Dani Fox Real Estate Team

Zestimates, Shmestimates…

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How Zestimates Cost Zillow Millions of Dollars

You may or may not have heard that Zillow recently announced that they were shutting down their home buying business, Zillow Offers and laying off 25% of their workforce. Let’s break down what this service intended (and failed) to do and why this failure is proving the point that every local realtor has been saying (maybe yelling?) for years, “ZESTIMATES ARE NOT HOME APPRAISALS!”

In 2018 Zillow began their iBuying program, Zillow Offers with the intent of getting home sellers  “stress free” cash offers on their homes. Sellers saw this as an opportunity to have a hassle free process, a way to eliminate agent commissions, as well as shave time off the process. While the iBuying process is quick – it would still cost sellers 5-7% of the sale in a “transaction fee”, which is a wash, as it compares to agent commissions.

This iBuying process, in theory, would eliminate agents and open houses because Zillow would purchase the home for what they decided to offer and then they would make minimal repairs and minor renovations to turn around and sell it for a profit. While the Zillow Offer and the Zestimates would differ (because the offer will take into account the money they will be putting into the home to get it ready to go back on the market) Zillow still used their Zestimate tool in order to put together their offer. 

Well, guess what happened? They were forced to sell the houses they had bought, for a loss. Not just in some markets, but in the majority of the markets where the service was offered. In the last three months alone, they lost $420,000,000 trying to flip the homes they had purchased.  How could that happen? 

Well, their CEO Rich Barton said, “Fundamentally, we have been unable to predict the future pricing of homes to a level of accuracy that makes this a safe business to be in.” 

How were they forecasting the home prices? Algorithms. Leaving it up to technology to determine the price of the homes and market prediction. As any “boots on the ground” Real Estate Agent will tell you, pricing a home has an incredible amount of nuance. Leaving it up to a computer that has no ability to adapt for nuances in certain markets is clearly going to lead to problems. 

This whole situation begs the question, are Zestimates at all accurate? Mike DelPrete, an iBuying Real Estate analyst, was quoted saying, “This is really a toy… This is to stimulate people’s interest in property.” We’ve said it before, we will say it again – Zestimates are not a home appraisal. And Zillow says on their website, “It is a computer-generated estimate of the value of a home today, given the available data. We encourage buyers, sellers and homeowners to supplement the Zestimate with other research, such as visiting the home, getting a professional appraisal of the home, or requesting a comparative market analysis (CMA) from a real estate agent.” So it is safe to say that Zillow has proven the point for us that Zestimates are not accurate.

Other popular iBuying sites (Redfin, OpenDoor, Offerpad, etc…) are still at it and we are sure that some form of this type of home selling will remain in our current landscape. There may be situations where using a service like this to sell your home makes more sense than a traditional method. As we mentioned, it can be a very quick process. There is also the appeal of not having to have your house “show ready” during the selling process. The convenience of it cannot be argued against. Depending on the situation you are in, it may make sense for you to go the iBuying route. Seeking professional guidance is the best way to get informed and discover which selling method will be best for you. 

The Real Estate industry is changing and has been forced to evolve with the times. Despite the changes, we feel it remains true – a real estate professional that knows a local market will net sellers more money for their homes. Home valuation cannot be done with artificial intelligence – for now, it needs to be done with humans. As a Real Estate Brokerage, we pride ourselves on having a team full of local professionals that will be with you every step of the way. If you would like to read more about this iBuying topic, this is a great article that digs into the Zillow situation. We would also be happy to talk to you about the iBuying process and if it is right for you, even if it does eliminate our role in your journey. We want all of our clients and potential clients to do what is going to be best for them. 

Home Renovation Projects … Most “Bang for Buck”

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Homeowners are always wondering if the money they put into a renovation project will be worth it in the long run – will it add value to their home when trying to sell? It is wise to take this into consideration because there are certain things you can do to your home that are well worth the investment and others that really don’t pencil out. 

