It's big news when one of the top agents in SF or Marin real estate change their photo. As we all know, so many agents (especially the women) use photos from 20 years ago.
Miss Tracy McLaughlin, typically Marin's top agent, has apparently decided to start the new year off with a new look - We like! - The hair in front of the face definitely gives it a different look.
Thoughts???
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A new autism study out today by UC Davis finds ten areas in California where autism seems to flourish...
Two of those areas, or clusters as they call them in the study, are located in the counties of San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo.
My vote, and the LA Times agrees is that it's probably more about education the environment, "In one respect, the results were not surprising because it has long been known that high-income, highly educated white parents are more likely to have their children diagnosed with autism and more likely to have them diagnosed at an early age."
Another factor is the father's age... If you've spent any time in Marin, you'll notice the average dad's age is a bit higher...
I'm not a doctor, not do I play one on TV, but if you're looking for more, head on over to Google news
]]>Contact Pacita C Dimacali 510 205 2992 for more information
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Everything OK at Alain Pinel? Larry Knapp, President and COO of APR, abruptly left the company late last week!
Senor Knapp was credited with building the company up to what it is today - What happened???? Wish I knew - Any of you Realtors in the know have the info on this?
If so, please send your tips ASAP to: videofishbowl@gmail.com OR text me at 415.465.0555
Of course, all your leads are confidential!
Nice work Heidi Pay!...
]]>It's kind of cheesy, but honestly we love it - The world of San Francisco and Marin Real Estate would be so much better if more managers were like Steve - If they were less concerned with money and their ginormous egos and more concerned with inspiring and encouraging their agents...
Pacific Union has recruited Brent Thomson away from FHA!!!!!!!!!
She will now be managing the Strawberry PACIFIC UNION INTERNATIONAL CHRISTY'S AMAZING ESTATES LUXURY SPECIALISTS office.
We love Brent Thomson, so we wish her lots of luck - She'll need it in that office! Honestly, if anyone is up for the job, we think it's Brent.
Curious who FHA will get to fill her shoes...
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Did you see the ad in Marin Magazine (and most likely other publications in SF and the Peninsula) for the 'Top Agent Network'?
Click here to see a PDF of the ad.
Now, I'm sure the 'Top Agent Network' is a great (albeit VERY expensive) resource, but was it really necessary for the members of this group to put an ad out that makes non 'Top Agent Network' agents look bad?
If an agent doesn't sell over 'X Amount' of real estate a year or aren't to the liking of the 'Top Agent Network' powers that be are they a bad agent? I sure don't think so.
I feel sorry for the hard working agents out there who don't meet the 'requirements' of the 'Top Agent Network' or don't want to spend hundreds of dollars every year to be in it who have to explain to their clients why they aren't on the 'Top Agent Network' list.
If we are really trying to promote comaraderie in the real estate community, ads like this sure aren't helping.
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Apparently, Frank Howard Allen has become cool again - Three 'real' agents (agents who take their job seriously - not just mommies selling 1 house a year) have jumped to FHA in the past few weeks. Who you ask? Take a look...
- Jeff Sterley with Alain Pinel
- Bernard Link with Pacific Union
- Michelle Bell with Pacific Union
As of 2PM, we just got wind of another agent who has gone to FHA...
- Barry Crotty with Pacific Union (former manager for PU Strawberry)
Thoughts as to why agents would be going to FHA right now???
]]>Anyone whose anyone in the SF real estate world will be there - You do need to be invited by a member of the EARN Real Estate Auxiliary in order to get in, but of course we have a special connection at EARN so let us know if you want to go and we'll hook you up! (email: videofishbowl@gmail.com)
Info below:
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EARN and Vanguard Properties Proudly Announce an Evening at Millennium Tower
Join the EARN Real Estate Auxiliary and Vanguard Properties this fall at the elegant and upscale Icons of Design designer showcase at the Millennium Tower. THIS IS AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR 2009-2010 AUXILIARY MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS (UP TO 4 GUESTS PER MEMBER).
Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, wine, and gorgeous views with your guests, while exploring the new high-rise's "extraordinary venue in the sky" on the 52nd floor. Over 25 of the Bay Area's most prestigious designers have contributed their eclectic visions to the luxurious 52nd-floor condos at the Tower, and will be present at the showcase for you to meet! They include:
Martin Richards Interiors, Alexandra Owen Interior Design, Ann Brown Interiors, Ann Getty & Associates, Applegate Tran Interiors, ArtHaus, Black Mountain, Chantal Lamberto Interior Design, Closets Van Go, Eden Wright Design, Geoffrey De Sousa and Sarah Puls, Henderson Design Group, Hendler Design, Hepworth & Howard, Jeff Ryan Interiors, Jurow Design Associates, Katherine Jacobus, Kensington & Associates, Martha Angus Inc., Martin-Richards Interiors, Michael Merrill Design Studio, Inc., Nancy Van Natta Associates, Orlando Diaz-Acuzy Design, Reba Jones, Scheiber Design Group, Shelby de Quesada Interior Design, Studio Becker, Sutro Architects, The Charles de Lisle Workshop, Willem Racké Studio, Inc and Wiseman & Gale.
Enjoy the autumn sunset with your guests and learn more above these innovative designers that have set new standards for the San Francisco design scene. Experience luxury in its finest form and RSVP today!
RSVP is required to attend. Valet parking is also complimentary for all guests. Admission is free, but space is limited. RSVP here.
EVENT:
EARN at Icons of Design - Millennium Tower
Passed hors d' oeuvres and wine
DATE:
Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 6-8 pm
LOCATION:
52nd Floor of Millennium Tower
301 Mission St. (at Fremont St.), San Francisco
PARKING:
Host valet parking - complimentary for all guests.
As always, we rely on our connections in the real estate world and of course tips from all of you, so....
KEEP SENDING YOUR TIPS!
Email them to: videofishbowl@gmail.com
Text them to: 415.465.0555
And yes, we do accept (and love) any mobile pics and video you happen to come across in the real estate jungle.
Glad to be back...
]]>From the NY Times
BUYERS of homes in high-priced markets have some reason to cheer: the federal government recently extended through 2010 the maximum dollar amount for “conforming loans.” This will probably mean better options for borrowers who might otherwise have had to take out “jumbo” mortgages.
Conforming loans meet all the guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-controlled agencies that resell packages of loans to investors, and are therefore eligible for purchase by these agencies. Jumbo mortgages, issued in amounts above the government’s maximum, are nonconforming. Because lenders assume less risk in making conforming loans, the interest rates are usually lower.
click here for the complete New York Times story http://bit.ly/2f0cgp
]]>I do want to mention right off the top that there isn't a single town in the great state of California on the list, but it just goes to re-enforce what we all know, it's a buyers' market...
Amid continued falling home prices, U.S. homebuyers are negotiating even more discounts at the bargaining table, according to July's Zillow Real Estate Market Reports. Buyers paid 3.3 percent, or a nearly $7,039, less than the last listing price on homes for sale(1) during the month of July. That is down slightly from 3.5 percent, or $7,630, in June, and substantially down from 4.6 percent ($10,260) in January.
Meanwhile, 22.8 percent of all homes listed for sale on Zillow had at least one listing price reduction(2) as of Sept. 1, 2009. The median U.S. price reduction(3) was 6.5 percent off the original listing price. Homes listed for sale on Zillow during August were listed for a median 96 days(4), up from 91 in July.
Florida homebuyers had the most negotiating power in July, with buyers in the Vero Beach metropolitan statistical area (MSA) paying 10.2 percent, or a median $23,500, less than the last listing price. Buyers in the Sarasota MSA paid 8.2 percent less than list price. The Naples, Daytona Beach, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Panama City, Punta Gorda, Melbourne, Ocala, Tampa, Jacksonville, Port St. Lucie, Gainesville and Lakeland MSAs also ranked, in that order, in the top 25 markets for negotiation.
There was less or no room for negotiation in some California markets that have been hard-hit by foreclosures. In the El Centro MSA, buyers paid 1.8 percent, or a median of $2,150, more than the listing price. In seven California markets -- Sacramento, Merced, Modesto, Riverside, Stockton, Yuba City and Fresno -- asking price and sale price were the same(5).
"The strong summer selling season in 2009 has led to a decreasing difference between the last listing price and final sale price, but most buyers are still getting some additional discount at selling time," said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. "We expected list-to-sale price ratios to fall as the sales volume picked up during the summer, and the California markets are showing strong declines in the discount off the last listing price, relative to levels at the start of the year. This is fueled both by increased sales and high proportion of foreclosures re-sales, which are already priced relatively low.
"The fact that many Florida markets are still showing comparatively higher differences between the last listing price and final sale price suggests that inventory levels are still relatively high, keeping considerable downward pressure on prices and encouraging buyers to seek large discounts off the listing price. Overall, buyers are finding favorable conditions for negotiating prices, and now can be a good time to buy, provided homebuyers are financially prepared with healthy down payments and intend to stay in their home for a minimum of five to seven years."
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