Whittier, CA

Yesterday I installed a new dishwasher for my father.  The old one had been there for over 40 years, and it finally stopped rinsing the dishes clean.

I had Sears deliver the new dishwasher and take away the old one.  Naturally, new dishwashers don't come with all the parts you need to connect them, and I needed some very specific parts to connect the water inlet to the machine.

I took the time to read the directions and write down exactly what I needed:  a 90 degree brass NPT fitting to connect the water pipe to the dishwasher, a 5 foot long hose that needed to connect to the new fitting and to the 50 year old faucet.  I also wanted to upgrade the outlet with a GFCI.

So, I took my list down to Battells Hardware store in Whittier and told them what I needed.  As usual, I found a very knowledgeable person in the store who knew exactly what I needed.  He put together all the parts I needed in less than 10 minutes.  If I were to have gone to Home Depot, or some other large hardware store, the clerks (if you could find one) would have been clueless as to what parts were needed.

I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to Battells Hardware store with a challenging requirement for unusual hardware that they were able to solve for me.  This level of service and expertise is rare today.  Whether you need help with plumbing, electrical, painting or woodworking parts or tools, the folks at Battells Hardware are the best!

I highly recommend Battells Hardware to anyone who needs to buy hardware or tools in Whittier.

-Blog End-

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About the author: The above Recommendation for a Whittier hardware store was provided by Bob Willis, a Whittier Realtor®. Bob can be reached via email at bob@willisrealtor.com or by phone at (562) 639-9400.

For Whittier real estate, see Whittier Welcomes You. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my ListingBook website.

I service the following towns in the greater Whittier area: La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs.

I specialize in helping first time buyers get into their first home. Whether you want to buy now, in six months or in a year, a Buyer Consultation with a professional Realtor® should be the first priority of your home search. It's custom designed for you and your needs! Please call me for a FREE Buyer Consultation! (562) 639-9400.

SEE LINK:

GREATEST VACATIONS....LINK:


www.clientappreciationprogramweb.com/baccaro_summer.pdf

Best Regards,

Renee Baccaro Realtor

People often ask me, "Do you only sell homes in Whittier?" And, I tell them, "No, I sell homes all over Southern California. But, my home base is Whittier, and all of my marketing is focused on Whittier."

I see Whittier as the hub of my real estate business. It is centrally located, smack-dab in the middle of the Southland. It is only 15 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, on the border of Orange County, just over the hill from the San Gabriel Valley a few miles up from the Port of Long Beach and an easy drive to just about anywhere you need to go. The central location of Whittier is another reason why so many people choose to live in here, but are able to commute to Downtown L.A. or to Orange County, or even out to the Inland Empire.

You may occasionally hear people talk about how Southern California has every recreational activity or event you can imagine. You can go snow skiing in Big Bear in the morning, then hit the beach in the afternoon. Of course, you'll want to stop at home in Whittier to change from your insulated snow bib overalls to Speedos and bikinis, and go from snowboards to surfboards.

One man I met was looking to buy a second home. He wanted to rent out his current house and move into a new home that is slightly larger. Since he worked in Burbank, my first thought was that he would want to buy a home closer to work; but no, he didn't mind the commute from Whittier to the San Fernando Valley. He loves Whittier and its home town feeling, the quiet neighborhoods and the All-American Whittier Uptown area. He also liked the fact that Whittier homes are more affordable than homes in the San Fernando Valley. So, he has decided to forego "Beautiful Downtown Burbank" in favor of gorgeous Uptown Whittier.

Who can blame him?

Do I sell only Whittier homes? No, but you can see why it is my center.

-Blog End-

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About the author: The above Article about Whittier in the Southland was provided by Bob Willis, a Whittier Realtor®. Bob can be reached via email at bob@willisrealtor.com or by phone at (562) 639-9400.

For Whittier real estate, see Whittier Welcomes You. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my ListingBook website.

I service the following towns in the greater Whittier area: La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs.

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I specialize in helping first time buyers get into their first home. Whether you want to buy now, in six months or in a year, a Buyer Consultation with a professional Realtor® should be the first priority of your home search. It's custom designed for you and your needs! Please call me for a FREE Buyer Consultation! (562) 639-9400.

One of the more daunting obstacles for First Time Home Buyers is coming up with or spending on the down payment. In some cases, it takes years to come up with that much money and now we're asking for them to give it up. Here are five ideas for saving money replenish your bank accounts or come up with the down payment.

The easiest, least painful way for you to save money is to set up an automatic draft in to a separate savings account. The main thing you'll notice is that you'll never miss it. This is a terrific way to save money. Fit it in to your budget and then forget about it. Even small amounts can add up. Set the draft up for $50 a week, save $2,600 a year.

•2. Save your raise

A bad habit spenders develop is that of spending their money before they get it. Solution? Do the opposite. Next time you get a raise, put it in the bank or get the difference put in to a retirement account. Chances are you'll never miss it if you never plan on spending it. More income doesn't have to mean more to spend..

