Happy December and Seasons Greetings! This intro will be shorter than usual. Enjoy!
Musings.
- Knives out. I just got my blades sharpened - nothing kinky, just knives, scissors, and tools. It made me so happy; it's stupid. My "guy" picks them up at my house and drops them off 24 hours later, dangerously sharp. When life works, I feel like I'm in an altered universe,
- Young adults. My almost 23-year-old boy came home for a few days and asked if I needed help with chores. This, my friends, is why we breed.
Events:
- The Montclair Holiday Stroll was a big success. Ilan Penson and I hosted a kid's ornament-making table, and my hip-hop group performed Kelly Clarkson's "Underneath the Tree." Stay tuned for our next FREE event on Decluttering and Organizing in early February.
SOLD! I couldn't make this up if I tried.
- My last co-listing of 2023 with Judy Richardson at 11 Conrad Court just closed! To say this escrow was challenging is an understatement. The home is located in an area designated by CalFire as a "Very High Fire Risk Area," the most severe designation assigned by the State. Last month, the state-run California Fair Plan (CFP) decided to roll out new technology to onboard new clients. The word "Cluster-F" was invented for this transaction. If you'd like to hear more about what happened and how you can be prepared if you're considering selling or buying, reach out.
The Elephant in the Room: Realtor Commissions
I'm not a lawyer, psychic, or lobbyist. I'm not even a journalist, but I can write. I've been told that one of my superpowers is simplifying complex topics to make them relatable, helpful, and sometimes, even funny.
On October 1, 2023, a verdict was reached in a class action lawsuit in Missouri against the National Association of Realtors (NAR). If you've not read the bombastic headlines and ensuing speculation about the end of real estate as we know it, have a stiff drink, then Google it.
While many Realtors are shying away from this topic, I'm not. Why? Because I'm pro-consumer, I believe in transparency and the value of my services. I'll be writing a more detailed overview of my take on the situation in next month's newsletter.
In the short term, if you'd like to know how or if these lawsuits are relevant to your pocketbook, I have facts and data for you to consider.
Wishing you and your family a warm and dry holiday season.
