A Warm Holiday Greeting and Happy New Year
It’s hardly believable that we are at the cusp of yet another year – and it’s almost 2014! With a fantastic year behind us, we look ahead toward a great future in the coming months. I can’t tell you how much of a pleasure it has been serving our community members with the expert advice, one-on-one care and guidance with real estate endeavors in our communities.
Here’s a warm, resounding “Thank you!” to all our current and past clients. We believe you are more than just clients; you’re our friends and neighbors. We cherish that special relationship we have with each and every one of you.
Whether you have engaged in the purchase of a new home, sold a property or just needed advice and counsel on your real estate transactions – we have enjoyed being a part of the journey with you.
Once again, thank you for trusting us with one of the most important aspects of your life and we wish you a warm, wonderful holiday season – with many happy times to come in the New Year and beyond!
16 Black Friday Myths
When it comes to deals, few holidays beat Black Friday. Not only will you see many items at their lowest prices of the year, but you'll also see sales on a wide range of items, from clothing to washing machines. However, as we enter the holiday season, it's a good idea to stay vigilant; along with great Black Friday deals comes a lot of hype and misinformation. These 16 Black Friday myths are about to get busted!
- MYTH: Black Friday Sales Begin on Black Friday
Here at DealNews we see more Editors' Choice deals on Thanksgiving Day rather than Black Friday. In previous years we've even seen some deals sell out before Black Friday. (Luckily, you can use this shopping tidbit at the dinner table as an excuse to step away from your drunk Uncle Roger.) Moreover, this year there are only 25 days (4 full weekends) between Black Friday and Christmas, so we expect to see retailers releasing Black Friday sales as early as two weeks before the namesake day. - MYTH: Stores Have Ample Stock of Doorbusters
Unfortunately many "doorbusters" are exceptionally low-priced items meant to generate buzz and lure shoppers in-store on Black Friday. Most retailers have very limited quantities of these products, and it's likely that only the first few shoppers in line will snag them. For example, if you see a Black Friday TV deal that slashes a 55" HDTV to just $429, chances are high that the retailer will only have about 10 units of that item per store. - MYTH: You Need to Camp Out in Line to Get the Best Black Friday Deals
If you're looking for an in-demand, limited-stock doorbuster, then being first in line when a store opens may be necessary to secure a highly coveted product. But these days, more and more Black Friday deals are available online as well as in-store. In fact, data from previous years has shown that up to 70% of in-store Black Friday deals were also available online for the same price — or less! - MYTH: Doorbusters Are Available In-Store Only
Speaking of doorbusters, while their name may lead you to believe they're available in-store only, in the past few years we've found that many doorbusters are available online as well. So unless you really need to escape the house for a few hours, there's a good chance that you'll be able to purchase an advertised doorbuster online instead. - MYTH: In-store Black Friday Shopping Is a Dangerous Contact Sport
While there are always reports of overly-aggressive shoppers on Black Friday, a majority of consumers actually express feeling a sense of camaraderie while waiting in line predawn. Plus, no store wants instances of violence associated with their name in the news, so they will do everything in their power to keep things in check. You might have to deal with large crowds and a mess of inventory, but the chances of encountering an actual brawl are extremely slim. - MYTH: Every Sale You Come Across on Black Friday Is the Best of the Year
Although many Black Friday deals offer the lowest prices of the year, you should probably wait to buy toys, brand-name HDTVs, and winter apparel. Toys see the deepest discounts right before Christmas; brand-name HDTVs sink in price between December and February; and winter apparel sales are best after Christmas. Be sure to consult our upcoming November Buying Guide for more information on what items you might not want to buy next month.
