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sdrealtor
ParticipantI really hate to pile on but this one was too funny to pass up. Seems our favorite realtor analyst reported that the sales volume in 92009 dropped a disappointing 50% and the average sales price dropped about $40K. Unfortunately, he seems to be unaware that the ZIP Code was split last June into two ZIPS (92009 and 92011-where the more expensive homes are). Combine the two ZIP and the numbers are completely different (80% of last year’s volume and up $10K in average price).
Keep asking those questions!
ParticipantTo be honest, I’m not sure but it looks like they have a restricted license. This could be vfor a variety of reasons. The most common reason is not meeting educational/continuing education requirements for license renewal which inst necessarily bad (just lazy). If you are concerned, you can contact the DRE for a clarification to find out what the issue is.
ParticipantUnfortunately the “top 5% of agents” nationwide is accurate but also meaningless. First off, you can throw out at least 50% who are part time or just plain unproductive. Now your in the top 50% if you actually show up more than 1 day a week.
The average Realtor does 3 to 5 deals a year. Throw in home prices double to triple here than most places and VOILA….Top 5% after selling 6 to 10 homes with an average price of $750,000.
The DRE website is open to the public and will give you information regarding tenure and disciplimary actions. I beleive a new law was recently passed that will require us to put our DRE License # on our business cards which will make it easier to find us in the database which is huge and makes it difficult to find agents which common surnames.
As for the how many deals question….that’s limited to someone with MLS access who knows how to get that information. I’d venture to guess that 9 out of 10 agents have no clue how to do this. My suggestion is to ask. A good agent should be willing and able to provide this information. Ask for references on this list, if they wont provide them…..uh oooh! If you contact any references make sure to ask how they know them. Aunt Betty will always have great things to say about her favorite neice.
ParticipantBugs,
Well said….as always.ParticipantThat’s nice, now explain to me how that applies to knowing about setbacks, easements, polyB plumbing, homeonwers insurance issues or getting an honest reliable and reasonable handyman, plumber, painter, electrician or appliance repairman out in 24 hours.
ParticipantFair enough. It’s never about bashing anyone for me but rather is about getting people to ask more questions and not take information at face value regardless of whether its positive or negative. I for one question everything I hear whether I agree or disagree with it. It’s all about balance. If I have educated a few of you to ask more questions and not take “I’m #1” “top producer” blah blah blah claims for granted, I’m satisified.
Sometime in the future when things get back to reality (whatever that might be) many of you will be buying homes. Don’t forget what you have learned, it will serve you well.
BTW I type quickly and rarely proof anything. I reely am a gud spellah!
ParticipantCountywide detached home sales
ParticipantThanks Rich,
Its great to have a place where I can learn more about the psychology of the other side of the housing hysteria. Best of all occasionally there outstanding nuggets (Thanks BUGS!) that we can all learn from regardless of our positions.ParticipantYou want a disclosure….here’s one. While you are saying this market is losing steam, much to my surprise it is actually picking up momentum. I just checked pending sales for the last 3 weeks in thr MLS and compared to the same 3 weeks in 2005 they are running at 90% of the volume. A month ago we were at 70% of the volume.
ParticipantHe’s my quote word for word “A quick thought….do you think the decline in the percentage of homes selling under 500K had anything to do with alot of homes that sold between 475K and 500K last year now selling for 501K to 525K? I don’t know whether this is happening but it just points out how careful you need to be when reading anything into published statisitics.”
I asked a question which I do not know the answer to. It would be extraordinarily difficult to answer it. I understand how real estate data is collected and reported. Trust me, I understand it far better than your pal Bob and it is far far from perfect! I asked the question to get you all to think a little harder. When you hear something you disagree with you are quick to attack it and question its validity. When you hear something you agree with you give it a pass as the gospel. I encourage you to question EVERYTHING, that which you agree with as well as that which you do not agree with.
As for spying on Bob? Are you kidding me? That is information any one could find out rather easily. Spying is not necessary. Too much of people’s real estate decisions are based upon perception and not the truth. I speak the truth. You relied on your perceptions and then promoted him as something he is not. I dont blame you for being fooled…there is a lot of fooling going on out there. Bob Casagrande is one of many trying to pass themselves off as some sort of expert. The sum total of his knowledge comes from analyzing and interpreting poorly compiled data. Real knowledge comes from experience. I am not here trolling for clients. I have been complimented several times and asked for contact info, websites etc. I have never contacted one of these people nor will I. I am here to learn more about the market psychology and to provide balance to some very one sided opinions. Bob is trying to buy clients by being perceived as an experienced knowledgable Realtor. He spends a tidy sum doing so and obviously has had a very poor return on his investment. Pretty much the only thing I spend money on is to promote my clients property in ways I believe will directly help sell it not to get more listings. You will never see my face on a shopping cart nor a website no one every really goes to (realtor.com is the only place I spend money on the net because it directly helps drive traffic to my listings).
Here are a few tips when dealing with Realtors.
1. Look them up on the CA DRE website. Its http://www.dre.ca.gov Ask them how long they have been in the business and see whether they lie to you. Inexperience is not as bad as lying in my book.
