| DRE LICENSE #01452297 Providing a Philosophically-Principled Approach to Real Property Services using Socrates' Method, Ethics and Thoughtfulness to Achieve Your Best Interests Please feel free to get straight to searching for properties and gathering info (see left)... We are a mobile real property brokerage run by a student of classical philosophy, economics and real estate (pictured above), among several additional interests and pursuits, that sees tremendous opportunity in the present market, considering affordability is at an all time high and many first time home buyers can finally afford the first homes they've wanted for years, with $18,000 in combined tax credits available to these buyers should they decide to purchase a new home (more details below). By working from home offices and meeting clients at their homes or in public wireless hot-spots, the company is able to save substantial sums on its operations while leaving a smaller, much more manageable carbon footprint on our ever-more global-warming-impacted planet; this "mobile" approach to doing business means we are able to offer our clients the best deal in the area, offering competitively-low commission rates while at the same time passing thousands of dollars back to our clients via sharing our commissions with them: at least the 1st FIVE clients that close with Socrates Properties are guaranteed to receive ONE FULL PERCENTAGE POINT OF THE PROPERTY'S VALUE BACK AT CLOSING: JUST PRINT-OUT THIS WEB-PAGE OR FIND ONE OF OUR FLIERS REGARDING OUR ONE FULL PERCENTAGE POINT BACK AT CLOSING OPENING BUSINESS SPECIAL (REGARDLESS OF THE COMMISSION RATE) THAT WE GUARANTEE TO AWARD THE FIRST FIVE CLIENTS TO CLOSE ESCROW WITH US - THEN HAND THE PRINT-OUT TO ONE OF OUR AGENTS/BROKERS AND THE 1 POINT BACK AT CLOSING IS YOURS! A Note to ALL VISITORS: Please be aware that this site represents only a fraction of our online presence, and contains but a small portion of what we offer our online visitors - much more information is available at SonomaCountyLuxuryResidences.com, a site that compliments this one in its availability of useful information for anyone involved and/or interested in real property in the Northern Bay Area. Please CHECK IT OUT TOO! The First-Time-Home-Buyer(s) and New Home Purchase Tax Credits make new homes in Northern California affordable for the first time since the bubble began artificially bloating real property prices: The federal Tax Credit worth up to $8,000 for first-time home buyers is active between January 1, 2009, and December 1, 2009. So long as the property being purchased will be used as the first-time home buyer's primary residence, the credit should qualify. On top of this is the tax-credit specific to California: available between March 1, 2009 and March 1, 2010, or when the funding authority runs out of the state legislature's earmarked $100 million for this credit, buyers of newly-constructed homes may qualify to take 5% of the value of the newly constructed home, up to $10,000. The new home buyer must live in the residence for the first two years post-acquisition, but there is no first-time home buyer requirement for this California-specific tax credit worth up to $10,000. Combine the two tax credits that first-time home buyers of newly-constructed homes in California could quite-easily qualify for, and these buyers can carve $18,000 off their tax dues for the year before additionally having the opportunity to take advantage of still historically-low interest rates on purchasing properties that have just recently hit rock-bottom, losing anywhere from 25% to a full half of their value over the past three-plus years or so (about one-third, or 33.33%, on average in early August '09). Considering all of these factors at once and it's no wonder bidding-wars involving the first over-bids in years have recently begun to bubble-up in the suddenly warm "lower-end" of the market. Whereas four years ago you needed at least $300,000 in combined down-payment and loan monies to get anything decent in the urban areas of Sonoma County, now the chance at making an offer on a smaller, comfortable property that has been re-possessed by the bank due to foreclosure (sales of distressed properties make-up well over half of the current market) for just over $150,000 to $180,000 is doable. The cherry on top: make your move with Socrates Properties and you'll save an additional amount averaging about $5,000 with our one-full point in cash back at closing (a sharing of a third or more of our commission) plus a good rate. With regards to above, keep in mind that a tax credit is deducted from the amount of taxes owed by a taxpayer; it is not deducted from taxable income like a tax deduction. The first-time home buyer(s) making the purchase must file a federal tax return and owe taxes to receive the credit. For a more detailed description of both tax credits, click here to be sent to Realtor Magazine. "After selling many millions of dollars worth of residential real property in both the Re-Sale and New Homes sales arenas, first for tech-savvy Zip Realty out of Emeryville, CA, and