Terry Birt

Missed Opportunity ?
May 22, 2009 · · 6 Comments

buyers-choiceRecently, it seems that all the buyers have come out of the wood work….
We have been inundated with large groups at our open houses and receiving large amount of “sign calls” and inquires on our websites…
But the one thing that has not changed is fear…Depending on where the property is and the price range that it is in, there is a different strategy on how to make an offer. I think the public understands that the interest rates are great, and  inventory has lessened, and  buyers are hearing about multiple offers; but there is something that is preventing them to make a move. My advise: Work with your agent…let them help you understand… ask a lot of questions.

Just this week, I have encountered buyers who I met a few weeks ago, they saw this home in their price range, and have their financing in order, but they needed time to “think about it”.  When they came back to reconsider the home, it was gone (in escrow with multiple offers).  Had they written a couple of weeks ago it could have been theirs.

 Don’t lose your opportunity. There are several ways to protect yourself from competition and allow you to participate in obtaining home with your price and terms.

Kathy Wall

More Housing Help from the Government
March 3, 2009 · · 4 Comments

 

In previous posts, fellow bloggers, Annie Chang and Michael Monozon,  have talked about the many benefits of the new federal government stimulus package.   Over the weekend, I learned about yet another program that will greatly help potential home buyers and will also help the many home builders who are sinking under the weight of  their new homes not selling . 

At our office meeting this morning, our in house lender, Guarantee Mortgage, filled us in on the details, as follows.   It seems that the State of California has now instituted yet another tax credit.   This one will apply only to people who purchase a brand new home, condo or townhome. Read more

Kathy Wall

Rent Control – Out of Control
December 31, 2008 · · 3 Comments

I have an elderly client who purchased a home in San Francisco’s Sunset District many years ago.   A few years after the purchase, he and his wife decided to move to Marin and rented the house out to a “friend.”  

It’s now about 30 years later and my client desperately needs to sell the home so that he can keep up with ongoing medical bills.   You see, his wife had a very bad stroke while on an airplane about 8 years ago and, a year later, ended up with kidney failure.   She’s been in a wheelchair and on dialysis ever since.  Sadly, they had no insurance at the time of his wife’s stroke and certainly can’t get any now, so he’s been borrowing on the San Francisco house in order to keep up with her numerous and never ending expenses.   Now, the payments are ballooning up to a point that he can no longer afford to pay them. Read more

Shokoofeh Nowbakht

What is TDS?
September 17, 2008 · · 1 Comment

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“What is TDS?” my client asked. It is a 3 page Transfer Disclosure Statement which the seller is required by law to fill out. The main purpose is for the sellers to disclose to the buyers anything they know about the condition of the house. Read more