Good New Finally!!! - New Energy Rebates

Most of us living in San Mateo County are living in homes forty or fifty years old. Older homes are always in need of some repairs or upgrading. I recently heard that San Mateo County is announcing on Monday that they will match some of PG&E’s energy rebates. You can get up to $8000 in rebates. Not sure if you have to rebuild the entire home to get $8000 but here is the info.

These will double the currently offered rebates. Some upgrades might even qualify for Federal tax Credits. I have read there is even low cost financing with income qualifications.

Attic insulation, furnace and water heater replacement, roof, solar energy and more may qualify. It is certainly worthwhile to look into if you are considering doing some work.

Follow the links for additional information.

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=164559&title=Homeowners%20eligible%20for%20big%20energy%20rebates

https://energyupgradeca.org/county/san_mateo/action_plans/property_type

http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/portal/site/cmo/menuitem.c62298d126a043af82439054d17332a0/?vgnextoid=3abf1ab5fe4fb210VgnVCM1000001937230aRCRD&vgnextfmt=DivisionsLanding

ATTEND AN UPCOMING WORKSHOP:

San Bruno - Tuesday, August 23 rd 7-8:30 p.m.

Burlingame - Wednesday, August 24th 7-8:30 p.m.

Half Moon Bay - Wednesday, September 14th 7-8:30 p.m.

San Carlos - Wednesday, September 28th 7-8:30 p.m.

www.leesellsmore.com

"It is Better to Own Real Estate Than Wait To Own Real Estate"

Good New Finally!!! - New Energy Rebates

Monte Verde Student Wins Doodle for Google

 

Our very own Monte Verde School wins big. Monte Verde is in San Bruno but is part of the South San Francisco School District. It serves Monte Verde area of San Bruno and a portion of Westborough area of South San Francisco. What did they win? Monte Verde Elementary School won a $25,000 technology grant and 7 years old, second grade student, Mateo Lopez won $15,000 college Scholarship. This is the results of “Doodle for Google” contest. 107,000 entrants ranging from Kindergarten to twelfth grade and a second grader from our back yard won. San Bruno and South San Francisco residents should be proud of the Monte Verde School and home grown Mateo Lopez. Hurray!!! Congratulations!!!

For additional information please click on the link: http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2011/05/20/6676677-doodle-4-google-winner-matteo-lopez-7

www.leesellsmore.com

Monte Verde Student Wins Doodle for Google

Is a Home Warranty Beneficial?

In a Real Estate transaction quite often the buyer or seller discuss with their agent the cost, the coverage, the pros and the cons of a Home Warranty. Many people think Home Warranty is the best creation since chopped Liver. I am not a fan of the Home Warranty Companies. I have found they try to find any excuse not to pay. With a Home Warranty you must pay a service call of approximately $50.00. The cost of a home warranty from most of the major companies is about $500 with a few options. Let’s say you purchased an older home and needed service 3 times. That would be a cost of $650.00. When I have called a service technician to my home with no warranty the cost is usually $150 for a total of $450 for 3 calls vs.. the $650 with the warranty. If the buyer can negotiate for the seller to pay for it then you come out a winner but if not it is not the best financial investment although it could be very comforting. Please do not get me wrong, I have had a client get a water heater replaced so it can be beneficial.

 

 

The following article was in the San Jose Mercury News recently and I thought it had some very good ideas on the search for good Home Warranty Companies.

http://www.mercurynews.com/real-estate/ci_18060185?nclick_check=1

The following are some of the major Home Warranty Companies servicing the San Francisco Bay Area:
http://www.homewarranty.com/ http://homewarranty.ahs.com/?mp=Google&ovchn=GGL&ovcpn=Competitors&ovcrn=sr3_167478364go+fidelity+home+warranty&ovtac=PPC&SR=sr3_167478364_go&gclid=CIWgzfzVhKkCFUgaQgodqk8SoA http://home-warranty.firstam.com/?code=BM51
http://www.orhp.com/
http://www.hiscohw.com/
http://hghw.com/

Is a Home Warranty Beneficial?

Is the Bay Area Home Buyer Obsessed with School Scores

Many homebuyers in San Mateo, San Bruno, Burlingame, Millbrae and up and down the peninsula purchase their homes based on school scores. I am not sure if API, Academic Performance Index, (http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/ap/ ) scores is an accurate evaluation method to determine a young person’s education. I find the API scores of a school to determine the college you child goes to as reliable as a City’s Median home prices is in determining the value of your home. Homes in a city are varied and encompass a large diversified area just like a school’s diversified student enrollment and have high and low performing students.

Many of our public schools have a large population of intelligent non- English speaking immigrants. Teachers are trained and cater to that specific group and they also teach to the more advanced student by offering enrichment classes, honor classes, etc. Both of my son’s went to a public High School in San Mateo that possibly has the lowest scores amongst the San Mateo High Schools. They both graduated and went to very good schools. In their graduating class several students were accepted into Harvard, Stanford, MIT and more of the top schools. Some of their friends went to a private high school, were not happy, did not perform well and transferred out. A peninsula high school with a rating of 10 has had an epidemic of suicides. Top scores is not the final answer.

I think some parents feel if their child goes to a high achieving school their child will be a high achiever. I believe an educated, happy and successful child comes more from the family and home not from a school’s API scores. A parent must spend quality time with their child as a person and also as a teacher. They must work as a team with the teacher. They must read to them and listen to the child read. They must review homework and make sure it is completed. President Obama said in his state of the union address (http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2011), "We need to teach our kids that it's not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair."

