The Caton Team Realtors – Page 74

Here’s why 2016 will bring good news for potential homebuyers…

I find it important to share articles I come across to educate my clients and readers. I often write my own blog entry – but find sharing information much more powerful than standing on a soap box. Enjoy this article from Redfin found on Housingwire. ENJOY! – Sabrina I’ve added my 2 cents in bold italics.

Here’s why 2016 will bring good news for potential homebuyers

Next year isn’t predicted to bring any giant hoopla to set off the market. However, moderate growth is more sustainable, and better for buyers.

According to Redfin’s forecast for 2016, “Most economists agree that housing prices and sales will continue to grow in 2016, just at a slower pace. Call it a slowdown, but not bad news.”

The New Year doesn’t bring all good news, with some bad tossed in the mixed. Overall, Redfin said, “All things considered, we see a fairly uneventful housing market next year.”

Here are Redfin’s five housing market predictions for 2016:

Prices and sales will grow half as fast

As price growth ebbs and mortgage rates rise, more homeowners will stay put. Sales will grow about half as fast as they did this year and prices will rise at a more normal 3.5% to 4.5%, down from almost 6% this year.

According to a recent report from RealtyTrac, for more than a third of the nation’s major metro areas, home prices have reached all-time highs in 2015.

Here on the SF Peninsula housing demand is very high with so much job growth and inventory is very low. I expect more of the same in 2016.

Easier Credit

Americans for whom a mortgage has been just out of reach will have a better shot at qualifying for one in 2016.

Lenders will embrace new ways to measure creditworthiness and mortgages will evolve to serve a changing American household. For example, credit scores will better evaluate a person’s rental history and utility bill payments. More loans will allow buyers to include income from room rentals, live-in parents and extended-family members.

In a significant move for housing regulation, last week a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives that would allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider alternative credit-scoring models beyond the FICO credit score the government-sponsored enterprises currently use when determining what loans to purchase.

Yes, since the housing crash years back, lending as improved. That doesn’t mean it is easy – it is tedious to say the least. But it is for the overall well being of our market. If you are thinking about buying a home – please get a full pre-approval completed with your lender of choice. Understand your budget and adjust your wants/needs list accordingly.

More (and older) first-time buyers

We expect first-timers to make up a bigger portion of the market than they did this year. The reason is simple: The market will be more welcoming to them thanks to the aforementioned slowing price growth and easier access to loans. This year’s market dropouts have saved for bigger down payments and will be ready to give the market another shot early next year. And more of those millennials who had been holding off on buying for various reasons will finally be ready and able to in 2016.

In the Mortgage Bankers Association’s housing report that looks at the future decade, Lynn Fisher, MBA’s vice president of Research and Economics, said, “Improving employment markets will build on major demographic trends – including maturing of Baby Boomers, Hispanics and Millennials – to create strong growth in both owner and rental housing markets over the next decade.”

Oh yes, as those effected by the crash heal their credit and save their money – there will be a new influx of buyer coming into the market – again for the very first time. We will also see millennial buyers investing in real estate.

Slower market, slowing closings

The 2015 housing market was the fastest we’ve seen at Redfin. From January to October, the typical home was on the market for 36 days, four days faster than the same period in 2014. We expect the market to slow in 2016 as government-backed loans become more common and cash sales become less so. Because of low inventory, bidding wars will still be in force next year, but there will be a lower ceiling on price escalation as 2016 buyers won’t be willing or able to go as high as buyers have in recent years.

To help, here are a few tips from Minnesota Realtor Craig Kamman to help win a bidding war. On example he listed is to offer full price or more. Money is a major factor in a seller’s decision, but not the only one.

I also feel the changes in lending, that went into effect in October of 2015 – will slow down the pace of the market a tad. Though we do see many all cash buyers on the SF peninsula who will not be tied to loan regulations. That doesn’t mean cash is supreme king – but it does mean buyers with loans will have to set themselves apart. The Caton Team as a tool box of tactics we use to help our buyers.

Continuing inventory shortage

The biggest risk to the 2016 market will be the continuation of inventory shortage, especially in the affordable segment of the market. The number of homes for sale shrank from 2014 to 2015 in 45 of the 60 metro tracked by Redfin. Inventory across all 60 metros is down 4 percent from a year ago.

The most recent pending home sales report from the National Association of Realtors said that sales have plateaued this fall as buyers struggle to overcome a scant number of available homes for sale and prices that are rising too fast in some markets.

The SF Peninsula has limited land. I have already seen many homeowners add onto their existing homes instead of jumping into the buyer pool Which also effects our inventory.

My advice – if you want to be a SF Peninsula owner – do not give up so easy. Each home on the market is a unique opportunity and should be treated as such. It is a journey – not a race. Call or click The Caton Team to learn more about buying and owning property in Silicon Valley.

