Lee Ginsburg

Do I Need An Agent?

December 4, 2011 · · 2 Comments

I was at a recent home buying workshop and someone asked if she needs an agent.

In the Bay Area the buyer does not pay for the agent to help them find a home, help them negotiate; walk them through the process, etc. The buyer also does not pay the agent for helping them digest the comparable properties, or get inside information concerning the home or the comparables, educate them on the neighborhood, and more. The buyer never pays the agent anything. The seller’s agent pays the buyer’s agent for assisting them in selling the home, but the agent has a fiduciary duty and obligation to their client, the buyer.

So why wouldn’t you want someone to do all the dirty work, to bounce ideas off of, and to pick their brains with no cost to you.
Every transaction is different. The buyer’s agent does all of the above and more depending on each individual situation.

realtor

The most important task the buyer’s agent performs but hardly mentioned, is helping the buyer maintain their emotions. I have seen buyer’s get so excited about a home that they would pay anything for it. Well maybe not anything but more than necessary. A good agent will protect the buyer by making them see reality. On the other hand they might be offended by the seller’s response and might react by cancelling the transaction or respond negatively and blow the deal. An agent is the buffer.

An agent will help the buyer see through the seller’s messy home to see the bones and layout of the home. An agent will keep the buyer focused on the purpose of buying a home, facing reality and prevent them from getting sidetracked. I remember helping a newly married couple with a baby purchase their first home. They liked the well decorated home in a not so good area. They were not familiar with the area. They were prepared to write an offer and I did not want to discourage their enthusiasm. I suggested on the way home we drive by again. We did and they calmed their emotions and changed their thoughts on their own.       Read more

Lee Ginsburg

Dates to Remember

November 9, 2011 · · 2 Comments
 

Thursday Nov. 17 -6:30 – FREE Information Workshop on Energy Rebates -180 El Camino Real, San Bruno

Energy Upgrade California, a statewide program launched in March that provides rebates to homeowners for carrying out home energy efficiency retrofits with approved contractors.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and utility ratepayer funds, is offering a Rebate for Energy Upgrades, The program is a partnership between the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, Department of Energy, San Mateo County and PG&E. San Mateo County has recently announced that it will be doubling the program’s rebates. San Bruno is offering a Third Rebate. If you are considering replacing a Hot Water heater, Furnace, Windows, Roof, or adding insulation or solar this is the workshop you should not miss. You will learn how to reduce your energy costs by up to 40% and have someone else pay for the upgrades.
For More Information follow the links:
https://energyupgradeca.org/overview
http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/Attachments/cmo/pdfs/Energy%20Upgrade/FAQ.pdf
http://sanbruno.patch.com/articles/does-your-home-need-an-energy-upgrade

http://www.SDIHomePerformance.com

clip_image004
 
Thursday Nov. 17, -2-5PM – Free Home Buyer Workshop -
College of San Mateo, 1700 W. Hillsdale Boulevard, San Mateo, Bldg. 10 – Room 193
The San Mateo Association of Realtors will be hosting this workshop to help you understand the basics of how to buy a home – even if you’re not at that place in life yet – Home Ownership is still the key to reaching Financial Stability and in achieving the American dream. Now is the “Perfect Storm” with low interest rates, low housing prices and low down payments. Professionals in banking, title, credit, law and real estate will provide knowledge and interact with the public on the basics in planning for homeownership. No pre-registration required.
For Additional information follow the link: www.samcar.org/homebuyerworkshop
Home
“It is Better To Own Real Estate and Wait Than Wait To Own Real Estate”
www.leesellsmore.com
Lee Ginsburg

Great Loan Options are Here!!!