2. Ask them how many transactions they have done in the last two years. If they havent done many, you will be one your own for alot of tough issues.
3. Do they own their own home? There are a very high percentage who have never owned a home. This may be due to them not making enough to buy one (i.e. no experience) not beleiving in the market (then why are they selling something they dont beleive in). But here’s the biggest problem. There are a lot of issues that come with home ownership (repairs, maintenance etc.). It’s kind of like asking someone with no children what its like to be a parent.
3. Ask for at least 5 references. You don’t even need to contact them. If they cant provide them quickly…run away.
4. Ask them what they will specifically do to sell your property. Too many practice the 3 P’s…Put a sign up, put it in the MLS and Pray! There are lots of things smart creative minds can do to help sell your home. If they dont have approaches beyond those 3, you might as well just list with a discounter like Help U Sell and save the money.I could go one and on but most importantly ask questions and demand truthfullness. You deserve it!
ParticipantYeah Bob’s a great guy and an experienced Realtor. He’s seen it all! Funny, I never heard of him…….
OOOPPPPSS Just checked the CA DRE Licensee Website and it appears he’s been licensed all of 2.5 years.
DOUBLE OOOOPPPSSS….In his stellar real estate career he has 1 listing sold (yes you read that correctly!) and is currently in escrow on his second career sale. Well at least he has time to write about all the things he’s never personally done. Yeah….that’s the kind of guy I want representing me. To quote powayseller “A TRUE PROFESSIONAL”…LOL
ParticipantA quick thought….do you think the decline in the percentage of homes selling under 500K had anything to do with alot of homes that sold between 475K and 500K last year now selling for 501K to 525K? I don’t know whether this is happening but it just points out how careful you need to be when reading anything into published statisitics.
ParticipantJust a few randon thoughts:
Speaker you are right on target and echo my intentions exactly. It’s easy to attack someone unjustifiably while being anonomous. Powayseller found it easy to do so to me and I wanted to show her how it felt as well as let her know that she’s not as anonomous as she thinks. Civility should always rule the day.
Powayseller-my attack was to show you how I felt and I think I proved my point. I immediately posted a second post to let you know my intentions and never posted any personal information as I have no intention of revealing your identity. The information i posted wasnt wrong, it was what was in the public records which I clearly pointed out. I suspected it was incorrect (as it often is) and was trying to get under your skin. I have apologized for doing so and apologize once again. I do find a couple things incongruent about you. I have never met a “Social Butterfly” that focuses on such solitary pursuits as reading, running and trolling the internet while being content living in what could be considered the middle of nowhere for several years. Also advertising your home as located in Poway because it is the Poway School district is akin to advertising a Carmel Valley Home as being located in Del Mar, a University City Home as being in La Jolla or a Southwest Escondido Home as being in Rancho Santa Fe. It’s inaccurate, plain and simple.
Seasoned successful realtors understand that our role is as facilitators between buyers and sellers. Our job is to provide maximum exposure to the market, negotiate on behalf of our clients, explain the legal responsibilities of the client and most importantly work with the other agent to bring the buyers and sellers to a place where both are satisfied being. Sure there are some “hotshots” running around in leased fancy cars, with big hair and big sunglasses, pictures that must have been taken at their high school prom and running around like their **** doesnt stink but they are kidding themselves that they had anything to do with their clients making money. Anyone that bought real estate between 1997 and 2002 looks and feels like a genius. They had the good fortune of good timing. I am one of those that feel fortunate to have nothing more than good timing.
Lastly, my neighbors and son’s friends are supportive because we’ve been together for 7 years and expect to be here for another 15 to 20 years. There are 3 or 4 long time rental homes on my street purchased by astute investors who have 30 yr fixed mortgages, positive cash flows and will own them forever. The tenants come and go every year or two and the neighborhood rarely gets to know them. I’ve met several of them and my son played with one of the neighbors yesterday. They are a very nice family and I dont think anyone else in the neighborhood even knows their names. If something happened to one of them, my family would reach out to them because my wife is a social butterfly. I doubt anyone else would.
ParticipantI already offered it and I offer it again. Here is part of my frustration, you seem to be blaming realtors for this mess when it is in fact the general public that is to blame as much or more. I read your posts as to why anyone would not sell and it seems to me that you view a house as a finacial instrument. I do not, I view it as a home filled with love and surrounded by a community which I support and which siupports my family. You seem to have missed out on the community part and it appears as though you are attempting to find it on this board. My advice, take the time and independence you have gained by selling your home for a large cash profit, walk away from the keyboard and spend more time out in the community. You are surrounded by many warm and caring people that are what make this country great.
As for me, I will probably be checking out for a while. I just got some very bad news about one of my children and if tommorrows visit to Children’s confirms things, I will have a young child immoblized in a wheel chair for the next couple years to heal an ortopaedic condition. The fact that we are surrounded by wonderful friends and neighbors that will be there to support us and that my child will have the support of his long time friends means more than any capital gain I could have realized by living a nomadic life.
Peace to you and I wish you all only the best!
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