FW: Virus Alert!!!!

 

 

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From: roberta ahrens [mailto:rastudio@mac.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 3:47 PM
To: Greg Davis; Gutfreund Karen
Subject: Virus Alert!!!!

 

Subject: HUGE VIRUS COMING ! PLEASE READ & FORWARD ! Importance: High             Hi All,   I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus! I checked Snopes, and it is for real. Get this E-mail message sent around to allyour contacts ASAP.   PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG YOURFRIENDS, FAMILY AND CONTACTS!   You should be alert during the next few days. Do not open any message with an attachment entitled 'POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK,'regardless of who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE, which 'burns' the whole hard disc C drive of your computer.   This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail address on his/her contact list. That is the reason why you need to send this e-mail to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it!   If you receive a mail called' POSTCARD,' evenif it issent to you by a friend, do not open it! Shut down your computer immediately. This is the worst virus announced by CNN.   It has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever. This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital information is kept. COPY THIS E-MAIL, AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS. REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US

 

Roberta Ahrens

707-753-1733 mobil

707-981-7577 home / studio

 

End of March

Here We Go!

Here we are the last day of March and we are seeing signs of renewal in the Marin market. More than anything, this economic dilemma has proven to be a need to restore confidence in the country and its ability to recover and although it is far from over, we are encouraged. If the Marin real estate market is any indication, we see buyers taking their hands out of their pockets, going out to open houses in droves, and thinking the downward trend is over. They are calling their brokers and bankers to ask “Can I really get a loan at 4-5% interest? That’s incredible!” Then they see the tax relief a home provides and if they are a first time homebuyer they hear about the $8000 tax credit available. The dinner conversations are about moving and not letting this market pass them by so they won’t be saying “Wooda, coulda, shouldda” in months to come. The weather is great, parents are thinking of schools, the truth is out about the long term value of the limited inventory of Marin real estate and so this is your time, this is your county and we are the agents to get you there!

There are 1321 homes on the market which is up from last month and 24% of those are in escrow which is also up a couple of points. We are seeing homes in every price range selling – 15 homes over $2 million are currently in escrow and we are seeing well priced homes getting multiple offers. Yes, we have our share of short sales and foreclosures but nothing like other areas of the state like the Sacramento valley where the majority of sales are in that category. This is Marin and as we get past tax time we expect to see a flurry of activity and man are we ready!

SELLERS AND BUYERS TAKE NOTE

Here we are in March and Marin has just received some much needed rainfall which has assuaged the prediction of “Worst Drought Ever” coming from the media. This is the same media that has been constantly assailing us with gloom and doom predictions about the real estate market and in the process, have been contributing to the problem. No, it’s not what it used to be and it’s not going to be what it was for some time, and yet we have homes selling and buyers buying with 23% of the 1200 homes currently in escrow in Marin. Although that number varies with the neighborhood and price range, it is a far better predicament than most of the rest of the state is in.

For sellers, it’s all about pricing and hiring the right agent. This is a buyer’s market where buyers are more concerned about value than anything else. They are living in the future and where this market is going while most sellers are living in the past and what has sold and what their home was worth two years ago. Buyers don’t care as much for what has sold but want to know else is available. If a home is priced right the buyers will snatch it which is what just happened to us at 40 Oak Knoll in San Anselmo where we got three offers and it sold over asking. Sellers are also forgetting that as soon as they sell they may be putting on the buyer’s hat and will definitely make up some of the difference in any perceived loss in their home. Keep in mind there are also options out there in selling such as lease options and seller financing. We just sold a home on a one year’s lease option where the buyers/tenants six months to exercise an agreed upon price. For those sellers that want to “wait it out” we say be prepared to wait for several years before we see the values of yesterday return.

For buyers, it’s time to make your move. Money is loosening up and there is financing out there and Interest rates couldn’t be better. As demand increases, rates will go up and even the slightest jump can make a difference over the long period that one owns a home. Again, this is where the experience of the agent will make a difference in not only finding the right deal but negotiating on your behalf. Interesting enough, there are a number of homes that are not on the market but being sold through the network of top agents before they ever officially come on.

Call us with questions, concerns or the need for advice. We are here in the trenches and ready to serve you. You can contact us at 415 925-3287 or peter@marinrealestate.net .

