COASTAL REAL ESTATE NEWS & INFO

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:47:00 +0000

I'm just loving me some Coastside Videos!!!

Half Moon Bay from Kathryn Rao on Vimeo.

About San Mateo County

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:24:00 +0000

I just located this great video about San Mateo County online...

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Hello everyone in the blogosphere!

I know, I know...it's been like forever. For those were paying attention, thank you, and for those new, well, I don't think you missed much. Until now!

I am going to ramping up my attempts to educate and share my ideas and thoughts about all things on the coast and peninsula. Being born and raised in San Mateo County I am grateful for all that there is to offer.

Being a Realtor not only gives me an opportunity to meet wonderful people, create long lasting relationships, the ability to negotiate, consult, deal with transactional details, but it also gives me a chance to explore new places and experience great things.

I will try to keep a nice balance between business and pleasure and look forward to sharing more in the future.

Nate

News : Caltrans plans to close Devil's Slide March 24 or 25 : Half Moon Bay Review, California

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:36:00 +0000

News : Caltrans plans to close Devil's Slide March 24 or 25 : Half Moon Bay Review, California

Posted using ShareThis

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:37:00 +0000

NEW LEAF IS FINALLY OPEN!!!

We are pleased to announce that New Leaf Community Market is finally open! What used to be an Albertson's and previously an Alpha Beta and Lucky's, is now a beautiful and cutting edge food store.

When I lived in Santa Cruz, New Leaf was a great alternative to Safeway and Albertson's. The produce was fresh and mainly local, the Deli was great, and the meat department was of top-quality. Well, after all of these years, nothing has changed. It is such a blessing to have this on the Coast.

I won't lie, the wait was a little stressful. It was obvious that the codes will come in time and the crowds will dwindle. But as happy as I was that they are finally here, I could care less.

If you get a chance, go online to their website at www.newleaf.com. I think it will make you not want to shop at the commercial food stores anymore.

Kudos to New Leaf!

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:19:00 +0000

Two Year Market Trend - For Sale, Pended, Active

Here are some graphs to give you sort of a snapshot of how our inventory (condos and townhomes included) has moved since December of 2005. The light green reflects the amount of homes for sale, the dark green explains sold homes, and the line is the amount of pended homes. Dates are on the bottom and the left column is number of homes.

As you can see, the recent supply of homes in up, pending sales are slightly down, and sold homes are slightly lower, however we are seeing improvements in our market.

12/05 to 2/07

3/07 to 5/08

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:29:00 +0000

Buying an existing home that’s “green”

With rising energy costs and growing awareness – and availability – of environmentally friendly products, it's no wonder that interest in purchasing green homes is rising. Green remodels on existing homes both save the environment and save homeowners money on monthly bills. As green home remodeling becomes more abundant, so does the demand to purchase these homes. This increased interest in existing green homes has created a need to educate buyers on what is really considered "green."

Over the past several years, many organizations such as Build It Green, (http://www.builditgreen.org/), an independent nonprofit organization, have been created to offer a third-party unbiased evaluation. Because of the growing desire to purchase existing green homes, states Bruce Mast, development director at Build it Green, "the Real Estate Council has been setting the stage to incorporate GreenPoint Rated results into MLS listings in several areas." What is GreenPoint Rated? Mast explains that, "GreenPoint Rated provides an independent assessment of a home across five categories: community design, energy efficiency, indoor air quality/health, resource conservation, and water conservation."

Other organizations that have similar rating systems for homebuyers include the U.S. Green Building Council (http://www.usgbc.org/), a non-profit community; and Green Globes (http://www.greenglobes.com/), an assessment and rating system. The USGBC has created the REGREEN (http://www.greenhomeguide.org/guide_for_green_renovation/index.html) program in partnership with the American Society of Interior Designers' Foundation. Working with LEEDs for Homes, a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification offers an unbiased green home inspection for possible buyers. In addition, Green Globes boasts a rating system that has an easy-to-use online questionnaire for a minimal cost. Once the questionnaire is completed, the user automatically receives a report. All three organizations have online tools to answer questions and guide interested parties through the certification process.