Our DBRE agents see this all the time when sitting down with clients at listing appointments – they love when they can deliver good news and tell the sellers that the new changes they made in their bathroom will pay for itself when they expertly price the home for sale. 

So what are the renovation projects that make the most sense and aren’t going to cost you an arm and a leg? 

  • All that you have heard about the kitchen and the bathrooms in a home being a huge selling point, are true. Making even minor renovations to these two areas of your home can add value when it is time to sell. Updating the vanity, or painting your old kitchen cabinets are things that aren’t going to break the bank, but will make a big difference when it comes to the potential buyer’s first impressions. 
  • What costs a few hundred bucks and a weekend’s worth of sweat equity? New paint! Throwing on some new (ideally neutral) paint colors up on the walls is going to be a great bang for buck project. 
  • Updating the landscaping will not only boost your curb appeal, but it is also an affordable way to add value to your home. Here in the Valley, it is important to think about drought tolerant plants and always be sure to pick trees and plants that are native and will do well in our climate. Not sure what those are? Stop in to Luis’s Nursery in Visalia and they will be glad to help! Quick Pro-Tip: they can deliver if you have a car that won’t hold all of the goodies you buy 🙂 
  • Ask a pro! Any one of our agents could help you decide what makes sense for your renovations and can tell you about some comps in the neighborhood. You could also reach out to a local interior designer for some tips as well. We love everything Chrissy with Noun Interiors does. Even following her on Instagram will give you some great ideas. 

Now that we have given you some foundational knowledge, we do want to leave you with something to keep in mind – if you are making renovations to your home and not intending to sell soon, then by all means do what it is that your heart desires! On the other hand, if you are making the upgrade with the intention of getting the home ready to sell, then pay attention to the items we listed above. With everything in life, there are two sides to this coin, but the main thing to keep in mind, when making a big (expensive) renovation is this: keep it simple and not overly personalized. 

We don’t mean – make it look like every other home on HGTV – but it is important to think about what potential buyers are going to see when they walk in the door (now or 5+ years from now.) Are they going to see a blank canvas to work with? Or are they going to see a bunch of work they have to do to bring it back to a blank canvas? Are they going to see the black paint you picked for the guest bath as a 4 coat paint job they don’t want to deal with? Or will they be drawn to your “Agreeable Grey” paint and feel cozy and ready to make an offer?

If you are still scratching your head, wondering what renovations you should make or skip, then please feel free to reach out. We are a full service brokerage and have agents who are skilled experts in all things house related that would be happy to give you some advice and pointers. And of course we are always at the ready if you find that you are ready for someone else to enjoy the renovations you’ve made. Reach out to us today! 

The Market Now is NOT the Same as the Market in 2008

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Anyone who works in Real Estate these days can’t escape the line of questioning surrounding whether or not we are in a housing bubble or if there is going to be a market crash. People are seeing the prices of homes on the rise, and it begins to feel familiar. For anyone who was old enough to have experienced the Housing Market Crash of 2008, it does make you scratch your head and wonder if we are on a path that is going to lead to another big market crash. 

Let’s dig in to why 2021 is NOT 2008 and we will not see history repeat itself. In today’s Real Estate Market, housing prices are up – which is the biggest similarity to 2008 – but thankfully, most similarities stop there. 

Housing Prices are high right now due to simple supply and demand

The situation in the market right now is a classic example of supply and demand – one that a high school economics teacher would be thrilled to give – it’s that perfect. Interest rates are at an all time low – which is making potential buyers feel like they need to jump at locking in this low rate before it passes them by (demand) – coupled with the fact that home inventory is at an all time low (supply), then causing the price of houses to rise.

Why were housing prices skyrocketing before the 2008 Housing Market Crash? Mostly because there was a buying frenzy causing home prices to reach unsustainably high levels, due to predatory lending practices. Down payments were almost non-existent and people were approved for loans they should have never received. People were getting into homes with adjustable rate mortgages forcing them to default on their mortgages when rates increased to levels that were doubling and even tripling their monthly payments. 

