Happy New Year!
First, some real estate stuff.
Fire Hardening:
- Since the outbreak of the devastating fires in LA, I've gotten many calls asking about home insurance and fire hardening. What is fire hardening? It's the process of making your home more resistant to damage from wildfires. If you'd like to know how your home stacks up, here's a link to a California Department of Forestry & Fire self-assessment. If you'd like names of other resources to help with fire hardening, respond to this email, and I'll hook you up.
- Meanwhile, I've been trying to devise creative ways to get my cat into a "go bag" without being clawed to death. Wish me luck.
If you're thinking of selling over the next year...
This seems self-serving, but it's important to know. Over the next 6-12 months, a few crucial changes will impact the real estate market.
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Home insurance will increase a lot.I'm no prophet, but people more competent and qualified than me say it will be a sh-t show. The insurance industry is broken, and our new administration thinks Global Warming is the name of a rock band. A steep increase in insurance will reduce buying power. We're told the impact on home insurance won't happen until mid-year, but it's coming. And remember, if you get dropped by your home insurance, call me. I have a person who can help.
- Tariffs will raise the cost of home maintenance a lot.
Homeowners know too well that real estate is not a passive investment. Most people who've lived in a home for over 20 years start to un-see problems; I did it too. So when it comes to selling an older home, often they need a fair amount of "zhuzhing" to make it move-in ready. Tariffs will make all the big and little parts of homes that need replacing more expensive. Or you can hold off on fixing stuff for 4 years -- try un-seeing.
New Listing!
- When you get this email, my new co-listing with Ilan Penson should be live on the MLS. Check out 6288 Clive Ave in the Montclair Hills. This 4-bedroom, 2-bath home is a Mid-Century Modern Stunner! Come see me at the first open house on Saturday from 2-5 pm! The price is 1,049,000 - such a deal!
Consider me a resource:
- Most people don't know that Real Estate Agents have resources for almost everything related to home ownership, and I mean EVERYTHING. Don't believe me? Try to stump me with a request for help.
My dog got a Tesla:
- I'm not a car person. But owning a 7-year-old German car gets expensive, and there's that whole global warming thing, so I put my big girl pants on and bought an electric car. Why Tesla? Because despite the CEO's reprehensible behavior, the car is EPIC! With the help of my kids, I learned how to do "Car-oke" and make the car fart before I could drive. But the real mind-bender is the self-driving feature; it almost broke my brain. The best part is the white seats match my dog -- because it's always about the dog. No more constantly vacuuming dog fur off the seats; I just let the passenger sit on it and walk away with a furry butt. (I'm checking to see if anyone reads this far.)
Thank you again to all my friends and clients for your referrals--they are the lifeblood of my business.
With Gratitude,
Marissa
