The Caton Team Realtors – Page 65

Time is of The Essence – what that means for Buyers & Sellers in the Bay Area this Fall

Hello readers!

If you follow my Instagram Account – then you may have caught my Market Update in Stories – I save them under Market Update Highlights and repost to Facebook if you want to catch up on them.

Today’s topic was – Time if of The Essence. I wanted to discuss this – especially in the Fall Market.

Literally, the term – Time is of the Essence – is IN THE PURCHASE CONTRACT. For the California Association of Realtors California Purchase Contract it is line 29 and for the PRDS Purcahse Contract it is line 27 L, and in the San Francisco Purchase Agreement it is Line 32.

Now, contractually – Time is of the Essence – it means we most honor the dates set forth in the contract – they are of material significance. For instance, the date to close escrow – pretty important date. As it is the day ownership is transferred by county record, monies are exchanged and keys handed over.

However, how does Time is of the Essence work outside of a written contract? Well, it is that concept that I want to touch on today.

Time. We all have the same amount of time in the day. Though it may feel like some have all the time in the world while others are in a constant rush.

So how does Time relate to Real Estate? Critically I assure you. For a Seller, time is measured from Day 1 on the market. A Seller and prospective Buyers are all looking at Days on the Market (DOM) to gauge how popular or desirable a property is. (Which isn’t the best way to gauge a home – by the way.)

During the Fall Market, you’ll see homes on the market after the ticker hits day 15 – and NO – it doesn’t mean there is something wrong with the home. Sometimes it is the homeowner or Relator, who want to make sure they have fully exposed the home to the open market before reviewing offers. It make sense. Sometimes, as it does each Fall, the Days on the Market are a direct influence of Buyers who’ve been outbid all Spring and Summer and taking a break before jumping into Real Estate one more time before the Holidays.

But truly, where Time if of the Essence comes in at the upmost importance is for the Buyer.

Take a moment and step back in time with me. Before the mad rush of demand over supply took over our Real Estate market, back in the day – when a Buyer saw a home, if they liked it, their Realtor would call the Seller’s Realtor and put a deal together. During that time, a Realtor didn’t look to see what the offer date was – it was pure and simple. One Realtor has an interested Buyer, one Realtor has an eager Seller, let’s find that middle ground where everybody’s wishes, hopes, dreams and desires come true. Easy, plain and simple – right?

Guess what? That market is now. Yes – you heard me right. The Fall Market is when the early bird gets the worm, when the proactive clients and Realtors make magic happen.

What I find funny about this opportunity is many people don’t understand how this works to their advantage. (Trust me – I even see the surprised look in Realtors eyes when they hear – offers as they come – or offers reviewed at any time.) What kills me – some people don’t understand what that means.

IT MEANS OPPORTUNITY!

If you like a home and no offer date is posted – tell your Relator (and if you don’t have a Realtor – tell me!) It is the Buyer’s Reatlor’s job to contact the Seller’s Realtor. How will a Seller’s Realtor even know there is an interested party if no one calls, texts, emails, or just plane shows up? It only takes ONE Buyer to sell a home. As awesome as multiple offers are for a Seller – the Seller can only sell the home to ONE Buyer. Therefore, technically speaking – the Seller and their Realtor only need one, fair offer.

How does this translate to a Buyer today? DON’T WAIT! Don’t ask for permission to write an offer. Call your Realtor – Call The Caton Team – if no offer date is posted or planning to be posted – GO FOR IT. Write the offer, write a good, clean, fair and solid offer. Make sure your Realtor – like The Caton Team always does – prepares a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to strengthen the offer. There is a reason Buyer’s and Seller’s Realtor’s are needed. I’m talking about full-time, professional Realtors who live and breath the market. Call us!!!! We know what to do far better than any app!

In the past few weeks, when the media is reporting old news and generating fear in the consumer – The Caton Team was able to negotiate some wonderful opportunities for our clients because we were the only offer, because we didn’t go out and party on Saturday night, because we stayed up late to ensure every disclosure document was signed, that our offer was clear, concise and fair and if that meant presenting the offer at 10pm – so be it. Because it takes a dedicated Realtor, who knows an opportunity when they see it, and an equally dedicated client to make dreams come true.

The Fall Market is RIPE with opportunity. If you want to be a Bay Area Home Owner – If you have a budget – If you’ve been outbid all year – DO NOT GIVE UP! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and Call The Caton Team.

Yes We Can Make Your Real Estate Dreams Come True

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the upmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – would’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Real Estate Beat BLOG

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook *Yelp Us * My Yelp * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

City Wide Garage Sale – San Carlos – Sept 29th

Hello Fellow San Carlos Residents!

It’s time to empty those closets, clear out the garages and walk around the block to buy other people’s stuff.

Saturday September 29th is the City of San Carlos – Citywide Garage Sale – !

In order to be part of the master map – you need to sign up at: Sign Up for San Carlos Garage Sale

See you around town – shopping for the goodies!

