Real Estate Pro Tips

Everything You Need To Know About Homebuying in 2023

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 12:31:06 -0700

Bill Freeborn of Golden 1 Credit Union and Home Loans joins Pete and Leslie to break down to home buyers and sellers all the competitive advantages they need to make their next dream home a reality. In this seminar, you will learn how to:

Qualify for a below-market home loan
Lower your monthly payments
Save on mortgage expenses
Get the best possible price for a home you are selling
How to identify different market trends
Where the housing market is trending

And much more!

To find out more about our real estate services and expertise go to http://OurFiveStarTeam.com.

Listen to our Real Estate Pro Tips podcasts. You can find our podcasts on Spotify and at http://RealEstateProTips.Podbean.com

Be sure to listen to our Real Estate Pro Tips podcasts. https://RealEstateProTips.podbean.com

Find our Real Estate Pro Tips podcasts on Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3kEKMyf

Learn about Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney

https://www.ourfivestarteam.com

Compass Real Estate license #01866771

Home Loan Bridge Financing

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 14:12:58 -0700

Welcome to Real Estate Pro Tips.

The topic is how to buy your next home before you sell your current home. You will learn about a home buying strategy using consumer bridge loan financing that provides a competitive edge in our fast pace real estate market. Many homeowners who want to sell are stuck in a holding pattern because they have been told by their lender that they must sell their existing home first to qualify for a home loan. Homeowners are choosing to stay in their homes believe they will not be able to compete with buyers who do not have a home sale contingency or have all cash to purchase a home.

Selling your home first without knowing where you are moving creates anxiety in the homebuying process, especially when the supply of homes for sale is limited. In our competitive real estate market, any contingencies in your purchase offer signal risk to a Seller, especially if the contingency is related to the sale of your current home.

Most home sellers will not accept a purchase offer if there is a contingency for selling another property. One primary reason is the home sale contingency will impact their ability to buy their next home with a chain of home sale contingencies linked to their purchase offer.

One option is to buy your next home before offering your current home for sale.

Other things you will learn:

Other ways a consumer bridge loan can be used to help purchase a primary residence
Rates and fees accompany a bridge loan
What borrowers consider when exploring bridge loan financing

Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney are Realtors with Compass in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mark Hanf is the broker and president of Pacific Private Money, one of the fastest-growing private lenders in Northern California. Pacific Private Money is different from conventional lenders.

To find out more about our real estate services and expertise go to http://OurFiveStarTeam.com.

Listen to our Real Estate Pro Tips podcasts. You can find our podcasts on Spotify and at http://RealEstateProTips.Podbean.com

Be sure to listen to our Real Estate Pro Tips podcasts. https://RealEstateProTips.podbean.com

Find our Real Estate Pro Tips podcasts on Spotify:

https://spoti.fi/3kEKMyf

Learn about Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney

https://www.ourfivestarteam.com

Compass Real Estate license #01866771

What You Need to Know About Homeowner Insurance

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 13:36:17 -0700

What You Need to Know About Homeowner Insurance. Homeowner insurance is not required by law. The purpose of insurance is to make you “whole” again should your property experience a loss. Your home is likely to be your most asset, and protecting this asset is essential. Also, if there is a lender involved, homeowner insurance is a requirement.

Listen to our podcast. Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney interviews their guest, Alie Lopez. Alie is a Senior Sales Associate with Pro Insurance Solutions and she provides useful information and valuable insight about what you need to know about homeowner insurance.

