I love representing buyers in this market!!! We closed a buyer sale last week, we closed a buyer sale this week, we’ll close a buyer sale that funds right after Labor Day in the coming week, and then we’ll close one more buyer (and seller) sale next week. On Thursday I went out with new buyers (children of past repeat clients who I love) on a tour of 6 houses in a row and on Friday we went to see 2 more houses. We’re going to expand our search geographically so that we can widen the pool to see more houses. It’s such a cool fun experience to walk through so many houses in a row and figure out how to score the best house for the best price (for the best people)!
The craziest thing happened at our listing at 308 S Highland!! The house is brand new and beautiful!!! It has 5 bedroom suites upstairs, 1 bedroom suite downstairs, one bedroom suite in the ADU outside + a brand new kitchen and the best massive backyard with a brand new pool and spa! We listed it for lease for $19,500 and we got multiple applications. One applicant was perfect, offering the full asking price, and wanting to move in immediately. And then the HPOZ asked that the circular driveway and center path to the front door be removed and a historical narrow driveway from when the house was originally built be put back. We put the listing on hold for now until the work to satisfy the HPOZ happens, and we will find a great tenant then. There is no doubt something special and beautiful about the historic character of our neighborhood. And it also has to be lifesaving to protect occupants + guests from the traffic on Highland Ave. The HPOZ work is Herculean in its difficulty, and for the homeowners, the process is cumbersome and trying. The good news is that the house is very much in demand and the asking price is exactly right. It’s too bad we couldn’t jump on the applications. Hopefully everything will be resolved and we’ll be back soon!
Our listing at 166 N McCadden is now offerred both for lease and for sale, and the owners much prefer to sell than to lease. There’s something so spacious and grand about the house. I love the ceiling height + scale + en-suite rooms and the location is amazing! We’re ready to show any time!
I’m excited that our listing at 5761 Olympic is contingency free and on its way to getting sold!!! The previous listing agent had the house in escrow representing both buyer and seller, and that deal canceled. When we took over the listing, the canceled buyers came back to the house again and again and again so many times!! They begged for the sellers to agree for the same buyers to go into escrow a second time (at a lower price than their first accepted offer) and with no investigation contingency. They represented that they already had homeowner’s insurance and they were 100% committed this time. So the sellers opened escrow a second time with the same buyers (with the previous listing agent representing them.) And then the deal canceled a second time!!!! Thank goodness we had two more buyers eager and excited to step in and buy the house. We chose one buyer, with the second buyer as backup, and the buyer in this escrow removed all contingencies quickly!
It’s interesting that all our new listings coming up are past clients. We love that!!!! We wholeheartedly believe in taking the best care of people, thereby earning the extreme honor of getting to do the same for them again the next time around! 20+ years in, no matter the market, it’s the biggest treat for us to represent sellers and buyers every day!
A few weeks ago, I was facetiming my grandkids in Israel on an early Friday morning, and my 5 year old grandson said, “Grandma, I didn’t see you in so long.” I felt the same!!!! So without thinking too much, and acting completely spontaneous and reactive, after the weekend, I hopped on a plane (with just a carry on bag) and the next day I landed in Israel! I rented a car, strapped in 2 car seats, and for 3 days I picked up Gavriel and Rika, ages 5 and 3, in the early afternoon and I spent 5 hours a day for 3 days with the 2 of them… and it was glorious! We explored toy stores, got Rika her first bike (with a bell), found a new dolly crib for Rika’s baby doll, scored for Gavriel a digital watch that has alarms, rode every coin operated ride in the mall, ate ice cream with sprinkles and pizza on cardboard sheets, sported red mustaches from soda, and took lots and lots of silly pictures. Even though I didn’t sleep because I worked regular Los Angeles hours through the night, and I was alone and missed traveling with Seth, it was the most impulsively gloriously spectacular 3 days…. and I love those kids to pieces!
For those who celebrate Rosh Hashanah this week, wishing everyone a sweet, healthy, prosperous New Year filled with love, laughter, meaning + purpose, and an overwhelming abundance of hugs and kisses!
Xoxoxo,
Sheri
