A Fantastic Experience With Bank of America in A Mountain View Sale

Last week I wrote a blog about how a lender can derail a home sale. Today I want to write about how a lender made a Mountain View home sale happen. The lender is Lisa Austin with Bank of America. As a Mountain View real estate agent I could not be more impressed.

I have been working with a great couple who were looking for a home in Mountain View Ca. I know, who isn't looking for a home in Mountain View if you work in the Silicon Valley. The market here is intensely competitive, and it is not uncommon to make 10-15 offers on Mountain View homes before being successful. Getting out bid is the norm, especially if you are getting a loan.

My clients were outbid twice on homes in Rex Manor. 3 weeks ago they made an offer on a home in North Whisman. Lisa Austin from Bank of America called the listing agents and talked to them about how qualified my clients were and how she could absolutely close the escrow in 25 days. It would have been 24 but we had a day off for Labor Day.

The listing agents were so impressed with Lisa's professionalism and knowledge they said it was one of the big factors in our offer being accepted over 5 other offers.

The appraisal was smooth and even came in at value even though there were no comps in the immediate neighborhood. The appraiser used comps from Rex Manor and had no problem with the value of this Mountain View home which is not always the case in today's appreciating market.

Loan docs for this Mountain View home came in on time as did funding the loan. The loan funded on Friday, for a Monday close. Most banks would charge the buyer for interest on the loan over the week-end, but not Bank of America. My Mountain View buyers do not start paying until they close on Monday.

All in all the process could not have been smoother, and I have some very happy clients.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

If you would like to contact Lisa Austin at Bank of America her contact info is:

Lisa Austin

Mortgage Loan Specialist

NMLS ID 483486

Retail Mortgage Sales
Bank of America Home Loans
1010 El Camino Real Ste 360

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Phone: (650) 798-5921

Fax: (866) 518-9204

lisa.m.austin@bankofamerica.com

If you want to look for homes for sale in Mountain View click here.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty Palo Alto

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

Cal BRE 01191194

650-619-9285

How Much to Offer For A Condo in Mountain View Ca With Multiple Offers

Anyone trying to buy a condo in Mountain View right now knows that it is tough out there. There are many more buyers than sellers and many Mountain View Condos sell with multiple offers way over list price. Some homes go as much as 30% over asking, but some do not. How does a buyer make the decision about how much to offer to have the winning bid in a Mountain View condo multiple offer situation and not overpay?

The answer is not simple, and sometimes it is not a question of price, but terms, like contingencies, length of escrow, length of rent back, etc.

But for right now, let's just discuss price. Here are some things to keep in mind when you make an offer on a Mountain View condo in a multiple offer situation,

1. In my opinion the most important thing is, how much is this home worth to you? In other words, what price would you offer so that if it sold for $1000 more you would not be sorry because you do not want to pay that much. It may be that you would pay more than your offer if you could, but you can't so you are just doing your best. But if that is not the case you need to decide how much the house is worth to you so that if you do not get it you will not have regrets.

2. How is the asking price of this home compared to market value? If the house is listed low it will get multiple offers and sell for much more. If it is listed at or above market value it will not. This is not rocket science. Figuring out market value can be a little tricky since there are many variables, and the market is a moving target, but a good Mountain View real estate agent should be able to help you analyze comps. Once you know the market value you will have to offer more in an appreciating market like we are in now. Sorry, but that is the truth.

3. What is the style of the listing agent? Does he or she like to list homes very low to get as many multiple offers as possible on their Mountain View listings? Does the agent over value a home to try to get more money for their client, or just try to win out on a competitive listing? Does the agent like to work with multiple counter offers, or accept the the first best offer?  Your agent should be able to give you insight into what other Mountain View real estate agents like to do.