MOVING AND TAXATION

If you have moved in 2008 or are thinking of moving this year year, keep in mind that much of the expense involved in the move can be deductible. We are not in the business of giving tax advice and it is advisable that your specific questions should be directed to your tax advisor. There are however, some basic tests which must be met in order to qualify for deductions and we suggest you check to see if you qualify. There is a distance test involvng a 50 mile radius from your old home to your job and a time test of working in your new area for at least 39 weeks in the year right after the move. You can order Publication 521 and Form 3903 for more details. If you do qualify then certain costs involving packing, storage, transportation and lodging may be deductible. Be sure to get advice since Forbes says that one of the top reasons for IRS audits is claiming too many deductions, including those for moving.

www.marinrealestate.net

FEBRUARY MARKET

Now we’re into February and we’ve started to see activity in the market. January is typically a pretty slow month and this year the public continued to be pelted with whatever gloom the media could come up with. Nevertheless, Marin’s market maintained 22% of its homes in escrow and that that number is the same today. What has changed is the attitude of buyers as they get their hands out of their pockets and realize that there are some great buys out there and they are making long term decisions.

We just sold a home that everyone said was priced accurately at $1.2 mill and buyers were all over it but no offers for two weeks. The calls came in inquiring if we had an offer yet and when we did, suddenly three offers came in making for some very happy sellers. That is what is going on in this market. Buyers want to make sure they are making the right decision and if someone else wants the same house, then they feel justified in their decision to submit an offer. The Independent Journal, that bastion of negativity, just wrote an article depicting that maybe now we have gotten to the bottom. There were some mentionable quotes such as “The value of real estate is the hedge it gives someone against inflation as they age… you should be buying for the long term.” This is what it’s all about folks.

We expect a 20-25% increase in inventory come Spring accompanied with a flurry of buying activity. School district changes will be a big factor this year as some parents plan to pull their kids out of the expensive private schools and move into the districts with good public schools. We are even seeing some sell their homes and move to a less expensive home so they can keep their kids in the private schools. Without the school factor we are going to see a lot of buyers taking advantage of the value of these homes in Marin and want to move where the quality of life is unsurpassed. we are ready to serve them.

Call us today with questions, concerns or if you want information on homes that are not on the market yet. 415 925-3287

www.marinrealestate.net

The Start of 2009

Here we are almost into February and everyone is asking the same question, where is the market going? Honestly, no one really knows but there have been some reassuring signs that point to an active year. As buyers contemplate their choices, they are realizing that not only are interest rates very low and may not stay there, but sellers are now being realistic about pricing. These buyers are seeing some very well priced properties that offer everything they have been looking for. They realize that the market has taken a hit and they are buying a home for the long term, so even if they do drop a bit more in the months to come, so what? Not only will the values of yesterday be back in years to come, but they have improved the quality of their lives which is what it’ s really all about.

There are currently 1056 homes on the market of which 230 or 22% are in escrow. That is where we were most of last year and that percentage will be smaller as the inventory jumps up 20% or more in the spring. Marin is still one of the most valuable locations in the Bay Area and that will always be a hedge against the kind of price drops we see in other parts of the state. We foresee buyers realizing this and we should see a flurry of buying activity in the months to come.

Sellers take heed and realize that there is a timing and pricing strategy that can make all the difference in the world. Buyers don’t wait, if you see something that you like that has value, jump on it. Either way, call us for the help you will need to make the right decision and guide you through the process.

To View Our Listings and Search MLS: www.marinrealestate.net

How to buy and sell in today's market - Step 2

So now you are serious about selling and have set your list price that is $100,000 less than you wanted to receive for your home. At the price you are coming on you expect to sell quickly. You can still dictate your move date, terms of closing and the possibility of renting back. We are still seeing multiple offers on properties that are priced aggressively and sellers with many takers for their home can dictate more terms.

Now it is time to put on your buyer’s hat. The first step is to talk to a really experienced mortgage broker and also at least one in house private banker at Wells Fargo, Chase or Bank of America. Many lenders offer different and creative packages to make a transaction work. Rates are at an all time low and predicted to go even lower. Sellers will often carry short term, (five year) loans to help the buyer obtain optimum financing packages. All of this shows this is a boom time for buyers to not only buy for less but obtain excellent financing.

Feel free to contact us at our website for any more information at www.marinrealestate.net