Jessica's California Coast Real Estate Blog

Explaining the Relationship with Your Buyer Up Front - Establishes an Understanding

Thu, 14 May 2009 11:56:24 -0500

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.

Innovate: Find Opportunity in Challenge Topic for WEI Educational Summit in Eureka CA

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:16:33 -0500

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.

You can visit Women Entrepreneurs Institute for further details.

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.

Are You Ready to Be a Homeowner in Humboldt County California? My First Time Homebuying Experience

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:48:20 -0500

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.

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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

You Never Forget Your First Time: Has The Romance Gone Out of Being a First Time Buyer?

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:24:14 -0500

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.

Via Janet Guilbault California Mortgage Banker/Broker:

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

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:50:03 -0500

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?

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

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:21:38 -0500

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.

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

What Do Real Estate Agents and Musicians Have In Common?

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:37:42 -0500

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?

Humboldt County Short Sales-Foreclosures and the First Time Home Buyer

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:03:06 -0500

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:

I'm Not Here To Sell You a Home In Humboldt County CA

Getting Financially Ready to Buy Your Humboldt County CA Home

Humboldt County Short Sales Update in Humboldt CA

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.

Humboldt County For Sale By Owner: Going it Alone or Getting Help

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:12:20 -0500

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 County CA.

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?

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Are you thinking about selling your Humboldt County Home and want a stress free sale. Give me a call and we can chat about your situation.

Jessica Bigger RE/MAX Humboldt Realty - 707-496-5770

California Redwood Coast: A Place to Live and Play

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:53:22 -0500

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:

Photos of Humboldt County CA

Touring the California Redwood Coast

Eureka CA Best Towns to Live in 2008

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If you are thinking about buying a home or selling your current home in the California Redwood Coast feel 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.

I Love Looking At Houses, Therefore I Should Be A Real Estate Agent

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:26:08 -0500

This goes out to all of my friends and acquaintances who want to get into the real estate business. Or who want to get their real estate license to dabble in the business and sell a few houses here and there.

This isn't an easy business and there are times when I can't even see the light at the end of the tunnel, questioning whether all that hard work and networking is going to pay off, but doing it anyway because I have to believe it will.

So before you sign up for that real estate class at College of the Redwoods and stick your nose in those real estate books so that you can pass the initial test...Take a minute and read a good friend of mine's blog post:

And if you have any other questions about this business feel free to call me I'm always available to chat and give you the realities of the real estate world. 707-496-5770 Best Regards: Jessica

Via Loreena Yeo - Broker|Realtor(R) of Frisco TX Homes For Sale (3:16 team REALTY):

How many times have we heard that our clients considered us "lucky" because we get to look at houses everyday? "It's so much fun. I love people and I love looking at houses". That must make it a good requirement to become a real estate agent.

Six years later, I still hear this comment once in a while. I could only smile. If only the client knew what amount of work it takes before an agent gets to work with a client, most would probably stop the desire after reading this post. So, this post is dedicated to do just that: to explain what it somewhat entails in becoming a real estate agent.

Well, first of all, let me explain that becoming a real estate agent really means that you are going into business for yourself. It doesn't matter if you are a Prudential, Century 21, Exit Realty, Re/Max, Keller Williams agents, or even someone who works for myself like 3:16 team REALTY, each of us are INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS. By that, it means that we are our own boss, we determine our work schedule and we certainly determine our incomes. Some people might like those facts: That no one is there to tell us what to do. Truth be told, it is much easier to go to work everyday, knowing what you need to do in order to get your job done. Once accomplished, you call it a day and you repeat it day in, day out. When you get things done correct and on time, it is almost certain you would get a good annual review, more than likely subject to a good bonus or a raise. All these are great as an employee when there is direction.

Being your own boss means that no one is there to tell you what to do in order to smell success. You don't know if you are doing it right or wrong. Want to try asking your fellow real estate agents in the area? Try it! This is a very competitive business and almost no one would openly tell you what it is - the path for success. Even if one person did, again what works for him may not work for you because your approach and business philosophy are different. I could draw you a complete blueprint to success. You might take it word for word, action for action. But you could yield very different results from me. Now, that's a real bummer!

It takes a leader with entrepreneurial qualities, someone who take calculated risks and someone who looks at the puzzle from outside the box to even get a chance at success. Again, notice that I didn't say the agent is sure to have success with these qualities. It just means that there is higher probability for success.

Years ago, I created my very own real estate website but other than getting rave reviews from family and friends, that was just it. A nice looking site that did not except to feed my ego. I learnt the very hard way just by having a real estate website, it doesn't mean it is income-producing. Granted that I had many friends who used me as a Buyer's agent or a Listing Agent back in my early days, it never made me a top producer. These days, on top of knocking out and perfecting my Home Marketing plan, I spend waking hours learning how to use the Internet to drive traffic to my website. I need to continue to learn about how to keep readers on the website with tools that they want.

So, becoming a real estate agent goes beyond just loving to look at houses and loving people! It's a good place to start but quite honestly, it really isn't a requirement for the business. Whether or not you like houses has no demarkations on your real estate business success.

Successful agents can tell you that I haven't even scratch the surface of what an agent needs to do. Forget about overcoming your fears and shortcomings for salesmanship. That's another blog for another day.

If you really let me get ugly, I probably get hit by agents when I say this: Ask how many of them have mountainous debt because of their marketing expenses. Ask how many of them who probably need to work well into retirement age not because they love selling real estate so much - it's because they forgot to sock retirement funds aside. Lastly, ask how many of them are not what they drive? These are real hard truths that agents dont tell their clients, but it's there. And it's real. (I'm so sorry fellow agents, I honestly still love you very much). So, maybe just loving houses do not correspond to becoming successful in the business.

So, whenever you look at your real estate agent opening doors to houses, think again if LOVING HOUSES is enough to want to get into the business.

