More than 338,000 Americans moved to retire in 2023, an increase of 44% compared to 2022 California has the highest share of retirees moving to new states (18%) Besides retirement itself, the top 3 reasons for moving: Being closer to family Health New or better housing   I recently attended a presentation by a fellow realtor with tons of experience in the greater Las Vegas, Nevada, area. She pointed out why an increasing number of retirees are considering Las Vegas, and the surrounding areas:  Henderson/Green Valley, Summerlin, Paradise: No income tax Low cost of living Pr ..read more

As we start a new year, let’s take a look at some year-over-year numbers. Following is information comparing the beginning of 2023 to that of 2024, for Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. If you’d like information on other counties, shoot me a text at 650-224-4747. What’s so noticeable is that in spite of all the challenges we’ve seen in real estate in recent months, the new year has kicked off at an amazing pace, just check out the average sale prices: Are you thinking of buying or selling this year? Do you have a question where my expertise can be of help? Remember, I’m here to help, would ..read more

We all know the saying “what we don’t know can’t harm us,” yet that isn’t always true, there are times when what we don’t know can be a problem and a lack of information around social security can be a case in point. I met Kevin Walton, Registered Social Security Analyst, through my Rotary group when he talked about social security. I was so impressed by what he said that I asked him to write me a posting on international social security agreements, also known as totalization agreements, a topic rarely talked about yet hugely important whether you are planning to work in another country or ar ..read more

We know about the catastrophic wild fires California has experienced but what exactly does this mean for an insurance company, why don’t they want our business? Here’s a slightly different perspective, let’s look at the dollars and cents of the business (and, yes. it’s probably TMI but I don’t know how to say it briefly). * For a small insurance carrier to be able to write insurance in California, they must have at a minimum $2,000,000 in “free flowing capital” yearly. * The average cost of homeowners insurance in CA is $1,084 per $250,000 in reconstruction cost. The average cost to re ..read more

Usually my postings are about real estate data or market trends, lately, I’ve broadened my writings to include issues clients bring up to me.  I figure if many people are asking the same questions, then most likely there are others who haven’t asked, yet need the information, so here goes! With an aging population, there are many experiencing memory, or unexpected serious health issues, be it a stroke, heart troubles, dementia, Alzheimers and/or some sort of cognitive impairment.  Should this be the case in your family or circle of friends, it may help to know the following ..read more

When your life goes sideways, the rug is pulled out from under your feet, when suddenly what was unthinkable is a new reality, what do you do?  First, contact me; I’m here to help, you are not alone.  That said, let me tell you what’s helped me, and many of my family, friends, and clients.  If you’re currently in deep caretaking mode, scroll down and start with #6. 1)  Stop and take a deep breath When a major problem strikes, it’s only natural to panic; our breathing becomes shallow, we take quicker breaths. We tend to act quickly, to look for an immed ..read more

Lately, I’ve been asked many times whether or not we’re out of the real estate gloomies we’ve experienced lately!  While the first quarter of 2022 was a steaming hot market, that can’t be said for the months that followed with real estate trending downwards.  What a difference a year makes!  Over the last year we’ve had to deal with a war, stock market and Bitcoin plunge, numerous interest rates hikes, layoffs, and let’s not forget bank failures; phew, we all deserve a break! In comparing the first quarter of 2022 with the first quarter of 2023, it’s clear that several cities h ..read more

When listing their home, every seller wants it to look its best, to show well, to obtain the highest sale price possible. When meeting with my clients, I stress the following: 1. Vacate your home and if that’s not possible, empty it as much as possible Once you’ve a signed contract you may only have 2-4 weeks to vacate, to avoid that deadline stress, pack as much as possible and rent a pod or storage unit.  Getting a short term rental or moving in with family/friends is also a great help; remember, once the house is listed, if you’re still living in it, you need to make it available for o ..read more

Hello Friends, If you’re anything like me, you love information, so I’ve put together some stats in an easy to read visual that I hope you’ll find gives a nice quick overview of the market. I have access to a lot of real estate information courtesy of our local Multiple Listing System; going forward I’ll be sending you more such information. If there’s any specific data you’d like, please feel free to reach out and let me know, I’m here to help : The post Mountain View Market Report appeared first on BAYAREA ..read more

When you add a furry member to your household, you gain a faithful companion that will be there for you when you need them most. But, you also inherit fur, slobber, and dirt brought in from their time outside. It’s a bit of extra work, but it’s worth it. Today on Bay Area Housing Trends, we offer up advice on how to keep a clean and healthy house despite fur and muddy paws. Automate – If you’ve never had a pet before, be ready for hair to get everywhere. Ideally, you’ll vacuum every day when you have a pet in the home. Fortunately, a robot vacuum cleaner makes this chore less of a hassl ..read more