What's more, retailers often sprinkle in mediocre discounts with their doorbuster deals in the hopes that shoppers trying to bang out all of their holiday shopping will bite on high-profit items. Plus, keep in mind that while a price for an item might be exceptionally good, it doesn't mean that the product itself is worth your money; if an ultra-cheap TV is from an unknown brand, it might weaken the value of the deal for certain shoppers. - MYTH: Nobody Will Beat Black Friday Prices
Last year Best Buy was one of a handful of stores that matched Amazon's Black Friday promotional prices. Already this year Staples has announced that it too will begin price matching Amazon's discounts. In a few weeks, we'll publish an extensive list of stores that will offer price matching on Black Friday. Expected in the list will be Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Meijer, all of which met competitors' prices last year, and in some cases offered better deals. - MYTH: All of the Good Deals Are Printed in Black Friday Ads
On Thanksgiving Day, retailers like Walmart and Best Buy have historically advertised additional Black Friday deals that weren't in their circulars. These "secret" deals are only found online, so the trick is to uncover them on the web before heading in-store on Black Friday. Moreover, some retailers will respond to competitor pricing and make last-minute price cuts in order to compete. So even if you've already perused a store's leaked Black Friday ad, you should continue to check for updates. - MYTH: Leaked Black Friday Ads Are Totally Accurate
Since stores will release "secret" deals during Black Friday week, that means that early leaked ads aren't always telling the whole story. Not only will stores alter their sales, but the fine print isn't always present, which is crucial information if your heart is set on a doorbuster deal that will actually be available in extremely limited quantities. - MYTH: You Have to Go to the Apple Store for Its Black Friday Sale
In reality, the entire Apple Black Friday sale will be available online with free shipping sitewide. However, in our Black Friday predictions, we actually advise against shopping this sale at all. Not surprisingly, Apple is skimpy with the discounts, and most resellers — like Amazon, Mac Connection, and MacMall — will offer discounts that are twice as good as Apple's promotions on iPads and MacBooks. - MYTH: Designer and Luxury Goods Don't Go on Sale
While Black Friday is mainly a blockbuster event for lower-end goods, several high-end retailers have slowly broken the age-old trend of skipping Black Friday promotions. That said, don't expect the likes of Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus to offer clearance sales in their main stores. Instead, you'll see Black Friday discounts at their outlets like Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Barney's Warehouse, and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH. - MYTH: If You Go Overboard on Black Friday, You Can Return Your Purchases
Stores actually tighten their return policies considerably during the holidays, making it harder to return items. Some retailers will only offer store credit even if you have a receipt. A handful of stores are now also keeping track of serial returners and banning them. And if you don't remember to ask for a gift receipt, your recipients might be doubly unhappy: they'll likely receive a store credit for only a portion of the purchase price. - MYTH: Cyber Monday Sales Offer Better Online Deals Than Black Friday
For those who prefer to fully digest a delicious Thanksgiving meal and not stand in line at midnight on the dawn of Black Friday, we understand. If you want to shop exclusively online though, don't think for a second that you should wait until Cyber Monday. The sales that pop up on Monday will indeed be good, but a majority of the best Black Friday deals are available online starting Thursday morning. So why wait until Cyber Monday to bag bargains? - MYTH: Deals Are Excellent Throughout Cyber Week
While a number of online retailers advertise week-long Cyber Monday sales, the truth is the best deals appear on Sunday and Monday only. Just as we saw with Black Friday, many of the best Cyber Monday deals have crept into the preceding day, in this case Sunday. Moreover, of all the deals we posted on the Sunday before Cyber Monday last year, 33% of them were Editors' Choice deals. By comparison, only 27% of the deals posted on Cyber Monday were Editors' Choice deals. By Tuesday and Wednesday, many of the best deals had already expired. - MYTH: Once Processed, All Black Friday Orders Are Final
Unfortunately, submitting an online order — even after entering payment information — doesn't guarantee that the items you purchased will be yours. Retailers occasionally display inaccurate inventory and will sometimes let consumers buy an item that is actually out of stock; this is a particular problem on Black Friday, given the speed of transactions.
Moreover, if a site accidentally publishes the incorrect price for an item, and shoppers take advantage of the amazingly low price, a store may decide to cancel all orders for the item. Best Buy notoriously did this in 2011 when it mistakenly offered a $100 iTunes gift card for $60; the store then canceled all orders and asked customers to instead purchase the deal for the intended price of $80. - MYTH: Customer Service Can be Overlooked in the Name of Deals
If anything, a rush of Black Friday shoppers vying for in-demand deals is even more reason for retailers to be organized, cordial, and customer-friendly ... particularly when they run out of stock! Disgruntled shoppers always complain, but nowadays they're even more prone to texting, tweeting, and sharing negative experiences with anyone who will listen. Poor customer service also has the potential to affect public perception and drive customers away from certain retailers.