Then enter the Market Crash… it gets a little more complicated at this point, but to simplify – people defaulting on paying their mortgages, lead to foreclosures, which therefore decimated the financial securities that were backing the subprime mortgages. There is a lot more to that side of things, but the bottom line is this: in 2021, those poor lending practices are no longer allowed. The mortgage industry has been completely overhauled and regulated to ensure we do not see a repeat of 2008.

Rates are low right now to help fuel the economy through the coronavirus pandemic and according to Freddie Mac, these rates are projected to stay low throughout 2021 which will help with keeping the market lively and moving forward. 

The other main difference in 2021 vs 2008 is the fact that many homeowners have more equity in their homes than the homeowners of 2008. This helps protect homeowners that may have fallen on hard times – they can refinance or pull cash out of their homes with their equity. Additionally, they could opt to sell their home rather than having to Short Sell or be forced into a foreclosure situation. 

Will we see the market stabilize in the near future? 

That depends on what happens with inventory of homes for sale. Currently, in the Central Valley and along the Central Coast, we have a one month supply of homes on the market. A common thought is having 4-6 months of supply is a balanced market, so it may be a while that we are in what is referred to as a Seller’s Market. 

The hope is with the vaccine rollout and more things slowly returning to normalcy, current homeowners will have more confidence in listing their homes, therefore increasing inventory. In addition to those homes coming on the market, there is a fair amount of new builds that are also going to help add to the inventory, which will make things less competitive with buyers, which will slowly keep the housing prices in more balance. 

While we unfortunately do not have a crystal ball, we can look to industry expert predictions and history to feel confident in saying that 2021 will not see a market crash. We know that everything in this market can feel a bit overwhelming, but we want to make sure that our potential buyers and sellers know that we are here to serve you and meet all of your real estate needs. If you are still feeling unsure and want to speak to one of us about the market, your options, or where to begin the buying or selling process, please reach out to us. We are happy to help and discuss things with you further. 

Selling in a Seller’s Market Sounds Great… Until I Become the Buyer in a Seller’s Market

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You’ve heard it over and over… you get it! You know it’s a Seller’s Market. You are well aware that inventory is low and the market NEEDS listings. Right? You own your home, you know it is the right time to sell – but you are worried. Because it seems that all you ever hear is how quickly houses are selling and it sounds like the competition for new listings is fierce. Guess what? We (the Real Estate industry) are not doing a good job selling the idea of selling your home right now. 

Does this sound like you? 

“If I sell my house, and it’s a Seller’s Market – great. Buuuut, in the next breath I am actually a Buyer in said Seller’s Market – soooo then what? Will I be able to find another home? Will I even be able to afford the home I want (if I can find it?) What if I don’t find something before escrow closes? Where will we go? Forget it… we will stay put.”

Those are all very fair, great questions. Let us help ease some of those concerns and start instilling a bit of confidence into our would-be sellers. Here is what you need to keep in mind:

You are likely moving from one price range to another

More often than not, when people own a home and are looking to sell, it’s into a bigger home or a home in a different area that wasn’t an option to you when you first bought your home. Typically, it is the next price range up from what was a starter home. 

Right now, here in the Valley, starter homes are selling like hotcakes! Truly – they are oftentimes only on the market for a matter of days. Why is that? Because mortgage rates are so low that many first time buyers see home ownership as a reality. These are the people coming in and snatching up newly listed homes. 

If you are looking to sell your starter home and move into your forever home, you aren’t competing for the same homes as many of today’s buyers. Additionally, if you are looking to move from what you thought was your forever home and into a luxury home – this is the perfect time! Luxury listings are not as competitive and low mortgage rates may make this a more viable option for you. 

