Here Why Johanna Chose to Work with Us Again

"Everything was perfect I have no complaints. There was another real estate transaction that occurred in 2009 and basically everything with that transaction flowed nice and we were happy and no issues came up. So when we decided to sell our second home that's when we called him. For the record I have a sister in law and brother in law two of each and a couple cousins who are in real estate and we still went with Shawn because he really is that good and we enjoy working with him." -Johanna

Six Tips for Selling Your Southern California Home

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There’s a certain way to obtain a quick home sale this year. Check out these helpful tips for success in the Southern California market.

1. Sell first and then buy. This might seem difficult, but it takes active coordination between you and the buyer. If the next home is not prepared for you to move in, you can lease back your old property from the buyer for a month or even a couple weeks. You should always sell first to avoid contingencies.

2. Market your property. Take professional photographs. Use social media. Post a video walk through of the property. The more content that’s online, the more traffic your property will generate.

3. Negotiate with your agent. Try and bargain with them over the commission. If they won’t fight to negotiate their own commission, how can you trust them to negotiate and get you the best deal? The right agent will fight hard to protect your interests.

4. Price your home right. The basics of marketing include product, price, and promotion. As a seller, you are responsible for the first two. If you have to lower the price of your home, it will sit on the market for a long time. You might even end up pricing it below market value if you have to lower the price, so make sure that the price is right from the beginning.

5. Go clean. Ten years ago, before the last recession, only the high-end sellers staged their home. Today, it’s real estate 101 to stage your home. Clean out your closet, take down pictures, and remove clutter from the bookshelves.

6. Give yourself a deadline. Homes sell fastest in the spring and summer. A lot of people get married in the spring, so they need to purchase a new home together. Since school starts in August, most families want to move during the summer. Of course, you can sell a home any time of year; the spring and summer markets just tend to move the fastest. Your home may even be worth more during the spring and summer.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call. I would be happy to help you!

State of SoCal Home Values in 2016

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Selling a SoCal Home? Check out our FREE Home Value Report   

Today, I'm happy to give you the State of the Union for home values in the San Gabriel Valley area. From 2014 to 2015, the area saw an increase in the number of units sold. In 2014, 1,990 units were sold. In 2015, 2,158 units sold.

The average sales price also increased from $553,000 in 2014 to $573,000 in 2015. That's an increase of 3.67%.  However, if you compare December of 2014 to December of 2015, the average sales price increased from $546,000 to $595,000. That's a 9% increase in home value. 

What does this mean for you? So far in 2016, the market experienced a healthy increase in both home values and the number of units sold. This trend will continue in 2016 because there is a steady stream of buyers. There are also many move-up buyers who are selling their homes in order to move up into that dream property.

For 2015, I expect we will see a single-digit increase in home values, and mortgage interest rates should stay the same. The China economy is slowing down, Japan's economy is also struggling, and oil prices are headed for $15 a barrel because of the Iran deal. Therefore, the Fed had no reason to increase the rate. In fact, they may even decrease their rate.

Overall, you can expect interest rates to remain the same at least until the summer. May to the end of August is the hottest time in real estate, so if you're thinking of selling your home, give my team a call. We can give you a free home evaluation so you can prepare your home for the spring and summer selling seasons.

As always, if you have any questions about real estate, give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!