Who are you?  Are you one of the buyers who bucked the trend, took a risk and bought at the low, when everyone else was afraid?  Maybe now you are ready to leverage those gains into your move up property!  Or are you trying to buy now, for the first time, when there are many reports of OVER 40 offers on one home!  To succeed in real estate, ideally you’re working against the trend, taking advantage of the markets when they are in your favor.

This is a call to action for SELLERS!  Inventory remains at a critical low, with over 50% of the homes in contract.  This is NOT EVEN  a “Seller’s Market”…  It is called an “appreciating market.”  The demand is forcing buyers to bid prices up in order to prevail.  This market will not last forever; things will eventually stabilize and for you, Mr. or Mrs. Seller, that could mean a lower sales price.

Right now, home prices are the highest they have been in seven years.  Though 1/3 of the mortgages in the country are still underwater, we are seeing the least number of foreclosures, also since 2007.  This due to the government stepping in with the Homeowner’s Protection Act.  With prices rising, some folks who were underwater are no longer, and can move forward with a normal sale.  What great news!

Condo sales have also gained phenomenal traction, often being the only real estate that first time buyers can afford now that the low end in single family homes is all bought up.  And the rental market remains smoking hot!  Investors are buying tenant occupied homes and just lettin’ em stay there, rents are so high.

If you are a buyer, though nearly every other buyer is mobilized, it can still be a great time to buy with interest rates so low.  Keep two things in mind when buying: 1) buy the largest home you can afford – moving again is expensive and as families and lives grow, so does the need for more space, and 2) keep an eye out for that house that every one else has overlooked.  Do your homework, there are still deals to be had.

If you’re looking for an advocate in this crazy, crazy market, give me a call, text or write… I’ll keep it very real for you, and make your purchase proceess as easy as possible

In a recent company meeting it was said that “this is the strangest market in memory”.  My experience validates that statement.  Recently my sales have taken place off-market, selling properties that never made it to the MLS.  Serious lack of inventory forced me into scouring the Expired listings, and even Craig’s List to try and rustle up property for my very ready buyers.  The last deal I did actually had MULTIPLE OFFERS off market!  More and more realtors and seeking inventory behind the scenes to try and give their clients an edge in a market which is now seeing multiple offers to the tune of 30, 32 and 34 offers!  I have heard these stories from the direct experience of realtors in my office– this is not just hearsay.

Now more than ever you need a realtor who is going to be lock-step with you in order to acheive your objectives.  Prices are climbing quickly, and though interest rates remain low, they too are inching up.  It is critical to be pre-approved and PREPARED to go to battle!  The saddest buyers in the world are the 33 that lost out in a multiple offer situation with 34 buyers!!

I always suggest taking another look at the properties that have been languishing.  Sometimes you can have a diamond in the rough, and it may make financial sense to negotiate and pay less, putting those extra dollars into making the house exactly what you want it to be, rather than over-paying while in an emotional frenzy.

I support myself as a realtor by saying, I am not the busiest realtor in Marin.  I don’t want to be.  I just want a steady stream of cool folks to work with such that I can give them all of the time and attention they need to get the job done.  I’ve been doing this for eight years, and my dedication to quality remains the same.

If you’d like an ally while tromping through these crazy scenarios, give me a call, e-mail or text.  As a former Professional Life Coach, I know how to listen.  We’ll get it done.  I promise.

It’s the middle of December and the word is: the real estate market has been strengthening steadily throughout the year.  When 35% of the homes for sale are in contract, that is known as a “Seller’s Market”.  Currently 51% of the homes in Marin are in contract, this is called an “appreciating” market, with the limited inventory driving prices up once again.

We continue to be anxious for more inventory!  If you have a home and are holding off until next year, think again.  It is highly likely that your home would receive multiple offers if you were to put in on right now, two weeks before Christmas!

If you’ve read this far, allow me to wish you a very Happy Holiday Season!  And please feel free to contact me anytime should you need real estate support or assistance.

If you work with me, we can donate 10% of my net commission toward helping the poor folks who were victims of Hurricane Sandy.  I have family in New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Thank God none of them were impacted!  Of course, we can always put these charitable contribution dollars to other use, but this seems like a timely concern.

When I first heard that the America’s Cup races would be held in San Francisco, 2013 seemed SO FAR AWAY!!  Now, here we are at the end of 2012.  I’ve watched two fleet and match races on my husband’s boat, with some exciting drama as Jimmy Spithill’s Oracle 4 capsized– and he took the lead regardless!  I expect that, with folks coming from all over the world to watch these races, there will those who will simply fall in love with our gorgeous bay area, which is why I’m dedicating extra time to get up to speed on Marin’s view properties, especially BAY VIEW and WATERFRONT WITH DOCKS!!

My site already has a built-in link under “FIND YOUR HOME” especially for folks seeking view properties.  If you should want more specialized information please contact me.  Water view property has always been my favorite!

With the serious dearth of inventory today, when a great property, properly priced, comes on the market, we are seeing anywhere from 2 – 20 offers!  How do you compete?  First of all, you need to have ALL of your ducks in a row.  Make sure your realtor submits both your preapproval AND your verification of funds WITH the offer.

You will need to put as much money down as you reasonably can; you may very well be up against an all cash deal as investors are actively snatching up property.  Ask around, and see if you can find a mortgage broker who can get you a loan in less than 30-days.  I work with a great broker who can close a deal in 21 days, and sometimes less!!  You can also shorten your inspection periods, or wave inspections altogether if you have that kind of confidence level about the proeperty– though this is not advised unless, perhaps, you have a friend or family member who is a legitimate contractor who can really see what’s up.

Have your agent find out what is important to the sellers.  Some may want to stay longer, others will want to get out fast.  Some may just really want to sell to another family with kids, or to someone who is passionate about gardening. Find out to see if your profile might uniquely suit the seller.

Write a heartfelt letter (no pictures allowed, due to discrimination issues) as to why the house is the exactly right one for you.  Mention whatever you have learned about what is important to the seller.

And finally, search your heart to see what price you would be sad to learn that someone else got the house for, and offer $500 more than that.  So, if the house was listed for $600K, and you learned it went for $675K, ask yourself if you’d regret not having offered that $675K.  Many houses are under-priced when they hit the market these days, either because they are short sales, bank-owned, or the realtors just want to create a frenzy.  Remember the inventory you’ve seen so far, and use your common sense.  If the house seems too well priced, it is probably underpriced.  Offer a fair market value, or a teeny bit over, and your chances will greatly improve.  The right price, combined with making every other aspect of the offer as sweet as possible, should be the ticket to allowing you to prevail!

Don’t allow your emotions to get the best of you and offer an unreasonable amount for the house.  Chances are it won’t appraise, and when the blush goes off the rose, you will regret spending more than what would have been practical.

Don’t hesitate to call or write with any questions or for advice or coaching on this matter.

Muriel

Click this next phrase: Only Three Houses Under $500K in San Rafael just now.  If you have a home that might sell in this price range, you can almost be promised multiple offers.  To discuss further please call or write me.

If you or anyone you know has a simpler, single-family home to sell in San Rafael, most likely in Santa Venetia or the Bret Harte area, or a home in any other part of Marin that might need some TLC, there is a serious dearth of property available under $500,000, and this part of the market is hot, hot, hot!  Any homes coming on in this price range are likely to sell immediately with multiple offers.  Currently, out of 93 such properties in the county, 55 are in contract leaving a mere 38 properties, only 3 of which are in San Rafael– the remainder in Novato and West Marin.  Now is the time to get an optimal price for such homes, before the banks begin releasing a back up of foreclosed properties potentially forcing prices down again…