Visit the Pro Insurance website

Alie Lopez can be reached at 415-223-7514 or alie.lopez@proco.global

:50 Start

1:17 Basics of Home Insurance

2:56 Standard and Basic Policies and Additional Items

4:00 Extended Replacement Costs

7:00 Adding Coverage Beyond the Standard

7:33 Natural Disaster Coverage

8:14 Identity Theft Coverage

9:26 Umbrella Policies

11:43 Tips to Reduce Premiums

12:25 New vs Old Home Insurance

13:39 Filing a Claim

14:19 Wildfire Coverage

16:04 Recommendations for insurance when to buying a home

17:14 Flood and Fire Hazard Zones

18:01 Preparing a Home For Sale for insurance coverage

18:45 Wrap Up/ Contact Info

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Learn more about Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney here:

Five Star Real Estate Team

How to Sell Your Home In A Hot Seller's Market

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 16:40:52 -0800

We have talked about what it takes to buy your home in a sellers' market, but what about the other side of that coin?

What if you are looking to sell your home in a sellers' market?

A favorable real estate market does not guarantee that you will automatically walk away with top dollar for your home.

In this episode, Leslie Whitney and Pete Sabine break down what sellers need to know to get the highest possible sold price in a sellers' market.

:47 Intro

2:12 Selling a Home Above the List Price

2:42 As-Is Sales

3:42 Other Recommendations

4:43 Pricing a Home to Sell

5:41 Creating Competition

7:03 Most Important Items a Seller Should Require

8:12 Valuable Attributes to Look for When Hiring a Realtor

8:34 Wrap up

Five Star Real Estate Team

New California Law Affects HOA Rental Restrictions

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 00:01:00 -0800

California Assembly Bill AB 3182 changes homeowner association rental restrictions. Despite fierce opposition, California Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3182 into law on September 29, 2020. AB 3182 creates a new Civil Code Section 4741 which voids rental limits below 25% of the members. Per Civil Code 4741, a condominium or stock cooperative association may not unreasonably restrict the rental or leasing of the owner’s unit. Will AB 3182 help to solve the #CaliforniaHousingCrisis? Join Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney as they discuss the changes and potential impact on the California housing market.

:47 Intro

1:13 New Civil Code 4741

3:13 The intent of AB 3182

4:14 New rental restriction rules

4:53 Impact on Short Term and Transient Rentals

5:53 Owner-Occupied Rentals

6:55 What is an Unreasonable Rental Requirement?

7:59 Tenants Abiding by HOA Rules

10:34 HOAs Must Amend Rules to Comply with AB 3182

12:00 HOA Rental Restrictions

13:59 HOA Approval Contingency in your Purchase Contract

14:56 Wrap Up

Find more Real Estate Pro Tip podcasts here:

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney
Call or Text 925.297.5335
Visit Our Five Star Team

Compass. License #01866771

Understanding Real Estate Appraisal Reports

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 00:07:00 -0800

In this episode, the topic is Understanding Residential Real Estate Appraisals.

You may have recently entered into an agreement to purchase a residential property or you may have completed a loan application to refinance your home.

Lenders are required to obtain an appraisal, prepared by an impartial and unbiased appraiser, and use it as the primary tool for assessing the sufficiency of your collateral.

You may want to retain an appraiser to provide an appraisal to help you make decisions such as buying, selling or refinancing your home. This podcast will help you understand the residential appraisal.

1:14 Intro

2:17 Basics of an Appraisal

4:37 Why is an Appraisal Necessary?

5:31 Developing the Value Opinion

6:01 The Appraisal Process

7:10 Sales Comparison Approach

7:57 Comparable Sale/ Listing

11:00 The Cost Approach

13:39 Adjustments

15:25 Income Approach

17:06 Opinion of Value

17:59 Appraisal Reports

20:28 Appraiser Independence

23:24 What if a Correction is Necessary?

