COVID-19 has changed more than how we look at our health or spread disease – it has changed the entire economy, including the real estate industry. With fewer options, more competition from other buyers, and higher median listing prices, it’s not a buyer’s market today. Can you buy a home during today’s times?   Fortunately, you can, you just need a little creativity, flexibility, and a valuable support system by your side.    WATCH REAL ESTATE INVENTORY  The most disheartening news is the lack of inventory out there today. Home inventories are down 30 percent compared to this time last year. Add to that the fact that there are more homebuyers today than this time last year and it’s easy to see why finding a home may be difficult for many. When you work with us, we help you get in front of more homes faster. As soon as homes hit the MLS, you’ll know about the latest listings.  Happy Couple Buying New Home With Realtor Wearing Face Masks    ACT QUICKLY, TIME ON MARKET IS DOWN  Another indicator that we’re dealing with ‘different’ times is the time on the market. Homes today are on the market 7 days less than this time last year. This indicates that buyers are making faster decisions, not taking a chance of losing the home. In a seller’s market, many other buyers are vying for the same home. This is exponentially true today. Acting quickly, but still evaluating your decisions carefully is crucial.  NEW LISTINGS ARE SCARCE  For the week ending June 27, there were 17 percent fewer home listings, which is yet another reason to act quickly if you find a home. The fewer listings lend themselves to the fewer pending home sales this month versus a year ago, which is yet another reason to make sure you work with us, as we inform you of the listings as quickly as possible.   INTEREST RATES ARE LOWER THAN EVER  When it comes to financing, there’s no better time than now to buy a home. Rates are lower than ever. You may find you can afford more homes or that your mortgage payment will be lower than you thought thanks to today’s low rates.  WHAT CAN YOU DO?   We are facing uncertain times today, but with a few simple changes, you too can find your dream home. Consider the following:   Practice social distancing if you visit homes in person. Wear your PPE and keep a 6-foot distance from anyone that isn’t a household member. Let us open doors, cabinets, and appliances to limit the number of people touching objects in the home.  If you’re uncomfortable visiting a home in person, take advantage of video tours, or live virtual tours. We can show the home’s features just as well via video conferencing as we can in person.  Have your financing ready. Sellers want pre-approved buyers only. Since they have their pick of many buyers, don’t take a chance. Get with your lender and secure a preapproval letter before you look at homes. When you find your dream home, you can bid on it without worry, knowing you have financing.    FINAL THOUGHTS   We certainly face ‘different times today, but it’s not impossible to buy a home. Things may look different and you may not even see the home in person at first, but with the right steps and the right support, you can buy your dream home today. As a top producing agent with 20+ years of experience in the East Bay, I have helped hundreds of clients buy their dream homes in the Greater San Francisco Bay area and the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa. My experience as a former appraiser allows me to help my clients understand the market and make the right offer. If you have any questions, I am here to be a resource for you. 

Feeling stuck at home with the kids with nothing to do?  With all the talk about social distancing and quarantine, I hear from many families that they are running out of ideas of things to do.  Fortunately, we live in a great area that has a lot of fun and enjoyable activities without having to travel far.    Here are some ideas for you to consider during the summer:  BEACH   Spending time near or in the water is a great way to hang out and stay cool.  This is a great way to safely enjoy the outdoors when swimming pools are closed.  Since beaches are in an open area, there is a lower chance of contracting the virus especially if you maintain the social distance of 6 feet.  On the East Bay, you can get to Kirby Cove Beach where the view of the bridge is simply gorgeous.  Why Kirby Cove Beach?  It’s less crowded as you enjoy the mile-long walk down Kirby Cove Road. If you prefer to do more water activities, Bolinas Beach has plenty of waves for surfing and allows dogs to run off-leash.  HIKING/WALKS  Since gyms and pools are closed, consider using nature as your personal gym.  What I like to do with my family is to take long trail walks or hikes.  If you want to increase your heart rate, even more, I’d suggest trail running as a great way to get out of crowded areas especially during weekdays.  A walk across the Golden Gate Bridge has a beautiful view and is great for a nice stroll. For a more difficult hike, Lands’ End Trail is 3.4 miles with plenty of wildflowers and allows leashed dogs. Philosopher’s Way is a unique trail with 14 stone markers that are meant to inspire contemplation. I would also recommend Crissy Field and walk along the promenade by the water until you get to the historical site built during the Civil War that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge.  To avoid people, it is best to go early which is a great opportunity to go on a sunrise hike!  Picnic with the view from Alamo Park. The famous “Painted Ladies” houses are in the foreground below the impressive skyline of the city.  FAMILY PICNICS  How about a family picnic with the family in the park?  As simple as cheese and wine and sparkling juice on a picnic blanket. You can put together a simple meal in your picnic basket, or if you want to support your favorite restaurant, you can order a takeout meal for the family. No need to go inside a restaurant; just head to your favorite local park and enjoy your meal outside in the beautiful summer weather.  VIDEO DINNERS  One of the things I miss most is having dinners with family or friends.  How about a Zoom video dinner with friends or loved ones?  It’s a great way to connect during the quarantine.  To make it a little more fun and exciting, choose a theme for the dinner and compare your creations with one another.    These are a couple of ideas I have recommended to my friends.  If you have any other recommendations, I’d love to hear from you.  We are privileged to live in this area where it is beautiful and we have many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.  There is a never-ending number of fun things to see, explore, and discover.  Go have fun!  And remember to stay healthy!      FINAL THOUGHTS  As a top producing agent with 20+ years of experience in the East Bay, I have helped hundreds of clients build their wealth through real estate in the Greater San Francisco Bay area and the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa. As a former appraiser, my experience allows me to help my buyers know that they are paying the right price for their investment.  If you have any questions, I am here to be a resource for you. I love talking about real estate investing. 

We all expected COVID-19 would put a damper on the real estate market this year.  However, that has definitely not been the case in the San Francisco Bay Area!  If you have been considering selling your home and wondering if you should, consider some key reasons why this might be a perfect time:   IT’S A SELLER’S MARKET  While the market is very active right now, there simply are not enough homes for sale.  This means that homes priced right will sell in a matter of days if not hours.  We are currently receiving multiple offers on homes.              Real estate agent and a couple wearing protective masks while discussing.   INTEREST RATES ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HISTORICAL LOW  Throughout 2020, interest rates are expected to remain low which is beneficial for buyers getting financing for their home purchases. Many buyers are seizing on this great opportunity and for sellers, this means a huge demand for homes.    YOU HAVE A LOT OF EQUITY    If you have always wanted to buy your dream home and you have a lot of equity in your current home, now is the time to buy.  The equity you have in your current home means a larger down payment towards your next home.  TIME TO MOVE?  If you have been thinking about wanting to move to a different neighborhood or city, the timing may be just right.  With our strong seller’s market and low-interest rates, it may be the perfect opportunity to make the move you have long been thinking about.    If you are still wondering whether you should sell your home, an experienced professional real estate agent can help you answer all your questions.  A realtor can assist you to navigate the complexities of the home selling process including guiding you through some of the key decisions such as:  What steps do I need to take to prepare my home for sale?  What is the right price for this active market?  When is the right time to sell?  How do I manage the showing of my home safely?  How do I stage my home so it sells quickly?  Every real estate market is unique and it is best to get an experienced real estate agent who is familiar with the local market to help you navigate through the process.    FINAL THOUGHTS As a top producing agent with 20+ years of experience in the East Bay, I have guided hundreds of clients to sell their homes in the Greater San Francisco Bay area and the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa. My experience as a former appraiser allows me to help my clients understand the market and help them understand their options. If you have any questions, I am here to be a resource for you.