I read this article at: http://www.housingwire.com/articles/35823-heres-why-2016-will-bring-good-news-for-potential-homebuyers

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

VISIT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE: http://instagram.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: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

Equity Share – How to Make Home Ownership Happen

As I mentioned in last weeks blog – I’d have an idea how to work around this “rent is too high & I can’t save money for a down payment” mess. Below is an article that when I saw it posted on Facebook – I knew the fella was hurting, frustrated and upset that he wasn’t born on the “rich” side of town. And upon first read – I too was upset! Then I recalled – it’s just how life is – so stop beating yourself up for your lack of royal blood, stop being angry you don’t have more money – and start thinking outside the box.

The biggest hurdle I see theses days, myself included, is saving money for the down payment. Around here, the San Francisco Bay Area – the median home price is $791,000 if it is priced under 1 million and $4,234,000 for homes priced over 1 million. So, let’s focus on those first time buyers homes – priced at around $800,000 – that would take $160,000 for 20% down, which is conventional financing and as low as $40,000 for 5% down loans – which usually require more than one loan to purchase the home. So needless to say – that’s a lot of dough!

And just so you know – you need another 3% (about $24,000) of the purchase price for closing costs – so really a buyer needs to save about 25% to get into the market. Yikes, all that saving while trying to rent a closet in the bay area is liable to frustrate anyone.

So let’s think outside the box. Real Estate is one of the best investments because in general – it has always appreciated. Forget the financial crises of 2007 – real estate is a cycle, and what goes up can go down – but in the long run – which is how you need to look at all real estate investments – real estate appreciates.

So now is the time to pool your resources. How you ask? Find family, friends or investors who are willing and able to help you with the down payment. The idea is called – Equity Sharing – the easy explanation is – you find an investor – who is willing to give you – for example 15% of the down payment while you contribute 5% – to obtain the 20% down requirement. Now, in order to do this right – you need to hire a real estate attorney to draft an agreement between both parties outlining everyone’s responsibilities in said partnership and how the gains will be disbursed.

So the easy explanation goes like this: Investor contributes 15% of the purchase price to buyer. Buyer contributes 5% and all closing costs. Buyer becomes the owner of the home. Investor carries a note or lien on the property. Buyer will then move into home, pay mortgage, taxes and insurance. Buyer will maintain home. Buyer can improve upon home. Per the partnership agreement – in 10 years buyer will need to sell home or pay back the down payment loan.

Here is where the equity comes into play. Let’s say – year 1 the home was worth $800,000 and the investor contributed 15% ($120,000). In year 10 the home is now worth $1,500,000. The home appreciated a total of $700,000. That 15% initial investment will now give the Investor – $225,000 in their pocket (15% of the new value of $1,500,000. Nearly doubling the initial investment!

Now this is a very simple example. There are many variables to this as each equity share partnership is different. The idea of Equity Share is to get buyers into home ownership when otherwise it could take them 30 years just to save up for the down payment.

Now, this could work in more ways than one. A group could purchase a duplex or apartment building. Perhaps they all live there; perhaps part is owner-occupied and part is rented out. The idea here is to pool resources to obtain at minimum a 20% down payment and own real estate and watch it appreciate. I could go on and on with different scenarios – so if you are interested, curious, or have more questions please feel free to email me or call me – info@TheCatonTeam.com – 650-568-5522

Thank you for reading. Now enjoy this article that made me start thinking outside the box!

Millennials who are financially thriving have one characteristic in common

Millions of America’s young people are really struggling financially. Around 30 percent are living with their parents, and many others are coping with stagnant wages, underemployment, and sky-high rent.

And then there are those who are doing just great—owning a house, buying a car, and consistently putting money away for retirement.

These, however, are not your run-of-the-mill Millennials. Nope. These Millennials have something very special: rich parents.

These Millennials have help paying their tuition, meaning they graduate in much better financial shape than their peers who have to self-finance college through a mix of jobs, scholarships, and loans.

And then, for the very luckiest, they’ll also get some help with a down payment, making homeownership possible, while it remains mostly unattainable for the vast majority of young adults.

To start with, most of those who continue their education after high school have families that are able to help financially. A recent report from the real-estate research company Zillow looked at Federal Reserve Board data on young adults aged 23-34 and found that of the 46 percent of Millennials who pursued post-secondary education (that’s everything from associates degrees to doctorates), about 61 percent received some financial help with their educational expenses from their parents.

And yet, even with this help, the average student with loans at a four-year college graduates with about $26,000 in student-loan debt. Millennials who are lucky enough to have some, or all, of a college tuition’s burden reduced by their parents have a leg up on peers who are saddled with student debt, and they’ll be able to more quickly move out on their own, and maybe even buy their own house.

And that matters a lot in the long run: While many remain skeptical about the real-estate market, homeownership is still the primary way that Americans build wealth. But first-time buyers—a group generally made up of younger adults—have been scarce since the recession.