I can't get off this post without at least highlighting the iceberg, so please let me:

How to read and understand contracts enough to explain to clients

Know how to sell homes

How to read market data and perform market analysis with the raw data

How to stage a home to sell faster or at least know of a good stager - but you still got to know

Understand how the current market may or may not affect the housing market

Understand the Internet and how to optimize it in order to drive traffic

How to convert prospects into actual clients

How to utilize technology to stay on the forefront of clients

How to read people's tastes and minds quickly and body language

Network with other real estate professionals from fellow real estate agents, loan officers, stagers, inspectors, title companies, attorneys and trade vendors

I could go on and on but I dont want to bore or scare you. Enuf' said.

This is not a post to rain on your parade if you want to start a real estate career. But if I had told you it was going to be a bed of roses, you might feel the thorns first.

Enjoy these real estate commentaries? Consider subscribing to my blog. Click on the icon if you are an Active Rain member.

Subscribe via Email if you are not an Active Rain member here.

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I proudly serve and sell real estate in the greater Frisco TX Homes real estate market. If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your homes in Frisco, Plano, Dallas, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, Celina, Richardson, Dallas M-Streets, Dallas White Rock Lake area and other surrounding areas and more importantly, want to work with a local area expert, contact me at your earliest convenience.

It is a competitive market, hence it is important that you choose to work with the realtor who knows these communities like none other. I employ a systematic market approach in selling your home - an intentionally unique proposal that most real estate agents do not use. If you care to be on your way to a successful closing, contact me immediately to see how different my proposition will be.

Contact:
Loreena Yeo
Realtor®/ Broker of 3:16 team REALTY
(214) 783-2210
loreena@loreenayeo.com

Copyright © 2009 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY). "I Love Looking At Houses, Therefore I Should Be A Real Estate Agent"

Keeping Track of Certain Blog Post Conversations on Active Rain Since the 'Notify Me' Option is Gone

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:57:15 -0500

So I'm sure we've all had several conversations in the rain about the numerous changes here. One of the changes more recently is the removal of the 'Notify Me of Comments' option. That was the little box you checked after you made a comment on another AR member's blog post. This way for those of you who wanted to keep track of the future conversations happening because of the topic at hand, you could. And when you were tired of keeping up with the conversation, you would go back to that blog post, select the Edit button and uncheck the 'Notify Me of Comments' box.

For me, keeping track of all the blog posts I commented on got overwhelming and everytime someone else commented on the same blog post that I did, I would be notified of it in my AR message box and in my email. Needless to say - the constant messages after a while, especially if I made comments on featured posts (that usually got 40 to 100 comments over time) became so overwhelming that I fel I was drowning in comment notifications. ARRRGGHH.

So I think AR's change was a good one to remove the option all together. But for those of you who enjoyed keeping up with each comment log, there is an option so that you can keep up with the conversations going on with every post you've commented on.

Here's How:

When you comment on another AR member's blog post, you will get a notification in your AR mailbox on your HOME PAGE, that YOU just commented on "Jennifer Allan's" post for example, with a link back to that particular blog post. Instead of deleting your inbox messages, keep them. That way you keep track of who's posts you have commented on and if you want to revisit that post to see if the blogger has responded to your comment, or to see other AR members' comments, this is a very simple way to stay on top of the AR blogging world.

And when you're finished with a particular blog conversation - just delete the message in your message box. It's that simple.

I was racking my brain over this for a while and it just hit me today how simple it is to stay in touch with everyone on AR - in regards to blogging. I know it's so simple and really very obvious, but sometimes when we're all caught up in the fast paced lifestyle we all lead - those very obvious solutions don't necesarily jump out at us so quickly.

Enjoy commenting and blogging in the rain and I look forward to commenting and keeping track of all of you and your blog posts. Ciao' Jessica

Make Sure Your Buyers Understand the Buyer-Agent Relationship and the Benefits or You'll Lose Them

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:46:58 -0600

I'm not a huge fan of the Buyer-Broker agreement. Most savvy buyers aren't going to sign this document, because they don't want to feel like they have to be tied down to a particular agent if the relationship turns sour or they think can get a "better deal" elsewhere (working directly with a For Sale Buy Owner). And to be honest if we spent half our time getting bitter everytime a buyer decided to not work with us, I can only imagine the reputation one would create, especially in a small community.

However I am realizing the importance of explaining the buying process to all potential buyers. Many, especially first time home buyers have no idea the intricacies that go into making a real estate deal happen and then close successfully. There is a lot of behind the scenes work and it really benefits when we as agents have not only built a trusting realtionship with our buyer, but also a working relationships with other agents in the community. Sometimes those relationships can make the deal go much more smoothly.

You can't expect someone right off the bat to agree to a buyer-agent relationship (ie: using the buyer broker agreement) especially if they don't really know how you operate. So I feel it's important to get to know the buyer a little better and yes, even show him or her a couple of houses first. Worst case scenario, they don' choose to hire you, but at least you had a chance to build your market knowledge up a bit.

A collegue in my office, who is a big fan and support system of mine and vice versa, meets with every potential buyer regardless of the buyer's experience in real estate (ie: buyer who has bought and sold real estate before) and explains the buying process from showing houses, to putting in an offer, negotiating and renegoiating the deal and the after closing services that he provides. In the end he gives them a choice to hire him or not and yes most of the time he is able to get them to sign a buyer-broker agreement. Because he explains what it is and the benefits behind it. And he always reminds the buyer that if the relationship isn't working either party can cancel the agreement, no questions asked.

This week my buyers wrote an offer on a home that just fell out of escrow with another buyer. This home never went back on the MLS as active. A close friend tipped them off about this house and they went for it. It was quick, they were overwhelmed and the listing agent got the deal. Just so we're all clear. This stuff happens to all of us, and in no way do I blame my buyers for this scenario. However, I blame myself for not explaining the full benefits of hiring a buyer's agent to 100% fully represent their interests.

What my buyers didn't realize is that the listing agent gets paid by the seller and has an agreed percentage. Regardless of whether that agent share's his commission with a buyer's agent or keeps the whole enchilada for himself that percentage usually doesn't change. The listing agent is working for the seller and the so called deal he's giving them may not be a deal at all. It usually doesn't cost the buyer a dime to use a buyer's agent and they get full representation from beginning to end. So if there's a problem during inspections the buyer may have compromised their negotiated position because the leverage they may have had working with a buyer's agent who's representing their best interests is gone.

