This a very different real estate climate than 2 years ago. And although I know we all value buidling relationships with clients and potential ones, not having the conversation about establishing the relationship you and your new buyer are going to have in this real estate transaction is like walking on a tight rope without a net underneath you.
Let's face it, we're hear to serve our clients and yes even though we make a living at it, it's not about us. It has to be about them. Most of them care about finding the right house and getting the keys when it's all said and done and who ever can get the job done is who they are going to use. We are a means to end for most buyers, so we have to establish the relationship ground rules up front.
My theory is this. You aren't going to win over everyone. Some buyers are going to...oops, write an offer with the listing agent or the agent who hosted that open house. Some are going to call the listing agent directly, because they don't want to waste too much of your time. And some just don't care. That's just the reality. This happens in any sales/service business. It is what it is.
So we have to work smarter, not harder and choose who we are going to work with. I've lost a couple of buyers to listing agents because I didn't have the conversation about the relationship, what I'll do for them and what I expect from them in return. As long as you're on the same page with your buyer and you know what each of you expects from eachother than that's fine.
I make it clear up front when I meet someone new that the first few showings is a chance for us to get to know eachother and decide if we want to work together. I explain the buyer/agent relationship and why it's important to choose and agent and work with him/her exclusively. If they choose to work with me and use me exclusively, I promise to give them 110%, turn over every stone, and give the insider information (ie: listings that haven't hit the market yet, through my real estate network). Plus I'll be there ever step of the way for them before, during and after the sale.
I have a list of items that I give new buyers that explains what I promise to do for them. They in turn promise to use me exclusively as there agent. So if they see open house they let the agent know they are working with me and hand that agent my card. If they see a new listing, they call me first. If they fall in love with an open house and want to write an offer...they call me first.
They get full 100% representation, open and honest advice about pricing and the market, terms etc and much, much, more. And it doesn't cost them anything to use you as a buyer's agent.
We need to treat real estate as a business. If we know up front that a buyer is not going to commit to us the same way we commit to them then we know where the relationship stands and can proceed accordingly. Whether that's choosing to not work with that buyer, or just knowing up front that you will be giving your clients who have committed to you first priority for your time and knowing that you may not get paid for your efforts with that particular buyer - that's a risk you might be willing to take.
It's your business and you have controll over who you choose to work with and who you don't. Spend time wowing the customers you have and networking to find new customers who would be a good fit and maybe spend less time worrying impressing the consumers. In retail a consumer is just someone who buys from you or maybe someone else. A customer is a client you have a true business relationship and will likely buy from you again or refer friends and family to.
Good luck in your real estate endeavors. And keep your eye on the prize.
I've read incredible stories about many different businesses who either started their business in a recession successfully or not only survived during one, but thrived in it. Women Entrepreneurs Institute wants to encourage local women entrepreneurs who have a business or are thinking about starting a business to know that there are always opportunities and resources to help you not only start your business but grow a successful business here locally. WEI's mission has always been to encourage a diverse and healthy economy not only in Eureka CA, but throughout Humboldt County California as well. And WEI has found, as an organization, that bringing women entrepreneurs together creates a powerful support system towards this very goal.
WEI usually partners up with several local organizations to put on 2 events per year. A smaller networking and inspirational event in the Fall and a larger resource and inspirationally packed all day event in the Spring to not only inspire women entrepreneurs but to motivate them to be successful.
Last Year's Educational Summit - Photo of Me and Rhonda Abrams
So this year, WEI is hosting along with the North Coast Small Business Development Center, it's 3rd annual Educational Summit: Innovate: Find Opportunity in Challenge. Sponsored by Wells Fargo. The event will be on Saturday, April 25th at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka CA from 9:30am to 4:00pm.
This year's inspirational keynote speaker will be Sunny Kobe Cook, founder of Sleep Country USA, award winning entrepreneur, author and speaker. Sunny will also provide a workshop on customer loyalty.
Also back by popular demand will be Rhonda Abrams, nationally syndicated small business columnist and best-selling author. Rhonda will conduct an interactive marketing workshop, as well as hold short, one-on-one "speed" consultations with several selected attendees. Plus several resourceful business workshops in finance, organization and marketing to help you in your business.
So please join us for this fabulous day of inspired business insights, innovative advice, and networking.
