First-Time Buyers Share Their Experience
Buying a Home in This Competitive Market

We've come full-circle since 2020, as of Q1 2024, the market competition i up, rates are dropping and multiple offers are back. I recently checked in with Stephen & Asako to see how they have settled into their first home here in San Diego; they were so happy and appreciated the home even more because we wrote several offers to get them there, it was not an easy market for buyers in 2021. 

The Pandemic of 2020-2021 not only postponed the recession we were heading into around February 2020, but it caused a very unexpected Real Estate Boom by April of 2020 which lasted 2 full years.

While this market has seemed to reach its peak as of March 2022 due to inflation and interest rates rising, it's simply gone from a boom-market to a "normalized" one.

Finding the right real estate agent is not easy, because (I hate to say it) 85% do not run their business like a business and they are very transactional vs. being relational e.g. putting the client's needs ahead of their own.

The 15% that are worth working with are often hard to discern from the rest of the pack in a free online search engine results and their counter part paid ad sites like Google, Facebook. It's not much easier on dedicated real estate marketing/lead capture  sites like REALTOR.com, Zillow or even in Sunday newspaper's ads; Confused yet? They can't help you decide.

Google Reviews I feel the most authentic, because sites like Yelp and Zillow own the agents reviews and hold them hostage at times to purchase advertising, so over the years I've gotten away from having clients post their reviews of me on these sites, because they only want to sell ads...I stick to Google Reviews.
Zillow and Yelp's main business is lead capture and selling ads, it's not selling real estate or providing reviews. And let's face it, their are companies for hire that will post fake reviews on anyone's site with a budget.

You have neighborhood experts who's advertisements bombard your doorstep & mailbox, but sometimes that just means they have targeted your neighborhood and have a large advertising budget - it doesn't make them "the best" Real Estate Agent for you nor your local expert..

So, how do you hire the best REALTOR® for your needs? Get a referral to one!

Who do you know that recently had a successful home sale or purchased a new home and enjoyed the process? They are your referral source. Ask your last 2-3 friends or family members who they used in the last 1-2 years as their REALTOR® You'll end up with a better starting point and you may even hear the same name more than once. You're going to spend 90-days to 18 months together (depending on where you are in your process); it's best to know, like and trust your agent; mutual respect is a minimum standard.

Whether you're a first-time buyer, seller, purchasing a luxury home or maybe a second home, vacation / "snowbird" property or investment rental; your needs are specific, so should be your REALTOR®'s skill set and ability to serve your needs.

I'm never too busy to serve you and your referrals!