325 Homes Available For Sale In Alllllll Of Santa Clarita Today!

Yup, that's it. MLS data from about an hour ago. As you should know if you read my blog regularly, I include Acton to the East, Stevenson Ranch to the West, Newhall to the South, and Castaic to the North when I'm doing my calculations.

325 for Sale. 392 in Escrow. Only 182 Sold in the last 30 days.

I'm seeing more and more come on the market, but if they look decent & are priced right, they are getting swooped up fairly quickly.

I won't even talk about interest rates today, they are 'historically' low. Sheesh, I remember saying that when they were in the 4's & 5's!

Get out there and find a home. Get out there and sell your home. With rates this low (I know I said I wasn't going to talk about them) it's a phenomenal time to buy. With inventory this tight, it's a fantabulous time to sell.

Text/Call me @ (661) 313-5470 / Email me @ Lauren@KeepYourWitz.com 

Here to help you achieve any of your Real Estate goals.

Thank Goodness I Had Swallowed My Coffee.....And Millennials.....

An article titled: "Millennials Are Looking Forward To Buying A Home But Are Overwhelmed By The Process" literally had me laughing out loud this morning!

Mostly because the way we parents joke about our millennial kids. And, you know I say this all the time....We Raised Them. My eldest is actually pretty good for a Millennial (the article classified them as aged 23-38), he works, he plays, he does plan for his students.

But, we say they have had helicopter parents so they would be overwhelmed by the process of buying a home.

However, I was impressed with our kids because, based upon the survey, the reasons they are overwhelmed are all very valid reasons. Extremely valid indeed.

Reasons noted? Job Stability. Relationship Stability. State of Economy. 2020 Election. Student Debt. Home Prices. And, because many remember the crash of 2006.....and how it affected their families.....they have that consideration in their minds as well. See? Valid reasons for sure.

But, I was also impressed by the last line.....37% say they regularly ask their parents for advice about home  buying. That's probably why I work with so many First Time Buyers......they think of me as their parent.....I suppose.

So, you Millennials, you technology raised humans....if you're scouring the internet for homes....thinking about getting into the home buying process....find a Realtor & a Lender that you can trust, we'll help you stay as underwhelmed as possible!

Lauren Witz Greber ~ Witz Real Estate ~ Text Me @ (661) 313-5470

Never, Ever, Give Up!

I was referred to a couple a few weeks ago by someone I've known for a dozen-ish years. They wanted to work with a local agent that would be honest with them.

Yup, me, that's totally me. Not interested in making one sale. Interested in helping people forever. To do that, you must be extremely honest, compassionate, trustworthy, hard working, a good negotiator, respected, and the list goes on.....right?

Back to today's thoughts for this blog post......Never Give Up. Keep going for what you want. Well, as long as it's attainable, buckle up for the ride to get that ultimate cheese!

And, when I work with Buyers, and Sellers too of course, I have to determine if their wishes are reachable. Are their Real Estate goals realistic?

If not, I have to tell them so. If they are....but we just haven't made it come true yet....I have to remind them about patience. Not jumping on a home because they are afraid they won't find a home at all.

Back to this newer couple. Super nice, intelligent, investigative, sponge for information I provide. And, they wanted to find a home fairly soon. But, we haven't.

The first day out we found a few that 'they didn't hate'. But, you know me....gotta remind them about the ole resale factor. I swear I talk myself out of selling a home later that they loved today and realize they don't tomorrow because I point everything out that may be a deficit to living there.

Blah, blah, blah, you'd think. But, they listen. And, I listen to them. Recently the husband was a tad bummed out on the days search. He dropped his head and said something like "I'm gonna drink myself out of this funk after the homes we saw today". I said "Nooooooo, there's more coming on the market every day. You're NOT in a rush. We WILL find the perfect home for you!"

And, I truly believe that. The only time I can remember not finding someone a home? The husband got a job transfer to northern California!!! See? There was a universe reason why we couldn't find their perfect home!

Questions about Real Estate in Southern California? 

Just holler: Lauren@KeepYourWitz.com or (661) 313-5470. 

I'm happy to help in any way I can.

Prospective Seller Reminders & Tips

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a Home in 2020

It’s exciting to put a house on the market and to think about making new memories in new spaces, but we can have deep sentimental attachments to the homes we’re leaving behind, too. Growing emotions can help or hinder a sale, depending on how we manage them.