I volunteer for this organization and attended last years event and had a wonderful time. Met some incredible and inspirational women entrepreneurs and found the workshops to be very helpful to my business. I hope I'll be seeing you at this years event. I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger. All Rights Reserved. *Innovate: Find Opportunity in Challenge Topic for WEI Educational Summit in Eureka CA*
My husband bought our first Humboldt County CA Home 4 years ago. We were living in a small Eureka CA apartment in a really cool original Victorian Duplex that had been chopped up into 3 units. We weren't married at the time, heck he didn't even propose to me yet.
I was still working as a Promotions Director for a local radio station at the time and the thing you learn about working in radio is, there's no money in radio - just fun, and experience that can lead you to bigger and better opportunities down the road.
But as we started to watch the prices slowly increase and we knew we planned on getting married Dave decided it was time to bite the bullet and buy a house. A year before we started to talk about the idea of owning a home, we had already started to do our homework. We rode our bicycles everywhere in Eureka CA so we could narrow down the neighborhoods we would enjoy living in. We hadn't quite figured out the houses we would be ok living in, but we knew that we had to be comfortable with the neighborhood. Very important for us.
When we finally made the decision to get serious about finding the right house, I asked a co-worker for a good real estate agent and he referred me to his agent. When we met with her, the first item on our to do list was to sit down with a lender and get pre-approved so we absolutely knew what our price range would be. Then we set up some time and looked at a few homes with our agent. Like most First Time Homebuyers - we realized quickly that most of the homes available in our price range didn't quite fit our criteria.
We could at the time afford a home more in the country. So we really needed to do some soul searching to decide where we wanted to live and what type of house we wanted to live in. We quickly determined that living in the country wasn't a feasible option for us. We didn't want to have to drive everywhere to buy the basics. We really enjoyed living in the neighborhood we rented in, because we could easily ride our bicylces around, walk the dog down to Old Town Eureka to buy some groceries at the Co-op or just to meander around and enjoy the old architecture and our lovely Humboldt Bay.
We loved old houses. So we were hoping we could find a Victorian, Craftsman or California Bungalow in our price range. Dave had been eyeing this Purple Victorian that was literally a few blocks away from our apartment. It had been sitting on the market for a couple of months. Apparently it went pending the first week it was on the market, but the buyers backed out at the last minute because they found something that suited them better. So the house had an artificial stigma on it after the fact. Lucky for us! Before we made an offer we walked by the house several nights at different times to make sure we were comfortable with the neighborhood. Then we proceeded to do some pre-due diligence before making the offer.
So we called our agent to show us the house. There was a hump in the dining room floor - not major, but obvious enough for concern. To ease our concerns we called a contractor to take a look and he felt the home was in pretty good shape. The hump was due to settling. So we made an offer - even though my parents were not happy about it at the time, since again Dave and I weren't married, and no proposal on the horizon. Dave made and offer and 30 days later the house was ours, despite the fact that I had a hissy fit about the back yard - which is landscaped with river rock - literally. I envisioned grass and fruit trees. Not in this house. No garage either. And the upstairs floors were painted grape purple - YUCK! So it wasn't 100% perfect but it met most of our needs at the time and I have since grown to love the back yard.
The house overall was in good shape - the guts that is - good plumbing, decent enough electrical, our pier and post foundation was good, just needed a few minor upgrades, interior paint job and we were good to go.
Looking back 4 years later, I'm glad we took the plunge. It was tough - mind you I did not contribute or help pay the mortgage - and we've done some esthetic work on the house since - paint job, stripping the grape paint off the floors and refinishing them (Beautiful Old Growth Redwood Floors) - so yes we did put in a little sweat equity to make it feel warm and wonderful.
If we hadn't taken the plunge 4 years ago, then we would still be renters today in a tiny apartment with a hairy stinky big old dog. We were riding up the big bubble here. We also wanted something specific. Finding an older house in Humboldt County CA that is in decent shape is a rare thing here - ie: has good electrical, plumbing is good, and doesn't need major updating because someone in the 70's thought is was a fabulous idea to "improve the old house look" to a 70's hip style (how horrid can you get).
In the past 4 years, I have not seen 1 Victorian or Craftsman in as good condition as ours sell for the price we paid 4 years ago - $283,000. Our house is worth about the same today as it was 4 years ago. I sold a Victorian around the block for almost $100,000 more just last year. Even in today's market where prices have really come down I rarely see a good Victorian or Craftsman come on the market in this price range, even in a higher price range. And when they do, they sell very very quickly. Even in this "buyers market".