Part of this process includes understanding what different elements make a home green. The elements can range from simple re-landscaping to more complicated structure updates. But all share a common goal: to help preserve the planet and save on energy costs. The following are just a few examples of "greening" a home:

• Buying ENERGY STAR (http://www.energystar.gov/) appliances is the most popular way to go green. These EPA- and Department of Energy- approved appliances use less energy than conventional appliances.
• Another easy way to green a home is by replacing standard light bulbs with energy-saving CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs), (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls) which can be found at most supermarkets and drugstores.
• Using VOC (volatile organic compounds) (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.html) also receives green certification recognition. VOC paint is just one example of how this compound is used.
• Installing low-flush toilets, solar paneling, and low-emittance windows helps lower water and energy bills.
• Planting native vegetation and drought-resistant landscaping can save on water usage as well.

When thinking about purchasing a green home, a buyer might wonder if it's really worth all the effort and cost. Aside from saving the planet, green remodels on existing homes have proven to be cost-efficient. Veronica Cortes, a homeowner in Northern California recently did an entire green remodel on her 1957 ranch-style home. Currently she pays $30 per month on average for her energy bill after installing solar paneling. In the winter months, her neighbors pay anywhere from $276 to $500. Cortes says all the heartaches of a remodel were worth it: "Our house nurtures us in ways that it never did before: … the place is flexible and its spaces can accommodate different uses depending on our needs, [and] it's cheap to run."

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:30:00 +0000

Here is a Great Video/Commercial of our Listing at 310 Central Avenue...

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:40:00 +0000

WHAT'S THE TREND? --- MOSS BEACH & MONTARA

BY NATE

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE THE LARGER VIEW -

This is from a posting on HMBREVIEW.com that I contributed on their Talkabout Page regarding this question -

Do you know if the property value is up or down in Montara/Moss Beach area? How much is a house with a coastal/mountain view?

I will answer your second question first. To some people...priceless. No joke. A one bedroom, 780 square foot home, on a 6400 square foot lot on the cliffside in Moss Beach just closed for $1,100,000. I am sure they are very happy.

To answer your first question, the "numbers" RIGHT NOW point to YES. But keep in mind that eventhough we are bombarded with negative media about the sky falling, it is a fact that real estate has gone up (appreciated) over time. Property values might have dropped over the last year, but to put it in perspective over a 15 year period, few can argue that our property values have gone down.

Here are some facts -
1) In the last 10 years, Bay Area homes have appreciated more than 175% *Source: DataQuick

2) On average, homes have doubled in value every 6.6 years *Source: DateQuick

3) Mortgage Rates continue to remain near 25 year lows *Source: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation - 30 year fixed conventional rates

Here are some other fun quotes that the media wanted us to believe in the past.

“The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans. The typical new house today costs about $28,000.” - Business Week - 1969

“The median price of a home today is approaching $50,000 . . . housing experts predict price rises in the future won’t be that great.” – National Business - 1977

"The golden-age of risk free run-ups in home prices is gone.” – Money Magazine – 1985

“A home is where the bad investment is.” San Francisco Examiner - 1996

Today’s media plays up bad economic news more than ever, which leads to misconceptions about economic reality. For people who plan on LIVING in a home instead of INVESTING in a home, history has pointed to that downturns are temporary.

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:48:00 +0000

WE MADE IT TO THE TOP!

By Nate

My family and I have a new ritual on Sunday mornings...taking walks/hikes. We love it! A couple of weeks ago my wife Alix and I were trying to find a place near our home that wasn't a beach walk. We already knew that Pacifica has one of the nicest beach trails on the Peninsula, along with Half Moon Bay's Coastal Trail, but what we encountered was a hidden gem.

San Pedro County Park in the "Back of the Valley" is a great group of trails and we are so happy we found it.

The first time we went we started out by going on the mile trail to southeast, and brought Maddox along in the stroller. This is a flat trail that is exactly a mile and is popular with runners and walkers.

Sunday was our second time. We bought a baby backpack so Maddox could hitch a ride on my shoulders this time. I thought the 22 lbs. was going to be too much for my walk but it turns out that it wasn't too bad. Our goal, reach the top of Montara Mountain...2.4 miles to the top. Rugged trail but not too bad...Absolutely beautiful!