– Sabrina & Susan

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook *Yelp Us * My Yelp * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

Why Right Now is a Great Time to Buy a Home in San Carlos – Shoot – It’s a good time to buy in the Bay Area!

Hello Readers – Your Realtor Sabrina Caton of The Caton Team here with a great article written by my fellow Realtor Chuck Gillooley on – The White Oaks Blog –

I had to share it – because it is exactly what I’ve been sharing with my clients. Sometimes hearing it from another, well respected source helps us all understand this Fall Market Opportunity. Please check out my Instagram Page for regular Market Update Highlights: Instagram or Facebook

Ideal Buying Conditions

If you’ve been battling all year to buy a home in San Carlos, your persistence and resilience is about to pay off. Right now, conditions for buyers are the best that they have been in at least a year.
There are three factors in play that are favoring San Carlos buyers right now:

Inventory: As of this morning, there are 35 single-family homes for sale in San Carlos, ranging from $1.3M – $3.6M. This is nearly triple the inventory of just a month ago, and represents an unprecedented level of choice for buyers who have been accustomed to inventory level in the teens. More inventory means less buying competition, and less competition keeps prices from spiraling out of control in a frenzied multiple offer.

Short Timeline: Unlike the Spring real estate market that lasts for at least 4 months, the Fall market is much more compressed. Sellers are very motivated to get their homes in contract before the end of October, because the market always takes a break in November and December. This means that market window in the Fall is less than half as long than in the Spring, and sellers don’t have the luxury of holding out for an extended period of time to get their price.

Cheap Money: Although mortgage interest rates have risen significantly since last year, rates are still at historically low levels and have been stable for the past few weeks. And this is in an environment where the Federal Reserve has publicly stated that there will be additional increases in the prime rate throughout the year. And while much of the focus has been on interest rates, it’s important to note that the stock markets have been increasing a much faster rate, giving home hunters additional buying power.

I read this article at: Why Right Now is a Great Time to Buy a Home in San Carlos.

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook *Yelp Us * My Yelp * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

How Important Is The Lender in a Real Estate Purchase?

More important than you think….

Hi! Sabrina Caton here, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Redwood City. I wanted to write my own article today – to shed some light about the importance of the Lender you are working with when purchasing Real Estate in the Bay Area.

If you are a Buyer in the Silicon Valley – then you already know how competitive this market is. If a Buyer wants to be the winning bidder on a home – they pretty much have to write their best offer – Non Contingent. Meaning they’re locked into that contract no matter what. Interest rates rise and they can’t afford their loan? Doesn’t matter if their offer is Non-Contingent. House doesn’t appraise for their offer price? The Buyer better pony up the money or risk possibly losing their good faith deposit – because the offer was Non-Contingent.

As scary as Non-Contingent sounds – it is doable – as long as a Buyer has their ducks in a row – and what I mean by ducks is the Buyer is working with a terrific Realtor and a fantastic Lender, who has already run their credit, taken their application and had the Underwriter review it all before drafting the Pre-Approval Letter.

Often times, at this stage in the process – a Buyer is looking for the best “deal”. Meaning – they will follow the path that gets them the “most money” – or so it is perceived. People may shop a Lender based on their closing costs, the interest rate quoted or because they know them. All fine and well – but we need more! The worst is when a buyer uses any Online Lending Score – that is a horror story for another blog post. (Just take my advice and use a local Lender when buying in the Bay Area.)

When a Buyer is writing a Non-Contingent offer – they are heavily relying on what their Lender has told them. What some Buyers overlook is the followthrough. Did the Lender have the Underwriter (The Bank God as I call them) review the application to ensure they fit into the box? Did the Lender verify employment? Does the Lender know one income earner is on leave? Will their income still be used to qualify for the loan? What happens if their income is not used? What happens in a Buyer takes on new debt? What is a Buyer pays down debt? So many issues can up at any time, it is best to start off with their best foot forward.

The last thing a Buyer needs once they get an offer accepted is surprises in their loan. Like – they don’t have a loan! Large purchases that change their debt to income ratio can turn a Buyer from Pre-Approved to Not Approved. To make things worse – what if a Buyer found this out AFTER their Non-Contingent offer is ACCEPTED?! Well – the Buyer could risk losing their Good Faith Deposit and around here that’s 3% of the purchase price and our purchase prices are at least $1 – $1.5 million dollars. So we’re taking $50,000 here!

Unless a Buyer is buying a home in cash – the home loan is the most critical part of the transaction. Any Sellers Realtor worth their salt will call each Lender on each offer they receive – to ensure the strength and validity of the loan. Because without the loan – there is no sale and NO SELLER is going to risk the most important sale of their lives on “what if’s.”

