Robert Guthridge's Blog

“Costco to Pay Special Dividend of $7” Costco shareholders (I’m one) got the welcome news last week that the company is paying a special $7 dividend per share next month. That’s enough to buy two (very) large slices of pizza, soft drinks, and a salad at the in-store snack bar (pictured above). In other words, lunch for two . . .   from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2oFIkyJ via IFTTT

Each neighborhood in San Francisco offers a different lifestyle full of opportunity. The city is alive and full of culture, the homes are unique, the real estate market is booming, and everyone is dying to live the dream. Where do you fit in? Top real estate agent Danielle Lazier :: SFhotlist Team and Compass San Francisco lend their expert advice on how to find your dream home in San Francisco: 1. San Francisco Real Estate and Technology To find your dream home in San Francisco, you need to combine the best of tech with the best of the human element. Luckily, you can find both with Danielle Lazier :: SFhotlist Team and Compass San Francisco. With so many listings out there and so many different ways to communicate, it’s not always easy to stay on the same page. Compass allows us to search together. Combining the advantages of Compass and working with an experienced local agent that specializes in buyer representation, you will be able to get a full picture of what the San Francisco...

Soliciting Customer Feedback From the Math-Challenged Of course, the email solicitation didn’t say the airline would pay customers $1.50 to complete its survey. Instead, it offered “250 bonus miles.” But, do the math — I did — and that comes to a rather measly $1.50 (that’s what you get when you divide $300 by 50,000, then multiply by 250). See also , “ Credit Card Come-On’s Prey on the Math-Challenged .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2oBdMy5 via IFTTT

Inspection Addendum: “Buyer Shall Cap Any Inspection Requests at $500” [ Editor’s Note :  The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced.  If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] How do Buyers competing in multiple offers differentiate their offers? By offering the most money, strongest financing, and most desirable (at least to the Seller) closing date. So, how else can Buyers make their offer stand out? By contractually limiting their post-inspection requests. Illusory Protection In theory, a Seller who enters into a Purchase Agreement that includes such a clause is protected from any Buyer fishing expeditions, right? Sort of. However, if the inspection uncovers previously unknown, material issues, it’s highly unlikely that the Buyer is going to stay in the deal without a commensurate price reduction. A Seller who stands fast, invoking the cap on in...

Proof That High Pressure Sales Tactics Don’t Work At least in my experience, the odds of any one showing leading to a consummated transaction are perhaps 1 in 10. The exception to that? If the Buyer’s agent is headed to the airport, or otherwise under acute time pressure. When that’s the case, I’d estimate that the odds of the showing leading to a deal conservatively double (to a still-low 2-in-10). Reverse Psychology What might account for that? I can think of two reasons: One .  Realtor on a time deadline = no sales pressure. In contrast to a “regular” showing, a Realtor who needs to be someplace else wants the showing to go badly — so they can lock up the house and get out of there! So, there’s no extolling the updated Kitchen, pointing out the beautiful backyard, or the lovely block. Instead, the subliminal message clients get is:  ‘don’t  buy this home.’ It’s amazing how, when that’s the agent’s mindset, clients suddenly want to make sure they’re not ov...

What’s In a (Phone) Number?  A Lot, Actually For all I know, the Realtor in question sells a ton of real estate in another area code. Even if they don’t, there’s no shame in selling real estate part-time, until you become established (that’s what I did). But, it may be relevant to prospective clients. At least in the Twin Cities, if a Realtor’s cell phone doesn’t start with “612,” “952,” “763,” or “651,” it’s very likely that they’re:  a) new to town; b) relatively new at real estate; or c) both. P.S.:  There can be a “right” and “wrong” area code when it comes to dating, too:  once upon a time, when I was single living in New York, “212” for Manhattan was prestigious; the newly-created “646” and “718” . . . weren’t. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2qazPJl via IFTTT

What’s In a (Phone) Number? For all I know, the Realtor in question sells a ton of real estate in another area code. Even if they don’t, there’s no shame in selling real estate part-time, until you become established (that’s what I did). But, it may be relevant to prospective clients. At least in the Twin Cities, if a Realtor’s cell phone doesn’t start with “612,” “763,” or “651,” it’s very likely that they’re:  a) new to town; b) relatively new at real estate; or c) both. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2qazPJl via IFTTT