There was something special about this walk. About two thirds of the way there, Alix and I were ready to turn around. We were not tired we just felt like it was time to go back down. As we looked to the north and could barely see the top of Twin Towers in SF we took a deep breath and agreed that we should set a goal to reach the top. We looked up and knew it was right there and so reachable, but for some reason, thought we should turn around.

We did it! And it was amazing...I mean, it wasn't Mt.Everest but we did see as far north to the Golden Gate and south to Mavericks in El Granada.

Alix and I are very happy we accomplished this goal. We talked about it after and reflected that we are constantly bombarded with people, media, and external pressures telling you to turn around. Our persistance proved that if you make a goal there is no better feeling that reaching it!

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:41:00 +0000

An update...Conforming Loan Limit Increase
by Gabe Bodner, Mortgage Consultant - Lawson and Associates

We may have a breakthrough...March 6th Fannie Mae made an announcement on the timing of when they will be buying the new "Jumbo-Conforming Loans" as they are now calling loans between $417K and the increased limit of $729,750. It is a still a bit confusing but it sounds like they will not be buying loans until July 1, 2008. However, it sounds like they are authorizing lenders to underwrite loans staring April 1, 2008 (with an application date after March 1, 2008).
According to Fannie Mae's most recent update, they will have different (more stringent) guidelines for "Jumbo-Conforming Loans". This does not come as a huge surprise but from what I can see, the new "Jumbo-Conforming Loans" will be very limited in who will benefit. Here are a few of the high points from what I can tell in their guidelines:
· Only 1 unit properties (no 2-plex, 3-plex, or 4-plex)
· When purchasing a home, minimum down payment is 10% with a 700 FICO score (only on a fixed rate mortgage). The only ARM program available is a 5/1 ARM and a 20% down payment is required with a 660 minimum FICO.
· When refinancing a home, no cash out is allowed.
· On a second home or investment property, a minimum of 40% down payment is required.
· Consolidating a first mortgage and a second mortgage is not allowed.
· Refinancing within 6 months of a purchase is not allowed (you must have owned the property for at least 6 months before you can refinance the mortgage into a "Jumbo-Conforming loan").
Additionally, interest rates on conforming loans (and Jumbo loans) have risen anywhere from 0.5-1.0% in the last week (depending on the loan program). Therefore, conforming interest rates are close to what Jumbo rates were about 2 weeks ago which has negated much of the value in this whole loan limit increase package anyway. Overall, these new guidelines will help some people get into a better mortgage at a lower rate but I would not start jumping for joy and celebrating just yet. Hang in there and let's wait to see what pans out over the next month or so.
Below is a statement by Brian Faith Managing Director for Fannie Mae, Communications on the Conforming Loan Limit IncreaseMarch 6, 2008
With HUD's designation of high-cost areas as directed by the economic stimulus package passed into law earlier this year, Fannie Mae will begin temporarily purchasing loans beyond the company's prevailing conventional loan limit in the designated areas. The company may purchase loans with a maximum original principal obligation of up to 125 percent of the area median home price in high-cost areas, not to exceed $729,750 except in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands where higher limits may apply.
The company will only purchase jumbo-conforming mortgages that are originated from July 1, 2007 through December 31, 2008, and that are secured by one-unit properties. We will assist our lender customers with implementation by providing reference materials including an online loan limit reference tool and guidance on our loan limits based on a property's geography, both of which are expected to be available on April 1, 2008.
The company is working closely with its regulators, OFHEO and HUD, in implementing procedures to address the temporary increase in the prevailing conventional loan limit. We continue to support the increase as a constructive effort to help address the ongoing credit crunch and believe it is in keeping with our core mission to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the mortgage markets.
For additional information, please see Announcement 08-05, "Temporary Increase to Our Conventional Loan Limits" at www.efanniemae.com/sf/guides/ssg/annltrs/pdf/2008/0805.pdf

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT GABE BODNER AT 650.492.4071
OR Gabe@BayAreaHomeFinancing.com

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:27:00 +0000

Half Moon Bay may go bankrupt. Without city services, would real estate suddenly become much less desirable?