I could go on and on about the horrors of bad lending. So instead let me leave you with this. When you are starting the journey towards homeownership – the true first step is to apply for a home loan and determine your budget. That entails sitting down and making your own personal home budget. Itemizing what you spend your money on and how much you have left towards the mortgage. Once you’ve applied for a home loan, find a Reatlor your can talk to and trust and sit down and do just that – talk. Each client is a unique situation and therefore requires a different plan. The Caton Team is comprised of myself Sabrina and my partner/mother in law – Susan. Together we have 35 years combined, local real estate experience. Chances are we’ve worked through similar situations as you are in now. Our time is free, our advice is free – put us to work for you.

If you’ve got Real Estate questions – we’ve got answers. Contact the Caton Team when you are considering a purchase or sale of Real Estate.

I wrote this…

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

The Caton Team strives to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral or some guidance – we are here. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook *Yelp Us * My Yelp * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

How to Sell and Buy Real Estate in Today’s Market

Are you a Move Up Buyer in Silicon Valley? Then you know how hard it is to take that goal and realize it. It is much harder to sell and buy due to the dynamic of the market.

If you’re a Buyer in the Silicon Valley – then you are well aware of how competitive it is to get a house in this market. A Buyer may have started off with the want list and then quickly condensed it.

What makes move up buying a challenge?

The Bay Area has limited space to build. Land is the gold of Real Estate, without land you cannot build more homes. So if you want to own a home around here – get ready for the bidding wars.

But if you’re a Buyer with a home to Sell first – then you’re really up for a challenge. But! We are here to help you and come up with a plan for success.

Seller EXPECTATIONS

If you’re a Seller these days – you have some expectations and when the market is in your favor. It’s great.
With multiple Buyers for each home – a Buyer must put their best foot forward to succeed and this goes for any market. Here are some suggestions:

OFFER OVER LIST PRICE – sometimes even more than the Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) warrants. This can be frightening and can setup a Buyer for some surprises*.
The Caton Team always prepares a CMA and gauges market activity to help a Buyer determine their right price.
WAIVE CONTINGENCIES – These days a Buyer should not ask for repairs but account for it. It’s also hard to request time to sell their current home first. If a Buyer wants to be a contender – it can feel like they must come in Non-Contingent and ready to close. Let me re-phrase that. A Buyer should write THIER best offer and if that includes a contingency – the Buyer must do what is best for them. Just know – if there are too many contingencies – generally that offer goes to the bottom of the stack because in a sellers market, the Seller often has plenty of offers to choose from and does NOT have to accept a Contingent Offer. (Note, in cooler markets Buyers have more leverage and will have the opportunity for Sellers to accept contingencies.)
PROOF OF FUNDS – A Buyer MUST HAVE ALL their down payment, closing costs and reserve monies ready from DAY 1! Not only for their bank loan approval – Buyers need proof of funds just to write a contending offer! To be frank, sometimes a great offer is beat out by an offer with “better” proof of funds – IE – money in the bank.
Each Seller and their Realtor will REQUIRE Proof of Funds to be submitted WITH the Offer. Meaning your Realtor needs recent copies of all your bank statements to be provided in your Offer Package to show money for the downpayment, closing costs and reserves. You would too if you were in the Seller seat. Our job as Realtors is to protect OUR Clients best interests. Meaning, while reviewing offers, not only does The Caton Team call each lender to verify loan strength – we also want to see Proof of Funds totaling at minimum the monies for said deal AND reserve funds which are healthy and liquid to ensure – if things go awry – there are funds to close on time. In other words, the strongest reserves has an impact on what is considered the “Best” offer. It is not always price that equates as “Best”. (Curious why? – Ask us anytime – that topic is for another blog post.)
An example of a Buyer surprise is when the appraised value is lower than the offer price. The Buyer may want to pay the difference between the appraised value and offer price and that too is a conversation on what’s best for the client. There is no “cold feet” in Real Estate, quitting on a Non-Contingent Offer means the Buyer could forge all or a portion of their good faith deposit – which is 3% of the total purchase price. Note – each case is different and this is just an example. Bottom line – selling Real Estate is serious business and being prepared is the first step.

There are several more items that make the Perfect Offer Package – so if you’re curious – contact The Caton Team we’re happy to chat and come up with a plan that works for you.

Ok, so now you have an idea of what it takes to buy a home around here. Now what do you do if you have a home to sell first? Bear with me on this – it is the hottest topic in Real Estate today.

HOW TO SELL THEN BUY

If you’re lucky enough to already be a Silicon Valley homeowner – congratulations! You’re ahead of the game. Right? Unless you need more space and want to move up. The Caton Team has met many clients who opted to add onto their existing homes. Great! Unless that is not an option. Then we are back to square one – How does a Buyer sell then buy in this market?

As I stated above in Seller Expectations, the “requirements” for contention can feel like a tall order. If your down payment funds are tied up in the equity of your home – you have several options but only a few are viable.

DREAM OPTION

Rich Aunt Sally gifts you the money you need for the purchase of the home. Thank you Aunt Sally. But what if we don’t have rich relatives?