J Scott is the first two-time guest on my podcast. In this episode, J and his wife Carol talk with me about the new book we just wrote on negotiating real estate: The Book on Negotiating Real Estate: Expert Strategies for Getting the Best Deals When Buying & Selling Investment Property. Today, we talk about the book, why J and Carol are so knowledgeable about negotiating (through experience and previous careers), and we cover many tips and advice on negotiating. Negotiating in real estate is critical if you want to get a great deal. Investors tell me all the time The post Podcast 98: How to Negotiate a Real Estate Deal with J and Carol Scott appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2pCXtRD via IFTTT

One gut check that you need to do when markets reach this fever pitch in mania, is simply look at the product.  People get fully disconnected from value and simply assume that every crap shack is going to sell because every single second a sucker is bred into our economy.  There is now a blind […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2pjnMJt via IFTTT

This video is part of the SFhotlist Monthly Market Update Video Series . Each week, we provide you with a short video with updated information about San Francisco real estate and the neighborhoods you love. Let us know if there is something specific you’d like to know. Bernal Heights Real Estate Market Update – March 2017 Welcome to March’s Bernal Heights Real Estate Market Update. The number of active listings was down 35% from one year earlier and did not change from the previous month. As you can see, the median listing price for the month was just under $1.45 million, while the median sales price was just under $1.45 million. Compared to last year, the average number of days that units spent on the market before being sold was up 16%. The number of units sold increased 78% year-over-year and increased 14% month-over-month. The Take Home Number of active listings: Down 35% year-over-year Number of active listings: Did not change month-over-month Median listing price: $1.44 m...

This video is part of the SFhotlist Monthly Market Update Video Series . Each week, we provide you with a short video with updated information about San Francisco real estate and the neighborhoods you love. This week we cover San Francisco condominiums. Let us know if there is something specific you’d like to know. San Francisco Condominiums Market Update – March 2017 The number of active listings was down 30% from one year earlier and down 16% from the previous month. As you can see, the median listing price for the month was $1.25 million, while the median sales price was just under $1.15 million. Compared to last year, the average number of days that units spent on the market before being sold did not change. The number of units sold increased 6% year-over-year and increased 68% month-over-month. The Take Home Number of active listings: Down 30% year-over-year Number of active listings: Down 16% month-over-month Median listing price: $1.25 million Average number of days on...

Real estate agents can do many things. They market homes, value properties, network like crazy, show houses, and make sure the lenders, title companies, and inspectors all do their job. However, there are some things you should not ask an agent to do, and there are some things you should not ask or say. At worst, it is against the law for agents to answer certain questions. Additionally, some things you ask an agent may make them hesitant to work with you. Try to avoid asking, saying, or doing the following things to make the house buying or selling process The post The Top 10 Things Never to Ask, Say, or Do When Working With a Real Estate Agent appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2oIqvLt via IFTTT

Two Theories As someone who’s worked in several fields, including law and public accounting, I can honestly say that real estate sales has a relatively small number of professionals with inflated egos. But, that doesn’t mean there are zero . In such a people-centric business, why give prospective clients a reason to dislike you? People may have no choice but to put up with a uniquely talented brain surgeon or defense attorney, but it’s a good bet that neither of those people interact with their clients as intimately as Realtors do (not counting the part about making incisions in your brain). At best, clients work with an egocentric agent in spite of their ego, not because of it. Playing Freud So, what explains the inescapable reality that there are agents out there who think too highly of themselves? My two theories: One . (Over)confidence is adaptive in sales, especially real estate sales. No one wants an introverted, unassertive agent negotiating on...