24:46 Options in a Flawed Appraisal

25:43 Fraudulent Appraisal Practice

27:03 Out-of-Town Appraisers

29:37 Information to Provide to an Appraiser

32:24 When an Appraiser Inspects Your Home

34:21 Appraiser Codes

35:15 Wrap Up

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Five Star Real Estate Team Pro Tips

What to Know About Home Inspections

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 00:07:00 -0800

Buying a home or property is probably the biggest purchase you will ever make. It's important to make sure your inspection is done by a highly qualified and educated professional. You must understand the condition of the property before completing your purchase transaction. Home inspections give you the opportunity to have the home thoroughly examined by a professional trained to find significant defects and safety hazards.  Investing in the cost of a home inspection can be well worth it for peace of mind and to avoid the cost of repairs not disclosed by the seller. Join Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney as they interview professional home inspector Shaun Lenhart with LHS Inspection Services. 1:13 Introduction

3:34 What is a typical Home Inspection

4:51 Being Present during the Inspection

8:07 Building codes have changed over time

11:06 What is the cost of a Home Inspection?

11:52 Condo Inspections

14:14 What is a Third-Party Inspector

15:40 California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA)

18:18 American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)

20:07 Property Inspection Reports

21:52 Permits and Building Codes

24:39 HVAC Inspections and Maintenance

26:13 Water Heaters

28:22 How much time does it take to inspect a home?

28:53 Multi-level inspections

30:20 Red Flags discovered during inspections

33:10 Telling tales about cracks

35:26 Answering questions from seller property disclosures

36:40 How long does it take to deliver the report?

37:10 Should you complete the sale or not?

40:52 Proactive vs. Reactive

41:50 Wrap Up

Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney
Call or text 925.297.5335
Compass. License #01866771

California Proposition 19 Property Tax Modifications

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:05:00 -0800

Welcome to Real Estate Pro Tips. The topic is California Proposition 19 Property Tax Modifications.

Prop 19 is known as the “Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions, and Revenue for Wildfire Agencies and Counties Amendment”.

Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney review the changes and impact of Prop 19 for California homeowners.

1:14 Prop 19 Background

2:28 Transferring Taxable Value

3:48 Changes to the Number of Times You Can Transfer

4:16 Transferring Basis for Properties of Equal or Lesser Value

5:56 Transferring Basis for Properties of Equal or Greater Value

7:20 Primary Residence rules

8:11 Impact on State Property Tax Revenue

8:55 The Future of Prop 13?

10:44 Impact on housing inventory, affordability and homebuyers

11:54 Inherited residential real estate changes

12:27 When should you transfer a property?

13:46 Potential Drawbacks

14:49 Wrap Up

Find our podcasts here:

Pete Sabine & Leslie Whitney
Call or text 925.297.5335
Visit Our Five Star Team

Compass. License #01866771

The Benefits of Staging Your Home

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 00:01:00 -0800

Preparing your home for sale can make the difference between a quick sale at full price, and a home that sits unsold for months with several price reductions.

Creating emotional appeal for a home can be as simple as painting, rearranging furniture or clearing the countertops. In some cases, it requires making repairs, completing a renovation project or professional staging.

Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney share insider tips about staging your home to sell for top dollar.

0:49 Introduction

1:38 First Steps in Preparing a Home for Sale

3:13 Preparing Vacant and Occupied Homes

4:49 Staging Goals & Strategies

6:44 Over-staging a home

8:06 Neutral colors and content

8:52 Buyers must understand your Marketing Message

9:30 Self-Staging vs. Professional Staging

9:49 Setting your home above the competition

12:14 Buyers buy homes online

13:03 Knowing Your Audience

13:51 Getting Homeowner Approval

14:30 Stagers With Their Own Inventory

15:40 Homeowners Liability

16:25 Staging Plan Process

17:19 Consultation Fees

18:26 Cost of Staging

19:41 What to Expect on Installation Days

21:58 Completed Staging Process

24:36 Removing Staging

25:25 Staging on a Budget

26:49 Obtaining a Home Improvement Loan

29:07 Can a Realtor Pay for Staging

29:46 Wrap Up

Find our podcasts here:

Learn more about Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

Compass. License #01866771

The Advantages of Professional Property Management Part 2

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:03:00 -0800

Being a landlord requires effort and dedication. If you live far away from your rental property or have other personal commitments, hiring a property management company is a good option. A professional property manager can relieve you of the burden and hassle of managing your income investment properties. This ensures timely payment of rent, proper maintenance of the home, and fewer problems during the tenancy period.