It really is a Seller’s Market, so you can negotiate not only the financial side of the contact, but also the timeline

While the process of being a buyer and a seller does add more moving parts and may make a stressful situation, feel a bit more stressful — it isn’t impossible. With the leverage you will have in the negotiation of the home you are selling, you can make sure you don’t leave yourself out in the cold. You can build in contingencies and/or you can say that you want a longer escrow. There are many ways to get creative with counter offers to make sure you set yourself up for success when you move into the buyers seat.

You can create a solid back-up plan

If things get a little dicey or the timing doesn’t match up perfectly, you should have a back-up plan. While getting ready to list your home, start saving money – ideally, you will have two times your monthly mortgage payment on hand in case you have to carry both homes for a while.

That extra money can also go towards an AirBnB you can stay in temporarily – or you can negotiate a rent back from the people buying your first home. If you can stay with family, that will save you some money and you can put money towards a storage unit until your next home is ready. 

Still feel overwhelmed by the what ifs? We got you!

It would be beyond overwhelming and stressful if you were going into this blind and alone, but guess what? You’re not! Hopefully you are working alongside an experienced Real Estate Pro… and if you are reading this on our blog – then we certainly hope it is with one of our experienced agents!

We have worked with many sellers that are also a buyer. We have had to get creative and learn how to make this market work for our clients. We are confident that we can successfully get you from one home to another even in today’s market. 

Right now is the best time to sell your home. Period. You are hearing about it all the time because it has never been more true. Even if you do move from the Seller role into the Buyer role – now is still the right time, because with these low interest rates – you will get more home for less money. 

While it is clear that this market is a “no-brainer” for Sellers – it’s also great time to jump on the investment and ownership opportunities as a buyer with the rates as they are. Soooo… if you are even the tiniest bit considering selling, reach out to us,  and we will set you up with an agent to talk things out and make you feel at ease before you officially enter into the process. 

What Every Agent Wishes You Knew

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Whether you’ve never bought or sold a house or have done both, there are a handful of things every Real Estate Agent wishes you knew. Today, we bring you our agents’ top four! It’s our insider’s info on the reality of being a Real Estate Agent. 

An Agent will rarely sit you down to tell you the things we are about to give you the scoop on. They will chug forward, working long, demanding hours with friendly smiles on their faces because they love what they do. However, we suspect if you knew these few important tidbits things would be ever more smooth for both you and your agent! So, with the hopes of shining light into the lesser known parts of our industry (and to help you, help us the next time we work together) here are the top four things Agents wish you knew: 


#1 Choose Your Agent Wisely

We’ve said it before and we will say it again… especially in today’s market, you need a Real Estate Agent. Ideally one of our DBRE Agents. Because now more than ever, we need you to truly consider who will represent you in this monumental life decision. Don’t just pick your aunt’s, neighbor’s, son’s, wife who just got her license and is eager for a client. Now is not the time to let Uncle Ned dust off his old Real Estate license. 

This current market is nothing like any of us have ever seen before. Working with a trusted DBRE Agent means that you are working with someone who has been navigating this market the whole time ‘this market’ has morphed into what we now know it to be. Our Agents will serve you with integrity and deliver their expertise and knowledge. They also have the support of our entire DBRE team behind them.


#2 Just Because “Zillow Says” – Doesn’t Mean It’s So…

Isn’t it fun to look on Zillow and see what your home is worth? Well… unfortunately, Zestimates are kind of just that – for fun. They are often completely off base and make it hard for us to convince our clients that our expertise and actual MLS listing comps are a lot more accurate than what you see on Zillow, Trullia, etc. Zillow is not a property valuation site. Period. It works off of algorithms and online data that may be out of date or inaccurate. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we do feel this is important for our clients to be in the know about.


#3 We Don’t Make as Much Money as You Think

This is not to say that Real Estate is not a lucrative industry, it absolutely has the potential to be, but there seems to be a bit of a misconception that all Real Estate Agents make great money. There are so many variables to what an Agents annual salary looks like, not to mention that in this industry, you’ve got to spend money to make money. 