I don't regret buying our house. I'm much happier owning my own home than paying rent to my landlord and living in a tiny apartment. But see we were ready to buy. Trust me, we played the woulda coulda shoulda game for a while. This same house sold for $130,000 back in the later 90's early 2000's. But I had just gotten out of college, was in debt from school, trying to figure out my life, had very little savings and Dave was not in my life then. So yes the home sold for more than we wanted to pay for it, but in 2004, that's when Dave and I were ready to buy a house. We had the savings, we had jobs, and we were ready to start our life together in our own home, not someone else's investment dream.
Sometimes we want something that is just out of reach for us. So did I when Dave and I bought the house we did. It wasn't perfect, but I could see myself living there for several years until we could build up enough equity to upgrade. For me, I've grown to love this house and could live here for 20 years no problem. But most buyers want something better than what is available. So buy something you can be comfortable with, improve it, live in it, build the equity and then sell and upgrade to a home that meets more of your desires. If you don't you'll continue contibute to your landlords investment dreams, not your own.
Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger. All Rights Reserved. *Are You Ready to Be a Homeowner in Humboldt County California? My First Time Homebuying Experience*
If you're looking to buy your first or next home in Humboldt County CA I'd be happy to discuss your situation. Call me anytime. Jessica Bigger 707-496-5770
Sometimes I think the most inspiring thing about buying your first home is reading about other people's experiences. So I thought I would share Janet's story about her first time home buying experience.
I was a brand new real estate agent, and must have looked pretty ridiculous in my miniskirt, long blond ponytail, driving an over-sized and totally inappropriate white Chevrolet Impala (which was dubbed the "tuna boat" by my husband).
But hey, it was the seventies, the real estate market was rotten, and I was more than a little clueless. It is truly amazing what enthusiasm can overcome when you are a complete green pea.
The very last thing on my mind that balmy Sunday afternoon was BUYING a house. My entire focus was on SELLING a house (to some of my first clients).
When the little red cottage came into view, it was absolute love at first sight.
Not for my clients. For me. Completely and utterly head over heels, madly, can't think straight, crazy in love. You know what I mean if you have ever felt this way.
The red cottage was invisible from the street, in an older area near downtown that had been all but forgotten. The rage then was all those brand new suburban homes being built much further out, treeless, near "good schools" with avocado green dishwashers, and beige stucco siding.
The cottage had been built in the 1930's, most probably as someone's summer home. It was surrounded by ancient trees. A winding path lined on each side with bright yellow daffodils led right to the front door.
In an era of gold shag carpeting and rustic brick fireplaces, it stood in stark contrast with wide plank polished hardwood floors, simple white wool berber carpets cut to fit each room, and a flagstone fireplace.
In an era of narrow walk though kitchens, it had a big square country kitchen, attached to a genuine old fashioned dining room. Not just the dining "L" that was popular in that era.
And in the backyard, was a Japanese style fish pond, with pink waterlilies floating on top of the water. Huge gold and black spotted koi begged to be fed. The resident bullfrog provided the background music for this scene, and a tiny little dock hung out over the water among the reeds.
Weeping cherry trees hung over the pond. All this, and it was long before the word "ZEN" came into being.
Completely enchanted, I couldn't get rid of my clients fast enough.
You do crazy things when you are crazy in love, and within a day, and without any idea how to come up with a 10% down payment or closing costs, I bought the little red cottage.
I didn't know much, but I knew how to write a contract. Even with my parents and my husband in the background begging me to "calm down" and "think it over".
We were too proud to ask our parents for any help. So we sold our car, emptied every bank account we owned, and got my real estate company to apply the entire 3% commission to the down payment.
We were certain we would never be able to buy groceries again, certain we would never be able to afford the payment, certain we were destined to be poor for the rest of our lives.
But heart overruled head, as it often does when you are young and madly in love. We succumbed to the romance of the red cottage. The early years of our married life were spent gazing at the fish, falling asleep to the chorus of frogs in the pond, and hosting some parties that (to this day) remain legends among our friends.
The payments? A little bit of a struggle. The experience? Priceless.
We have these memories to cherish forever.
This many years later, you would never know the red cottage existed. As the downtown gentrified, the cottages disappeared, and one by one, they morphed into McMansion style homes more befitting of their prestigious addresses.
As I watch my first time buyers struggle with financing issues, sometimes overcome with the stress of making 15 offers before they win a foreclosed house in a multiple offer situation, I wonder if something very special has disappeared.