Part 1: https://bit.ly/3oWdNrg

Website: stokleyproperties.net

Phone: 925-878-1603

Email: joestokley@stokleyproperties.net

1:38 Finding and Screening Tenant Applications

6:09 Limiting the Number of Occupants

7:25 Month to Month vs Year to Year Leases

10:10 Breaking the Lease

11:35 Subsidized Housing

15:09 Marketing Tenants

16:16 Using Photos to Showcase a Property

17:42 Improving Rental Value

18:21 Collecting Rent on Time

20:43 Deposits

23:47 Delays in Collection

28:25 Who Holds the Security Deposits

30:38 Minimum Lease Recommendation

31:06 Smoking in Homes

32:45 Pros and Cons of Pets, Service Animals

34:44 Utilities and Landscaping Fees

35:39 Renters Insurance

37:59 Inspections of the Property

41:08 Leasing Fees

43:41 Wrap Up/ Contact Info

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

The Advantages of Professional Property Management

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 00:05:00 -0800

Check back next week for Part 2 of this conversation

Website: stokleyproperties.net

Phone: 925-878-1603

Email: joestokley@stokleyproperties.net

0:40 Introduction – Joe Stokley of Stokley Properties

1:52 Background in Property Management

7:49 Regions Covered

9:15 Typical Day/ Week

12:57 Important Qualifications for a Property Manager to Have

18:15 National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM)

22:41 Providing Communication to Owners

25:52 Appfolio

29:41 Reporting for Property Owner Accounting

32:22 Dealing with Repairs

34:39 Types of Properties Managed

35:41 Dealing with HOA’s

42:16 Vacant vs. Occupied Properties

43:12 Rently

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

Buyer Representation Agreements and Agency Relationships

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 01:13:00 -0800

Buyer Representation Agreements and Realtor Agency Relationships for Buyers and Sellers.

Welcome to #RealEstateProTips. This podcast reveals the benefits of a Buyer Representation Agreement to protect your best interests when buying your next home. You will also learn about your options for representation and the right questions to ask when hiring a Realtor. #PeteSabine and #LeslieWhitney Hire our Five Star Real Estate Team. We know how to set the stage for your success. Call or text 925.297.5335. Compass #01866771 Find our podcasts here:

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

Are Real Estate Brokerage Fees Too High?

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:01:00 -0800

Real Estate agents have to get paid somehow, and that somehow is through commissions.

The commission payment is a big reason why realtors can get very competitive in chasing down leads and completing sales.

No sales, no commissions, no money. In this episode, Pete breaks down the commission process for realtors, and gets into why some realtors may be getting more in commission than they should.

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

Pros and Cons of Homeowners Associations

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 02:53:00 -0800

There are plenty of jokes and horror stories concerning Homeowners Associations. But how true or warranted are they? In this episode, the Five Star Real Estate Team breaks down the facts of HOAs and their impact on real estate transactions.

0:50 Start

1:25 HOA Facts and Figures

2:19 What is the Purpose of an HOA

3:01 Organization and Operation of an HOA

4:53 Joining vs Refusing

6:44 Fees

10:58 What if you want to get more involved?

12:19 Impact HOAs Have on Real Estate Transactions

13:31 HOAs Scaring off Potential Buyers

14:30 Finding More Information on an HOA

16:47 Owner Occupancy Ratio

20:46 Other Important Considerations

22:30 Issues Arising with HOAs

23:43 Questions for Legal Counsel

26:32 HOA Neighborhoods

27:41 Townhouses vs Condos

30:49 Cost of Ownership of HOA Homes vs Non-HOA Homes

32:44 HOA’s Impact on Re-Sale Value

34:18 Wrap Up

If you ever hear something on this podcast that interests you in any way and want to discuss it more, please do not hesitate to call or text my Five Star Real Estate Team at 925-297-5335. You can email us at info@fivestarrealestatepro.com.