And research indicates it’s not because many of them want to remain renters, but because they just simply can’t save up enough for a down payment, especially not the down payments needed in the expensive urban markets where so many Millennials prefer to live. According to Svenja Gudell, the senior director of economic research at Zillow, “There’s a ton of people out there who want to buy. In our most recent survey in the beginning of the year, we had 5.3 million renters interested in buying over the next year.”

But, because of their student-debt loads, they cannot. “When it comes to taking out a mortgage, they aren’t able to carry that mortgage payment because they have very chunky payments to make to the lenders of their student loans. So that’s certainly holding Millennials back along the way,” Gudell says.

A recent study by the real-estate company Trulia laid it out this way: Imagine an individual who earns $50,000 and is shopping for a $200,000 home (the median U.S. income and house price). This person would like to put 20 percent down.

If he or she follows the popular financial advice to save 10 percent of his or her annual pay, it’ll take him or her about eight years to have that down payment ready to go. If that same person has $26,000 of student debt, which means monthly payments of $280 based on a 10-year repayment plan, it’ll take this person closer to nine years.

But even these numbers are optimistic, with many Millennials owing monthly payments much more than $280 per month, and making much less than $50,000 a year. And in many markets, a $200,000 house is hard to come by. In some of the priciest areas, such as San Francisco, it would take those with a college degree and student loans nearly 30 years to save up enough for a 20 percent down payment. For those without the wage boost that a degree brings, it probably won’t be possible at all.

According to Zillow, 43 percent of Millennials who got help from their parents in paying for school were also able to become homeowners. According to Census data the homeownership rate for all young adults was about 36 percent in 2014.

Then there is the group that the Zillow study dubs “double lucky.” These are the select few whose families had enough money to not only help them with college, but to then also assist them with a down payment on a home. This group accounts for more than half of the Millennial homeowners in the Zillow’s data, though they account for only 3 percent of the total Millennial population.

Only about 9 percent of Millennials whose parents were able to contribute to their post-high school education were also able to help them purchase a home—and the group that had such significant help is an incredibly low percentage of the total Millennial population.

The study calls this a “funnel of privilege”: Young adults with rich parents soon become rich themselves.

“Haves are turning their riches or their wealth into bigger wealth because they are investing in the housing market by simply living in a house,” says Gudell. This advantage is one that these Millennials will carry forward as they earn more than their degree-less peers, and save more than those who were forced to throw away tens of thousands of dollars on rent due to their inability to buy. In the future, they’ll have wealth to pass down to their own kids, continuing the cycle.

By: GILLIAN B. WHITE, THE ATLANTIC

I wrote a portin of this blog – the article I read this article at: http://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-who-are-financially-thriving-have-one-characteristic-in-common-2015-7

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

VISIT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE: http://instagram.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: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

This Isn’t a Housing Bubble: Here’s Why

There has been a lot of talk whether or not the San Francisco Bay Area Real Estate is in a bubble. One by one I have spoken with clients, friends and colleagues about this concern. Below is a great, quick article about the market. And here is my 2 cents. Not long ago we were in the gloom of a crashed market. Back in 2009 – 2011 no one wanted to buy real estate for fear it would never recover. Boy has it! In the Bay Area we have far exceeded anyones expectation of recovery. We are booming right now. What fuels our growth is a strong job economy in the tech world, ample cash, low supply and over demand. Much of the home sales are going cash – no worry of crashing lenders here. These homes are selling with multiple offers and for cold hard cash. There is a huge influx of foreign money too. And I know there is talk that the foreign markets are wavering – but we all need a place to live and well – why not here! The most gorgeous place on the planet! (In my humble opinion as a California native). Enjoy the article below – call or email me if you have questions. And if you are thinking of buying or selling your home – The Caton Team is but a call or click away.

Info@TheCatonTeam.com / 650-568-5522

Happy Reading,

Sabrina

This Isn’t a Housing Bubble: Here’s Why

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS

Home prices are rising rapidly, but economists are deflating concerns that another “housing bubble” is brewing.

A recent report from CoreLogic shows that twice as many metro markets are considered “overvalued” – prices are inflated relative to incomes — in the second quarter of this year compared to the first three months of the year. But economists say it’s not a housing bubble because bubbles eventually burst and home prices this time around aren’t likely to fall.

“Just because you’re overvalued doesn’t mean that you’re in a bubble or there is an impending crash,” says Sam Khater, CoreLogic’s deputy chief economist. “Some markets are overvalued because of strong fundamentals.”

The National Association of REALTORS® reported that the national median sales price is now above its 2006 peak. The median existing-home price for all housing types reached $236,400 in June – 6.5 percent above year ago levels and surpassing the peak median sales price set in July 2016 at $230,400, according to NAR.

CoreLogic’s recent report shows that home prices in 14 of the largest 100 markets have now risen above its long-term fundamental values – with six of these markets in Texas alone. Housing demand is strong and supply has been near record lows, which has paved the way for price increases among the state’s strong economy.

