#adamibonfiglio

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Hit the market today. 670 E. Mission Street San Jose, CA 95112

Luna Park gem 2 bedrooms 1 bath $599,000

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Call us for your real estate needs. We will point you in the right direction.

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We have all of these homes open this weekend. 663 Azule Avenue San Jose $629,000 - 4575 Balmoral Park Court Fremont $879,000 - 748 Canoas Creek Circle San Jose $898,000 

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Sereno Group Ranked Among the Top Brokerages in the Nation by Real Trends, Inc.

For 2013, Sereno Group ranked 61st in sales volume, 5th in average sales price, and 15th for overall percentage increase over the past five years.

Why we love working in this group!

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Record appreciations in 2013

Average and Median prices for single family homes in Silicon Valley are up as much as 31% compared to 2012. Monterey and Santa Cruz have the highest median price increase at 31% and 29% respectively. San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties follow with an increase of 21% and 17% while San Benito checks in at only 4%. With only a one-to-two percent change month-overmonth, there appears to be stabilization in Silicon Valley’s rapid rise in single family home median price. San Benito is the exception where the low volume of sales has a more dynamic effect. Still, down only 6% is a big improvement in the San Benito County market since 2008.

Closed Sales have taken a significant hit compared to Oct. 2013, largely due to the cyclical nature of buyer/seller activity which is always heavier in the late spring and summer. The Holiday months are typically the slowest of the year for sales, new listings and development. More interestingly, as opposed to last year at this time, sales have declined at double digit levels across all counties.

Read more at http://www.mlslistings.com/NewsRoom/market-data-reports/current-month?utm_source=MLSListings+Real+Estate+%26+Housing+Update+-+November+2013&utm_campaign=November+2013+Market+Indicators&utm_medium=email#FuGPgXqDL5gzzO6A.99

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Consumer Confidence Bolstered by an Area Home Warranty

Consumer confidence certainly seems to wax and wane in a not-totally-predictable manner. What does seem clear is that when the future is cloudy, Bay Area homebuyers tend to tighten up their purse strings. It’s logical: if you can plan ahead with a greater degree of certainty, you feel better about making the kind of commitment buying a San Jose home entails. 

If you plan on selling your home in San Jose this winter, you may not be able to do much about whether the economy grows or tanks, or the Federal Reserve expands or shrinks the money supply. But there IS at least one thing you can do to remove uncertainty from the minds of your prospective buyers. Just offer a home warranty! 

A home warranty in Silicon Valley is an inexpensive plan that provides coverage for items that typically fall outside a traditional home insurance plan. The major kitchen appliances are generally only covered by your home policy if they are damaged in a fire, stolen, or suffer damage resulting from some other covered peril. A home warranty provides reassurance for a much broader scope of damage and mechanical breakdown. Warrantee buyers can also opt to include other large items in the home — like the HVAC system, boilers, water softeners and water heaters.

H.U.D. points out that a home warranty is an increasingly popular inclusion because it offers protection during the period immediately following a home’s purchase — the time when most local home buyers know they will “find themselves cash-strapped.” Although payment can be monthly or annual, most home sellers choose a one-time payment option.

In an uncertain world, are homebuyers reassured when a home warranty is part of your offer? Statistics from the National Home Warranty Association provide their own reassurance: they show that including a home warranty as part of the sale can help a home sell for up to 50% faster.  

Even though a home warranty is an added expense, it’s an investment that can pay off in helping your home sell faster — possibly at a higher price, as well. Thinking of selling this winter? Call us today to discuss this and many other ways we can make it happen!

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Keep Your Options Open When Buying a House in Willow Glen

This summer, the National Association of Realtors® reported the largest number of existing home sales since February 2007— and I expect we will see similar results when this fall’s final numbers come in. With more individuals looking to enter (or re-enter) the real estate market, buying a house in Willow Glen can be expected to continue to be newly competitive. 

That does not mean that you should adopt a defensive mindset. Even after finding what looks like a great deal on a seemingly terrific home, it’s wise to keep an eye out for unexpected developments that could make it necessary to walk away from the deal. Some of the situations that usually don’t (but still can) trigger that option:

If the home inspection uncovers issues that you didn’t know existed, you have several options. The seller may offer to pay for needed repairs, or add a credit at closing. Depending on the extent of the problem, it’s sometimes wiser to simply take the credit and avoid complex amendments that could overcomplicate the contract. But if the seller refuses any concessions, it could be that you won’t be buying a house as quickly as hoped.

A mortgage can fall through unexpectedly. An abrupt change in employment, credit downgrade, or if the bank has trouble verifying income, an underwriter may back away from the table. Most often, financing contingencies in the paperwork will allow you to walk away from the deal.

An unexpectedly low appraisal can make buying a house financially unworkable. When a home appraises for less than the agreed-upon selling price, the bank will not finance. This means the seller will either have to lower his price, or you as the buyer will need to come up with additional cash to cover the difference. You may believe the appraisal is not a fair measure of the property’s true worth (at least to you) — but remember that should you later wish to sell, the next appraisal may not be much higher. In all cases, whenever you contemplate buying a house in Willow Glen, We are here to help you reach smart long-term decisions.   

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Mistakes to Avoid As a First-Time Home Buyer

When a San Jose first-time home buyer begins hunting for the prize that has to serve both as a satisfactory home base and a solid investment, most feel a mixture of excitement (a home is a landmark achievement!) and maybe just a touch of apprehension. Like any expense you’ve never encountered before, it’s appropriate to take extra care the first time out — and to pay attention to what experience teaches. Along those lines, here are some mistakes that are easy for a first-time home buyer to make. Fortunately, they’re also easy to sidestep:

1. Waiting for a better rate

Adjustable rates may well be about as low as they’re going to get right now – and some signs point to an increase in the coming months. For a San Jose first-time home owner who will be taking out a loan, if the property is right, hesitating to make a commitment based on a loan rate gamble is seldom a good idea.

2. Thinking short term

Consider thinking of a home as a lifetime investment. Even for those who are single or newly-wedded, it’s possible that being open to a house with extra rooms could end up saving considerably on moving, transaction and agent fees, taxes, etc. It’s equally important to look at neighborhoods and how they are changing and developing. If you do resell your home, location can make a big difference in how. 

3. Underestimating hidden costs

The monthly mortgage payment isn’t the ultimate bottom line. When a first-time home buyer comes across a property that fills (or exceeds) everything he or she has been looking for, if the mortgage payment looks to be right, it’s easy to overlook other homeowner expenses. Experienced buyers make hardheaded estimates of maintenance fees and property taxes — they will be every bit as consequential as the mortgage bill. 

For a first-time home buyer in San Jose, when thoughtful perspective goes into your final decision, it’s that much more likely to be a decision that pays off in the long run. If you are preparing to buy this fall, We’ll be standing by to help get you started!