faq contest: When can I get the keys to the house we’re buying?
- 05/29/12 12:49 PM
When can I get the keys to the house we’re buying? Alameda County and Contra Costa County, CA The answer is different in every state --- sometimes it’s even different within the same state.When we lived in Florida, the day we signed our documents at a lawyer’s office is the same day we got the keys to the house.But when we moved to northern California, it’s a different story. Loan documents to title company. Loan underwriter sends the paperwork to the escrow officer who will need at least 24 hours to review the documents, confirm the terms of the … (7 comments)
faq contest: Why was my offer rejected though it was higher than list price?
- 05/28/12 05:16 AM
Why was my offer not accepted by the seller even though we offered higher than the list price? In my neck of the woods in Alameda , Oakland and Piedmont CA, we’ve had listings during which the winning buyers were not always those who wrote the highest offers. This is not unusual. Buyers who track the progress of sold properties on which they submitted offers are very surprised when they found out they wrote higher offers but lost anyway.
NOTE: List price should NOT be the sole basis of your offer. List price is all part of the pricing strategy -- some … (41 comments)
faq contest: Is this neighborhood safe? How does it compare to other cities?
- 05/27/12 11:18 AM
Is this neighborhood safe?It’s a good question to ask, but what do you consider safe? No land is Utopia...even small towns will have their share of criminal activity. From Dictionary.com, safe [seyf] Show IPA adjective, saf·er, saf·est, noun, adjective 1. secure from liability to harm, injury, danger, or risk: a safe place. 2. free from hurt, injury, danger, or risk: to arrive safe and sound. 3. involving little or no risk of mishap,error, etc.: a safe estimate. 4. dependable or trustworthy: a safe guide. 5. careful to avoid danger or controversy: a safe player; a safe play.
So how … (8 comments)
faq contest: Should we order asbestos test with home buyer’s inspections?
- 05/26/12 04:24 PM
Should we order asbestos test as part of the home buyer’s inspections?First time home buyers are almost always the most concerned when they see popcorn ceilings (funny, but very few notice the asbestos shingles). It’s a very real concern and it should be addressed. In many cities in the Bay area where we have a lot of older homes ---Alameda, Oakland, Berkeley just to name a few --- we encourage having asbestos testing as part of the inspections that the home buyer orders during the buyer investigation period. A year ago, I posted this about first time buyers fear "But the … (9 comments)
faq contest: Do I have to miss payments before I can qualify for a short sale?
- 05/26/12 11:14 AM
Do I have to miss payments before I can qualify for a short sale?Omigosh...how many times have we heard this? Not just in Alameda County CA, but everywhere else.Several years ago, when agents and negotiators were still struggling through the early onslaught of short sales, this may have been one of the first things that buyers were told to do: miss payments.This is no longer the case...and no REALTOR would or should advise their sellers to miss a payment. It’s wrong and not the best advice. The seller should consult his lawyer and/or a financial adviser instead.First of all, qualifying for … (4 comments)
faq contest: How can a home buyer with an FHA loan get his offer accepted?
- 05/26/12 09:49 AM
How can a home buyer with an FHA loan get his offer accepted?A broker submitted an offer that seems out of step with someone who claims to be a broker since 1977. He didn’t seem to have a notion of how to write a winning offer especially in a competitive situation. The buyer could only qualify for an FHA loan. But how the offer was written sank his chances. If you want to win....here are some DO’s and DON’Ts when writing an offer, for example, in Alameda CA especially in a competitive situation, or where the seller has limited funds. DON’T … (2 comments)
It used to be that when a home for sale is identified as a short sale, buyers and their agents stayed away because they didn’t want to wait and perhaps also because of fear of the unknown.
Today, in our market, it's a seller's market. There is so little inventory, and we are experiencing multiple offers at above list price on everything.
So how can one increase his chances to get his offer accepted on a short sale?
Knowledge is everything. ...property market value ...banks … (6 comments)
faq contest: How can an existing home compete for buyers against the builder in the same community?
- 05/20/12 01:48 PM
How can an existing home compete for buyers against the builder in the same community? Selling a property in a development -- such as those in Dublin CA --- where the builder is still building more houses can be challenging. After all, why buy a “used” home when one can buy a brand new house and select your own upgrades and finishes?The most important and most competitive factor is PRICE. Underprice a little under the price of the new homes, and it should stimulate interest among value hunters.There are benefits to buying an existing home -- and we should share these … (23 comments)
faq contest: Should you set an offer date for your home for sale?
- 05/14/12 03:02 PM
Should you set an offer date for your home for sale? Who turned on the switch? Just a few months ago, we were lucky if we got an offer on our listings within the first 30-60 days. And most of us dared not set offer date because what if we gave a party and no one came? Then it seemed like someone turned on the switch, opened the spigot, and here come all the buyers! Not that it’s a bad thing :) Today, in areas where there is low inventory and brisk activity, it’s almost a given that we should set an offer … (30 comments)
When can I get the keys to the house we’re buying? Alameda County and Contra Costa County, CA 
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