About 10 years ago, a housing bubble was being fueled by free and easy mortgage credit – not the case today, CNBC reports. Today, strong demand and weak supply is driving the rise in prices.

“Agents continue to highlight buyers’ growing frustration with rising prices, but see current levels largely supported by tight inventory conditions,” according to a monthly survey of real estate professionals by Credit Suisse.

Source: “Frothy, Yes, But Don’t Call it a Housing Bubble,” CNBC (Sept. 15, 2015)

I read this article at: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2015/09/17/isn-t-housing-bubble-here-s-why?om_rid=AACmlZ&om_mid=_BV$vieB9FsN65L&om_ntype=RMODaily

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

VISIT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE: http://instagram.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: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

Changes in Water Heater Efficiency Standards & Size…

There are changes in the size of your standard water heater that could pose a problem for condos and mobile homes owners where the location of the water heater cannot be changed or modified due to the new size of a standard efficient water heater. Please read….

Water Heaters

Product Information

Residential water heaters use oil, gas, or electricity to heat potable water to be used for such activities as bathing or washing dishes or clothes. Residential water heaters include storage type units that store heated water in an insulated tank and instantaneous type units that heat water on demand.

Water heating is typically the second largest energy use in a home, after heating and cooling, and can account for 14%-25% of household energy consumption. In the United States energy consumed by residential water heaters accounts for 11% of the electricity and 24% of the natural gas consumed in the residential sector. However, residential hot water use is variable and depends on the number of people in the household, the type of appliances, and the climate in which the house is located.

Current Standards

Gas-fired ( 75 kBtu/h input capacity), oil-fired ( 105 kBtu/h input capacity), electric ( 12 kW input capacity), and tabletop ( 12 kW input capacity) storage water heaters, as well as instantaneous gas-fired (<200 kBtu/h input capacity) and electric ( 12 kW input capacity) water heaters, manufactured and distributed in commerce must meet the energy conservation standards specified in Table 1 as of January 20, 2004.

Amended Standards

On March 31, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) completed the second rulemaking to amend energy conservation standards for residential water heaters, issuing a final rule. Residential water heaters must comply with the amended standards in Table 2 by April 16, 2015.

Table 1. Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Water Heaters

Product Class	Rated Storage Volume	Energy Factor
Gas-fired Water Heater	20 gal and 100 gal	0.67 – (0.0019*V_s)
Oil-fired Water Heater	50 gal	0.59 – (0.0019*V_s)
Electric Water Heater	20 gal and 120 gal	0.97 – (0.00132*V_s)
Tabletop Water Heater	20 gal and 100 gal	0.93 – (0.00132*V_s)
Instantaneous Gas-fired Water Heater	< 2 gal	0.62 – (0.0019*V_s)
Instantaneous Electric Water Heater	< 2 gal	0.93 – (0.00132*V_s)

V_s: Rated Storage Volume – the water storage capacity of a water heater (in gallons).

Table 2. Amended Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Water Heaters

Product Class	Rated Storage Volume	Energy Factor
Gas-fired Water Heater	20 gal and 55 gal	0.675 – (0.0015*V_s)
Gas-fired Water Heater	> 55 gal and 100 gal	0.8012 – (0.00078* V_s)
Oil-fired Water Heater	50 gal	0.68 – (0.0019*V_s)
Electric Water Heater	20 gal and 55 gal	0.960 – (0.0003*V_s)
Electric Water Heater	> 55 gal and 120 gal	2.057 – (0.00113*V_s)
Tabletop Water Heater	20 gal and 100 gal	0.93 – (0.00132*V_s)
Instantaneous Gas-fired Water Heater	< 2 gal	0.82 – (0.0019*V_s)
Instantaneous Electric Water Heater	< 2 gal	0.93 – (0.00132*V_s)

V_s: Rated Storage Volume – the water storage capacity of a water heater (in gallons).

The efficiency metric for residential water heaters is the energy factor (EF), which indicates a water heater’s overall energy efficiency based on the amount of hot water produced per unit of fuel consumed over a typical day. The EF accounts for the following:

Recovery efficiency – how efficiently the heat from the energy source is transferred to the water
Standby losses – the percentage of heat loss per hour from the stored water compared to the heat content of the water (for water heaters with storage tanks)

Cycling losses – the loss of heat as the water circulates through a water heater tank, and/or inlet and outlet pipes.

Energy Efficiency Standards Information

For more information, see the DOE’s Appliance and Equipment Standards for this product.

To see all federal notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents, see the Regulations.gov Docket for this product.

Contact: Alex Lekov (510) 486-6849

Test Procedure Information

Docket Number:

EERE-2011-BT-TP-0042

To see all federal notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents, see the Regulations.gov Docket for this test procedure.

On November 4, 2013 DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding test procedures for residential water heaters and certain commercial water heaters. The proposed test method would apply the same efficiency descriptor to all residential and certain commercial water heaters, and it would extend coverage to eliminate certain gaps in the current residential test procedure, update the simulated-use-test draw pattern, and update the water delivery temperature requirement.

