American House Cleaning in San Francisco

Menlo Park, CA (PRWEB) September 26, 2013

Every real estate agent knows how important it is to properly stage a home that they have put on the market for sale. A well-staged home means shorter time on the market because it makes the home look more appealing to prospective buyers. American House Cleaning’s new cleaning services are specialized for real estate agents and will help increase the appeal of homes during a showing.

Staging a home involves preparing a home for sale by making it more attractive to buyers by eliminating clutter and arranging furniture and accessories. But nothing is more important than the cleanliness of the home. By partnering with local real estate agents, American House Cleaning plays an important role in ensuring that homes are market ready.

If a home is dirty, prospective buyers may wonder if there are more serious maintenance issues that they don’t know about. Also, if the home is empty, it is even more crucial that it is clean. Dusty floors, dirty windows, and grime on kitchen and sink countertops are more visible when there is nothing else to distract the eye.

American House Cleaning is a locally owned and operated, full-service cleaning company that has served loyal clients throughout the Bay Area since 1986. They work hard to deliver consistently superior results to individuals, businesses, real estate agents, property managers, and office complexes at affordable rates.

American House Cleaning is also a proud sponsor of SAMCAR, the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®. SAMCAR is a trade association that promotes professionalism and the ownership of real property by developing and implementing programs and services to help the individual REALTOR® achieve success. They are the voice of real estate professionals and property owners in San Mateo County.

To learn more about American House Cleaning’s services for real estate agents, and to request an instant quote, visit AmericanHouseCleaning.com.

About American House Cleaning

American House Cleaning is a non-franchise, locally owned and operated, full-service cleaning company that has served loyal clients throughout the Bay Area since 1986. We’re proud to deliver consistently superior results to individuals, real estate agents, and property managers.

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Article source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/American-Housecleaning/CA-Real-EstateAgents/prweb11164740.htm

• Justin Sullivan/Getty Images file photo
• Real estate in San Francisco and around the Bay Area is poised for an upswing, much like the trend before the recession hit.

In the half-decade before California was clobbered by its worst recession since the Great Depression, taxable property values — those of land, homes, apartments and commercial buildings — exploded.

Between 2003 and 2009, values increased by a whopping two-thirds, from $2.7 trillion to $4.5 trillion, much from new construction, and local governments enjoyed a nearly $20 billion increase in annual revenue from the boom.

We all know what happened next: The real estate market went into a tailspin. Local governments that had banked, literally, on ever-increasing revenues felt the pinch. It contributed heavily to two cities’ bankruptcies.

Actually, taxable values didn’t go into the tank.

They just stopped growing and shrank a little, falling to $4.3 trillion in 2011. And as the state’s economy began to improve, so did property values, rising slightly in 2012.

This year, they are poised to register a sharp gain, based on reports from local assessors that are being compiled by the state Board of Equalization.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2013-14 budget assumes a 2.8 percent increase, but it’s more likely to be in the 4 to 5 percent range.

Los Angeles County, which has a quarter of the state’s taxable property, is up 4.66 percent, and in some of the counties experiencing economic booms, such as those in the Bay Area, the gains are higher. They’re up 6 percent in San Mateo County, for example, and 5.17 percent in Alameda County.

Each percentage point of property value increase generates about a $500 million in additional revenue statewide, so overall, the increase could be well over $2 billion for local coffers and, indirectly, for the state treasury.

Under the state constitution, schools are guaranteed certain amounts of revenue, with the first increment coming from property taxes and the state providing the remainder. Thus any unanticipated increase in local property values and taxes decreases what the state must pay schools.

It’s not another property bubble, at least not yet, but with the housing construction industry beginning to pick up again, California could see strong growth in property taxes in the years ahead. The state is also seeing a surge in sales and income taxes, $2 billion over estimates already this year.

These revenue jumps, however, create another challenge for state and local politicians, who have overspent previous windfalls, leading to huge budget deficits and, as mentioned earlier, the bankruptcies of two cities.

Those who want more spending, whether it’s for government services or public employees’ salaries, will be pressing politicians hard.

Brown has said he wants to resist that pressure and redirect any windfalls into debt reduction and reserves.

But as the money piles up, the pressure will grow.

Dan Walters covers state politics for the Sacramento Bee.

Article source: http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/california-property-values-poised-to-soar/Content?oid=2535210

Article source: http://southsanfrancisco.patch.com/groups/real-estate/p/local-home-prices-among-highest-in-bay-area

A Bay Area real estate agent who was arrested for allegedly assaulting a prostitute at a South San Francisco motel in 2012 has pleaded no contest to one count of false imprisonment, prosecutors said.

