The BB

BB Bought by Trevor Roberti and Rex Kuns

2012-01-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

There is much excitement afoot, as Trevor Roberti, Broker of the Buyers' Brokerage, and Rex Kuns, long-time Exclusive Buyer Agent at The BB, have become the new and sole owners the The Buyers' Brokerage Inc, which operates as The Santa Cruz Buyers' Brokerage and the Monterey Buyers' Brokerage.

Trevor and Rex are high-level operatives in the world of exclusive buyer representation, and The BB could not be in better hands.

Call us today at (831) GET-HOME (438-4663) and find out why Exclusive Buyer Representation is the only way to buy real estate with 100% commitment from your agent, 100% of the time.

Agents Wanted!

2011-08-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

If you know of any experienced agents or brokers who have a history of providing exceedingly good service to their real estate clients, please let them know that we have openings all along the coast, from San Francisco to Big Sur. If you are such a person and would like to talk about joining a team of outstanding real estate professionals, please write or call us today, at (831) GET-HOME (438-4663).

Our unique model of Exclusive Buyer Agency is attracting a lot of attention, and we're getting specific requests from real estate buyers all over central California, especially along the coast: SF, Half-Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Big Sur, and everywhere in between.

New BB Site Launches

2011-08-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

We have been working on this for months, and now it's up and running.

Visit our new site here, and then let us know what you think.

In addition to our famous high-tech property search page, we have introduced a variety of real estate search options, including the ability for you to request your own custom search page. You send us your criteria, area, size, price, and so forth, and we put together a page for you that is constantly updated with the latest homes for sale that meet your criteria, along with market data, so that you can keep an eye on exactly what is taking place in your area of interest.

http://www.thebuyersbrokerage.com

The Perfectionist Move

2011-06-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

An article today at CNNMoney instructs buyers on "The Perfectionist Move" when buying real estate.

What is it?

Of course, it's "call an exclusive buyer's agent."

Here's an excerpt:

The perfectionist move? Call an exclusive buyer's agent (find one at naeba.org). This pro will do the legwork to find and show you homes that meet your criteria, plus negotiate the lowest price. It's true that he gets paid by the seller, not by you (he splits the commission with the listing agent). But he has a fiduciary duty to put your interests first. Because his reputation is at stake, he's unlikely to screw it up to get a few hundred bucks extra.

Needless to say, that's why we are here.

Our site has a selection of can't-miss articles on real estate and the home-buying process, as well as a huge list of quotes from financial experts of all kinds on why it's so important to rely on an exclusive buyer's agent when buying real estate of any kind.

Trevor Roberti promoted to Broker

2011-01-10T18:46:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce that long-time BB broker-associate Trevor Roberti has been promoted to Broker of The Buyers' Brokerage, including the Santa Cruz Buyers' Brokerage and the Monterey Buyers' Brokerage.

Trevor left his own real estate company (Roberti Real Estate) to come work with us as an Exclusive Buyer Agent quite some time ago, and he has consistently demonstrated a propensity to go above and beyond for clients of all types. His business has included first-time home-buyers, move-up buyers, VA buyers, and seasoned investors, and he has worked with buyers located thousands of miles away and with properties ranging 5 counties. All of his clients give him rave reviews, and so do we, as his co-workers. His attention to detail and organizational skills are unsurpassed, and the Brokerage and all of its clients are going to benefit by his new level of involvement.

Call him at (831) 706-5354, or email him at trevor@santacruzbuyers.com

Santa Cruz is one of the 10 most festive places in the US

2010-12-11T19:03:00.001-08:00

From AOL Travel: Santa Cruz is one of the 10 most festive places in the US....

9. Santa Cruz, California

The west coast may not have snow, but that doesn't mean California is devoid of holiday cheer. The palm trees along the main avenue and boardwalk in the funky seaside town of Santa Cruz are decked out in a glittering holiday display. On weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Santa arrives by train to the Santa Cruz boardwalk. Visitors can hop on an old locomotive run by Roaring Camp Railroads that rolls along the beach, through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through a tunnel while Santa and Mrs. Claus make their way from car to car.

First-time Home-Buyer Tax Credit Issues

2010-04-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

A few points about the first-time home-buyer tax credit from our friends at NAEBA.

No Electronic Filing for Home Buyers Claiming Home Buyer Tax Credit
National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) offers tips from IRS on filing for Home Buyer Tax Credit

AVONDALE, AZ April 15, 2010 – Electronic filing takes some of the stress out of tax day, but this year homeowners may be surprised to learn that if they are claiming the Home Buyer Tax Credit e-filing is not an option. Home buying experts, The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) is urging homeowners to carefully review and follow the IRS guidelines to file for the credit, which include the requirement to print and mail a paper return.