September 9, 2011 · · 1 Comment
Dear Homeowners and Potential Home Buyers,
I want to let you know of a great opportunity. Interest rates!!!
Interest rates are at record lows. We have been hearing that for a few years and our government plans to keep it way for a few more. With that said mortgage interest rates do fluctuate daily.
Many people think loans are difficult to get. That is a misnomer. Just prove you can afford the payments and you get the loan. The bank might ask lots of questions and request lots of papers but they are willing to offer you a loan and guarantee to hold the same price for the next 30 years. Do you know of another product or service that guarantees the price for the next 30 years?
30 year fixed rates today are 4.25-4.5%. For your knowledge a 1% increase will affect a $500,000 loan by about $300. A 10% price adjustment will affect your payment by about $250.000. I am trying to show the influence of interest rate on your monthly payment.
10000-2b
Many people believe you need 20% down payment or equity for refinancers to get a loan. Another misnomer, that is not correct. With all that has happened in our banking system it is unbelievable but you can still obtain a loan with only 3.5% down payment or equity.      Read more
Lee Ginsburg

Good News Finally!!! – New Energy Rebates

August 7, 2011 · · 2 Comments

Most of us living in San Mateo County are living in homes forty or fifty years old. Older homes are always in need of some repairs or upgrading. I recently heard that San Mateo County is announcing on Monday that they will match some of PG&E’s energy rebates. You can get up to $8000 in rebates. Not sure if you have to rebuild the entire home to get $8000 but here is the info.

These will double the currently offered rebates. Some upgrades might even qualify for Federal tax Credits. I have read there is even low cost financing with income qualifications.

Attic insulation, furnace and water heater replacement, roof, solar energy and more may qualify. It is certainly worthwhile to look into if you are considering doing some work.

Follow the links for additional information.

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=164559&title=Homeowners%20eligible%20for%20big%20energy%20rebates

https://energyupgradeca.org/county/san_mateo/action_plans/property_type

http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/portal/site/cmo/menuitem.c62298d126a043af82439054d17332a0/?vgnextoid=3abf1ab5fe4fb210VgnVCM1000001937230aRCRD&vgnextfmt=DivisionsLanding

ATTEND AN UPCOMING WORKSHOP:

San Bruno – Tuesday, August 23 rd 7-8:30 p.m.

Burlingame – Wednesday, August 24th 7-8:30 p.m.

Half Moon Bay – Wednesday, September 14th 7-8:30 p.m.

San Carlos – Wednesday, September 28th 7-8:30 p.m.

Lee Ginsburg
www.leesellsmore.com

“It is Better to Own Real Estate Than Wait To Own Real Estate”

Lee Ginsburg

Monte Verde Student Wins Doodle for Google

June 28, 2011 · · 4 Comments

6682378

Our very own Monte Verde School wins big. Monte Verde is in San Bruno but is part of the South San Francisco School District. It serves Monte Verde area of San Bruno and a portion of Westborough area of South San Francisco. What did they win? Monte Verde Elementary School won a $25,000 technology grant and 7 years old, second grade student, Mateo Lopez won $15,000 college Scholarship. This is the results of “Doodle for Google” contest. 107,000 entrants ranging from Kindergarten to twelfth grade and a second grader from our back yard won. San Bruno and South San Francisco residents should be proud of the Monte Verde School and home grown Mateo Lopez. Hurray!!! Congratulations!!!

For additional information please click on the link: http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2011/05/20/6676677-doodle-4-google-winner-matteo-lopez-7

Lee Ginsburg
www.leesellsmore.com
“It is Better To Own Real Estate and Wait Than Wait To Own Real Estate”

Lee Ginsburg

Is a Home Warranty Beneficial?

May 25, 2011 · · 5 Comments

k2794042In a Real Estate transaction quite often the buyer or seller discuss with their agent the cost, the coverage, the pros and the cons of a Home Warranty. Many people think Home Warranty is the best creation since chopped Liver. I am not a fan of the Home Warranty Companies. I have found they try to find any excuse not to pay. With a Home Warranty you must pay a service call of approximately $50.00. The cost of a home warranty from most of the major companies is about $500 with a few options. Let’s say you purchased an older home and needed service 3 times. That would be a cost of $650.00. When I have called a service technician to my home with no warranty the cost is usually $150 for a total of $450 for 3 calls vs.. the $650 with the warranty. If the buyer can negotiate for the seller to pay for it then you come out a winner but if not it is not the best financial investment although it could be very comforting. Please do not get me wrong, I have had a client get a water heater replaced so it can be beneficial.

