Real Estate and Neighborhood information for people interested in buying or selling a home in the East Bay (Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Kensington, Oakland, Piedmont, etc).
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Two Big Choices Facing Most Home Buyers
Unless you have unlimited resources there are two distinct choices you will be facing when buying a home. These choices are , in most cases never really articulated. Most home buyers eventually arrive at this realization but coming to it sooner will save a great deal of time and frustration.
A group of us at Red Oak Realty were discussing recently ways that we could help our clients in the home buying process. One of the things we talked about were the decisions facing home buyers as they move through the process. Of these decisions perhaps the two biggest are as follows.
TIME/ MONEY
and
LOCATION/ CONDITION
Most of us will have to choose one from each group. This is a forced choice. Which in each group is more important? Choose either Time or Money. Then choose Location or Condition.
Lets look at the first choice. We have a budget. We can save money by buying a short sale, fixer or REO (bank owned foreclosure), but these take more time. Or we can save time by purchasing a conventional sale in a home that is remodeled and move in ready. There are lots of variations to this equation. But the idea is simple: Choose which is more important.
The second choice is not as obvious to most buyers. Lets face it, how many times in our lives do we buy a home? If location is most important to you then you will notice that the 'desirable' locations tend to be more expensive so you end up getting less house for your money. Whereas you may be able to get everything you want in a house in a less desirable neighborhood. Somewhere on this continuum the right home awaits you.
I recommend that the Home Buyer includes these decisions in their home buying strategy. Sit down with your realtor and use these to come up with a plan that quickly focuses your home search and brings you to the home that most closely matches your needs.
As usual, let me know if I can help.
A group of us at Red Oak Realty were discussing recently ways that we could help our clients in the home buying process. One of the things we talked about were the decisions facing home buyers as they move through the process. Of these decisions perhaps the two biggest are as follows.
TIME/ MONEY
and
LOCATION/ CONDITION
Most of us will have to choose one from each group. This is a forced choice. Which in each group is more important? Choose either Time or Money. Then choose Location or Condition.
Lets look at the first choice. We have a budget. We can save money by buying a short sale, fixer or REO (bank owned foreclosure), but these take more time. Or we can save time by purchasing a conventional sale in a home that is remodeled and move in ready. There are lots of variations to this equation. But the idea is simple: Choose which is more important.
The second choice is not as obvious to most buyers. Lets face it, how many times in our lives do we buy a home? If location is most important to you then you will notice that the 'desirable' locations tend to be more expensive so you end up getting less house for your money. Whereas you may be able to get everything you want in a house in a less desirable neighborhood. Somewhere on this continuum the right home awaits you.
I recommend that the Home Buyer includes these decisions in their home buying strategy. Sit down with your realtor and use these to come up with a plan that quickly focuses your home search and brings you to the home that most closely matches your needs.
As usual, let me know if I can help.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Monthly Newsletter Seriously Local Berkeley Oakland
Click Here for link to my monthly newsletter. Now posted on my website, http://www.billfletcherhomes.com/.
The newsletter contains local information, market updates, mortgage information, restaurant reviews and more. If you would like it delivered to your inbox once a month (3rd Thursday) all I need is your email and a note that you want to receive the newsletter.
The newsletter contains local information, market updates, mortgage information, restaurant reviews and more. If you would like it delivered to your inbox once a month (3rd Thursday) all I need is your email and a note that you want to receive the newsletter.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
South Berkeley Home Sales Data
Click Here to see South Berkeley Home Sales Stats.for the 2nd quarter 1997-2011. I can customize this report for your neighborhood. If you would like to request current market data let me know. Click on my picture for contact information. Or email me at bill@billfletcherhomes.com
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Food trucks coming to Golden Gate Fields
If you missed Off the Grid well here's your chance to find it. Over 30 food trucks for 4 consecutive Saturdays beginning August 27th. They will be serving everything you can imagine!
Here's the link: Click Here for Info about Food Trucks
Here's the link: Click Here for Info about Food Trucks
Have you been to Downtown Berkeley's free Saturday Night Movies?
Well its a lot of fun and there are only two of the four shows left.
Saturday nights on Center Street in downtown Berkeley (B of A parking lot). Bring a chair or rent one for $5. Come in costume.
Entertainers open the show at around 7:30
The remaining shows are:
Raiders of the Lost Ark on 8/20
and
The Big Lebowski on 8/27
Here's the link for complete info (CLICK HERE)
Saturday nights on Center Street in downtown Berkeley (B of A parking lot). Bring a chair or rent one for $5. Come in costume.
Entertainers open the show at around 7:30
The remaining shows are:
Raiders of the Lost Ark on 8/20
and
The Big Lebowski on 8/27
Here's the link for complete info (CLICK HERE)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)