So if you're working with a buyer, make sure they understand the benefits of hiring a buyer's agent and explain the downsides to them contacting a FSBO or listing agent directly. Usually what appears to be a great deal at the front end, may not be a deal at all. Nine times out of Ten the buyer's agent can negotiate the same deal and possibly a better one for their buyer, plus when it comes to renegotiating or problems that may arise during escrow, the buyer's agent is 100% behind their buyer to make the deal work for their buyer...not the seller.

Newbie Agents: Want to Be Known as the Expert in Your Market? A few tips to getting there.

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:51:31 -0600

It's a tough time for many agents in this economy, especially if you are new. You have a lot to learn about real estate in general, but you also need to build relationships with potential clients too. So here are a few suggestions to get you moving towards real estate expert status.

1) Study Your Market - I've been in the business for over 2 years and I try to do this every day. Spend 30 minutes everyday studying your MLS. What's new on the market, what just went pending, price reductions, what sold that day, what expired, etc. There are a few things that you will start noticing if you do this everyday:

a) You will start getting a sense of where the market is currently and where it is headed.

b) When you speak to a potential buyer or even a seller or your friends you will be able speak confidently about what's selling today.

2) Take Studying Your Market UP a Notch by Previewing the new homes on the market. Previewing is when you tour a home without a buyer. You will be even more confident when talking to potential clients about what homes are available. Try to break your previewing efforts down to either price range, or square footage or location, etc. The more you know about the details of the homes on the market the more confidence you give off when speaking with a potential client. If previewing isn't acceptable in your area than make sure to go on the Broker Tours weekly.

3) Learn the real estate side of things - read your contracts and make sure you understand them to the degree that you could explain it to a 5 year old. See if you can team up with a more experienced agent who's willing to share his/her commission with you on a listing and then you do most of the footwork with their help of course.

4) Practice communicating with sellers and buyers. Write down all the potential objections that might come up and practice addressing those objections everyday. If you can get role playing partner, even better. Sit down with them for 15 minutes every day, pick a topic or objection and practice, practice, practice.

5) Read anything and everything you can get your hands on, real estate and non real estate related. I've read several books that have helped me gain insight to this. Jennifer Allan's "Sell with Soul" book is a must for newbies. She really explains the process well. Keller Williams, "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" is another good one and I know that his new book "The Shift" has gotten rave reviews from many agents here on the rain. All of Seth Godin's books are great. Plus Keith Ferrazzi's "Never Eat Alone" is a great book about building meaningful relationships in business.

So I hope you will find these tips and reminders useful. And just want to say: Here's to your success this 2009! Good Luck out there :)

Jessica

Humboldt County MLS Listings: Low Mortgage Rates and Price Make Humboldt a Good Buy

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:13:48 -0600

Looking for a home using Humboldt County MLS Listings search tools is a great way to start the home buying process. Especially right now when mortgage rates are lower then they've ever been and home prices have really come down a lot in the last several years. This combo makes Humboldt a very good buy right now.

We may have not hit bottom yet, but we're probably close. So doing your preliminary home search on the public Humboldt County MLS Listings sites is a good first move, because it gives you a chance to see what you can get for say $300,000 to $350,000. You usually will find homes of all shapes and sizes, conditions and of course some are located in areas you would choose to live in and some are not.

But looking at Humboldt County MLS Listings online will only get you so far when it comes to figuring out what kind of home you are looking for and what neighborhoods you would want to live in. If you currently own a home or rent in Humboldt County CA then the best way to figure out where you want to buy your first or next home is to get in your car and start driving around.

Here are a few tips to really get comfortable with what's selling in our Humboldt County Real Estate market today and what to think about if your planning on buying a home in Humboldt County in the next few months:

1) Drive or Bike around the cities and neighborhoods that you think you would like to live in and rank them. Then map those neighborhoods out. This way you will stay focused when actually going out to actively search for your next home.

2) Once your ready to buy find a Realtor who is actively keeping up with the market. One who previews(sees a home without a buyer) new listings and tracks home prices in the micromarkets within our Humboldt County Real Estate market. For example, Arcata CA Homes on average will sell for $30,000 to $50,000 more than the same home in Eureka CA or even in Fortuna CA.

3)Find a lender you can trust. Interview 3 lenders and ask your Realtor for names. Your Humboldt County Realtor has built a relationship with certain lenders who have proven themselves over time by providing their past clients loans that successfully went through during past real estate transactions. You need to know what you can afford. If you can only afford to buy a $330,000 home and the homes you are looking at are for sale for $400,000 you cannot afford that home. So stick within or slightly above your price range and ask your Realtor for past home sales to see if similar homes sold in your price range to determine if the home you are interested in is grossly overpriced.

4) Be realistic. If your ideal home is 1500 square feet with 4 bedrooms, 2 baths on an wooded acre lot for $330,000 and the homes that have sold in the past 6 months or even a year in our Humboldt County Real Estate market sold for $400,000 or more than you need to readjust your home searching criteria when searching Humboldt County MLS Listings on the web. You may only be able to afford a 1500 square foot 3 bedroom/2 bath home in a neighborhood on a standard lot where you'll have to create landscaping to give you a little bit more privacy that you would have gotten on that 1 acre wooded lot.

Because of our unique situation: Low morrtgage interest rates, First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Incentives and fairly low prices, compared to 3 to 5 years ago, makes this a good time to get into your first home, move up into your next home or downsize. Will the Humboldt County Real Estate market continue to drop? It might, most buyers who are buying right now know that even if they're current home price drops even another 5 to 10% that buying a home is a long term investment and you'll have a few bumps in this journey. But in the long run, home markets go up and go down, right now we are down, but eventually we will start to creep back up.

To see what's currently available visit Humboldt County MLS Listings and you will be able to search for what homes are for sale in your price range.