Source:http://dealnews.com/features/The-Facts-Behind-Black-Friday-Myths/
4 Reasons to Sell During the Holidays
Welcome back to my video blog. You may be wondering why I’m wearing these sunglasses inside; it’s because our market is so bright!
We truly do have a fantastic market going on. Even as the holidays approach it’s still an incredible time to be a buyer or seller. In fact I have a few reasons why you should list your home now.
- Buyers and sellers are more serious - While you may get fewer showings as a seller, the showings you do have will be of good quality with motivated buyers.
- Buyers are emotional - The homes are decorated in lights and holiday decorations and buyers pay attention to that. The homes look fantastic.
- Buyers want to buy by 2014 - We’ve all heard that interest rates are creeping up and we don’t know when that will happen. Buyers are looking to purchase and close escrow before the New Year.
- Buyers have vacation days - Lots of people get some extra days off during the holidays giving them the perfect time to look at homes.
Also, remember our Annual Client Appreciation Turkeyfest is coming up Friday, Nov. 22nd. It will go from 5pm-8pm and there will be plenty of food and drinks. You can be expecting the invite with more details in your mailbox any day now! Thanks for watching!
International Buyers in Real Estate
Welcome back to my video blog! I came across an interesting article the other day about international buyers and their activity in the real estate market in the United States.
Did you know that international buyers spent $68.2 billion in 2012 on real estate in the United States? The average price was $275,000 and 67 percent of the transactions were cash. Twenty three percent of those transactions were from Canadian investors and 12 percent were from Chinese investors.
In 2012, the average sales price for Americans was $179,000 with 30 percent cash transactions. Five states accounted for 61 percent of those transactions: Florida, California, Texas, Arizona and New York.
So what does all this mean? Foreign investors choose to invest and buy in the United States because it is profitable and secure. Now is the time to move into a larger home, buy more properties or invest.
We can help you with that! If you have any questions, please give me a call at 818.898.2255 or send me an email rod@teamrod.com
Thanks for watching!
How to Properly Price Your Property
Hello, everyone! Thanks for visiting my real estate blog!
We have a fantastic market for sellers right now. With low inventory, multiple offer situations are the norm. Properly pricing, though, is still important.
Many sellers who overprice their home see a lack of activity and sometimes have to reduce their price. Buyers are educated and want a home in good condition with a matching price tag.
We are expecting a strong fourth quarter and if you are thinking about selling your home, I encourage you to do it now! You can get a great price with your home.
So, if you are ready to make your next real estate move or you know anyone else looking to buy or sell, please give me a call!
Thanks for watching!
Santa Clarita CA Market Update August 2013
Hello, everyone. I have with me the Time Magazine “Sky-High Housing: Buildings Up, Prices Up.” This is the magazine from September 1977, the year I started my career.
That title describes much of what is happening in our market now. We’ve had a great year and seen prices steadily increase. They're up 35 - 40%.
Interest rates have increased by about one percent in the past 90 days. It did slow the market a bit, but we are still experiencing a tremendous amount of activity.
Inventory has also consistently increased over the past few months, which gives buyers more of a selection. We are seeing some of the more desirable properties still receiving multiple offers.
If you are thinking about buying or selling, don’t wait. Interest rates may come down a little bit, but they won't drop below 4% again. If you're thinking about buying or selling a home now is the time!
Thanks for watching!
How is the 2013 Real Estate Market?
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What’s the current state of the local real estate market?
There aren’t enough houses on the market. Buyers are frustrated with their lack of options.
Will more sellers now get back in the market?
There will be more sellers back in the market once their home prices pass the amount of their loans. Last year there were a lot of short sales and a lot of foreclosures. Now we have a lot less, but we do not have enough standard sales sellers. That will change once people realize they are now able to list, sell and move. The market will stabilize more next year, but right now buyers are having a very difficult time.
