Jana Lee's Millbrae Real Estate Blog

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A couple of weeks ago, I put the question to you about the decision to get an IPAD or not.  I have had a few responses with the pros and cons that I’d like to share with you if you are on the fence about the IPAD.

My conclusion is:  If you already have the Iphone and love it, read alot and look at videos, movies alot, then GET IT.

If you don’t read alot, need the internet alot, watch videos alot, then it is a waste of money.  Its so much easier to carry the phone around everywhere you go…and I mean EVERYWHERE.  with the Pad, you do have the size to deal with.

In short, Thank you all for your comments and insight on the product.  My laptop and netbook will do fine for now.  I’ll go shopping for something else.

If you have other tech advise, please feel free to share them with me and my clients. 

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Who had the IPAD?  Tables are turned and I am looking for feedback about whether or not to get the IPAD.  I already love my IPHONE and am stoked on the product.  However, although I really want the IPAD, Im not sure it’s worth the $800-$1200.  It appears to be a IPHONE on steroids. Is that right?  Am I missing something? 

So if anyone has any positive or negative feedback, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

Times are definately changing.  Clients are asked so many things in their buying process that I even feel the hardship.  It’s crazy out there.  Just to make an offer seems like so many hurdles to jump through.  But you know what?  Everyone is going through them and that is why I always suggest that the clients listen to their agent and trust that the agent has their best interest in mind.  Not only do clients and agents have to take the trust walk together, plow through the baby steps and etc…  Now the relationship is tested further when time after time their offers are rejected or cancelled. 

What Im trying to say is that its a tough real estate world already without the mutual trusts between client and agent being questioned.    It’s doubly tough when you finally get into a possible contract with the “other side” and clients need to put all their faith in the relationship with their agents. 

Suggestion…Clients, get all your questions about the buying/selling,  loan processes out of the way before you really step into the real estate world.  This will eliminate any if not most of your insecurities and will also strengthen your bond with your real estate agent.

We need each other.  Times have changed.

Image by Debbi Long via Flickr

Many clients are looking for homes on the internet and finding that there are  many sites, but some are better than others.  If you are one of the cyber home seekers, try Redfin, Homes.com and Home finder.  My clients seem to favor these.  But here’s the thing…your agent has the same access to all of these shown on these sites as well.  So the agent can “hook you up” to receive the information as they come on the market so you don’t have to look into any sites all day long.  You can actually have peace of mind that you are up to date on the listings out there.

So, keep your agent informed on your parameters of the home search, have the agent “hook you up”, and notify the agent if there is a house you want to check into further and that way, you can spend your time doing other things.

You may this similar question after years of trying to save and putting in “:sweat equity” into your first home. This was written by my loan officer and is very interesting.

The other day, while perusing through SF Gate for the daily fix of current events, I came across this compelling article. It describes the perspective of a young couple eager to start a family in there first home. Come to find that their achievements, their equity, pretty much their nest egg; had been swallowed up by the real estate “Black Hole.” “Where’d all my equity go?” It’s a question that comes up often in this financial climate.

The vast amount of Americans in this situation is staggering. The consequence of what the article explains “strategic defaults” would cause further spiraling into the abyss. I am in no way endorsing the actions portrayed as “strategic defaults.” My intrigue with the opinions of the article is due to the fact that it is completely relevant to so many people. It hits home. From friends and colleagues, to internet blogs and clients, it’s a situation that comes up far too often.  

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/08/MNAO1C7TT1.DTL

Source: www.sfgate.com

Thoughts? Comments? Feelings?

Best regards,

Jeff Tung Jr.
Senior Mortgage Specialist

Tel: (650) 465-9762
Fax: (650) 239-4022

http://www.trulia.com/profile/jefftungjr/

This market can really wear you down.  I know because it wears me down as well.  In the world of real estate, you must be persistant and know how to play the game.  I am with a client for about a year now and we have made multiple and numerous offers.  I am actually amazed at how my client is still willing to go for it.  The same goes for me.  I have to find that extra energy and positive outlook to keep plowing through the hard times (now). 

Don’t give up!!!

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Running the red light is a very painful and expensive experience.  I know because I have just received that picture of myself running the red light along with the traffic citation.  So not only do I now have to deal with the anxiety of getting the actual ticket in 3-4 weeks, arrange for traffic court and/or arrange for traffic school, go in front of the judge if I should desire to try to knock down the fine, but I am stuck with the heavy penalty of paying it off along with the traffic school fee to keep the “ding” off my driving record.

This is very similar to what some clients go through because they feel they know more than their agent.  As a realtor, I have the experience that should be trusted by the client as to what the procedures are for different types of real estate sales.  I advise my clients as best I can in order to get that investment property he/she wants.I give them advice on what is needed to be done,  do things  in the order necessary to expedite the experience. I also prepare them for what may or may not happen.  In doing so, as the agent and client, we need to work together and obey the rules set down by the real estate market, lenders, and other buyers and sellers.

Trust your agent and take their advice if you really want to succeed in this market.

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This is the most exhausting time to buy real estate.  Perseverence will pay off if you are not in a hurry.  This process can last 6 months, give or take a day or two.  You have to be ready to play the waiting game on offers submitted, be resilllient to withstand the rejected ones and energetic enough to forge forwrd onto to many offers.  If you think you have the mind and body to do this, then the answer is YES to the short sale world.

Just remember that this is a slow and long process.  However, if you are one of the fortunate ones to land one and get your offer accepted, it can be all worth it.

The market here in SF and the surrounding Penninsula areas are still going like hot cakes.  The real estate inventory is still here and ready for investors. Interest rates are slowly creeping up and I have been hearing that guidelines are going to get even more stricter in April.  Typically this time of year, real estate starts to ready itself for the booming summer months.  I can see this happening already.

Fortunately, we live in an area where housing is still blossoming.  So opportunity is knocking for those of you still wanting to invest in real estate.

Seems like a target goal for buyers “on the fence” would be April of this year.  The interest rates will rise to around 6%.  Loan requirements are going to be even more stricter also. 

Take advantage of how the market is now and get things ready for your  real estate investing.  Guidelines are becoming a nightmare for some buyers and it is going to get harder. 

Suggestion…if you are really motivated to finding a home, DO IT! and good luck.