To Learn More about the buying process read some of these blog posts below:

First Time Home Buyers FHA Loan Info

Updating your Preapproval Loan Letter

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Contact Jessica Bigger, Realtor®, RE/MAX Humboldt Realty at 707-496-5770 to list your home for sale or to purchase your first or next home in Eureka, Cutten, Bayside, Arcata, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad and the rest of Humboldt County California.

To view all Humboldt County Real Estate Click Here, then click on Search Area Listings at the top of the web site. I know Humboldt County CA well and can help you get your home Sold or help you buy your next California Coast Home Call today!

Humboldt County Real Estate: Selling Your Home the Second Time Around

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:57:47 -0600

In our Humboldt County Real Estate market I speak to many sellers who attempted to sell their home the first or second time around, hiring a local Realtor who they felt could get the job done only to be disappointed time and time again.

It’s frustrating when you’re ready to move on in your life to be stuck in a holding pattern because no buyer seems to be making an offer on your home. You can’t look for your next home, you can’t enjoy being in your current home because of constant interruption, and your just tired of the showings or lack there of that don’t produce a result, while other similar homes seem to be selling. Why not yours?

A lot of Realtors will blame the current state of our Humboldt County Real Estate market as to why your home isn’t selling. Now don’t get me wrong. Some homes in this Humboldt County Real Estate market won’t sell for various reasons. Some of these reasons could be that your home is near a highway or on a very busy street corner. Maybe your Humboldt County home has a funky floor plan, or your home needs so much work that the only buyers interested are investors who will buy way below fair market value to increase their chances of making a profit when they sell after doing the necessary improvements.

There’s a fine balance as a Humboldt County Real Estate listing agent when it comes to pricing a home for sale. There’s the data we must look at – What has been selling in the past 3 months, what’s currently pending and what is the home’s current competition. There’s also the overall market knowledge of what buyers today are looking for. In the end it’s a little bit of scientific research and art.

One thing is for sure. Buyers in this market are looking for value. They have access to the same information that sellers have in regard to home sales. Plus they are looking for the best home they can buy today in their price range. So not only do you have to be the home in the best location, best condition, best curb appeal, but you also have to have the best price in the price range that those buyers are searching in. So if buyers are looking for a home between $300,000 to $350,000, and there are 30 homes for sale in various conditions and the lowest price home is say $320,000 (taking into consideration the other factors for selling), you may need to price your home at $310,000 to create enough interest among the buyers looking in this price range.

Also based on recent statistical modeling of Humboldt County Real Estate homes that have sold in the last 6 months, I have found that the longer a home sat on the market the more likely the home didn’t sell at all. And if it did sell the home sold for significantly less than it was originally priced at and just lingered on the market for months (Statistical info by Ferret Analytics).

Preparing your home before you sell it, is just as important as marketing and advertising your home for sale. If your frustrated about your past experiences with selling your home make sure you work with a Humboldt County Real Estate agent who understands what it takes to sell any home in our current Humboldt County Real Estate market the second time around.

To learn what buyers are looking for in our Humboldt County Real Estate market read here.

Here are a couple other blogs to give you insight on what it takes to sell your current home in Humboldt County.

How Much Can I Get for my Home in this Humboldt County Real Estate market

Preparing you Humboldt County Home for Sale

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Contact Jessica Bigger, Realtor®, RE/MAX Humboldt Realty at 707-496-5770 to list your home for sale or to purchase your first or next home in Eureka, Cutten, Bayside, Arcata, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad and the rest of Humboldt County California.

To view all Humboldt County Real Estate, then click on Search Area Listings at the top of the web site. I know Humboldt County CA well and can help you get your home Sold or help you buy your next Calfornia Coast Home. Call today!

Humboldt County Real Estate: Lowest Foreclosures and Short Sales in CA

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:17:58 -0600

In our Humboldt Couty Real Estate market, the big discussion these days is the economy of course. And when it comes to Humboldt County Real Estate most people want to know how bad our market is? ie: How many foreclosures and short sales are selling compared to retail homes by sellers who have a reason to move.

I'll admit now. I don't have a crystal ball and the number of foreclosures and short sales may rise or fall this next year. All I know is what I see today. And today, out of the 590 homes currently selling in our Humboldt County Real Estate market, only 20 of those homes are Bank Owned Properties (Homes that the have already foreclosed and have been taken over by the bank to sell back to the public) and 26 are Short Sales (sellers who owe more to the bank than their home is currently worth in this market). That means 7.8% of the homes currently for sale fall into this category. The rest are regular Humboldt residential home sales.

Compare that to Stockton or Sacramento where majority of their market is driven by short sales and foreclosures.

Our Humboldt County Real Estate market has not come to a screeching hault either. 66 homes sold in January 2009. Not to shabby. Especially when our inventory isn't going through the roof, comparatively speaking. And the median home price (because I think averages are worthless to track home values, especially when a $1 million dollar property can throw everything off) is currently $270,000 throughout Humboldt County CA.

This doesn't mean however that the median sales price is $270,000 for homes sold in Arcata CA. Each local market is a bit different. Arcata CA for example is a stronger market that has a higher median sales price than Eureka CA does. The average or median home in Arcata CA sells for approximately $30,000 more than homes in Eureka CA.

For Humboldt County Real Estate Sellers this is good news. Because you are not competing with an overwhelming number of short sales and foreclosures that usually sell for less than fair market value. And if you have a home that is "market ready", meaning your home has great curb appeal (immaculate front and back yard) is clean, clutter free, smells nice and is in move in condition inside, and is priced appropriately to compete with the other homes on the market - (usually slightly below your competition), you have a much highter chance of selling your home for a good fair price in a reasonable amount of time.

If you're thinking about selling your home and you want to know how your home compares to the current competition I'm more than happy to chat with you about it.

Information courtesy of the Humboldt Association of Realtors MLS. Information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

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When You Find The "Almost" Perfect House, But Want To Make It Home.

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:11:18 -0600

I've worked with many First Time Homebuyers here in Humboldt. Many of whom have used various low income loan programs in the past and a few who have used FHA loans more recently. So it's good to see this product come out into the loan industry.