“NAEBA exclusively represents buyers in real estate transactions and our advocacy does not end when the purchase is finalized. We advise home buyers on all the issues involved in a home purchase. Tax season can be stressful and confusing and we want to ease that burden by passing on information that is important to the market we serve,” says Benjamin Clark, 2010 President of NAEBA.

To qualify for the Home Buyer Tax Credit you must buy or enter into a binding contract to buy a principal residence on or before April 30, 2010 in the United States, and you must close on the home on or before June 30, 2010. According to the IRS the following steps must be taken to claim the credit:

File a Paper Return. You cannot e-file but must file a paper return and attach Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the Credit with additional documents to verify the purchase. You can digitally prepare your taxes using tax websites or software but must print and mail your return to the IRS with all required documentation.

Deadlines and Documents. If you enter into a binding contract before May 1, 2010 to purchase a home before July 1, 2010 and are claiming the credit, attach a copy of the pages from the signed binding contract that show all parties’ names and signatures, the purchase price, date of contract and the property address.

Settlement Documents. New homebuyers must attach a copy of a properly executed settlement statement, which will generally include property address, all parties’ names and signatures, sales price and date of purchase. Forms can vary by location and may not include both buyer and seller signatures. If your form does not require signatures on the settlement document, the IRS encourages buyers to sign the settlement statement when filing their tax return even if the form does not include a signature line.

Newly Constructed Homes. If you purchased a newly constructed home, where a settlement statement is not available, you must attach a copy of the certificate of occupancy showing the owners’ name(s), property address and date of the certificate.

Mobile Home Purchases. If you purchased a mobile home and are unable to obtain a settlement statement, attach a copy of the executed retail sales contract. The contract should have all parties’ names and signature, date of purchase, property address and purchase price.

Long-time Residents. For long-time resident homebuyers claiming the tax credit, the IRS recommends attaching documentation that covers the five-consecutive-year period. This may include documents such as Form 1098, Mortgage Interest Statement or substitute mortgage interest statements, property tax records or homeowner insurance records.

Homebuyers can find more information about the Home Buyer Tax credit on the IRS website at http://www.IRS.gov/recovery and can locate home buying resources and an Exclusive Buyer Agent at http://www.naeba.org.

# # # # #

About NAEBA

The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) is an organization of real estate professionals who have dedicated their business lives to representing only buyers of real estate. To avoid conflicts, NAEBA members do not list homes for sale and never represent sellers. This restriction to one side of the real estate transaction ensures that the interest of home buyers is protected in every step of the real estate transaction, from house-hunting and negotiation, to inspection, financing and closing.

NAEBA is pioneering a nationwide effort to give today’s home-buying consumers the level of service they deserve and are increasingly demanding. NAEBA members firmly believe that home buyers have the same full and equal representation rights as sellers in any real estate transaction. NAEBA, in existence since 1995, is comprised of Exclusive Buyers Agents in most areas of the United States, and in some international markets.
For more information, visit http://www.naeba.org.

Media Contact:
Kimberly Kahl, CAE, Executive Director
National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents
Phone: 800-786-1570
Email:   kkahl@naeba.info

Housing Recovery? What does this mean for buyers?

2010-03-20T10:51:00.000-07:00

A few items from highly-visible economists have shown up in the last few days that might be of interest to real estate buyers.

Dean Maki, chief U.S. economist for Barclays Capital, said that increases in jobs, credit, and affordable homes will overcome impediments such as rising interest rates, and the expiration of the Federal stimulus program to push the housing market toward recovery.

“I would bet even odds that we’re at a bottom and that we’re going to see improvement in the coming months,” says Karl Case, co-creator of the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index and a professor of economics at Wellesley College.

“The underlying trend is turning positive,” says Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

This is great news, right?

Of course, we all want housing to recover. The overall economy depends on it, this is clear, but even closer to home, we really want to see an end to the suffering of countless families who are losing their homes to foreclosure. Anyone who spends their days in the real world of real estate, like we do, can tell far too many first-hand, gut-wrenching stories about families in crisis, stories that will break your heart, and stories that we need to stop from being repeated so endlessly.

We need prices to creep up to the point where homeowners are going to start seeing some equity in their homes. For those who bought or re-financed at the peak of the market, this point is a long-way off, but there are plenty of homeowners for whom an increase in equity– or even a decrease in red ink– would provide a reason to keep making payments and stay in their homes.