I believe some home buying parents depend too much on school scores. I think they should also look at the parent participation, the teacher/student ratio, the teacher relationship with the students and parents, the extracurricular classes, sports, clubs, spirit, music, language classes, art programs, fund raising, and more. They should visit the school and sit in on the class. We must keep in mind some people will perform better when they are the high performer amongst their peers rather than an average performer in a high performing peer group. Often a high self esteem will lead to a more successful, happy and satisfied adult. And isn’t that our goal.

Many buyers whom prefer a high performing school are on the right track. They are probably the same parents that will begin the leaning process in their home. They will read, do math, get involved in class projects and in the school. They will bring up their children with the idea education is of vital importance. In my home it was understood that after High School it was college. In today’s home after college it is advanced degrees. As caring parents we must understand our children. Not every child needs to go to college to be a successful adult. Many of the schools are beginning to offer vocational classes again. I applaud that. There are culinary, mechanic, nursing and other very good programs.

As Margaret Lavin writes in the San Jose Mercury news, http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_16994346?nclick_check=1 "we need to talk to our children. Often that is difficult as we are working long hours and try to have a life also but tete-a-tete with your school aged children is important."

I will close with a quote from Margaret; “Standardized test scores influence teachers reputations, school funding, and of course Real Estate Prices. Being a brainiac is great, but being personable and well rounded also leads to future happiness and success.”

I would love to hear your thoughts.

www.leesellsmore.com

Is the Bay Area Home Buyer Obsessed with School Scores

2010 Remodeling Cost as Compared to Resale Value

Remodeling Magazine annually researches the cost of remodeling with the help of Home Tech Information Systems. They also research the value remodeling adds with the help of the National Association of Realtors. They put this information together by regions. For a complete report please go to http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2010/costvsvalue/national.aspx

Below are the results for the San Francisco region.
A small difference in the size or scope of a project, or in the quality of finishes and accessories you choose, can dramatically affect the cost.

The “value” of a project at resale is always subject to forces that are difficult to predict. Changing how a space is used may meet the immediate needs of the current homeowner, but may be at odds with what prospective buyers are looking for. How the value of a remodeling project is perceived also depends on a variety of factors that traditionally affect home values, including the condition of the rest of the house, the value of similar homes nearby, and the rate at which property values in the surrounding area are fluctuating. Comparable values are particularly difficult to judge in the current economic climate, in which the effect on the value of surrounding homes of foreclosed properties and short sales are part of the equation. The mere presence of a large number of unsold homes, whether new or existing, well-maintained or distressed, can have a constricting effect on surrounding home values.

The Cost vs. Value Report provides an accurate snapshot of the general housing market, but it cannot be applied accurately to an individual remodeling project for your particular home. Resale value is only one factor among many that a homeowner must take into account when making the decision to remodel. I think the best course of action is to obtain construction cost estimates from reputable local remodelers and then give me a call at 877-Lee-Sells to discuss the value it will add to your home.

Project Job Cost Resale value % recouped

Attic Bedroom $70.938 $74,206 1 04.6%

Bath Addition $54,927 $44,476 81.0% ­

Bath Remodel $22,014 $22,440 101.9% ­

Deck Addition $18,636 $18,987 101.9%
­(comp)

Deck Addition $15,091 $17,025 112.8% ­
(Wood)

Entry Door $ 4,197 $3,438 81.9%
­(fiberglass)

Entry Door $ 1,546 $2029 112.8%
(Steel)

Family Room $113,274 $109,553 96.7% ­

Garage Addition $79,104 $64,208 81.2%

Garage Dr. Repl.$1,579 $1,992 126.1%

Home Office $34,574 $21,641 62.6%

Major Kitchen Remodel $71.015 $67,583 95.2% ­

Minor Kitchen Remodel $25,039 $27,816 111.1% ­

Master Suite Addition $143,853 $123,003 85.5% ­

Roof Replacement $28,699 $21,821 76.%

Siding Replacement $14,931 $11,111 74,4

2010 Remodeling Cost as Compared to Resale Value

Holiday Shopping for a Home? The next 10 days are Black Fridays In Real Estate!

Are you serious about buying a home? Do you want to take advantage of record low interest rates and the lowest home prices in 5 years? If you answered YES to either question: Then do it now!!!

Why do I say that you might ask? You have much less competition. The people not so serious are fighting the crowds in the malls, (I hope at my son's store Designers Center at "The Shops at Tanforan") not at open houses. Sellers that have their homes on the market now are serious (desperate). Who wants people coming through their home during the holidays? Banks are even more motivated to get rid of these homes before the end of the year. The sooner they get them off their books the better. Now that the foreclosure moratorium is basically over they will have plenty more to sell. They want to get rid of these now. Make an offer. They will listen. They might even gift wrap it for you at no extra charge.

I suggest you hire a personal shopper to do your Christmas Shopping and contact your favorite Realtor to help you buy a home now! I congratulate you in advance. Merry Christmas and Happy House Hunting!

www.leesellsmore.com

Holiday Shopping for a Home? The next 10 days are Black Fridays In Real Estate!

Is the Giants Victory Similar to Buying a Home?

How can the baseball World Series be anywhere related to Home Buying you may ask. Let me explain…

The San Francisco Giants won as a team, and that is the only way to successfully buy a home. You need a team. A great mortgage broker; Tim Lincecum. An excellent Realtor, who is not just a real estate agent (follow this link: http://ow.ly/39GSe); Cody Ross. A hardworking assistant; Edgar Renteria, an experienced inspector; Aubrey Huff, a dependable escrow officer; Busty Posey, and of course a reliable management team; Bruce Bochy.

Now you see the importance of a team. Without one player you may not get the home. A good Realtor has a good team.

Another correlation to the Giants TEAM Victory is the Team of Low Interest Rates, Low Prices, and Motivated Sellers. That leads to the Victory of Closing on a Home; Brian Wilson.

www.leesellsmore.com

Is the Giants Victory Similar to Buying a Home?