In the end, the final offer price and terms will be your decision, but if you have a great Mountain View real estate agent he or she can help guide you through the murky waters of Mountain View multiple offers.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

If you would like to search for homes for sale in Mountain click here.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty Palo Alto 

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

Ca B.R.E. 01191194

650-619-9285

Why It Is A Great Time To List Your Mountain View Home On December 26

I know what you are thinking, I am going to wait till after the first of the year or the spring to sell my Mountain View home. It would be stupid to list a home during the holidays, no one does that. Or no one is looking for a home during the holidays. -

I need to respectfully disagree with those sentiments. I believe December is a great month to sell a home in Mountain View, especially right after Christmas.

Here are the reasons I think selling  a Mountain View home on Dec 26th this year is a great idea.

1. The inventory has never been lower. As of today there are only 7 homes for sale in Mountain View. A buyer's market doesn't even happen until there are over 50 homes for sale. List this month and you will have no compettion.

2. There are many people who are planning on moving to Mountain View who are using winter break to come and look for a home. When there are only 7 homes for sale it is not hard to see how much your home will be apprectiated.

3. If you list your home on Dec 26 or there abouts, you could get the out of towners who are here over vacation looking for homes. Kepp it on the market 2 weeks with an open house the first week in Jan and then take offers the following week. This way you can also get the locals who were out of town Christmas week.

4. Registration during Open Enrollment for Mountain View schools is Jan 28-March 1 so there are many people with school age children who want a Mountain View address before open enrollment ends. Selling a Mountain View home at the end of December would work perfectly for these families.

So in my opinion if you are ready to sell your home in Mountain View then my sugestion is don't let a great opportunity pass you by. If you are ready to list in December, wait until after Christmas day, and then get it on the market. Your results will be very satisfying.

If you have any questions about selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty Palo Alto

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

Cal BRE 01191194

650-619-9285

Mountain View Ca Real Estate Market Update 6/2/2013

There are currently 25 single family Mountain View homes for sale,  up from 20  last week.

There are currently 11 Mountain View town homes/condos for sale,  down from 18 last week.

There are currently 35 pending sales of Mountain View single family homes,  down from 36 last week.

There are currently 41 pending sales of Mountain View Town homes/Condos, up from from 37 last week.

In May, 2013 there were 20 single family Mountain View homes sold ranging in price from $765,000 to $1,510,000.  The volume was the same and the low end is about the same as Feb and March, but the high end is not as high as in April.

In May, 2013  there were 38 Mountain View Town Homes/Condos sold ranging in price from $357,000 to $1,350,000. The low end was very similar to April, the volume up a little, and the high end up by $100,000.

The inventory is down this week on condos and up on single family home listings. I would have thought there would be more condos after a holiday week-end.  I would like to see at least 40 single family homes for sale and at least 60 condos for sale at any given week. I think as the summer goes on it may still be possible. In some communities such as Palo Alto and Menlo Park there are many empty nestors who would be selling, but do not because their grown children come back to live with them; this is not the case for a Mountain View condo. Many condo owners who would have sold to move up were not able to when prices were below their original purchase price. Appreciation has wiped out that problem so hopefully we see more condo sellers soon.

If you would like to search for homes for sale please feel free to visit my website for a custom search.

http://marcymoyer.com/OnlineSearchRequest2?operation=choose_mls&timestamp=1359953266454

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

D.R.E. 01191194

650-619-9285

Mountain View Ca Real Estate Market Update 5/25/2013

There are currently 20 single family Mountain View homes for sale,  down from 26  last week.

There are currently 18 Mountain View town homes/condos for sale,  down from 22 last week.

There are currently 36 pending sales of Mountain View single family homes,  up from 29 last week.

There are currently 37 pending sales of Mountain View Town homes/Condos, down from from 44 last week.

In April, 2013 there were 18 single family Mountain View homes sold ranging in price from $705,000 to $1,900,000.  The volume was the same and the low end is about the same as Feb and March, but the high end is significantly higher..

In April, 2013  there were 32 Mountain View Town Homes/Condos sold ranging in price from $305,000 to $1,210,000. There were almost twice as many sales in April as in March, which is good, but the lowest price condo sold 10% over the lowest price in March.