Fixtures vs. Personal Property:  The Proactive Solution It’s not always clear whether something is a “fixture” or “personal property.” In theory, the test is straightforward:  is the item in question permanently attached? The rub, of course, is what constitutes “permanent”:  one person’s easy removal and repair (usually by the Seller) is another’s “ of course it should come with the house!” (uttered by Buyers). Practicing an Ounce of Prevention Enter TV brackets and mounts, a notorious gray area in today’s housing market. Rather than risk a misunderstanding, at least one local agent is preemptively addressing which is which in the “Agent Remarks” section of MLS. That may be a bit early in the process, but it’s certainly the right idea . . . P.S: Interestingly, when it comes to fixtures, size doesn’t matter. So, a free-standing Grand piano is personal property, while a Bathroom sconce is a fixture. See also , “ Fixture Confusion” ;   and   “How to Tell...

Dependent on the Kindness of (Foreign) Strangers One of the more jarring images in “American War,” Omar El Akkad’s debut novel about a dystopian U.S. 50 years hence, is the presence of the Red Crescent on American soil. Of course, to early 21st century Americans, it’s the  Red Cross that gets dispatched to war zones abroad  to provide humanitarian aid.   Good Intentions, But . . . Therewith is the central conceit of El Akkad’s novel:  thanks to the ravages of civil war and a subsequent pandemic that kills 100 million(!), it’s now American citizenry that needs global aid. Humbling as that fact is, it’s made worse by the donors’ ignorant if well-intentioned offerings. So, even though the American South is now Sahara desert hot, and Florida ceases to exist (the new coastline is along Georgia, well north of what used to be the Panhandle), heavy blankets continue to arrive from abroad by the ship and pallet-full. Meanwhile, the more valuable aid gets purloined an...

“He Who Adjusts Least Adjusts Best” When it comes to pricing a home off of Comp’s (“Comparable Sold Properties”), the trick is to minimize both the number and absolute magnitude of the adjustments. The ideal would be a condo identical to its peers in every respect — floor plan, size, condition, location, market conditions, etc. — with the exception of floor number. Assuming no “view-break” is involved, the listing agent — or Buyer’s agent, or the Appraiser — then merely adjusts up or down $10k or 1% or some such per floor.  See , “ (Manhattan) Real Estate Term of the Day:  ‘View-Break .” Minimizing Discretion By contrast, adjustments like swimming pools (at least in the chilly Twin Cities); major additions; and even bomb shelters(!) and bowling alleys are more problematic because:  a) they’re more unusual; and b) Buyers’ preferences and/or aversions are so case-specific ( read , “subjective”). See , “What’s it Worth? Or, Accounting for a Basement...

San Francisco is full of rich culture with dozens of micro-neighborhoods offering a completely unique experience. Danielle Lazier started SFhotlist as the best San Francisco real estate blog back in 2002 to not only connect with people interested in the San Francisco real estate market, but to also connect others by being a resource for information about San Francisco’s diverse culture, history, and architecture. SFhotlist was the first San Francisco real estate blog and after 15 years, it’s still one of the best resources for San Francisco real estate topics and committed to be better than ever! Danielle also founded two other San Francisco real estate blogs: Noe Valley Market Update and Bernal Heights Real Estate. The SFhotlist collective is a small group of highly experienced San Francisco real estate agents who have teamed up to offer a full-service experience. We are skilled consultants, down-to-earth educators, organized project managers, and fierce negotiators who are committe...

Best Ideas:  Bryn Mawr, Longfellow, Saint Anthony Park, Brookside “East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.” –Rudyard Kipling “North is North and South is South, and never the twain shall meet.” –corollary, Ross Kaplan As a Twin Cities Buyer’s agent, when you’re working with a client whose job is in Bloomington (or Maple Grove, or Woodbury), and who doesn’t want a long commute, you focus on housing in (or at least near) . . . Bloomington, Maple Grove, or Woodbury. Ahhh , but what if the Buyer is a couple , and their jobs straddle opposite ends of town? Then, the trick is to find a neighborhood that’s a good geographic compromise. The ideal characteristics:  centrally located; convenient access to major freeways, and — ideally — affordable housing. Also key:  whether the couple is on an “east-west” axis or a “north-south” one. East-West Corridor vs. North-South Why does that matter? Because until the Lowry Tunnel bottleneck gets addr...