When it comes to the bottom line, homeowners need to know what it takes to avoid costly mistakes. Being mindful of these things and prepared for the process can help you avoid some of the most common mishaps when selling your house.

1. Overpricing Your Home

When inventory is low, like it is in the current market, it’s common to think buyers will pay whatever we ask for when we price our homes. Believe it or not, that’s far from the truth. Don’t forget that the buyer’s bank will send an appraisal to determine the fair value for your home. The bank will not lend more than what the house is worth, so be mindful that you might need to renegotiate the price after the appraisal. A real estate professional will help you to set the true value of your home.

2. Letting Your Emotions Interfere with the Sale

Today, most homeowners have been living in their houses for an average of 10 years or more! (as shown in the graph below):This is several years longer than what used to be the norm, since many homeowners have been recouping from negative equity situations over the past 10 years. The side effect, however, is when you live for so long in one place, you may get even more emotionally attached to your space. If it’s the first home you bought after you got married or the house where your children grew up, it very likely means something extra special to you. Every room has memories and it’s hard to detach from the sentimental value.

For some homeowners, that makes it even harder to negotiate, separating the emotional value of the home from the fair market price. That’s why you need a real estate professional to help you with the negotiations in the process.

3. Not Staging Your Home

We’re generally quite proud of our décor and how we’ve customized our houses to make them our own personalized homes, but not all buyers will feel the same way about your design. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you stage your home with the buyer in mind. Buyers want to envision themselves in the space, so it truly feels like their own. They need to see themselves in the space with their furniture and keepsakes – not your pictures and decorations. Stage and declutter your home so they can visualize their own dreams as they walk through your house. A real estate professional can help you with tips to get your home ready to stage and sell.

Bottom Line

Today’s seller’s market might be your best chance to make a move. If you’re considering selling your house, let’s get together to help you navigate through the process while avoiding common seller mistakes.

Lauren@KeepYourWitz.com ~ (661) 313-5470

Keep Your WITZ About You When Buying or SELLING Your Home

Thinking About The Spring Home Selling Season?

Stop thinking, right now. The Selling season in Southern California is right now. Yup, that's what I just said. It's right now.

When there is low inventory and I have buyers pounding the pavement looking for a home with slim pickings........

The Spring Selling Season is Now.

Stop Thinking About Spring Flowers.

Winter Buds Are Spectacular!

And, it's not just me saying this. Showing Time, one of our automated ways to arrange viewings, has seen quite the uptick this Winter in showings requested. My associates are all abuzz with the lack of inventory. Buyers needs emails are rolling around with my own company & my networking groups.

If you want to sell your house this year, now is the time. Why wait for everyone else to list their home for sale in the Spring? More competition when there are more homes for sale. Less competition means likely more money for you as a home Seller.

Now, listen up to this too: Don't over price. Do stage your home. Don't hire an inexperienced Realtor. Do work with a professional photographer. Don't make it difficult to show your home. And, DO work with me. HaHa, see how I got that in there?

Seriously, reach out to me for any help on Selling your home now. How it works if you want to buy a replacement property. Why working with a realtor that has a 98% list to sale ratio is important. Why having a certified Pricing Strategy Advisor helps you have fewer problems during the sale of your home. Why I love negotiating on your behalf. And, my nicknames....just ask.

~ Lauren@KeepYourWitz.com ~ (661) 313-5470 ~

#KeepYourWitz #WitzRealEstate #Realtor

#HowsTheMarket #RealEstate

#SouthernCaliforniaRealEstate

What Makes People Want to Move - In Other Words, Why Aren't More People Moving Already??

In 2002, my first year as a Realtor, my mentors told me people moved every 7-ish years. I thought that would be super as I'd be helping some of my favorite clients/friends/family moving pretty darn regularly.

That, quite honestly, did not happen to the majority of my peeps. And, if you've been following this blog or my WitzRealEstate channel on YouTube (Yes, here's the link for you to subscribe to My YouTube Channel) then you know most of my pals stay in their homes for what feels like forever!

At any rate, I've always felt that when the time is right, people will move. And, no one should be forced to move unless it suits their personal needs.

Several thoughts have wandered around for years about people buying, or not buying, homes for this or that reason. Rates were too high, family combined, the starter home was too small, or too big heading into retirement.