In a 100% commission based field, Agents don’t get paid until every paper is signed, sealed, and delivered. It can be after months and months of working every weekend showing homes, writing multiple offers that don’t materialize, paying for marketing of your home upfront, and… so.much.gas. Each transaction could be 100s of hours of work that agents don’t get paid for unless, and until, the transaction is finally closed. 

Things fall through, people switch Agents (this is the ultimate heart breaker for most Agents), and people change their mind. A common mindset in real estate goes something like this: a client is like a bet the Agent makes, taking a risk on you. They work hard for you to ensure their gamble pays off in the end. At DBRE we are more than this. DBRE’s Agents our servant-leaders. While each new client involves risk we believe the risk is worth it since relationships and people are so important to us. Most times we are successful because we know that when the client succeeds we do, regardless of what that looks like in the end.


#4 Trust Us… We Got You! 

We feel confident in saying that all of the Agents at Dani Blain Real Estate are salt of the earth people who know that we value putting people over numbers and taking care of our clients is of utmost priority. Plus, all our agents are backed by our entire family of agents. 

Like all industries, Real Estate can have some bad apples in the bunch, but when you choose to work with a DBRE Agent, you can trust this person has your best interests in mind and will work hard to meet your needs. 

The process could be difficult (especially in today’s market…) and it could feel like a roller coaster ride. The good thing? Your agent knows this ride well. They will brace you for the twists and turns and help you when you need to pause the ride – or ask to move on to a new one. 

And there ya have it… what every Agent wishes you knew. We hope you learned a few things and we hope all your future transactions or current ones are just that much smoother!

This post is to “pull back the curtain” on parts of the Real Estate industry you may not have known about. All of our Agents have picked this profession because they love to serve others and they are good at what they do. They value and appreciate all of their clients and gladly do all of the fun and not so fun parts of their job.

We look forward to connecting with you, working with you, and hopefully finding you the home or property of your dreams. If you have any questions about the process, about a property, or even about our brokerage, please reach out so we can help.

Shop Til Ya Drop… Or Until You’re All “Scrolled” Out

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Online shopping is King… even if people intend to shop in person, oftentimes they will check out prices and reviews online before heading to a brick and mortar storefront. It’s no wonder that online shopping and e-commerce has completely changed the way people look for their future homes. 

Back in the day, before we had access to all of the technology we now have at our fingertips, the way Realtors listed homes was very different from the way we do it now. We have Amazon and online shopping in general to thank for that. Everyone is very familiar with shopping online – whether it’s for groceries, a mattress, a car, or a home – step one is typically done on our phones. 

So what does that mean for the way we list homes and the way we market your home? If we know that online shopping is something that everyone does without thinking these days and we know that the first thing someone is going to do to begin their house hunt is to pick up their phone – we know your listing needs to appeal to these online shoppers. 

Your DBRE Agent knows and understands the best way to have an online shopper connect with your home listing. We work with teams of photographers and stagers to make sure your listing has all of the bells and whistles it may need. Each home and each listing will be different and each Agent will put their own touch on it, but we can guarantee that it will be NOTHING like the listings from way back when, or heck… even from five years ago! 

We know the process can feel daunting and you may be wondering if your house is ready to list. Instead of scrolling and reading through advice online, connect with us so we can put you in touch with one of our Agents who can walk you through the entire process. If you are wondering what some of our listings look like, go take a peek to see what we have on the market and see all of the great things our teams have put together. 

In today’s rapidly paced market, where inventory is low and demand is high – people are checking MLS listings multiple times a day and sometimes making offers on just the listing alone. With drone photography, virtual tours, and huge photo galleries of listings – it can feel like the shopper has already been in the home, which is vastly different than the days of Open Houses and flyers on door steps. We have fully adjusted to this new way of marketing our listings and hope that you will let us use our expertise with your home. 