I credit my success in real estate investing, as a real estate agent, and in life to deliberate self improvement and success factors, which have become my keys to success. I have been very successful in real estate…but not because I was lucky or extremely smart. I became an agent in 2001, but I did not become very successful until 2008 and 2009. In 2006, I made only $28,000 the entire year! I have since bought 16 rentals properties, have from 12 to 29 fix and flips going at once, published five paperback books, and I bought a Lamborghini. Being successful The post Success in Real Estate Investing and Life appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2pjinFn via IFTTT

The REAL Purpose of Appraisals What is the purpose of an appraisal, in the context of a residential real estate sale? To make sure that, if the Buyer defaults on their loan and the lender ultimately forecloses, the value of the collateral is sufficient to make the lender whole. Or, in plain English:  if the lender gets stuck with the home, it can sell it for at least as much as the mortgage. “Multiple Offers,” Defined Now, consider what happens in multiple offers. The owner lists their home, and not one but several would-be Buyers submit offers.* After sifting through each offer’s strengths and weaknesses, the owner chooses one Buyer to work with, and — after tweaking a few terms (closing date, earnest money, etc.) — ultimately enters into a Purchase Agreement with them. Enter the Appraiser A few weeks later, when the lender’s appraiser shows up, the question they should be asking isn’t, “what is this home’s value, based on the three most recent, similar sales (i.e., the ...

Food Snobs Manage to Become Even More Obnoxious It had to happen:  once everything became “craft” this and “artisanal” that, what do you do for an encore? Start “pairing” things.  “Artisanal” and “craft” things. The list includes food, wine, and interestingly, even cannabis where it’s been legalized. Of course, trend-setting gourmand that I am, I’ve been pairing things for years:  peanut butter & jelly, macaroni & cheese, spaghetti & meatballs, coffee & cream, etc. P.S.:  My son and I recently visited a prestigious liberal arts college that celebrated its 150th anniversary last year.  Except that’s not what admission staff, faculty, and even students called it. Their preferred term:  “sesquicentennial.” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2oOxeG7 via IFTTT

Foreign money has been a key ingredient in propping up home values in many cities across the United States. There is no doubt about this.  If you look at places like Irvine, many new home communities are being sold largely to investors from China.  This also applies to house mania happy San Francisco.  Yet even […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2oMh1l2 via IFTTT

A Kitchen Fit For a King Queen Royalty I’ve certainly seen upper bracket Kitchens with oversized, double wall ovens. Ditto for (very) large exhaust hoods. But, I don’t previously recall seeing quadruple wall ovens and a 12 foot exhaust hood. So, what home sports such deluxe amenities? None — at least that I’m aware of. Instead, the handsomely equipped Kitchen (pictured above and left) is located on the showroom floor of Mingle, a Plymouth-based home design and consulting firm. Three different Edina Realty offices (including City Lakes) were treated to an excellent presentation there yesterday morning. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2oPxXoY via IFTTT

On this episode of the InvestFourMore Real Estate Podcast, I have a great conversation with Abhi Golhar. Abhi has become a fantastic investor who flips more than 30 houses per year, but this number did not come easily. It took him years of mentorship, moving around the country, and near successes before he made it. Abhi found success not from finding the right strategy but from finding the right attitude. He started investing in 2002, but he did not realize true success until almost ten years later.  During that decade of trying, he never gave up. How did Abhi get The post Podcast 97: Flipping More Than 30 Houses Per Year with Abhi Golhar appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2pCXstQ via IFTTT

FOBH & The 2017 Housing Market Once upon a time, Twin Cities Realtors eschewed rentals (vs. purchases and sales). Compared to the “For Sale” market, rentals were notoriously time-consuming, low-paying, and lots of red tape (the average lease has more fine print and addenda than a standard Minnesota Purchase Agreement). Then, the housing bust hit, hard, starting in 2008, and many area agents turned to rentals to make ends meet. Five years later, the market recovered enough that agents once again skipped handling rentals. Adapting to the Times (Again) Today? Rentals are back on Realtors’ front burner, not because the housing market is cold, but because it’s too hot — specifically, because there’s too little inventory. As a result, would-be home sellers fret that they won’t be able to find another property, and are turning to their Realtors to find temporary housing. To facilitate that, Edina Realty recently added “Rental Needs” as a networking category for its 2,200+ agents ...

