Bay Area Real Estate Podcast with Caleb Davis

Help us give back this year by participating in our Campaign of Caring. My wife Rachel and I have loved partnering with Missing Man Ministry, a 100% volunteer-based program that benefits widows who have lost their husbands and children who have lost their fathers. One of the things that really makes this nonprofit stand out for me is the amount of courage that these widows consistently demonstrate in such a horrible time in their lives. It’s very moving for me personally and very near and dear to my heart. I’m happy to announce that we have a growing community of donors and volunteers who are dedicated to the mission as well. If you have donated already or volunteered, I just want to say thank you so much. Some ways that we’re able to help these widows include financial gifts, chores around the property, and handling deferred maintenance items that become even harder to address when tragedy strikes. We’re just trying to ease the physical and financial burdens for these people. “100% of the donated funds go to supporting widows and their children.” I have a quick story I want to share with you. We came across two widows with four children who were raising them together while also doing distance learning from one shared tablet and one shared smartphone. Due to donors like yourself, we were able to go out and get tablets for each of these children and their mothers. It felt like Christmas, and it made us so happy to be able to do that. Due to COVID-19, we’re putting off our annual in-person banquet that is the biggest fundraising event of the year for us. I would like to invite you, along with Rachel and me, to help support Missing Man Ministry. You can DONATE HERE, where 100% of funds go to supporting widows and their children. You can also share the video above with your friends on social media. We want to get the word out to as many people as possible. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Here’s what you should know about recent sales tax increases in our area. Starting July 1, your local sales tax rate probably went up by more than 5%. Most people I mentioned this to in May and June were oblivious to it, but it’s a fact. The cities of Hayward, San Leandro, and Union City just went from 9.75 to 10.25, a 5.12% increase. In Castor Valley and San Lorenzo, it rose from 9.25 to 9.75, a 5.4% increase. It sounds so small, but that small increase means a 5% decrease in your dollar’s purchasing power. Whether we like it or not, taxation is a way of life, and the government will only want more in the future, not less. From 2008 to 2013, we saw so many people needlessly lose their homes to foreclosure because they didn’t get advice and didn’t take the proper actions ahead of time. Many good people simply let things spiral out of control, and they’re still hurting financially to this day. “Knowledge is power, and we’re happy to share our knowledge with you.” Unless something happens soon, we fear that these numbers will increase. Those of you with mortgages backed by the federal government who can show a financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 can probably defer your payments for at least six months upon request, then request another six months of relief after that. There are other options currently in place, and new ones are coming—extended loan terms, adding missed payments to your loan balance, etc. Do your homework before you get behind on your payments if possible. If you’re already behind but you’re not sure what your next move should be, call us for a confidential conversation. Knowledge is power, and we’re glad to share our knowledge with you and help any way we can. If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. We look forward to hearing from you.

Today Dave Doyle from Missing Man Ministries (or M3) joins me to discuss who they are and what they do. Missing Man Ministries is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help widows and orphans. It began about nine years ago and grew out of a men’s bible study group, though they’re not associated with a specific church. It began by helping a local woman who had just lost her husband and didn’t know what to do. After helping her, the group decided they wanted to support more women and children. To learn more about M3 and how they’re trying to grow, watch my latest video above.

As you may already know, Fohl & Hernandez delivers over 20,000 tomato plants to the doorsteps here in the East Bay area every year. This year, due to COVID-19, we’ll be doing things a tad differently—we’d like to invite you to grow with us. Stop by our office on Saturday, May 16, or Sunday, May 17, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for a no-touch tomato plant pickup. You’ll drive around the parking lot, pop your trunk, and we’ll load a brown paper bag inside so as to not create a mess for you. Click here to reserve a tomato plant of your own. If you have any questions or need any other assistance, feel free to reach out to me.

What does the coronavirus mean for our real estate market? As you may know, I send out a monthly newsletter called the East Bay Real Estate Report, and today I’ll share the highlights of April’s edition with you to answer that question. In general, I don’t foresee this pandemic hurting real estate values. For many reasons, homes are still selling, and we agents have adapted to the circumstances to help our clients. To get the full rundown, watch the video above.

