San Francisco Real Estate - Janice Lee

Why Working with the Right Agent Matters Knowledge of market conditions Has your best interests at heart Knows the right questions to ask the the other agent Gives you an honest opinion about the value of the property and what it would take to get the property

When Spring arrives, green thumbs beget itchy fingers, and before you know it, you’re kneeling in the yard planting perennials. This year, new trends invite a mix of beauty, whimsy and practicality, creating gardens that are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the other senses. 1. Grow Your Own This year, expect to see more home food gardens, with everything from fruits and vegetables to herbs showing up in traditional gardens and planted in pots. More homeowners have the desire to grow their own vegetables and cook with fresh herbs straight from the garden, says Better Homes and Gardens. “As long as people get enough sun to grow them, windowsill garden planters—full of rosemary, basil, and parsley—are popping up all over the country.” Seconds garden blog GardenRant: “Herbs are the next hot edibles.” 2. Water…More and Less “The need to reduce water consumption is driving the demand for drought-tolerant plants, including succulents, ornamental grasses and n...

You know what they say about April showers and May flowers: those blooms look awfully nice as a backdrop to a backyard bash. The truth is, once the month of May is upon is, it’s a sunny downhill slide into summer. And that means it’s time to get outside, enjoy the outdoors, and channel our inner Martha Stewart. There is a multitude of different ways to throw the perfect backyard soiree. It all depends on your surroundings, your climate, and your individual taste and style. But a few tips  can help you plan and pull it off perfectly. 1. Consider the theme A backyard get-together can be as elegant or as casual as you want it to be, and tying in a theme helps to establish a point of view that can be carried through the food, décor, and entertainment. An Americana theme lends itself well to a casual backyard get-together, but for a touch of elegance, leave the hamburgers and hot dogs behind and pump up the menu. This idea from Epicurious  offers “sophisticat...

Do You Understand Your Mortgage Fees? In a recently released study, one third of homebuyers believed the law required that everyone pay the same fees. Most people don’t realize that the fees vary with the lender and most are negotiable. Unfortunately, most first time homebuyers are ill-prepared for the biggest purchase of their lives. They tend to sign up with what they believe is the cheapest option without understanding how to truly compare mortgages and evaluate it for their situation. We’re in homebuying season right now. Buyers focus on the price of the home rather on looking at the overall cost including the right mortgage. What Is APR? Whether you’re getting a home loan or an auto loan, most people don’t understand the difference between interest rate versus annual percentage rate. This is also why many people get in credit card trouble. Three lenders with identical information may still calculate different APRs. The calculations can be quite complex and...

  Before you sign on the dotted lines, ask yourself these six crucial questions. 1. WHAT AM I BUYING!?! Make sure you have done your due diligence and inspected the property thoroughly. This could be the biggest investment you ever make (emotionally as well as financially) so know what you are getting yourself into before you seal the deal. 2. WHAT SORT OF LOAN AM I GETTING?!?! Before you close you will get a stack of papers ten reams high and you will be signing and initialing every last one of them. Make sure you know what you are signing - is the interest rate the attractive one you were quoted when they were begging for your business? Do you have a pre-payment penalty? When is your first payment due and where do you send it? All important questions to ask and have answers to before you seal the deal. 3. HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED?! You may have your loan in place, but you will probably have to come out of pocket to close on your new dream home so whe...

May is National Moving Month, and, not surprisingly, the kickoff into the busiest time of the year for moving. As soon as the kids are out of school, it’s all systems go for turning over new leaves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , approximately 43 million people move every year, which means that a whole lot of people are starting to have some anxiety right now. After all, moving is widely considered one of life’s most anxiety-producing activities. There are some great ideas for proper moving preparation  and checklists to keep yourself organized in the weeks leading up to and throughout your move. But whether you are the type to do as much as possible yourself (and with the help of a few fit friends), or would gladly pay for the privilege of letting the experts pack it up, move it, and set it all up in your new home, a few tips can make all the difference between a stress-FUL and a stress-FREE move. 1. Do Your Research Almost everyone has a bad moving sto...

With a global network of over 80,000 sales associates you can bet our network has an amazing wealth of knowledge regarding First Time Home Buyers. Here are just a few tips from members of our “Gen Blue” network. From Colby Culbertson, Regional Field Marketing Manager, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Sacramento, Tahoe 1. Get Pre-approved (NOT PRE-QUALIFIED) BEFORE you start looking for houses. It makes absolutely no sense to start looking at houses until you actually know what you can afford. It will save you and your sales professional a lot of time. 2. Always get a home inspection, its well worth the investment. 3. Never buy more house then your lifestyle can afford. Too many buyers get in over their heads because they buy as much house as they can afford, and forget to calculate other living expenses such as utilities, vacation, hobbies, etc. From Sean Carpenter, Director of Agent Development, Ohio NRT Companies 1. Meet with a full time Realtor who c...

Anyone who has tried to buy a home lately knows that it can be very challenging. Historically low mortgage rates have brought homebuyers out in force. At the same time, there is a limited inventory of homes for sale. Resale listings are at their lowest level in many years and homebuilders are just now starting to replenish their supply of new construction, according to figures from the National Association of Home Builders. All of those factors have led to a seller’s market. Homebuyers are competing with each other for the relatively few listings on the market, leading to multiple offers in many cases, sometimes as many as a dozen or more, and sale prices climbing above the asking price. Trying to buy a home in a seller’s market can be frustrating and you may not be able to land the first home you want to buy. Still, there are ways to increase your chances of success. Here are some tips that may turn the odds in your favor: • Work With an Experienced, Knowledgeable Realtor® In a hot s...