Save money by buying used
Very practical list; I love it. I've been buying old furniture for a long time; and every pet has been adopted. What else to you buy that has been previously enjoyed?
Eric Castongia // San Francisco Broker Associate
SFHotBuy.com
Save money by buying used
Very practical list; I love it. I've been buying old furniture for a long time; and every pet has been adopted. What else to you buy that has been previously enjoyed?
Some tips to make the process a little easier to get started
I have done my share of remodeling; usually starting with a sledge hammer and a bottle of Chardonnay, but others may not have the same ease at starting that process. I thought this article gave some good tips at how to break the process down into pieces so that it won't be quite as intimidating. I am happy to give some tips as well, so don't hesitate to ask. Are you planning any remodeling this year?
Here are some great tips
I really liked the practical tips in this article for downsizing into a smaller home. I have done this myself in the last few years and it was a lot easier than you might think. Do you have any tips I could share with clients doing the same thing?
West Portal Real Estate Market goes up for another year
By Eric Castongia, Zephyr Real Estate
This was an interesting year to look back on. In looking at the analysis I did for 2011 and 2012, it’s amazing how far we’ve come! In 2011, we had price reductions, withdrawn listings and properties sat on the market. In February 2012, we roared back to life and we’ve been running ever since, although I felt a pause in the fall. Even over the holidays this year, we saw properties come on right up to Christmas and then they sold right away.
Eric Castongia, Residential Sales Specialist at Zephyr Real Estate provided the information in this article. The content of this article is an interpretation of data from the San Francisco Multiple Listing Service and Eric’s observations in the marketplace. Eric can be reached by e-mail at Eric@SFHotBuy.com, or via mobile phone at (415)307-1700. DRE Lic. No. 01188380
Obtaining hazard insurance on property has gotten more difficult, so please get started immediately on securing hazard insurance on your property. This is because of the extraordinary losses that insurance companies have paid out from disasters and mold claims. Obtaining insurance for properties that are older, have brick foundations, are mixed use or commercial buildings, or multiple unit buildings can be even more challenging.
Since lenders require hazard insurance to be in place prior to close of escrow; unknown claims discovered prior to close and after you are in a purchase contract could be frustrating and expensive should you not be able to close escrow until insurance is secured. While you are in contract, the sellers through their agent, should disclose (or be asked to disclose) any claims on the property and if possible, order a CLUE report from their insurance carrier to disclose any claims that may have been made. The seller can order one from www.choicetrust.com, or their insurance agent can provide one; we cannot get one on their behalf.
If you are purchasing a condominium, there is a master insurance policy on the complex and this is an issue of which you should not have the same concern as when you are buying the entire property. You should still consider getting a condominium contents policy, however, to cover the contents in the case of fire, theft, or other disaster. Be sure to note that you may need an ‘HO-6’ policy that would cover appliances, kitchen cabinets, fixtures and finishes.
When shopping for insurance, make sure you talk to several insurers. Generally, you will have a better grasp on what are important features in policies by talking to multiple people because you’ll know what features and exclusions each policy have. Here are some things to consider:
Items in list above inspired by Realtor Online Magazine, reprinted with permission of the NAR, copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
By Eric Castongia, Zephyr Real Estate
This was an interesting year to look back on. In looking at the analysis I did for 2011 and 2012, it’s amazing how far we’ve come! In 2011, we had price reductions, withdrawn listings and properties sat on the market. In February 2012, we roared back to life and we’ve been running ever since, although I felt a pause in the fall. Even over the holidays this year, we saw properties come on right up to Christmas and then they sold right away.
Eric Castongia, Residential Sales Specialist at Zephyr Real Estate provided the information in this article. The content of this article is an interpretation of data from the San Francisco Multiple Listing Service and Eric’s observations in the marketplace. Eric can be reached by e-mail at Eric@SFHotBuy.com, or via mobile phone at (415)307-1700. DRE Lic. No. 01188380