The following article was in the San Jose Mercury News recently and I thought it had some very good ideas on the search for good Home Warranty Companies.

http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate/ci_18060185?nclick_check=1

The following are some of the major Home Warranty Companies servicing the San Francisco Bay Area:
http://www.homewarranty.com/
http://homewarranty.ahs.com/
http://home-warranty.firstam.com/?code=BM51
http://www.orhp.com/
http://www.hiscohw.com/
http://hghw.com/

“It is Better To Own Real Estate and Wait Than Wait To Own Real Estate”
Lee Ginsburg
www.leesellsmore.com

Lee Ginsburg

Is Your Smoke Detector Helping

May 13, 2011 · · 5 Comments
Silent Alarms, Deadly Nights By Skip Walker, MCI ACI April 2011

 Nearly 95% of California families are living on the brink of a tragedy. And this isn’t what you are probably thinking. I am not talking about an earthquake. It is the smoke alarms that most of us depend on in a fire.

 Like most, I always believed that smoke alarms were pretty much all the same. After all, every smoke alarm sold is required to be tested and approved. The smoke alarms most of us have at home are either Ionization or Photoelectric type alarms. The reality is that all smoke alarms are not the same. In real world fires, these two types of alarms will react very differently. In this case – different is not good. Knowing the difference could very well save your life.

 Back in the 1970′s, smoke alarms were largely unknown. Back then, the residential fire death rate was about 7 to 8 fatalities per 1,000 US home fires. Between the 70′s and now, we have installed hundreds of millions of smoke alarms in US homes. Yet today, your chances of dying in a fire still hover around 7 or 8 deaths per 1,000 home fires.

 Clearly, something is terribly wrong here. “I estimate that at least 10,000-15,000 people have died unnecessarily in smoldering house fires since 1990 because they relied on ionization detectors” Jay Fleming, Boston Deputy Fire Chief. The smoke alarm marketers tell us that the alarms are the same and more recently that we should have both types. It is true that an ionization alarm responds marginally faster to an open or “fast-flame” fires than a photoelectric smoke alarm. On average, ionization alarms will react about 30 to 90 seconds faster to this type of fire. However, nearly 100% of residential fire fatalities are from smoke inhalation and not from the actual fire. Most deadly fires occur at night while you sleep.    Read more

Lee Ginsburg

Is the Bay Area Home Buyer Obsessed with School Scores

February 24, 2011 · · 4 Comments

Many homebuyers in San Mateo, San Bruno, Burlingame, Millbrae and up and down the peninsula purchase their homes based on school scores. I am not sure if API, Academic Performance Index, (http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/ ) scores is an accurate evaluation method to determine a young person’s education. I find the API scores of a school to determine the college you child goes to as reliable as a City’s Median home prices is in determining the value of your home. Homes in a city are varied and encompass a large diversified area just like a school’s diversified student enrollment and have high and low performing students.

kids in school

Many of our public schools have a large population of intelligent non- English speaking immigrants. Teachers are trained and cater to that specific group and they also teach to the more advanced student by offering enrichment classes, honor classes, etc. Both of my son’s went to a public High School in San Mateo that possibly has the lowest scores amongst the San Mateo High Schools. They both graduated and went to very good schools. In their graduating class several students were accepted into Harvard, Stanford, MIT and more of the top schools. Some of their friends went to a private high school, were not happy, did not perform well and transferred out. A peninsula high school with a rating of 10 has had an epidemic of suicides. Top scores is not the final answer.     Read more