The inventory is down this week as expected as it is a holiday week-end. I would like to see at least 40 single family homes for sale and at least 60 condos for sale at any given week. I think as the summer goes on it may still be possible. In some communities such as Palo Alto and Menlo Park there are many empty nestors who would be selling, but do not because their grown children come back to live with them. This is not the case for a Mountain View condo. Many condo owners who would have sold to move up were not able to when prices were below their original purchase price. Appreciation has wiped out that problem, so hopefully we see more condo sellers soon.

If you would like to search for homes for sale please feel free to visit my website for a custom search.

http://marcymoyer.com/OnlineSearchRequest2?operation=choose_mls&timestamp=1359953266454

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

D.R.E. 01191194

650-619-9285

Mountain View Ca Real Estate Market Update 5/18/2013

There are currently 26 single family Mountain View homes for sale,  up from 23  last week.

There are currently 22 Mountain View town homes/condos for sale,  up from 15 last week.

There are currently 29 pending sales of Mountain View single family homes,  up from 27 last week.

There are currently 44 pending sales of Mountain View Town homes/Condos, down from from 49 last week.

In April, 2013 there were 18 single family Mountain View homes sold ranging in price from $705,000 to $1,900,000.  The volume was the same and the low end is about the same as Feb and March, but the high end is significantly higher..

In April, 2013  there were 32 Mountain View Town Homes/Condos sold ranging in price from $305,000 to $1,210,000. There were almost twice as many sales in April as in March, which is good, but the lowest price condo sold 10% over the lowest price in March.

The inventory is up a little in single family homes and a good increase in condos for sale, although still not a healthy level of either. I would like to see at least 40 single family homes for sale and at least 60 condos for sale at any given week. I think as the summer goes on it may still be possible. In some communities such as Palo Alto and Menlo Park there are many empty nestors who would be selling, but do not because their grown children come back to live with them. this is not the case for a Mountain View condo. Many condo owners who would have sold to move up were not able to when prices were below their original purchase price. Appreciation has wiped out that problem so hopefully we see more condo sellers soon.

If you would like to search for homes for sale please feel free to visit my website for a custom search.

http://marcymoyer.com/OnlineSearchRequest2?operation=choose_mls&timestamp=1359953266454

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

D.R.E. 01191194

650-619-9285

Mountain View Ca Real Estate Market Update 5/11/2013

There are currently 23 single family Mountain View homes for sale, the same as last week.
There are currently 15 Mountain View town homes/condos for sale,  down from 17 last week.
There are currently 27 pending sales of Mountain View single family homes,  the same as last week.
There are currently 49 pending sales of Mountain View Town homes/Condos, up from from 40 last week.

In April, 2013 there were 18 single family Mountain View homes sold ranging in price from $705,000 to $1,900,000.  The volume was the same and the low end is about the same as Feb and March, but the high end is significantly higher..
In April, 2013  there were 32 Mountain View Town Homes/Condos sold ranging in price from $305,000 to $1,210,000. There were almost twice as many sales in April as in March, which is good, but the lowest price condo sold 10% over the lowest price in March.
The inventory is not increasing. As soon as most homes and condos come on the market, they sell. This appears as if it is going to continue for a while.
If you would like to search for homes for sale please feel free to visit my website for a custom search.

http://marcymoyer.com/OnlineSearchRequest2?operation=choose_mls&timestamp=1359953266454

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.
Marcy Moyer
Keller Williams Realty
www.marcymoyer.com
marcy@marcymoyer.com
D.R.E. 01191194

Mountain View Ca Real Estate Market Update May 5 2013

There are currently 23 single family Mountain View homes for sale, up from 13 last week.

There are currently 17 Mountain View town homes/condos for sale, the same as last week.

There are currently 23 pending sales of Mountain View single family homes,  up from 24 last week.

