Palos Verdes Real Estate

Real Estate General Info Category

How Realtors Get Paid

I guess since I'm in the business, I just think everyone understands how Realtors get paid.  Every so often something happens to make me realize that's not true.  So if you don't spend your free time worrying about this, here's how it works: When you list your house for sale with a Realtor, he becomes the "Listing Agent".  You will notice on your Listing Agreement that there is a spot for the commission you agree to pay him.  This normally represents...Continue Reading!

Why other agents don’t do the extras . . . that I do

If you read my stuff, you know that I regularly do a lot of extra things for my clients that other agents wouldn't think of doing.  Things like plumbing, roof, or electrical repairs, fixing windows, fixing clocks, selling cars, shopping for loans -- the list is too long to recite here or even recall.  I'm a reasonably handy guy, and so it just makes sense to me to make the repairs I can, rather than call someone in who will charge you...Continue Reading!

November, 2013 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor: The real estate market in Palos Verdes (and the South Bay, for that matter) continues at about a 5 on a scale of 10 activity-wise.  It feels slow compared to last Spring, but those of us who have been around for decades have seen this movie before.  The interest rate rise of last June acted as a speed bump, slowing the market to a more normal pace. Whether you’re in the real estate market to buy or sell, or not,...Continue Reading!

The Company You Keep

How do you pick a Realtor?  I can tell you one thing that should be pretty far down the list:  the company the agent works for.  I am with Prudential, but I used to be with Coldwell Banker, and Century 21 before that.  While you clearly want an agent active in your area, their company affiliation is nearly irrelevant. The real estate business is unlike most others in that the agents are independent contractors, not employees of the broker.  In the...Continue Reading!