Blog Archives: January 2016 — December 2016

Let’s face it…on the surface it may feel like every home is marketed exactly the same. When you imagine listing your home, you probably picture it on the MLS, Zillow, RedFin, Trulia and Realtor.com. You know there will be professional photos involved and probably a pretty nice flyer to go along with it. Virtual tours, open houses, neighborhood previews…you know the drill. But dive beneath the surface and consider what other possibilities exist. If you really want the best return on your investment, you don’t want your home to be marketed ...

We have talked a great deal about seller successes this summer (and celebrated some great wins!), but we all know that there are two sides to every story. Today’s blog is dedicated to the other featured role in every transaction – the buyer. Silicon Valley buyers have to be fully financially equipped and emotionally prepared for not only making the largest investment of their lives, but for doing so in one of the nation’s most competitive markets. Here are three tips from our team here at Homes of Silicon Valley; feel free to share with ...

The convenience of having online information at your fingertips is truly a bittersweet phenomenon; you can literally find an answer to everything you ‘need’ to know online…but how do you know that those answers are accurate? Even with the best intentions, web-based resources can mislead hopeful knowledge-seekers; we see this happen every day when it comes to homeowners utilizing online home valuation tools. There is nothing more exciting than popping your address into a well-known real estate marketplace and getting a value on the spot. But ...

We all know what they say about first impressions…right? Well, when it comes to selling your home, that ‘love at first sight’ may also determine if that buyer is ready to put in the fight. Just because inventory is low does not mean that sellers don’t have to try. Setting the stage for success is about attracting dedicated and seriously ‘smitten’ buyers. A home that appears well-maintained, meticulously cared for and truly appreciated is much more likely to attract the same. In other words, a little curb appeal goes a long way to maintaining ...

The actualization of Brexit is still years away…yet that has not hindered immediate international speculation and a measurable impact to virtually every global monetary market. On a local level, Californians have questioned what Brexit means for the, especially with regards to housing and employment. The immediate impact to real estate came at lighting speed, as the 10-year treasury plummeted and mortgage rates followed suit. In the short-term, homeowners may benefit from increased purchasing power while the cost to borrow hovers at ...

We know that you have a lot on your mind this time of year…and hopefully it revolves around flip-flops, kids out of school, some relaxation and maybe even a little vacation. You are likely seeing headlines related to housing, inventory, the labor market and honestly wondering what is happening in the reality of Silicon Valley, and why it matters when there are so many other things to think about. We understand, and that’s why we live and breathe market data – so you don’t have to! In this week’s edition of the HOSV blog, we are providing ...

Would you ever read an amazing novel and close the book at the last chapter? Of course not! Then why wouldn’t you rely on your real estate agent until the end of the transaction?! When sellers interview agents about the process of listing their home, it seems that the conversation stops somewhere around pricing. It's fairly common knowledge that sellers need experienced, local representation, high-level, strategic marketing and a comprehensive valuation analysis…but it often appears expectations are slim to non-existent when the topic of ...

Thank you for following the Homes of Silicon  Valley ‘Seller Series’, a four-part edition  featuring our top tips for sellers this summer.  This sequence also marks the launch of our  weekly blog…so don’t be shy if you have a  topic or idea you’d love to read about right  here in the future! Over the last two weeks, we have discussed ‘Creating A Comprehensive Needs Analysis’ and ‘7 Pricing Principles’. This week is what many homeowners would call ‘the fun part’ – receiving and accepting offers. It’s definitely one of the most rewarding ...

There is nothing that brings us more pride or gratification than exceeding the expectations of our sellers. In a seller’s market, those expectations can be exceptionally high, which is why we always advocate a reality-driven, market-based analysis when pricing your home. The goal is always rewarding results for the seller, within a well-strategized and functional framework given current market conditions. While it is easy to get wrapped up in the momentum of ‘How fast will it sell?’ and ‘How much can I ask?’, we encourage all sellers to ...

Most of us consider buying a home one of our largest investments, which hopefully comes to fruition when the time comes to sell. But how do you do decide when exactly to sell, how much to ask (and expect), what offer to accept and which negotiables are destined to be deal breakers? In the Homes of Silicon Valley Blog ‘Seller Series’, we will discuss and evaluate these considerations, in our continued effort to provide credible, analysis-driven information for your buying, selling and investment deliberations. Kicking off our ‘Seller Series’ ...

Greetings from Mark & Jason here at Homes of Silicon Valley! In continuing our commitment to providing premier service, strategic solutions and measurable results to the Silicon Valley community…we are proud to present the HOSV blog. We will strive to feature topics of timely importance to Bay Area homeowners, buyers, sellers and investors. Given the low inventory that is very much shaping the current market, our first series will be dedicated to those considering listing their home. It’s no secret that rising home prices equate to ...