patrick.net

I've had mixed experiences with realtors- most not good- most of the ones here in bay area pay little attention to potential buyers. The real estate market needs to fail so they actually have to do real work.

None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it.

I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

justwantaniceplacetostay says

None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it.

I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

Where do you live and what do you do for a living?

SJ says

I've had mixed experiences with realtors- most not good- most of the ones here in bay area pay little attention to potential buyers. The real estate market needs to fail so they actually have to do real work.

The realtors on both sides of the deal were really good to us.

justwantaniceplacetostay says

None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it.

I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

There are an immense amount if NODS relative to what's for sale in both Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Just give it time.

rootvg says

justwantaniceplacetostay says

None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it.

I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

Where do you live and what do you do for a living?

Wireless semi industry research scientist, rent in an apt complex in sunnyvale

CrazyMan says

justwantaniceplacetostay says

None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it.

I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

There are an immense amount if NODS relative to what's for sale in both Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. Just give it time.

Hope that does happen. This type of school rezoning crap is really irritating. Basically to have a kid goto a good school you need to buy an overpriced house or rent from one of the underwater home debtors.

One of the senior guys at my work managed to sell his cupertino home $150K above asking when it was already prices low 1.x million. So I think in the places people really want to stay in things are not easy for buyers.

justwantaniceplacetostay says

None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it.

I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

This is the kinda stuff I am hearing in recent weeks from some of my immigrant coworkers. Among that demographic, there is a renewed surge in the frenzy for access to the public K-12 in The Fortress, or at least the Fringe Around The Fortress, with the highest possible API's than can be secured with their wealth and or borrowing power. It's about that, and not much else.

When i was working 'undercover' in a RE office as RE agent they said "show people 3 houses and if you cant get them to make an offer on one they are wasting your time and drop them". Its probably true.

PockyClipsNow says

When i was working 'undercover' in a RE office as RE agent they said "show people 3 houses and if you cant get them to make an offer on one they are wasting your time and drop them". Its probably true.

That was probably during real estate bubble when houses sold themselves. Today they'll kiss your ass and follow you around just to get you to make an offer.

Nomograph says

Are you taken aback when you walk into a clothing store and the clerk tries to sell you clothes?

I am irritated when I walk into a store and am descended upon by a sales girl. it turns out I don't need to chat with you to make my selection. I don't want to say hello or discuss what brings me in. If I need help, I will ask. Leave me the fuck alone. It feels like a violation of my space to have them chat me up.

Routinely when buying a car, I tell the sales person that if they try to pressure me, I will walk out. I tell them not to ask me, "what will it take for you to buy this car?" or our relationship is over.

I should explain that I don't mind "hello" at the mall, but more than that is irritating.

The last two weeks have been my first time in open houses for a while. The first two a couple of weeks ago in Pacifica were very busy, so the real to couldn't get a hold of me. That was really nice.

Today, we drove out to Dublin and Pleasanton. It wasn't busy and they were all over me. They are assertive with the questions - what are you looking for? are you working with an agent? Are you pre-approved? I rarely tell them the truth. I don't want to have that conversation with a stranger who is in many ways working against me. I have a made up name that

All of this in the 1-3 minutes I was willing to give them. I always lie about my name and give them a spam e-mail address that I use for these things.

Since I have been reading here for a while, it is hard for me to see them is anything more than opportunistic leaches. Why would I talk to that person about my finances?

I agree that realtors are leaches, but they aren't less than human.
Everybody has to make a buck someway.

Nomograph says

edvard2 says

My first experience with a Realtor

RE agents sell real estate. Does that surprise you?

Are you taken aback when you walk into a clothing store and the clerk tries to sell you clothes? Do you expect the clerk to tell you not to buy because they will eventually go on sale or will wear out anyway?

Actually, I was going to buy some pricy dinnerware and the clerk told me to wait until the following week when they would be 50% off. She probably doesn't work on commission.

rufita11 says

he probably doesn't work on commission.

Bingo!

I guess what I find frustrating about this is that after I talked to the agent I went and looked at the latest DQ news report and looked up sales and price activity for our area. Its about the same as its been for a few years. Sales are up, but prices are still depressed from a year ago. So in other words what she was trying to tell me was contrary to my findings.

Quite simply, in BA fortress areas the demand for homes is high. So you need to be prepared to pay a lot of money for a house that may not be worth it; otherwise you won't get it. The rental complexes are routinely increases the rent and they know
a) People can afford to pay more
b) They can always rent the same apartment for higher rent

when schools determine the housing costs, there will be politics determining the school boundaries

I'm not talking about the BA fortress areas. This is in the East Bay.