Maybe some city services will be at risk but not all of them. The county will not allow it. Half Moon Bay is a key component to our counties' infrastructure and is a work horse community that drives its economy. I have heard this directly from congressman, assembly members and other governmental officials.

Northern communities on the coast, such as El Granada, Moss Beach, and Montara are unincorporated, while property values are still close to the other parts of the Bay Area. These communities, however, are sometimes subject to assessments and there are a few currently.

In regards to desirabilty, according to one of my colleagues, who works for C-21 and writes occasionally for the Half Moon Bay Review, stated in a recent thread on the TalkAbout section of HMBREVIEW.COM "Its uncertain how many new people are going to want to move into a potentially bankrupt town that faces being dissolved if they lose." His keyword is UNCERTAIN...

The bottom line is that this lawsuit has been appealed and we just have to sit back and watch and hope that CURRENT (note that part of the reason we are confronting this issue is because of poor leadership in the past) city council, property owner and the respective lawyers NEGOTIATE.

Should the city go bankrupt, as REALTORS, we will most likely have to disclose it. But, in the meantime, we are not and we will just hope for the best and hope that this certain property owner gets what he wants...the opportunity to build.

For more dialogue, go to www.HMBREVIEW.com and click on TalkAbout. You can get a taste of the dialogue amongst citizens over here.

Cheers!

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:38:00 +0000

FEATURED LISTING

902 BEACH PARK BOULEVARD #135

$428,000

Welcome to popular Sand Harbor South. Enjoy this first floor one bedroom and one bathroom condominium. Maintained in excellent condition and recently painted this home offers a generous master bedroom with walk-in closet, spacious living and dining area with a cozy wood burning fireplace, and access to a private and enclosed patio. The kitchen has an expanded pantry area and full sized washer and dryer. The development offers many amenities, such as, a beautiful full sized pool and spa, clubhouse, and walking trails and pathways along Foster City´s waterways. Association fees are only $395 dollars a month which includes hot water, garbage, common areas and a professional management company, PML.

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:28:00 +0000

7 KEY POINTS ON WHY IT IS STILL OKAY TO BUY IN THE BAY AREA

1. 35% of the homes in the U.S. do NOT have a mortgage.
2. 94.88% of all loans ARE performing.
3. The foreclosure problem in this country is really a story of seven states.
4. The BIGGEST foreclosure problems are in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. These are manufacturing states that had horrible job losses. Since 2001, Michigan has lost 300,000 jobs. These states would have had problems no matter what the market condition happens to be.
5. The other four states, California, Florida, Nevada, and Arizona----experienced significant overbuilding. Twenty-five per of the foreclosures in these states are on properties that are held by investors who were speculating.
6. ONLY 25% of all mortgages are subprime, and of these 75% are performing.
7. In the other 43 states, foreclosures have fallen in 2007 from 2006.
(In California which is the predictor of what is to come in Florida, the following is being said……)

According to Leslie Young, chief economist for the California Assoc. of Realtors, (which mirrors what we are seeing here) that the areas being hardest hit in California are the outlying areas where there has been overbuilding. The resale market in California’s major markets continues to be strong. In fact, the closer you are to a metropolitan area, the better the sales are. In the million-dollar plus price range, there has been essentially no change from 2006 to 2007.

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:36:00 +0000

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ABOUT REAL ESTATE CYCLES

Here are some comments analysts have made in the past. We are in the 25th month of a current housing downtown. When you read the comments below just think about what would have happened if we would have listened. History often repeats itself and in this case, the media's projection of the real estate market sometimes misses the mark. And, remember to keep in mind the economic law of inflation.

"The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans. The typical new house today costs about $28,000." - Business Week - 1969

"The median price of a home today is approaching $50,000...housing experts predict price rises in the future won't be that great." - National Business - 1977

"The golden-age of risk free run-ups in home prices is gone." - Money Magazine - 1985

"A home is where the bad investment is" - San Francisco Examiner - 1996

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:13:00 +0000

LOCAL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

GABE BODNER - Mortgage Planner with Lawson & Associates
http://www.bayareahomefinancing.com/
408.426.4416

Each month we will be promoting local business owners who we recommend. Consider them part of "our team". In order for us to do what we do well, we need to associate ourselves with people who are professional, have a focus on customer service, and easy to refer.

