Serena Russell ~ Bay Area Real Estate Specialist

Home’s Exterior:

Now that summer is here, its time to take care of some things that need getting done on the outside. Guys, surprise your wives by doing some of these things before they ask.  Just a suggestion, to keep everyone smiling.

Flashing, which is typically a thin metal strip found around doors, windows, thresholds, chimneys, and roofs, is designed to prevent water intrusion in spaces where two different building surfaces meet.

Vents: All vents, including clothes dryer, gable vents, attic vents, and exhaust vents, should have hoods, and  be in good working order.

Exterior Siding:

Replace any wood siding and sheathing that appears to have water damage.

Inspect any wood sided walls to ensure there is at least 8″ between any wood and the earth. Read the rest of this entry »

As the economy tanked many garage-salers are entering the market for the first time or re-entering it as a way to raise cash, and experienced shoppers know this because the quality of the goods has gone down.

Now many people are  trying to sell what they might have thrown away or donated to charity in the past.

If you are new to the garage sale scene, here are some tips:

If you’re selling
-Plan ahead. Take the spring and summer to collect, price and box items to sell in the fall.
-Group small items and sell everything for $1 or more to eliminate coins.
-Price low. That should be the goal if you want to get rid of stuff.
-Choose the best hours- 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
-Promote yourself. Advertise as much as you can in the newspaper and on Craigslist, Facebook and bulletin boards.
-Be friendly. Greet everyone who comes to the sale.
- Be specific about sale items in an ad, such as a leaf blower, musical instruments or furniture.
- Keep signs on every other block and every corner where a turn is required in the city.  Add balloons to attract the eye.
-Sell with others. Doing it alone is too much work.
-Cut prices. Advertise that on the last day or last afternoon, everything is half-price.
-Donate leftovers. Call ahead to have charities pick up what’s unsold.

What to know if you’re buying
-Don’t bring your purse. Take change ones  ones and fives instead.
-Shop later  in the late afternoon for the best bargains near closing time.
-Cruise around good neighborhoods for better quality goods.
-Leave your card or phone number. Ask to be called if an item remains unsold and the seller is willing to accept your price.

BUY YOUR HOME AND AUTO POLICIES FROM THE SAME INSURER

Some companies that sell homeowners, auto and liability coverage will take 5 to 15 percent off your premium if you buy two or more policies from them.

SHOP AROUND

Friends, family, the phone book and Internet are some of the sources you can use to find homeowners insurers. Get a wide range of prices from several companies. But don’t consider price alone. The insurer you select should offer both a fair price and excellent service. Quality service may cost a bit more, but you buy insurance in case you need to make a claim, so it’s important to get a company with a good reputation.

Talk to a number of insurers to get a feeling for the type of service they give. Ask them what they would do to lower your costs. Check the financial ratings of the companies with AM Best or Standard and Poor’s. Read the rest of this entry »

Someone once said that open houses were a waste of time. This was perhaps someone who did not see the value of comparing various properties and getting educated for free.

Open houses exist for the benefit of buyers and sellers. The seller benefits from having interested buyers come through and the possibility of multiple offers. Buyers benefit by visiting the property at their leisure during the 3 or 4 hour window, and being able to compare homes on their tour. This is only the tip of the iceberg as far as the benefits of open houses go.

Having a realtor along with you when you visit an open house, can be a huge benefit for you. Your experienced realtor can point out the key features of the home, and other important facts that you might not have thought of. After seeing several homes on one day, you may be thoroughly confused and could benefit from ane expert to keep things in perspective.

For the experienced house hunter, open houses are a way of making a personal decision and taking some time. Most serious buyers are able to find a home much faster than those who are starting from scratch. It takes most buyers a couple of months to find a home once they start looking.

I highly recommend open houses as a way of getting some education about the home buying process and to get your questions answered for free. Once you are more knowledgeable about home buying, you may be ready to make a committment about owning versus renting…………..always a better strategy in furthering your wealth building plan.

The first rule of real estate has many connotations.

Can you name a ‘good location’ from a ‘bad location?’  If you can, then the next

Question is to ask if  these 2 locations have anything in common?  Do they have houses?

Families, schools, Stores and gas stations nearby?

If they do, then what is the reason for the

difference between the two?  Was it something you heard from a friends or neighbor? something you read? stats you saw on the internet? school results?  Was it a combination of all of these? Realtors cannot answer your question

of whether a house is in a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ location.

Many clients ask this question in hopes of having their beliefs confirmed.

However such generalizations are a matter of personal taste and perception; and it is unethical

for Realtors who are bound by a code of ethics, to steer customers to any particular

location. Instead agents can rely on the information in the multiple listing service to which they

subscribe (this is costly and you should ask your agent if they are a member).  The MLS is a comprehensive database of listings featuring properties that go back many years.  It is a historical

archive.  Having this resource is a must for any agent who wants to provide the highest level of

service to their customer.

