Summer is here!

Southern California seems to have endless summers....The warm breezes, sunny skies and laid back attitude are all a part of life here. Yet, when school is out, and summer "officially" begins, something happens to home sellers & buyers...something almost like a frenzy. A seller may have thought of selling and played around with the idea, looked over prices, home staging...but once Memorial Day has come and gone, there is a new sense of urgency! Homes are listed, buyers are pounding the pavement from open house to open house and contracts are written in a quicker pace. We are now in the midst of this cycle. There are a few things to be careful about if you are buyer - you may be caught up in the harsh reality that the market has changed and your choices have dwindled while prices & competition have climbed. Here are a few things to look out for: 1. More sellers are asking you waive your appraisal contingency or pay the difference in cash. IF you choose that option and your offer is accepted, make sure you and your agent are continuing to track actual sales prices up to the point of no return on your contract. Do not blindly waive your appraisal. 2. More sellers are asking you waive an inspection. Unless you plan to completely remodel the home, I would not advise this of any buyer. Even if the house is "as-is" with "no repairs", an inspection, for your own peace of mind, is always a good idea. 3. If you like a home, do not wait to make an offer. Homes are gone days after they are listed. There are many eager buyers hoping to catch the low interest rates and the great, standard sales in today's market. The early bird truly gets the worm. 4. ALWAYS make sure your have pre-qualified with a reputable, direct lender. I do not usually recommend a large bank because the customer service always seems to be lacking. Being able to close on time is of the utmost importance always, but especially in today's market. 5. Be patient....Buying a home is a huge process, too often simplified by 30 minute television programs. Everyone that is working on your behalf wants the best possible outcome. Tune in for my sellers tips on the next post!

Home is ... Everchanging!

In real estate there is no down time. The market is constantly shifting and realtors and brokers must stay on top of the current market, locally and nationally. As the market changes, people's needs change. Maybe that young couple is ready to try for a home of their own - maybe that family is ready to move up, perhaps the empty nesters are ready to down size. Whatever the need, the market is ready to take on the latest shift. The current market is posting increases in sales, the likes of which we have not seen in several years. Watching neighborhoods specifically, some areas are back to 2002 prices. A huge difference is we are looking at interest rates which are nearly half the 6% range of 10 years ago. The market is perfect for buyers and sellers and I think it is only going to get better as late spring turns to summer. What are you looking for? A new place to call home? Or maybe a friend or relative is looking to make a change? I am here to help navigate the process for start to finish. A home for various needs can be a complex formula, ever changing as specific needs change. Rest assured, there is something out there for everyone! And if you are a seller, this is a wonderful time to sell! A home is one of the best investments you could make. A home is a source of shelter, comfort and peace while it also has long term investment gains. If you are ready to make a move - I am here to help. Call me today for a free consultation.

Why Make a Move?

It's March and almost St. Patrick's Day....a sign to me that spring is just around the corner. My great-grandfather was scots-Irish and, I am told, enjoyed St. Patrick's day when he came to America...but, I don't think it included green-beer. My moms birthday is the first day of spring, so every year, her card from him included some sort of good luck motif. This time of year is happy - hopeful - and can be full of luck! When it comes to real estate - timing can be everything. The timing of your move, whether you are selling, buying, leasing, can be crucial. Many think the investors are lucky right now....they get offers accepted faster than your average buyer. For non-investors, home prices are are still low and you are still getting a phenomenal interest rate. Although inventory is low, it usually picks up once the weather gets warmer, and I am hopeful it will. If you are looking to sell your home - times are wonderful! You can expect a well-priced home to receive multiple offers right now. If you are looking to buy, don't get discouraged by the lack of inventory or investor activity; the right agent can help you - and will work with you until you're in your new home - no matter how many offers have to be written! If you are flat out discouraged, you can look at leasing a property for a year. There are many wonderful homes just waiting for a new occupant. For real estate - times couldn't be "luckier". If you need any help with navigating your next transaction, give me a call. I am always here to help with honesty and integrity. You will receive personalized attention and you won't be another "client in the queue". Happy St. Patrick's Day! Stacy

It's November - isn't it a time to WAIT and RELIST after the holidays?