I read this article at: http://efficiency.lbl.gov/product/water-heaters

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

VISIT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

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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: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

For Sellers, Emotions Trump More Money

Home is where the heart is. That will always ring true. Part of how the Caton Team sets apart their buying clients from others – is how we prepare your offer package. It is more than just money and terms. It is so much more than that. Curious how The Caton Team get’s their offers accepted for their buyers – ask us how. Enjoy this article from the Daily Real Estate News.

For Sellers, Emotions Trump More Money

Home sellers today are twice as likely to choose an offer based on emotion rather than money alone compared to the years prior to the recession, according to a new survey of more than 1,500 home sellers released by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, which analyzed real estate trends in the past decade.

Since 2014, more than one in four sellers nationally sold their home in less than two weeks. But despite the higher prevalence of multiple bids and offers above asking price, sellers judge an offer based more on emotions than the extra money, the study found.

“There is a notable difference in seller psychology today compared to 10 years ago,” says Budge Huskey, president and chief executive officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “The national housing market has changed significantly over the past decade, and seller sentiments have evolved. Home sellers often want to feel emotionally connected to the buyer. These findings should give solace to buyers in highly competitive markets who may present a compelling story as to why they should be the next owners of the home.”

Before the recession, about 20 percent of sellers accepted an offer based on emotion rather than money alone. However, from 2006 to now, the number has climbed to 36 percent.

“While housing has clearly steadied, we have all wondered how the recession might impact home sellers, and we now have additional insight,” Huskey said. “During this recovery, sellers are more aware that their home, which played such a critical role in their lives, will have the same emotional impact on the next occupants. Today, they have more information than ever and want to more actively participate in the sale of their home.”

During the recession and its aftermath, more sellers accepted the first offer they received – a notable difference from today. Now, only 46 percent of home sellers accept the first offer they receive – which marks a 22 percent decrease, the survey found.

Source: “How Home Sellers Have Changed Over the Past Decade: Results of the Coldwell Banker Seller Survey,” Coldwell Banker (June 10, 2015)

I read this article at: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2015/06/11/for-sellers-emotions-trump-more-money?om_rid=AACmlZ&om_mid=_BVeejGB9CnYC8V&om_ntype=RMODaily

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

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Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

Top Reasons People Want to Move

Top Reasons People Want to Move

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS |

One in three U.S. households say they plan to move in the next five years, according to a survey conducted by the Demand Institute of 10,000 households’ current living situations. And it’s the location of the home that will be driving most of those moving decisions — more so than the physical home itself.

Seventy-five percent of the households surveyed cited one or more location-related reasons for why they were moving. The top reasons were the desire for a safer neighborhood (30%); being closer to family (27%); a change of climate (26%); being closer to work (25%), and moving for a new job (23%).

More than half — 59 percent — of households say they don’t plan to go too far, with most indicating a move within 30 miles of their current home.

For those seeking a location for climate reasons, the Western and Southern U.S. continue to be the top destinations.

The following were the top location characteristics identified as “very important” by those surveyed:

Amenities/services in walking distance (39%)
Good school district (34%)
Close to work (32%)
Diverse neighborhood (26%)
Near public transit (25%)

Many movers say they’re eyeing more walkable communities. Indeed, walkable communities have been reporting stronger home-price growth compared to less walkable communities, according to the Demand Institute’s report. Those who reside in walkable communities also are more likely to report that their quality of life has improved in the past few years due to their change in residence.

As such, Americans are desiring more amenities near them. Of those surveyed, the following places were identified as what home buyers would most like to have near their future home:

Grocery stores (63% say short drive OK; 22% want it within walking distance)
Restaurants and cafes (56% short drive; 20% walking distance)
Parks and green space (40% short drive; 35% walking distance)
Healthcare services (62% short drive; 10% walking distance)

Retail (57% short drive; 12% walking distance)

I read this article at: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2015/02/25/top-reasons-people-want-move?om_rid=AACmlZ&om_mid=_BU7kXlB8-nKOr6&om_ntype=RMODaily

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

Open House for our Rental on McLellan in San Mateo

Open House Saturday 6/13 from 1-3pm

Look no further. This charming two-bedroom detached house is perfectly situated in a cute San Mateo Village neighborhood. Walk to CalTrain, Hillsdale Mall and Bay Meadows area restaurants and shopping. Easy access to Hwy 101. A commuter’s dream location. The house has beautiful hardwood floors throughout the living areas and wall to wall carpet in the bedrooms and hallway. There is a spacious updated bath with shower over tub and large vanity. The kitchen features plenty of counter space, cabinets and newer appliances. A small family room adjoins the kitchen. An enclosed patio with laundry area expands the living space considerably. The extra large yard is perfect for summer fun and entertaining. A large detached storage building is available for all your extra storage needs. Newly painted inside. All new double pane windows. Gardener included. Tenant pays all utilities. No Pets. No Smoking or Drugs. Must have excellent credit.