SELL FIRST OPTION

This is the cut and dry option. Sell the home. Close Escrow. Move out and into a short term rental or with relatives. Bank the proceeds of the sale – aka: the downpayment and enjoy the Home Buying Experience at your own pace knowing you can A) Prove your Funds are liquid and B) write an offer Non Contingent on selling your home first. In a seller’s market an offer contingent on selling doesn’t always fly and if it does – you’ve got to act fast and sell your home as you will have a time frame.

Oh – Did I mention this option is also terrifying? A Seller feels as if they are loosing their only piece of California – the “what if we don’t get the next one” can be frightening. That’s why this option is often chosen last. Next up…

SELL FIRST WITH RENT-BACK OPTION

Similar to the first scenario – except instead of moving out at Close of Escrow – the Seller is granted Rent Back to live in the home for an agreed timeframe and cost, then move out – whether or not the Seller has acquired their next purchase. The advantage to this is the Closing – the Seller has the proceeds in the bank and can write a non-contingent offer on their next home. The down side – it is a short term solution – if the Seller doesn’t find their next home within the time frame – they will have to move out when the tenancy is over no matter what.

OBTAIN AN OFFER TO PURCHASE

This option is often the first step – the proverbial toe in the water. We, as your Realtors will try to find a Buyer willing to do the following:

Offer to Purchase the home with an Extended Close of Escrow, giving the Seller time to acquire their next property then quickly close on one then the other – a Domino closing effect. The downside, their proceeds are not in the bank; therefore the Proof of Funds will be short AND even if the Seller writes a Non-Contingent Offer – we as Realtors know – it isn’t over until it’s over. In other words, when comparing offers – the one with less strings attached wins. Even Non-Contingent Offers in this scenario are not as strong as Buyers ready, willing and able to close on time. IE: Don’t have to close one house before they can close on the other. Confusing right?

That’s why inevitably, if a Client truly needs more space and cannot add on – they often are forced to sell first, rent then buy because this market is too competitive to request contingencies from the seller. – Please don’t shoot the messenger –

THE LONG ROAD

Now here’s my idea – but it takes a few years and you truly need to ask your CPA. The idea is – the Seller moves out into. (Where? That is not part of my scenario.) The Seller then converts their personal residence into a rental – renting it out for a minimum of 2 years. (I cannot give tax advice, so please verify with your CPA). After those two years, the Seller sells their home as a 1031 exchange, then buys their next home – as another investment. The caveat – the Seller cannot move into their new home until it’s been rented for at least 2 years. Again run this by your CPA as tax laws change and I am not a CPA. Anyway, this is the long term approach. The good news, especially if you’re buying in the same community, even if prices rise – hopefully so will the value of your current investment. Anyway, can you tell I have several clients in the same boat? This blog post was really just me organizing my thoughts then I figured – why don’t I just share this – if I can help someone make a better decision for their future – then I did my job today.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Interest Rates will rise and fall and impact a buyers monthly outlay. This affects prices. Rates rise, this can diminish a Buyer’s buying power. As the interest rates rise the amount of the loan reduces. To remedy this – a Buyer will need to bring in more monies towards the downpayment. Easy, if we have Aunt Sally on speed dial. If rates fall we praise the Real Estate gods for their moment of affordability.

The Caton Team cannot forecast the future but we have endured all sorts of markets in our 25+ years. We always worry about our Buyers waiting themselves out of the market and in an inclining market – that can happen faster than you think. Ask us anytime – we’re in the trenches, we know what homes are selling for before the internet gets wind. It’s wild out there but we’ve got you covered. Susan and I have over 40+ years combined, local real estate experience. We represent our clients with integrity and grace. Our offer packages stand out and often times just the edge a Buyer needs in this market. Our Seller Package is successful, our negotiating is skilled, kind and focused. We pride ourselves in being effective, efficient and responsive.

Real Estate is multi faceted and this blog is just the tip of the iceberg. Each client has a unique set of needs. We value the sit down time to get to know what you need whether buying or selling a home in the Bay Area.

What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Thank you for reading and forgiving my typos, Sabrina – I wrote this…

Got Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.

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Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.

We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties, Redwood City Ca.

DRE # | Sabrina 01413526 | Susan 01238225 | Team 70000218 | Office 01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third-party information not verified.

What I’ve Learned From Visiting 100-Plus Open Houses in a Year

I’ve been house hunting for over a year (and counting) and visited over a hundred open houses in that time. Let me be clear: I’m not some overly picky real estate window shopper, because I have made offers, and been outbid. In New York City, where I’m looking, that’s just par for the course.

Still, though, my experiences have turned me into an open house aficionado of sorts. I know what makes buyers swoon (myself and others), as well as what repels buyers the moment they set foot inside.

So if you’re a home seller who hopes to bowl over buyers rather than send them running, I’m here to help. Let me tell you about a few things I’ve learned that could kill your chances of selling your home.

Personal quirks on display

Steak sauce, mustard, and hot sauce. These condiments were not in the kitchen (as one would expect) but on a dresser in a bedroom of an open house I attended in Queens. Right then and there, I knew I had to get out of the house. Who knows what was going on there, but it was just too weird for me to stick around and ponder the possibilities.

