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

The Shoe is on the Other Foot Now

October 12, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 14 Comments

I am responsible for selling my mother’s home. Great I got an easy listing. Well not that quick. She lives in New Jersey. And they do things differently than we here in northern California and I am not licensed in New Jersey. They use lawyers instead of Escrow and Title companies. I pondered how a deal is ever going to close with two lawyers involved. The people I spoke with assured me they do. It seems radon gas is an issue in this part of New Jersey and the seller is responsible for mediating it. My mother lived in an adult community where Open Houses and For Sale signs are not permitted. No wonder as I drove the community I did not see any other homes for sale. I thought there was no inventory and I would receive multiple offers just like here in the San Bruno and South San Francisco. After doing additional research I come to find they have a year’s worth of inventory in the area adult communities. Read more

Is a Condo the Right Choice?

September 14, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 4 Comments

I recently showed a condominium in Redwood Shores to a young couple that was considering single family homes under $490,000. They grew up in a middle-upper class neighborhood and wanted to own in the same type. Most homes under $490,000 in San Bruno, San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco were run down and needed some work. My clients made several offers on short sales and were overbid on at least 5 REO offers. I was concerned with the necessary work since they did not have much money in reserve. I did not want them to start something and not be able to finish it like many of the homes we were looking at.

They were not looking forward to doing yard work so I convinced them to look at condominiums. They were hesitant because of HOA fees but I explained the costs of ownership over a period of time were basically the same as of single family homes or.
http://www.pruvoices.com/2008/10/hoa-dues-junk-fees-or-good-budgeting/

Are They Comparing Apples to Apples

August 21, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 8 Comments

When you and I purchase a new computer we compare the memory, the speed, the screen size: does it come with a camera, DVD player/recorder and more. A home the largest purchase most of us will ever make often is not reviewed with such detail by the people doing the lending and sometimes by the people doing the spending. Yes, they look at the square footage, the general condition, and the location. Appraisers often do not have any idea of the cost of section one termite repairs. The differential in repair costs could be 3%, 5% even 10% of the purchase price. Roofs costs could range between $5000 to $25,000. A home with a two year old roof should be valued higher than one with a 25 year old roof. Appraisers know roughly how old the roof is on the subject property but they don’t know the age of the comparables. Same with double paned windows and furnaces. A home with copper piping through out or or with upgraded electric needs to have additional value added to it. All this information does not show up in the MLS. Read more

Buyer’s Market?

July 22, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 4 Comments

Buyer’s Market? You bet it is. I will be speaking about the low end of each market area. On the Peninsula and San Francisco we talk about Single Family homes priced under $700,000. In the East Bay it is below $400,000. Buyer’s Market yes but not in the traditional way. Today’s buyer cannot expect to purchase a home for 20% off the list price, but they can expect to purchase a home 30-60% off of 2004 prices. Today’s buyer cannot expect the seller to take care of all necessary repairs, but the buyer can expect to receive an $8000 Federal Tax Credit and an extra $10,000 State Tax Credit if they are purchasing a brand new home. Today’s first time buyer cannot expect to be the only offer, but they can expect to receive the lowest interest rates in 40 years. I think it is just in a different way.

The Real Estate Market in San Bruno, South San Francisco, Daly City, San Mateo is hot just like the weather. Prices are based on supply and demand. Demand is strong as all smart people want to take advantage of the buyers market. By the way the $8000 Federal Tax Credit terminates Nov. 30 of this year. Read more

What shall it be; Loan Modification? Short Sale? Foreclosure?

June 16, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 4 Comments

You are among the millions underwater and over stressed. What shall you do.

Your credit will be most negatively affected with a Foreclosure, then a short sale. As long as you stay current on your loan, loan modification should not affect your credit. Your credit score weather it is right or wrong is used by potential employers before hiring, landlords before renting, insurance companies before granting insurance and etc. Depending on your individual situation maybe credit is not important.

My client’s father nearing retirement age could live in his son’s rental unit and will not be looking for another job said he might pass away before his home in Las Vegas is worth as much as as his loan. He opted for foreclosure. Read more

Memorial Day 2009

June 6, 2009 · Lee Ginsburg · 5 Comments

Agents from Prudential California Realty in San Bruno showered the South San Francisco and San Bruno areas with American Flags on the Memorial Day Weekend. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed in May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. The Prudential agents say besides remembering those that gave their lives for us putting out the flags beautifies the neighborhood. After walking up one side and down the other side of the street putting flags in the front yards of all the homes we turn around and see the flags waving in the wind. “What a great sight”, they all exclaim. The wonderful fulfilling feeling surely outweighs the sore backs from bending down and the sore legs from walking up and down the hills. Over 5000 flags were distributed over this past Memorial Day Weekend. This is the second consecutive year the San Bruno office of Prudential has done this for their neighbors. Next year they are aiming for 10,000 homes.

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