Welcome to the FHA Rehab loan. The person to tell you more about it is our very own active rain mortgage consultant Jason Sardi.

Via Jason Sardi, Mortgage Banker (FHA-VA-USDA-Conventional-Pennsylvania Loans):

This should lead it off quite nicely:)

Back in my early days of lending, I recall quite vividly the very first Rehab Loan I did. While I did some legwork in actually knowing the ropes of that particular product before advertising the bejesus out of a very niche loan, I still was caught like a reindeer in some oncoming car's speeding headlights when trying to get them closed in a streamlined sort of fashion. And then, I had it mastered. As my particular luck would have it, most of those programs disappeared shortly thereafter.

The echoes in the back of my head rang of a long-lost product I had only heard about and most of what I heard were borderline horror stories. The FHA 203(K) loan reared its mysterious head and stared me in my wide-eyed glance. I gotta admit, there was major hesitation on my part in even wanting to get involved in such a misunderstood product. I knew little about it and wanted to concentrate more on the Conventional sort of stuff that I grew up with in the industry... at least at that point. Hey, of course I want to corner the market, but not at the risk of looking like an incompetent SOB at the end of the day.

Then, I encountered experts in that very product. I figured, let's roll repair.

After doing more homework than my combined High School & College Education would vouch that I did back in the day, I chose to go after a market that just may make a dent in not only enhancing the housing market... but the very neighborhoods we live in.

This is just a taste of the FHA 203(K) Renovation Loan!

Add a deck or porch, makes for one heck of a Summertime BBQ.

Upgrade the electrical system and avoid reading overdue utility bills under candlelight.

Modernize the kitchen and watch the The Food Channel in a comparable stadium.

Replace a furnace and heck, it's a furnace. You really don't want that entity breaking down anytime soon!

Paint the exterior and/or interior. Yours could be the only lavender house in the neighborhood:)

Install new carpeting. There's nothing like getting rid of stained residue from a German Shepard you never owned.

Remodel a bathroom. Hey, might as well let loose of your naked body in comfortable surroundings!

Replace roofing and/or siding. There were 58 mile per hour winds in Pennsylvania today, that stuff may come in handy.

Refinish wood floors. That's a big selling point for yours truly. I adore wood floors and have an aggressive amount of ShamWow merchandise to prove it:)

Program Features:

Low down payment

Buy and remodel a home with one mortgage! You can finance the purchase plus the cost of the improvements with one monthly mortgage payment.

At least $5,000 in repairs needed to qualify for the 203(K) Loan.

They can be used for owner occupied 1-4 unit family dwellings.

Closing takes place before the improvements/repairs are made.

Money for the repairs and renovations is held in an escrow account and paid out after each phase of work is completed, inspected and approved.

By the way, they are fixed rates!

Consider this the teaser post to the taste buds of home renovation lending. Yup, I'm your proverbial appetizer.

Jason Sardi

Mortgage Consultant

1-866-262-8720 ext. 229

jsardi@ihmci.com

Located at our Allentown, Pennsylvania office. Pennsylvania Based Mortgage Banker/Broker whose area of service include PA, NJ, NY, CT, DE, MD, VA, SC, FL, MI and IN.

Active Rain Glitch: Are Any of You Missing Your Edit Link on Comments You Made to other Active Rain Blogs?

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:39:27 -0600

I thought I would throw this out there before I contact the AR G-ds for help.

For the past several weeks now I'll make comments on other Rainer's blog posts, and check the box which allows AR to notify me when others comment on that post. Of course each time someone comments I get an email message about it. I usually will hang in there for a few days and then go back to the original post, find my comment and click the edit link at the bottom of my comment post, so that I can remove myself from being notified of new comments.

For some reason sometimes the edit link is there and other times (more than not) it isn't.

Have any of you experienced this problem?

Should You Get Out of Your Pajamas? Sure. But Don't Desert Your Online Presence

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:25:05 -0600

One of our activerainers J Philip Miranda wrote a great post Are You an Agent Who Blogs or a Blogger who's a Licensed Agent?

and his post inspired an array of well thought out comments, even Lenn Harvey followed up with an incredible post Listen to this Realtor! He's On to Something. Websites and Blogging Do Not Work!

Both posts are well thought out and both give us all quite a bit to think about. The market has changed and many of us, especially those still building our business, need to have several different approaches to attract buyers and sellers. We all agree...sitting at home or at the office waiting for the phone to ring, isn't a realistic approach. You've got to make the effort.

Are there folks here who are doing exceptionally well because of their online presence? Sure. I can think of one. Katerina and Nestor Gasset. A good percentage of their business comes from their online presence. But is this the end all be all of your business? No. They aren't getting all of their businesss online, but their online efforts have definitely paid off for them.

I do agree with both Lenn and J Philip. Your blogging and website should be a supplement to your real estate business and yes, real estate is still a face to face people business. In the end you do have to get in front of those buyers and sellers.

However, your blogging and website can leverage your business to a higher standard and level than the average Joe Schmoe Agent.

So let's talk about the benefits of having an online presence:

1) Your online presence can make you stand out from your competition - When you go into a listing presentation and you can show the seller that you have a strong online presence to attract buyers who are searching for homes on the internet (and their is a percentage of buyers doing this) it gives you a leg up from the agents competing with you who don't really have a strong online presence. Sellers always want to know what we're going to do to promote and market their home to attract the highest number of "ready, willing and able buyers". This is just one of the things most sellers expect from agents these days.

2) Your blogging can help you establish a trusting relationship with a buyer or seller - It doesn't necessarily mean that your blogging is soley there to attract online buyers and sellers looking for an agent or looking for information. If you meet a seller or buyer offline and you want them to get to know you better, to get a feel for the kind of person you are as well as the kind of agent you are...you can refer them to your blog. I can't tell you how many folks here have written about their success with this.

3) Your blogging or article you submit online- of course has to be well thought out and "news worthy" - could be picked up by your local newspaper, an established real estate magazine/site or even a national newspaper, like the New York times, for example. We all know if your article gets into the paper or your blogging gets you recognized by the media as being an "expert", this can really help you build credibility in your community as the real estate agent to use for XY and Z. Elizabeth Weintraub comes to mind. Oh and this helps build your credibility in your listing presentations too.

