Come see what our clients are saying about us!

Thank you for choosing the Clarke Team!  

Our customers are our most valuable asset and we want to let you know that we truly value your business.

Would you like to see how other people feel about us?

See what our clients are saying about us:
https://www.customerlobby.com/reviews/159/the-clarke-team/

Thank you for visiting, come in or call us if you want to talk! We are always available =)

The Clarke Team
Real Estate Consultants
580 El Camino Real
San Carlos, CA 94070
Cell (650) 489-5399
Fax: (866) 807-9279

For more information visit our webpage at:
www.clarketeam.com

Negotiating

Of course, negotiating is a huge part of the homebuying process. I will negotiate on your behalf, bringing to the table years of experience and local expertise. There are some principles that are universal, though.
You’re in a strong bargaining position if:

• You’re an all-cash buyer
• You’re already preapproved for a mortgage
• You don’t have a home that needs to be sold before you can buy

These circumstances give you a little more leeway in negotiating. However, even if you are in a strong position, in a "hot" market, you may want to make your offer more desirable by offering more than asking price. When the market is "soft," homes tend to sell more slowly, creating a larger pool of homes from which to choose. On the other hand, when the market is "hot," there may be a limited number of homes to visit and the demand for them may be high. Overall, here are some suggestions:

• Enter into negotiations with the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the property firmly in mind.
• Keep in mind (and add to the contract) some terms you can live without – then you can make concessions without compromising the items that are important to you.
• Always have a few alternative homes in mind – knowing you have other options will help you stay objective during bargaining and may encourage the seller to be more reasonable.
• Try to ascertain what the seller wants and needs. If, for example, the seller’s new home is not ready by the closing date, you might consider allowing the seller to rent back the home for a short time, provided your schedule permits.
• Terms may be negotiated as well as price, and the changes can result in financial savings. 

 http://clarketeam.com/WebArticle.aspx?ID=15596&webPageID=15&webCategoryContentID=75

3 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home

by The KCM Crew on January 20, 2014 in For Buyers 1.20 VisualIf you are thinking about purchasing a home right now, you are surely getting a lot of advice. Though your friends and family have your best interests at heart, they may not be fully aware of your needs and what is currently happening in real estate. Let’s look at whether or not now is actually a good time for you to buy a home. There are three questions you should ask before purchasing in today’s market: 1. Why am I buying a home in the first place? This truly is the most important question to answer. Forget the finances for a minute. Why did you even begin to consider purchasing a home? For most, the reason has nothing to do with finances. A study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University reveals that the four major reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money: A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education A place where you and your family feel safe More space for you and your family Control of the space What non-financial benefits will you and your family derive from owning a home? The answer to that question should be the biggest reason you decide to purchase or not. 2. Where are home values headed? When looking at future housing values, we like the Home Price Expectation Survey. Every quarter, Pulsenomics surveys a nationwide panel of over one hundred economists, real estate experts and investment & market strategists about where prices are headed over the next five years. They then average the projections of all 100+ experts into a single number. Here is what the experts projected in the latest survey: Home values will appreciate by 4.3% in 2014. The cumulative appreciation will be 28% by 2018. Even the experts making up the most bearish quartile of the survey still are projecting a cumulative appreciation of over 16.8% by 2018. 3. Where are mortgage interest rates headed? A buyer must be concerned about more than just prices. The ‘long term cost’ of a home can be dramatically impacted by an increase in mortgage rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the National Association of Realtors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have all projected that mortgage interest rates will increase by approximately one full percentage over the next twelve months. Bottom Line Only you and your family can know for certain the right time to purchase a home. Answering these questions will help you make that decision.

San Carlos Made The Top 10 Cities to Live in In California!

I have lived in San Carlos now for 25 years.  It has a small town feel, great schools, a vibrant downtown, and yet is close to three metropolitan areas and international airports making it a great location for jobs and travel.  Who could ask for more?

www.movoto.com/ca/best-places-in-california/

The #1 Reason You Should Sell Now

by The KCM Crew on January 13, 2014 in For Sellers

The price of any item (including residential real estate) is determined by ‘supply and demand’. If many people are looking to buy an item and the supply of that item is limited, the price of that item increases.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the supply of homes for sale dramatically increases every spring. Putting your home on the market now instead of waiting for the increased competition of the spring might make a lot of sense.

Buyers in the market during the winter months are truly motivated purchasers. They want to buy now. With limited inventory available in most markets currently, a seller will be in a great position to negotiate.