then for Discovery Builders in Solano County, the Principal Broker for Socrates Properties, the real estate services division of West Coast Investment & Development L.L.C., has a strong grasp on the moral ambiguity and monetary corruption prevalent in the real estate sales profession in general and on the type of mental discipline and true character that are necessary for the sales agent (or broker) to avoid getting sucked-into the "bottom line obsession" of capitalist society's professional sales community (see continuation below)... We specialize in providing residential real property services in the Sonoma County regions of: The Wikiup and Larkfield areas of NE Santa Rosa (known especially well - have lived in area for 15 yrs.) Northern Santa Rosa in general (including the NW Piner Road and Coffey Park areas) Downtown Santa Rosa (almost all of Santa Rosa except the SW, which is generally not recommended) Eastern Santa Rosa areas of Fountaingrove, Montgomery Village and Rincon/Bennett Valleys The smaller towns North of Santa Rosa: Windsor and Healdsburg The smaller towns South of Santa Rosa: Rohnert Park and Cotati The smaller towns and areas West of Santa Rosa including: Sebatopol, The Russian River towns (like Guerneville), Forestville, Jenner and Bodega Bay On the line between Sonoma and Marin counties: Petaluma and Northern Novato SEE SEARCH LINKS TO THE LEFT TO SEARCH FOR PROPERTIES IN ANY OF THESE AREAS OUR HEAD BROKER HAS WORKED SELLING NEW AND USED HOMES IN ALL ABOVE AREAS That said, we know and are willing and able to assist you in your real property needs in Northern California in general, including in Sonoma, Napa, Marin, San Francisco and Mendocino Counties! (Continued from above): Something that often gradually eats-away at their conscience until eventually twistedly-transforming their moral and ethical judgment and capacity for consideration. Whether religious or not, the cost is in becoming an unemotional, unflinching machine of the "faster the sale the better" ethos of the professional real estate community. An inherent professional conflict of interest between their moral and fiduciary duties and their strongly culturally and professionally- ingrained motive to concern themselves with the highest numeric volume and monetary value of sales (new income) ABOVE ALL THINGS. Admitted or not, this has become a sort of secretive, rarely admitted professional conflict that costs the principals of real property sales and acquisitions dearly considering that real property is a "big-ticket item" that is often the most important asset a person or family will ever own. With The Real Estate Mate, a real estate software project being developed by our WCID LLC-affiliated "Creative Development Department," the founder of both companies is focusing on opening up the real estate business for greater access, ability, control, power and oversight for ALL those involved in the real estate business in general, but especially for the principals (clients) we have taken an oath of fiduciary responsibility to focus upon ABOVE ALL THINGS. Other projects of the Department have similarly socially-concerned or environmentally- focused bases, and the compensation of Socrates Properties is structured such that our licensee's receive higher shares of the business they generate AND the brokerage generates the higher they're regarded by YOU: the principals (clients) that they (have) serve(d) and/or will serve soon." Our Principal Broker and Owner can be reached most any time day or night at: (707) 280-3352 or primarybroker@socratesproperties.com Socrates Properties aims to set a new standard in the disciplined consideration devoted to each and every one of our clients' residential and/or commercial real estate transactions, from prepping for sales showings to identifying and acquiring the ideal property per the objectives of our principals (those we have a solemn fiduciary responsibility to represent), to making sure our clients have any and all information of use to them, to guiding negotiations in assurance of getting the best deals for our clients, both in terms of funding and the rate at which they ultimately sell/acquire their (new) real property through our moral principle based real property brokerage. Lead by a life-long student of Classical, Political and Ethical Philosophical Theology, our owner- broker treats all clients based on the Golden Rule of Professional Conduct: apply the same time, commitment, energy and care in the service of his clients as he would expect the most scrupulously considerate of professional real estate representatives to spend on him were he the one making such an important decision without a background in Real Estate and Business- Economics; the Golden Rule of the true to the fiduciary code of ethics real estate professional. Real Property acquisitions are always a ‘very big deal,’ and we get that. Which is why maintaining our fiduciary discipline is at the core of our operational ethics, especially considering the conflict of interest built-into the real estate sales profession but never admitted by the