Real Estate Newspaper Articles | Real Estate Articles & Blog – Don Dunning

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Hourly consulting: Great idea whose time has yet to come

By Don Dunning | January 12, 2009

Real estate by-the-hour, as I have discussed in previous articles, is a tremendous approach in certain situations. Recently, I received a thank you note from a client saying how well hourly consulting worked for her. I helped with her purchase of a For Sale By Owner, East Bay property. I am pleased that my advice, including how to negotiate with the seller, worked out so well for her.

The email reminded me that this service is so needed, yet exists in a vacuum that is unlikely to soon be filled. Consulting by-the-hour continues to be held back by a number of factors.

Pitfalls of Sealed Bids

By Don Dunning | April 28, 2008

In a normal market, sellers experience joy when told there is an offer on their home and are happy to have it presented in person by the buyer’s agent. A speedier market in our area leads sellers to delay hearing offers until an appointed day, often five to ten days after marketing begins.

As multiple offers have become the rule in this most ludicrous of markets, sealed bids are on the rise. This means buyers’ agents who wish to offer on a particular property must deliver a signed purchase contract in a sealed envelope to the seller’s agent by the designated date and time. Sellers need to know why most buyers and their agents dislike sealed bids; buyers must understand how this increases their vulnerability.

Great gardens add pleasure plus value

By Don Dunning | March 30, 2008

“Confronted with the vision of a beautiful garden, we see something beautiful about ourselves.”
— Jeff Cox

Regardless of market conditions, a landscaped garden can help a property sell faster and for more money. All other elements being equal, homes with beautiful outdoor living are considered more valuable.

Negotiation, mediation, arbitration or court?

By Don Dunning | March 21, 2008

Real estate disputes sometimes pop up after close of escrow. It is typically the buyer who has the complaint. The issues can range from lack of disclosure on the seller’s part to poor representation by one or both agents. Once this process begins, there are four possible approaches. Based on the method chosen, there can be a fast, inexpensive resolution, or a time consuming, costly and aggravating stalemate.

What you need to know about FIRPTA

By Don Dunning | March 1, 2008

Few buyers and sellers know about the 1980 “Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act” (FIRPTA). Likewise, many real estate licensees are not aware that failing to follow the act’s stipulations is a violation of Federal law.

Expectations key to market behavior

By Don Dunning | January 20, 2008

Our actions are heavily influenced by what we anticipate will happen in the future. We often act on what we perceive to be true, rather than what is true. A recent national survey regarding expectations and current conditions revealed that consumer confidence was the lowest since October 2005, the end of our last seller’s market, and the second lowest since our last buyer’s market in the early 1990s.

Pessimism has now replaced positive expectation, a classic characteristic of a buyer’s market. This is where we find ourselves today. Rather than jumping in quickly, most buyers hold back and feel there is no rush to purchase because current homes will probably still be available later and, if so, may sell for less.

As a buyer or seller, understanding your personal expectations as well as actual market conditions can be the difference of thousands of dollars to you.

Code of ethics distinguishes Realtors®

By Don Dunning | November 25, 2007

The word Realtor® is more than a generic term meaning a real estate salesperson. It refers to a member of the National Association of Realtors® who adheres to a set of behavioral standards known as the “Code of Ethics.” First adopted in 1913, this is what differentiates Realtors® from all other real estate licensees.

Ten reasons your home has not sold

By Don Dunning | October 12, 2007

In today’s slowing market, there are numerous explanations why your property may be sitting unsold while other sellers have closed and moved on with their lives. Here are ten possibilities out of what could be a much more extensive list.

What the mortgage meltdown means to you

By Don Dunning | August 24, 2007

The sub-prime loan mess has created a problem with all mortgages. Lending issues, in conjunction with an already slowing real estate market, have serious implications for you as a buyer or seller.

Most purchasers require a loan in order to buy a home. The mortgage crisis has caused a rise in interest rates, especially those above $417,000 (known as “jumbo loans”), and lending conditions are increasingly stringent. Almost every day, I hear of sales that fell out of escrow because the buyer could not qualify under the new requirements.

Mixed market continues to baffle buyers, sellers

By Don Dunning | July 29, 2007

This is one of the most confusing real estate markets I have seen in my nearly 28 years in the business. If you are a buyer or seller in today’s climate of contradictions, understanding what is happening could save you money.

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