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

10 Reasons Why Your Home Has Not Sold

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 00:11:00 -0800

When you put your house on the market, there is a chance you get an offer right away that works for you. You will complete the transaction and sell your home with little or no issues during the process. That is always the goal, but it is seldom the reality. If your home does not get an offer right away, you should not panic. If months go by and your home is drawing little or no interest, then you might have a problem.

Phone Number: 925-297-5335

0:51 Open

1:39 Pricing Your Home Too High

2:34 Poor Home Presentation

3:01 Too Attached to Your Home

4:12 Houses That Smell

6:40 Lack of Emotional Appeal

10:47 Décor of the Home is Too Personalized

13:54 Less is More

15:04 Repairs

16:51 Market Trends are Changing

19:36 Working with a Novice Realtor

21:13 Wrap Up

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

Selling A Home During the Holidays

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 01:17:00 -0700

The holiday season is usually full of hustle and bustle from shopping, kids being out of school, or relatives coming to town. With so much going on, selling your home seems like an idea that would never cross your mind during the holidays. But in cases when you do need to sell during the last few months of the year, do so is far from impossible. In fact, when done right, you can sell your home much quicker and a much higher price than you could have gotten if you waited a few months for the spring season. In this episode, Pete shares his tips and strategies for successfully selling a home during the holiday season.

0:49 Open

1:56 Benefits of Selling During the Holiday Season

3:31 Selling in a Strong Market

5:38 Corporate Transferee Buyers

7:08 How Sellers Can Take Advantage of the Holiday Season

8:54 What if the Seller is Unsuccessful in Selling Their Home?

9:20 Other Considerations to Take

11:15 Pandemic’s Influence on the Holiday Home Sales

12:22 Wrap Up

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

How to Sell Your Home in a Sellers' Market

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 00:41:00 -0700

We have talked about what it takes to buy your home in a sellers' market, but what about the other side of that coin?

What if you are looking to sell your home in a sellers' market?

A favorable real estate market does not guarantee that you will automatically walk away with top dollar for your home.

In this episode, Leslie Whitney and Pete Sabine break down what sellers need to know to get the highest possible sold price in a sellers' market.

0:49 Sellers' Market Characteristics

2:40 How Long Do Trends Last

3:17 Sell Your Home For the Highest Price

4:04 As-Is Sales and Repair Concessions

5:30 Preparation Steps

6:50 Enhancing Preparation

8:14 Pricing a Home For Sale

11:02 Creating Competition

13:05 Most Important Items From a Buyer

14:59 Pre-Approval Letters

16:54 Most Valuable Attribute in a Realtor Looking to Sell Your Home

18:36 Other Attributes

20:45 Homes Sitting on the Market

22:41 Wrap Up

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

If you hear something on this podcast that interests you in any way and want to discuss it more detail, call or text Pete Sabine 925-297-5335.

Email us at info@fivestarrealestatepro.com.

How to Buy Your Next Home in a Sellers' Market

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 02:01:00 -0700

Finding your ideal home and purchasing your ideal home are two very different challenges.

The last thing you want is to see your dream house fall into someone else’s hands because they won the competition with a better purchase offer.

In this episode, Leslie Whitney and Pete Sabine break down what makes up a successful purchase offer that will help you secure your future home.

1:23 Opening

3:34 Reviewing Offers

4:52 Sellers Circumstances

6:37 What Goes Into a Purchase Agreement

8:01 Earnest Money Deposit

9:39 Liquidated Damages

11:24 Contingencies in a Purchase Offer

12:43 Considerations for Homes Occupied by the Seller

15:13 Offer Price Strategy

17:22 Cooperating with Other Buyers in a Sellers' Market

21:54 “As-Is” Sales

23:19 What Else is Included in the Purchase Offer

26:01 Loan Pre-approval Letters

29:20 Eliminating Contingencies

30:52 Inspection Contingencies

32:46 How to Conduct Your Own Inspection

34:13 Other Offer Terms to Include

35:26 After the Offer is Submitted

38:11 What Does the Buyer Do Next

44:10 If the Seller Accepts Another Offer

47:00 Wrap Up

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

If you hear something on this podcast that interests you in any way and want to discuss it in more detail, call or text Pete Sabinet 925-297-5335.