To summarize: Your online presence can be used for different reasons - you can initially attract buyers and sellers online to you by creating a website and blogging using Search Engine Optimization techniques to get to page 1 on Google for your local real estate area. But to get them to call you has to do with what you are writing about. Your personality is going to come through your website presence and your blogging.

It's a great tool to leverage your business as well. If you are out in the world, hitting the pavement and getting in front of buyers and sellers you can send them to your blog. Your blog can help you build trust with these folks. In this day and age most people check up on eachother online. At least most folks are going to Google you. So why not direct them to your blog from the get go. They get to know you a little bit better and this may increase your chances of doing business with these prospects over another agent.

So I'll stop my post here, but stay tune for my next post about balancing your prospecting and business approaches. There are so many techniques available to build our business. However there isn't one proven approach over another. A lot has to do with your personality. Some folks have great success with FSBO's others are better picking up business at a open house. So no one approach is necessarily the only way to build a great real estate business. Keep your eyes peeled for this one.

Copyright 2009 Jessica Bigger. All Rights Reserved. *Should You Get Out of Your Pajamas? Sure. But Don't Desert Your Online Presence*

As One Door Closes, Another One Opens – A New Beginning in Real Estate

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:47:18 -0600

Today I left my brokerage for another. I left on my terms and I’ve moved over to RE/MAX Humboldt Realty. For several months I thought long and hard about the move, but now the time has come for a change.

I’ve seen lots of change through these Humboldt Real Estate eyes in last couple of years. I got into the business when the real estate market started to go south. Prices didn’t plummet in Humboldt like they did in other parts of California, but it was a noticeable drop in sales price and volume.

When I first got my license and signed up with Ming Tree GMAC there were well over 450 agents working in Humboldt, that has a population of no more than 130,000 people. Now I’ve seen the number drop to less than 340. More than 100 people left the business. Not a bad thing.

I’ve watched brokerages pair down their advertising, let agents go and I’ve watched several agents in my former company make a similar decision to move or start their own brokerage.

Now’s the time to continue building our businesses, learning to improve our communication skills, getting better at listing presentations, marketing offline as well as online. It’s time to get out there face to face with potential buyers and sellers who need our assistance. And sometimes a change is good, along with a positive attitude to succeed. Business may not be booming but it’s moving and I’m doing just fine.

So the newbie agent at Ming Tree GMAC chapter has come to a close and the more experienced full time agent ready to serve is starting a new beginning. I’m excited about the opportunities I’m moving into with this new brokerage. They’ve offered me lots of opportunities and support to help me continue to build my business. I will however always be grateful to Ming Tree for the opportunity to learn and grow into the great Humboldt Real Estate agent I’ve become.

But now it’s time to look forward and not behind. So here’s to a new beginning and great successes for you and for me.

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Contact Jessica Bigger, Realtor®, RE/MAX Humboldt Realty at 707-496-5770 to list your home for sale or to purchase your first or next home in Eureka, Cutten, Bayside, Arcata, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad and the rest of Humboldt County California.

To view all Humboldt County CA Historic and Luxury Homes for Sale Click Here, then click on Search Area Listings at the top of the web site. I know Humboldt County CA well and can help you get your home Sold or help you buy your next Humboldt County California Home. Call today!

Is Full Honesty Always the Best Policy?

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:19:35 -0600

I’m a pretty honest person and a terrible liar. So when I sit down with a seller, I always respectfully and politely point out the challenges that we will face as a team to get the home sold. It’s a different market and so no longer is it good enough to just put a sign in the yard, sell the home “as is” and hope for a good offer. Homes need to make an exceptionally good first impression from the get go to gain enough interest from the limited buying public.

I also can do the most incredible marketing for anyone’s home to attract the right buyer, but if the product (the house) isn’t priced appropriately for it’s condition, location, curb appeal and amenities, no amount of marketing is going to get a buyer to bring my seller an offer.

However, I haven’t really worked with a seller who actively smokes in his house. For me this is un-chartered territory. This seller originally had it on the market “For Sale by Owner,” and I happen to preview the house for a specific buyer. But the updating needed and the smoking eliminated this seller’s home from my buyer’s list. However, the seller called me a few weeks later when he was ready to list his house with a Realtor because he felt, of all the agents he had met, I seemed the most genuine and trustworthy.

I know I politely brought up the challenges to the seller about getting his home sold. And I empathized with him, because he had recently lost his wife. And I can’t even imagine having to be in his position. Having to sell his home in his moment of grief. So I tried to approach the situation cautiously, but I felt it was important he understand the challenges he faced, selling a home that has been smoked in for years.

So I gave him his options – paint the interior, replace the carpeting (or at least get it cleaned) or reduce the price by another $15,000 or so. By no means did I go in, high and mighty, guns blazing, berating the seller for the fact that he was a smoker, but I did let him know that the smoking was going to be one of our challenges.

I made the mistake of including a couple articles on selling a smoking house along with the official Comparative Marketing Analysis and that set the seller off. He was extremely offended and felt that the smoking wasn’t really that big of a deal and that I was making it a big deal. So he chose another agent to list his house. That’s fine. No harm done. It was never my intention to offend the seller. Just being honest about the challenges we faced.

So my honesty and integrity got me in the door, but it showed me the door in the end. Oh well.

I asked my fellow agents what they would have done and surprisingly many would have listed the house and waited for 3rd party feedback about the smoking. So I guess full honesty in this situation may not be the best policy. Sometimes sellers need to come to certain realizations on their own. I definitely learned that one here.

However, one of the key topics we hear a lot about as agents, especially in a challenging home market is listening to our gut instinct a little bit more. My gut wasn’t that thrilled about selling a home that not only needed updating, but also had 20 years of cigarette smoke that would be difficult to remove. I’m sure the seller picked up on that.