David Patrick O’Mara, 47, entered his plea in San Mateo County Superior Court on Monday in exchange for a maximum sentence of one year in county jail, Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Guidotti said.

According to prosecutors, O’Mara arranged for a 20-year-old prostitute to visit him at his San Francisco home through the escort website myRedBook.com on June 5, 2012.

O’Mara later claimed that during the encounter, the woman stole an iPad and $280 in cash, though she consistently denied the theft and O’Mara never filed a report, Guidotti said.

The following night, prosecutors said, O’Mara allegedly disguised himself and arranged to meet the same woman at a Travelodge in South San Francisco.

The victim let O’Mara into her motel room, where he allegedly assaulted her, punched her multiple times and bound her legs, feet and mouth with black duct tape, prosecutors said.

South San Francisco police went to the hotel after receiving reports of a woman screaming and entered the room to find the victim bound on the floor.

O’Mara was arrested at the scene, and prosecutors later charged him with several felonies, including false imprisonment, assault and battery.

The victim was treated at a hospital for moderate injuries.

O’Mara remains out of custody on $150,000 bail and is due back in court to set sentencing proceedings on July 12.

Chris Cooney, Bay City News

Article source: http://sfappeal.com/2013/06/sf-realtor-accused-of-assaulting-prostitute-pleads-no-contest-to-false-imprisonment-charge/

According to the company, sales of existing, single-family detached homes in the Bay Area fell to their lowest level in five years. Only 9,985 homes changed hands in the first quarter, down 25 percent from 13,391 homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 (a difference of 3,406 homes sold) and 16 percent below the 11,906 homes sold during last year’s first quarter. Contra Costa County reported the greatest number of homes sold with 2,182, followed by Alameda County (1,977 homes sold) and Santa Clara County (1,972 homes sold).

Despite the downturn in home sales, demand from homebuyers remained robust, and that led to higher home prices. The Bay Area as a whole reported a median sales price of $667,021 in the first quarter, up 10 percent from the previous quarter’s median price of $604,863 and 25 percent higher than the median sales price of $520,834 reported at the conclusion of last year’s first quarter.

All nine Bay Area counties reported double-digit, year-over-year increases in their median sales price for the second consecutive quarter. San Mateo County led the way with a 43 percent annualized increase, followed by Alameda County (+33%), Contra Costa County (+31%), and Santa Clara and Solano counties, which reported 30 percent year-over-year increases. San Mateo County recorded the region’s highest median sales price at $1,075,097, followed by the City and County of San Francisco at $1,052,626 and Marin County at $878,945. Solano County recorded the Bay Area’s lowest median sales price at $243,006.

Behind the decline in sales and increase in prices is the continued lack of inventory. As of the final day of the first quarter (March 31, 2013), only 4,098 existing, single-family detached homes were listed for sale in the entire nine-county Bay Area – an improvement from 3,370 homes on the market at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012 but nonetheless down 55 percent from 10,282 homes available for purchase on the final day of the first quarter of 2012.

Once listed, homes sold at a brisk pace. For the Bay Area as a whole, homes were on the market an average of 54 days before receiving a final purchase offer, down from 55 days in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 74 days in the first quarter of last year. Homes in Alameda County sold in an average of 29 days, while Napa County recorded the highest average with 94 days on the market.

Looking ahead, what’s the bottom line for Bay Area homebuyers and sellers?

Buyers need to bring their “A” game to the negotiating table, and that increasingly means being able to offer more than the listing price and waive appraisal and other contingencies that may add to the ultimate price. An experienced REALTOR® with extensive local market knowledge and negotiation skills is a must in a market where all-cash offers continue to be a factor.

“Given the likelihood that inventory will continue to be an issue in the months to come, homeowners with mortgages that are “above water” (or nearly so) may find now is a good time to list their home,” says Keith Robinson, COO. “While prices are rising, it is important that sellers price their home competitively. Again, working with an experienced REALTOR® who can help price the property for sale and vet the offers that follow is critical.”

For more information, visit www.bhghome.com.

Article source: http://rismedia.com/2013-05-06/inventory-shortage-means-fewer-home-sales-higher-prices-in-bay-area/

Sales of existing, single-family detached homes in the Bay Area fell to their lowest level in five years. Only 9,985 homes changed hands in the first quarter, down 25 percent from 13,391 homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 (a difference of 3,406 homes sold) and 16 percent below the 11,906 homes sold during last year’s first quarter. Contra Costa County reported the greatest number of homes sold with 2,182, followed by Alameda County (1,977 homes sold) and Santa Clara County (1,972 homes sold).