As Chamber members it is important to build a community of services on the coast. If you always need a plumber, electrician, or anyone else who provides a service, you can guarantee you Local Realtor knows someone.

This month we chose Gabe because of his willingness to provide phenomenal service for us and his clients. Professionalism and experience has never been as important as today. With the media providing fear in the minds of borrowers (i.e. mortgage meltdown), Gabe will be attentive to your needs regarding mortgage planning. Whether it be refinancing, a first time home purchase, moving up or anything else you can guarantee that he will get the job done.

He also lives by the same philosophy as Rose & I as a "BY REFERRAL ONLY" agent. His goal is to provide services above and beyond the average mortgage planner where you feel comfortable enough referring him to a family, friend or colleague. This leaves more time where he can focus on getting the best loan for you and your family.

Also, you can read his posting below titled "Why Buy Now?". Feel free to comment.

Well, Congratulations Gabe! You are our first "Local Business of the Month".

--- Should you need any further information please do not hesitate to call! Nate

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:16:00 +0000

BEST VALUE ON THE COAST
OUR LISTING AT 441 AVENUE DEL ORO, EL GRANADA
Check out our 4 minute video below

Escape to this unique Highlands property located in El Granada. This fully updated home features 4 well sized bedrooms with newer carpets and double paned windows plus 3 bathrooms, all recently remodeled with decorator tiling and appointments.

Located on the first level is one of two master suites with access to the backyard, large laundry room, 2 car garage, separate dog-run and a versatile utility room, playroom, office, or whatever the heart desires. The spacious backyard is astonishing and perfect for entertaining or playing, fully landscaped with fruit trees and many small plants, all accented with a large flagstone patio and access to the top floor. Upstairs living room with access to deck, spacious dining area, and bright kitchen with granite counters.

The top floor also includes a private master suite with a full bathroom and two additional bedrooms with a guest bathroom off the hallway. Also located just a short distance from the world famous surf break.

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:27:00 +0000

Holy Smokes! 18 Open House Signs For One Home?

This weekend was my first weekend not participating in an open house for awhile. On my way home their were 18 Open House Signs on the coast, by the same brokerage, all pointing to just ONE house for sale in Montara. There were 5 in Pacifica and 13 from the 92 up to Montara.

Most people do not know this but there actually is a sign ordinance. We are actually limited to only 1 sign on the property but there has never really been a crackdown on the sign issue. I am all for exposure, but 18 signs? This act could potentially ruin it for everyone, including other listings.

Wow!

P.S. Stay Tuned for a series of posts "Neighborhood Spotlight" The first of many will be Ocean Colony. I hope you enjoy.

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 22:08:00 +0000

WHY BUY NOW
11-12-07 - Posted by our good friend at Lawson & Associates, Gabe Bodner - Mortgage Planner

Many people ask the question, “Is now a good time to buy or should I wait?” The market in Northern California’s Bay Area is a market of opportunity. If you know what you are looking for and you have a good Realtor and Mortgage Planner working for you, there are many wonderful opportunities to buy a new home in today’s real estate market.

So you may ask why now? First, the geographic restrictions of Northern California proves there is a very limited amount of open space to build new homes. Developers simply cannot buy vacant land and continue to build new homes just anywhere. If someone wants to build a new home, they need to buy an existing home, tear it down and build a new house on the existing lot. There is a large premium associated with this process because the costs to buy an existing home, demolishing the house, and the costs to build new. In the end, the new house that is built then increases the value of the other homes in the neighborhood and adds a premium to the land value. It is this cycle that continues to push house prices higher in the bay area.

Second, there are more homes on the market than normal for this time of year. This is causing a softening in home prices. Sellers are motivated to sell and there are fewer buyers in the market. Since the media has sent so many mixed signals people have been more scared to buy. This has created a buyer’s market and a buyer’s market creates a competitive situation for sellers. In some cases, sellers are willing to reduce the sales price or give a credit to the buyer for closing costs just to attract buyers to their property.