vast majority of its members: Selling as much as quickly as possible yields the greatest annual salaries/incomes for real estate agents, thus giving them tremendous financial incentive to NOT look out primarily for the very best interests of the ‘principals’ that they represent, but rather to put their personally conceived-of ‘best interests’ ahead of those they are said to represent. In other words, by being motivated to essentially ‘push’ a client/family into or out of their residence as quickly as possible, for example, so that they may collect their commission and move-on to the next commission check opportunity ASAP (and thus earn the greatest possible personal incomes for themselves year after year), real estate professionals are persistently tempted to ‘sell’ or ‘convince’ their clients to act, even when the property or opportunity is not the ideal fit for that person/family. The resulting ‘conflict of interest’ between the economic incentive of profit and the solemn fiduciary duty every licensed agent and broker owes to his client(s) represents the most common source of greed, unethical conduct and acts of injustice in the real estate services profession, while drawing clear parallels with the "sales profession" in general. After selling many millions of dollars worth of residential real property in both the re-sale and new homes sales arenas, first for tech-savvy Zip Realty out of Emeryville, CA, and then for Discovery Builders and Discovery Homes in Solano County, the Principal Broker for Socrates Properties has a strong grasp on the moral ambiguity and monetary corruption prevalent in the real estate sales profession in general. Incorporating lessons from technological advancements and growing global care for and consideration of ‘green issues’ like environmental sustainability and energy/cost efficiency, Socrates Properties operates as a ‘Virtual Office,’ encouraging its agents and broker to work from their home offices to cut down on both carbon emissions and overhead costs, among other benefits, such as being able to offer our services at lower rates or giving a point back at COE. [Our Principal Broker has residential real estate "Re-Sales" (formerly owned) AND residential real estate "New Homes" experience, both of which brought knowledge, experience and the opportunity to develop the necessary skill-set of an ambitiously hard-working and scrupulous real property broker]. Based on an innumerable litany of interrelated lessons gathered from these experiences, our Primary Broker and the Co-Founder of our innovatively, environmentally, equality of opportunity access focused company has raised his standards to a more evolved level, in our opinion. Not merely one of your ‘run of the mill’ real estate brokerage houses, all of our officers and agents have ownership stakes in the company and share the characteristic of being infused with an unquenchable entrepreneurial spirit and an above-average awareness of some of the inherent flaws in the Western Capitalistic System. They all receive excellent commission "cuts" from the beginning, and have the door thrown MUCH wider open on the opportunity to own a significant piece of the brokerage and its profits than the VAST MAJORITY of other brokerages would ever allow. These same agents/brokers are also rewarded at the highest levels of compensation for the satisfaction ratings supplied by ALL of our clients/principals at the close of every escrow. We don’t just sell. We create; we innovate; we spread the wealth according to merit and client satisfaction, not on position, influence and ‘who you know’ as most Western businesses are run. Rather, success in our company/companies (the owner of Socrates Properties is an author and runs a CA L.L.C. committed to innovative creation along with the work he performs as a real property broker) is based on what you know/learn and how that knowledge and skill is applied to the benefit of the company and society as a whole. Look at some of the projects that the Creative Development Department of the LLC is taking-on at any one moment, and you will notice a certain ‘ethos’ or theme: publicly-empowering/enriching innovation serving in stead with our motivation for profit. The creator of the company will always be a considerate and morally-principled philosopher, provocative writer and progressively-creative entrepreneur as well as a Real Estate Broker in the state of California. Higher ethical standards, therefore, are inherent in any services and/or partnerships engaged-into by our clients and associates, because philosophy is in the blood of our classically-inclined Broker-Owner. Reflection and consideration are NOT optional for our ever-thoughtful leader! ______________________________________________________________________ REAL ESTATE AND MARKET RELATED INFORMATION The California Association of Realtors' "2009 Survey of CA Home Buyers" AN EXCERPT FROM BEGINNING OF ABOVE REPORT: For release: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 Increased affordability, low mortgage rates motivating home buyers, according to C.A.R.’s “2009 Survey of