You might be wondering if buying a home during the holidays is a wise idea. Here are some good reasons to consider buying your home during the holiday months.

Here are five good reasons:

1.  December and early January are usually slower for sales and  sellers are motivated since they might not have sold the property in earlier months.

2. Rates are the lowest they have been in years and many options
are available, especially for buyers willing to put down 20% or more as a down
payment.

3.  There is  less competition to deal with which means less stress for you during the holidays.

4. Tax advantages: you may be eligible for deductions on points and mortgage interest if you close by the end of the year. Consult your tax advisor. deduction.

5. Lower prices & lower rates.

You should decide if this is a good time for you to buy.  Keep in mind, homes that did not sell over the summer are also available are great deals.  Furthermore, pricing might rise again after the New Year, so it might be a good time to find a bargain.

Good luck with your home search.

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?

Is it possible that different buyers will view the same property through different eyes. ??

There was this one bank owned  house for example.  It listed at below market and was attracting many buyers.  These buyers  were ready to buy and  were pre- qualified   for home loans with reputable lenders.

THE FIRST BUYER  who happened to be a first time buyer   commented on the condition of the home, the   smell, the stained carpets, the patches and nail holes in the walls and such.  This buyer noticed many of the cosmetic conditions of the home.

BUYER number 2, was an investor having owned several  properties over the years.  His view   s very different from buyer 1. The investor did not care about the cosmetic conditions, but instead was more concerned about   location, nearness to freeway,  number of beds/baths and garage.

Furthermore, the investor was pleased about the  dual pane windows, which let lots of light into the rooms.   All the while thinking of his potential return on investment.

For this example, the outcome is easy to guess.

Whether you are first time buyer, seller or investor, work with a licensed real estate professional (with REALTOR designation).  Your Realtor, will   know the market well and can help you find a home for the price you want to pay.  Also, beware of the news media, and other ‘friends and co-workers- who might give you incorrect advice.

Contact me if you are looking to buy or sell today.  My expertise extends to homebuyers, home sellers and investors all over the bay area.