Lynne Watanabe MacFarlane, MCDM, SRES | Realtor

PFAC Silicon Valley affiliate

Intero | A Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate

phone 831.346.2743

DRE# 02066698

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out and contact me

When it comes to planting roots, San Francisco area homeowners have some of the deepest in the country (who can really blame homeowners for not moving when they have all of that beautiful California sunshine to soak in?) ☀️

Can you guess which Bay Area City ranked #2 after Detroit?

Find out more in this article from 55 Places.com click here.

Let me know if you or someone you know needs resources to “age in place” I would be happy to help! I have a great network of senior healthcare providers and affiliate services who can help provide a comfortable and safe environment if you chose to stay in your home for 30, 40 or more years!

Ladies, please listen up! When buying a home, we all want to feel like we’re making the right decision, paying a fair price, and making the best investment of our lives. According to a recent gender-based study, men and women can unknowingly walk away with very different financial outcomes when the deal closes. Thankfully, if you follow some simple ways to arm yourself with the information you need to prepare in advance, you’re more likely to feel like you’ve won when the keys to your new house are in your pocket.

Kelly Shue and Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham of the Yale School of Management showed in their recent study The Gender Gap in Housing Returns, when single women invest in the housing market, they’re generally losing out compared to their male counterparts. The report explains,

“We find that single men earn one percentage point higher unlevered returns per year on housing investment relative to single women…The gender gap grows significantly larger after adjusting for mortgage borrowing: men earn 6 percentage points higher levered returns per year relative to women. Data on repeat sales reveal that women buy the same property for approximately 2% more and sell for 2% less.”

On National Public Radio (NPR), Kelly Shue elaborated by saying,

“Women are losing about $1,370 per year relative to men because they tend to buy the same house at a higher price and sell for a lower price.”

In the grand scheme of things, $1,370 a year could be as much as an entire month’s mortgage payment for many households in the United States.

How can you make sure this doesn’t happen to you?

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way for anyone, regardless of gender. Here are a few tips on how to make sure you’re prepped and ready to enter the housing market with your best foot forward.

1. Work with a Trusted Real Estate Professional

You need someone on your side who’s going to have your best interest in mind and support your unique homeownership goals. Hiring an agent who has a finger on the pulse of the market will make your buying experience an educated one. You need someone who’s going to tell you the truth, not just what they think you want to hear. (Call me today and let’s get together a plan for your real estate needs in 2020.) 

2. Understand the Homebuying Process

Know the key homebuying steps in advance, so you have the best context for how the process works from pre-approval to budgeting, inspections, and more. Have a price range in mind that you can realistically afford, too, so you’re ready to make an offer that positions you for success. Ask your agent questions along the way, and partner together so you feel confident and prepared at every turn.  (Call me today to schedule a Home Buying Process appointment) 

3. Research the Current Market

Make sure you know the current trends and insights of the housing market as well. When you find a home that’s the perfect fit, determine what other homes are selling for in the neighborhood. These numbers can vary over time based on market conditions such as inventory, appreciation, and many other economic factors. A great agent will provide you with this information and guide you through every step from start to finish. (Email me today to receive a current real estate market report in your area).

Bottom Line

When you have a trusted advisor on your side and you’re confident you know exactly what’s happening in the market, you’ll be in a great position to negotiate effectively. Let’s get together today to make sure you’re ready to win the homebuying deal.

 

I would like to help you. Give me a call and let’s go over the buyer process together to make sure your offer is the winning one!

Lynne MacFarlane, Realtor

(831) 346-2743 text/voice

lmacfarlane@intero.com

 

Is it time to move to a bigger home across town or out of the city?

According to new census data more than 86,000 people left California for Texas, nearly 70,000 left for Arizona and about 55,000 left for Washington state.

INTERO RELOCATION SERVICES

Let Intero Real Estate Services handle all of the details of finding your new home. I’ll be a part of your team that will help with your relocation and make your transition as easy as possible. I will work with you one-on-one to make sure you land in the right neighborhood, price range and house style for your family—whether you want to buy, sell or rent.

Our relocation services include:

Would it be ridiculous to consider a second home, a vacation rental property near the beach for your future retirement? I love living in Santa Cruz county, in August the homes were 4.6% less expensive compared to last year, and there were 7% MORE homes available for sale compared to same time last year – What does this mean? Buyers have a greater selection of homes to chose from, so if you or someone you know is considering a condo or single family home let me introduce the many great communities that I proudly call home.

Click HERE for a real-time, interactive Market Report for Condos in the Santa Cruz area

HERE for the Condos in the Capitola area

HERE for the Condos in Aptos area

Let me know if you’re interest in another areas.

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Life is good “on the other side of the hill!”

Don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss your retirement vision for your dream place in the sun!

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 831.346.2743 Call or text Lynne

lmacfarlane@intero.com