“First impressions matter,” says Gary Malin, president of the New York brokerage firm Citi Habitats. “Remember, you want the prospective buyer’s attention to be on the home, not your personal life.”

Remove all personal items, including family photos, unusual collectibles, memorabilia, and misplaced condiments.

Hovering home sellers (or their kids)

At an open house in Brooklyn, there was also a surprise in the bedroom: I walked in to find cute kids under the covers half-asleep. Granted, these kids weren’t there alone; their parents were lingering, too. But adult supervision or not, all these family members nearby made me want to flee, because I felt like I was intruding on their personal space.

“Home sellers often make the mistake of leaving their place too late and returning too soon,” says Aaron Hendon, an agent for Christine & Company with Keller Williams in Seattle.

A well-advertised open house will attract people early, and there will definitely be people arriving just as the agent is locking up. So plan on getting everyone up and out of bed an hour before the open house starts.

Dark, dusty rooms

A three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo I checked out in the suburban county of Westchester was spacious, but very dark. The windows were covered not only by lace curtains, but also by valances and vertical blinds. It felt less like a home and more like the inside of a crypt. I tried to open the curtains to get a sense of what the room would look like with Vitamin D. But there were too many window coverings to remove, and I could manage to let in only one ray of sun. Then I gave up and got out.

“The aim is to get as much natural light as possible and then turn on every lamp,” says Ashley Baillio of the Keyes Company in Florida.

She also recommends dusting blinds. If you don’t, the light will catch the dust and make the whole house appear dirty.

Cluttered closets and drawers

Open houses are all about strangers opening and closing things—closet doors, kitchen cabinets and drawers. I recall one apartment I instantly loved and was ready to make an offer on—until I opened the kitchen pantry. There were products in there with packaging I recognized from my childhood … at my grandmother’s house. It was only then that I realized the house actually needed a ton of work and had not been updated at all since the 1980s.

Bottom line: Every detail of your house resonates with buyers. Yet Linda Bettencourt of Sotheby’s International Realty in San Francisco often gets pushback on this topic.

“Clients will say, ‘People don’t care what my closet looks like!'” says Bettencourt.

But buyers do care, and all the details they glean help them form an opinion of your property

“Rather than remembering the beautiful skylight, they remember the medicine cabinet with a leaking bottle of Jean Naté body wash from 1983,” she adds.

Lack of snacks (As a Realtor this part made me laugh (just so you know – I provide snacks – Sabrina)

There’s something about a platter of baked goods that makes people like me go wild. Think cookies and small bottles of water. (You may want to skip baking the cookies yourself, which can make savvy buyers think you are trying to conceal funky odors.)

“Refreshments are a nice touch,” says Baillio. After all, going to an open house takes effort—sometimes I went to several a day. When an open house offered a little snack to greet visitors, I would be in a better frame of mind when testing the water pressure in the shower. Having no snacks is not necessarily a deal killer; but in general, I’ve noticed that the better open houses tend to have something to nosh on, perhaps because they were managed by people who paid attention to details.

Cloth booties

At the last open house I went to a few weeks ago, the agent had visitors put on cloth booties to protect the floor. This is fairly standard procedure, but this house had steep, narrow stairs. Two potential buyers slipped on the staircase within 20 minutes. I pictured myself buying the house, only to fall to my death as I went downstairs for coffee. So as much as I liked the home, I didn’t make an offer that day. My husband made me tour the home again, sans booties. And after discovering the stairs were safe if you didn’t wear slippery booties, I fell in love and made an offer.

In this case, at least, I learned a lesson: First impressions can be deceptive. So if no one’s swooning over your open house immediately, don’t obsess about what you’ve done wrong. Sooner or later, the right buyer will come along.

By Margaret Heidenry

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help. We are but a call or click away!

The Caton Team is comprised of Susan and Sabrina Caton – a mother/daughter in law team. We are full time, local Realtors with over 35 years of combined Real Estate experience. How can The Caton Team help you?

I read this article at: https://www.realtor.com/advice/sell/year-100-open-houses-why-i-havent-bought/

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts and the information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Should Buyers Crowdfund Their Way Into Homeownership?

In recent years, crowdfunding has become a popular way to pay for a remarkably wide range of ventures. Want to back a sliced-ketchup product, a self-serve cocktail machine, or maybe a charity race? Just pull out your smartphone. But more recently the technology has been moving a bit closer to home—right up, in fact, to your doorstep. Crowdfunding is becoming an increasingly popular way for aspiring home buyers to tap into their networks to come up with down payments.

A new wave of crowdfunding platforms, like Kickstarter for real estate, could be a game changer for younger, tech-savvy generations of home buyers saddled with student loan debt. It’s an idea that is gaining traction, with sites such as HomeFundMe and Feather the Nest, which helps folks raise money for down payments and repairs, and online registries such as HoneyFund, which includes the option of gifting a down payment contribution.

