Chic vs. Geek: Title Insurance

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Buying a home can be a risky endeavor, and that’s before you close the deal! Can investing in title insurance help you avoid a sticky situation? Let’s take a look…

CHIC (PEARL)

You may find after you purchase the property that someone else has a claim to all or a share of the title. Or perhaps you learn that a neighbor or your HOA have an easement that allows them to use your land — and limit your use of it! Title insurance can safeguard you against these surprises and give you some peace of mind that you’re the sole proprietor of the property.

GEEK (KEVIN)

One of the more common stumbling blocks with taking over the title on a home is finding out that the property is not up to code or has unpermitted improvements. Sorting this out could cost you time and money and headaches dealing with the assessor’s office and your local tax collector. So don’t cut corners on your home purchase. Invest in title insurance!

Geek's Number Talk: Santa Clara County Market Snapshot - April 2022

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It’s the same story we’ve been seeing for a while in the Santa Clara County market, where sold houses in April were down 21% over last year, available houses are spending 33% less time on the market, and average sales prices are up a whopping 21% from ‘21!

Meanwhile, condos are spending less than half the time on the market that they did a year ago, but average sales prices are up just 10% year over year.

Chic vs. Geek: Keeping Clutter Off Your Countertop

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It seems like every time we need something in the kitchen, we can’t find it because of all the appliances, trays, bowls, and other stuff taking up our countertops. So how do we cope?

CHIC (PEARL)

Anyone who tells you kitchens are supposed to be messy never had to clean up after family dinner! Personally, I need some motivation to keep my surfaces clear. So I try to add some style to kitchen organizing, like fancy jars for non-perishable ingredients, dividers for frequently-used utensils, and elegant hanging racks for pots and pans.

GEEK (KEVIN)

There is no reason you can’t solve your kitchen clutter issues with some very simple storage strategy. Figure out where and when you need this pot or that spatula, and find a drawer or cabinet to store them when they’re not in use while keeping them readily accessible when you’re in the heat of your culinary artistry. It will save you time and stress!

Agent-to-Agent Gratitude

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It was such a nice surprise to receive this thank you card — and a Starbucks gift card — from the listing agent for a seller who ended up not accepting my buyer’s offer. There were four total offers on the property, and I stayed in close communication with the agent to make sure our offer was competitive.

The buyer didn’t want to go any higher and ended up walking away, but the seller’s agent could see how hard I worked for my client and thought I could use a coffee break. I appreciate the gesture, especially in this tough market. It was a true class act, and I hope to return the favor or pay it forward.

Thanks to all hard-working agents who fight for their clients while respecting each other and the process!