Thursday, September 20, 2012

Brentwood Real Estate Trends: Available homes in Brentwood and Oakley

G'day friends!  This is a simple post, sharing links to "available"  Homes for sale in Brentwood and Oakley as of 10:45AM, September 20th, 2012.  I wrote "available" in quotes in an effort to reiterate how complicated our market is right now.


Click here to see HOMES FOR SALE IN OAKLEY

Featured Brentwood Property 
Our stunning Tahoe Cabin styled home on 1.41 acres in the heart of Brentwood is located at 530 Saddle Creek, Ct., in Brentwood.  Offered at $399,900



I can't stress enough the hurdles that buyers face in today's market.  Here are a few key points to help you rise above them. 

*** Make sure that your Realtor is YOUR Realtor.  Many, many agents are "double-ending" deals (representing the seller and the buyer at the same time).  If true synergies are leveraged to a truly happy end, fantastic. That's a win-win.  That's just typically not what happens.  Typically, a listing agent holds an open house, buyers walk in.  He/she tells the buyer the asking price and writes it up.  Not a lot of advocating going on on behalf of the buyers!  Negotiation is not about meeting in the middle either.  Anyone with a pulse can do that.  Negotiation is about listening and learning what is truly important to each party.  More often that you'd think price is not the 1st priority, but it's the one hurdle that most deals stumble over.  Is the seller's motivation time? Is it avoiding a foreclosure? Are they being pressured somehow, or are they listing the property just hoping someone will pay top dollar with little or no motivating factor other than that? Ultimately, searching for a Realtor who will advocate solely for you before you look at your first listing ensures that regardless of the seller's status you have someone watching your back...exclusively.  Click here to learn how to find a great agent!

*** Don't be afraid of Short-Sales.  Be afraid of listing agents without experience negotiating short sales!

*** BE READY!  Being almost ready is like being almost pregnant.  In today's market, you're either ready to write a competetive offer and close it...or you're not. Bring your check book, and your "A" game.

Real Estate in Brentwood, CA - 94513 - Andy Blasquez


*** Ask your Realtor if they're willing to work for you.  By work for you, I mean really work.  For most Realtors a home listed as "Active" actually means that the property is listed as:
  • ACTV - Active
  • BOMK - Back on Market
  • AC - Contingent
  • NEW - New
  • PCH - Price Change
The list of properties I link to at the top of this blog also include: 
  • PSB - Pending, Show for Backup
  • PSLA - Pending, Subject to Lender's Approval
If that doesn't get the job done, I turn my Tall coffee into a Venti and get on the phone, calling (not to be confused with pestering) any listing agent that has a property that I KNOW would be a perfect fit for my buyers.  As long as you're agent is courteous, most listing agents aren't going to mind politely responding. 

I recently sold a home in Brentwood to a couple who's agent called me after this listing was "Pending". The agent was polite and professional. The buyers actually wrote a letter to the seller's explaining why it was important for them to get into this house.  We agreed to let his clients see the property and to write a backup offer.  The day we received his offer our buyer in contract cancelled!  We closed with the new buyers less than three weeks later.  The buyers' agent didn't find anything "Active" but was willing to do the legwork to get the job done.  This is uncommon, but in today's market, it's one more way opportunity, slim or otherwise, to get into contract.  

If, as a buyer, you choose to call the number on the sign; the agent who's property you're interested in, PLEASE ask him or her the following: "How are you going to effectively advocate for your sellers and advocate for me as well?"  If he or she stumbles over the answer...walk away...run away and call another Realtor; one who will work solely for you.  Heck...call me.  Even if you're out of the area I can almost guarantee I know a Realtor in your area; a Realtor I respect.  

All for now, but more to come!

I'll leave you with this Taste of Wisdom

" Place a higher priority on discovering what a win looks like for the other person." 
 ~ Harvey Robbins

Until next time, and thank you in advance for remembering me when the topic of real estate arises.

Email me at andy.blasquez@gmail.com
Click here to reach Macky Hensel.

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Thank you always for your support.


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