Here are a few tips that will help you prep your home for the market. When is the right time to start preparing your home for the market? If you’re like me, you like to keep your home prepped for the market at all times…  …Just kidding! With my wife, kids, and dogs in tow, there’s no way I can keep my house like that.  Preparing a house for the market can seem like a daunting process, so if you plan on selling in March, April, or May—historically, the best months to sell—you first need to go room by room and take an inventory of what state each room is in and what changes you’d like to see take place in those rooms.  “Sometimes, the property doesn’t even need to be painted—it just needs a good power wash.” If it were me, I’d start with my master bedroom because that’s the room in which I spend the most time. After that, move on to the main areas like the kitchen and living room. Do these areas need paint or curtains? Does the flooring need to be redone? Next, I’d look over the exterior of the home and check whether it needs to be repainted or, for example, whether the downspouts need to be cleaned. If you hire a professional painter to do the job, they’ll power wash the house, too. Sometimes, the property doesn’t even need to be painted—it just needs a good power wash.  Landscaping can seem daunting in and of itself. You can go overboard and spend upward of $30,000 to $50,000, or go the less expensive route and spend $3,000 to $5,000. In any case, it’s good to hire a professional to walk you through this project with you and offer tips on what to do (and not to do).  So whether you’re firm on selling once spring hits, or would just like to spruce your house up a bit, give me a call and I’d be happy to help. I’ll offer the same internal document I use to make big projects smaller and more manageable. In the meantime, make it a great day!

If you plan on buying or selling a home at any point soon, I’ve got some valuable information to share with you today. You may have heard news of doom and gloom regarding our real estate market, but at the end of the day, nobody has a crystal ball. Here are some facts and figures that show where we’ve been and where we are right now. In 2009, there were over 1,442 homes sold in Hayward. In 2019, only 258 homes were sold. We definitely have a housing shortage right now. “This is the time to start putting your real estate plans into action.” As far as home sale prices go, Hayward, Castro Valley, Fremont, and Union City all hit their peaks in 2018. In 2019, San Leandro and San Lorenzo both followed suit. With inventory so low, we’re expecting our appreciation to drop to about 3% in 2020. If your goals for 2020 include buying or selling a home, this is the time of year when people start to put their plans into action. If you’re a seller, now is the time to go room by room and make the home look as beautiful as possible. Declutter and deep clean so the place looks nice and spacious. If you’re a buyer, reach out to a real estate professional or a lender to figure out what your budget should be and what the right mortgage fit is for you.  Finally, if you like spreadsheets and seeing the data right in front of you, let me know. I can send you a confidential report that covers the core cities in the East Bay every month. Just reach out via phone or email and I’ll send them over. I’d also be happy to answer any questions you may have.

When it comes to deferred maintenance, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What is deferred maintenance and how does it apply to a home sale? Deferred maintenance is the work you’ve chosen to defer or address in your home at a future date. Often when I’m hired to sell a property, there are upgrades that need to be made to sell the home for the highest price possible, such as repainting the interior, replacing the roof, etc.  So, here’s a good rule of thumb if you plan on selling your home: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. These upgrades will greatly affect your home’s value. At times, they can seem daunting, but if you put yourself on a maintenance schedule and tackle them a little bit at a time, you’ll significantly reduce their size and scope.  “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” If you’d like to see an example of a maintenance schedule, I’d be happy to show you the same one I use for my home so you don’t put off for tomorrow what should be done today. Just give me a call or send me an email.  In summary, if you choose to defer maintenance at your home sale, you’ll pay four times as much as you would if you just did the work now.  If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Like everybody else on the planet, you and I only have 24 hours in a day to spend. Here’s how this ties into real estate. What do you and I both have in common with Oprah Winfrey and Darren Hardy?  We each have 24 hours in a day. The only difference is how they spend their 24 hours and we spend ours.  I know what you may be thinking right now: This isn’t real estate related. Well, actually it is—allow me to explain.  Whether you’re selling a home or upgrading for your first home purchase, you can typically afford a larger home the further you’re willing to drive from urban areas. Before you do so, there are a few things to consider. “Most of my clients want what I want: more time with the people we love and work hard for.” If you commute two hours a day, that adds up to 10 hours a week, 40 hours a month, and 360 hours a year. In total, that’s 15 days’ worth of driving—15 days that each has 24 hours in them. I don’t know about you, but most of my clients want what I want: more time with the people we love and work hard for.  So before you buy or sell, calculate your new proposed drive time and decide if having twice the home for half the price is worth the precious moments with your friends, family, and loved ones that you’ll never get back.  If you have any questions about this or any other real estate topic, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