This blog is continued tomorrow……….please submit your comments to ‘good location’ vs ‘bad location’.  I would love to hear from you.  What are your perceptions from your experience?

With fabulous interest rates, an amazing variety of once-in-a-lifetime home purchase opportunities,  -your timing is spectacular! In fact, the fundamentals that typically lead the home building industry out of a slowdown are already in place – so now is the best time ever to buy the home of your dreams!

Rates are still near historic lows:

You can take advantage of some of the lowest interest rates in 40 years. Many  lenders are  offering programs with low rates still available.

Over the long term home ownership has traditionally been a rewarding investment.

There are great benefits for buying now!

* Mortgage interest and real estate taxes are deductible.
* Capital gains can be rolled into future homes and may even be tax-free.
* Below-market financing is available.
* A wide range of loan programs is available.

The economy is still improving, and you have more choices than ever before.
When you choose me as your agent,  you’re choosing my unsurpassed reputation and  deep commitment to your needs.  My goal is to  make the home of your dreams a reality!

When a lender makes a decision about a mortgage application, they consider two basic factors: your ability and willingness to repay the loan.

Ability to repay the mortgage is determined by verifying your current employment and analyzing your total income. Lenders prefer for you to have been employed at the same place for at least two years, or at least be in the same line of work for a few years. Your proposed monthly payment will be compared to your monthly gross income and your monthly credit payments to see how much you can afford. Read the rest of this entry »

Known for years as the Caribbean’s most exciting vacation destination, the island has now been discovered by upscale real estate buyers and is fast developing into one of the world’s most prestigious locations to own a residence.

History

Diamonds! Emeralds! Any kind of precious metal in any shape or quantity… St. Maarten‘s jewelry shops are amongst the most competitive in the world and line Philipsburg’s fabulous Frontstreet. Prices are amazingly low and quality is up to international standards, with several of the larger stores having service centers in the US.

As a matter of fact, the jewelry shopping opportunities are so incredible that they attract experienced buyers to return over and over again to the island for the sole purposes of further bargain hunting. Every square mile of St. Maarten is tax free and duty free. No duty is paid on any goods coming in or going out. But that’s just the half of it. Luxury items cost up to 50% less than in other countries, which is why cruise ships and travelers from around the world leave   with oodles of jewelry, fashion, leather goods, cosmetics, electronics, perfume, crystal, fine art and other items of good taste. And all along Front Street in Philipsburg, as well as down every side street, prices are quoted in US dollars.

Almost all brands and designers are to be found. The well informed sales personal will be able to guide visitors to purchases they will not regret, especially once they have their merchandise independently appraised back home.

If you are knowledgable about jewelry and you are browsing on Frontstreet, you will notice that the prices on most pieces are up to 50% below US retail – once you get the final quote from the sales person. Obviously, such enormous savings can’t be expected from world-class, brand-name timepieces, but you will still be able to get a ‘best deal’.

On this island, your limits are the sky in one direction and the bottom of the sea in the other – for on St. Maarten there are no limits other than the boundaries of nature itself. You can sail the same 12-meter yacht that won the America’s Cup. You can motor a giant cat along the mythical line separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. You can venture out for giant marlin aboard any one of the charters available year-round. Or you can climb Mount Concordia, the historic site where the French and Dutch settlers agreed that the people of St. Maarten/St. Martin should coexist in a cooperative manner. From the ordinary to the extraordinary, the possibilities are limitless. Read the rest of this entry »

Many buyers, especially first-timers, hope to purchase a foreclosed property at a bargain price.  While purchasing a foreclosed home can be a wise choice for some buyers, it is important that buyers understand the differences in buying at different stages of foreclosure and be prepared to take on the challenges typically associated with each.

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There are three basic stages of foreclosure in California: Pre-foreclosure, trustee’s sale, and repossession, often called an REO or real estate owned by the bank.

Pre-foreclosure homes are in the foreclosure process, but have not yet been auctioned.  Owners of pre-foreclosed homes often try to sell the properties because they are “underwater,” meaning they owe more on the mortgage than the home currently is worth.  Many homeowners attempt to sell via short sale, where the lender must agree to accept less than the amount owed on the mortgage.  Buying at this stage of foreclosure often is a complicated and slow process. However, buyers of pre-foreclosed properties often are given the opportunity to inspect the home prior to purchasing, whereas this is not always the case when buying at other stages of foreclosures.

The second basic stage of foreclosure is the public auction at a trustee’s or foreclosure sale.  Homes in this stage often are well priced, but also come with challenges to buy.  These homes may not be available for inspection and buyers may later discover the property needs numerous repairs.  As a result, many of the homes at auction are purchased by investors and contractors who have experience working with homes needing numerous repairs, or taken back as REO by the foreclosing lenders.

If a home does not sell to a third party at the trustee’s auction, the bank takes the property–the final stage of the foreclosure process. Although homes in this stage typically do not offer buyers the best prices, buyers generally can perform a thorough inspection of the property prior to closing.

For more information see this link: