Every once in a while, I’ll turn on the TV and see one of those California tourism ads that show young, tanned people splashing in the ocean, going on wine tastings, enjoying Disneyland and mountain biking around the state. Those are the ads that make my East Coast friends green with envy when I say I’m soaking up the 85-degree weather here in Los Angeles in February. However, anyone who has ever lived in LA will probably agree that all that California sun comes at a price – a ridiculously high price. If you are considering buying a home in LA – especially if you didn’t grow up here or are moving here from another state – you are probably experiencing some major sticker shock right now. Continue reading
You: What Your Agent Needs To Know
I recently had the opportunity to help out some colleagues in my office by writing an offer on their listing for some buyers who saw the property during an open house and didn’t have an agent. Most people probably think that agents love this type of situation – we get a call to write an offer for someone without having to do any “work” to help them find a house. However, the truth is that writing an offer is a fairly personal experience – one that can actually be kind of awkward if the buyers and the agent don’t have any kind of established relationship. Continue reading
Buying A House with Unpermitted Additions
You’ve been searching for your dream home for a year now, and finally you come across the perfect house. It’s everything you’ve been looking for, EXCEPT – the listing agent tells you that the awesome third bedroom “may not be permitted”. What does this mean? Can you still buy the house? SHOULD you still buy the house? Here are a few things you should know if you find yourself in this position. Continue reading
Renting Vs. Owning
As the market continues to move steadily into a solid recovery, many long time renters are beginning to weigh the pros and cons of home ownership. If you are considering buying now to take advantage of the historically low interest rates, here are some of the elements you should be considering: Continue reading
10 Tips for Starting Your Home Search
Diving into the real estate market for the first time can be a daunting task, but these ten tips can help you get off to a smooth start. Continue reading
Your Agent: What You Should Expect
As a Buyers’ agent, I interact with a lot of first time home buyers who are just entering the real estate market and have never worked with a Realtor before. In addition, I come across a fair amount of people who have spent time working with another agent and have come away empty handed and frustrated. If you fit into either of these groups, it might benefit you to have a clear understanding of what to expect when you work with a real estate agent. Continue reading