Let’s face it – HGTV makes buying a house look really easy. We’ve all seen those shows where the buyers have a little chat with their agent and she runs off to make a phone call with a verbal offer for the seller. When she comes back, she says, “you just bought a house!” Piece of cake, right? Well in reality, buying a house is usually a long process that has many stages. Writing your initial offer – as nerve-wracking as it may be – is usually just the first step in the dialogue between you and the seller. 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
Extreme Bidding Wars
Most buyers entering the Los Angeles real estate market understand that we are experiencing a seller’s market right now – there are significantly more qualified buyers out there than there are homes to buy, so prices are going up and bidding wars are commonplace. However, recently I have noticed a new phenomenon that even the savviest of buyers might not be prepared for: something I call the “extreme bidding war”. 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
Buying a Condo
Buying a condo can be an attractive alternative to a single-family home, especially for first time home buyers with a smaller budget or working professionals who don’t want the maintenance of a larger property. Condos may offer buyers more square footage for their money, and often provide additional amenities like an onsite pool or gym. However, if you are considering buying a condo, it’s important that you understand the responsibilities that come along with being a member of a Homeowner’s Association, and that you are aware of some common issues that might come up during your escrow. Continue reading