We had the economic stimulus package provided by Congress in February. Did you feel stimulated? No? I know that I did’t.
It is widely felt that a second economic stimulus package is necessary. The timing is an issue. Will the lame duck Congress try to do something meaningful before the next Congress is sworn in? Will […]

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Aren’t we getting tired of short sales?
 Misleading prices…extremely long response periods from lenders…the necessity for way to many follow up phone calls-from buyer’s agent to listing agent and from listing agent to lender…buyers walking away from offers because they have (pick one) 1. bought another property, 2. got tired of waiting for a response, 3. […]

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An agent friend was recently involved in the sale of a foreclosed house. She was the listing agent. The house is in a newer neighborhood of San Ramon, Ca. surrounded by many houses that have been built within the last few years. The house was built in 2006, sold and resold in 2007 for $870,000. […]

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I read a blog entry by Mary Pope-Handy, a REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty in Cupertino, about a Los Gatos neighborhood that stirred many memories! Mary wrote about Los Gatos neighborhood that she characterized as “one of the most sought-after areas among first time Los Gatos homebuyers”…Blossom Hill Manor.
I remember well the joy of living […]

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Last Wednesday, Oct. 16th, at the California Association of REALTORS State Meeting in Long Beach, CAR Chief Economist, Leslie Appleton-Young, released her “2009 Housing Market Forecast”. I was there. It is always worthwhile to hear Leslie speak. She is well regarded and well respected in the field of economics. The event was covered by the […]

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I wrote an offer on a property that is a short sale. Now short sales are not a REALTOR’s dream transactions—nightmare, maybe—but there was a compelling reason to write the offer for these clients.
They are renters. A while back, their landlord stopped making payments on the mortgage for the house they are renting. Sooner or […]

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I have a questi0n for you. Ask around for the answer. It may be revealing.
Do you know any homeowner who has owned their home for ten years or more who says that buying was a mistake? I suspect that the answer is ’no’. I suspect that they will say that they are glad that they bought when they did.
How […]

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I am working with a couple who wants to buy a house. Not a townhouse or condo. They have two dogs—pretty good sized dogs—and the dogs need room to run around a bit.
Problem is that the amount for which this couple is qualified by a quality lender severely limits their ability to purchase most single […]

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So you thought that multiple offers on homes was a thing of the past…
Recently, I saw a newly listed house that defied description.
I have seen houses that were “dated”. I have seen houses that needed “work”. I have seen houses that were described as needing TLC (tender loving care). I have seen houses that were […]

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It’s a Buyers’ Market! So what is holding you back?
You have said that “real estate prices are too high”. So, are you still waiting for prices to go down?
You have said that there are not enough houses to look at…supply is too narrow…thus artificially pushing prices up.
You have said that you wish you had bought several years ago when prices […]

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