I helped my clients purchase their first home in Pasadena.

944 N. Marengo Ave. Pasadena, Ca 91103

I helped my clients compete against multiple offers

to successfully purchase their first home for $885,000.

If you're thinking of making a move, I would love to provide you with the same successful results.

(310)927.9166

To Find Your Dream Home, click on this Home-Search

★5 FINANCIAL REASONS TO BUY A HOUSE TODAY★

1.) Housing is typically the one leveraged investment available. 

“Few households are interested in borrowing money to buy stocks and bonds and few lenders are willing to lend them the money. As a result, homeownership allows households to amplify any appreciation on the value of their homes by a leverage factor. Even a hefty 20 percent down payment results in a leverage factor of five so that every percentage point rise in the value of the home is a 5 percent return on their equity. With many buyers putting 10 percent or less down, their leverage factor is 10 or more.”

2.) You're paying for housing whether you own or rent. 

“Homeowners pay debt service to pay down their own principal while households that rent pay down the principal of a landlord.”

3.) Owning is usually a form of “forced savings”.

“Since many people have trouble saving and have to make a housing payment one way or the other, owning a home can overcome people’s tendency to defer savings to another day.”

4.) There are substantial tax benefits to owning. 

“Homeowners are able to deduct mortgage interest and property taxes from income...On top of all this, capital gains up to $250,000 are excluded from income for single filers and up to $500,000 for married couples if they sell their homes for a gain.”

5.) Owning is a hedge against inflation.

“Housing costs and rents have tended over most time periods to go up at or higher than the rate of inflation, making owning an attractive proposition.”

★Bottom Line★

Homeownership makes sense for many Americans for many social and family reasons. It also makes sense financially. If you're thinking of buying a home, give me a call. I would love to help you find the perfect home.

How important is the asking price when selling a house?

How important is the asking price when selling a house?   

When it comes to selling a home, one of the most difficult pieces of the puzzle is pricing. And as a Realtor, it can be one of the most difficult conversations to have with clients.

When you sell a house, the thing that will attract buyers more than anything else is the price. Buyers and Realtors use the price to sort out potential properties when they search MLS.

Many buyers want to be in a certain neighborhood or a certain area for a certain price. If your home is priced higher than all the other homes in the neighborhood it can be very difficult to sell.

Most buyers have expectations for what certain areas cost and if a home is significantly more than that expectation, many buyers may never consider that home or even see it. You may also run into an appraisal issue if the house is priced to high above market value.

Different types of markets will change how you sell a house. In a seller’s market (which we're in now) there is much more flexibility with asking price. I may actually price homes a little high in a seller’s market because there is very little competition. In a seller’s market, many buyers are looking for homes, but there are only a few homes for sale. Even if I price a home a little high, buyers will still look at the home and may offer less than asking, but still make an offer.

In a buyer’s market everything changes when you sell a house.I may price a home slightly below what I think market value is. I may do this because I don’t want to get caught chasing a decreasing market. When chasing a decreasing market, you may try to lower your price to get buyers, but you can’t seem to lower it enough to catch the decreasing prices.

Your home ends up on the market 3 months or more and it becomes stigmatized. Whenever a house is in the market for an extended period, buyers automatically think something is wrong with it. Even if the price is great and the home is perfect, buyers will think there must be some reason no one else has bought it.

If you have thought about listing your home, I would love to offer you a free market analysis on your property. Give me a call and we can discuss your options!
Hope this was helpful. 

Common Real Estate Myths for Home Buyers! 
#Realestate #Homes #Buyers #Househunting 
I'd like to take a moment to correct some common home buying myths that have been fooling Home-Buyers for years. Here's a look at four real estate myths that frequently come up with first time buyers or buyers who haven't been in the market for a while.
I hope this helps you in making the right choices when preparing for one of the biggest purchases of your lives.

1) True or False. Working with multiple agents will improve my chances of finding the perfect home?

OK, who said true? No one said true? Hmmm, ok...moving it along.

If you did think true and didn't say it, have no fear, for you are not alone. A large majority of consumers think and feel as you do and I feel it's our job as Realtor's to open a dialogue, inform and explain not only to our clients, but the general public as well that the correct answer is FALSE!!

All agents have access to the same MLS listings in your area, so you are not going to gain access to more houses by working with more people. It is in your best interest to find an agent with a communication style and commitment level that matches yours, and let them do the hard work for you.

Not only is there no sense in working with multiple agents, there is no such thing as the perfect home. Homes come in all shapes and sizes and conditions and prices, but it is extremely likely that none will have the exact combination of features you're looking for on the street you want at the price you like.

The thing to do is to prioritize your home wish list, so your dedicated real estate agent (your's truly) can find the homes that are the best fit for your needs... and that will most likely transform into your dream home after you move in.

2. If I see a house I like, I should call the number on the bottom of the yard sign? Correct answer is.....FALSE!

The agent listed on the yard sign is the one who represents the seller, so they are being paid to act in the seller's best interest. That is great and exactly as it should be, but it doesn't mean that they will act in your best interest.

It is best to call the agent you are already working with and ask them to set up a time to view the house. This is yet another reason why it is good to establish a relationship with a dedicated buyer's agent.

3. My first offer should be a lowball offer? TRUE AND FALSE!

Of course it makes sense to offer a lower price than you ultimately planned to pay and negotiate your way up, but there are times when this strategy can backfire. In a hot market, (like the one we're seeing now) a home may have multiple offers and the seller might move yours to the bottom of the pile without ever responding. Even if a property has been on the market for a while, an offer that is too low could offend an already-frustrated seller and prevent them from doing business with you. Or if they do decide to work with you, ill feelings caused by your initial offer could make negotiations even trickier.

The best thing to do is ask your real estate agent for advice and then make an offer that you are comfortable with. If you really want the house, this might not be the time to press your luck. If, on the other hand, this is just one of several you're considering and you're not entirely set on it, it might be worth the risk.

4. If a house appraises well, I don't need a home inspection.
FALSE FALSE FALSE FALSE!

Home inspections and home appraisals are two entirely different things. A home appraisal is an estimate of the property's value that is performed to safeguard the lender. A home inspection is an assessment of the condition of the home done to educate the buyer.

An appraiser notes the value, whereas an inspector notes the condition. Even if the home you make an offer on appraises for the sale price, there could still be broken or unsafe elements. In some instances, you can negotiate with the sellers to have these items fixed. This is just one way a home inspection comes in handy.

Of course, there are many more home buying myths out there than I could possibly cover here in one post. My point here was to open a dialogue, inform and explain some of the most common ones so hopefully they will one day *poof* just disappear!