Operation Keyboard Warrior

Thank you, Department of Justice, for chasing these criminals down!!

Anyone involved in Real Estate right now knows there has been a newer disclosure about Wire Fraud. We've had it for a few years already.

We Realtors also know that our clients don't always read everything we send them to review so it's our job to make sure they know what's going on.

That includes Wire Fraud. I can't imagine any of my clients actually clicking on a link in an e-mail and sending money. BUT, it has happened to others apparently.

DOJ just arrested 8 more people in a 15M scam. Not only Real Estate related....all kinds of other computer/wire/money fraud items.

Their task force is called Operation Keyboard Warrior. It's horrible that we have to have this task force, but glad we do.

Purpose of this blog post is a REMINDER to never, ever click on a link and send money. Sheesh, don't click on any damn links unless you know for sure it's a valid one!! 

Better safe than sorry!

Chasing The Market ~ Never Good For A Seller

Anyone regularly reading my blog posts knows I'm OCD about checking the MLS activity several times a day. I've got to know what's going on to keep my Sellers & Buyers informed.

I focus on the Santa Clarita Valley since 90% of my business is within these rolling hills.

I have my program set to tell me new listings, price changes, back on markets, under contract, pending, sold, withdrawn, cancelled, expired, and on hold properties....all set to indicate 'within the last 24 hours'.

This morning, after a horrible nights sleep, I did my usual thing....and noted that there were 23 price changes on listings in sweet Santa Clarita in the last 24 hours.

For the last few years, we've been seeing price changes go up. Today only 2 went up.....21 were price reductions.

I met with an appraiser at one of my listings yesterday and we talked about this very same thing. He, myself, the buyers agent...all chatting about where the market was and our crystal ball predictions of where it was going. The topic we all agreed on was about Sellers listing too high and then having to do price reductions.

Obvious signs of that very thing happening. 

I can only educate and present, Sellers have the choice of what they list it at. Some I think are a tad high, some right on, some just an unusual property that needs the right buyer.

But, worst thing....is chasing that damn market down. That's so hard for people to reduce prices, and then, of course, the vultures sit in waiting. Waiting to pounce. Always waiting to pounce on a tired of being on market Seller.

So Many Of Them ~ What To Do With Those Alcoves On The Side of Your Fireplace?

Ah, yes, those spaces in the walls builders have been putting in for years next to the fireplace? A lot put a media built-in...or a lot did. So many are hanging TV's over the fireplace these days since it is the center of the room!

If you didn't have a media unit built-in, you've got that space, that indented space either on one side, or both, of your fireplace, right?

So, a Houzz article this morning had some great suggestions for what to do with those areas if you don't want to do a custom built-in.

We have a nice short cabinet in ours with decor on the back wall and some media crap on top of it along with some other decorative items as well. Yes, our TV is above the fireplace!

These are the ones I liked in the article. I'm an asymmetrical kind of gal.....so here ya go!

Yep, a sweet little reading area!

I love this one! Small homework station?

A little fancy-schmancy for me, but lovely anyways!

Fast, Slow, Hurry, Wait....And, Repeat.

Real Estate....Being a Realtor...is not for the weak. Not for the weak-minded, weak in body, nor weak anywhere.

It's a very stressful thing for someone to buy or sell. Let alone buy and sell at the same time. Or, wait for a seller to move out. Or wait for a buyer to make an offer. Or, hey, wait for a number of things to happen.

Then of course there is the hurry up stuff. Hurry up and do this, get that done, prepare these documents.

But, I love what I do. Love helping my people achieve their dreams.

This week was one of those weeks. Could we do this on that property? No, yes, maybe. But, what about that department over there? Do we have clearance, space, water?

If anyone ever thinks we just show property, write contracts, and let the paychecks roll in? You Are Wrong! 

I will never push a client to do something without helping them to do their due diligence. That's part of what I do. Make sure that what they are buying is the right thing for them. No, ifs, ands, or butts about it!

For now, we are moving!!!

Current Sales Activity for Santa Clarita - June 8, 2018

Well, inventory is definitely up. Checking Acton, Agua Dulce, Canyon Country, Saugus, Valencia, Newhall, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, & Val Verde.

We are showing active listings at 606 this morning. FYI, beginning of May was 509. I'll take 606!

Under contract in those same neighborhoods is 547.  Was 522 at my last blog posting about it.

Wonderful closed sales in the last 30 days was 368!!! Again, beginning of may we had closed 310 in prior 30 days.

Housing is robust in Awesometown and surrounding communities. I'm seeing a huge increase in the number of listings go active for end of week timing. Quite a few reductions in prices too though.

Still a sellers market, if priced right and presenting well.

Questions? Just holler!

Zillow Re-Works Their Paid Leads

I suppose if you're new in the business you could pay for leads. I suppose if you don't do a lot of business you could pay for leads. I guess if you don't have a strong data base you could pay for leads.

(I've never done it. Just an FYI.)

But, what I don't get is why a consumer would need to find a realtor off a website....that the Realtor paid to be on that site?

Sometimes I go on a listing appointment and another agent gets the listing. Sometimes a friend wants to refer a buyer to me but the buyer has a friend that knows a friend that has a Realtor friend as well.

You see, everyone knows a Realtor....don't they? There are quite a few of us. If you don't know one personally, just ask a friend or co-worker, a neighbor, another trusted professional.....someone will know someone that they think is awesome.

Zillow has some great portals for advertising. Some are free, which I feel are valid (I hope they are). Some agents pay for. 

I pay to market my properties, not myself. I market myself based upon my clients experiences with me. I ask them to write reviews on Zillow, some do, some get caught up with their life and move. I still adore all my peeps....even those that don't get a chance to write the review.

Anywhohow, just read an article this morning that the paid leads are supposed to get better for the Realtors paying for them.

Ugh, I don't even like that word...'leads'.....ah, if consumers truly knew.....do you?

Story of the Week ~ Before & After

I was out showing homes over the weekend....yeah, I know, nothing remarkable about that, right? We saw about a 1/2 dozen. Liked one best, just submitted an offer on it on behalf of my clients!

Usually a listing agent will ask for feedback when their property has been shown. Not as often now since it's such a hot market they sell faster than you need to hear what the buyer had to say.

Once of the properties was really cute, but my clients were more interested in a larger single story home so we took a pass. The really cute one we passed on has been on the market over 100 days. Unheard of right now. Since they weren't interested, I didn't bother to try and figure out why.

But, the seller is also a Realtor so he called me to ask how the showing went......and, I gave him more info about why I thought he was having a tough sell.

Price? Seemed pretty right on. Presentation? Very cute, not cluttered, was clean. BUT, he had the dining room set up as an office, and the family room set up as the dining room. Which, some people just can't see beyond that. They think there is no family room, or the dining room is too small. I did tell him I felt the backyard was a little confined but you can't really do anything about that.

While I was on the phone with him I went online and looked at the listing again....and saw the worst thing ever....only FOUR listing photos were in the MLS.....FOUR! And, they were definitely not done by a professional.

Seller/Realtor was very receptive to my suggestions...of course....he knew he'd dropped the ball a bit with the photos. Wondered where the heck he'd put his office. Anywhere but the house I told him!

I'll be curious if I see some great new photos up soon!

Maybe like this:

Nah, not really. He just needs a couple tweaks & pro pics!

We shall see!