Visit our website for photos:

http://thecatonteam.com/IDX/McLellan-San-Mateo-CA-940/2107728917/0004010

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

VISIT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE: http://instagram.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: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

3 Ways to Make Your Home Worth More

3 Ways to Make Your Home Worth More

I truly enjoy sharing articles I find interesting – this one is in time for the Spring Real Estate Market. Enjoy – Sabrina

In its 10 years of existence, online real estate database Zillow (Z) has collected an unfathomable amount of information on housing prices. In the new book “Zillow Talk: The New Rules of Real Estate,” CEO Spencer Rascoff and chief economist Stan Humphries put that data to use by sharing ways to get the most value out of a home. “We’re interested in converting real estate from an area of folklore into fact,” Humphries told Yahoo Finance. He joined Jeff Macke to share some of his favorite tips for navigating today’s real estate market.

Redo the bathroom, not the kitchen

“It’s always been conventional wisdom that the best remodel you could do was the kitchen,” says Humphries. “We actually crunched an enormous amount of data…what we found is actually it’s the bathroom remodel that adds the most value to a house.”

According to Humphries it makes the most logical sense because with a bathroom remodel functionality is being added to the house whereas kitchen upgrades are often more about fashion.

According to Zillow’s data a mid-range $3,000 bathroom remodel results in a $1.71 increase in home value for every $1.00 spend on renovation.

Plus “when people come to stay with you, you’re going to be a lot happier that you have a nicer bathroom than kitchen.” Kitchen renovations offer among the lowest returns on investment. Both mid range and upscale work on the kitchen recover only about half of their investment.

Just don’t invest too much money in the bathroom, upscale $12,000 bathroom upgrades result only in an $0.87 increase in home value for every $1.00 spent.

Selling season

Home sales reach their peak in June, during the last week of that month residential real estate transactions are 40% higher than average. But when is the right time to list your home?

The home season starts to crank up in January and February, says Humphries. But to get the most bang for your buck you might want to list your house during the last two weeks of March. There’s a sharp spike in visitors making contact with real estate agents on Zillow beginning in mid-April and continuing into July.

Selling in the last weeks of March, before the peak in agent contacts and after the peak of newly listed homes in February puts your home in the sweet-spot where it’s likely to be seen quickly and not get lost within a flood of new listings.

Humphries writes to “put your home on the market after you fill out your NCAA March Madness basketball brackets, but before someone slips on an ivy-green jacket at the Masters Golf Tournament.”

Psychologically price your home

Ending your home price in a ‘9’ is incredibly beneficial, says Humphries. “If you were going to sell your house for $150,000, just pricing it down by $1000 and selling it for $149,000 ends up in you making $2175 more than you would if you priced it at $150,000.” The ‘9’ dynamic works for houses at all price-points.

In the majority of cases, home prices that end in a ‘9’ sell for more for a home of the same relative value that ends in a ‘0.’ The risk that the seller takes on by cutting their home price by $1,000 usually results in gaining more than $1,000 over asking.

psychological pricing also sold home faster– Zillow found that homes using ‘9’ in the thousands digit sold four days to one-week faster than those that didn’t.

I read this article at:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-tips-for-saving-money-on-your-home-125820548.html

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

VISIT OUR NEW INSTAGRAM PAGE: http://instagram.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: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

FOR SALE – Brittan Heights San Carlos – Open Sat & Sun 1:30-4pm

3375 Brittan Ave #7 in San Carlos is for sale.

Open Saturday & Sunday from 1:30-4pm.

Nestled in the San Carlos hills, this beautifully remodeled, single level, 2 bedroom/2 bath condo offers tree top views of the western hills and open space area. The home features laminate wood flooring in the living & dining rooms, surround sound in the living room, a gourmet kitchen with granite counters, tastefully updated baths & lighting, plus an inside laundry room complete with washer and dryer. Located in the Brittan Heights complex, owners can enjoy several pools & tennis courts, children’s play area and a club house. The complex is close to hiking trails & has easy access to Hwy 280. Great San Carlos schools & parks are near by.

When you walk into this lovely condo and venture to the living area – you cannot help but notice the rolling hills and trees outside windows. It is breathtaking and peaceful. The large oak tree is lovely as the sun sets over the hills. The galley style kitchen also enjoys this view from the dining room window. The natural light is both comforting and beautiful. Off the kitchen you will conveniently find the laundry room. Washer and dryer are included. The 2 bedrooms are good size, with wall-to-wall carpeting and large closets. The hall bath is tastefully remolded with slate colored tile, contemporary sink and faucet with shower over tub. The master bedroom features a huge closet area, updated bath with granite counters and walk in shower.

The unit comes with a deeded carport. All appliances are included with the sale.