I was trying to answer some other post - forgot to quote

Anyway probably east bay is becoming a new BA fortress - people priced out of normal fortress area are beginning to move over there - just a guess

edvard2 says

I've been on housing forums for years and we've all talked about this sort of attitude that exists in the Realtor world, which is to use these tactics to I assume cause buyers to worry and whatnot.

Even during the worst parts of the downturn this was the prevailing attitude within real estate offices. But I don't think it is a calculated evil. I think most agents actually believe it.

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” - Upton Sinclair

gregpfielding says

edvard2 says

I've been on housing forums for years and we've all talked about this sort of attitude that exists in the Realtor world, which is to use these tactics to I assume cause buyers to worry and whatnot.

Even during the worst parts of the downturn this was the prevailing attitude within real estate offices. But I don't think it is a calculated evil. I think most agents actually believe it.

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” - Upton Sinclair

East Bay Real Estate Agent and Blogger

Greg, I have seen that attitude at some offices, but the culture of the office makes a big difference. Someoffices focus on sales and some on service. Agents who focus on service get a lot more referrals and those are golden.

PockyClipsNow says

When i was working 'undercover' in a RE office as RE agent they said "show people 3 houses and if you cant get them to make an offer on one they are wasting your time and drop them". Its probably true.

My sister looked at like 100 houses over 3 years before she bought with her realtor. I guess you could say he earned his commision.

justwantaniceplacetostay says

None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it.

I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

You need to get away from there.

For the money you would spend down there, look at San Ramon, Danville or Alamo. I think Walnut Creek would be too far away.

You could also go to Pleasanton. Problem is, it's getting very yellow there and of course that means prices of property and everything else are going to the sky. Danville or Alamo would be better.

justwantaniceplacetostay says

None of my friends are able to buy in sunnyvale, santa clara, cupertino currently. They have been told there are 12-13 offers. I dont know how much of that is true bu their offers did not make it.

I dont see prices coming down soon unless some big economic event happens. Its very frustrating. Rentals are so expensive right now its very hard for me to not pull the plug and get a house. And there are the politics such as in the Rivermark area of Santa Clara where the good school was rezoned to only include the condos/SFH in the area and removed the apartment rental complexes right in front of the school.

Go ahead buy then if you have no patience. It'll just make the second wave of foreclosures that much worse. Rents are cheap cheap cheap. Amazing how people think $3k is expensive but 1 million is okay. Crazy.

APOCALYPSEFUCK is Tony Manero says

kidneys, eyes and lungs.

Are you sure you can do lung transplant? Instead you should add liver,face,heart etc. for which there are successful transplants. :)

APOCALYPSEFUCK is Tony Manero says

You don't expect a Realtor® to care if an actual transplant works.

Ah,I see,I forgot you are referring to Realtors. It makes sense now.

Its time to LEAVE. Austin, RTP area, etc, who cares. You cannot have quality of life if your house cost you $500 sq ft. Its time to go. I know people who have a third the income and live better. More free time, more quality of life. The bay area dream is now a nightmare. And the landed gentry are going to fight every attempt to fix housing by resisting every attempt to zone new homes.

Mick Russom says

And the landed gentry are going to fight every attempt to fix housing by resisting every attempt to zone new homes.

Yep. And they'll do it all in the name of protecting "Mother Earth."

edvard2 says

when schools determine the housing costs, there will be politics determining the school boundaries

Here is a secret. The schools range from garbage to nightmarish. The clamoring for good schools is a sad joke. Home schooling is far more effective in this day and age.

Mick Russom says

Its time to LEAVE. Austin, RTP area, etc, who cares. You cannot have quality of life if your house cost you $500 sq ft. Its time to go. I know people who have a third the income and live better. More free time, more quality of life. The bay area dream is now a nightmare. And the landed gentry are going to fight every attempt to fix housing by resisting every attempt to zone new homes.

The rent we were paying in Danville was only a little bit higher than what we paid in Santa Clarita and we make more money up here.

The place works for us. For others, it doesn't.

I would tell you to check out Austin, RTP (affordable but no longer cheap) or possibly Columbus. Disney built a data center in Dublin awhile back, land is cheap, good people are hard to find, etc. Leave the leftist politics and politically correct doublespeak at home. Ohio isn't California. The adults are in charge there.

Mick Russom says

edvard2 says

when schools determine the housing costs, there will be politics determining the school boundaries

Here is a secret. The schools range from garbage to nightmarish. The clamoring for good schools is a sad joke. Home schooling is far more effective in this day and age.

Effective? Yes.

Easier said than done? Same answer.