I hope you are all well and safe and REGISTERED to VOTE! (The last day is October 19, and you can register here.)
It is a busy fall, and if I forget I’m wearing a mask and doused in sanitizer, it almost feels normal. It is also, perhaps, a little busier on the listing side because people held back some in March and April on listing or getting their homes ready for listing. One of the biggest challenges in the market right now is the gap between buyer and seller expectations. Buyers are expecting, in many cases, bigger bargains than they are going to get. It all depends on the property type and the way a property is priced. Buyers are waiting in some cases for HUGE price reductions and are then surprised that the other buyers rush in at the same time and they have to bid over asking. (Pro tip: If you see something you like, and it’s been out there a while, the time to make a low offer is BEFORE the big price reduction.). Sellers, especially of condos, are stuck on the value they hoped for back in February and want someone to “just make an offer.” Buyers fear rejection – hence the waiting for the price reduction… Oy! Navigation of these waters is challenging, as every situation is different. I’m here if you need me!
I have been taking exception to the press reporting a simplistic version of our market trends in SF by saying “everyone is leaving,” It is a much more complex story… doom and gloom sells clicks… and one reporter took the time to break it down with me this week. Read the story here.
There is some migration going on… and we are supporting our buyer and seller clients in Sonoma County, Marin, the “near” East Bay, Northern Peninsula. San Francisco will always be my main focus, but if you or anyone you know is thinking of buying or selling, please let me know!
Finally, I am excited to say that we are going to have some cool client events coming up! We are sponsoring an ice cream social to benefit Sharon Art Studio on October 25 and an outdoor movie night at the Balboa theater. All socially distanced of course. We also have big plans for a chef led holiday dinner on zoom. Stay tuned and stay safe! More great content below.