The unknowns for many buyers are: Will I be able to fully get rid of the cigarette smoke? Has it permeated through the sheet-rocked walls where I’m going to either have to replace the sheetrock (which can get costly) or somehow seal the smoke in before I repaint? Has it soaked into the wood floors below that even if I replace the carpeting and padding will I completely get rid of the smell? Will the smoke affect my allergies?

When you have several homes on the market in better condition than this home selling for maybe $10,000 to $20,000 more, it becomes a bit of a challenge getting the job done, especially when certain percentage of homes in our Humboldt Real Estate market will not sell right now. My job is to get the house sold and my gut told me the only way to sell a smoker's home that also needs quite a bit of updating is to drastically reduce the price or correct the problem. The seller wasn't willing to do either.

So is full honesty the best policy? I think so, however maybe in certain cases, especially regarding sensitive topics like smoking or strong pet smells, the honest truth might be better off coming from the buyers and their agents first.

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Contact Jessica Bigger, Realtor®, RE/MAX Humboldt Realty at 707-496-5770 to list your home for sale or to purchase your first or next home in Eureka, Cutten, Bayside, Arcata, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad and the rest of Humboldt County California.

To view all Humboldt County CA Historic and Luxury Homes for Sale Click Here, then click on Search Area Listings at the top of the web site. I know Humboldt County CA well and can help you get your home Sold or help you buy your next Humboldt County California Home. Call today!

Mortgage tools for those buying or refinancing....... Understanding Mortgages

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:26:34 -0600

Jeff Belonger is one of the well known Mortgage experts in our industry here in the rain. As a Humboldt Real Estate agent I always try to educate my buyers about the loan process. It's always good to have at least a general knowledge of the home buying process, because it is such an important part of buying a home. If you can't qualify for a loan, you can't buy your first or next home. That simple. Sometimes it's better to let the experts give you the details about the important steps any buyer needs to take before he or she starts the their home search.

Same goes for refinancing. Not everyone is going to be able to refinance their loan, especially if their home is worth a lot less than when they bought the home. So Jeff does a great job of explaining the refinancing process as well. Hope you enjoy the read. Jessica Bigger - Humboldt Real Estate Agent

Via Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- FHA Loans -- FHA mortgages - USDA loans (Infinity Home Mortgage Company, Inc):

Shopping for a mortgage when buying your home or refinancing is not as easy as some of you think. First off, you should get yourself pre-qualfied at least 3 to 6 months before you actually go out and look for a home. Especially if your credit is less than perfect.

Secondly, you need to make sure that you are dealing with a mortgage professional. Yes, it's good to be referred to someone. But just a fyi, that doesn't mean that they might be the best for you. I could give you stories. If you don't feel comfortable, it doesn't hurt to talk to at least 2 more individuals.

With 16 years in the mortgage industry, I have heard many stories of bad experiences from borrowers, realtors, and title clerks. And in my professional opinion and experience, there are 3 major things that aggravate me, that are pet peeves of mine, that you should be aware of.

Good Faith Estimates - When ever you speak to a loan officer and they actually pre-qualify you or if refinancing, that they give you a rate, your payment, and costs.... that they should be able to present you with a Good Faith Estimate (did you get one) usually in the next 15 to 30 minutes. Unless they tell you that they will get it to you that evening or by the next morning, anything longer than this is a major red flag. In many cases, they are usually hiding what they don't want you to see. And just because they put it on paper, doesn't mean that it will always happen.

Quoting Rates - No matter if you ask for a rate quote or if the loan officer gives you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE), they need to explain how long that interest rate is good for. They also need to go over the lock-in procedures for locking in such quoted rates. Many fail to do this and the average borrower doesn't know to ask. So if I give you a rate and don't tell you how long that rate is good or how to lock into that rate, then that rate doesn't mean squat. Make sense?

The interview process - There is more to it than just asking your name and how much you want to purchase and refinance. Especially more than ever in today's market. It's truly hard to put a time limit on how long someone should spend with you, if it's on the phone or in person. But I can't see how I could do it under 20 minutes, when I need to ask the right questions when qualifying you for a mortgage. I like to get an idea of your goals and a few other things. If the loan officer doesn't ask you about your goals and some other financial questions, I would have second thoughts. And to find a loan officer that truly knows the differences between FHA loans and conventional loans.

Understanding the mortgage process actually is not that hard, as long as your loan officer takes the time to explain things to you and to educate you. If you are first time homebuyer, I would suggest reading up on some information prior to speaking to a loan officer. This way you have a good idea what they are talking about. Please read this : First Time Homebuyer Tips Series - 5 Parts

First Time Homebuyer Tips Series :

First Time Homebuyer Tips : FHA - Conventional - VA - Subprime -- Part 1 of 5

First Time Homebuyer Tips : Getting Qualified & Knowing your Credit -- Part 2 of 5

First Time Homebuyer Tips : Understanding the total mortgage process -- Part 3 of 5

First Time Homebuyer Tips : FHA, a better mortgage program? -- Best Programs & Why -- Part 4 of 5

First Time Homebuyer Tips : Summary - Red Flags to be aware of -- Part 5 of 5

Here are some posts that I wrote hoping to educate you on the specifics of mortgages and the mortgage fundamentals. Think of it as a mini crash course.

Good Faith Estimates - Knowing the basics

APR vs mortgage interest rate - knowing the difference

Myths behind zero point interest rates

Round 2 - Seller-Financed Downpayment Assistance Programs - Nehemiah & AmeriDream alive?

For more FHA loans vs conventional loans comparisons :

FHA loans vs Conventional loans - A true numbers comparision with 5% down - Using a 710 credit score

FHA loans vs Conventional loans - A real comparision with 5% down - Using a 659 credit score

FHA cash-out loans vs conventional cash-out loans - A real comparison

First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit info :

Use a 6 month gift from a relative to buy a home, thanks to the Tax Credit

First time homebuyers Tax Credit - How to use it before you actually buy your home....

Rural Housing Loans - No money down - USDA loan

Credit Scores CHANGING now on FHA loans?......... Opinion OR Fact???

Mortgage Market Reports - Interest Rates climb higher !!!!! - January 21, 2009

I have just been called a used car salesman ...... and I am confused to as why.