Along with the red cottage.
What was your first home buying experience like? Care to share?
Written by Janet Guilbault, Mortgage Lending Specialist Based Out of the San Francisco Bay Area
There Will Always Be Something Bigger, Better and Hopefully Cheaper Around the Corner
If you wait long enough those PLASMA big screen TV’s will be cheap enough to buy, but once that happens some bigger and better TV will come out so why not wait. A former colleague of mine told me a story about his dad waiting for the next best TV to come on the market to be cheap enough to buy, but every time that TV was cheap enough technology produced something better so he waited. Decades later, he still doesn’t own a TV.
Do you see where I’m going with this? There will always be something bigger and better around the corner and you could wait for bigger and better, in hopes that someday bigger and better will be cheap enough to buy.
There are probably times I wouldn’t recommend buying a house if home prices are increasing by leaps and bounds in an artificial trend that doesn’t follow the normal trends we have seen for the past several decades. But it always puzzles me to watch people try to time the market to reach the very bottom before buying a house and pass up homes that were perfect for them, in hopes that if they wait a few more months that same house or something similar will cost a lot less, or there will be more homes available to choose from.
Now if you’re a first time home-buyer and you aren’t buying a house, because you aren’t sure you’re job will be around next year, that’s one thing. But if you sit and wait for a better home than the one you're considering that better home may not go on the market in the next few months. And the one you were considering is now under contract with another buyer. Just because we think there will be something better around the corner may or may not actually be available down the road.
And as for the market – well it might go down a bit, it might not. It might go down a lot. It might go down a little, where you hardly notice the difference. It's easier said than done to time the bottom. Only a selected few ever win this game. Most of us miss it. The bottom that is. Nothing goes up forever and nothing goes down forever. Markets are cyclical. A lot of people have a hard time moving forward. It’s hard to leave the gate and move into something new. Becoming a homeowner is exciting, but can be scary too.
It would be better to look at buying your first home by how much you can afford to pay for every month, comfortably. So if one of you loses your job you're not in such a bind that the only option you have is to hand the keys back to bank and walk away. Because yes your home you just bought may be worth less next year. But any investment you get into takes time. Rarely is any investment strategy a short term one. You usually have to be in it for the long term to gain.
And it’s worth being realistic about it. If all you can afford is a $175,000 home and homes are selling for $250,000 this might not be the right time to buy a home. The best time to have bought a home in Humboldt County CA, was when homes were selling for $150,000. I wish I could have afforded to buy a home then. Unfortunately I wasn't in a good position to buy. I could however afford a home when they were worth $280,000 4 years ago and my now husband and I did buy then. I would have rather paid $150,000 but it wasn't the right time for me to be a homeowner when homes were less. I don't regret the decision, because I've enjoyed being a homeowner for the past 4 years.
For those who can afford to buy a house today, you have to decide when you are ready to be a homeowner because yes there may be a bigger and better house around the corner and then again there may not. Home ownership is an incredibly wonderful thing. But it comes down to being comfortable and ready to become a homeowner. Is this the right time for you?
Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger. All Rights Reserved. *There Will Always Be Something Bigger, Better and Hopefully Cheaper Around the Corner*
If you are thinking about buying in the California Coast area, I'd be happy to sit down and chat with you about your situation. Call Today! Jessica Bigger 707-496-5770.
I Don't Mind Showing Property...But There's a Limit. If You're Not an Expert...Refer it Out.
Not everyone will agree with me, but in this business sometimes you have to take the chance and show a property (I'm not talking about showing 5 or 10 - just a couple) to a potential buyer you may not have relationship with in order to have an opportunity to establish one. Some you will build enough rapport to become their "go to" agent - ie: buyer's agent- and some you just won't win over. But such is life. It's part of this business.
Now in most cases, I don't have a problem showing property to a buyer I just met, whether it be from a floor call, a walk in, a lead from my broker, referral or the Internet. Worst case scenario - if they don't hire me to be their agent, I really haven't lost anything. At least I got to get out there and show a house I may have not seen before - which helps build market knowledge. I just met a potential buyer out in McKinleyville, which is about a 20 minute drive from my house in Eureka CA. I don't know if they'll choose me as their go to agent, but I'm willing to find out. I actually got to know them a bit and they're really cool people. So you never know.