The unit will be open Saturday May 16 and Sunday May 17 from 1:30-4pm. Pop over for a visit.

For price, disclosures package including home and pest inspection, offer details or to have a private showing please call Sabrina at 650-568-5522 or email me at info@TheCatonTeam.com

Visit our website for photos and details: http://thecatonteam.com/

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

VISIT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE: http://instagram.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: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

How to Lose a Bidding War (but Also How to Win One)

As much as I enjoy writing blog content – I enjoy sharing articles that are well written and pertinent. Please enjoy this article – and I’ve added my two cents in

italics.

How to Lose a Bidding War (but Also How to Win One)

It’s prime home buying and selling season, and if you’re looking to buy in an area with low inventory and high demand, you’re probably going to run face-first into a bidding war. After the housing crunch of 2008, they certainly went away for a while, but now a recent study has found bidding wars are back in force.

So here’s the question for buyers: Do you know how to handle a bidding war, or are you going to let that dream home get away? Here are all the things you can do wrong—so you know how to do it right.

Fail to realize you’re in a bidding war

A surefire way to lose a bidding war is to not realize there’s going to be one. So, how do you know?

First thing’s first: Know where you’re shopping. If you’re in one of the following markets—some of the hottest in the country, viewed two to seven times more often on our site than the national average—chances are, there’s going to be a bidding war:

Even if you’re not in one of those regions, the housing market remains tight nationwide (too many buyers, not enough inventory). So, observe your surroundings. How many people are at the open house?

“If it feels as though you’re at Grand Central Station at rush hour, chances are there will be a multiple-offers situation,” says Victoria Vinokur, an estate broker at Halstead Property in New York City.

Finally, if you’ve made an offer and your agent tells you they’ve heard of higher bids, “you now know you have competition,” says Susan MacDonald of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty in Garden City, NY.

On the San Francisco Bay Area – we are experience a severe housing shortage coupled with high demand. You can bet your bottom dollar if you are trying to buy property right now – you will be up against multiple offers.

Be completely disorganized

Sellers want your offer to come in a crisp, easy-to-read package, not in a mis-autocorrected Snapchat. When you know you’re in a bidding war, says Vinokur, get answers to these questions:

Is there a deadline to submit offers?
Is there a specific offer format the seller wants to see?
Are there any other factors that might be important to the seller? Do he want a quick closing or a delayed one? Noncontingent financing offers? Does the seller want to stay in or rent the home until he can find another home (also known as a rent-back agreement)?

Now this is where The Caton Team comes in. We are proactive Realtors. So once a client tells us they are interested in a property – we pick up the phone and call the Sellers Agent. I ask the above questions and more. When possible, I get the disclosure package so my buyers can read them before we write an offer and therefore write a stronger offer knowing the condition of the property. Price is important – do not get me wrong – however a great offers encompasses more than just price. So The Caton Team makes sure to find out the sellers’ needs and wants and how our clients can fulfill them and find a happy medium.

Not asking these questions is a good way to get your offer rejected. You also want to know what the seller is looking for and if it lines up with what you’re willing to do.

“Have a clean, correct, and easily legible offer packet, with a pre-approval letter or proof of funds,” said Sepehr Niakin, a broker who owns CondoBlackBook.com in Miami. Add a cover letter, and don’t be afraid to get personal.

“Write a letter to the owners stating why you love the home,” Vinokur said. Make no mistake: This should not be a lighthearted letter—it should be well-written and sincere.

An effective cover letter should include these things:

An introduction complimenting the seller’s property
A second paragraph describing what you’re like—your job (a good one, we hope!), your family, your interests.
The third paragraph should describe how you envision your future in the property. For example: “We hope you will accept us—we would love to raise our kids here.”

We call the Offer Letter part of our Home Buyer toolbox. And ask each buyer to write on for each home they offer on. The power of a personal letter can move mountains and sometimes make the difference between an accepted offer or an overlooked one.

Part of each offer we present, The Caton Team always ensures the offer is well written, properly completed (after all it is a legally binding contact), pre-approval letter, proof of funds and a letter from the buyer along with a letter from The Caton team is attached. When at all possible we present the offer directly to the Seller and their Realtor. However, these days most offers are emailed in – so we also write an email letter outlining the offer and our clients strengths.

Make a lowball offer that doesn’t stand out

In a hot market, don’t lowball to see if the seller will entertain your offer (that’s for the off-season). When crafting your bid, make it a strong figure—and make it a number that might stand out.

“Most offers will be in round numbers, so stand out by going to the next highest number with a 1 or a 6 at the end of it,” says Brian Horan, a broker with Home Buyers Marketing II in Los Angeles.

A lowball offer in this market screams one thing – the buyer is not serious, not working in reality and is wasting everyone’s time (ok that’s three things – but you get my point). The Caton Team will prepare a Comparative Market Analysis before we write the offer – so our buying clients can write their strongest offer and know what to expect.

