We are fortunate that San Diego sellers don’t have “seasons” to blame for why real estate isn’t selling – our market is active for 12 months of the year.
What makes the situation worse in resort areas is that both sellers and agents, when confronted with the prospect of having to come down on price to make a sale today, say “it’s early in the season”, which then squeezes their actual deal-making time down to 1-2 months.
I hope for their sake that all the rich folks come around as scheduled!
How can a buyer, or buyer’s agent, have some pull with the sellers? It’s nearly impossible, with most listing agents thinking that it is their job to protect their sellers at all costs.
The only chance is to write a clean enough offer that it still gets presented, but also has some kickers included that might make the seller think (if they read it):
Maybe the tuna melt could work anytime, anywhere?
Interesting….no joke or lie….I just came back from the corporate cafeteria and ordered a…*gasp*… tuna melt.
*Chuckle* Is this a real estate blog or a food one, Jim? First, the ice cream truck,then the double cheeseburger and now the tuna melt!
Jeeman, are you enjoying your new home?
Fire season is right around the corner.
$5 million for a home in Lake Arrowhead? Sure, it’s nice there, but at today’s historically low rates, $5 million in 4.5% munis is worth $225k in tax-free income PER YEAR. With that money you can alternate 6-month vacations every year in Lake Tahoe, Maui, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, Bora Bora, etc. – and you STILL HAVE your $5 million. Is a Lake Arrowhead house better than that?
I use a similar line of thought when I see tract homes in Carmel Valley selling for $1+ million. If I rubbed a magic lamp and a genie offered me $1.5 million cash or a 4,000 ft CV tract home, I’d take the cash. $1.5 million invested with conservative 7% annual returns = almost $6 million in 20 years = a comfortable retirement for me without ever saving another dime. Heck, I might still take the cash at $1 million. Not everybody would, though (my wife, for example.:)) At what number would you tell the genie you’d rather have the house than the cash? That’s what a house is really worth IMHO.
By the way, love the tuna melt idea. My favorite negotiation story involves a former coworker who offered on a house, knowing the seller was desperate. The seller countered, and my coworker came back with a second offer lower than the first! Sure enough, he got the house. This was, of course, before the bubble. I’d love to pull that move one day.
Susie, we are enjoying it…except for the yardwork :-). Can’t wait to get enough funds to update it…maybe next year.
When I’m terminal (time minus 1 year to live), I want to buy me one of those flying machines, put on some headphones, and surf air in 3d versus this 2d world we live in.
That and I’ll buy a crotch rocket.
Maybe I’ll buy a home and not pay to live there too.
Things to do before you die.
I had a tuna melt for breakfast today. It’s one of my favorite things to eat (with gluten-free Udi’s brand bread for me, of course.)
I like the idea…though unfortunately I don’t think too many sellers will take you seriously…
-Erica
Will totally work. High-end houses up there sit for years and one of these days you’re going to find somebody who needs to sell.
Here is a massive complete remodel in serious trouble. They’ve been trying to sell for years. Used to be owned by Mick Mead of Adventure 16.
Here is the nicest home on the mountain, probably not willing to discount much though.
I don’t know if the tuna melt will work today, but it might get slid into a drawer, and pulled out again once the “season” is wrapping up.
Why does anybody need 17,000 freaking square feet-in a probable second home even! Geez.
Geotpf,
Your harem must not be extensive.
Justme…….I get a kick how the masses think that hang gliding / paragliding / “crotch rockets” are either guys with death wishes, are nuts, or are crossing items off of their *bucket-list*
I’ve paraglided at this site in San Bernardino (called Marshall/Crestline) many times and can reassure you that the higher those pilots get, the safer they are. Altitude is a pilot’s best friend, as it gives the needed time for correction in the event of a problem.
I personally fly with pilots that are in their 60’s and 70’s, and they have been flying for decades. So the moral of the story is that there is no need to wait for a terminal illness to start living.
Murf2222
p.s. I have 2 “crotch-rockets” and ride them regularly too…..hope I’ve not used up all my survival credits yet!
murf222,
thanks for the inspiration. i got a call from the scripps emergency room once where they told me they scraped my brother off hwy 5 in the middle of rush hour in the middle lane. he kinda ruined the whole fantasy for me.
i just saw this amazing 6 year old girl skate an 11′ vert tube tonight. now i want to do that too…if i’m terminal. holy cow the adrenaline rush from that would be insane. i get all excited skating down a minor hill. knowing me, i’d figure how to screw up anything that involves aerodynamics.
but i do appreciate the push to live it up now. i’ll take that into consideration.