However, there are certain circumstances where it just might be better to refer that potential client to another real estate agent. Especially if you live in an area where you could spend an entire day just driving to show one property. Out in Humboldt CA there are so many different cities and towns that when it gets down to physically showing certain property - I'll pass certain areas in Humboldt CA and refer those buyers to an agent who will be able to give them 100% attention, service and expertise that I cannot give them.
Especially if we're talking about seriously remote property. You know that kind that takes 2 hours to get to before you even reach that crazy dirt road your supposed to drive on for another half an hour. There are agents out there who've turned this into a niche. I'm more than happy to refer my potential buyers to those agents. So yes I may lose a chance to build a blossoming relationship, but this is really where I draw the line. I don't mind sending folks information about remote areas, but if they really decide remote is the way to go then it's time to hook them up with an agent who deals with remote properties on a regular basis.
Before sending a referral to another agent, I would do my best to qualify that buyer beforehand. I might also recommend the buyer come out on their own to explore Humboldt CA and all it has to offer - especially if they aren't locals - before starting their real estate search. Most people need to really get a feel for the areas they think they are interested in before they start looking to buy real estate. In most cases what they thought was a cool property rarely ends up being what they expected. It's a major commitment to show someone remote properties and I'm sure most of these niche agents require some added info from the buyer - like a pre-approval letter and so forth before taking them out.
So be honest with yourself. And yes...if you're not an expert, refer the business out.
Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger. All Rights Reserved. *I Don't Mind Showing Property...But There's a Limit. If You're Not an Expert...Refer it Out*
If you're looking to buy or sell California Coast Real Estate I'd be happy to chat with you about your plans. Jessica Bigger 707-496-5770
I grew up playing or I should say practicing to become a solo violinist when I was a kid. To be honest I enjoyed just being a kid rather than devoting my time and my life to this possible future career. But it got me thinking. To be the best musician - whether you want to be a concert pianist, violinist, the best lead guitar player, etc, requires an incredible amount of drive and discipline.
So what do real estate and music have in common?
1) Discipline: Just like the concert pianist, building a real estate career or business takes the same amount of discipline. You build it one day at a time, one client at a time, searching for new clients- building your pipeline and of course keeping in touch with past clients too. If you stop - just like the musician - you get sloppy and you have a set back. So you need to stay on that trajectory no matter what.
2) Focus: Just like musicians who need to be focused to become the best - so do real estate agents. We need to have a path to follow and stay on that path to greatness. Knowing what areas need improvement and once we get there knowing where else to turn.
3) Commitment: There are days when a musician wants to just pack it up. But in order to become great she knows she must set aside time every single day to practice her technique. Real estate isn't much different. Although we deserve breaks and vacations from time to time. It's the commitment of staying in the game and completing your to do list, even when you don't feel like it, that gets us the business.
4) Practice: The act of doing for a musician. Playing your scales over an over again or playing your concert piece till your blue in the face or until your neighbor is ready to beat you over the repetition. So when you finally are in front of the crowd the music just naturally flows out of you. As real estate agents we need to constantly practice how we communicate to sellers and buyers during the initial introduction, listing or buyers presentation, how to address objections and more. So when we're in the thick of it - these actions and responses just seem natural.
5) Belief: Certain musicians are phenomenal because they always believed they were. It helped drive them to be great. We need to believe we are the best agent out there to help our current and future clients, that even in this down market we shall overcome. Believe in yourself. And you will reach greatness.
6) Drive: Musicians have the drive to succeed. Drive is the fuel that keeps them focused, committed and provides the discipline to reach beyond their wildest dreams. That drive is the feeling they feel after an incredible concert, the screaming of the crowd the recognition they receive for a job well done. They visualize this every day. What is your drive? What is your fuel that gets you motivated to knock on an extra door, to practice how you communicate to buyers and sellers, to keep your ears and eyes open for potential new business and to follow up with future clients. Is it the time you spend with your kids? Is it the satisfaction of a job well done. Is it the idea that your building wealth and security for you and your family? What ever it is. Hang on to that vision. It will get you out of bed every day.
Have the drive to be great. Practice, Practice, Practice. Be disciplined in your actions. Committed to the end result. Focused on the outcome. And more importantly Belive in yourself.
Edit: Thanks to Borino we'll add one more item and thats.......PASSION: We must have the passion to do what we do. It's hard work out there and if you don't love this business enough - same with music - you won't get very far. I love music, but I wasn't cut out to be a musician. I believe I'm cut out to be a wildly successful real estate agent. How about YOU?
Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger. All Rights Reserved. *What Do Real Estate Agents and Musicians Have In Common?*
Buying a Humboldt County Short Sale or Foreclosure as a First Time Homebuyer takes patience, preparation and a little taste for risk. Most of the first time homebuyers I have been actively working with can afford a home between $199,000 to $240,000. Folks this is the lower end of the Humboldt County Real Estate market and most homes that are for sale in this price range tend to be in Eureka CA or Fortuna CA. Not to mention, most are either under 1000 square feet in very good to excellent condition or they need work quite a bit of work.
Although there are loan products available to Humboldt County First Time Homebuyers who haven't saved 10 to 20% downpayment, like the CA Rural Housing Loan, FHA loan, or 95% financing (where you put 5% cash down towards your home) it is challenging to buy a short sale or Bank Owned home (a home that the bank has already foreclosed on and is trying to sell on the market). And in most circumstances I wouldn't recommend a First Time Homebuyer to buy one of these homes for their first real estate buying experience. Most of these situations are frustrating for new homebuyers. There are a lot more hoops to jump in these deals and there is some risk involved. Short Sales can take months to close and there is no guarantee the short sale will close. And most of my first time homebuyers aren't willing to wait. So we keep looking.
Unfortunately most of the homes I'm seeing in our Humboldt County Real Estate market in the $199,000 to $240,000 price range these days are short sales or bank owned properties. Not all , but many are. And there are definitely some homes that sell for "Good Value." But you have to be ready to jump on them and be prepared to compete with other buyers who are also looking for the best home possible in this price range. Just expect that there will be buyer competition. So how do you as a Humboldt County First Time Homebuyer prepare yourself so you're ready to jump on that "Hot" Humboldt County Short Sale or Foreclosure home?
1) Find an agent who you can trust and work with - if you want a shot at some of the good homes that come up in this price range in our Humboldt County Real Estate market, then you want to work with an agent you can trust, who can guide you through the sale. Remember, you are not the only buyer wanting a fabulous house in this price range. So when one pops up and they do from time to time having a good agent by your side can really make a difference. Because these homes will get offers within days if not the same day they go on the market.
I've had clients who waited a day or two to decide to write an offer and by the time they decided to go ahead - the listing agent already had 3 offers. So you have to move to writing an offer quickly. Plus a good agent can assess whether the home is truly a good deal or not, based on past sales, pendings, active competition and taking in to consideration the rate the market is falling, percentage wise. All of this information is important when determining a good asking price to offer. I've seen a few home recently that were "good value" sell for close to list price or over. It does happen even in this "buyer's market."
2) Find a Lender You can work with- Ask your agent for 3 lenders, interview them and choose one. It's important to have your financing in order before you start looking at homes so when you find the right house you have your ducks in a row. You want to know how much you can comfortably afford before you start looking for houses.
3) Try to be flexible with your time to see new houses that come on the market - As I work with several first time home buyers in the above price range I've noticed that certain homes - ones in excellent condidion, priced competitvely or significantly below market value are usually getting offers the same day they go on the market or within a few days of going on the market. Rarely are we the only ones looking for that gem on the market. So it's best to get in as soon as you can to see the house. Preferably the same day the "For Sale" sign goes up.
4) Writing the Offer - make sure to sit down with your agent and discuss what you can ask for when it comes to bank owned properties or short sales. The situation is quite different from your standard sale, because you're not necessarily dealing with a home owner with emotions. Your dealing with a bank - who isn't emotional - sometimes that can be a good thing. and sometimes not.
If you don't have the stomach for buying a Humboldt County Short Sale or Foreclosure (Bank Owned) home - then maybe sticking with regular "retail" homes isn't such a bad idea.
Here are articles about Humboldt County Short Sales and about the buying process in general:
If you're interested or thinking about buying your first home in Humboldt County CA, I'd be happy to meet with you and discuss your situation.
Jessica Bigger Give me a call today! 707-496-5770
Disclaimer: The information provided herein is supplied by several sources and is subject to change without notice. California Coast Real Estate Blog does not guarantee or is any way responsible for its accuracy, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Entries on California Coast Real Estate Blog represent the opinions and ideas of the author(s). California Coast Real Estate Blog does not express the views of RE/MAX Humboldt Realty or those of the broker.
Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger. All Rights Reserved. *Humboldt County Short Sales-Foreclosures and the First Time Home Buyer*
The main reason most Humboldt County For Sale By Owners go it alone, is to save on the commission. And I say if you can do it on your own more power to you. However there's more to Humboldt County Real Estate than meets the eye. So I guess it comes down to value. I can give you a list of over 50 to 75 tasks that I do for my sellers before, during and after the sale. A lot of it is behind the scenes and I do try to present this information clearly when meeting with a potential home owner who's thinking about selling their home in Humboldt CountyCA.
Several weeks ago I sat down with a lovely couple who had tried to sell their home in Trinidad CA with a local Realtor 2 years prior and they were unsuccessful. After sending them some information about the market, they gave me a call to see if they wanted to put the house back on the market after waiting 2 years. Needless to say the market was quite different now than 2 years ago, but based on our economy the likelyhood of them getting more for their Humboldt County real estate investment a year from today was slim.
So they needed time to ponder what was the best situation for them. After some discussion they decided to continue to rent their home and ride out the Humboldt County Real Estate market. Until I received a phone call from them yesterday. Stating they decided to go it alone and sell their home on their own. And luckily they attracted an interested buyer. "Good for You" I mentioned on the phone to them. But they called me because they know that there's a lot of footwork to be done to get the sale through. And they weren't exactly sure how handle the sale on their own. They considerrd whether to hire me to handle the sale.
Since I didn't list the home, and do the marketing, I offered them a reduced rate to handle the sale of their home. But there was hesitation on the other end of the line. They really wanted to save as much as possible and I can completely understand their situation. It's an investment and every cent they can get out of this sale is important - it is part of their retirement.
She considered using the lender or the title agent to help them through the deal. And here's what I said to her on the phone.
"Yes the lender might be able to guide you through the sale and maybe even the Title agent, however neither party deals with the ins and outs of a real estate transaction. Hiring a Realtor to handle the sale is like hiring a conductor for a symphony. There are all kinds of little details that must be addressed and handled throughout the sale."
Then it got me thinking about what we do as listing agents for our sellers. Here's a list of thoughts below:
1) Making sure the buyer really is qualified to buy and he gets a preapproval letter from a legitimate lender. And remember if the lender says he's going to help you - Who is he working for? He's working for the buyer...not YOU the seller. I'm not sure if lenders or title agents are really allowed to provide services that Real Estate agents provide. Not sure on this, but....
2) Making sure the contracts are written correctly to protect YOU the seller and explaining those contracts in detail to make sure you understand what and why you are agreeing to certain terms in the contract. If you aren't going to use a real estate agent than it's probably a good idea to hire a real estate attorney.
3) Making sure you understand, fill out and sign all the disclosures that you are required to provide the buyer per the state of California real estate law. So if god for bid the buyer comes back to sue you - hopefully if you disclosed everything you were supposed to and your agent was diligent in making sure every aspect of the sale was documented, including the conversations with the buyer - then it's going to be harder for this buyer to nail you on something. No guarantees, however you have a better chance of protecting yourself this way. The "I didn't know I was supposed to dislcose that piece of information" does not excuse you from the disclosure requirements.
4) Making sure all inspections are done and if there are problems creatively coming up with solutions to solve those problems so the deal doesn't go south.
5) Making sure the lender is on task and moving forward with the loan so we can close on the agreed time. I've run into lots of lenders who tell you what you want to hear and then in the end can not deliver the loan. None of my lenders have had problems, but other agents have told me horror stories.
6) Making sure the buyer gets his walk thru before the close of escrow, everyone gets to the table to sign closing documents and all funds, cash and loan are in place - keeping the escrow officer and title officer on task. These are just a few items to name on the list.
Hiring a Realtor to handle the ins and outs of a transaction is like hiring an event coordinator to handle your party. The question is: Do you want to be stressed at your own party, making sure the food and wine is flowing, the entertainment is keeping guests happy, etc. or do you want to enjoy the event? Same goes for real estate. Do you want to handle all the minute details that go into selling your home - no this is not like selling a Big Screen TV or a Washer and Dryer at Sears - it's more involved, trust me - or do you want someone who deals with selling homes day in and day out to take the reigns?
It's up to you and in the end it's your decision. Is it worth a few thousand dollars to have peace of mind and to know someone is handling all the major details of the sale or are you a do it your selfer who would rather be in the thick of it and save some cash?
Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger. All Rights Reserved. *Humboldt County For Sale By Owner: Going it Alone or Getting Help*
Disclaimer: The information provided herein is supplied by several sources and is subject to change without notice. California Coast Real Estate Blog does not guarantee or is any way responsible for its accuracy, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Entries on California Coast Real Estate Blog represent the opinions and ideas of the author(s). California Coast Real Estate Blog does not express the views of RE/MAX Humboldt Realty or those of the broker.
California Redwood Coast is place to live and play. Our community by the sea attracts over 300,000 visitors a year just to walk among the ancient trees that stood when the dinosaurs roamed this earth. Imagine standing next to one of these ancient redwoods, can you believe that tree has been around for more than 1000 years? I live and play in this community and the California Redwood Coast is right in my backyard. How convenient.
The one thing I realized when moving to the California Redwood Coast was this was a outdoor enthusiast's paradise. Can you imagine that? So much to do, and it costs you almost nothing to have a fun weekend. Especially in a down economy when it's getting harder to go out to see a concert, or take a trip down to Mexico, let alone eat at a nice restaurant. Now you can grab a few items at Eureka Natural Foods and pack a nice picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the look out points at Patrick's Point State Park or eat among the giant Redwoods at Redwood National Park.
The California Redwood Coast isn't just about Redwoods and Coastline. There's rockclimbing and wild river activities like white water rafting, fishing and swimming in the summer time for those water enthusiasts. Or just go kayaking in our Bay or right along the California Redwood Coast.
Plus catch some serious waves if you're into surfing. There are several fabulous surfing spots all throughout the California Redwood Coast like College Cove (need directions - just ask). Plus our latest addition is the our growing wine industry. And our wines can compete with Sonoma County.
So just imagine having nature at your finger tips, where you can just roll out of bed in the morning and choose a new adventure today. How about a great hike right on the California Redwood Coast, and then for lunch a cup of clam chowder out at the pier right on the Trinidad California Coast. Sounds like a mighty nice day for a hike to me.
Learn more about our California Redwood Coast community:
If you are thinking about buying a home or selling your current home in the California Redwood Coastfeel free to call me and we can discuss your real estate needs. Contact Jessica Bigger at 707-496-5770 when you're ready to move.
Disclaimer: The information provided herein is supplied by several sources and is subject to change without notice. California Coast Real Estate Blog does not guarantee or is any way responsible for its accuracy, and provides said information without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. Entries on California Coast Real Estate Blog represent the opinions and ideas of the author(s). California Coast Real Estate Blog does not express the views of RE/MAX Humboldt Realty or those of the broker.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Also back by popular demand will be Rhonda Abrams, nationally syndicated small business columnist and best-selling author. Rhonda will conduct an interactive marketing workshop, as well as hold short, one-on-one "speed" consultations with several selected attendees. Plus several resourceful business workshops in finance, organization and marketing to help you in your business.
So we called our agent to show us the house. There was a hump in the dining room floor - not major, but obvious enough for concern. To ease our concerns we called a contractor to take a look and he felt the home was in pretty good shape. The hump was due to settling. So we made an offer - even though my parents were not happy about it at the time, since again Dave and I weren't married, and no proposal on the horizon. Dave made and offer and 30 days later the house was ours, despite the fact that I had a hissy fit about the back yard - which is landscaped with river rock - literally. I envisioned grass and fruit trees. Not in this house. No garage either. And the upstairs floors were painted grape purple - YUCK! So it wasn't 100% perfect but it met most of our needs at the time and I have since grown to love the back yard. 
I was a brand new real estate agent, and must have looked pretty ridiculous in my miniskirt, long blond ponytail, driving an over-sized and totally inappropriate white Chevrolet Impala (which was dubbed the "tuna boat" by my husband).
You do crazy things when you are crazy in love, and within a day, and without any idea how to come up with a 10% down payment or closing costs, I bought the little red cottage.
Posted by 
ancient trees that stood when the dinosaurs roamed this earth. Imagine standing next to one of these ancient redwoods, can you believe that tree has been around for more than 1000 years? I live and play in this community and the California Redwood Coast is right in my backyard. How convenient.
The one thing I realized when moving to the California Redwood Coast was this was a outdoor enthusiast's paradise. Can you imagine that? So much to do, and it costs you almost nothing to have a fun weekend. Especially in a down economy when it's getting harder to go out to see a concert, or take a trip down to Mexico, let alone eat at a nice restaurant. Now you can grab a few items at Eureka Natural Foods and pack a nice picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the look out points at Patrick's Point State Park or eat among the giant Redwoods at Redwood National Park. 
;)
;)
