Today's Top 12 IF and WHEN'S for Buyers, Sellers, Investors, and How I can Really Help You - 11/30/09 03:44 PM
I think we’ve all discovered that in order to help somebody, they have to really want to be helped. There are sellers, buyers and investors out there who would prefer to dream than to do, but I know you aren’t one of them because you’re taking the time to ready this blog.
Like most businesses, real estate depends on adhering to basic economic laws, current realities, and preset timeframes.  And if you play by the rules and do X, then you will get Y as a result.
If you want a successful ending, check out the Top 12 list below and … (2 comments)

Top 10 Reasons for Hiring a Full Time REALTOR(R) - 11/30/09 03:39 PM
Top 10 reasons for a fulltime REALTOR(R):
Are you confused about the market? About foreclosures? About what/why/how banks are doing/not doing?  Do you really understand all the paperwork you're signing?It’s time you know that now, more than ever before, you need a full time REALTOR® like me.
Recently, there was a good public awareness campaign highlighting the difference between agents and REALTORS®. That was a great start, but  it’s a 2.0 world now, so let’s take it to the next level and show you how you will benefit from a full time professional.  Here’s the difference:
1. I am a true … (4 comments)

Buying Off-season is a Very Smart Move - 11/30/09 09:41 AM
Homebuyer alert-- a huge flock of people-- your fellow homebuyers (and competitors)-- have checked out of the market, and won't be seen again until around January 10th. This migration happens every year, starting around November 20. The #1 reason is holidayitis; home hunting can be a grueling process, especially in these days of multiple offers and cash/conventional only, and many people choose to enjoy the holidays instead.
What made matters worse this year was the impending end of the First time Homebuyers Tax Credit. Until that was extended and enhanced, there was a mad rush to get into escrow.
With banks … (3 comments)

Homebuying Off-season is a Very Smart Move - 11/30/09 09:32 AM
Homebuyer alert-- a huge flock of people-- your fellow homebuyers (and competitors)-- have checked out of the market, and won't be seen again until around January 10th. This migration happens every year, starting around November 20. The #1 reason is holidayitis; home hunting can be a grueling process, especially in these days of multiple offers and cash/conventional only, and many people choose to enjoy the holidays instead.
What made matters worse this year was the impending end of the First time Homebuyers Tax Credit. Until that was extended and enhanced, there was a mad rush to get into escrow.
With banks … (2 comments)

TazaHomes seems to be a great place for lazy listing agents - 11/21/09 12:05 PM
Someone please explain this to me, because I do not understand why any listing agent would insult buyers or buyers agents by using this "service".
For those of you not familiar with TazaHomes, it's a quasi data collection site,where the buyers agent is required to complete page after page of redundant information. For example, the information included in every preapproval letter needs to be hand extracted and repeated. The type of loan, interest rate, etc.--- all the information clearly stated on page 1 of the purchase contract-- must be re-entered on a separate page. Then, a complete dossier on the buyer … (13 comments)

Don't Let What The Seller Paid Deter You From Buying a Great House - 11/17/09 01:28 PM
I almost had a buyer bite the dust last week.... she fell prey to over-focusing on what the seller had paid for the home, instead of celebrating that she had beat out all the other offers on a cute, already-fixed up home. Yes, the seller had bought lower at auction, poured in a lot of sweat equity, and made this home absolutely turnkey.
So here's the reality, straight from Economics 1A:
You either do the work yourself and pay less, or have someone else do the work and pay more. It's that simple.
Your choice.
Whatever you chose, don't get caught … (2 comments)

Econ 1A -- your Real Estate Refresher Course in 7 Simple Steps - 11/16/09 03:13 PM
Don't get stuck in Fantasyland!  Real Estate always follows a few basic economic truths.  Honor these realities, and you'll win what you want.  Here's a 7-step quick tour through real estate economics. Pass, and you can have a fighting chance to get the house you want.
1. Supply and Demand: When there are more buyers out there than desirable homes available-- you get A) multiple offers, B) offers over asking price. This is what's happening now.
2. Location, location, location: Real estate is always local in nature, and #1 above is what's occurring in most  of San Diego. If you read … (2 comments)

Cash is No Longer King - 11/16/09 10:42 AM
Up to a few months ago, if you had cash,  your offer ruled the roost. It would most always be picked over conventional offers, and of course over FHA and VA. (City-funded loans aren't even on the radar anymore.)
But over the past few months, I've seen a shift  in which offers are being selected, and the results have left many cash buyers just scratching their heads in disbelief.
Of course it's cool to have cash- all of us would like that! Lowball offers went out 6 months ago, and now even cash offers have to be competitive. I just called … (5 comments)

Understanding the Balance of Power in Real Estate Transactions - 11/16/09 10:10 AM
The best way to get what you want is to know what you're dealing with.... so it helps to know when you're "in charge" and when the seller is "in charge". Let's say you're out househunting and you find a house you like. In fact, you really want this one, so you put in a very aggressive bid, to beat out the other buyers. Up through this point the SELLER holds the cards, because he/she has what you want.
If you're the lucky one and your offer is accepted, the power now shifts to YOU, because for the next 17 days  … (0 comments)

My friend T*** desperately needs a vacation. So why doesn’t she take one? - 11/07/09 02:36 PM
 

She’s a professional woman, knows her stuff, has a high-up position in our industry, and she’s absolutely great at what she does. But I’m afraid that somewhere along the road, she lost a part of who she really is. 
Have you ever felt this way… just suddenly, totally fried? I know T*** has enormous talents in other  areas, and she doesn’t have to ditch her job and become a bohemian artist, but unless we keep stirring our creativity, and keep alive a well balanced life, we’ll wake up one day and discover that somewhere along the way, we … (10 comments)

Stuck in Seminar Stun mode? 5 steps to recover quickly and move forward today - 11/06/09 12:11 PM
 
Hundreds of us just finished Tom Ferry’s Design The Decade Ahead seminar in La Jolla and between him and Jim Marks, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Ian Watt, everyone left with a larger-than-life to-do list. No matter what business you’re in, when you participate in an event like this, the knowledge gained can be totally overwhelming—and undoable. Admit it. You will never do everything they said to do, or even everything you’d like to do.  But you can still emerge as a winner, and make huge accomplishments.
I subscribe to several magazines and I used to feel compelled to read every … (4 comments)

 
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Barb Fischer

La Mesa, CA

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RE/MAX Hometown Realtors

Address: 112 Orange Avenue, San Diego, CA, 92118

Office Phone: (619) 461-2244

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