Baseball’s "Field of Dreams" for Sale

June 26, 2010 · Lee Ginsburg · 3 Comments

Yes! The baseball Diamond that Universal Studios built in
Dyersville, Iowa is for sale. Please let me know if you have interest. I would love to represent you in the negotiations. Maybe we can arrange to have it moved to San Bruno or South San Francisco.

Follow the link
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/7721998/Field-of-Dreams-for-sale.html

www.leesellsmore.com

Appraisal and Loan Contingency

May 17, 2010 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

Thought this was very well explained for a confusing and very important matter.

“Q: I’m getting an FHA loan to finance my first home. I’m in contract right now. Our appraisal is done and the house appraised for the sale price but the loan process is not yet done, although I was preapproved. My agent says the lender has to review the appraisal.

I’m confused about the difference between the loan contingency and the appraisal contingency. My agent says I should remove the appraisal contingency, but I’m not sure about that.”

Check out Tara-Nicholle Nelsons answer:
http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/tara-nicholle-nelson/plan-a-contingencies-lessons-buyers

http://leesellsmore.com/

Remodeling? Don’t do it to resell!

May 8, 2010 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

Midrange Remodeling Costs Vs. Payback from Remodeling Magazine
http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/division/pacific/city/san-francisco–ca.aspx

Job Cost	Resale Value	Cost Recouped	Project	Job Cost	Resale Value	Cost Recouped	Change vs.. 2008-09
$13,114	$10,674	81.4%	Siding Replacement (vinyl)	$10,607	$8,476	79.9%
$12,760	$11,328	88.8%	Window Replacement (vinyl)	$10,728	$8,217	76.6%
$13,804	$12,175	88.2%	Window Replacement (wood)	$11,700	$9,044	77.3%
$47,052	$32,057	68.1%	Bathroom Addition	$39,046	$23,233	59.5%
$18,864	$14,517	77.0%	Bathroom Remodel	$16,142	$11,454	71.0%
$16,956	$13,922	82.1%	Deck Addition (composite)	$15,373	$10,904	70.9%
$12,838	$11,744	91.5%	Deck Addition (wood)	$10,634	$8,573	80.6%
$3,835	$2,930	76.4%	Entry Door Replacement (fiberglass)	$3,490	$2,275	65.2%
$1,353	$1,732	128.0%	Entry Door Replacement (steel)	$1,172	$1,470	128.9%
$100,023	$73,551	73.5%	Family Room Addition	$82,756	$54,051	65.3%
$83,463	$45,245	54.2%	Sunroom Addition	$73,167	$37,118	50.7%
$184,839	$143,073	77.4%	Two-Story Addition	$156,309	$107,286	68.6%
$63,803	$53,923	84.5%	Major Kitchen Remodel	$57,215	$41,260	72.1%
$124,579	$90,616	72.7%	Master Suite Addition	$103,696	$67,578	65.2%
$23,210	$21,991	94.8%	Minor Kitchen Remodel	$21,411	$16,773	78.3%
$24,712	$18,829	76.2%	Roofing Replacement	$19,731	$13,133	66.6%

Realtors Help Seniors

February 16, 2010 · Lee Ginsburg · 1 Comment

RSVP is Coming

May 3-7

Get The Word Out!

WHAT IS RSVP?
RSVP is an annual week-long community outreach program that takes place in May 3-7 during “Adopt-A-Senior” Week. Realtors of San Mateo County provides free assistance to seniors who cannot otherwise perform certain household tasks due to physical or financial constraints.
FREE HOME SERVICES FOR SENIORS & THE HOMEBOUND
Washing windows, changing furnace filters, turning over mattresses, vacuuming, changing light bulbs, replacing smoke detector batteries and other similar household tasks are just a few chores that Realtors will perform.
The program is one way Realtors and Affiliates can give back to their communities.
Who is eligible? If you are a senior or homebound and live in San Bruno, South San Francisco, Daly City, Millbrae, San Mateo, Burlingame, Belmont, Foster City or anywhere in San Mateo County.
INTERESTED IN FREE HELP
Please call San Mateo County Association of Realtors at 650-696-8200 or
register now at http://www.samcar.org/userfiles/file/RSVP10_homeownerAPP.pdf

Lee@leesellsmore.com

An Open Letter to Potential Home Buyers and Fence Sitters

January 19, 2010 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

Dear Home Buyer and Fence Sitter,

The window of opportunity is closing. Let me explain my thoughts. Prices in the Bay Area are already inching up, same with interest rates. The time to receive the Federal Tax Credit of $8000 or $6500 is rapidly approaching. (Must be in contract by April 30, 2010) FHA is talking about increasing the minimum required down payment and or increasing the cost of required mortgage insurance.