How much have home values increased?
Sellers are not used to seeing high prices for their home. It will take some time for them to realize their homes have increased about 30% in the last 18 months.
How fast will a house sell now?
The home will sell very quickly and at a great price.
Brush Up the Look of Your Front Steps
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Curb appeal gets buyers in the door. If you want to spruce up the front of your home without spending a lot of money, consider painting your front steps. Typically choose darker colors to hide wear and tear. Colors from nature and from the same family are a great choice for a craftsman-style home. With other styles of architecture choose cool gray because it compliments every color and even when it gets dirty, it maintains its look.
Ten Questions Every Homeowner Should Ask an Agent
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As you embark upon what will be one of the most important transactions of your life – whether buying or selling a home – you should be absolutely certain that you are happy with the real estate agent you have hired to help you manage it.
To help you with this all-important hiring process, here are ten important questions to ask an agent before you decide on whether or not to hire them:
Question #1
How Close Do You Get in Sale Price Related to Asking Price?
It is important to ask for this information as it relates to the past 60 days. Given that many agents are not that active in the market, you would be best served to obtain the most recent information possible. As a seller, your agent’s ability to come close to the asking price is a strong attribute and can mean a difference of thousands of dollars in your transaction.
Question #2
How Many Days on Average Does It Take You To Sell a Home?
What’s the average number of days on the market for properties listed by your prospective agent? Since this statistic can reach as high as six to nine months and in some cases and as much as a year, it is important to ask how your prospective agent ranks on the scale.
Question #3
What is the Rate of Homes Sold on a Monthly Basis?
Knowing the absorption rate of homes similar to yours that are on the market allows valuable insight as to how the market is performing for your particular needs. Not only does it give sellers a glimpse into the system and how it would translate to their own sale but it also presents a broader view of the entire market in general.
Question #4
What Do You Do Differently To Get Homes Sold?
Especially with the current trying economic times, many agents have been faced with adversities trying to sell the homes on their list. One of the best ways to learn whether your agent is a self-starter is to find out what they have done in the past when they were unable to successfully sell homes. Ask why the agent feels the home(s) did not sell and then find out what they are doing differently to get them sold.
Question #5
What Percentage of Deals Do You Represent the Buyer Versus Seller?
Some agents work primarily with sellers while others work mostly with buyers and still others are experienced with dual-agency deals. Depending on your needs, you will benefit from an agent that specializes in one of the two. It is important to ask which side of the fence your prospective agent tends to represent.
Questions #6
How Many Homes Did You Sell Last Year?
Nothing speaks louder than numbers. A very important statistic, ask what the total number of homes sold last year was and if possible try to get a more long-term picture of the agent’s performance in this regard. You can also ask for a month-to-month breakdown to see if there are certain stronger months.
Questions #7
Can You Provide a List of the Ten Most Current Clients You Have Worked With?
Rather than rely on the given list of referrals that many agents have handpicked, it’s a good idea to obtain a list of clients that are currently working with this Realtor. It will provide a much-needed glimpse into the agent’s performance on various stages of real estate transactions.
Question #8
How Much of Your Work Day Do You Dedicate to the Real Estate Industry?
You want an agent that is 100% committed to their job and if they are focusing more on a day job with real estate being a secondary thing, you run the risk of inaccessibility, lack of knowledge and experience plus lackluster motivation. Find out how they feel about the real estate industry and whether they are passionate about their work.
Question #9
What is Your Style of Marketing – Proactive or Reactive?
What is your potential agent’s style of working? Does he or she speak to a large number of people each day? Are they proactive or reactive in nature when it comes to marketing? See how this lines up with your real estate needs. Are you in a hurry to buy or sell? Does a laid back agent hinder your efforts? Or does slow and steady work better for you?
Question #10
What Does Your Daily Schedule Look Like?
The typical schedule of a real estate professional can be very telling. By asking for a copy or general idea of how they conduct their day in terms of their work, you can get a good idea of how much time is devoted to the profession and what kind of business they are running.
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