[quote=Jazzman][quote=bearishgurl]But I think the arguments used by these “doomsayer” posters (ESP the ones that were highly motivated to buy, qualified to buy . . . but didn’t – Jazzman and many others come to mind) aren’t valid because they are comparing apples to oranges.
This OP-FTB thanked Jazzman for his “sage” advice, lol, yet he wasn’t successful in purchasing a home here! Of course, the OP didn’t know that until I pointed it out.
Buyers need to be told straight up what they can and can’t do with the resources they have. They need to be helped to find a suitable property by a qualified agent, which they can qualify to make an offer on, unless they decide to suspend their search until a later date.[/quote]
Well I’m not clear the fact that I didn’t buy in CA disqualifies me from responding to the OP, or that the advise was somehow amusing. I also like to think that I was “successful” by not buying in CA. Logic seems to have eluded you somewhere along the line. However, I agree that buyers need to be told straight up, which includes suggestions other than from those connected professionally to real estate, as they provide useful antidotes to the rot that got us into this mess. I am very aware of the irritation (exempli gratia “doomsayers”) caused to business-as-usual Realtors, but I have no sympathy. Nothing personal BG.[/quote]
Jazzman, you put your thoughts here into a “nutshell” so succinctly that I don’t have to 😉
IMHO, the fact that you didn’t listen to your realtor(s)’ “useful antidotes” (sic) up and down the state IS the sole reason why you couldn’t make an acceptable deal for yourself in Cali after all that time, frustration and gas you burned “shopping.” You have now chosen to retire elsewhere, even though you and your spouse very badly wanted to stay. And that’s okay …. for YOU.
Hopefully, you will not have to deal with one of those “crooked, self-serving RE professionals” while attempting to purchase in France :=D.
After all, you know everything already and can let yourself into the properties you want to see, write your own offers to purchase and counteroffers there and open your own escrow (if that’s what they call it there), right?
Nothing disqualifies you from saying anything you want on this forum (within reason). But you well knew that your situation as a prospective buyer was inapposite to that of the OP’s, you knew that you posted your recent CA RE-buyer experience here on this forum in infintesimal detail and yet you essentially told the OP that you “distrusted” realtors (so he should, too) and that `the market is getting worse so he should suspend his search,’ lol. You posted the following link to support this assertion:
The link actually shows the resale inventory in SD County has been going down every month for the last 76 months (6.33 yrs), except for 2/07 thru 9/07 and 11/09 where it spiked a little (likely due to Frannie’s REO’s being dumped on the local market) and 7/10 thru 9/10 (immed after the homebuyer tax credits expired). It also shows that 425 properties sold in August 2012, 390 properties sold in September 2012, 598 properties sold in October 2012 and median asking prices for the last year-plus have been hovering about +/-$4K above what the OP states he can qualify to buy. County inventory as of 11/1/12 was 8963 and the current median asking price was $382,500 ($22,500 over the OP’s price range).
Now, it’s not the end of the world that the OP can’t qualify to purchase the median-priced property in SD County and maybe he can. Depending on area of county, there are many factors determining what a “median-priced” property actually looks like. Instead of making constructive realistic suggestions to a poster like this (there have been dozens before him), as I did, you basically told him that this inventory shortage was going to “blow over” and so he should suspend his search for now. In my “expert opinion,” that’s not a good plan for this family IF they want to own their own home in SD County. (This opn is based solely upon the OP’s posts.)
I’ve got news for you, Jazzman. There are MANY THOUSANDS of “potential sellers” in SD County who don’t have to sell now, next year, the year after that … or EVER if local market conditions don’t suit them. Yes, even if their property is currently vacant and/or is used for storage. And they are not averse to placing tenants in them to wait for a “better day.” The same could be said of longtime homeowners throughout the state. I don’t see this “inventory problem” getting any better (esp at the OP’s price point) until sold prices firm up another 20-25%.
A FTB with 3 young kids NEEDS his/her realtor and NEEDS to keep searching and making offers while we’re experiencing the lowest mtg interest rates in history (folks, it doesn’t get any cheaper than this to borrow purchase $$)! It’s nothing personal, Jazzman, but when they listen to drivel advising them to suspend their search, it distracts them from what they need to focus on, which, unlike you, is to find a house to raise their growing family in.
Jazzman, why don’t you ask yourself why Piggs aren’t coming forward in droves advising this OP where to search for a home. Did you ever think it might be because it “just ain’t easy” given his price point and preferred commute-time restraints? ESP if one is only familiar with the communities in their backyard and they are all too expensive for this situation and aren’t getting any cheaper.
Your “sage advice” to the OP here has nothing to do with “irritation.” I’m not a realtor, the OP has a realtor and trust me when I tell you that your statements aren’t taking any biz away from me. I’m currently “busier” that I want to be and would like to get out of this chair a little more often ;=]