But First . . . a Brief History Lesson I don’t know about other states — I’m only licensed to sell real estate in Minnesota — but here, residential property taxes are due twice a year:  May 15 and October 15. Those non-randomly chosen dates stretch back to when Minnesota’s economy — like practically every other state’s — was agrarian-based. The two times a year farmers predictably had money were in the Spring, before they’d planted; and in the Fall, after they’d harvested. Tax collectors — no dummies about such things — realized that those were the best times to dun its citizens for property taxes (note:  the May 15 payment covers the first half of the year; the October 15 payment the second half * ). Debits and Credits Which leaves the more contemporary question, “if you’re selling your house in early (or late) May, do you pay the first half property taxes?” The short answer (or at least mine) is, it depends on whether the Buyer’s lender is escrowing (collecting i...

Outsource vs. Do-It-Yourself; Racing the Inspection Clock (or Not) True or false:  the $10 home radon tests sold at home improvement stores (Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.) are less reliable than the $200+ tests performed by professional home inspectors (note:  the do-it-yourself kits also charge a $35 lab fee for normal processing turnaround, for a total of $45). Answer:   false. If that’s so, then why spend as much as 5x more on the inspector than for a home kit? Paying the Pro’s; Lab Processing Two reasons (three, if you include the hassle factor**): One.  Faster turnaround. An inspector’s radon test takes 72 hours (3 days) or less, and is immediately available. By contrast, the home radon kits must be in place for 96 hours (4 days), then — with express processing — take another 3 business days to turn around (1 day to send, 2 more to get results back). Total time:  a minimum of 7 business days, assuming no glitches. That’s problematic when the Inspecti...

When One Size Definitely Doesn’t Fit All What makes a good closing gift for home buyers? Anything the client really wants (within limits). “Know Your Client” (Again) In that vein . . . it’s hard to top the Buyer’s agent who popped for a new dryer (or so I recently heard). Apparently, the agent found out that the Buyer’s dad was buying a new washer for the newly purchased home, and the agent arranged to buy a matching dryer. P.S.:  to all my clients:  before you send me an indignant email asking me where your new dryer is, the home in question was $1.5M. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2oJyn21 via IFTTT

When you buy a house and obtain a mortgage, most lenders will let you skip the first monthly payment. If you buy a house in April, you may not have to make your first payment until June 1st or even June 15th. Lenders will make this sound like a huge advantage, but are you really saving money by skipping a mortgage payment? The truth is banks would not give anyone a free month just because banks are nice. Banks charge buyers the interest for that month upfront. How are you still paying interest to the bank if they allow you The post Can You Skip Your First Mortgage Payment When Buying a House? appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2pP2eDM via IFTTT

Not Measuring Up? There’s no harm in touting that a home has an especially nice backyard, sits on a large or impressive piece of land, etc. However, the term “double lot” — at least to me — has a specific, defined meaning. Namely, it’s a least twice the size of a standard city lot. In urban neighborhoods in the Twin Cities, that’s most commonly 40′ x 120.’ Ergo , a double lot is at least 80′ x 120′. Anecdotally, I’d guess that something like 30% – 40% of the lots billed as “double lots” on MLS are in fact smaller than that. Sometimes by, umm . . . a lot ( sorry ). Extra-Deep Lots While I’ve never seen a lot that was 40′ x 240′, I have seen plenty of lots that were especially deep (up to 180′ with a width of only 40′). There are also plenty of oversized lots that are irregular-shaped. What then? I don’t know about other Realtors, but as a listing agent I would take one of two approaches:  1) bill the lot as “extra-deep,” and provide the measurements (along with a...