Of course, it's going to take more than rising home prices alone to stem the tide of foreclosure suffering. Homeowners need actual income to make payments, no matter how much equity they might have or have not, and we'll need an overall economic recovery, or at least a movement in that direction, before income and jobs start flowing again. Clearly, an integral component of any economic recovery would have to be an upswing in housing prices, and we are in great need of economic movement in the upward direction.

Real estate buyers, however, see a different side of the picture. For the great number of first-time home-buyers who have been seeking the opportunity to find affordable homes, a recovery in housing prices means more suffering, not less. Lower and mid-range buyers are already seeing bidding wars on almost any desirable property, and buyers using financing to purchase are losing out to investors with cash on-hand. Any increase in price in the low and mid-range segments is going to make the situation worse.

In the upper tier of the market, and in our area that begins around 7 figures, the situation is completely different, at least for the moment.

Ever since the bottom fell out of the real estate market at large, the high-end market has been a bargain-hunter’s delight. Sellers often list properties at prices that would work for them, rather than prices that make their properties competitive in this uniquely soft luxury market, but then, months later, after seeing no viable offers, they end up lowering prices, and if they are lucky enough to find buyers, often the prices are far, far below where they had been originally listed. This trend has placed luxury buyers in the driver’s seat to a much greater extent than in any other market segment, but can it last?

For the last year we have heard numerous tales about big money sitting on the sidelines of the luxury real estate market, waiting for some reliable sign of a turnaround. If such a sign were to appear, would we have a feeding frenzy on our hands?

It's hard to imagine that we would see really big jumps in the average list price right away, because so there are already so many dreamers out there on the seller’s side, and, even in a recovery, it might take some time for reality to catch up with sellers' dreams. What we might, see, though, if volume does pick up, is an uptick in the average and median sale price, as luxury buyers begin to lose the overwhelming advantage they now enjoy.

We are not in the business of fortune-telling. Our clients are uniquely educated, informed, and savvy, and we would never presume to cheer-lead or blather on about what a great time it is to buy. What we do provide is assistance in thoughtful consideration and decision making on the part of real estate buyers, and we offer the highest level of expertise and service to buyers who are ready to make a move now. If this might be you, give us a call, and let’s talk.

(831) GET-HOME
(831) 438-4663

Santa Cruz Buyers’ Brokerage
www.santacruzbuyers.com
info@santacruzbuyers.com

Monterey Buyers' Brokerage
www.montereybuyers.com
abodes@me.com

dre 01872669

Great article about how to buy a home

2010-03-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

The Washington Examiner published an article today that has some great information on home buying. It's a credit to the fine folks at NAEBA that the public is beginning to learn about the not-so-obvious elements of the real estate transaction.

If you read that article and find yourself wanting more info, check out one of our favorite sources of information on real estate and buyer agency .

Exclusive Buyer Agency on TV

2010-03-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

If you are at all interested in buying real estate, and if you happen to have a television, don't miss The Balancing Act tomorrow morning on Lifetime.

The Balancing Act will include a segment called, "The Smartest Way to Buy a Home" and will feature Ben Clark and Kim Kahl, the President and Executive Director of NAEBA, the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.

NAEBA is a great organization that promotes exclusive buyer agency, and of course we are members. NAEBA helps buyers find EBA's all over the world and advocates for buyer education and representation. Ben and Kim are sure to provide helpful info that any potential real estate buyer won't want to miss.

The show will air on Lifetime at 7:30AM Eastern and Pacific, and 6:30AM Central. If you can't tune in for the actual broadcast, you'll be able to find it on thebalancingact.com

2010: Setting up to be particularly dynamic

2010-02-03T21:09:00.000-08:00

2010 is just getting started, but already it's proving to be a really interesting year at the Double B.

In one short month we have helped buyers buy houses ranging from a $75,000 single-family home (a 66% discount off its initial list price) to a spectacular $1.8 million-dollar beach home in mid-county. This is a pretty serious range, but it's rapidly widening even now. We are still helping investors and first-time home-buyers into the lower ranges of the market, but at the same time we are helping buyers find properties in the highest market strata.

I am really amazed at the quality and variety of clients we have had over the last year, and I have noticed a consistent theme among buyers who seek us out: They are unusually intelligent, resourceful, and prepared. If you think I'm just buttering up our clientele, you simply haven't met them.

From oceanographers to business owners, from artists to professional investors, from first-time home-buyers to building contractors, our approach to real estate seems to attract very thoughtful, creative, and knowledgeable clients, and they seem to share the unique habit of having done their research beforehand. I really had one first-time home-buyer who read three entire books on real estate before talking to his first agent.

