Here are questions from our website and office walk-in visitors. Please feel free to submit a question using the form at the bottom of the page. "No One Cares How Much You Know, Until They Know How Much You Care." - Unknown Q & A A. Think PACIFICA, CALIFORNIA! Traditionally the homes here were modeled similar to homes put up quickly following WWII – that is homes in the 800-900 SqFt range with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom, however, unlike those homes in other boom-town suburbs, these homes are on LARGE LOTS - on average 7,500 SqFt. Many 1st time home buyers and investors have added 2nd stories to take advantage of the ocean views and additional bathrooms! Major retailers like Safeway, Walgreens, 24HR Fitness, and independent proprietors serve this community that is quickly becoming home to San Franciscans seeking a more bucolic lifestyle. Still within 15 minutes of SF City Center, the 2010/2011 completion of the Caltrans “Devils Slide Project” http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/dslide/index.html – is set to bring lots more people through PACIFICA. Currently there have been a handful of homes listed from $365,000 -$400,000 and we may see an increase in exposure to our little city by the sea, no longer a well kept secret will she be! Q. "Is there a decent selection of foreclosures in the
A. There are foreclosures everywhere right now! They’re all listed on websites like foreclosure.com, foreclosures.com and realtytrac.com. They charge about $50 a month after a seven day free trial. You can also find free foreclosure listings on HUD.gov, but the site isn’t as user-friendly as the others. Another good way to find a foreclosure is to use a broker who specializes in foreclosures. They usually know their local market better than you can, they save you time, and they provide an expert opinion on what the property is really worth! ASK A V-REALTY AGENT FOR A LIST! Q. "I really want to learn how to invest in real estate. I’ve cleared everything on my credit except my student loans. What’s the best way to start investing?" A. You should start small and buy your first investment in your own back yard. Most people who lose their shirt, lose it investing in an area they don’t know much about. Buy a studio in your neighborhood, a duplex, or a small house on the next block. Stick with what you can afford and be clear on what you can get back in return. Knowing what you’re after will help you decide what kind of investment will work best for you. Finally, think about finding a good partner. The best partnerships combine people with opposite strengths. If you’re good with money, partner with someone who knows people well and can judge good tenants. If you have contracting know-how, partner with someone who can put in some cash. If you’re good at finding great properties, pick a partner who’s good at managing them. Most importantly, give yourself a short-term deadline to make your first deal and get started! Q. "I had an open house on Sunday and two people came. Two hours later they called and insulted me with an offer of $400,000 even though they knew my price was $535,000! My broker told me I should give them a counter offer but I told her “no way”! Where do people get the nerve to low-ball serious people with nice houses to sell?" A. Buyers today feel obligated to put in low bids. Some of them are without tact and some of them aren’t, and it’s hard to tell the difference based on their opening bid. If you are serious about selling your house, swallow your ego and listen to your broker. Counter with whatever price you’re willing to accept, let’s say $505,000 or $510,000, and see what the buyer comes back with. You’ve got just as much a chance of getting a decent $500,000 or maybe even $505,000 from that tactless buyer as you do of never hearing from him again. The only way you’ll find out is to counter. |
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