Coming Soon?  Legal Cannabis in Canada At least to me, the standard definition of “tabling” something is this one: “to remove (something, such as a parliamentary motion) from consideration indefinitely.” So, what’s the opposite of that? At least in Canada (I visited Toronto earlier this Spring), it’s this: “to present formally for discussion or consideration at a meeting.” It turns out the first definition is American, the second British . . . P.S.: The term came up in connection with Justin Trudeau’s recently introduced — umm, tabled legislation to legalize cannabis in Canada. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2odVRtk via IFTTT

How Many Showings? Determining the right number of showings before making a purchase decision is a bit like asking, “how many dates before you get engaged?” In both cases, the right answer is: ‘until you know it’s the right one’ (house or person). Some lucky Buyers know from the first instant they walk through the door ( yes , there’s “housing love at first sight”); others are more deliberative, and need several showings to be sure that they’re making the right decision. However, most Buyers will typically view a home 2-3 times before making an offer — after having toured, in person (vs. online) 10-15 homes previously. “4th Time Isn’t the Charm” From experience, the first showing is usually about “emotionally connecting” with the home; subsequent showings are about making sure that the home’s size, floor plan, etc. are a good fit, and that the home’s condition is as billed (the inspection focuses exclusively on that question). Of course, every rule has exceptions. For examp...

Predicting Consequences New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed and on Wednesday signed legislation to make tuition free at New York public colleges for anybody coming from a family making no more than $100,000 a year, with the cap rising to $125,000 in 2019. — The New York Times (April 14, 2017). Will Gov. Cuomo’s initiative actually increase college enrollment? Will it undercut competing private schools? What unintended consequences might there be? I have no idea. But, I’m pretty certain no New York families with college-age kids are going to report annual income of $101,000 . . . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2ou8oJR via IFTTT

The Case For — and Against In a microcosm, the considerations for doing an open house on Easter Sunday are the same as for deciding whether to list a home during a traditionally slow time of the year (like around the holidays). Here’s how the arguments shape up: Pros : –Not much competition from other open houses, so the ones that are open stand out more. –Quality over quantity: fewer Buyers are out on Easter Sunday, but the ones who are, are disproportionately serious, motivated, etc. –The same things that make a home welcoming for company (“dressed up,” nice smells, seasonal touches) impress Buyers, too. Cons: –Fewer open houses on Easter Sunday, which (further) depresses traffic (like car dealerships that cluster in the same area, having lots of nearby open houses helps attract Buyers). –Intrusion on family time, privacy. Opening one’s home to the public — and doing all the cleaning and prep necessary ahead of that — isn’t necessarily how people want to spend Easter (on th...

Advantage:  Incumbent Realtor Want one more reason to hire the seasoned, local Realtor (vs., say , your high school buddy, or your first cousin’s best friend’s uncle?). Not only will they get you the best possible deal in today’s fast-paced housing market — but they may very well save it once it progresses to the critical financing stage. Getting Past the Appraisal How’s that? The local pro knows two things that the novice doesn’t. One .  Details about the most recent, nearby sales. Like, which house (badly) needed a brand new Kitchen? And, which house just had one put in? Just knowing a home’s age, foundation size, and square feet — the information that sites like Trulia and Zillow rely on — tells you nothing about a home’s floor plan, updates (or not), and condition. The experienced local Realtor can rattle off all that info because they’ve seen the relevant homes — or sold them. Two .  The experienced agent knows — and can help ...

I’ve got some bad news for you: There is a major problem with your goals. No, it’s not that you don’t have any — I’m sure you do. The problem is, they are not big enough. You’ve relegated your ambitions to the kids’ table, and your future-self is begging you to reconsider. Remember when you first jumped into entrepreneurship? Your goal wasn’t to see a 10 percent increase in sales during the next fiscal year. Your goal wasn’t to talk to ten more sales clients per week. Your goal wasn’t to bump up your net worth by 5 percent this quarter. Your goal was to become a rock star and change the world. Your goal was to make millions, improve your networth by 10,000 percent, to make a real dent in the universe. But somewhere along the way, you decided to get “SMART.” SMART goals have a problem. I’m sure you’ve heard about setting “SMART” goals. This acronym, used in numerous industries to help people create better goals, stands for: Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-bound ...

Did you know that San Francisco is one of the top three cities for murals in the United States, alongside Los Angeles and Chicago. The best murals in San Francisco adorn buildings and alleyways with public art, social and political expression, and cultural heritage. Although some of the artwork may be short-lived, many murals symbolize fragments of San Francisco’s history and ever-changing cityscape. Some murals may be up for years, while others fade or get covered by more art. That’s part of the magic! Murals give you a great opportunity to explore the city and see public art for free. It’s easy to become absorbed in your own world as you stroll through San Francisco’s neighborhoods, trying to get to your next destination. Maybe you’re on your way to work, running some errands, or about to meet a friend for dinner, but if you spend some time looking up or walking around, you may be surprised to find a wealth of street art in the city. Murals are often commissioned by individuals, pu...

