Help!!!! First time home buyer in Cali

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by yourchoice

Well good for you guys! In these parts, I've seen (and received) offers 10, 20 even as much as 50K less than asking (on a 350K +/- home). Firsthand, I don't remember seeing anything above asking for a long while. I'm not a realtor, but in the real estate business (new home builder).

Good luck in finding the home you want...there should be plenty from which to choose.

It really does vary quite a bit from state to state and even town to town. In the area I work there are still multiple offer situations on occassion. Most of the towns I work in are the most desired towns in the state. Many people would sell their 1st born so to speak to live in some of these locations. So, they've held their value quite well. Some of these towns until quite recently were experiencing increases in value while values in the rest of the country were declining steadily.

Always remember the top 3 rules in real estate:

1. Location
2. LOCATION
3. LOCATION!!!!

Always buy in the most desirable town you can afford (buy a smaller home if you have to). Never buy near power lines, on a busy street, near a highway, or generally in what would be considered a "bad" location. As I mentioned, real estate should be considered an investment and if you buy in a "good" location your home will sell faster and retain more value in a down market and appreciate faster in an up market.