Kathy Wall

Should I rent or buy?
November 16, 2011 · · 4 Comments

Should I rent or buy is a question that just about everyone asks themselves at one time or another.     At what point does it make more sense to own a home than to rent one?   Much of the decision comes down to personal choice…..Do I want to be in charge of my own home or have someone else be responsible for repairs and maintenance? 

For me, the choice was a relatively simple one because I have always hated the idea of a landlord telling  me what I could and couldn’t do in my home, so I always knew I would try to do whatever I could to purchase my own home.       

In the end it often comes strictly down to the money.   Sometimes, it simply doesn’t make sense to purchase a home, particularly if it means that you will be struggling to make the payments each month, let alone pay for property insurance and taxes.    When my son and his wife were trying to decide whether to continue renting or buy a home, they went to this website and found it to be very helpful:  http://www.decisionaide.com/MPCalculators/Menus/MP_Calculators.asp.     When you get there scroll down the page and you will find a link for Renting vs. Buying.     Read more

Kathy Wall

Is Foreclosure a Smart Way to Go?
October 20, 2011 · · 1 Comment

 

In today’s world I am regularly asked by folks whether they should just give up, walk away and let their home be taken by foreclosure or try to “hang in there” until they can find another solution.

This is a really difficult question to answer.   There are so many factors involved.   Ethicially and morally, I believe that you should do everything you possibly can to honor the contracts that you entered into when you purchased the property, even if the property is no longer worth what you paid…as long as you can still afford to make the payments.

However, the incredible stress of trying to hold on when you can’t afford to make the payments can be all consuming and emotionally destructive.     When all else fails, sometimes the only possible answer is to walk away.   Before doing that, however, you should explore all other possible options, such as:       Read more

Kathy Wall

Should I Tell Them What They Want to Hear?
May 16, 2011 · · 6 Comments

Over the last couple of months I have lost out on three listings….three really good homes in great locations..because I was honest with the potential clients.     In each case, the owners had very unrealistic expectations about what they could get for their property, or as sellers are fond of saying what they “needed” to get out of their properties.   

I did everything that I could to be upbeat while meeting with all of them, but two of them wanted $1,500,000 for homes that were either in much need of updating or that had been updated in a particular style that would not be appealing to a large number of buyers.   Both of those homes were cluttered and had several pets roaming around, which would make them hard to show.   The owners said they “sensed a lot of negativity” when I made a few recommendations about things they could do increase the value of their homes.  

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am about the least negative person around….I always try to put a positive spin on everything…but it’s my job to try to help owners get the best possible price for their home, so I have to tell them things that would help them or I wouldn’t be doing them justice.       Read more

Kathy Wall

“Thriving” Neighborhoods – How do they Happen?
February 28, 2011 · · 4 Comments

This is the first of a series of articles that will highlight various neighborhoods in San Francisco and on the Peninsula.     In this article, I will talk about a couple of San Francisco neighborhoods….West Portal and Bernal Heights.     Both are thriving areas and that has caused me to wonder:  

Why are some neighborhoods so popular?   

West Portal, as an example, is busy every day and every night.   It has tons of restaurants….everything from Mediterranean (Bursa Kabob) to Peruvian (Fresca) and even a Polish restaurant (Old Krakow).    They have a lovely, old fashioned neighborhood movie theater that seems to do quite well and the most popular “boutique” Goodwill store around, as well as other more high end shops.   And, of course, there’s your requisite “Starbucks”.     People come to the neighborhood from all over for it’s charm and warmth.    Read more

Kathy Wall

The Silent Killer….
January 6, 2011 · · 2 Comments

Amongst many new laws being enacted in 2011, is one that will require carbon monoxide detectors in every single home in California by July 1, 2011.   Newly constructed homes are required to have them effective January 1, 2011.     Although many new laws are often silly, this one seems super important,  since so many people die each year due to carbon monoxide posioning.   

For those unfamiliar with carbon monoxide poisoning, it is known as the silent killer.   It is a colorless, odorless gas that is nearly impossible to detect without a CO detector and seeps out through gas heaters and appliances, as well as through engines left running in garages off homes.    

It can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, chest pain and vomiting and is really hard to diagnose because the symptoms are so similar to other illnesses that occur during the winter months.     It can and does kill.     Just one example are the 5 teenagers in Florida that died in December.      According to Wikipedia, on average 170 people die every year due to this killer.          Read more

Kathy Wall

Open House Etiquette
December 7, 2010 · · 4 Comments

For the last 17+ years, I have been selling real estate and, for the first 16 of those years,  have hated doing open houses.   I love meeting new customers, but if it is a slow day it can be incredibly boring.    Nowadays, I enjoy them a lot more,  because I bring my computer and can accomplish quite a bit (well, alright, sometimes I play word games and don’t actually accomplish too much, but I’m a lot happier!)  

While doing my open house yesterday, I had plenty of time to contemplate, since it was pouring down rain and absolutely no one came.   Fortunately, the house I was holding open was warm and cozy, so it was pretty comfortable.    Since I had so much time, I began thinking about the whole open house process.  

I thought it might be helpful for all of the buyers out there if I shared a few thoughts about the etiquette of open houses.   A few helpful hints are:        Read more

Kathy Wall

Brisbane – Missing the Boat…
August 15, 2010 · · 5 Comments

Many home buyers and Realtors are missing the boat when it comes to  a nearby town that offers great weather, lots of amenities and darned good real estate prices.     I’m talking about the little community of  Brisbane.   It is located 10 minutes (or less, if you drive like me!) from the airport and  is only 10 minutes to downtown San Francisco.   Yet, hardly anyone even knows of  it’s existence.

Brisbane is a hidden gem here on the Peninsula.    It is located on the side of San Bruno Mountain between San Francisco and South San Francisco.     There are only 3,597 residents, which makes it one of the smallest communities in the area.     It is very unlike your typical suburb in that it has a hodgepodge of all types of architecture, from shacks to mansions, with very few ranch style homes.    Many of the homes have great views of the Bay and downtown San Francisco.

The people of the community are almost as diverse as the architecture.     Living in the town are world renowned film makers, rocket scientists, artists and musicians…all living happily amongst all of us regular folks.     Brisbane is known as the “City of the Stars” because for over 65 years the residents have put up stars on their homes during the holiday season and even have a “Festival of Stars” each year.      Read more

Kathy Wall

Loan Modifications – They Can Be Done! Lots of Patience Required!
July 14, 2010 · · 3 Comments

I haven’t blogged in a long time, partially because I’ve been super busy with work, but also because I’ve been so wrapped up and worried about a loan modification that I had been trying to get on my house  since 2008.   Yes… I said 2008!    

This has been one of the most frustrating and stressful experiences of my life.    As mentioned, I started talking with the bank in late 2008.    Around July of 2009, they told me that I had qualified for a certain type of loan modification.   They gave me my new payment amount and I started paying that amount.   I paid them faithfully every month thereafter.     I was concerned, however, because I never received any formal paperwork and, because real estate is my job, I knew something had to be wrong.    I called them constantly and they kept telling me there was no problem, everything was “in process.”   

I believe it was in January this year that I returned home to find a letter from the bank in my mailbox.   The letter indicated that I was in default and that if I didn’t pay them $35,000 by a certain (very near) date, they would start foreclosure proceedings.    Needless to say, I freaked out.       Read more