We also seem to get a large number of buyers with experience in the industry. We have had several Realtors or relatives of Realtors as clients, as well as contractors, mortgage brokers, and other experienced professionals. I take these qualities of our clientele to mean that our way of doing business, unadulterated buyer advocacy, is finding a real resonance in the world of well-informed real estate buyers.

We have buyers looking all the way from southern Monterey County up to Montara, and as far inland as South Lake Tahoe. We have also helped buyers find the best agents in other parts of the state, and of course, we love to help sellers find the most effective agents to use when selling their property, right here at home, or anywhere in the world.

In Monterey County, Allyson Ramage has recently been spending time in the Carmel Highlands, and I will be involved in several goings-on at the Monterey County Association of Realtors in the upcoming weeks. In Santa Cruz, Trevor Roberti has been putting his financial skills to work, both analyzing some large investment properties and helping first-time home-buyers make sound decisions about their purchases. Rex Kuns has been with the BB for just over a month, but he has already helped BB buyers into beach homes and multi-res investment properties.

2010 is setting up to be a very interesting year for the Double B, and I hope that if you are thinking about buying real estate, or if you know anyone who is, you'll give one of us a call and let us show you how we can help. (831) GET-HOME

HUD Booklet Recommends you use an Exclusive Buyer's Agent

2010-02-02T21:49:00.000-08:00

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has released a new booklet outlining the basics of the home-buying process. It's a great read if you are just getting started.

Wisely, on page 4 they recommend using an Exclusive Buyer's Agent to represent you when purchasing a home. Exclusive Buyers Agents are highly-qualified agents who employ a unique and powerful approach to real estate. Unlike a typical real estate brokerage, Exclusive Buyers' Brokerages don't list houses for sale. Instead, we help buyers buy real estate of all kinds. We specialize in buying, and we spend 100% of our time and resources on helping buyers find the right properties, negotiate the best prices, and investigate the properties as thoroughly as possible prior to purchase. The advantages we provide to our buyers take many shapes. If you are interested, start by reading our FAQ.

The only Exclusive Buyer's Agents are the ones who work at brokerages that do not accept listings. If anyone in the company lists property for sale, then no one in the company is really an EBA. We sacrifice quite a bit to put our passion into practice. We are that committed to the success of buyers.

We are not salespersons. We don't ever try to "sell" a property to anyone. We help people buy the property they want at the best possible price and terms and with the greatest peace of mind. We are participants in the MLS, so we can show you any listed property, but we don't stop there. Our clients often want us to find properties that are not on the MLS, for sale by owner properties, and other properties that apparently aren't for sale at all. We help buyers will all this, and more.

This is why HUD recommends you find an EBA to represent you in your next purchase. And it's just not HUD. Check out our articles page for a list of quotes relating to exclusive buyer agency by experts of all kinds.

Rex Kuns Joins the Santa Cruz Buyers' Brokerage

2010-01-17T23:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, D. Rex Kuns has joined the Santa Cruz Buyers' Brokerage.

Widely known as one of the most (if not the most) dynamic and energetic agents in the county, Rex has become an integral part of the team of Exclusive Buyer Agents here at the BB. He was with Thunderbird Real Estate prior to coming to the BB, and when he was there he gained a reputation of being great to work with, both among his clients and among the other agents in town, who are always happy when Rex is on the other side of a deal.

He gave up the lucrative world of listing properties for sale to come and work for our exclusive agency, because he saw that Exclusive Buyer Representation is a better way to serve buyers, and a better way to buy real estate. Rex is incredibly committed to the advocacy and expertise inherent in Exclusive Buyer Agency, and his enthusiasm has us all inspired.

He has lately been spending a lot of time in the world of Santa Cruz beach properties, and if you own real estate near the beach in Santa Cruz, you probably know him, and if you want to own some, you probably should get to know him soon.

Call Rex at (831) GET-HOME (438-4663), or visit him at http://santacruzbuyers.com/who

Trevor Roberti joins the Buyers' Brokerage

2010-01-13T20:16:00.000-08:00

We are fortunate to welcome Broker/Associate Trevor Roberti to the team of Exclusive Buyer Agents at the Santa Cruz Buyers' Brokerage.

Formerly the Broker/Owner of Roberi Real Estate, Trevor has a background in residential, commercial and investment real estate. A PhD and former professor of physical chemistry at UCSC, Trevor has also worked on the creation of specialized software for the analysis of investment property.