There are currently 40 pending sales of Mountain View Town homes/Condos, up from from 34 last week.

In April, 2013 there were 18 single family Mountain View homes sold ranging in price from $705,000 to $1,900,000.  The volume was the same and the low end is about the same as Feb and March, but the high end is significantly higher..

In April, 2013  there were 32 Mountain View Town Homes/Condos sold ranging in price from $305,000 to $1,210,000. There were almost twice as many sales in April as in March, which is good, but the lowest price condo sold 10% over the lowest price in March.

If you would like to search for homes for sale please feel free to visit my website for a custom search.

http://marcymoyer.com/OnlineSearchRequest2?operation=choose_mls&timestamp=1359953266454

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

D.R.E. 01191194

650-619-9285

Mountain View Ca Real Estate Market Update 4/29/2013

There are currently 13 single family Mountain View homes for sale, down from 15 last week.

There are currently 17 Mountain View town homes/condos for sale, down from 19 last week.

There are currently 24 pending sales of Mountain View single family homes,  up from 23 last week.

There are currently 34 pending sales of Mountain View Town homes/Condos, up from from 27 last week.

In March, 2013 there were 18 single family Mountain View homes sold ranging in price from $675,000 to $1,195,000, about the same range as Feb.

In March, 2013  there were 29 Mountain View Town Homes/Condos sold ranging in price from $275,000 to $1,250,000.

These numbers are still low and worse than last week. I still expect a bigger increase in inventory, but possibly not til late spring or early summer til we see a significant difference. Palo Alto and Santa Clara both saw more sales in March than Feb., but not Mountain View. This is not a great sign, but I am still hopeful. 

If you would like to search for homes for sale please feel free to visit my website for a custom search.

http://marcymoyer.com/OnlineSearchRequest2?operation=choose_mls&timestamp=1359953266454

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

D.R.E. 01191194

Mountain View Ca Real Estate Market Update 4/20/2013

There are currently 15 single family Mountain View homes for sale, up from 13 last week.

There are currently 19 Mountain View town homes/condos for sale, up from 14 last week.

There are currently 23 pending sales of Mountain View single family homes,  the same as last week.

There are currently 27 pending sales of Mountain View Town homes/Condos, up from from 27 last week.

In March, 2013 there were 18 single family Mountain View homes sold ranging in price from $675,000 to $1,195,000, about the same range as Feb.

In March, 2013  there were 29 Mountain View Town Homes/Condos sold ranging in price from $275,000 to $1,250,000.

These numbers are still low but better than last week. I still expect a bigger increase in inventory, but possibly not til late spring or early summer til we see a significant difference. Palo Alto and Santa Clara both saw more sales in March than Feb., but not Mountain View. This is not a great sign, but I am still hopeful. 

If you would like to search for homes for sale please feel free to visit my website for a custom search.

http://marcymoyer.com/OnlineSearchRequest2?operation=choose_mls&timestamp=1359953266454

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in Mountain View please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

When Selling a Mountain View Condo You Can Never Have Too Many Flowers

When selling a condo in Mountain View I don't believe there is such a thing as too many fresh flowers, especially in the spring time. I will concede that it is probably better not to have the home look like a funeral parlor, but short of that, nothing makes a Mountain View condo for sale more appealing than fresh flowers.

Home buying may be the biggest financial investment a person makes in his/her lifetime, but it is still ultimately an emotional decision. Walnut floors and quartz counter tops may be on a buyer's wish list, but the impact of coming into a home with fresh flowers is as the saying goes, "Like a breath of fresh air." Flowers never fail to give the buyer that over joyed feeling so important for a first impression.

There is a reason that people give flowers on Valentine's day. They say, LOVE. And don't you want buyers to love the Mountain View condo you are selling?

Now that it is spring there is no reason not to use fresh flowers in every room of the Mountain View you are selling. Trader Joes has them at ridiculously inexpensive prices. The Mountain View Farmert's Market have a gorgeous selection of the finest locally grown flowers. Even Costco has a fabulous selection of fresh cut flowers for your Mountain View.