If you’re thinking of buying a house this fall, here are a few key points you’ll need to consider. For those thinking about buying a house in the fall season, what should you be considering? Today I’ll cover three key points to keep in mind. 1. There is less competition. Many consider the fall to be the off-season in real estate, but there are still homes for sale, and in some areas, there’s just as much inventory as the spring and summer. Fewer buyers tend to purchase in the fall, so that means you’ll have fewer offers to compete with. This also puts you in a great position to negotiate with sellers; some people need to have their home sold before the spring market. 2. You’ll be the center of attention. Because spring and summer are usually busier than the fall, choosing to buy in those seasons could mean you’ll get less attention than you deserve from real estate professionals who have several things going on at once. “September is a great time to buy carpet and paint; October is a good time for lawnmowers; and in November, appliances and cookware are cheaper.” 3. You can take advantage of year-end sales to outfit your home. There are bound to be improvements you’ll want to make after buying the property, and you’ll also probably need certain items for your new home’s general upkeep. If you want to coordinate your purchase with sales on those items, then according to the Consumer Report, the calendar determines when it’s a good time to buy home goods. In particular, September is a great time to buy carpet and paint; October is a good time for lawnmowers; and in November, appliances and cookware are cheaper. If you have a great real estate professional to reach out to, do it. It’ll be worth your time. After all, luck is when proper preparation meets opportunity. If you don’t have one, feel free to reach out to me. I’d love to be your real estate resource.

Today I’ll share my four tips for preparing your home for selling in autumn. What do I need to do to prepare my home to sell in the autumn? Here are my top four tips: 1. Analyze the market. Make sure you price your home correctly. You may know how to do this, but if you reach out to a qualified real estate agent they can help you as well. There are several things you should consider about the market, but a major one is to understand the type of market your area is in. Is it a seller’s, buyer’s, or balanced market? 2. Perform inspections and cleanings of HVAC systems. It’s recommended by the heating and cooling professionals that your HVAC system be inspected and cleaned yearly. Similarly, since your fireplace is seldom used in the summer months but frequently in the winter, autumn is the best time to clean and inspect it. “It’s not a good idea to decorate your house with gory decor and props.” 3. Decorate and embrace the season. If you choose to sell your home in autumn, there are several decorating and staging tips for that season. Popular holidays coming up are Halloween and Thanksgiving. Don’t hesitate to decorate for those holidays, as you can help a possible buyer envision themselves living in the home during these times.Don’t go overboard, though—it’s not a good idea to decorate your house with gory decor and props. 4. Turn on all the lights. Showings in autumn are likely to happen when it’s dark, or getting dark outside. Having all your lights on will make your home seem larger. Your home could feel cramped, dim, and uninviting if it’s dark during the showing. If you have any questions or need anything real estate related, reach out to me by phone or email, I’d love to help you.

