered a “runaway” buyer at two of my open houses in South San Francisco, two months apart from each other in two different neighborhoods. The first time I met her; she was so nice and friendly and seemed genuinely interested in the home. She said she liked it so much she wanted her husband to see it (he was waiting in the car). I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but once she went out to the car the husband slammed on the accelerator and took off down the street. I thought it was strange, but in this business nothing fazes me. It was about two months later Read more

Nicole Machado

SSF Real Estate becoming a competitive sport…

March 8, 2009 · Nicole Machado · 8 Comments

2009-01-07-boxing_glovesGet on your boxing gloves and jump in the ring, but don’t wait for the bell to ring or you’ll be knocked out of the competition.  In the past few weeks homes in SSF have been flying off the market. I have been working with first time home buyers for about a month now that desperately want to purchase a home in SSF.  They are solid buyers that have excellent credit and a good down payment, however they keep getting beat out on properties by all cash offers. The two most recent homes they bid on had a tremendous amount of activity. One had 18 offers and the other had multiple offers within a few Read more

Nicole Machado

Are you even trying to close this deal??

March 5, 2009 · Nicole Machado · 8 Comments

 string_phone1I recently entered escrow on an REO property (Foreclosure) representing the buyers. With any escrow you enter you want to make sure you have your ducks in a row, but when it comes to REO transactions make sure you read the fine print. Some include passive contingencies which mean that if you don’t pull contingencies in writing on the said date written in the contract, they will pull them for you. This runs the risk of potentially forfeiting your client’s good faith deposit, if for some reason you have to end up canceling the transaction. Read more

Kathy Wall

More Housing Help from the Government

March 3, 2009 · Kathy Wall · 4 Comments

 

In previous posts, fellow bloggers, Annie Chang and Michael Monozon,  have talked about the many benefits of the new federal government stimulus package.   Over the weekend, I learned about yet another program that will greatly help potential home buyers and will also help the many home builders who are sinking under the weight of  their new homes not selling . 

At our office meeting this morning, our in house lender, Guarantee Mortgage, filled us in on the details, as follows.   It seems that the State of California has now instituted yet another tax credit.   This one will apply only to people who purchase a brand new home, condo or townhome. Read more

Kathy Wall

Neither Snow nor Rain nor Heat of Day….

February 16, 2009 · Kathy Wall · 7 Comments

It is about 3:30 p.m. and I’m doing an open house in a lovely, although freezing, townhome in Pacifica.   The rain is pouring down in sheets.   The door is open, hoping to encourage someone to come in.  I’m bundled up, including wearing long johns under my slacks, and am suddenly reminded of the postal service motto:  “Neither snow nor rain nor heat of day nor gloom of night shall stay these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”    It occurs to me that, to a great degree, professional Realtors follow the same creed.  An example of this would be my day today.  Read more

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