You can purchase a home today and your costs will be fixed for the next 30 years. What else can you buy and maintain the same cost for the next 30 years? Rents will continually go up. You are at the Landlords mercy. It is time to get off the fence. The first step is to get pre-approved. This will tell you what the bank will loan you. There are many loan programs out there. I could refer you to someone if you would like. The pre-approval process is easy, is no cost and with no obligation. If you don’t do it now you will never know.

You do not need a large down payment. You can purchase a home with only 3.5%. Yes you need mortgage insurance. I don’t like mortgage insurance but if that is the only way to own a home, then go for it. Mortgage insurance will go away once you have 20% equity. Economists think values will increase substantially in the next 3-5 years and that will more than make up for the mortgage insurance. Some people tell me they want to save for a larger down payment. That bothers me because from my experience most people cannot save as much as prices increase. Read more

It’s Working and Working Well!!!

December 27, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 1 Comment

You might ask, what is working and working well. I am speaking about the $8000 Home Buying Credit. A recent home buyer brought up the $8000 credit and told me that was the motivating factor for him and his wife purchasing a home. The termination date creates urgency and action. Low prices are motivating but not the cause of action. Many think they can time the market. Good Luck to them. People in the business think the lowest interest rates in 40 years should be creating urgency. It certainly makes people think but low rates is all many of these young first time buyers know. I purchased a home in 1982 at 14% interest and that was considered good. Today’s 5% and below interest rates are like the “After Christmas Sale”. But still does not create the urgency since many believe it will last forever.

The $8000 federal tax credit was extended and now sounds like it will really terminate April 30, 2010. Now that creates urgency! OK; the credit created a home sale and that helps stabilize pricing. Let’s not forget all the mouths a home sale feeds: the realtor, mortgage broker, title people, escrow company, termite inspector, home inspector, city tax coffers, and more. Now let me show you all the mouths my client fed by spending his credit on: landscaping, painting, double pane windows, window coverings, furniture and more. Others may remodel a kitchen or bath, carpet, appliances, roof, etc. My client purchased the home from a flipper who must have put $50,000 into the home. Add that up, and the $8000 quickly turns into over $100,000 of added income to local people. That feeds lots of mouths. Being employed in Real Estate and related fields, as Americans and Smart business people we should be ecstatic. I know I am. I am a believer. Read more

My Thoughts for Real Estate in 2009 in San Francisco and the Peninsula

November 16, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 3 Comments

The year began with home prices free falling and no end was in sight. In April we, in the business began seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Homes in the starting price points began selling and inventory started to stabilize. Banks were pricing their homes on the low range and were receiving multiple offers. I consider single family homes under $700,000 to be the starting price point on the peninsula. Homes over a million dollars were having trouble due to the higher interest rates for loans of that size and the lack of lenders willing to loan. Loans under $729,750 were backed by the government and hovered around all time lows all year. Loans were broken up into different categories. Rates for loans under $417,000 were below 5%; rates for loans between $417,000 and $729,750 were slightly higher. Above that they took a jump. Finally we are now seeing the rates for the larger loans fall into line. Today rates are below 4% fixed for five years for loans under $417,000. That could be the right loan for many people. Read more

The Vote is In – The House is Listed

October 24, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

Wow! What great thoughts on my last blog http://www.pruvoices.com/2009/10/the-shoe-is-on-the-other-foot-now/. The voting overwhelmingly said hire the fist agent team I interviewed. That is whom I chose and am very happy. They have been very easy to work with and are very professional. Know anyone whom wants to buy. A 2 Bedroom 2 Bath single family home in a real nice adult community for less than a studio here in the San Bruno or South San Francisco. The bus stops in front of the complex and it is just an hour bus ride to midtown Manhattan. My wife asked me “are you sure you want to sell it?” Here is a link to the “Visual Tour” http://www.visualtour.com/applets/flashviewer2/viewer.asp?t=2029575&sk=30.

Some of the great feedback I received was: speak with the HOA president, speak with the management of the team that was not that experienced, interview CRS members in the area, and Google the agents. Read more