colorful house

The path to homeownership can be much like this photo brightly colored with hope and expectation but also can have a dark side of doubt and market volatility. In the past view weeks I have had the honor of representing buyers and sellers navigate this interesting market. So many ups and downs. Why would I talk about this, don't I just want to put you in the wagon and say giddee up and off we go into the home buying or selling landscape.

Yes I do but I want to prepare you. If you are a buyer certain areas of the market are white hot and the competition is stiff. I get calls every day from prospective buyers that tell me the market is going to correct and they are expecting to get a good price based on this coming financial downturn. While I…

426 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Do-it-yourself projects are in vogue these days. You can find advice online for everything from investing in crypto-currency to tearing down the living room wall. When considering the cost of moving, it’s natural to wonder if real estate commissions are one way to save money, but it would be a mistake. A good real estate agent might make it seem easy, but the fact is that selling your own home could actually cost you thousands of dollars.

5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Sell Your Home without an Agent

  • 1. The Safety of Your Home and Family is a Priority – Real Estate agents control access to your home. When I put a lockbox on I know who is at your home and when.
  • 2. Most Serious Buyers Start their Search Online – As a professional listing agent I will…

503 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Your Starter Home vs. Your Forever Home Buying

A new home you own is exciting even if it is "co-owned" with the bank. Most people have visualized their dream home—large, inviting kitchen; multiple bedrooms for family and guests; perhaps a backyard with built-in BBQ, pool, and fireplace. Yet this dream is often out of reach financially for first-time homebuyers. These buyers are ready to find a starter home and perhaps are wondering if saving for a forever home makes more financial sense. Before making this decision, it’s important to consult with a professional financial advisor about your unique situation; more often than not, getting a starter home makes the most sense. 

Location, Location, Location, that is the three main ingredients right? Well…

12441 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Welcome to your real estate reality! Yep real estate is online devoid of strange smells, vibes or sensations. Can a house be sold like this? Can a house be bought like this? It is a whole new world in real estate. Buyers are online as usual or more so because they cannot view the houses, wondering when they can get in a home. Sellers are wondering will a buyer, buy in such a closed environment if their home is harder to see with Covid showing procedures. There is a huge shift in how houses will be sold. This could be a good thing yet I do see a few pitfalls with the gains. Real estate agents will not become obsolete if anything they will be an important resource as they are the eyes and ears on the ground for the virtual buyer and seller. One large…

542 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

At a really young age I knew I did not want to live in a rented home, my mother and my father rented their homes. My father lived in a converted chicken shack at one point. It was not really was too bad just really slanted floors. My mother rented her homes until I was 20 then purchased a condo. I am not sure they really cared much but I knew it was not the way to go. This is not to shame them on the basis of wealth but really it is security. They never really knew if they were going to be asked to move or if the rent was going to increased, most of their homes the landlords would not do any repairs. It just seemed so out of control and insecure.

This morning I realized the importance of a place you can feel safe and secure in. Now with the Shelter…

354 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

We are in such strange times yet real estate continues on. For April 2020 the average sales price is $1,006,000 up from $966,000 in March And homes are still selling! 25 single family homes sold and 32 new listings for the past week. Santa Cruz county real estate is moving right along. If you are thinking of selling I recommend using this time to get deep into the closets, drawers, cupboards and clean them all out. If you have a garage or room stack it all in there. Buyers are pretty forgiving with items in the garage. Weather permitting clean your yard, or just your front step, if possible touch up paint inside and out. Tackle the to do projects. Now is the best time to get ready. I also recommend listing now and getting the disclosures signed and be…

378 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

It just came to me that this Covid-19, Shelter in Place experience is a lot like a situation a few years ago. The Depression of 2008. A large mortgage bubble that popped and caused a faulty built economy to collapse. This created a huge mortgage meltdown people lost jobs, people that had jobs tied to the housing industry in any way lost their job.There is a lot that happened that I will not get into here. I learned a lot about banks, lenders, mortgage companies. 

I learned that in times of crisis the very large companies do not care. This does not mean the individual employees but the corporations. And as I was listening to the news I heard something interesting. Smaller banks and credit unions are working with people who are out of work or furloughed…

394 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

What do people really hate to deal with? It is wills or trusts! It is the last thing most people really want to tackle. I think people prefer not to think about them because ultimately it is to consider one's demise. But please try to think of it this way, this is making sure your personal business is taken care of. I cannot tell you how many troubled family members I have helped through the ages that had problems because basic personal business was not settled. A clear and concise plan of action upon your death is the best gift you could give a loved one. I am not saying they may like your wishes but my experience is when it is all spelled out it is much less stressful for family or friends. Keep in mind it does not have to a formal trust, a will can…

397 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post