California Home Buyers” Quick Facts: · Share of first-time buyers rose to 38 percent in 2009, compared with 19 percent in 2008 · Forty-nine percent of all buyers purchased a home through a traditional market sale · Eighty-eight percent of traditional market sales were financed through fixed-rate mortgages LOS ANGELES (July 7) – Favorable home prices, record-low interest rates, and the belief that rates will rise in the near future were the primary motivators leading home buyers to purchase in 2009 compared with last year, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2009 Survey of California Home Buyers” released today. Sixty-eight percent of buyers said price decreases motivated them to buy a home, while 39 percent reported low interest rates helped them move to a better location. Twenty-three percent claimed the likelihood that rates will move up as the motivating factor. “After back-to-back years of sharp declines, home sales in California rebounded in 2008 and early 2009,” said C.A.R. President James Liptak. “The increase reflected the combination of favorable prices, low mortgage rates, and home buyer tax credits, fueled primarily by sales of distressed properties that accounted for more than half of the state’s transactions. “Housing affordability has improved dramatically in response to the decline in home prices along with historically low mortgage rates, creating a tremendous opportunity for home buyers in California,” he added. Forty-nine percent of all buyers purchased a home through a traditional market sale, while 38% purchased a REO/bank-owned property, according to the survey. Reflecting the difficulty in closing short sales-- properties selling for less than the loan amount--only 13 percent of buyers purchased a short-sale property. Home buyers who purchased a REO or bank-owned property experienced the highest level of difficulty in obtaining financing, compared with a more traditional transaction. They rated the level of difficulty as 8.9 (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 representing the greatest level of difficulty in obtaining financing) compared with a 7.7 for home buyers with a traditional market sale and 7.6 for short-sale home buyers. Eighty-eight percent of traditional market sales and 75% of short sales were financed through fixed-rate mortgages. By contrast, just 43% of those who bought a REO/bank-owned property used fixed-rate mortgages. THE REMAINDER OF THE REPORT CAN BE READ BY CLICKING HERE YOU MAY NEED YOUR REALTOR TO ACCESS THE FULL REPORT ________________________________________________________________________________ AN EXCERPT FROM THE BEGINNING OF C.A.R.'S "MAY SALES AND PRICE REPORT" For release: Thursday, June 25, 2009 C.A.R. reports May home sales increased 35.2%, median home price declined 30.4% Quick Facts: · Existing, single-family home sales increased 35.2 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted rate of 556,590 on an annualized basis. · The statewide median price of an existing single-family home increased 4.2 percent in May to $267,570, compared with April 2009. · C.A.R.’s Unsold Inventory Index fell to 4.2 months in May, compared with 8.7 months in May 2008. LOS ANGELES (June 25) – Home sales increased 35.2 percent in May in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home declined 30.4 percent, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today. “With affordability for first-time buyers at a record high, sales of existing, single-family homes continued to remain above the 500,000 level for the ninth consecutive month,” said C.A.R. President James Liptak. “Buyers are beginning to realize that the combination of favorable home prices, historically low mortgage rates, and first-time home buyer tax credits, may not align again for many years. “The sales gains over last year have diminished in recent months,” he added. “This trend is expected to continue through the end of the year, as limited inventory at the moderate and low end of the market constrains sales activity,” he said. Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled 556,590 in May at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations statewide. Statewide home resale activity increased 35.2 percent from the revised 411,770 sales pace recorded in May 2008. Sales in May 2009 increased 2.9 percent compared with the previous month. The statewide sales figure represents what the total number of homes sold during 2009 would be if sales maintained the May pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales. The median price of an existing, single-family detached home in California during May 2009 was $267,570, a 30.4 percent decrease from the revised $384,540 median for May 2008, C.A.R. reported. The May 2009 median price rose 4.2 percent compared with April’s $256,700 median price. “The statewide median price rose for the third consecutive month in May, posting the largest monthly increase on record for the month of May, according to statistics dating back to 1979,” said C.A.R. Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “Nearly all regions in the state reported positive month-to-month changes in median price. THE REMAINDER OF THE REPORT CAN BE READ BY CLICKING HERE YOU MAY NEED YOUR REALTOR TO ACCESS THE FULL REPORT ______________________________________________________________________ The following is an excerpt from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report entitled: SECRETARY DONOVAN AWARDS $26 MILLION IN RECOVERY ACT FUNDING TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS IN BAY AREA COMMUNITIES - $150 Million Awarded to California Larry Bush (415) 489-6414 www.hud.gov/news/ For Release Thursday July 9, 2009 WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $25,909,500 to 15 San Francisco Bay Area cities and counties to rapidly re-house families who fall into homelessness, or prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place. The funding is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help persons and families facing a sudden financial crisis due to the economic recession. The grants are part of over $150 million awarded to 77 California cities and counties as well as to the State of California. San Francisco led the Bay Area grants with $8,757,780. San Jose was granted $4,128,763, Oakland was granted $3,458,120, and Berkeley was granted $1,332,952. Bay Area county grants are Alameda County ($802,915), Contra Costa County ($1,421,551), Marin County ($659,106) San Mateo County ($1,166,526) Santa Clara County ($717,484), Sonoma County ($817,572), and the cities of Alameda ($552,208), Daly City ($510,070), Santa Rosa ($516,527), and Sunnyvale ($508,191). HUD's new Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) provides a total of $1.5 billion for communities to provide short- and medium-term rental assistance and services to either prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. |
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AN EXCERPT FROM A RECENT NEWS REPORT ON THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET The California Association of Realtor's June Sales and Price Report For release: Monday, July 27, 2009 C.A.R. reports June home sales increased 20.1 percent, median home price declined 26.4 percent Quick Facts: · Existing, single-family home sales increased 20.1 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted rate of 514,110 on an annualized basis. · The statewide median price of an existing single-family home increased 4.2 percent in June to $274,740, compared with May 2009. · C.A.R.’s Unsold Inventory Index fell to 4.1 months in June, compared with 7.6 months in June 2008. LOS ANGELES (July 27) – Home sales increased 20.1 percent in June in California compared with the same period a year ago, while the median price of an existing home declined 26.4 percent, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® reported today. “Many first-time buyers, especially those who were previously priced out of certain areas, are realizing that tax credits from both the state and federal governments, increased affordability, and low interest rates are creating a prime time to purchase a home,” said C.A.R. President James Liptak. “June marked the 10th consecutive month of positive sales gains, and the fourth month of rising median home prices. “The statewide median price for existing condos increased for the third consecutive month in June, while sales climbed 27 percent compared with last year," Liptak said. "Both of these trends are indicative of increased interest in condos on the part of first-time and other buyers.” Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled 514,110 in June at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations statewide. Statewide home resale activity increased 20.1 percent from the revised 427,910 sales pace recorded in June 2008. Sales in June 2009 decreased 6 percent compared with the previous month. The statewide sales figure represents what the total number of homes sold during 2009 would be if sales maintained the June pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales. The median price of an existing, single-family detached home in California during June 2009 was $274,740, a 26.4 percent decrease from the revised $373,100 median for June 2008, C.A. R. reported. The June 2009 median price rose 4.2 percent compared with May’s $263,600 median price. “Shrinking inventory in the lower end of the market is impacting prices, as many distressed properties are receiving multiple bids,” said C.A.R. Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “The year-to- year price declines are diminishing, and are at the lowest level since March 2008. “Although another surge of foreclosures is expected later this year, demand remains strong, so the market may be able to absorb more distressed properties without significantly impacting the median price,” said Appleton-Young. Highlights of C.A.R.’s resale housing figures for June 2009: . C.A.R.’s Unsold Inventory Index for existing, single-family detached homes in June 2009 was 4.1 months, compared with 7.6 months (revised) for the same period a year ago. The index indicates the number of months needed to deplete the supply of homes on the market at the current sales rate. . Thirty-year fixed-mortgage interest rates averaged 5.42 percent during June 2009, compared with 6.32 percent in June 2008, according to Freddie Mac. Adjustable-mortgage interest rates averaged 4.93 percent in June 2009, compared with 5.15 percent in June 2008. . The median number of days it took to sell a single-family home was 44.3 days in June 2009, compared with 49 days (revised) for the same period a year ago. READ THE REST OF THE REPORT: CLICK HERE Remember that MUCH MORE market information is available directly and from directly-linked resources at SonomaCountyLuxuryResidences.com |
