Every once in a while, I get caught off-guard by the aggressive words or actions of a client. Many times, when I “peel back the onion” to uncover what is making them respond the way they are, I hear a story they have heard (or even lived through) about a real estate agent who acted unethically. It’s sad, but it’s true — in real estate, there are a few bad apples out there. Here’s a little insight, and some next-steps… read more →
With access to the same information, many real estate news sources come to similar conclusions when forecasting the housing market. In July, a relatively common opinion was that the Bay Area was following a trend similar to that found in other parts of the United States: Housing prices were leveling out. Part of this was based on slight dips in June’s data, which suggested the beginning of a gradual “cooling” effect. July’s report has served to challenge this prediction, however.… read more →
Last month, the sale of Dublin townhouses and condos outperformed the Bay Area average in several important categories, including “days on market” and “median for sale versus sold” figures. This reinforces the opinion that condos and townhouses continue to be the strongest aspect of the Dublin housing market—something that should please homeowners who are looking to rent or sell these types of properties in the area. This is especially salient now, with news of skyrocketing prices in San Francisco and… read more →
The latest news is that much of the United States’ housing market is regaining a healthy balance between buyers and sellers, with economists forecasting slowed growth as inventories expand. A larger inventory means more choices and flexibility on pricing. Thus, a whole group of prospective buyers—previously intimated by (or squeezed out of) the market—stop toeing the edge of the pool and choose to jump in. Meanwhile, prices in parts of the Bay Area’s housing market have reached pre-recession levels—a fact… read more →
When you make an offer on a property and it’s accepted by the seller, two things normally happen right away. First, you have to put your deposit in escrow, and second you (or, hopefully, your agent) need to order the inspections. In a typical transaction, we recommend our clients order three kinds of inspections: property, termite and roof. Of all three, the termite inspection is the most important; let’s talk a little about the details so you know what to expect. Read More →
If any recent month served as a reminder of the importance of listening to the market, it was June. The latest data confirms that June was a tough month for many Dublin Ranch homeowners who were trying to sell their homes: The “days on market” median shot up to 34 (a relatively high number when compared to 13 days in May and 18 in April) which reflected a stubborn difference of opinion between sellers and buyers when it came to… read more →
Up until very recently, the housing market in the Richmond Waterfront area — including Point Richmond, Marina Bay, and Country Club Vista — was similar to other parts of the Bay Area: Prices were climbing, inventory was dropping, and the average home only had to spend a relatively brief time on the market before selling. Even back in May, however, there were signs that this could be slowing down in the near future. For example, new properties were entering the… read more →
It seems like it’s impossible to check the local news (or read this blog) without hearing about how the Bay Area’s housing market is heating up. California’s economic growth is drawing workers back into the area in search of homes; growing families are making the transition from rooms and apartments to condos and houses. Perhaps more importantly, people are finally moving on plans that were put off for years (due to the recession). On the aggregate level, many Bay Area… read more →
In my previous article, I wrote that a number of Dublin Ranch houses were closing for less than asking price, but that this suggested that many homeowners were simply racing ahead of “economic equilibrium” when setting their prices. Considering you can’t look at the news without seeing how hot Bay Area housing has gotten lately, this is a perfectly understandable mistake to make. If we can assume that people want the most for their home, then a healthy market is… read more →
Just about every house in the San Francisco Bay Area is connected to a public sewer system. Of all the homes I’ve sold, only three have had a septic system. The first time I helped someone with a septic system, I’ll admit, I was a little intimidated. After three transactions I am by no means an expert, but I’ve found they aren’t as scary as I once thought they were. And, with the economy improving and clients looking at purchasing vacation property out in the country, it’s probably worthwhile to run through the logistics here on the blog so you know a little more about what to expect. Here it goes… Read More →
Every once in a while, a client will ask me about the timing of their home sale… “When is the best time to sell my home?” I know why they’re asking — they want a “leg up” on the market. They want that extra little advantage that a well-timed offering will make so the most people possible will be looking at the time they sell. But do these “special times” exist? And if they do, when are they? There are… read more →
If you’ve made an offer on a Bay Area home in the past month, there’s a good chance that you’ve found yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with several other eager buyers. This increased competition has been a blessing to home sellers, who have capitalized on the rise in demand by raising prices. The latest figures reflect this trend: In May, the average home sold for 17% more than a year ago (the highest in over a year), and closed for $25,000 above the… read more →
As we hinted about in the previous installment of this series, our client at 440 Meadowlark owned a property that had a value of around $360,000 if it were sold in its present, as-is condition. As you saw from Part One of the “Shabby to Showplace” series, the house was suffering from deferred maintenance, it needed a new roof, and seemed to be the victim of shoddy workmanship from “upgrades” previous owners had made through the years. Our seller was… read more →
A common question in real estate is, “when is the best time to sell my home?” If you’ve ever asked this, there’s a good chance you’ve gotten a variety of answers. For example, some experts suggest that spring is the best season to put your house on the market, since families will want to move during the summer (when school is out of session). Others believe that the winter months are better because there are fewer houses on the market,… read more →
Homebuyers are certainly still feeling the heat as they compete to purchase property in the Richmond Waterfront area — as of April, Richmond waterfront homes continue to sell at a remarkable speed, with condos and townhouses spending an average of only a week and a half on the market. In many cases, these homes receive multiple offers from competitive buyers and close for the price the homeowner wants (if not more). There’s a silver lining for homebuyers interested in Point… read more →
I’m a sucker for “pretty/shiny” things. The Nest Thermostat is both, and I’ve wanted one for a while. I know they’ve been out for a few years, but the first generation wouldn’t work in my home because I have a heat pump instead of a traditional furnace. Lo and behold, v2.0 supports heat pumps and since its introduction last year I’ve been really tempted to get one. Part of the reason I’ve held off is because of an experience I… read more →
Have you heard? Part of California’s Low-Flow Toilet Law took affect January 1, 2014. But does everyone have to swap their old toilet for a new one? The short answer is “not yet.” For now, the law (SB 407 Padilla) only affects those who are doing an addition that increases the square footage of a home by 10% or more, those who spend $150,000 or more on retrofits or improvements, or those who are building a new home. If you… read more →
It’s that time of the year when we all get introspective about our lives, the year that has passed, and the year that is to come. It’s the time most of us make new commitments to things we want, and make “resolutions” to get them. I’m always struck by how many cars are in the parking lot at the gym right after the New Year. I laugh about it, but I also get frustrated by the limited access to equipment… read more →
Welcome to the new website for Lifestyle Real Estate Services. Yes, we’re reinventing ourselves… again. We have a good reason for it, though: When people ask me, “What do you do?” I respond, “I run a real estate marketing company.” Their next reaction is always predictable — They furrow their brow and say “So, you’re a Realtor?” Now, the honest truth is that yes, I am a Realtor. I belong to the National Association of Realtors, I subscribe to the… read more →
It used to be that, if you were an underwater homeowner who had fallen on hard times, and who had to do a short sale, the forgiven debt would be counted as income on your tax return. Think about that — you have $400,000 in debt against your home and, after the downturn, it’s only worth $250,000 when you are forced to sell it or have your lender foreclose. Then, at the end of the year, you owe income taxes… read more →
