Active                 Active                  Sold in        Days on market           Current
                           Mar. 2012         Mar. 2011            2012            listings in 2012           months’ supply
San Bruno             25                        87                        33                   14                                 1.7
SSF                         32                       125                       40                   12                                 1.9
Daly City               51                        204                      79                   11                                  1.5
Millbrae                17                         41                        15                   13                                 2.75
Burlingame          38                        55                         19                   11                                 4.75
San Mateo           73                         165                      83                   17                                 2

Based on these numbers we are in a seller’s market. 3 months of supply is considered an equal market for buyers and sellers. These numbers were gathered from the MLS and Sam Car on Mar. 11, 2012

“It is Better To Own Real Estate and Wait, Than Wait To Own Real Estate”

www.leesellsmore.com
Lee Ginsburg

There is a lot more to it than just the rate.

How much of your current payment is going towards principal?

Want money for remodeling, college, investing?

Should you pay down your loan?

Should you go with a 30 year loan or the 15  year Fixed rate or the very tempting 5 year rate?

I invite you to join us at a Complimentary Mortgage Planning Workshop.

NO SELLING!

Just a discussion on Finding the Right Mortgage For Each Stage of Your Life.

What is the right mortgage?

When should I refinance?

Should I consider a reverse mortgage?

Mortgage Planning Workshop

Thursday Feb. 23 at 6:30 PM

Millbrae Library, Meeting Room A, Civic Center Plaza Millbrae

Free Parking and Refreshments

For Reservations call 650-871-3200  or email speakerseries@prucal.com

“It Is Better To Own Real Estate and Wait, Than Wait to Own Real Estate”

Lee Ginsburg
www.LeeSellsMore.com

I have randomly selected two recently sold homes to use as an example.

3691 Exeter Dr., a 3BR/2Ba. San Bruno home just sold on Jan 18, 2012 for $452,000 it also sold on May 9 2003 for $600,000. That results into a 36% savings in monthly payments. Look at the numbers.

3875 Carter Drive, #106 a 2Br/2Ba. Condo in South San Francisco sold on Jan 4, 2012 doe $277,000 and in April 25, 2006 it sold for $550,000. A 59% savings. Look at the numbers.

As you look at the numbers please note  the lower down payment required, and the lower property tax. Both due to the lower home price.  You save all around. Numbers are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

I selected these properties randomly. You might find savings greater or lesser. I want to point out to you by using real numbers the “Perfect Storm” has arrived; Low interest rates and low home prices. In the past if rates went down prices would go. This is an opportunity of a lifetime. If the I Pad was on sale like homes are on sale you would be on line at 4AM. For all of the potential buyers waiting for the right time, this is your wake up call. The time is right. Ken Rosen of the Fisher Center at UC Berkeley says “This is the best time to buy a home in 30 years”

Considering buying or want to learn more call your favorite Realtor or come to my Free Home Buying Seminar. Click here for more info and registration.

“It is Better To Own Real Estate and Wait, Than Wait To Own Real Estate”

www.LeeSellsMore.com

I thought you would be interested.

7 years after being closed down, renovation will begin and is scheduled to be completed by summer of 2013.

for more information Click Here

http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_19731829

The San Bruno Ave. Caltrain Grade Separation Project is moving along.  Can’t wait for completion. 

Completion is scheduled for the end of this year.  We’ll see.

for more information Click Here

http://sanbruno.ca.gov/pw_proj_current.html#streets

I will be hosting a Home Buying Seminar.  If you are in thinking about buying I think you will find it quite helpful.

for more information Click Here

http://leesellsmore.com/RealtorWebPage?custompage_id=1567686030

Lee Ginsburg
Prudential California Real Estate
www.LeeSellsMore.com

Lee Ginsburg, top real estate agent with Prudential California Realty, shares his experince on how to choose the right real estate lender.

Lee Ginsburg
Your satisfaction is my success!

www.LeeSellsMore.com

http://youtu.be/DLiDviKZgl0

In the Bay Area the buyer does not pay for the agent to help them find a home, help them negotiate; walk them through the process, etc. The buyer also does not pay the agent for helping them digest the comparable properties, or get inside information concerning the home or the comparables, educate them on the neighborhood, and more. The buyer never pays the agent anything. The seller’s agent pays the buyer’s agent for assisting them in selling the home, but the agent has a fiduciary duty and obligation to their client, the buyer.

