Common Questions and Answers About Your Real Estate Transaction

By Raymond Stoklosa · November 20th, 2007

If you’ve been doing your homework, you are hopefully more comfortable with your real estate transaction now, but don’t worry if you still have some questions.

Here is the latest group of common questions my clients have…

Should I be concerned about a housing bubble?

All real estate is local and particular and so national and regional conditions are not necessarily indicative of the state of the local real estate market. While many other areas in the country are “crashing,” studies^± have shown that San Francisco’s housing market does not suffer from a bubble. Rather, that the recent price increase in homes was due to basic economic factors.

I just LOVE this house, is it a good deal?

Even real estate professionals know that the home buying decision is fraught with emotion; however, too many people buy on impulse. Admittedly, home buying has an emotional component, but you must remember that this is a business transaction – and the house itself needs to be viewed as a real estate investment. So, even if you really do love the house, just remember – there is no substitute for investigation, planning, evaluation and deliberation.

Why is my house not being advertised? How are people going to know it’s for sale?

Most homes are not advertised in traditional print media. The homes advertised are typically the newest listings or homes languishing on the market because they are over-priced, suffer location flaws, or show poorly. Reliable studies show when a house does not generate an offer within 30 days, it is clearly over-priced. Homes priced right will generate 1 offer for about every 8 serious showings. Real estate agents acquire their knowledge about properties from the MLS, where your house is listed, not real estate publications.

Why do we need to involve two agents in the transaction? Don’t we just need one to handle the contract?

Technically, yes, but the buyer who calls the real estate “agent” whose name appears on a yard sign, newspaper ad, or internet search is usually calling the “Listing Agent” who has just one goal…to get the highest price with the best terms in the shortest time and least inconvenience for the seller. The “Listing Agent’s” duty is to get the best business deal for the seller. So to make sure your interests are protected, it’s imperative that you get a Buyer’s Agent.

I’ve heard that with the movement in the market, I can make money fairly quickly in property investment … is this true?

Real estate is an illiquid, long-term asset. It takes time to make money in real estate, not timing.

^± From research conducted by Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Factors include: low interest rates, strong income growth and abnormally low prices in the mid-1990s.

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