Despite the downturn in home sales, demand from homebuyers remained robust, and that led to higher home prices. The Bay Area as a whole reported a median sales price of $667,021 in the first quarter, up 10 percent from the previous quarter’s median price of $604,863 and 25 percent higher than the median sales price of $520,834 reported at the conclusion of last year’s first quarter.

All nine Bay Area counties reported double-digit, year-over-year increases in their median sales price for the second consecutive quarter. San Mateo County led the way with a 43 percent annualized increase, followed by Alameda County (+33%), Contra Costa County (+31%), and Santa Clara and Solano counties, which reported 30 percent year-over-year increases. San Mateo County recorded the region’s highest median sales price at $1,075,097, followed by the City and County of San Francisco at $1,052,626 and Marin County at $878,945. Solano County recorded the Bay Area’s lowest median sales price at $243,006.

Behind the decline in sales and increase in prices is the continued lack of inventory. As of the final day of the first quarter (March 31, 2013), only 4,098 existing, single-family detached homes were listed for sale in the entire nine-county Bay Area – an improvement from 3,370 homes on the market at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012 but nonetheless down 55 percent from 10,282 homes available for purchase on the final day of the first quarter of 2012.

Once listed, homes sold at a brisk pace. For the Bay Area as a whole, homes were on the market an average of 54 days before receiving a final purchase offer, down from 55 days in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 74 days in the first quarter of last year. Homes in Alameda County sold in an average of 29 days, while Napa County recorded the highest average with 94 days on the market.

Looking ahead, what’s the bottom line for Bay Area homebuyers and sellers?

Buyers need to bring their “A” game to the negotiating table, and that increasingly means being able to offer more than the listing price and waive appraisal and other contingencies that may add to the ultimate price. An experienced REALTOR^® with extensive local market knowledge and negotiation skills is a must in a market where all-cash offers continue to be a factor.

“Given the likelihood that inventory will continue to be an issue in the months to come, homeowners with mortgages that are “above water” (or nearly so) may find now is a good time to list their home,” said Keith Robinson, COO.  “While prices are rising, it is important that sellers price their home competitively. Again, working with an experienced REALTOR® who can help price the property for sale and vet the offers that follow is critical.”

First Quarter 2013 Housing Market Survey – Bay Area Counties

Single-Family Detached Homes

First Quarter 2013 Housing Market Survey – Bay Area Counties

Single-Family Detached Homes

*  Days on market is the number of days a property was listed on the market until it went under

 contract at its final listing price. This may not reflect previous listings.

**The median home price for the entire Bay Area is the mean of median home prices of each of the nine Bay Area counties.  Each county’s median home price is the mean of median home prices of each of the cities within that county.

Data are sourced from multiple listing services and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

All percentages rounded to nearest whole number. Bay Area refers to sales within Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, Napa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Solano County and Sonoma County.

## About Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate

Our heritage began with the founding of Mason-McDuffie Real Estate in 1887. In 2010, the company was named the 19th largest real estate services firm in the nation (REALTrends 500), and Number One in the San Francisco East Bay (SF Business Times). The company provides comprehensive solutions to home buyers and sellers, and handled 6,500 transactions in 2012, generating $2.8 billion in sales volume. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate includes joint ventures with partners Highland Partners in Piedmont and Montclair, Wine Country Group Realtors in the North Bay, and Tri-Valley Realty in Pleasanton-Hopyard and Ruby Hill, and Bahay Co. in Concord. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate is locally owned and has more than 1,100 real estate professionals with 30 offices in eight counties in the Bay Area and the Tahoe/Truckee region. For more information, go to www.bhghome.com

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/business/press-releases/article/Inventory-Shortage-Means-Fewer-Home-Sales-4486549.php

Sales of existing, single-family detached homes in the Bay Area fell to their lowest level in five years. Only 9,985 homes changed hands in the first quarter, down 25 percent from 13,391 homes sold in the fourth quarter of 2012 (a difference of 3,406 homes sold) and 16 percent below the 11,906 homes sold during last year’s first quarter. Contra Costa County reported the greatest number of homes sold with 2,182, followed by Alameda County (1,977 homes sold) and Santa Clara County (1,972 homes sold).

Despite the downturn in home sales, demand from homebuyers remained robust, and that led to higher home prices. The Bay Area as a whole reported a median sales price of $667,021 in the first quarter, up 10 percent from the previous quarter’s median price of $604,863 and 25 percent higher than the median sales price of $520,834 reported at the conclusion of last year’s first quarter.