Third, the job market. Companies are hiring and growing at a super accelerated pace. Companies like Google, HP, Apple, Adobe, and Oracle are growing and hiring locally. As they continue to hire, this creates job opportunities and a need for more people to buy houses. As employees continue to build wealth, they are investing in real estate.

Fourth, is household growth. What does this really mean? Due to the life cycle of families having babies and growing their families, we have an annual population growth between 220,000 to 250,000 people in California per year. However, we are building less than 150,000 (on average) new homes in California each year. Therefore, we have a net shortage upwards of 150,000 homes in California, every single year. This creates a continued demand for homes both for people who will own and people who will rent.

Fifth, interest rates. Mortgage rates are still very low. Rates are still between 6% and 7% on most home loans. These rates are historically very, very low. People typically do not buy homes solely on mortgage rates because they can refinance if rates drop. However, we are already at very low rates which makes the affordability of buying much easier.

The last reason why now is because in the spring there are always more buyers and less homes on the market. This in turn creates a sellers market and buyers are then competing with other buyers forcing home prices to go up because of the limited supply and the increased demand by buyers.

Today is a wonderful time to invest especially if you plan to hold onto the house for at least five years. If you have any questions regarding the above information, you can contact me directly at Gabe@BayAreaHomeFinancing.com or 650-492-4071.

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:02:00 +0000

A Good Time to Buy? Or Not.
by Ron Gable - Our VP/Manager in the HMB REVIEW 11/1/07

I always marvel at how the economics of our industry swings as the exterior influences affect the economy. Last year, the media was still talking about multiple offers and crazy things buyers were willing to do just to get sellers to accept their offers. The word overbid became commonplace in our real estate jargon and several slang words for overbidding were part of our normal dialogue.

People would talk about the number of offers on the properties they were selling, or buying. Neighbors would talk about houses down the street. “They got 6 offers…we got 8 offers…it sold for $100,000 over…we were able to get it for only 5% over the asking”.

Now in some markets particularly in parts of San Mateo County, some of those scenarios still exist. We are not seeing it in the degree we did at the height of the frenzy but are seeing some of it nonetheless. Because of the turmoil in the sub-prime market, the market dealing with high ratio loan to values particularly in the lower or starter price ranges has slowed quite a bit. Many of these “sub-prime” loans were made to borrowers who could not verify their income, had less than stellar credit and minimal or no down payment. Although there are still loans available for buyers that have moderate credit and can’t document their income, they do need a small down payment. What surprises me about this is that with some buyers not able to buy, many that are seem to be sitting on the sidelines. What I am sensing is that the feeling is “It’s not a good time to buy”. Because there are fewer buyers in the market, there are more available properties which means that some homeowners would be willing to accept less or offer more favorable terms than they would just a short time ago. And yet with all the negativity in the media, some buyers would rather sit it out. “It’s probably better to wait until the market and the other buyer’s situation improves. It will be more fashionable to buy then and I can feel good about beating

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 21:47:00 +0000

FORECLOSURES IN THE COUNTY HAVE TRIPLED (COAST ISN'T SO BAD)

There was an interesting article in the San Mateo County Times the other day. It appears that the current real estate market media hype, in the land of the sub-prime borrowers, has finally hit San Mateo County. Foreclosures are definitely more prevalent in areas where sub-prime loans were given to borrowers with less than average credit and with low down-payment. If it isn't just losing control of your debt situation sometimes people are also faced with "life" and the unexpected. Unfortanately, people cannot afford their home anymore.

Because it is our goal to provide excellent service we like to refer our clients to the most qualified lenders in the industry. One person who we like to work with is our good bud over at Lawson & Associates, Gabe Bodner. Gabe is so educated in his craft that he would never want to see his clients in the financial positions where they were in fear of losing their dream home.

According to RealtyTrac.com, there are currently 7 homes in pre-foreclosure and 5 homes ready for auction on the Coast. That is not too bad considering there are cities California where they are facing foreclosed homes in the 1000's. Ouch.

To save yourself from Foreclosure, here are some tips (Taken from the HUD website):

Contact your lender, immediately
Talk to a housing counseling agency, such as HUD
Prioritize your debts
Explore Loan Workout Solutions
Call your Realtor
Beware of Predatory Lending Schemes

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:37:00 +0000

FINALLY...OUR FALL IS HERE!