Missing Man Ministry’s annual fall banquet is coming up, and you’re invited. As many of you know, I’m on the board of advisors for Missing Man Ministry, a group dedicated to helping widows and fatherless children in need. It’s rough enduring the loss of a loved one, and as time goes on, bills still need to be paid, homes still need to be maintained, etc. That’s where we come in, and on October 6, I invite you to join us as we host our 7th Annual Fall Dinner Banquet & Auction. We’ll auction off some amazing prizes, and since our staff is 100% volunteer-based, all of the proceeds go toward our mission. Check out the prizes below! If you’d like to know more about this upcoming event or you’re interested in attending, visit our website. If you have any questions in the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I hope to see you there!   Missing Man Ministry 2019 Live Auction WINE TROLLEY TOUR AND 1 NIGHT STAY IN LIVERMORE Enjoy wine touring on the Livermore Valley Wine Trolley, stopping at 3 wineries with a picnic lunch and wine tasting fees included. Later dine for dinner at Sauced BBQ & Spirits before turning in for the night at The Marriott Livermore. Marriott expires 12/25/2019 Donated by:  Marriott Livermore and Livermore Valley Wine Trolley POSADA 4 COURSE DINNER AND WINE PAIRING FOR 8 4 Course meal from Posada Southwestern Cuisine and Wine pairing dinner for up to 8 guests in your home. Eduardo the owner and chef of Posada will pre-prep prior to arrival and add his charming finishing touches to create a wonderful meal for you and your guests. Date to be mutually agreed upon…not valid on holidays, Friday, Saturday and Tuesdays. Not to exceed the 8 guests.   Expires August 31, 2020 Donated by:  Eduardo and Blanca/Posada Southwestern Cuisine FRONT SIGHT FIREARMS TRAINING INSTITUTE  Two Commander Memberships…Attend all self-defense firearms training course at Front Sight world-class facilities located in Pahrump, Nevada – taught by seasoned and professional law enforcement, military and private citizen instructors (for 2 people) Donated by:  Frank Ingram CABO SAN LUCAS “LUMINOUS PACIFIC COAST” Catch the Sunrise, at a beautiful Pueblo Bonita studio suite property in Cabo San Lucas. Enjoy 1 week of sun, dining and relaxing at one of Pueblo Bonita’s 3 gorgeous properties.  Take the property shuttle into town for day trips, shopping, dining or relaxing on the beautiful beaches. But wait, there’s more….Enjoy a Los Gringos Charters Fishing Trip for 2 as well!!! Sponsored by: Claudia Colwell Donated by: Jesse Switzer Owner of Los Gringos Charters 8 COURSE DINNER AND WINE PAIRING Bring the bistro to your home!  Dinner party for Ten people with no effort other than the invites. Enjoy an 8-course dinner prepared by professional Chef Matt Merdinger in your home. Each course will be paired with imported wines. Bon Appétit! Donated by: Matt Merdinger FUND-A-NEED    COLLEGE FUNDING  Raise your paddles for future college students! OREGON COAST INN AT OTTER CREST There’s no place on the Central Oregon Coast like the Inn at Otter Crest in Otter Rock, Oregon…Spend 7 nights (one bedroom Honeymoon Suite condo/sleeps four) exploring and enjoying 35 acres of pristine forests lush landscaping, nature trail, and striking ocean views, our own Otter Crest beach provides tide pools teeming with life and our own resident Harbor Seals. January thru March 2019…Innatottercrest.com Donated by:  Joel and Janet Ambrose SHARKS TERRITORY Two Premium Seats for one game during the upcoming 2019/20 season. San Jose Sharks vs (to be mutually determined with donor)Section 114 - Row 12 - Seats 7 & 8. Go Sharks! Donated by: Tennyson Electric GUN SAFETY & TRAP SHOOTING FOR 2 You’ll have an amazing experience shooting Clay Targets at the Livermore Rod and Gun Club and then finish your session off with a lunch or dinner provided by Roland and Pam Ellingsen. Donated by:  Roland and Pam Ellingsen / Seek and Save Missionaries FLY FISHING TRIP FOR 2 Enjoy a Fly Fishing Trip with a M3 supporter Nathan Bennett. You and Two Guests will be professionally guided on the Lower Sacramento River or Trinity River. Date to be mutually determined. Donated by: Nathan Bennett/Summit Financial Group

A lot of agents out there claim to be the best in the area, but, of course, this isn’t true. To truly identify whether you’re hiring the right person to help you sell your home, there are a few key steps you should take. First, visit your local title company and ask for a list of agents and the homes they’ve sold in your neighborhood. After you’ve narrowed down your search to a few local top producers, check for open houses those agents are hosting in your area. But don’t reveal that you’re thinking of selling just yet. Instead, simply attend the open house, see what kind of questions the agent asks, and get a feel for how they operate. “If the listing agent seems friendly, knowledgeable, and otherwise engaged, I recommend doubling down on your research efforts by checking out their online presence.” If the listing agent seems friendly, knowledgeable, and otherwise engaged, I recommend doubling down on your research efforts by checking out their online presence after you leave the open house. Looking at their social media platforms, their online reviews, and, if available, testimonies from past clients, should give you a clear picture of what kind of service they provide. After you’ve taken all of these steps, choose a handful of agents who seem the most qualified and then reach out to them for an interview. This will allow you to speak with them one-on-one about your goals, their qualifications, and what they’re prepared to offer you as a professional.   This final step should help guide you toward the right decision for your real estate needs.  If you have any other questions about today’s topic or about real estate in general, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

If you’re thinking of buying a home, there are three main factors to consider before deciding whether you should buy now or wait.  The first is your financial situation. Ask yourself: Are you in a position to make this move? Whether you’ve never bought a home before or you’re an experienced homebuyer, the best way to start the process is by talking to a trusted advisor or real estate agent.  The benefit of speaking with a real estate agent is they’re a licensed fiduciary, meaning they have to do what’s in your best interest—not theirs. If they know the market and have been in the business for a while, they’ll guide you accordingly. “Rates are significantly low right now, so it might not be a bad idea to consider buying soon.” The second factor is your timeline horizon. Are you looking to move within the next month, six months, or 12 months? If it’s within the next month, go talk to a real estate professional as soon as you can. If your timeline horizon is six to 12 months, you have more time to determine whether your finances are in order.  The last factor is the one thing you don’t have control over: interest rates. Rates are significantly low right now, so it might not be a bad idea to consider buying soon.  If you’d like to talk more about whether now’s the time for you to buy or you have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.