This past year has been very competitive for home buyers at every price point on the San Francisco Peninsula. Then again, it’s been a competitive housing market since the we hit bottom back in ’09.
I recall in 2006 when my husband and I bought our first place, a one bedroom condo in Foster City, prices were moving up fast. As a Realtor and first time buyer on a budget, I knew that if my husband and I didn’t buy soon we’d be priced out of the market…including condos. Then there was the crash and poof….prices started falling.
By 2009 homes prices had fallen as low as they could go and people were starting to feel confident in investing in real estate again. That’s when Russ and Natalie, who had just had twins, needed a home. We started our journey together and it quickly became evident – they weren’t the only people buying homes in the Bay Area. I feel like a broken record in 2012 when I say – they wrote a whole bunch of offers back then and got out bid by higher offers, offers with larger down payments or cash offers with quick timing. It was tough. Susan and I take the punches with each client when they don’t get an offer accepted. Yet Russ and Natalie were troopers, got up, dusted off and got back on the horse. Sue and I truly wanted to hand them the keys to their first home before the twins started to walk. And they were starting to walk!
Around Thanksgiving a home that was previously pending came back on the market. It was a tricky short sale that fell apart. As they can do. We showed it as soon as we could. Russ and Natalie were so great about being open to possibilities, ready to get their hands dirty and build some “sweat equity”. They saw the possibilities this particular home had to offer. It’s funny. I know the home you think you will buy and the home you actually buy are often very different. Each buyers journey is unique. I know my first time buying was not at all what I expected.
Anyway, I digress. It was the holidays and had this home popped on the market any other week – maybe we would have been outbid. Instead Russ and Natalie wrote a terrific offer and with the help of The Caton Team their offer was accepted.
That’s when the hard work really starts on a short sale property. The Caton Team was very fortunate to work with Shirley Krause, whom represented the seller during what proved to be an almost 6 month group effort.
It’s a long wait – for everyone – when buying or selling a short sale. Just around the twins birthday in the Spring Susan and I had the pleasure of handing the keys to Russ and Natalie. Yes, they waited 5 months to get their house!
Moral of this Cinderella Story, don’t give up. Not now. Not if you want to call our gorgeous San Francisco Bay Area home sweet home. So now as the malls fill up with shoppers and homes are sitting on the market ignored – give us a call – you never know the possibilities until you try.
Thank you Russ and Natalie for working with The Caton Team. Here is to many happy years in your lovely home.
Happy Holidays!
Curious about my own buying and selling experiences? Although I am a Realtor by trade, I’m no different than you when sitting in the buyer or seller seat. Enjoy my journey through homeownership at: http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com
Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.
Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com
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Thanks for reading – Sabrina
The Real Estate Beat 