I have been both a real estate investor and real estate agent for over 15 years. Being an agent gives me a huge advantage when buying flips or rental properties. Many people say being an agent and investor is actually a bad idea. There are some cons to being an agent/investor, but I think the pros are far greater. In this episode of the InvestFourMore podcast, I explain how beneficial being an agent and investor has been for me. I also talk about the cons of being an agent and investor, and I discuss when investors should become agents. I know The post Podcast 96: The Pros and Cons of Being a Real Estate Agent and Investor appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2nIYGq1 via IFTTT

How to Go From Two (or More) Buyers to None Multiple offers are popping up frequently enough in the Twin Cities these days that agents are dusting off their strategies, disclosure policies, etc. for dealing with same. Or at least, Realtors who haven’t been in one in awhile (or ever). Personally, I’ve been in three in just the last 3 months — once as a Listing Agent, and twice as a Buyer’s Agent (interestingly, in one of those, I only found out after the fact). “Match and Raise” One strategy sometimes employed by Buyers in multiple offers is what agents call an “asterisk clause.” Instead of filling in a purchase price, the Buyer fills in an asterisk, with this phrase (or the equivalent) added in the margin:  ‘Buyer will pay $5,000 (or $10,000, or $200) over next highest offer.’ So, why do reputable agents (including yours truly ) frown on such a tactic? Because as often as not, it can backfire on the Seller, just as quickly leaving them with no offe...

“Real Estate Terminology 101” One of the confusing things about real estate is that, once a deal closes, the Buyer’s Agent is called the “Selling Agent.” Isn’t the Listing Agent, representing the Seller, the “Selling Agent?” Well , no. Think of it this way:  the Buyer’s agent is selling something — actually, two things: One .  The Buyer on the specific house. The average Buyer now looks at 12-15 homes before making their choice. Which one they ultimately select is frequently influenced by their agent’s input and advice. Two .  The Buyer’s offer to the Seller and their Listing Agent. Just like every home, every offer has strengths and weaknesses. It’s the job of the Buyer’s — er , Selling — agent to play up the strengths, and defuse and/or minimize the weaknesses. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2oCItSw via IFTTT

Who doesn’t love a great sequel?  The housing market is blistering hot and people are itching to get a taste of the hot porridge served right from an upgraded stainless steel stove.  You all know the story of Icarus and the perils of flying too close to the sun.  Well there is also a story […] from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2p8D06D via IFTTT

“Why Are You Selling?” Realtors who aren’t skilled at determining prospective clients’ motivation . . . usually don’t make much money selling real estate . So, how do you tell how motivated someone is? A good starting point is asking them why they’re selling (Duh, right?).  Sometimes, you don’t even have to; lots of prospective clients, in their first phone call or email to a Realtor, will announce that they just got transferred, had (or are expecting) a baby, are downsizing, etc. . . . and therefore need to sell . Even when there’s an obvious circumstance motivating a sale, it’s still a good idea to nail down timing — and, specifically — sense of urgency. There’s a big difference between someone who needs to be in Denver June 1 for a new job, and a self-employed consultant who doesn’t want to go through another Minnesota winter (the latter category probably describes a couple thousand people in the Twin Cities right now). Stated vs. Actual Motivation Unlike some Realtors...