Don’t sweeten the pot

When you’re competing with multiple offers, you have to come prepared. If you can pay with cash, that’s a huge plus—our experts agree it’s one of the best ways to win. But not everyone can do that. Get pre-approved so the seller knows you’re serious. If that’s not enough, sweeten the pot.

“Pay with cash if possible; if not, consider increasing the amount of your down payment,” said Sharon Voss, president of the Orlando Regional Realtor® Association.

You can also put down some substantial earnest money—“1% or greater,” says Lera Lasater Lee, a Realtor® with Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty in Dallas.

If you’re still dead-set on getting that home, you can also offer to pay the seller’s closing costs.

Cash is king – but not all of us have cash. Don’t let this sway you. A well-written offer, with a solid down payment, strong / competitive terms and supporting documentation is hard pressed to be overlooked. If you can swing more than 20% down, this will set you apart. And we always encourage our buyers to write a 3% earnest money deposit (the maximum protected in the contract). Offering to pay the closings costs helps too – and part of those fees are possible tax write-offs. Not bad..

Lose sight of your limits

It’s a fine line to walk, though––sweetening the pot can be helpful, but be careful not to get caught up in a buying frenzy. If you overpay for the house, did you really win? Take a step back and figure out a limit on how much you want to pay for that property.

You can go about this in two ways:

Make your best offer upfront, pre-emptively assuming you won’t have a chance to make another, Voss says.
Go with an escalation clause, which details how much you’re willing to outbid another offer up to a certain limit, says Niakin. For example, you make an offer of $400,000 with a cap of $425,000, offering to outbid the last bidder by $5,000 increments until it reaches $425,000. (You’ll also want to get a lawyer to word the clause correctly.)

“This is only recommended if the buyer really wants the property and is willing to lay all their cards on a table when they know there will be multiple, very motivated buyers making offers,” Niakin said.

It is very important for a buyer to know their financial life before they start the buying process. Just because the bank has approved your for X – doesn’t mean X fits your lifestyle. So each buyer needs a budget and needs to know their maximum comfort level.

Rarely is a buyer going to get a second chance in this market. So writing your best offer, with no chance of a counter is the best mindset. In regards to the escalation clause – we’ve seen this, we’ve done this – but always with a Real Estate attorney present. In Realtor jargon – these are known as sharp offers.

Put in a bid, then skip town

Now is not the time to head to the Bahamas. If you really want that home, you should stick around until you know whether your offer fell through or was accepted.

“Don’t go out of town or be otherwise inaccessible to your Realtor during a bidding war,” says Voss. “Be prepared to make decisions very quickly and respond very quickly to questions about your offer.”

If you are planning a vacation – let your Realtor know when and then plan on stepping out of the buyer ring until you return. There is very little time in the midst of real estate negotiations and you could lose out on a home if you are not available to respond quickly.

Drag your feet to the closing

Sellers like to close fast. When you’re in a multiple-offer situation, it’s best to make an offer with few contingencies. That can mean forgoing repairs or added appliances and furniture.

An appraisal contingency is debatable if you’re paying with cash—if you really know your area and are confident it will appraise right, you might decide to waive it—but be sure to ask your agent. One thing you don’t want to do is skip the inspection contingency.

No matter what, be quick about it.

“Tighten up your timelines,” Niakin said. “Instead of 15 days, make it seven or 10 days. If you run into some issue, you can always ask for an extension later.”

Thankfully most sellers in the San Francisco Bay Area provide upfront disclosures packages that include a recent Home, Pest and Roof Inspection. In our market, we are seeing no contingencies. Which can be scary – but note – no property contingency doesn’t mean you cannot have your own inspections – you can! However they are not contingent to the sale. Unless new material information is discovered (IE. Previously undisclosed defects arise. You do have an opportunity to discuss this with the seller and have a short time frame to do so.) Sound scary? That is why The Caton Team is by your side each step of the way. We will provide the disclosures to you, answer your questions and advise you how to tackle each offer. Each home presents its own opportunities and issues – so each situation is different.

Lose your sense of perspective

Above all else, keep a clear head.

“Don’t be emotional; set a threshold price and don’t be upset if you lose,” Vinokur said.

“Get your ducks in a row before entering the home purchase process,” Lee echoed. “Don’t be afraid to walk away.”

This article had great advice that I do follow with my own clients. We always say – offer your best price and if you do not get the house – you know they other fella paid too much!

If you have any real estate questions or concerns or would like to share your two cents please feel free to email us, or comment below.

I read this article at: http://www.realtor.com/advice/how-to-win-a-bidding-war-on-your-dream-house/?identityID=9851214&MID=2015_0403_WeeklyNL&RID=353497822&cid=eml-2015-0403-WeeklyNL-blog_1_lose_bidding_war-RDC_buy

Remember to follow our Blog 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

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

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

VISIT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE: http://instagram.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: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=6588013&trk=tab_pro

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

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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

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