Brisbane – Missing the Boat…
Many home buyers and Realtors are missing the boat when it comes to a nearby town that offers great weather, lots of amenities and darned good real estate prices. I’m talking about the little community of Brisbane. It is located 10 minutes (or less, if you drive like me!) from the airport and is only 10 minutes to downtown San Francisco. Yet, hardly anyone even knows of it’s existence.
Brisbane is a hidden gem here on the Peninsula. It is located on the side of San Bruno Mountain between San Francisco and South San Francisco. There are only 3,597 residents, which makes it one of the smallest communities in the area. It is very unlike your typical suburb in that it has a hodgepodge of all types of architecture, from shacks to mansions, with very few ranch style homes. Many of the homes have great views of the Bay and downtown San Francisco.
The people of the community are almost as diverse as the architecture. Living in the town are world renowned film makers, rocket scientists, artists and musicians…all living happily amongst all of us regular folks. Brisbane is known as the “City of the Stars” because for over 65 years the residents have put up stars on their homes during the holiday season and even have a “Festival of Stars” each year. Read more
To hire a short sale negotiator or not??
With short sales on the rise is hiring a negotiator worth it? When taking on a short sale listing do you ask yourself if it is money well spent to hire a negotiator? Sure the time you save not having to contact the lenders yourself is money well spent, but how do you truly know if they are contacting them as frequently as they should be and negotiating to the best of their abilities?? The other question that begs to be asked… if you are the one hiring the negotiator to alleviate your work load why in most cases are you asking the buyer to pay for them? If you have decided to take on short sales isn’t part of your job to deal with the lenders and negotiate on behalf of your client? Isn’t that what we do best? I have recently come across a lot of short sale listings on the MLS that are requesting the selling agent to pay 50% of the negotiator fee or the buyer to pay the entire 1%. It seems to be a bit obscure and in most cases makes everyone uncomfortable.
Now don’t get me wrong I agree with the adage time is money, so I am all for Read more
San Mateo County Real Estate Wrap up 2009
Below is a chart that compares the San Mateo County Real Estate Market in 2009 to the San Mateo County Real Estate Market in 2008. As you will see the results are comofrting and shed some positive light on what is to come in 2010. Although interest rates are scheduled to rise as early as this Spring and foreclosures loom in the back ground, as long as inventory stays slow and steady the market should remain on a positive steady but upward incline. Now is a great time to take advantage of the low interest rates and tax credits that are currently provided. Please click on the thumbnail below for a full picture.
Nicole Machado- Prudential California Real Estate
Nothing Personal…It’s Business!
You’ve lovingly taken care of your house for years, have loads of memories, plans for your future and you assume that all these factors will add value for a buyer. Or you’re a buyer and while the neighborhood you like is a little out of your price range, you want to write offers because you grew up there and want your children to have the same experience. Here’s the problem…if you are the buyer, the seller isn’t interested in your story and sellers, a buyer doesn’t really care about the sentimental attachment to your home. In short, buying or selling a home is a business transaction pure and simple. Read more
Missed Opportunity ?
Recently, 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.
A Few Bad Pennies….
About 3 weeks ago, I wrote an offer on a bank owned property in Hayward for a client of mine. I tried contacting the agent representing the seller to let her know that I was sending an offer, but wasn’t able to reach her. So, I emailed the offer and, also, faxed it to make absolutely sure that she received it by the deadline.
Over the course of the next 3 weeks, I tried diligently to reach this agent. I tried both calling and emailing. Sometimes when I called, I would get her voice mail. Other times, I got her husband who was listed as the co-lister, but knew nothing about the property. He indicated that he had “taken the phone away from her, because if she kept taking calls, she would never get anything done.” Read more
Housing Stimulus – An Open Letter to the Politicians
To Congress Woman Jackie Spier, Senator Diane Feinstein, and Senator Boxer
I am a local realtor specializing in San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. I do not think the $15,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit in the Economic Stimulus Package is making best use of Tax Payers money. Read more
SSF Real Estate… things are looking up
As 2008 wraps up and we all grasp onto our crystal balls to determine the fate of 2009… I wanted to end the year on a positive note with some statistics from the San Mateo County Multiple Listing Service that may help to give us all a positive outlook on the Real Estate market for 2009. South San Francisco was one of the Peninsula’s hardest hit cities with short sales and foreclosures, but by the looks of it, SSF seems to be bouncing back just fine. Read more
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