“The No. 1 challenge that we hear from millennials in terms of their ability to buy a home is the down payment,” says Jonathan Lawless, vice president of customer solutions for Fannie Mae. “Crowdsourcing is an interesting new way that a person can generate a down payment, one made possible by technology. … We think there is a great future for it.”

Users who are typically pre-qualified for a mortgage can create personal pages on these platforms, on which they can talk about their journey toward homeownership, illustrated with photos and maybe video. These pages can be shared with family and friends.

“[Many] people find they can afford [mortgage] payments, but not the down payment to own a home,” says Christopher George, CEO of CMG Financial, a San Ramon, CA–based mortgage banking firm that launched HomeFundMe late last year.

George, a father of four millennial sons, came up with the idea for HomeFundMe in 2016 after seeing the financial struggles of his kids’ generation. The crowdfunding platform is the only one of the bunch designed solely for down payments and is the first to be backed by mortgage industry giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“We’re talking to millennials saying their social network is their net worth,” George says. “Why not allow your sphere of influence [to] help as well?”

What you need to know about a crowdfunded down payment

Using gifted funds for a down payment can be tricky—mortgage lenders typically require a letter from the giver, specifying that the money is a gift, not a loan, and there are no strings attached. But using an online fundraising platform can allow buyers to bypass some of that red tape.

Using HomeFundMe, anyone can give up to $7,500 to a campaign without documentation. HomeFundMe also doesn’t charge fees to use the platform, or take a cut of what’s raised. The company will even give buyers $2 for every $1 they raise, up to $1,000, or up to 1% of the purchase price if they undergo home buyer counseling beforehand. Buyers who earn less than their area’s median income can earn up to $2,500, or 1% of the home price.

So what’s the catch? Crowdfunders must get their mortgage through HomeFundMe’s parent company, CMG Financial. They have to close on a home within a year of accepting their first gift. And if they don’t use the money to buy a home, funds marked “conditional on the recipient purchasing a home” are returned to the donor. The crowdfunder can keep the rest.

Other crowdfunding platforms have slightly different business models.

The online gift registry Feather the Nest has helped about half of its 3,000 “nesters” raise down payments since it launched in 2014, according to company officials.

Fees include a 5% transaction fee that goes to Feather the Nest, and a fee of 2.9% plus 30 cents that goes to its payment processing system, Stripe.

At HoneyFund, another online registry, about 6% of the 100,000 mostly millennial couples who use the site each year ask for down payments, according to company officials. There are no fees to use the platform, but users are charged 2.8% processing fees plus 30 cents per gift when the money is moved into their PayPal or WePay accounts.

“A lot of couples are not only saving for their home down payments but also home improvements,” HoneyFund CEO Sara Margulis says.

The dangers of crowdfunding your down payment

However, there are risks to buyers relying on crowdfunding to come up with money for a home.

“If somebody is not able to save for their own down payment, it might be because they are stretched financially. But it [also] might be that they are bad at saving,” says Fannie Mae’s Lawless. “The ability to generate savings is a critical aspect of being a responsible homeowner.”

Remember, it was homeowners who couldn’t really afford their homes that led to the financial crisis just over a decade ago. So helping more people who haven’t mastered the art of saving, or who may be so financially stretched that they can’t afford to save, is worrisome.

It’s “a very risky proposition,” says Rick Sharga, executive vice president at Carrington Mortgage Holdings, a real estate company in Aliso Viejo, CA. These kinds of buyers may be “one unexpected car payment, one roof repair, one water heater replacement away from missing a mortgage payment and possibly going into a downward cycle they can’t recover from.”

By Young Ha

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help. We are but a call or click away!

I read this article at: https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/online-platforms-to-help-millennials-crowdfund-payments/

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts and the information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

5 Ways You’re Destroying Your Lawn

A beautiful, well-manicured lawn is a source of great pride for many homeowners. Maintaining a healthy lawn takes work and hours of TLC, including regular watering, cutting, and laying down fertilizer. A lawn that’s cared for shows that you take pride in your home’s appearance. And all that curb appeal can really pay off when it comes time to sell your house.

However, your lawn can also become a source of gut-wrenching angst. Reason: Many well-meaning and proactive homeowners make mistakes in lawn care that produce dreadful and depressing results. A little too much love can be, well, too much.

If your lawn has been looking particularly sickly, you might be to blame. Reflect on your lawn care regimen and ask yourself: Have you made any of the mistakes below? The answer to solving your lawn troubles may be realizing you’ve been ruining it all along.

1. Improper watering

Water management is the No. 1 mistake made by homeowners with established lawns, according to Clint Waltz, professor and turfgrass extension specialist in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of Georgia. So just how much water does your lawn need per week?

“Watering just an inch of water a week is good if you have good rainfall,” Waltz says. If you’re in an area that doesn’t receive as much rain, then you’ll need to lend a helping hand with more frequent waterings.

