Buyers, don't listen to the media!  With rents in our area having increased 40% in the last 5 years and home prices at 2002-2003 prices, it's truly cheaper to own than rent.  There are affordable loans with low interest rates, lots of homes on the market, and unbelievable deals to be made.  Even if prices drop, it doesn't take much of an interest rate increase for your payment to go up a lot.  Now it the time to buy!  With so many people renting that used to be homeowners, that will put an even greater pressure on rental prices to go up.  More demand equals higher rent.  Call or text me and let's discuss your options!  805-587-3688.

I truly feel that this is the best time to buy a home since I began my real estate career 28 years ago.  This is not what the media would have buyers believe but I know it is true.  Sellers are motivated, interest rates are low and there are great loan products, and there are lots of homes for sale.

My partner and I want to educate buyers on the home-buying process and we held a seminar for first time buyers.  We are collecting names for our next seminar so please call or text Emily to register (805-587-3688) or email her at Emily@EmilyLink.com. It will be held in Thousand Oaks.  We will go over the contract and contingencies and a lender will discuss loan products. 

If you would like to own a home sometime in your life, come and find out how to do it!  Even if you have credit issues or need help setting up a budget, we're here to help you! 

 

I've been previewing vacant homes.  I cannot believe the outstanding deals a buyer can make right now!  I don't understand why they "want to wait for prices to go lower".  Now is the time to buy!

How low do they think prices will go?  I believe I can negotiate that price today.  Interest rates are low and there are good loans for credit-worthy buyers.  For anyone renting who wants to own a home, let's figure out what they need to do and put together a plan to help them achieve their dream.  They can do it with our guidance.  Perhaps they're closer than they think. 

Our job is to help people buy and/or sell homes.  We need to go out and help people instead of sitting back and complaining. 

 

 

Boy, has my attitude changed!  I've been listening to Dave Ramsey (author of "Total Money Make-over" and talk show host) who advocates being debt free and the peace that comes from that.  My personal mission will be to work with people and help them to realize that paying off all debt is attainable.  Like all good things in life, it doesn't just happen.  You have to work at it!  I'm going to go out and find people who need my help and counsel them on putting together a plan to buy a home if they're renting.  Let's work together to get people away from "things" and back to peace of mind.  It will be the new self-help movement!

I attended a Women's Council of Realtors' meeting today where Colleen talked about Realtor 2.0.  She had some great ideas that I will put into practice.  I just had Marc Davison do an analysis of my website.  What an eye-opener!  I'll definitely be upgrading, making changes, etc.  What worked a few years ago does not work now.  Take the time and invest the money to do this.  If you have any comments on the most important thing that you have on your site or have seen on someone's site, please share that.  Let's help each other!  Like my good friend Joeann Fossland says, "We don't have time to make all of the mistakes ourselves".

I'm so sick of hearing the media talk about not being able to get loans.  If you are credit worthy, you can get a loan.  People's lives change and they need to move.  People relocate due to a job change, couples get divorced, people retire and move to a different area.  It's a great time to buy!  Even if you have to sell and feel like you're "giving your home away", you'll make it up on the purchase of your new home.

Let's work to help people stay in their homes if they have a loan coming due that needs to be refinanced.  Let's counsel them instead of encouraging them to throw up their hands and walk away.  I fear that they feel as though everyone else is doing it so they might as well too.  This will not be good for them and will have negative effects for many others.

I truly believe that if someone wants to own a home, with credit and life-style counseling, they can do it.  Now is a great time for renters to explore ownership because there are owners who really need to sell.  Let's look for the positive and help each other!