Category

Sellers

Dec 01
0

Want to sell your house?

By | Sellers, Sonoma County info | No Comments

Kevin Boer had too much fun writing the article “Top 10 Ways To NOT Sell Your House”. As a Realtor I take my job seriously and assist my clients with great staging ideas, help with colors, make sure to do the pest inspection etc. etc. I mean, think of it, having your home on the market is not fun and it’s always my goal to make that process as short and painful as possible.

However, over the years I have talked to a lot of people about selling their home (guess what… yes… I am a Realtor…) and you’d be surprised how often sellers do the things mentioned by Kevin.

I don’t want my neighbors to know we are selling… Hmmm let me think… Yes one seller did mention that years ago. I had to tell her that neighbors quite often are a great source for potential buyers, if they like the neighborhood they want their friends to live there too.

No yard sign… same reason… Overprice the home. Yes we all think our home is the best in the neighborhood, Realtors who sell their own home/set their own price often do the same. We are no better when it comes to selling OUR home.

Long story short. If you decide to sell, be serious about it. No yard sign means that you are fooling yourself and not ready to sell you home: you don’t want to be reminded that you are selling your home every time you come home.

Over the years I have come to realize that sometimes people are not ready to sell their home for what ever reason. There are ways to make yourself ready, one is clearing out your home. You will go through memory lane but it will help you mentally get ready to sell your home.

Have a great weekend!

Mirjam – Mirjam@c21alliance.com

Nov 22
0

More about foreclosure

By | Financial news, Foreclosure, Mortgage, Sellers | No Comments

On the bottom of this page (scroll down) you will find the announcement for the Smart Home Choices Workshop.  If you are interested in real estate and want to know more about the financial aspect, you are cordially invited to come. The program is going to be great! You can register online.
Somewhere I read the 70% of all the people that went into foreclosure never talked to their lender to see whether they could arrange a solution. It’s the fear, the shame, name it. Whatever it is, I think it’s also because of lack of knowledge. – The Smart Home Choices Seminar will be educational!  However, there is a company that is there to help home owners  to keep their homes. Lowering the interest rates is not the only solution.

hpf_logo.gif This company is called HOPE, it stands for Homeownership Preservation. It’s good to know about companies like these. In our area, Redwood Credit Union will alway refer you to HOPE.

Foreclosure is not a good solution, it’s the last solution. There are many alternatives that should be tried first.

Of course, should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Denise or me.

  Have a great day!

mirjamnew.jpg    Mirjam

Nov 02
0

Quotes about Owning Real Estate

By | Buyers, RE Investing, Retirement, Sellers, Sonoma County info | One Comment

And you thought now is about the worst time to buy Real Estate let alone own Real Estate? Over priced, not worth it, etc etc etc. Let me share some quotes with you:

“A home is where a bad investment is” – San Francisco Examiner 1996. -> Average price of a home in San Francisco in 1996 was $250,000. Ten years later is was $750,000

“Financial planners agree that houses will continue to be a poor investment” – Kiplinger’s Personal Financial Magazine, 1993 -> Average home price around $190,00o

“If you are looking to buy, be careful. Rising home values are not a sure thing anymore” -Miami Herald 1985 -> Average home price around $120,000

“The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans”- Business Week 1969 -> Average home price around $ 25,000

“Houses cost too much for the mass market. Today’s average price is out of reach for two-thirds of all buyers” -Science Digest, 1948 -> Average home price around $ 7,000

Here it is, the history makes it clear: buying a home has always been expensive, first time home buyers have always been in a difficult spot, the first year is hard. However, rewards are there for those who take the challenge and go for home ownership.

Think of it, I don’t know how old you are, but the people who were starters in 1965, are retired by now, their home has become a nice nest egg…

Have a great weekend!

mirjamnew.jpg Mirjam

Oct 09
0

Broker Tour, sign ordinance

By | Buyers, Sellers, Sonoma County info | One Comment

mirjamnew.jpg This mornings Realtor breakfast had an interesting subject. The sign ordinance, or better, lack of it. Sonoma County is one of the counties that don’t have a sign ordinance for Property signs, this is good, a sign ordinance means that Realtors have to get a permit for for instance every a-frame they use for their open houses. Every once in a while this pops up when people start complaining about the for sale signs and directional sign on public property. Should you sell your property, a sign on your property makes sense. When your property is outside the city limits in a rural area and is really hard to find, it is ok to put a directional sign on a strategic place. Don’t demand from your Realtor to install directional signs on every corner in the neighborhood, it’s won’t sell your property any faster and it certainly is a nuisance for other people in the neighborhood/area.

We has an interesting broker open tour. The highest priced property was on 3777 Skyfarm Drive, a brand new spec home on 1.3 acre for $ 6,900,000. It is an interesting property with to many great features to mention. Should you like to see it, please contact me.

Other properties worth mentioning:

5898 Mountain Hawk Drive – a 4 bedroom single story home on 0.29 acre in Skyhawk.

411 Stone Crest Ct – a great home on a private location and panoramic views in Lomita Heights. The back yard is your own private sanctuary. Lots of steps but worth it.

Don’t hesitate to contact me should you be interested in any of these properties.

Have a great day! – Mirjam