Summer was quiet, especially late June into July when everyone, myself included, took a break. August changed that. Between the market waking back up and ten birthdays in my own house this month, my calendar hasn't stopped since.
Buyers are back, and they're negotiating hard on homes that have been sitting, which proves a rule I repeat often: price it right the first time and you'll likely see two or three offers. Price it too high and you'll sit, then settle for one lower offer, if you're lucky.
After seeing thousands of homes, here's a truth I've come to trust: buyers usually know within thirty seconds whether they love a house. Sometimes that's out of anyone's control, the light, the layout, the location. More often, it comes down to presentation. I recommend staging not because sellers lack taste, plenty of you have beautiful furniture, but because buyers need to picture their own life in a space, not yours.
Good news from my lender, Sam, this week. CPI and PPI both came in cooler than expected, pushing the 10-year Treasury, the number mortgage rates actually track, down to 4.62 percent. Jobless claims also rose to 209,000, a sign the job market is cooling. If you've been waiting for rates to move, this was the right direction.
Sam's team also has a loan built specifically for medical professionals, including residents and fellows: zero down, up to two million dollars. If you know someone this fits, I'm happy to make the introduction.
In no particular order, a few homes worth a look right now: 12162 Laurel Terrace Drive and 4554 Wortser Avenue in Studio City, 4333 Vinton Avenue in Culver City's Park East, 6010 Wright Terrace in Culver City, 5220 Melvin Avenue and 6237 Belmar Avenue in Tarzana, 5343 Blanco Way in Sunkist Park, 3411 Tareco Drive in Hollywood Hills East, 14346 Killion Street in Sherman Oaks, 5655 Ramara Avenue in Woodland Hills, 5640 Greenbush Avenue in Valley Glen, 11099 Ophir Drive in Westwood, 4035 Wade Street in Culver West, and 12773 La Maida Street in Valley Village.