So, the title of this post is a long question... I know....To get straight to the point, I understand that the consumers are wondering, "why bother selling now and looking to move when it's almost Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Year..." aka "the holidays"? I have 67 good reasons why...That is, there are 49 active listings in Glendora, zip code 91741 only, and there are 67 listings under contract (they have accepted an offer and are in various stages of escrow). There are more homes under contract then available! It is a sellers market! It has been a long time since that has happened. In fact, I closed three properties in the past month, and I definitely saw a shift in market trends from a buyers market to a sellers market. Reasons people are buying? Low interest rates, good loan programs and for many people, a more stable job in the past couple of years. This means, the ability to qualify for a loan is higher than a couple of years ago, and prices are lower! More sellers can now sell their starter home and move up -- and the market for both starter homes and move up is huge -- but the inventory is not. Thus, a sellers market. Although the economy is still struggling, we are rebounding in some areas - and housing is one of them. If you have been thinking of selling and don't know where to start - contact me! I can help! And if you are thinking of buying, please call me! I will always work my hardest to get you the best deal with the utmost integrity and professionalism! Happy house hunting! ~ Stacy

Home is...where you go when vacation is over!

It is a midsummer evening and the crickets are playing their tune with sheer, creeping consistency; The warm afternoon temperatures have given way to a cool, slightly breezy atmosphere. Eyes are tired - yet there is no real rush to sleep. This is summer. This is summer, after vacation, before a real school schedule, with the pace of something between dreams and reality. Summer is the "hot" selling season, too. Real estate continues to be a wonderful investment and buyers all around are taking note. This time of year, things seem more possible - like homeownership. Choosing between that amazing vacation and a down payment becomes a little bit easier. For, as we all know, all good things come to an end. After a very busy year, my family finally took a vacation a couple of weeks ago. We stayed in a couple of cities and one in particular had a very nice hotel room with a bay view - heaven on earth! Even so - we all knew it was temporary. It was vacation, after all! We admired the furnishings, the view and the lobby (seriously), and I promised myself I wouldn't forget some of the specific decorations I really liked, you know, so I could repeat at home.... (already forgotten). When we left, however, and finally arrived home, it was just as wonderful. And as I thought about this, I reminded myself that home is where you go when vacation is over! The best thing you can do as a potential buyer is to dream...visualize your home, what you like, how it makes you feel...and then call me! I will help you make that dream a reality. As a seller, look at your home with a buyers critical eye....and then after you have de-cluttered and cleaned, call me! I will help with more ideas (if needed) to stage your home, and I will provide you with statistical information to help get your house sold (yes, the market is good for selling right now)! As always if you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell -- and you need someone that will work hard, be honest and not stop until the job is done - call me! Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer!

There has been a lot in the news about the California Homeowner Bill of Rights which was signed into law this week. A few facts about this law, which was created to help struggling homeowners in the state of California: 1. This law prevents a lender from dual tracking a home mortgage - which means a lender cannot simultaneously have a home in the foreclosure process while at the same time working on a loan modification. 2. Homeowners must be provided with a single point of contact when negotiating a loan modicfication. 3. The bill expands notice requirements that must be provided to a borrower before taking action on a loan modification application or pursuing foreclosure. Additional information on this new law can be found at www.dsnews.com The new law is effective January 1, 2013. If you or anyone you know if not eligible for a loan modification, but want to prevent the negative credit effects of foreclosure, a short sale may be the best choice. Contact me today of you are interested in learning more about the process. Best - Stacy

It is a Sunday night in June and I have had the sincere pleasure of enjoying dinner outside on our back patio, then watching our three kids play nicely... which included them configuring a jump-rope fashioned as a safety belt for each rider on our backyard tree swing. Whilst attached to said swing via jump-rope seat-belt, the rider was spun completely into one direction until the swing could no longer turn. Then, a swift back turn released the child into a quickly unwinding spin. The backyard (and probably several backyards) were then filled with the deep laughter of our 11 1/2 year old, the squealing excitement of our 5 year old, and the alternating giggle-squeal from our 8 year old. Good old fashioned backyard hi-jinks. Afterwards, I was watering the garden and realized the moon was full. So, I peeled the kids from their ice cream bowls, pulled on flip flops and we walked. The outside air was pinched slightly with the scent of jasmine. The distant sounds of restless peacock echoed ala fantasy island and the kids - especially the two boys, wheeled ahead of mom and pop with youthful exuberance and sibling symmetry. When we rounded the corner, my oldest son tricked me into thinking there was a dead lizard on the sidewalk. A quick step and scream, and an unseen slap on his behind got us moving again. As we came home, the kids put away their scooters and bike, went in the side gate & hopped up the back steps. Bath time -- there was still school tomorrow...Bed-time....this pleasure has to end, I suppose. And now, as I quickly jot this down before my memory fades, the $40 water fountain I got on deep discount churns water through with the consistency of rain drops. My daughter has a book to read while I write and I am more than thankful as I reflect on this evening. As a Realtor, I make memories like this possible...as I help people find their home. As a mom, I make memories like this building blocks, as my kids experience and grow. Today, I not only had a wonderful evening but I also met with some clients who are a family of their own. We are selling their house, they are also buying a new house, and I am hopeful for them and the memories they will make in their new home. I have to say, I think that is what I like BEST about my job!