Do the Research: South Bay Home Inventories are Not High!

Do the research! Here are the actual levels of single family homes for sale in the South Bay Beach Cities and El Segundo.  

Note that although many factors would characterize this as a "Buyers Market," the level of inventories is low.  This represents an opportunity for sellers to list their properties at a time when competition is quite limited, and when low interest rates make mortgages affordable to your target buyers.  This is a "seam" in the marketplace that smart sellers can use to their advantage. 

Charts like this and in much greater detail, updated daily, are always available at www.BeachCityDigs.com by clicking on the "South Bay Market Data" tab.   - David

Homebuyers scramble as mortgage rates jump - Builder Magazine

Homebuyers are suddenly realized that rates have jumped 1/4% and are on their way up. So the best strategy for homebuyers is lock in a rate and a purchase while home prices are still near their 7-year lows. Rates are still excellent (around 5.25%), but there's no reason to ride them back up and wish you'd taken advantage of the waning buyer's market, especially in the South Bay where prices stabilized at the beginning of 2010. - David

Buyer Pessimism is Gone in the South Bay - A Realtor's Perspective

Open house activity at our listings in the South Bay this past weekend confirmed what we've been seeing since early February: buyer pessimism is basically gone and a housing recovery is underway. We're seeing less mere lookers, more real buyers, more multiple offer situations, and a clear understanding that rates are headed up in the coming months.

Properties priced right are moving promptly, people who wait are missing out on the best ones. [Note: Overpriced properties are still languishing and would have financing appraisal issues if they did draw an offer as they are priced.]

Contact me in the South Bay (or your own experienced, well-informed Realtor) for more facts and figures. I have the data to back it up! - David

Preparing for a Quick Sale - from WSJ.com

Sometimes it's the simplest, most common wisdom that is best.  This is an EXCELLENT article on preparing and pricing your home for a timely and successful sale!  Sorry, the personalization must go.  Selling is about appealing to the BUYER! - David

Case-Shiller: Good News for Buyers - MarketWatch

The real estate market is always good for somebody - - in this case, it's good for buyers; in fact, it's a great opportunity. - David

Case-Shiller: Good News for Buyers - MarketWatch

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Advice for Buyers in a Slow Market

by David White


Buying, Investing, & Trading Up

What's the smart real estate move in a slow market with relatively low interest rates (like 2008)? Well, those conditions describe a buyer's market, in which the optimal decision for a real estate investor or a homeowner desiring a more valueable home is to trade up and be sure not to overpay. The reasons for this are very straightforward:

It's always best to have the negotiating leverage on your side when you are contemplating a transaction. In a buyer's market, sellers must compete for the buyer's business. A buyer represented by a Realtor who is also a good negotiator has the best possible chance of getting an excellent price and terms in a buyer's market

Timing the Market: When to Buy?

Timing the Market: When to buy???


Is it essential to time the market so that your purchase is at the absolute bottom of a slow (buyer's) market? Certainly not!

First of all, market timing is fraught with uncertainty, and those who try to wait for the absolute best moment to buy tend to find themselves competing with others who think the same thing.

Second, no matter what the market, the goal is not to overpay

Third, interest rates often head up BEFORE home prices bottom out.

So if you're interested in buying property but think the market hasn't bottomed out yet, OFFER LESS for the property and let your Realtor use your excellent negotiating leverage to get the offer accepted!

- June 2008