Author: Margaret Barton

Published 27 September, 2023 in Wealth

We all know the saying “what we don’t know can’t harm us,” yet that isn’t always true, there are times when what we don’t know can be a ...

Published 29 August, 2023 in Bay Area Housing Trends

We know about the catastrophic wild fires California has experienced but what exactly does this mean for an insurance company, why don't they want our business? Here's a slightly different perspective, let's look at the dollars and cents of the business (and, yes. it's probably TMI but I don't know how to say it briefly)....

Published 29 May, 2023 in Bay Area Housing Trends

Lately, I've been asked many times whether or not we're out of the real estate gloomies we've experienced lately!  While the first quarter of 2022 was a steaming hot market, that can't be said for the months that followed with real estate trending downwards.  What a difference a year makes!  Over the last year we've had to deal with a war, stock market and Bitcoin plunge, numerous interest rates hikes, layoffs, and let's not forget bank failures; phew, we all deserve a break! In comparing the first quarter of 2022 with the first quarter of 2023, it's clear that several cities...

Published 24 April, 2023 in Bay Area Housing Trends

When listing their home, every seller wants it to look its best, to show well, to obtain the highest sale price possible. When meeting with my clients, I stress the following: 1. Vacate your home and if that's not possible, empty it as much as possible Once you've a signed contract you may only have 2-4 weeks to vacate, to avoid that deadline stress, pack as much as possible and rent a pod or storage unit.  Getting a short term rental or moving in with family/friends is also a great help; remember, once the house is listed, if you're still living in it,...

Published 3 March, 2023 in Bay Area Housing Trends

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) who track housing information, the number one reason sellers sold their homes since the start of the pandemic was their need to find a larger home. The need for a home office, space to homeschool children, and the attraction of yard space during shelter-in-place...

Published 20 January, 2023 in Bay Area Housing Trends

So appreciate getting feedback on my postings, your input really helps me! It was recently pointed out to me that I haven't posted information on rental pricing, so this post addresses rentals in five Silicon Valley cities: Cupertino, Los Altos, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Sunnyvale, the cities I get asked about most! ...