| ___________________________________ ANOTHER RECENT NEWS-REPORT RELATED TO THE LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET Daily Real Estate News | July 1, 2009 | Share Pending Home Sales Rise Again Pending home sales show a sustained uptrend, rising for four consecutive months with very favorable housing affordability and a first-time buyer tax credit boosting activity, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in May, increased 0.1 percent to 90.7 from an upwardly revised reading of 90.6 in April, and is 6.7 percent higher than May 2008 when it was 85.0. The last time there were four consecutive monthly gains was in October 2004. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, cautions that there could be delays in the number of contracts that go to closing. “Closed existing-home sales have improved but are coming in lower than expected because some contracts are delayed or falling through from the application of new appraisal rules for many transactions,” he says. “Rises in contract activity show buyers are becoming more active even as they face much more stringent loan underwriting standards. Speedy clarification of the appraisal rules could smooth a housing market recovery and support the overall economy.” Region * Northeast: The Pending Home Sales Index in the Northeast rose 3.1 percent to 80.9 in May and is 6.8 percent above a yr ago. * Midwest : In the Midwest, the index slipped 1.3 percent to 89.2 but is 11.4 percent above May 2008. * South: The index in the South declined 1.7 percent to 92.6 in May but is 7.9 percent higher than a year ago. * West: In the West, the index rose 2.2 percent to 96.9 and is 0.7 percent above May 2008. The Effects of Appraisals NAR President Charles McMillan says the appraisal issue is complicated. “We see that distressed homes often are selling for 20 percent less than normal homes in the same area, but some appraisals don’t distinguish between traditional homes and distressed property,” he says. “In many cases appraisers from outside the area are being used, but as everyone knows real estate is local and appraisals should be done by an expert with local expertise.” McMillan says sellers shouldn’t hesitate to speak with an appraiser about their home. “Sellers should feel free to tell an appraiser about improvements and renovations to their home, and how it compares with other homes in the neighborhood,” he adds. “Also, if recent sales in the neighborhood were discounted, but not similar to your home in terms of quality or condition, that should be pointed out. It wouldn’t hurt to put all this in writing, especially if an appraiser is not familiar with your area. " Affordability at a high NAR’s Housing Affordability Index remains at historic highs. The affordability index fell to 171.6 in May from an upwardly revised 178.8 in April, which was the highest on record dating back to 1970. “Under these conditions the typical family would devote only 14.6 percent of gross income to mortgage principal and interest, which is one of the lowest percentages on record,” Yun says. The HAI is a broad measure of housing affordability using consistent values and assumptions over time, which examines the relationship between home prices, mortgage interest rates, and family income. A median-income family, earning $60,800, could afford a home costing $296,700 in May with a 20 percent down payment, assuming 25 percent of gross income is devoted to mortgage principal and interest. Affordability conditions for first-time buyers with the same income and small down payments are roughly 80 percent of what a median-income family can afford. The affordable price was significantly higher than the median existing single-family home price in May, which was $172,900. First-time buyer tax credits offers a boost The first-time buyer tax credit also is benefiting the market. “Strong activity by entry-level buyers is helping to absorb inventory and allow some existing owners to make a trade,” Yun says Existing-home sales should trend up through the end of the year, with normal local market differences. “The big question is how much the appraisal issue will impact the ability of contracts to go to closing,” Yun says. “We are currently conducting a study to assess the degree to which new appraisal rules are impacting home sales.” — NAR This News Report comes courtesy of the National Association of Realtors' Realtor Magazine _____________________________________________ A MESSAGE FROM OUR BROKER-OWNER: Socrates Properties aims to create a niche for itself in the professional real estate services sector of the Northern Bay Area by becoming emblematic of the evolution of the business towards greater control and concern for the public it is privileged to have the opportunity to serve. The same motivation lies at the heart of the company creator's Real Estate Mate Project, and is applied to and reflected in the service we show to those people that WE KNOW are in the process of making the one of the biggest decisions of their lives: real estate transactions. Many people make one or two residential real estate purchases in their lives, spending decades on end at each residence. Others pick-up and go where the wind takes them on complete caprice, making new homes every other year like a U.S. Air-Force, Army or Naval officer. And then there's everyone else in between. But REGARDLESS of where one and/or one's family sits on this sliding scale, real estate decisions are ALWAYS IMPORTANT. And we realize this. From working in the business we will also forthrightly offer the FACT that so many in the business are so afraid to admit and share with our principals and the public in general: there is an inherent conflict of interest in the real estate sales profession. And that is that the real estate professional, being motivated to make as much money as he/she can for themselves, their families and their lifestyles (which, IN ITSELF, there isn't anything wrong with), are self-served by selling AS MANY houses, as great of a sales volume, as he/she/they possibly can. This translates, of course, into the need to convert any leads/clients they are working with INTO REVENUE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE (ASAP). This, in turn, means that once you've decided to work with them, your average broker or sales agent wants you to make your decision ASAP so they can devote their time and energy on the next client to convert into cash, speaking plainly. What this means, in the end, is that these people and families, most of them hardworking and honest, get pushes around, essentially. Families get pressured into making a deal as soon as possible, often REGARDLESS of whether or not it is the ideal move for them to make (the best property for what they want and need, for example, or the best price they can get on their listing). Meaning, most of the time, that the real estate agent's morality becomes twisted up in his or her own never-ceasing drive for ever greater sales. In other words, it becomes NOT about quality of service provided, the serving of the fiduciary duty that every real estate agent swears an oath to serve, but instead about, as real estate agents love to say, THE NUMBERS. THE NUMBER OF CALLS, THE NUMBER OF CLIENTS, THE NUMBER OF SALES, THE NUMBER OF DOLLARS BROUGHT INTO THE COMPANY... "THE NUMBERS GAME," as this broker was forced-fed multiple times a day at Zip Realty and via the books written by the owner of Keller Williams. While this stance is no surprise in a greed-consumed capitalistic society, it is a downright corrupt stance to take towards people and their loved ones looking for the right place to BUILD THE REST OF THEIR LIVES! That's what I've noticed, and that's what I (Nick A. Jameson, Founding Broker and Entrepreneur) swear to stand for: GREATER CARE, ENERGY, TIME, CONSIDERATION AND PRINCIPLE IN OPERATION IN COMPARISON TO THE OVERLY BIG, BLOATED BROKERAGE HOUSES OUT TO SIGN AS MANY AGENTS AS POSSIBLE, ESSENTIALLY REGARDLESS OF THEIR QUALITIES, TO BRING INTO THEIR SUPER-HIGH AGENT AND CLIENT TURNOVER MONEY MILLS FOR HIGHER PROFITS ABOVE ALL THINGS ALWAYS. If I or ANY of my partners, employees, contractors or associates EVER seem NOT to have your best interests in mind, please CALL ME ON IT! If I'm not working hard FOR YOU, but FOR MYSELF like so many driven purely by materialistic satisfactions in this business (not that I'm not into money and material, I'm not going to lie like so many either, BUT I TRULY AM MOTIVATED BY MORE - I AM A LEFT-LEANING SOCIALLY CONSIDERATE PHILOSOPHER - A TRUE PERSON OF PRINCIPLE!), you should CALL ME OUT for not serving the principles I HEREBY SWEAR to honor, and I/we will immediately re-focus on you TOTALLY, else you should walk-out - for we do not FORCE YOU to sign an Agency Agreement up front, like so many, or most. And walk out on any of my agents that might get sidetracked by their own lust for money and its material offspring as well, PLEASE. Ambition itself is NOT frowned upon. Only when ambition twists a person's focus inwardly, making them oblivious to their duty to the clients they have sworn to serve ABOVE ALL THINGS, is that ambition considered to be counter to the company's core philosophies! PLEASE REPORT ANYONE IN MY COMPANY TO ME... Broker-Owner Nick A. Jameson, by calling 707.280.3352, or via email at primarybroker@socratesproperties.com ...IF THEY DO NOT MAKE YOUR BUSINESS THEIR CLEAR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AS PROMISED HEREIN! |
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