Email us at info@fivestarrealestatepro.com.

How to Hire the Right Realtor

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 22:58:00 -0700

Hiring the right Realtor can make or break your chances of buying or selling a home. With so many Realtors available, do you know the righ questions to ask and the best way to choose he right Realtor for you? Listen to this podcast as Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney share the best traits to look for when hiring a Realtor to represent you for your next real estate transaction.

0:49 Introduction

1:28 Finding the right Realtor

2:02 What it takes to be a successful Realtor

3:39 What drives a great Realtor

4:30 Experience matters

5:42 Choose the right Realtor when when buying or selling

7:38 Best traits in a Realtor

22:55 Discover how Realtors excel

26:33 Interviewing with Realtors

27:50 Wrap up

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

How to find the Right Loan & Hire the Right Lender

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 00:01:00 -0700

Buying a home is more complicated than showing up with a suitcase full of money and making a purchase like you are at a supermarket. Very few buyers have that kind of financing on hand. Most will need to seek out other financing means, usually through home loans.

But not all loans are equal, and the process, as well as the vocabulary, can be very intimidating and confusing.

Bob Casper of Cross Country Mortgage joins the Real Estate Pro Tips podcast to help shine a light on the home loan process, and hopefully make the process seem less daunting to you, the listener.

After listening to this episode, give Bob a call if you are looking to secure a home loan. You can reach Bob Casper at 925-324-2029.

0:52 Opening

2:03 Home Loan vs Mortgage

5:41 Subject To’s

8:56 Reasons People are Denied a Home Loan

14:42 Improving Your Chances of Approval

17:11 Interest Rates and What Influences Them

19:12 Points

24:20 Buying Down Interest Rates

29:26 Rate Locks

34:46 Reasons NOT to Lock in a Rate

35:40 Pre-Approval Letter Conditions

39:56 Structuring a Competitive Offer

43:54 Contningencies and Time Frames

45:58 Eliminating Loan Contingencies

50:34 Conventional, FHA and VA Loans

55:01 Differences Between Loans

58:59 FHA/ VA Loans and Condominium Complexes

1:00:59 Mortgage Insurance

1:04:17 Adjustable Rate Loans

1:05:48 Mortgage Interest Rates & the Bond Market

1:10:41 Looking Ahead at Interest Rates (Crystal Ball Moment)

1:15:09 Loan Refinancing and Home Purchase Loans

1:18:34 Funding for Appraisals

1:21:29 Appraisal Standards in 2020

1:25:18 Underwriting Guidelines

1:28:12 Pros and Cons of Buying Your Next Home Before Selling Your Current One

1:31:43 Covid-19 Pandemic and the Housing Market

1:36:05 Lessons We Can Learn from the Pandemic

1:43:04 Wrap Up

Five Star Real Estate Pro Tips

How to Understand Real Estate Market Trends

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:02:32 -0700

Welcome to Real Estate Pro Tips.

This podcast is hosted by Pete Sabine and Leslie Whitney. We are real estate professionals with Compass and the Five Star Real Estate Team here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In this episode, we cover real estate market trends, how to spot trend direction changes, and when to jump in.

Be sure to like, subscribe and leave a comment.

1:03 Signs of a Buyer’s Market

2:08 Seller Concessions

2:37 Most Recent Buyers' Market

3:22 Signs of a Sellers' Market

4:09 What Triggers a Sellers' Market

4:48 Neutral Markets

5:40 What Sellers Can do in a Neutral Market

6:33 Market Transitions

8:09 How Trends Can Impact Negotiations

9:38 How Quickly can a Market Shift?