You may have heard about buying or selling a home ‘off-market,’ but what does that actually mean? An off-market home is a property that is for sale but not made available to the general public through the multiple listing services (MLS). It may also be referred to as a “pocket listing”.
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Do you want to overpay for your home? Would you like to get stuck in a mortgage that is all wrong for you? How about swinging and missing on an opportunity to purchase your dream home? Of course the answer to these questions is a “no”, but these are the results of the common home buying mistakes buyers make.
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As agents, we run into buyers that believe they will have an advantage over competing buyers if they chose to work directly with the listing agent. On one level it makes sense, but is it really in the best interest of the buyer?
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You’ll hear the Chicken Little’s talking about it – “The bottom’s falling out!”; “It’s 2008 all over again!”; “Here comes the bust!!”. What are they talking about? The real estate market, of course. And like all things Chicken Little, there’s a lot of drama and hyperbole, but maybe a tiny grain of truth. So, are we in a Buyer’s Market?
Here on the Peninsula, people are needing to get creative about housing. With limited space, rising populations and multi-generational families, finding housing that fits your needs can be tricky. San Mateo County is making a considered effort to promote and encourage residents to explore developing second units, or ADU’s. So what are ADU’s all about?
The term ADU stands for “Accessory Dwelling Unit”. This could be anything from a garage conversion to a free-standing structure on the property. Regardless of type, they are all self-contained and smaller than the primary structure on the property. Often known as in-law units, cottages or garage apartments.Read More
So you’re thinking you might be ready to be a first time homebuyer? That’s so exciting – and totally overwhelming. Where do you start? How much is it going to cost you? How do you make sure you can get the home you want?
Take a deep breath, I’ve got you covered. These 5 tips will help you to be ready to roll once you get serious about finding your first home.
Long before you start actively looking for a house, you should start going to open houses. It can be your weekend thing – a hike, brunch, open houses. So why would I tell you to go to open houses if you’re not remotely close to being ready to buy a place? Think of it as similar to an SAT prep class – you’re not ready for the final exam, but you are ready to learn how to take the test.
Growing up in the small Menlo Park neighborhood of Felton Gables, 4th of July was a big deal. A really big deal! We had the greatest neighborhood party – all the kids would gather at our house to make homemade ice cream, then run home to decorate themselves and their bikes for the parade. We had face painting, games, hula-hoop competitions and neighbors coming together to support each other, cook for each other and celebrate our country and our neighborhood. It goes without saying that 1976 was the biggest one of them all.
It was pretty idyllic.Read More