Kathy Wall

Realtor’s are People, Too!
October 7, 2010 · · 2 Comments

Recently, my colleague, Rommel, wrote an excellent blog on ethics in our business.     There is another side to the story, however, and that is the ethics of the clients.

While answering phones  in the office this weekend, I received a call from a man who wanted to see one of our listings in San Francisco.   I agreed to meet him at the listing at 11:00 a.m. the next day.

That night, I was involved in a relatively minor car crash and when I awoke the next morning I felt exhausted and unwell….still a little in shock from the accident, I guess.    Even though I didn’t feel well, I planned to do my job and attend our scheduled showing, as well as doing my open house later that day. Read more

Lee Ginsburg

Are They Comparing Apples to Apples
August 21, 2009 · · 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

Shokoofeh Nowbakht

20 homes under $500,000 in San Bruno
July 16, 2008 · · Comment here

First time home buyers and investors, what are you waiting for? I just checked the multiple listings and found 20 homes in San Bruno for sale, listed under $500,000. WOW!!! These include regular sales, shortsales and bank owned.

This is the time to buy real estate!

Shokoofeh Nowbakht, Realtor