California Top Real Estate Trends for 2015
Housing Recovery Gains Momentum The economy in 2015 continued to improve complete with existing home sales hitting nine-year highs due to job growth, rising consumer confidence, and low interest rates. Individual micro markets vary from zip code to zip code and consistent year over year gains are everywhere, but there may be flattening on the horizon with the potential for interest rate increases in 2016 along with buyers wanting to take a breather and wait for another pullback in prices.
Ready to Renovate? See The 2015 Trends in Home Remodeling
I spend every year remodeling or remaking 12 to 25 bathrooms and 5 to 10 kitchens for my clients in preparation of getting their homes ready to sell. The process is incredibly rewarding for both me and my clients and each year brings new and creative ideas to our work. Not only is your home the biggest investment you’ll probably ever make, it’s also your oasis and the space in which you live, love, and entertain. From a financial and quality-of-life perspective, it simply makes sense to keep your home updated and on-trend. If 2015 is your year to renovate or…
Palo Alto’s Real Estate, Businesses and Top-Rate Education Attract People Nationally and Internationally
Californians have known forever that Palo Alto is a world-class city. This status was cemented in 2015 when one renowned study named the city one of the top 100 best places to live on the planet. Palo Alto is the beating heart of the Silicon Valley with legendary companies like Facebook, Tesla, and HP launched here. Palo Alto attracts not only movers and shakers but innovative thinkers, thanks to the world-renowned Stanford University. The city’s educated populace, amazing arts presence with Bing Concert Hall, world-class cuisine such as Evvia and Tamarine, state-of-the-art bike paths and commuter rail options are just a few…
Is Spring the Best Time to Buy a Palo Alto Home?
The world of real estate is an exciting and confusing place filled with sage advice for home buyers and sellers. You may have heard plenty of recommendations on when to buy, when to sell, whether you should stage, and other helpful tips to get your home sold fast; however, it may be difficult to tell what will actually work. If you own a home in Old Palo Alto or want to buy in Professorville when is the best time to act? Some Palo Alto real estate agents may tell you spring is the best time to sell your home, but is one…
In My Opinion – Pocket Listings Don’t Help Home Sellers
Do You Want To Shoot Yourself In The Foot? Sell Your Home Off-Market Or Don’t Expose It To The Multiple Listing Service With An Open House – That Will Do The Trick Every Single Time – Guaranteed! No matter what you call it, “off-market, private, or pocket listings” are on the rise again as sellers are somehow being persuaded again to keep their properties off of the Multiple Listing Service and out of the stream of commerce during this “red-hot” real estate market. The typical “song-and-dance” they are told is that by keeping their property listing ‘private’ their privacy will…
How Many Offers Will I Get On My House?
I can’t remember a listing where my client didn’t ask me, “[H]ow many offers will I get on my house? It’s a crystal ball question, but usually the answer is – “we will probably get several if we price it correctly.” The juggernaut seller’s market continues to march forward like a rapid moving lava flow covering the entire landscape in its path. Needless to say this market condition is confounding to buyers looking to get a piece of Silicon Valley real estate and claim their stake for their families. Low inventory combined with the high-tech industry seemingly on fire continues…
Attention Downsizing Baby Boomers – Sell Your House, Protect All Your Equity, and Pay NO Capital Gains Taxes with this Simple Strategy Using Tools Congress Gave Us
Many of my parent’s friends who have fortunately accumulated significant equity in their homes over the last several decades are faced with a dilemma of downsizing into a smaller home because they can no longer conveniently or adequately take care of their properties. Importantly, many of them desire a simpler-smaller property, usually all single-level, accessible and easy to maintain. The problem exists because if they sell their home with substantial equity they face significant capital gains exposure even with the IRC Section 121 exclusion in place.
Cost Value Ratio 2015 – What Are The Best Improvements Sellers Can Make To Improve Return-On-Investment?
Last year I wrote an article on “Cost-Value Ratio” or more appropriately what improvements are the best return-on-investment for homeowners or sellers – see link right here – https://shellyrobersonrealtor.com/home-improvements-critical-now-more-than-ever/. Home improvements are critical for sellers and buyers alike, but are sellers getting the right advice? Consistently I see mistakes by sellers, usually at the advice of their realtors. Here is some factual evidence that sellers can use, despite their realtor’s advice, which have real data to back up the recommendation.
New California Real Estate Laws for 2015
Here is a quick recap of the new 2015 real estate laws effecting owners, residents, real estate agents, and brokers. How these laws effect you, your business interests, your family, landlords, and tenants vary greatly depending on your individual circumstances, but please read and make yourself aware of the basics. For detailed analysis or any questions don’t hesitate to give me a call 1-650-464-3797 or send me an email to [email protected].
Mountain View Weighs Increased Developer Fees – What Else?
How Should Cities Deal With Developers And Affordable Housing Proponents? How do cities in tech-rich Silicon Valley curb skyrocketing housing costs while at the same time appease developers to build more affordable housing units? In the city where Google Inc. resides the conundrum of housing is a bubbling caldron between residents, developers, and city staff. The peninsula, where Mountain View is located, is experiencing a rapidly growing workforce that incorporates both high-earning educated professionals and a sub-set of low earning individuals to supply the service industry that is growing right along with the population. The peninsula housing stock and developable…