To check how much water your lawn gets each week, leave several cups out and measure the water level at the end of seven days.

An irrigation system can help your lawn get the water it needs and maintain a consistent watering schedule. Some sprinkler systems even have rain or moisture sensors to detect water levels and turn the system on and off.

2. Planting only one type (or the wrong kind) of grass

Variety is not only the spice of life—it’s also a necessary ingredient for a healthy lawn, according to Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs at the National Association of Landscape Professionals in Fairfax, VA.

“When planting grass seed, choose a variety of seeds so your lawn is more likely to weather poor conditions like heat and drought,” she advises.

You also need to determine the best grass for your environment.

“Species selection is critical, and you have to understand which species fits in each site,” Waltz says. For example, he says, Bermuda grass doesn’t handle shady environments well. Also, if you live in the southern region with hot summers and mild winters, consider such warm-season turf types as St. Augustine grass, zoysia grass, and centipede grass.

However, if you live in the northern region and experience bitter cold winters, tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass are better bets.

Some people live in regions with weather at both extremes. For those areas, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, zoysia grass, and Bermuda grass are good choices. Waltz recommends checking with your local county extension agent or university specialist to find out which grasses grow best in your area.

3. Not taking soil health seriously

A healthy lawn starts below the surface, in the soil.

“If your soil is compacted or missing necessary nutrients, grass will not thrive, no matter how hard you try,” Henriksen says. She recommends aerating your lawn every one or two years, depending on your soil type. Aerating is the process of putting small holes in the lawn so water, air, and nutrients can reach the soil.

“A soil test should be conducted at least every three years to determine what nutrients are needed so the proper fertilizer can be used,” says Henriksen. Once you determine the correct type of fertilizer, she says, it needs to be applied correctly.

“Correctly means at the right time of year, in proper amounts, and with the correct applicator,” she says. “And you should consult manufacturer recommendations for guidance.”

4. Mowing the lawn at the wrong time

Contrary to what you might see on lawnmower commercials, most homeowners don’t get excited about mowing their lawn. But when the time comes, it’s important to mow your lawn under the right conditions.

“Generally, grass should be trimmed to 2½ to 3 inches, depending on the grass type, and no more than a third of the grass blade should be removed at one time,” says Henriksen. So if it’s at or below that height, hold off on cutting. Grass that’s too short stresses the grass blades and makes them more susceptible to disease, she says.

Mowing wet grass is another mistake many homeowners make. The moisture will weigh the grass blades down and make it difficult to get a clean, straight cut. The wet clippings will also clump up and make your lawn look uneven.

Also, failing to keep the mower blades sharp causes the cuts to be ragged, and this increases the chances that the grass will develop diseases and attract pests.

You should also refrain from mowing your lawn in the same direction every time; otherwise, you’ll end up creating grooves in the grass. (Grooves are not groovy.)

5. Not knowing environmental stressors

Environmental stressors are conditions that affect the ability of grass to thrive.

“These stressors include excessive amounts of precipitation, drought, temperature extremes, construction, and foot traffic,” Henriksen says, “and each can take its toll on the health of your lawn.”

For example, if you overwater your grass, the excessive moisture creates the perfect conditions for weeds, leaf mold, and leaf spots.

“Lawns that are overfertilized are also susceptible to weeds, while lawns that have heavy foot traffic can experience compacted soil, which is problematic for their health,” she explains. Too much foot traffic will prevent water from reaching the roots, and when that happens, you’ll be left with a brown lawn.

By Terri Williams

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help. We are but a call or click away!

I read this article at: https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/ruining-your-lawn/

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts and the information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

How To Have More Energy In The Morning

Happy Monday!!!

I used to think being a morning person was something inherited. I thought some people just were, and others weren’t. Like me. I couldn’t drag myself out of bed at the crack of dawn and hated the thought of going to anything early in the morning. But I changed all that. The days seem so much longer when you use your morning hours wisely, and I love nothing more than getting up early on a weekend and getting things done.

Here’s a trick you might have missed, your attitude to sleep is the key to everything. Your energy levels in the day, your mood and attitude, and the way you work. How you sleep, and how you feel about it, determines how you wake up. I upgraded my first hour at work too and I’m more productive than ever, find out how I did it here.

The crazy thing is these days I can wake up anywhere between 5 AM and 6:30 AM and not feel a difference. I hate feeling tired and sluggish and haven’t actually felt that way in around six months since I started getting up early. So how do you become a morning person and wake up with more energy? Here’s how…

WRITE YOUR MORNING PAGES

I’ve been working through The Artist’s Way Workbook every morning. It’s a manual designed to help you be more creative and awaken parts of your brain that you didn’t know were asleep. One of the challenges will help you become a morning person. Basically, in the morning you need to wake up one hour early and fill in three pages of text. These are your morning pages.