This complete guide to real estate investing for beginners serves as an end-to-end resource on investing 101, the best ways to invest, how to invest money in real estate property, and the best ways to invest money in the real estate market. Real Estate Investing for Beginners Contents Real estate investing for beginners – how to invest in real estate Common ways to invest money in real estate The different types of real estate property you can invest in How to invest money and how much money you need to invest in real estate The different types of loans you can get The post Real Estate Investing for Beginners – Complete Guide appeared first on Invest Four More . from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2opqmiv via IFTTT

This video is part of the SFhotlist Monthly Market Update Video Series . Each week, we provide you with a short video with updated information about San Francisco real estate and the neighborhoods you love. Let us know if there is something specific you’d like to know. Noe Valley Real Estate Market Update – March 2017 Welcome to March’s Noe Valley Market Update. The number of active listings was up 21% from one year earlier and down 15% from the previous month. The median listing price for the month was just over $3 million, and the median sales price was just under $2.8 million. Compared to last year, the average number of days that units spent on the market before being sold was down 44%. The number of units sold increased 125% year-over-year and increased 275% month-over-month. The Take Home Number of active listings: Up 21% year-over-year Number of active listings: Down 15% month-over-month Median listing price: $3.29 million Average number of days on the market before sale...

This video is part of the SFhotlist Monthly Market Update Video Series . Each week, we provide you with a short video with updated information about San Francisco real estate and the neighborhoods you love. Let us know if there is something specific you’d like to know. San Francisco Single Family Homes Market Update – March 2017 The number of active listings was down 38% from one year earlier and down 12% from the previous month. As you can see, the median listing price for the month was $1.45 million, while the median sales price was $1.35 million. Compared to last year, the average number of days that units spent on the market before being sold was up 26%. The number of units sold increased 8% year-over-year and increased 55% month-over-month. The Take Home Number of active listings: Down 38% year-over-year Number of active listings: Down 12% month-over-month Median listing price: $1.45 million Average number of days on the market before sale: Up 26% If you’d like to know...

Dissed by The Donald What provoked Mr. Trump’s ire? My son’s very blue “Obama” cap. Lessening the blow: it wasn’t delivered by the current Commander-in-Chief, but by a lookalike strolling Manhattan for an upcoming Comedy Central show (we were recently in town visiting). P.S.: I had to sign a release allowing Comedy Central to use my son’s image, because he’s a minor. from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2pns29K via IFTTT

Getting Ready for 8 Days of Matzoh “They tried to kill us . . . they failed . . . let’s eat!” –old joke about what all Jewish holidays have in common. The catch with the Jewish holiday of Passover — which starts tonight and lasts 8 days — is that no leavened bread is to be eaten. That’s to commemorate the Jews’ hasty exodus from Egypt, which didn’t allow time for regular bread-baking. Instead, the departing Jews ate matzoh, a sort of flatbread/cracker. Fast forward a couple millennia, and lots of Jewish families try to squeeze in a pre-Passover slice of pizza or similar before the holiday officially begins (that’s my 3 kids and nephew earlier today, pictured above). from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 http://ift.tt/2pnlJDe via IFTTT

The King Staged Closet Has No Clothes Conventional staging wisdom when it comes to closets ( yes , there is such a thing, at least for a walk-in master closet in a more expensive home) is that two-thirds full is optimal. Less than that, and the closet looks too empty; more than that, and it looks too full. I mostly go along with that, with the caveat that leaving an (almost) closet-full of clothes can draw Buyers’ eyes away from the space and towards the owner’s wardrobe, and taste in same (similar to the staging knock on too many family photos adorning the walls). Of course, a closet mostly full of clothes can also look smaller. Spare > Cluttered Which is why I very much like the spare, clean look of the staged closet (above), which is empty save for a well-placed dress form (Note:  Sellers of occupied rather than vacant homes don’t usually have this option). P.S.:  The staged fridge?!?  I wouldn’t have believed it, but a Buyer client...

Each month, top San Francisco real estate agent Danielle Lazier :: SFhotlist Team and Compass San Francisco bring you a monthly recap of our achievements in the San Francisco real estate market. We look forward to keeping you informed about the latest market updates and what’s been happening in our city by the bay. In the post below you’ll find an overview of our San Francisco real estate listings and sales, as well as a summary of other topics we covered in the SFhotlist blog. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a home in San Francisco, Danielle Lazier :: SFhotlist Team, and Compass San Francisco have the experience to guide you through the process and a solid reputation of success to stand behind. Have questions? Get in touch with us today or reach out for a free consultation! Check out our San Francisco real estate sales, and what we were up to in March: Just Listed 1235 20th Avenue Unit A, San Francisco is situated just a block from the Golden Gate Park. This Sunset District ...