Palos Verdes Real Estate

Real Estate General Info Category

Property Inspections

Obtaining a property inspection is a crucial step in the buying process and a popular subject for TV shows.  As a veteran of those type of shows, I will just tell you that what ends up on the screen often bears little resemblance to what actually went on.  But I'm getting ahead of myself. While you want to have an inspection by a disinterested, but qualified, 3rd party (please be there for it), there are aspects of property inspection that may not...Continue Reading!

September 2013 Newsletter

Dear Neighbor:  In my July newsletter I mentioned that interest rates had just gone up about 2% (which is huge – 4% to 6%) about a week before I wrote it.  They have now settled to just under 5% now (loans over $729,750 are somewhat higher), but the predictable effect has transpired:  whereas in April when the market was absolutely berserk, there were as few as 112 homes for sale on the Hill; there are now 168, give or take.  For...Continue Reading!

Are Realtors Are Overpaid?

I've heard this question before, and I understand where it comes from.  The answer is generally no, however, and here's why: 1)  When you pay your Realtor a commission to sell your house, you are paying for the accumulation of (presumably) many years' experience being brought to bear.  While you are not generally paying your realtor to attract buyers (if you read my stuff you already know this), you are paying him/her for what happens when an offer(s) appears.  I get into...Continue Reading!

Pocket Listings

Whenever the market gets hot, the subject of pocket listings comes up.  A "pocket listing" is a signed listing with an agent who, for whatever reason, does not put that property on the general market.  The reasons might be that the seller doesn't want hordes of people tromping thru, or that the agent would like to see if his buyer will buy it before exposing it to other agents, thus ensuring the agent of a bigger commission.  While the first...Continue Reading!