If you are ready to list your home, Dani Blain Real Estate Agents are standing by, ready to get your home listed and sold. They will take you through the process step by step and make sure that your home is “ready for it’s close up” to create a visually appealing listing that will catch the eye of even the savviest online shoppers. 

Central Valley Housing Market in the New Year

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As the longest and most difficult year for a lot of us comes to an end, we want to spend a bit of time looking ahead. With a new year comes a fresh start, a new leaf, the next chapter. Many view it as a time to make goals and resolutions and map out the year ahead. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that we can’t predict everything that lies ahead.  No one could have imagined what 2020 would have in store for us, so we won’t pretend that we have a crystal ball for what 2021 will look like. But, in terms of what we can expect in the Central Valley Real Estate market, we do have a few predictions we can share with you to help you plan for the year ahead.

Inventory Will Remain Tight

All signs are pointing to 2021 looking pretty similar to last year in a few respects, with low inventory being on the list. It has been nearly impossible to keep up with the buyer demand, resulting in slim pickings for buyers. 

If you are looking to buy a home in the Central Valley in 2021, we have a team of agents that are ready to serve you and help you find your next home. It may require extra patience and level setting expectations, but we are sure the perfect-for-you home is within reach for you. You can check out a couple of our previous blog posts of what the market currently looks like for both buyers and sellers. 

Home Prices Will Stay on the Rise

Which is great for sellers and a little tougher of a pill to swallow for buyers. With inventory low and eager buyers – 2021 will continue the trend we saw beginning last spring. If you spent last year saving and cleaning up your credit report, then 2021 is your year to take the leap into home ownership. If you still have some work to do in that department, commit to buckling down the first half of the year so that you can meet your goals sooner than later. Check out some tips from Dave Ramsey on how you can save for a down payment while renting.

Sellers can stay hopeful about getting a nice return on their investment and if you are working with an experienced agent, you will have plenty of offers headed your way. It will be important to have a plan for your next move, as the inventory will be slim. Practice patience and negotiate an offer that will give you the flexibility you may need.  

The Real Estate Market Looks Stable

Most of us can remember the Real Estate Market Crash of 2008 and there are leery buyers and sellers wondering if we are in the midst of a bubble that could soon burst. Thankfully, all signs point to stability. The housing market has been leading the charge in our country’s economic recovery throughout the Coronavirus Crisis. Experts do not see an impending crash. We are in a completely different place than we were in 2008 and there is no reason to believe that the positive trends we saw in 2020 will be leaving us high and dry in 2021. 

The Bottom Line

Real Estate in California has long been a safe investment and it will remain as such this year. Even if you aren’t planning on buying or selling in 2021 and you are currently a homeowner, you can expect to see your home value rise in this current market. If you aren’t sure what your goals are for this year, maybe investing in Real Estate can be added to your list? 

2021 looks promising for Real Estate in the Central Valley, as many companies are adopting the work from home model and people are fleeing big cities and looking to plant roots in a place that is affordable and still close to big cities. With the Central Valley being positioned smack in the middle of Los Angeles and San Francisco, we fit the bill for a lot of eager buyers. 

Our agents had incredible success in 2020 and are looking to continue it in 2021. There was a great deal of learning to be done in this new market, and they did so quickly and swiftly creating loads of sales and happy clients. We hope that you will trust us to serve you in the new year and we send you warm wishes of prosperity for 2021. 

Get in touch with us today to learn more about buying or selling in the Central Valley and we will match you with one of our hard-working agents. 

Reality of Today’s Market: The Buyers Edition

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We have covered the general state of today’s real estate market, as well as the reality for sellers at this time, so now we are ready to dive into what it is like for buyers in the current market. It seems we can’t go more than a minute without someone mentioning the “unprecedented times” we are living through – and for good reason. No one has ever seen the things we are seeing while we live through this pandemic. The real estate market is no exception, so today’s buyers need to be well aware what they are getting themselves into, particularly if this is their first time buying a home. This is not your mother’s home buying experience, so buckle up and get ready for a wild ride. 

