Animal Costumes...Really?

Please don't get me wrong.  I love animals and have two myself, that I love and spare no expense if they are sick or just need some extra love.  There is no way, though, that I would dress them up in a Halloween costume!

 

I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go round but I just don't get it.  I was at the pet store buying some pet supplies because I thought that is what I would probably find there.   Thinking at first that I had walked into the wrong store, I saw halloween costumes everywhere!  Had I just walked into Ross or Marshall's in some kind of stupor?

 

No, I really was at the pet store!  I thought I had heard some murmerings about an animal costume contest this past week, but truly hadn't paid much attention to it.  I now find that I have been out of the loop.  Apparently, this is the latest rage and I am running behind on what is cool these days...

 

Of course, I am sure the dogs and cats are much more comfortable and feel quite dignified in the respective costumes that their owners have somehow squeezed their little legs and paws into, but I am still not getting it.

 

I guess I'm just a left-over from the seventies, where wearing less was more if you know what I mean.   Perhaps I should consider having one of these cute little puppies hold my next open house for me, or have my client hold them in the back seat while I am showing property?  I could dress them up like Realtors?

No?  Okay, I'm still trying to figure out how to work this new wave into my own life.

 

I hope you all know that I'm just kidding.  I hope everyone has a lot of fun this week.  Please send me picture of your favorite pet dressed up or not!

 

Nancy Puder is the broker and owner of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate sales and management firm in Arroyo Grande, CA.  You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 Your calls are always welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Housing Starts Blow Away Experts

 

Even the experts were surprised to find that more new residential units were started in September than any month since July  2008.

 

Single-family home construction starts were the largest of the increase,  showing that builders are feeling positive and more confident about the housing recovery.  This is good news because in spite of tight financing, builders are delving back in.

 

 Savvy buyers are scrambling to get into properties now as the housing market rebounds.  Low inventory is beginning to push prices up and sellers might want to consider putting their property on the market now instead of after the first of the year when everyone else has the same idea.

 

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index showed that builder confidence in the market for new single-family homes rose for the sixth straight month to its highest level since mid-2006.

“It’s no longer a question of whether the industry is rebounding,” Larry Sorsby, chief financial officer of Red Bank, New Jersey-based Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (HOV), the best-performing homebuilding stock this year, told Bloomberg News in a telephone interview. “There is clear evidence that we have bounced off the bottom and are in the midst of a recovery.”

 

Nancy Puder is the broker and owner of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate sales and management firm in Arroyo Grande, CA.  You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 Your calls are always welcome!

Housing Expectations On The Rise

 

For the eleventh month in a row, consumers have reported that they still feel that this is a good time to buy and more sellers are agreeing that it is also a  good time to sell.

 

As home prices go up,  potential homebuyers realize that if they don't buy soon they will probably pay  more for the same property next year.  Sellers who have been on the fence about selling, are gearing up to move forward as the housing market continues to gain ground.

 

There are still a lot of cash buyers running around and many of those buyers are making offers close to or at listed price.  This is in sharp contrast to the low-ball offer that was typical of an all-cash buyer previously.  Buyers using financing to purchase a home should be aware that well-priced properties are in great demand and they should come in strong with their first offer.

 

Sellers still deciding whether to sell or not, should use this time to inspect their own home for needed maintenance and also consider making improvements so that when the time comes to sell, the property is in good condition and shows well.   This is a win-win situation for property owners because even if they decide not to sell, the repairs or improvements will enhance the enjoyment of the property for years to come.

 

Lastly, buyers and sellers should beware of taking the TV home shows too seriously.  Although they provide some great insights and tools for consumers, we need to remember that it is often staged and produced for a dramatic effect and they are designed for entertainment.  These shows should not take the place of the advice from an experienced professional.

 

Nancy Puder is the broker and owner of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate sales and property management firm in Arroyo Grande, CA.  You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 Your calls are always welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need a Competitive Edge to Buy or Sell

To have a competitive edge in today's market you simply must take some necessary steps to avoid disappointment when you go to buy or sell.  Although the real estate market is improving,  it can still be tricky to accomplish what you set out to do.

 

For buyers, this means that you simply must have a pre-approval letter from a sound and reputable lender if you want the seller to seriously consider your offer.  In some price ranges,  if a property is priced well, it will generate several offers within 1-3 days.  Being first, does not always mean that the seller will work with you. 

 

Not having your financing in place before you look at property, keeps you completely out of the game.  Be prepared to pay close to asking price or even higher unless you have all cash if the home you want is in one of those "hot spots".   Cash buyers should understand that even in certain hot spots, they may have to pay full price to get the property they want.