BLUE SKY BABY!

It has been rough the last couple of weeks. Rain, wind, some fog, overcast. We are so spoiled in late September and October. The days on the coast when there is nothing better than stopping by the pumpkin patches on Highway 92 then spending a day on the beach. We are pleased to announce that today was a picture perfect day. Light wind, 70 degrees, and what locals call pumpkin traffic. Don't worry - it goes away.

Fall is in the air. The Real Estate market usually picks up a little too. Good news, last week, 7 pending sales in our inventory (South HMB to Montara). As of today, 113 single family homes. If you can believe it, that is almost the same number of homes on the market as last year.

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:55:00 +0000

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT AT AN OPEN HOUSE?

Our Sunday's are usually dedicated to our clients and open houses. In this market, open houses are more important than ever. It is important for seller's to open their home especially for the first two weeks after the house is put on the market. Feedback from potential buyers is precious because there are things you can change such as moving furniture, trim a few branches, paint rooms, etc. But, there are also items that are unchangeable, such as, floor plan design, change countertops or even remodel. The bottom line, is that you can hear what they are saying.

For buyer's, on the other hand, it is a time for you to see a flurry of homes all in a day. You can also compare the neighborhood and also compare what is on the market. Most of the time, it is difficult for us to show 10 homes in a day. And when you can go at it alone it is nice to go at your own pace.

We love holding open houses, but we also like to be respected as professionals, not pushy agents. For those who do know us we are not heavy sales people and want to make visitors feel welcome when they visit a home.

What is your experience like when you visit an open house? How do most agents make you feel? What do you like about them? What don't you like?

I am interested...any comments?

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:00:00 +0000

It was a Lovely Saturday On the Coast!!!

Alix and I had a great weekend on the Coast. The weather on Saturday was phenomenal. We started the day by stopping by the local coffeeshop and headed down towards Half Moon Bay and visited the Eco-Energy Expo and Solar Home Tour at Half Moon Bay High School.

The layout of the Expo was nice. There were booths set up in the courtyard from The Coastside Community Water District with information on water conservation, The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve on how they have provided a sanctuary for a 1000+ species in the water, and few others. On the inside was about 15 other booths. Some people also gave presentations throughout the day. I was thoroughly impressed with the booth my friends, Scott and Heidi Menary, were hosting on Green Building. There are so many products available now that builders can use!

Another highlight was the ECOBROKER booth, hosted by my colleagues, Susie Hughey-Hass and Marian Bennett from Coldwell Banker. They reminded me of a designation available to Realtors to educate them on the benefits of Green Building and also how to represent these homes when it comes time to sell them on the market. I am going to get this.

After leaving this great function, and with empty stomachs, Alix, Maddox and I were off to Princeton by the Sea for CHEF COOKOFF. This was sponsored by the American Legion of Half Moon Bay. 15 restaurants with Albacore provided by the Legion, cooked the way they want it. Basically, it was all you can eat for $20 dollars. The funds that were raised went directly to Fireworks show on July 4th. For those who went and watched the show last year, it was amazing!

My favorite meal was by Spencer at the Moss Beach Distillery (For those who don't know, Spencer was the head chef of Red Ginger and he went on to The Distillery after it closed) It was a Tuna Sandwich on Ciabatta with radishes, Hard Boiled Eggs, cucumbers, Kalamata Olives, and some spread that was out of this world. Second place went to the Half Moon Bay Inn's marinated Tuna that I thought was cooked to perfection. Thanks Christian!

Alix decided to stay behind and enjoy the music and hanging out with our friends. I decided to take Maddox with me to the Put Community First picnic and fundraiser. There I met some of my friends for food and to donate some money for the endorsement of candidates in the upcoming elections on the coast. I don't want to bore you with politics or any of the details, but this next election period isn't as exciting as usual. The picnic was at Cozzolino Park, located just off of Highway 92. It is such a cool spot.

After this we were all pretty tired and we went home, kicked up our feet and just watched a movie. We are pretty fortunate to live in such a cool place.

APR and it's New Partnership with Trulia.com

noreply@blogger.com (Nate Serdy) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 21:33:00 +0000