So, tell your home stager who brings in pretty, but not emotionally charged silk flowers, thanks, but no thanks. Only fresh flowers are good enough for the Mountain View condo you are selling.

How To Choose A Mountain View Real Estate Agent To You Sell A Condo

If you need to, or want to sell your condo in Mountain View you should hire a Mountain View Real Estate Agent. Yes, you could probably put a piece of cardboard on your front lawn saying "For Sale" and get 10 offers, but this is a complicated transaction, and finding a buyer is just one part of a very large undertaking. 

So I will make the assumption that you have already decided it is in your best financial and peace of mind interest to hire a Mountain View Real Estate Agent and will give you some ideas on what you should consider.

Mountain View has no shortage of good Real Estate Agents, so you have plenty from which to choose. I always say that being in a relationship with a Mountain View Real Estate Agent is like being married, just for a shorter period of time than most marriages. (Brittney Spears' 1st marriage excluded here) You really need to love your MountainView Real Estate Agent, and even more important: YOU NEED TO TRUST YOUR REALTOR. Trust is important, because you will be listening to advice that has huge financial and legal implications. Pick someone who you feel can be discrete with your financial information, and who you believe is knowledgeable about your home, the market, local schools and activities, the contract process, the home preparation process, inspections, and any other aspect of Your home that may be unique to Your circumstances. 

You also need to like your Mountain View Real Estate agent because you will be spending a lot of time together. This person should be someone who does not get on your nerves, because little annoyances can seem bigger in stressful situations. If you do not like idle conversation and the Mountain View Real Estate Agent you are considering is a non stop talker, walk away. This will drive you crazy! If your animals are important to you and the Mountain View Real Estate Agent you are considering is afraid of dogs, walk away. Selling a home with pets can be tricky and you need someone who understands both sides of the equation and can deal with your animals.

It is very important that you can communicate with the Mountain View Real Estate Agent you are going to choose. By communicate, I don't mean express your innermost feelings. I mean physically communicate. Do you want personal contact with your Mountain View Real Estate Agent on all aspects of the sale, or do you prefer a team approach with multiple people participating in the process? If you are completely commuter illiterate make sure your Mountain View Real Estate Agent is easy to reach by phone and not just by text or e-mail. If you do not like phone communication make sure your agent is available by text or email or Facebook or instant messaging.

Does the Mountain View Real Estate Agent who you are considering like your home? Can they appreciate the good qualities which can be highlighted to the potential buyer? Do they have suggestions on how to make the negatives of the property less of an issue? Does she believe that the HOA rules make the community a better place to live, or that the higher than normal HOA fees mean stronger financial health for the commmunity and less chance of large special assessment? If she brings that up it is a plus. If you have to explain it, maybe you should keep looking.

Are you a gambler? Different agents have different philosophies about pricing a home. Some want to price a home as low as possible to generate as many offers as possible so you have more choices and could possibly get a higher price than if you list higher. Some like to list high and see if you can achieve that number. Some like to list at what they feel is market price and then let the market decide if it is priced high, low, or just right. Ultimately it is your decision as to what the list price is going to be. Is your potential Mountain View Real Estate Agent ok with that or do they want to make the decision. Are you ok with leaving that decision up to the agent?

When choosing a Mountain View Real Estate Agent to sell your condo in Mountain View there are many things to consider. You can get recomendations from friends, check out blogs and reviews on line, or look at ads in local papers; but the intimacy of this relationship calls for more. It is probably better to look deeper, and see if the person you are considering has the qualities most important to you to get your house sold with as little stress as possible as well as for as much money as possible.

If you have any questions about choosing a Mountain View Real Estate Agent please feel free to contact me.

Marcy Moyer

Keller Williams Realty 

www.marcymoyer.com

marcy@marcymoyer.com

D.R.E. 01191194

650-619-9285