Deborah Penny, Keller Williams VIP Properties, Valencia Q. What is your most successful selling strategy in today’s market? A. Pricing the home properly. I don’t want to price it too high or underprice it. I have to consider what has been selling in the area and make the price accessible. It’s hard to sell a house when you can’t get into it. Craig Dubron, Pinnacle Estate Properties, Northridge Q. What is the number one thing clients are looking for when they buy a home today? A. As far as homes go, buyers are looking for the most value for their money. With the market being so difficult to navigate right now, buyers are also looking to get a higher level of service. They want constant communication with their agents. A big percentage of business is short sales and our clients do not want to be left in the dark. They need constant updates and status reports. Ron Prechtl, Century 21 All Moves, Granada Hills Q. What is the San Fernando Valley’s hotspot for home sales today? A. A hot spot is any area with entry level inventory that are priced well. They include the areas where the houses are priced in the $300s and $400s and are moving well. There are hotspots across the Valley – West Hills, Granada Hills, Northridge. Tracy Thomas, Keller Williams Realty, Northridge Q: What is the biggest difference compared to five years ago? A: The length of time it takes to do distressed property transactions whether you are on the listing or buyer side. It is super time consuming. The price points are much lower. Your income right off of the bat goes down 30%, even if you’re still selling the same amount… you’re making much less money. Laura L. Anthony Troop Real Estate, West Lake Village Q. What is your most successful selling strategy in today’s market? A. I think so much of being a successful agent is being able to wear multiple hats and take on multiple roles. It’s in the relationships we build with clients as you help them with escrow, strategies, and even in being a counselor or confidante. Q. What is your biggest challenge in selling a home today? A. I think short sales are impacting everybody, both buyers and sellers. From a buyer’s perspective, the offers on short sales are a challenge in that it can take a long time to get an answer from the bank. Buyers need to be patient. MJ Barnett, Dilbeck Real Estate, Burbank Q: On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate the residential real estate market in the San Fernando Valley region? One being the worst and 10 being the best? A. I would say an 8. Interest rates are low and prices are undervalued. Financing has become a lot stricter, so that only buyers who can afford a loan will qualify. Tom Carnahan, Carnahan and Associates, Woodland Hills Q. What will the market in the San Fernando Valley be like next year? A. I don’t think it will change. We definitely hit the bottom. They also won’t be going up in the next year. It’s a wonderful time to buy. Q. What is your biggest challenge selling a home today? A. Financing. There are numerous homes available in the $500s and under. However, lenders are almost finding reasons not to give people loans today. Richelle Briasco Rodeo Realty, Northridge Q: On a scale of one to 10, how would you rate the residential real estate market in the San Fernando Valley region? One being the worst and 10 being the best? A. 7. There is business, but we are not producing the financial numbers of previous years. The numbers are about 40% off from 2007. There is a lot more short sales.