Trevor brings to bear his myriad talents to provide the clients of the Santa Cruz Buyers' Brokerage with yet another superior resource in the pursuit of real estate excellence. He uses his unique ability to understand and explain complex issues to help real estate buyers make the best decisions, from first-time home-buyers to seasoned investors.

Call him and see what he has to say, at (831) GET-HOME (438-4663), or visit him at our site right now:

http://www.santacruzbuyers.com

Allyson Ramage, EcoBroker

2010-01-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is late in coming, but if you know her, and you didn't know this, you'll be thrilled to read on:

Allyson Ramage has joined the Santa Cruz Buyers' Brokerage. She actually joined early in 2009, and she's proven to be a gem and a invaluable resource for her clients and for us.

Formerly with Intero Real Estate in Capitola, and before that, with Alain Pinel in Saratoga, Allyson brings experience and knowledge of high-end real estate in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties.

Everyone who knows Allyson says the same thing: She's amazing. Seriously. Not only clients, but other agents and brokers won't hesitate to tell you how highly they think of her as both a person and an agent.

If you are interested in finding out more, call her at (831) GET-HOME (438-4663), email her at allyson@santacruzbuyers.com, or visit her at our site.

Extreme Real Estate: Santa Cruz County

2009-05-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

Just a quick look at recent activity in the far ends of the market. I'm focusing on single family homes in Santa Cruz county, but if you would like me to prepare a similar report for any market segment or in a different county, just drop me a quick e-mail to let me know what you're looking for.

After our 3-month lull in the upper end of the market, we had 3 properties priced above $2,000,000 enter and close escrow during the month of April in Santa Cruz county. All 3 were beachfront, and they sold for $2,350,000, $2,7000,000, and $6,000,000. It's refreshing to see some revitalization in this segment.

So far in May we already have one new pending, another beachfront at $3,200,000. But don't worry, there are a variety of amazing luxury properties waiting for the right buyers. E-mail or call me if you're interested.

At the other end of the spectrum, investors and first-time home buyers had an active 30 days. During that time, we had 143 new sales of single-family homes priced at $500,000 or below, but only 85 new listings, 7 of which have already been withdrawn or canceled. Of the net 78 new listings, 31 are already under contract.

Between new sales and new listings, there is a 65 home deficit, and there are currently 205 homes on the market. If things were to continue in this way, in just over 3 months we would be completely out of homes priced below $500k.

This data is from the MLS, gathered on May 10, 2009. Happy Mother's Day.

State of Real Estate in Santa Cruz and the Monterey Bay

2009-04-22T08:27:00.000-07:00

Hello, Friends.

I am finally getting my blog up and running again. I intend to re-post some of the more interesting items from the old SantaCruz.pro blog, but in the mean time, here are some snippets of information for your consideration.

In the last week, the lower end of the Watsonville Single-Family home market is seeing about twice the number of new sales than it is new listings. If things were to continue in this way for 2 months we would be completely out of inventory below $350,000.

Throughout Santa Cruz county we are seeing multiple-offers on an almost daily basis, in all price ranges except in the heights.

The 2009 Luxury market in Santa Cruz County is finally showing at least the faintest signs of life. Up until recently, we had no new escrows of homes priced above $2M for the entire year. During the last 9 months of '08, which was not particularly booming, we had an average of about 2 homes per month in this price range going into escrow, so a complete lack of new sales for over 3 months is a serious void.

One of the major problems with homes in the upper end of the spectrum is the unavailablity of financing. Yesterday at a closing I had a conversation an owner of one of the local mortgage brokerages. He mentioned that right now, loans up to $2m are possible with a 40% down payment. So, maximum leverage would be achieved on a purchase price of about $3.3M. But many of our finer properties are priced well above $3.3M, and those are going to require additional cash to close. For instance, to buy a $7M house, you would need to bring $5M in cash, and at the moment, there aren't too many buyers willing to reach so deeply into their own pockets.

The good news is that in so far in April we have had 3 homes priced above $2m go under contract.

If you are a lower-end buyer, you really have to be prepared before you find your dream house, because the best properties are being fought for by cash buyers and other buyers who have missed their first choice and have awoken to the need to be on top of things.

If you are a luxury buyer with a bit of cash, you are in heaven right now. Santa Cruz county is offering opportunities that would cost many times the price in other equally-desirable areas.

If you are a buyer who is ready to buy, call me, and I'll show you the benefits of uncompromised fiduciary loyalty and a heightened level of expertise, reserved exclusively for the benefit of real estate buyers.

Andy Salamone
Santa Cruz Buyers' Brokerage
http://santacruzbuyers.com