However, with rates as low as they are right now, we're not seeing a huge inventory of move-up-down buyers. Families are combining. Families are smaller than decades ago so the starter home sometimes works just fine. And, the big house, heading toward retirement people? Well, I've seen their kids move back in.

An article in Housing Wire this morning had an interesting thought process that, it would seem, is totally right on:

Today, people move because of kids, school, jobs or divorce. Aside from periods of a job loss recession, inventory for both new and existing homes has been steady since 1996. Moving forward in this decade, we do have one possible positive trend that could facilitate more move-up buyers and an increase in inventory in the starter home market… Kids!  The U.S. is entering into a big demographic patch of people ages 30-39 —  and with this age group comes marriage and kids. 

If you're ready, so am I! 

My eldest son turns 35 this year, is planning a wedding,

 and looking to start with children a year or so later!

He definitely fits that demographic patch!

And, yep, I found one with a Smiley Face!!!

Location, Location, Location & Price Per Square Foot

Interesting article in Housing Wire this morning.

How much money you need to buy a house in the US.....if you had $305,000 to spend.

These were their findings for 10 cities in our country:

1. Boston
   Median price per square foot: $1,160
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 263 square feet
2. New York
   Median price per square foot: $1,106
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 276 square feet
3. San Francisco
   Average price per square foot: $1,004
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 304 square feet
4. Los Angeles
   Average price per square foot: $646
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 472 square feet
5. Washington, D.C.
   Average price per square foot: $473
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 740 square feet
6. Seattle
   Average price per square foot: $454
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 672 square feet
7. Miami
   Average price per square foot: $313
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 974 square feet
8. Dallas
   Average price per square foot: $215
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 1,419 square feet
9. Chicago
   Average price per square foot: $193
   How much home $305,000 can buy: 1,580 square feet
10. Detroit
    Average price per square foot: $42
    How much home $305,000 can buy: 7,262 square feet

So, I did a quickie calculation for: 

Valencia (Santa Clarita Valley), CA

Average price per square foot in all of Valencia (I included Active, Pending, and Sold in last 30 days). Guess? Here ya go: $323.82/square foot. So you can buy approximately a 942 square foot house.

My first home was about that size. 2 bedroom, 1 bath in West Los Angeles. We added to it and, honestly can't remember the final square footage, but that's what we started with.

Don't feel like you can't get into the market. Just know that your first home will not be your last.

Questions? Call/Text me @ (661) 313-5470 ~ Email me @ Lauren@KeepYourWitz.com

Here to help.

Lucky 13? And, 3.72%!

Reading articles all the time, you know this if you read my blog regularly. And, you know that I'm constantly checking our local MLS for New, Back on Market, Price Reductions, Sold....everything related to the homes sales activity in my sweet home town of Santa Clarita.

This morning, January 3rd, 2020, we show 13 new listings in the last 3 days. Only 13! Total, 13, in the last THREE days!

Needless to say I got right back to work yesterday contacting my peeps to see who they know that is considering selling a home so we can increase our inventory. Oh, yes, on December 31st, our inventory was at 351 for active listings. That's barely a one month supply.

So, now the other part of this post, was reading...yet again...about interest rates. The average is 3.72%, 3.72% for a traditional 30 year fixed loan according to the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey!

Now, remember, that rates will vary based upon your personal FICO scores, your debt to income ration, whether you're buying a single family home or a condo/townhouse. And, if you want to pay some points, you can even frequently get it lower.

But, shit howdy, 3.72% for a 30 year fixed mortgage?!?!?! Yes, I really said shit howdy! Last year same time it was 4.51%.

Quickie calculation on a 500k home with 20% down.....

At last years 4.51% - payment would be $2029.12 / At 3.72% - payment would be $1845.66

So, what's that? A difference in mortgage payment of $183.46/month. Um, let's say you only keep that home for 10 years.....you'd save $22,015.20. That's a few incredible vacations! And, if you stayed for 30 years? Well, you know....a lot! I could go on about paying an extra $50-100 per month, how much you'd save in interest payments on your mortgage too. But, for that, you're gonna need to chat with me. And, I'll put you in contact with one of my fave lenders for them to do the math based upon your personal financial snapshot.

Not buying a home with these incredible rates just doesn't make any sense. Remember, you don't have to put 20% down. There are tons of loan programs out there, tons of incentives. And, shit howdy again....3.72%?!?!?!

Call/Text me @ (661) 313-5470 ~ Let's Do This!