So why wouldn’t you want someone to do all the dirty work, to bounce ideas off of, and to pick their brains with no cost to you.
Every transaction is different. The buyer’s agent does all of the above and more depending on each individual situation.

The most important task the buyer’s agent performs but hardly mentioned, is helping the buyer maintain their emotions. I have seen buyer’s get so excited about a home that they would pay anything for it. Well maybe not anything but more than necessary. A good agent will protect the buyer by making them see reality. On the other hand they might be offended by the seller’s response and might react by cancelling the transaction or respond negatively and blow the deal. An agent is the buffer.

An agent will help the buyer see through the seller’s messy home to see the bones and layout of the home. An agent will keep the buyer focused on the purpose of buying a home, facing reality and prevent them from getting sidetracked. I remember helping a newly married couple with a baby purchase their first home. They liked the well decorated home in a not so good area. They were not familiar with the area. They were prepared to write an offer and I did not want to discourage their enthusiasm. I suggested on the way home we drive by again. We did and they calmed their emotions and changed their thoughts on their own.      

Even in this age of the web, Real Estate is still a relationship business. An experienced agent has contacts and often can find out about the seller’s bottom line, other offers, and the true selling price of the comparable homes (not necessarily the sold price in public records). An offer from an experienced agent with a good reputation will be reviewed more seriously than a part time agent or an out of area agent. An experienced agent in the area is familiar with the customs of the area. They are familiar with the area. I know of an instance that a buyer got very excited about a home with an empty lot next door. The buyer was excited until their experienced agent told them previous to the empty lot a home very similar to the one they are looking at sat there. An experienced agent with a good reputation among other agents and familiar with the area and has a lot more to offer than the internet or a part time realtor friend. Hope you don’t mind another quick story of a buyer working their part time realtor friend. The agent not understanding the loan the buyers were getting requested a $15,000 credit from the seller. Due to the way the contract was worded the buyer’s lender would only allow a $5000 credit and the seller received the $10,000 difference.

I ask the buyer or seller for that matter thinking of representing themselves or using a friend: Would you ask a first year med student to operate on you. You know what they say about attorneys: It is a fool whom represents themselves.

Please remember a good experienced professional agent is on your side, can save you a lot of money and will only “survive” by selling you a home. They will make a good living by selling you, your friends and family a home. They are here not for a one time deal but to transform you the buyer into a raving fan whom will recommend them to others.

To learn more about me and the home buying or selling process please go to: www.leesellsmore.com

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Lee Ginsburg

Thursday Nov. 17 -6:30 – FREE Information Workshop on Energy Rebates -180 El Camino Real, San Bruno

Closing is when all the funds are disbursed to the seller, lender, other lien holders, taxes etc. and the property transfer from seller to buyer is recorded in the County’s Recorder’s office. This is legally when the buyer becomes the property owner. This is generally the time when the buyer receives the keys to their new home. Many people get the closing and signing confused. “Signing” is only signing the loan documents and that generally occurs several days prior to closing.

Escrow is the period between both parties signing the purchase contract and closing. Opening Escrow is a simple process. It occurs when the buyer’s good faith deposit is placed in the hands of a neutral third party. In Northern Californian we do this with a Title and Escrow Company. The Escrow Company holds the deposit in a bonded account until both the buyer and seller have fulfilled their obligations under the purchase contract. The escrow company is a neutral third party and will not release the funds either to the buyer if the contract is cancelled or to the seller if the contract is fulfilled unless both parties have signed instructions stating so. Basically Escrow begins with the deposit check being given to the escrow company and ends at closing.

Escrow should not get confused with an escrow account. An escrow account is an impound account or reserve account generally for property tax and home owners insurance. It is requested by lenders based on the type loan the buyer is getting.

It is Better To Own Real Estate and Wait Than to Wait to Own Real Estate

Lee Ginsburg
www.leesellsmore.com