Should I Buy a Big or Small Home in Sunnyvale?

any buyers face the question should I buy smaller than I can afford or a larger home that I can afford but is at the higher end of what I can afford. the answer to this is complex and very personal but here are some things to consider:

If I buy smaller:

1. More affordable so better cash flow and safer if unexpected bills or income decreases occur

2. Less money for utilities

3. May have to move sooner if family grows

If I buy larger:

1. More expensive so riskier for cash flow

2. More money for utilities

3. Can expand household without having to move. This may be important if conditions are not favorable for selling in the future or if interest rates are much higher in the future.

There is no way to know what the market will look like 3,5, or 10 years from now, so there are always going to be risks. The important thing is to determine which risks are more comfortable for you.

I can say that I have visited a number of new home developments recently. Fusion and Fair Oaks in Sunnyvale and Toscana in Santa Clara.  At all of these developments  the larger homes are selling faster and the builders built more smaller than larger homes. So, in general, you may get a better deal, or at least an easier buy with the smaller purchase, but the larger homes may be an easier resell, if the popularity of larger stays the same.

If you have any questions about buying or selling homes in Santa Clara or San Mateo counties, please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

D.R.E. 01191194

Marcy Moyer Keller Williams Realty Palo Alto, Ca. Specialist in Short Sales and Trust and Probate Sales

Open House in Menlo Park This Sat and Sun! 1 - 4 pm

Marcy Moyer | Keller Williams Realty | (650) 619-9285 1115 Madera Ave, Menlo Park, CA Great 2 bedroom home with additional family room, wood floors, huge attic, large kitchen, convenient location! 2BR/1+1BA Single Family House offered at $350,000 Year Built 1947 Sq Footage 1,460 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 1 full, 1 partial Floors Unspecified Parking Unspecified Lot Size 5,750 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Welcome to one of the best homes in Belle Haven. This charming home features wood floors, large rooms, a show stopping attic, large, 5,700 square foot lot, 1,460 square feet of living space, a huge kitchen, separate dining room, a family room that is currently being used as a bedroom, and really nice architectural details. Belle Haven is a great neighborhood that is now home to Facebook, as well as several other high tech, health, and law companies. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Fireplace - Walk-in closet - Hardwood floor - Family room - Living room - Dining room - Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Attic - Laundry area - inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Front Living Room Dining Room Family Room Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Bedroom Front Yard Contact info: Marcy Moyer Keller Williams Realty (650) 619-9285 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Oct 27, 2011, 7:06am PDT

Open House in San Jose! This Sun 1 - 4

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Marcy Moyer | Keller Williams Realty | (650) 619-9285 1523 Oak Canyon Dr, San Jose, CA Lovely large home in Almaden with Union Schools, mountain views, and mature landscaping. 5BR/3BA Single Family House offered at $949,000 Year Built 1980 Sq Footage 2,760 Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 3 Car garage Lot Size 7,405 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Lovely, large Almaden home with gorgeous maple pergo floors, 3 car garage, separate dining room, family room that opens to the kitchen, huge master bedroom and bath, + 4 additional bedrooms. One bedroom and full bath is on the first floor. Fantastic neighborhood! see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central heat - Fireplace - High/Vaulted ceiling - Walk-in closet - Hardwood floor - Family room - Living room - Dining room - Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Granite countertop - Washer - Dryer - Laundry area - inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Front Living room Dining room Kitchen Kitchen Family Room Downstairs bedroom Downstairs bath Master bedroom Master bath Balcony Bedroom Back Yard Contact info: Marcy Moyer Keller Williams Realty (650) 619-9285 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Oct 27, 2011, 7:19am PDT

No It's Not Okay For One Agent to Represent More Than One Buyer in a Menlo Park Short Sale

This is so inherently unethical I can not believe I am actually writing a blog about this, but a buyer asked me this question today and apparently it is happening. 

I have a short sale listing in Menlo Park and offers are due by the end of the day on Tues.  At thus point I have 2. It is in Belle Haven,  a popular area for investors and is close to the the new Facebook Headquarters so the appreciation prospects are good.

Today I got a call from an investor who asked if I would represent him. I told him I do not double end deals as a general rule, and never do it in a multiple offer situation. I gave him the name of an associate who could help him.  He then asked if this person would be representing multiple buyers. I was shocked. If being a dual agent does not seem right to me, representing multiple buyers is beyond all sense of ethical behavior. The investor told me he has bought and sold many homes and this practice has been coming up recently.

All I can say is not on one of my listings, no way, no how.

If you have any questions about buying or selling short sales in San Mateo or Santa Clara Counties please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

D.R.E. 01191194

Can Redwood City Short Sales Be Sold To Flippers?

If you are selling your home as a short sale and it needs work you may get one or more offers from flippers. These can be contractors or investors who want to buy your home at a discount, fix it up, and then resell it for a profit. I do not believe there is anything unethical about this, and in fact I used to flip homes myself, but that was a different market.

However, there are many banks who disagree and often will put limits on the minimum time a home must be held before they will lend on it for the next buyer. That is an issue for the buyer of your short sale. As a seller there is a more important issue for you. Some banks will make a buyer sign a notarized document promising not to resell the home for a minimum of 90 and up to 180 days after the purchase.  If you accept an offer from a flipper it is a good idea to find out ahead of time if your lender has a policy about minimum holding times after close of escrow.  there is no point in taking your home off the market for 4-12 weeks and then get a notice from your lender that the buyer needs to hold the property for longer than they want. If this happens the buyer will walk, and you will need to start over again.

If you have any questions about short sales in San Mateo or Santa Clara Counties please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer C.D.P.E.

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

650-619-9285

Marcy Moyer Keller Williams Realty Palo Alto, Ca. Specialist in Short Sales and Trust and Probate Sales

San Jose Open House This Sat / Sun 1 - 4!

27 Camille Cir Unit 12, San Jose, CA 3BR/2.5BA Single Family offered at $575,000 Year Built Sq Footage Bedrooms BathroomsFloors Parking Lot Size 1991 1,710 3 2.5 2 Unspecified 1,320 sq ft description Fabulous short sale opportunity! Lovely large 3 bedroom/2.5 bath town home with additional large downstairs bonus room not included in square footage of living space. Wood floors, separate family room, granite counters in kitchen, balcony, large master suite, attached 2 car garage. Great complex in convenient location! see additional photos below additional photos                                   Contact info:   Marcy Moyer Keller Williams - Palo Alto (650) 619-9285 Equal Opportunity Housing

Marcy Moyer Keller Williams Realty Palo Alto, Ca. Specialist in Short Sales and Trust and Probate Sales