 

For sellers, it is critical that your home is priced right in the beginning.  Just because you may be hearing that prices are rising, this may not be true yet in your particular neighborhood.  Find a professional agent  who will be straightforward with you and tell you the truth, no matter what you want to get.  Hire one who has embraced the technology of marketing in today's world and who has survived the past few years and even  prospered.  That is the Realtor, who has learned how to make it happen regardless of what the economy is doing.

 

Nancy Puder is the broker and owner of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate sales and management firm in Arroyo Grande, CA.  You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. Your calls are always welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get Heaters & Roofs Checked Now

 

With the cold and rainy season rapidly approaching, now is the time to get your heaters and roofs inspected.   Inspections can usually be obtained  inexpensively and cost anywhere between $75-$150.   Planning in advance, can have benefits and give you  peace of mind once the change in weather occurs.

 

Most homeowners wait until they actually have a leaky roof or the heater stops working to call a professional.  Unfortunately,  what happens is that  many others are experiencing the same problem at the same time.  Vendors get overwhelmed with servie requests and the homeowner is forced to wait until someone is available to come out.  To complicate matters further, these things seem to always  occur on a Friday night or a holiday weekend from my experience

 

Living without a heater during a cold snap or a leaky roof during the rainy season can be quite unpleasant.  My advice is take a moment to have someone come out, do an inspection and perhaps a little maintenance to prevent future problems. The Gas Company will often come out and do a safety check completely free of charge. 

 

If you need a referral to some contactors, let me know. I would be happy to refer some good ones to you!

 

Nancy Puder is the broker and owner of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate sales and management firm in Arroyo Grande, CA.  You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 Your calls are always welcome!

 

Rising Prices Driving Home Sales

With the gradual rise of home prices this year, Corelogic has reported that over 700,000 homeowners came out from being underwater on their mortgages during the first quarter of 2012.  With this information and other encouraging reports from across the country, it seems that we are  definitely moving in the right direction.

 

There are still many homeowners, though, who owe more than their property could sell for today.   That situation will probably continue to improve gradually but will take some time.  The percentage of foreclosed properties has dropped and short sales are definitey easier and faster to obtain this year.

 

I think it is important to take the time to recognize that things are getting better in the real estate market.  It seems that the majority of information that most of us receive is negative and that valid and good reports are often ignored. It is amazing that even when I speak to other professionals in the real estate world, many continue to shake their head and then proceed with a "yes but" and begin to quote what they have been hearing in the media.

 

The truth is that It has become rare these days to hear anything positive about what is going on in our world.   Unfortunately, we frequently do not get an accurate report or full picture of what is really going on in the real estate market through the media.

 

Let's take a moment to celebrate some good news for what it is worth.   It can't hurt anything, can it?    If you would like to receive accurate real estate information on a regular basis instead of relying on the "news", please let me know or check in weekly at www.NancyPuder.com/blog.  I always enjoy hearing from you!

 

Nancy Puder is the broker and owner of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate sales and management firm in Arroyo Grande, CA.  You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 Your calls are always welcome!

 

 

 

 

Real Estate Market Improving on Central Coast!

 The good news is that we are  seeing significant mprovement in our real estate market on  the Central Coast of CA.  Sales are up, mortgage rates are low (and may go even lower), inventory is short and prices appear to be rising in certain "hot spots" due to buyer demand.

 

Although we should recognize that things are definitely better,  I predict that it will still be awhile before we see home values increase by any leaps or bounds.  I believe that home prices will continue to rise slowly but steadily over the next few years. 

 

Today's seller should review all of their options before making a decision to sell.  If you want to sell so that you can buy another home, keep in mind that the home you buy has also been deeply discounted.  When prices go up, so will the home that you are purchasing.  If the home you are purchasing costs more than the one you are selling, you will probably come out ahead in the end.

 

Another option to consider is a remodel.   Think about what you would want if you did purchase another home. If your present home could be expanded or remodeled to satisfy your family's needs, you may want to consider staying where you are for now.

 

If you need to sell and owe more on your mortgage than your home is worth, a short sale is definitely the way to go in most cases.  Short sales have become much easier over the past 2 years but be sure that you use an agent who has done a lot of these and can help to minimize the work necessary on your end!

 

Nancy Puder is the broker and owner of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate Sales and Management firm in Arroyo Grande, CA.  You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415  Your calls are always welcome!