•3. Keep track of your spending

If you make it a point to keep track of what and where you're spending, you know where you could cut back. It's a terrific way to learn where you're overspending. Too much shopping this month? Too many trips to Starbucks maybe? Doesn't your employer offer free coffee?

•4. Cut spending

Keeping track of spending will not do you any good if it doesn't lead to cutting spending. There's several ways to cut your spending. Switch to store brands, shop with shopping list to avoid over buying, use coupons and learn to utilize leftovers. Tally your savings and put them away.

•5. Look for ways to lower your bills.

Figure out how to free money by lowering your electric bill, phone bill, insurance or cable bill but don't put this money away unless you have no more credit card debt. Paying off credit card debt is as important as saving money in the long run. As soon as you stop throwing money away on high interest credit cards, you'll find real flexibility to save money.

Bank owned homes are only a part of the picture of Whittier real estate. 

Perhaps more interesting, is the change in housing supply from one year ago till now.

A year ago, on May 25, 2008, there were 888 homes for sale in the City of Whittier.

Today, June 8, 2009, there are 383 homes for sale in the City of Whittier.  In other words, there are 505 fewer homes for buyers to choose from.

So, in the course of one year, we have gone from a strong Buyers' Market to a Sellers' Market.

Don't let the news media tell you that it is a Buyers' Market, with plenty of home choices.  At least not in Whittier, if not in most of the rest of Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

One year ago, on June 9, 2008, there were 8.8 months of housing supply in Whittier.

Last month, May 2009, there were 118 homes sold in Whittier.  What that means is that, with today's 383 active listings, there are only 3.25 months of housing inventory available. 

A rule of thumb in real estate says that 6 months of inventory is a balanced market.  Below 6 months is a Seller's Market, and above 6 months is a Buyers' Market.  So, in Whittier, we are now in a strong Sellers' Market.  A year ago, it was a strong Buyers' Market.

Does it mean that there are no good deals in Whittier?  Of course not!  Prices have come down nearly 50% since the peak.  In other words, a home you could have bought December 2006 for $500,000 may sell today for only $250,000.  Is that an advantage for a buyer?  You bet!  Especially with today's extremely low interest rates.  But, if you are a buyer, be prepared to face a lot of competition from other buyers.  Homes in good condition, at a good price, are seeing multiple offers.  If you find a home for sale that you like, be prepared to offer more than the asking price, just like a dozen other potential buyers.  Then, just pray that your offer is higher than the competition.

How can you guarantee that you will win the bidding war on the home of your dreams?  Well, you can't.  However, with my help, you will stand a better chance.  Here's how:

• First, we find a property you like, preferably within the first day after it was put in the MLS.
• Make sure you can afford the home.  If you are preapproved for a home worth $400,000, don't go looking for homes that are priced at $430,000.  Stick to homes within your budget.
• We'll go see the property as soon as we can.  We can't wait until tomorrow to see the house.  Other people are seeing it today, and they are writing an offer on it today.
• When you have decided to buy a home, I will run a market analysis to see how the pricing on this home compares with other homes in the neighborhood.  Then, based upon the condition of the home and comparable home sales, you will need to decide how much to offer on the property.  Don't try to lowball an offer in this Seller's Market.  Your competition may just win the right to buy it by offering 1%, 2% or more above the asking price.
• A year ago, buyers could ask for closing costs and home warranties, and pay less than the asking price.  Today, it is much more difficult to expect the seller to provide a credit for closing costs.
• You can increase your chance of getting your home if you have better financing terms, including:
  • A large down payment
  • A conventional loan, rather than an FHA loan
  • An all cash offer
  • A high good faith deposit
  • Strong FICO scores
  • A direct lender, rather than a mortgage broker

Of the 118 homes that sold in May, 48 of them were Bank Owned homes and 25 of them were Short Sales. 

Bank Owned homes sold for an average of 100.54% of the asking price.

Short Sales sold for an average of 100.25% of the asking price.

The rest of the homes that sold in May went for an average of 97.48% of the asking price.

If you are a buyer, now is the time to find your home, before interest rates and home prices increase.  It may be difficult to find the right home, but, if you are persistent, and work with me, you can buy a home you will love, at a great price.

If you are a seller, and you want to sell your home quickly, you are in a great market right now.  Give me a call.  I will be happy to run a free market analysis for you.

-Blog End-

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About the author: The above Market Report on Whittier Real Estate was provided by Bob Willis, a Whittier Realtor®. Bob can be reached via email at bob@willisrealtor.com or by phone at (562) 639-9400.

For Whittier real estate, see Whittier Welcomes You. Want to have MLS access to beat other buyers to your dream home? Sign up with no obligation at my ListingBook website.

I service the following towns in the greater Whittier area: La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs.

I specialize in helping first time buyers get into their first home. Whether you want to buy now, in six months or in a year, a Buyer Consultation with a professional Realtor® should be the first priority of your home search. It's custom designed for you and your needs! Please call me for a FREE Buyer Consultation! (562) 639-9400.