To begin with, these pages are negative and self-deprecating. But eventually, you get used to the idea and begin to enjoy it. You might start having some enlightening ideas, it will help you process the stresses of the day, and you’ll feel so much better. Getting up one hour early and starting to write in your morning pages will help wake up your brain and give you something to focus on in the first hour of the day. It’s really helped me to become a positive thinker, but also to get a boost of energy in the morning naturally. You can easily stop the negative self-talk with a few quick tips too, find out how to here.

I use my Getting Things Done planner to write my morning pages, because it keeps everything I’m thinking and doing together. It’s the only planner that can help me structure my entire day. I can also track what I’ve eaten throughout the day, the exercise I do and make sure I’ve got my day off to the right start.

CUT OUT PROCESSED FOODS

Obviously, what you eat has a major impact on how you feel and your energy levels. High levels of refined carbohydrates and sugars can lead to low energy. I noticed that when my diet was not strict, I would struggle to wake up. So, I made the decision to cut down my sugar intake and avoid processed foods as much as possible just because I was focusing on my health.

But the one surprising side effect that had was that I could easily wake up in the morning, I didn’t feel tired at all during the day, and I felt more productive during work. The sluggish feeling was completely gone. The science shows that while these foods give you a spike of blood sugar, that always leads to a crash at some stage. Avoid them if you want to give yourself a better night’s sleep and wake up with more energy. Read more about natural energy boosters here if you want to start taking your sleep seriously.

COUNT YOUR CYCLES, NOT YOUR HOURS

I was terrible for this. I would obsess over the amount of hours sleep I had or was going to get. If I felt it was too little, I’d already wake up in a bad mood. I had to stop doing it and trust my body. If I was awake and feeling fine, I had probably had enough sleep. The one trick you can use to give yourself a proper night’s rest is to count your sleep cycles instead of your hours.

You should be getting around 5-6 sleep cycles in, no matter how many hours you sleep. This means you will go from sleepy to deep uninterrupted sleep. You can even use an app like SleepCycle Alarm Clock to help you get the healthiest amount of sleep. It will track your sleep cycle and gently bring you from asleep to awake. When you do this, you might even find you can afford to wake up an hour earlier and won’t be sacrificing your energy levels.

USE THE FIVE SECOND TRICK

Don’t roll over and go back to sleep for ten minutes. Instead, get up, make a hot drink, fill in your morning pages, work out. Having more energy in the morning will give you a chance to make the most out of the important first hours of the day. Read what successful women do first thing in the morning and inspire yourself to get ahead for the day.

Just give yourself five seconds, count down from five to one, and once you get to one, you have to do it. This is a good psychological trick to motivate yourself to do anything you set your mind to.

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help. We are but a call or click away!

I read this article at: https://www.careergirldaily.com/how-to-wake-up-with-more-energy/

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts and the information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

The Caton Team and Landed – Teacher Down Payment Assistance Program

For those of you in the know – you may have heard of the Landed Grant for local teachers. It is an amazing down payment assistance program to keep our teachers here – with us.

In July of 2017 we heard about the program and we reached out to Landed directly – eager to work with local teachers and keep their talent in our local schools.

Since then, we’ve had the pleasure of working with a couple of Landed teachers and I am so proud to say – The Caton Team got them into HOMES!

The Real Estate Market in the Bay Area has been booming with no signs of stopping. When we sat down with our Landed clients we made sure we knew their time line and they knew how the market works. It didn’t take them long to see how quickly homes were selling and truly how competitive it is.

Sometimes in order to succeed you’ve got to go against the crowds and in order for us to get homes – not condos for our teachers we did have to go against the grain. But with their trust and determination – together we were able to find them a lovely home – and make an offer without any competition.

It was an amazing moment for us. Our client realized the speed of the market and adjusted their course. They had their eyes on a home that didn’t sell right away and we had a chance to be the only offer, to offer below list price and have time for contingencies – terms we rarely see anymore. The seller and their agent were wonderful to work with – and together we mades their dreams come true.

You don’t need to be a teacher to put us to work. The Caton Team are full time Realtors, with over 35 years of combined, local real estate experience. We work hard for each of our clients to turn their dreams into realty. How can The Caton Team help you?

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help. We are but a call or click away!

To learn more about Landed visit: https://www.landed.com

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Please note –

Landed is not exclusively for traditional, classroom teachers.

Landed believes that education doesn’t happen just in the classroom; it also happens in the hallways, in the cafeteria, in the gym, in the guidance counselor’s office, in the bandroom… Schools are like a village: there are many different people playing many different roles and it takes each and every one of them to build a healthy environment for our students.

Landed’s mission is to uphold those who uphold us, and that means upholding each and every person pulling their weight to educate America’s future. All staff members who have worked for a minimum of two years at least part-time in a partner public or partner charter school are eligible to use Landed’s down payment support. This includes classroom teachers, coaches, interventionists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, nurses, administrators, social workers, occupational therapists, department chairs, security guards, physical therapists, janitors, principals, and the many more valuable professionals working tirelessly to make a difference in students’ lives everyday.

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts and the information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

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