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Waterfront Views and Liquefaction ZonesWhenever you deal with real estate, there are always choices and tradeoffs that buyers must make before considering a property. I recently had a client who wanted to live on flat land near the water in San Francisco with Bay views. I then had to deliver to her the bad news that most of the flat land with Bay views in San Francisco has been built on landfill and is in liquefaction zones. ... more...
Blogged on 9/2/2010
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A 2-Unit Building as 1 Home? Watch Out.When looking for a single family home you may run into a home with an in-law unit. Many buyers often worry about whether or not the in-law is legal, and if it’s not, how that might affect the loan process. What many don’t know is that there may be obstacles if it is a legal 2-unit building being used as a single family home. Even if there is only one address (and the additiona... more...
Blogged on 9/2/2010
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What is an Extra Bedroom Worth?If you’re expecting a third child, another bedroom may be a family necessity and the only real questions may be: can I afford to build the addition and can I obtain the permits. However, if you’re wondering what financial value another bedroom may add to your home or if you’re potential buyer analyzing the upside potential of turning a modest sized home into a larger one... more...
Blogged on 9/1/2010
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Preparing for Your MoveIf you are out looking at homes to purchase, just obtained an approval on an offer to purchase a home, or if you are in contract to sell your home, making the move to sell and/or purchase is a big deal. And moving is a part of the sale process. The work of moving can be made easier with a move plan. Preparing for your MoveStart early and create a calendar with your own move plan.... more...
Blogged on 9/1/2010
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Home Pitches: Sinkers & SlidersUsing baseball vernacular, homes sales are indeed in a slump. Yep, there’s no getting around it: home sales took a nation-wide beating during the month of July. You can be hopeful or deeply concerned about the health of our economy, but either way, last month’s numbers were a tough pill to swallow. On a national level, sales were off 27.2 percent versus the previous year, nearly dou... more...
Blogged on 9/1/2010
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Tiburon Housing Price TrendsBuyers visiting my open house last weekend expressed a lot of interest in the home, but a lot of caution about the direction of the market. I told them that a lot of sellers are very motivated, and encouraged them to write offers at numbers they could live with, even if the price wasn’t close to the list price. In this market, you never know what a seller will be willing to take, and it&... more...
Blogged on 9/1/2010
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The Other Half of The EquationI recently was able to observe an interesting attempt to buy a property in San Francisco. On the selling side there was an experienced real estate agent who listed a property with a good floor plan, fabulous views, in an A-class location and at an attractive price. On the buying side there was an interested party from out of town who toured the property, viewed the disclosures and was in a very... more...
Blogged on 9/1/2010
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Sewers in MarinHave you ever heard of a sewer lateral? If you are thinking about purchasing a home or selling one in Marin, it is going to be a big issue. The 9 Marin waste water agencies are promoting and educating homes owners about their responsiblities with their sewer laterals, see the Marin IJ artical today, http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_15947743. Not only in Marin, but Bay Area wide, ... more...
Blogged on 8/31/2010
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Three Golden Rules of Buying a HouseThe late Washington, D.C. veteran developer, Frank Calcara, suggested, when you go house hunting, you should keep in mind three golden rules: Don’t fall in love with a house. You don’t marry a house. It’s an investment. Buy only what makes economic sense to you. Have a basic idea of what you want and what you are willing to pay. Then stick with it! Short bu... more...
Blogged on 8/31/2010
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What Is The Foreclosure Timeline For My Type Loan?Q: Is there really a special foreclosure timeframe for certain loans? A: I was recently asked this by a client and after doing some research through various sites, I thought I’d share this useful information. When a real estate transaction involves a property in foreclosure, knowing the foreclosure timeline helps assess what you options you have. California has a special foreclo... more...
Blogged on 8/31/2010
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