Cash is King 

With inventory low and interest rates high, sellers have the upper hand and can be quite selective with the offers they are getting. The more capital you have on hand and the way you can use it in a creative way, the better your offer will do. There are lots of funding and loans options available for you to explore. In our Central Valley Tri-County area, we are seeing everything from FHA and USDA loans to conventional loans. When you want to begin the process to learn more about funding options, your Dani Blain Real Estate (DBRE) Agents can help you discuss options and connect you with our pals at Country Club Mortgage as well for additional information or pre-approval processing.

Flexibility is not far behind

With many sellers also simultaneously looking to buy another home, they may find themselves in a situation where the low inventory is making it difficult to secure their next home. If you are clear in your offer that you can be flexible – it may give your offer a leg up on others. If you aren’t in a huge rush and can agree to a longer escrow period, or if you can offer a rent back situation, it will allow the sellers a bit of breathing room and can make your offer the most appealing. There are many things that could fall into this category where experienced agents can help you get creative in each individual offer they draw up with their clients. 

Keep your emotions in check and be ready to move quickly!

This type of market moves quickly and can feel like an emotionally trying process for some. You are going to need to protect yourself a bit and try your best not to fall in love with the houses you see. There are so many unforeseen circumstances in today’s market that getting your hopes up may leave you feeling crushed if your offer isn’t even drawn before the home of our dreams sells. 

We cannot adequately prepare you for how quickly we have been seeing houses sell – it is at a breakneck speed, so we need our clients to be able to move at this rapid pace, which can be a bit jarring. If you are the type that likes to mull things over and really take your time when making decisions, the house you decide to put an offer on tomorrow – may get five offers today. 

The bottom line: Work with an Agent you trust AND has experience in this market

We’ve said it before, and we will say it again – we cannot emphasize the importance of working with an experienced Agent enough. Here at DBRE we have been busy buying and selling homes in this new pandemic driven Real Estate market. We have Agents out there charting these new waters and finding our way through to help our clients land the home of their dreams every single day.

We know that buying a home is one of the most stressful life events we face in our adulthood. The typical home buying stress that has always been there for everyone, unfortunately has only intensified in today’s market. Working alongside an Agent that understands the nuanced market we are experiencing, while also having the emotional intelligence to truly offer an empathetic  beacon of support, is something that we are so proud to do here at DBRE. 

Throughout the process, we are confident you will feel like you are working with a skilled, trusted, friend that is laser-focused on one goal – meeting your needs and making you feel seen, heard, and supported every step of the way. 

If you are ready to embark on a home buying journey – we hope you choose to do it with us. It may be emotional and hard, but it will be worth it and you will end up in the home that was meant for you… for that we are sure! Get in touch with us today. 

The Reality of Today’s Market

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Seller’s Edition

Inventory is low, it’s a seller’s market, sell now! Seems like those are the things people have swirling around in their heads these days. While it is true that we are currently in the middle of a seller’s market – it’s not just any ol’ market – its a market like none of us have ever seen. We talked a while back about what the current Real Estate Market here in the Central Valley in our post “The Real Estate Market TODAY” and today we are going to dig in a little deeper on what the reality is for sellers at this moment. 

When you are working with an experienced Real Estate Agent you will have someone to guide you through what the process can look like in this unique market. Our team of Agents here at Dani Blain Real Estate have remained very busy throughout the coronavirus Pandemic and very familiar with the current trends. Some things you should be thinking about if you are going to be putting a house on the market soon:

It will be a lot different than the last time you bought or sold a house

No one has ever seen a market like this before. We can promise you – unless you have bought/sold a home in the last six months, this process will be very different than the last time you were here. You may see incredibly short listing times. With inventory low and loads of eager buyers, we are seeing houses only having live listings for a number of hours before the offers start rolling in. 

