Recently, this very savvy lady gave her perception of what is going on in today’s markets (both real estate and Wall Street) and shared her predictions for next quarter and 2016. Her take on our real estate market here in San Mateo County: ‘We are still in a “good market” but it has moved to a “hesitant” market. Even though buying is going on; buyers are hesitating rather than rushing headlong to make offers at any cost. They are taking their time to make sure they have the funds to complete the transaction, being a little bit conservative in their offers. Sellers can’t base their asking price on the past sales; they must price their home based on what is now selling. Correct pricing is essential in this market as buyers are tending to shun homes that have been available for sale longer than 15 days.’

new title and lender requirements

As of October 3, 2015, Lenders and Title companies have new standards that will affect you if you are buying, selling or refinancing a home after that date. The Good Faith Estimate and Truth in Lending disclosures have been replaced by the “Loan Estimate Form” and the HUD-1 and Truth in Lending at the end of the transaction have been replaced by the “Closing Disclosure Form”. Buyers now have three business days after receipt to review these documents and decide whether to go ahead or cancel every time they receive the form, and the form must be reissued every time there’s a change. Sounds like a good incentive to get all the details nailed down in the beginning, doesn’t it now?       For more information, call me at (650) 533-0998

exterior staging in a drought

Yard Options

How do you make your yard appealing when your water usage is limited? This question has come up more frequently lately as more and more lawns sport a sickly shade of straw rather than the lush green usually associated with prosperity and success. When preparing a home for sale, curb appeal is extremely important. It can mean the difference between potential buyers parking their car and viewing inside or keeping that car moving down the road.  What to do?

Here are five ideas:

      1.     Build a wall fence, matching the paint with the house paint (or use an interesting design or texture); effectively eliminating the lawn from the street sight-line.

2.     Work with a gardener to replace your dead lawn with a drought-resistant plant arrangement using water-shy plantings like Mexican sage, native grasses, succulents, boulders, etc.

3.     Tear out the lawn and replace it with a patio, patio furniture, and potted plants. Add fairy lights.

4.     Install a water fountain. It seems counter-intuitive, but with recycled water, it doesn’t use much, but still gives the feeling and sound of rushing water that we crave.

5.     Most expensive/time consuming option: expand the house, covering the lawn with additional square footage. Good bye lawn, hello house!

(Of course, be sure to get your required approvals and permits!)