- FHA Loans - USDA Loans - Conventional Loans - VA Loans - Mortgages -

Experience & Knowledge at its BEST !!!

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For more information on FHA loans, please go to this link. The FHA Expert

For more information about the 2008-2009 Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers : 2008 Tax Credit

For important mortgage insight to watch for, please read : Consumers need to be aware of these Red Flags !!!!!

Copyright © 2009 by Jeff Belonger

Humboldt Real Estate: Old House Foundations – Should I Be Worried About Pier and Post Foundation?

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:24:16 -0600

Many older homes throughout the country, especially where I live in Eureka CA still sit on a pier and post foundation. As a Realtor working with many buyers interested in purchasing a charming old home in the Humboldt Real Estate Market, most buyers are concerned about this older foundation surviving the next major earthquake.

Well my first response is always, “Well it’s still standing after how many major earthquakes?” I usually get a calmer chuckle or two. With that being said, it’s still a good idea to get someone who specializes in older foundations to do an inspection on the home you are interested in buying. Only an experienced foundation guy can tell you exactly what your soon-to-be home is sitting on. There are times your home might be on a perimeter foundation, but have existing pier and posts left behind. Sometimes what appears to be a perimeter foundation actually is just a skirt to cover the gap between the ground and the first floor of your house and what you're looking at is still a pier and post foundation. So it's a good idea to know what you have. Most home inspectors have a general knowledge on foundations. However, if you want to make sure your pier and post foundation is in good shape and whether your home is actually bolted to the perimeter foundation it's a good idea to ask the experts.

I remember when I bought my first Victorian in Eureka CA, I too was concerned about the pier and post foundation, especially since there was a noticeable hump in the middle of the dining room floor. I have to admit, my husband and I were just as nervous about that foundation as any other buyer would be. So we called George Kurwitz, the foundation expert in Humboldt County. He’s the one who repaired almost all the old Victorians in Ferndale CA that jumped off of their foundation during the last major earthquake in the 90’s. Within minutes of crawling under our house, he determined the foundation was in great shape and the hump in the floor was just due to settling over the years.

Many worry that pier and post foundations are a liability, but in reality many of these foundations are still in good shape. Although most folks would prefer seeing their old Victorian or Craftsman sitting on a perimeter foundation, many foundation experts see no issue with pier and post as long as the pier and posts are not rotting and preferably bolted down. Most experts agree that during an earthquake pier and post foundation enable the home to move with the quake. Essentially there is more flexibility. Not so much with a home sitting on a perimeter foundation.

So if you are buying an old home that still sits on a pier and post foundation, call your local foundation expert, one who specializes or works regularly with pier and post. This extra step will ease your mind and address your concerns about whether or not your soon-to-be-home’s foundation is good enough to withstand the next major earthquake.

I work with both buyers and sellers who's first love is an older home. It's good to work with an agent who specializes in these homes. I have built connections in the restoration and old home maintenance industry to be able to refer my buyers and sellers to the old house experts. If you are considering an older home give me a call and we can chat about what's available in our area. If you are ready to sell your Humboldt Historic Home I have the tools and know how to attract the old house buyer. Just call 707-496-5770 for details.

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Contact Jessica Bigger, Realtor®, RE/MAX Humboldt Realty at 707-496-5770 to list your home for sale or to purchase your first or next home in Eureka, Cutten, Bayside, Arcata, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad and the rest of Humboldt County California.

To view all Humboldt County CA Historic and Luxury Homes for Sale Click Here, then click on Search Area Listings at the top of the web site. I know Humboldt County CA well and can help you get your home Sold or help you buy your next Humboldt County California Home. Call today!

Refinancing? Make Sure You Know All the Fees Up Front.

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:50:01 -0600

With the recent mortgage rates dropping down to the low 5.0% range my husband and I decided it was time to look into refinancing our current mortgage.

While I represent both buyers and sellers in their real estate transactions in Humboldt County CA and am aware of all of the lending fees you have to pay up front, I forgot that the process to refinance your loan is similar to buying a home and being in escrow again. The fees are the same, just a bit less than what you would spend if you were getting a loan to buy a house.

So we called our lender Jason at Bank of America and got a quick quote at how much cash we would need to come in with up front. He said around $4000, which included the 1 1/2 points to get our interest rate down a little lower. But when we got all the documentation in the mail, our HUD statement estimated us paying about $6000 in fees, loan points, etc.

Huh? How did we go from $4000 to $6000? Not that it would make a difference in our decision, because either way, we were going to save quite a bit by going through with the refinance, but we wanted to understand what the $2000 discrepancy was.

So we called our lender immediately to clarify this and he mentioned that some of the fees posted on the HUD statement were off a bit, because Bank of America will sometimes grossly overestimate rather than be under the mark. He explained to us what we would be paying up front and reassured us that his original estimate of $4000 would be closer to what we would pay.

It really is like buying a house (with out the seller or the agents as part of the transaction) in terms of the fees involved. Since you have to open up escow there are escrow fees, title fees, transfer tax and other fees just like when buying a house. So if you refinance your home plan on paying several thousand dollars to cover all the fees it takes to reduce your monthly payment. And if you don't understand what all those fees are for, set up a meeting with your lender to go over them with you. Make sure you understand where those fees come from and also what they add up to = estimated total fee amount.

For us in the end, even having to spend $4000 to get our monthly payment lower, is well worth it. So just make sure you weigh the options you have and make the decision that's going to be best for you. We're glad we've decided to move forward on our refinance. How about you?

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Contact Jessica Bigger, Realtor®, Ming Tree GMAC Real Estate at 707-269-4305 to list your home for sale or to purchase your first or next home in Eureka, Cutten, Bayside, Arcata, McKinleyville, Westhaven, Trinidad and the rest of Humboldt County California.

To view all Humboldt County CA Historic and Luxury Homes for Sale Click Here, then click on Search Area Listings at the top of the web site. I know Humboldt County CA well and can help you get your home Sold or help you buy your next Humboldt County California Home. Call today!