We would like to take another moment to share a story, or plight, of a couple of clients we started working with late in the spring.
After working for quite some time with a different homebuyer, we finally landed on something suitable despite all odds. Given our client’s entry level price point and desire for an FHA Financed condo, the search lasted substantially longer than usual. To illustrate the importance of patience and tenacity combined with choosing experienced agents, we put together a video to encourage others to Hang in There!
We soon received an email from the aforementioned client who had seen our video. They needed help. After looking for over a year and a half and dealing with several offers, they had lost on all of them. They were frustrated and ready to give up. We thought we could help.
There is no question that today’s real estate market is challenging. It is challenging for sellers who have lost home value and remain unable to purchase a new home unless they can get a certain amount for their current homes. Or, who simply can’t sell because they are upside down on their mortgages and likely don’t qualify for a loan modification or short sale.
But, it’s no easier for buyers. On one hand you are unsure of the declining market values and on the other, confused by multiple over asking offers, short sale horror stories, lack of inventory, and unrealistic pricing by sellers. The bottom line is that both buyers and sellers need to work with Realtors who know how to navigate the choppy waters of this market to get results for their clients.
So now what happened with those clients who had contacted us? Well, they had reached out to us some time in late May. Ultimately we discussed their situation and what they had been through. We talked about their wants, needs and goals. We looked at a few properties in June and developed a good idea of what they wanted. At the beginning of July, we got them pre-approved again. By mid July they were in escrow. We closed on their home in early August. Needless to say, they are ecstatic about their new home. They told me that the day we closed was like Christmas morning. They even wrote about us and our lender in their own blog.
Please remember, that Who You Work With Matters. Call us so we can help you too.
Have you been searching for a home and getting frustrated? Are you tired, feeling helpless and almost over it entirely? One of the most important things you can do in a confusing and quick changing market like the one we are in today is to work with the best agents possible. Once you are ready to buy you are really truly better off with an experienced, knowledgeable, creative and tenacious Realtor working for you.
Get Ready for the Fall Fashion Show at The Commons at Calabasas on Sunday, September 5th.
Starting at 3:00pm, there will be the Function Show by Lululemon Athletica and then at 3:30pm you will have an opportunity to view fall collections from White House | Black Market, Diane’s Beachwear, M. Fredric, Theodore, Chico’s and Siany
The fashion show takes place next to Barnes & Noble in the Commons Shopping Center. Then, after the show enjoy special offers and complimentary wine at select fashion retailers.
Plus, there will be a silent auction benefiting ACT TODAY!
ACT Today! provides grant money for families that cannot afford or access the treatments their autistic children need. From protective helmets, to social skills groups, to ABA and biomedical treatments, ACT Today! does everything they can to help autistic children achieve their highest potential.
After California lawmakers rejected a bill that would have effectively ban plastic shopping bags, Santa Monica city officials announced that they would enact a similar citywide ban. Following in the footsteps of Malibu, San Francisco, Palo Alto, and Fairfax, Santa Monica also hopes to remove plastic shopping bags from the city.
On October 12, the Santa Monica City council plans to create a Green Fee for each paper bag distributed by supermarkets, liquor stores and pharmacies. A similar plan was already attempted in 2008 and plastic bag manufactures and related business demanded an environments impact report before the plan was enacted.
Julia Brownley, a Santa Monica assembly member, continues her protest and claims that only “five percent of single-use plastics bags are recycled.” With Santa Monica as one of the most progressive cities in the country, this ordinance will likely soon pass.
The Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center will be hosting a Back to School Pool Party on Friday, September 3, 2010 from 4:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. The pool party will feature music, exciting games, prizes, and plenty of swimming fun. The Waters Edge Cafe will also be open for business during the party.
Admission to the Back to School Party is free so bring the family to celebrate the end of another great summer! The Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center is located at 23400 Park Sorrento in Calabasas. Please call (818) 222-2782 for more information.
Calabasas is about a half hour drive from Los Angeles and about 15-20 minutes from the beach. Calabasas is known for a few things including many of its exclusive gated communities. But it has so much more to offer. Check out this rustic and rural 21+ acre working horse ranch nestled in the heart of Malibu Canyon. This is one of the most special properties located in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is surrounded on 3 sides by towering mountains and the compound looks west-wards over the Monte Nido Valley. It has incredible views from its classic 2 story Hacienda style home. There are also 2 arenas, a round pen, 8 stalls, 3 turnouts + large tack room. Beyond the house are wonderful trails with direct access to the Backbone trail and a saltwater pool and a 2700 sq ft accessory bldg. Listed by Melody Rogers – Nourmand & Associates.
Shibuya, Shibuya, Shibuya. When will you open your doors again? Known as one of the best sushi restaurants in Calabasas, Shibuya is known for some of the freshest sushi in the area. It is a small restaurant near Blue Table and Dash across from the Calabasas Commons, and there is almost always a wait. But a worthwhile one at that. We are used to waiting for a table on a Friday or Saturday night but this wait is so much harder. The owner, Mark Shibuya, closed his doors as the beginning of August because he said the restaurant needed “a facelift and some botox.” OK, so he wants to transform it from a hole in the wall to a place that is as fresh as the sushi it is known for.
If you live in or are visiting Santa Monica and are in the mood for a great coffee, tea or Boba drink you have to check out Infuzion Café, at the north end of the 3rd Street Promenade and next to Michaels’ Restaurant. I am no Boba expert but I really like their coffee. I also like their small community feel. The owner, Henry, knows everyone and greets them all by name as they enter the store, or even as they pass by on their way to the 3rd Street Promenade. It is a pleasure to go there. I find that Starbucks and Coffee Bean offer less than stellar coffees but it seems to me that people auto-pilot themselves there because of their marketing or whatever. Infuzion Café opened its doors in 2003 and is located in the heart of Santa Monica withing walking distance of the famous Santa Monica Pier. It is a casual, friendly neighborhood coffeehouse. They also provide FREE wireless internet connection.
Next time you are in the neighborhood, go check it out!