You may receive multiple offers. You may see multiple offers above your listing price. There may be heartfelt letters from sellers of why you should choose them over another eager buyer. With this seller’s market you will be in the driver’s seat – but working alongside a knowledgeable agent will be like having the perfect GPS navigating the route from the passenger seat. 

Make sure you have a strong virtual listing

With interest rates currently being so low, we are seeing a lot of first time buyers and the majority of them are Millennials. Millennials are all about shopping online and scrolling through MLS listings is something anyone can do before they even get out of bed in the morning. Having a listing with great photos, a virtual tour, etc… can really make your home stand out and garner lots of interest with excited buyers. Having people fall in love with a home before they even see it in person is what it is all about right now.

Be comfortable with the unknown 

Every house and every process is totally unique and different. Once the offers start to come in there will be a great deal of variables to work through with your agent. Having an agent that can be thinking ten steps ahead and trying to anticipate the unknown will help a lot. Being prepared to go on a bit of a journey with lots of twists and turns is what we need all of our seller’s to be comfortable with right now. 

Is now the right time to sell your house? It is a great time if you are ready! It will be important for you to have your plan and know exactly what the next steps are for after you sell your current home. We have Agents that can help you map out the best way to make this happen and help you search for a new home while you’re in the process of selling. It is a lot of moving parts during a stressful and emotional process – which makes working with an Agent you trust and click with is so important. Get in touch with us and we can help match you with an agent that will be perfect for you and your situation in any area in the Central Valley.

The Real Estate Market TODAY

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COVID-19 has changed nearly all aspects of our lives, so of course it has impacted the Real Estate Market. Here in the Central Valley and across the country, we are all dealing with this new pandemic market – a market like we have never seen. Like most industries, Real Estate was forced to make a quick pivot and adapt to the new safety measures and protocols put in place to keep buyers, sellers, agents, lenders, etc… safe and healthy. Now that we have all made the adjustments and navigated our way through some of the initial uncertainty, we have seen things settle a bit and can fill you in on what’s going on with the residential real estate market today:

Buyers are eager

They see that interest rates are at historic lows and they know they can lock in a rate in the 2.5s which is significantly better than rates have ever been. First time home buyers are looking at this as an opportunity to finally make their home buying dreams a reality. Here in the Valley, we are seeing homes in that first time buyer range of the low $200s sell in mere hours after the listing is live. In addition to those types of listings, we are seeing that there are eager buyers for every type of property coming in with creative ways to make sure they land the home they want.

Inventory is low

With so many eager buyers on the prowl for a place to call home, there are simply not enough houses on the market. With the initial uncertainty of the way pandemic would impact people’s jobs and livelihoods, there were a lot of hesitant home owners who weren’t sure that now was the right time to list their home. However, more recently, we are seeing this settle a bit. We have seen people are more aware that there is an opportunity to list their home and upgrade from a starter home into a forever home, or transition from a big family home into a smaller home for empty-nesters. Sellers are seizing this unique market as an opportunity and slowly adding to our inventory, which is great. 

Offers are WILD

It is safe to say over these last six months we have seen some of the most wild offers come through and have seen truly unprecedented things happening as it relates to this phase of the process. It can be fast paced, somewhat stressful, and feel a little intense. Sellers are favored and buyers need to come prepared for an offer process full of ups and downs. 

Now more than ever, we can say with certainty, that people that are getting into the houses of their dreams or are selling for above asking, are doing it alongside a Real Estate Agent they trust and is savvy in what is happening at this moment in Real Estate. Now is not the time to work with someone who is dusting off their license or doing Real Estate part time. Things are changing daily and our agents here at Dani Blain Real Estate are in the mix and making successful offers regularly. 

We have seen that a “bid it to win it” strategy is crucial in this market and we are well poised and experienced in this new Real Estate landscape across the valley. We invite you to reach out to us and chat with one of our agents who can help you prepare to either buy or sell in today’s market. Stay tuned for our next two blogs where we will be going more into depth on what the reality of this market is for buyers and for sellers.