All nine Bay Area counties reported double-digit, year-over-year increases in their median sales price for the second consecutive quarter. San Mateo County led the way with a 43 percent annualized increase, followed by Alameda County (+33%), Contra Costa County (+31%), and Santa Clara and Solano counties, which reported 30 percent year-over-year increases. San Mateo County recorded the region’s highest median sales price at $1,075,097, followed by the City and County of San Francisco at $1,052,626 and Marin County at $878,945. Solano County recorded the Bay Area’s lowest median sales price at $243,006.

Behind the decline in sales and increase in prices is the continued lack of inventory. As of the final day of the first quarter (March 31, 2013), only 4,098 existing, single-family detached homes were listed for sale in the entire nine-county Bay Area – an improvement from 3,370 homes on the market at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012 but nonetheless down 55 percent from 10,282 homes available for purchase on the final day of the first quarter of 2012.

Once listed, homes sold at a brisk pace. For the Bay Area as a whole, homes were on the market an average of 54 days before receiving a final purchase offer, down from 55 days in the fourth quarter of 2012 and 74 days in the first quarter of last year. Homes in Alameda County sold in an average of 29 days, while Napa County recorded the highest average with 94 days on the market.

Looking ahead, what’s the bottom line for Bay Area homebuyers and sellers?

Buyers need to bring their “A” game to the negotiating table, and that increasingly means being able to offer more than the listing price and waive appraisal and other contingencies that may add to the ultimate price. An experienced REALTOR^® with extensive local market knowledge and negotiation skills is a must in a market where all-cash offers continue to be a factor.

“Given the likelihood that inventory will continue to be an issue in the months to come, homeowners with mortgages that are “above water” (or nearly so) may find now is a good time to list their home,” said Keith Robinson, COO.  “While prices are rising, it is important that sellers price their home competitively. Again, working with an experienced REALTOR® who can help price the property for sale and vet the offers that follow is critical.”

First Quarter 2013 Housing Market Survey – Bay Area Counties

Single-Family Detached Homes

First Quarter 2013 Housing Market Survey – Bay Area Counties

Single-Family Detached Homes

*  Days on market is the number of days a property was listed on the market until it went under

 contract at its final listing price. This may not reflect previous listings.

**The median home price for the entire Bay Area is the mean of median home prices of each of the nine Bay Area counties.  Each county’s median home price is the mean of median home prices of each of the cities within that county.

Data are sourced from multiple listing services and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

All percentages rounded to nearest whole number. Bay Area refers to sales within Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Marin County, Napa County, San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Solano County and Sonoma County.

## About Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate

Our heritage began with the founding of Mason-McDuffie Real Estate in 1887. In 2010, the company was named the 19th largest real estate services firm in the nation (REALTrends 500), and Number One in the San Francisco East Bay (SF Business Times). The company provides comprehensive solutions to home buyers and sellers, and handled 6,500 transactions in 2012, generating $2.8 billion in sales volume. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate includes joint ventures with partners Highland Partners in Piedmont and Montclair, Wine Country Group Realtors in the North Bay, and Tri-Valley Realty in Pleasanton-Hopyard and Ruby Hill, and Bahay Co. in Concord. Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate is locally owned and has more than 1,100 real estate professionals with 30 offices in eight counties in the Bay Area and the Tahoe/Truckee region. For more information, go to www.bhghome.com

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/business/press-releases/article/Inventory-Shortage-Means-Fewer-Home-Sales-4486549.php

According to the San Mateo Association of Realtors, in January of 2012 there were 1,172 single family homes on market in San Mateo County as compared to January of 2013 there were only 545. This shows that the market has significantly shifted from a buyers market towards a sellers market including a jump in average sales price of 20% for San Mateo County.

“For the past several months I have experienced buyers confronted with multiple offers resulting in homes selling for substantially over listing price.” says Teixeira. “I really feel that the strength of silicon valley and the increase in jobs growth and stability is what we’re seeing reflected in the boost in the mid-peninsula housing market.”

This trend is shown nationally in the SP/Case Shiller composite index’s numbers of their metropolitan survey of 20 cities that show the largest improvement in residential home prices in December since July of 2006 as well as a significant and moral boosting increase in consumer confidence.

For additional information about the Bay Area real estate or San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula real estate and relocation, call Mary Ann Teixeira at (650) 241-0318, or visit her website at http://www.maryannt.com.

About Mary Ann Teixeira

Mary Ann Teixeira is a licensed REALTOR with McGuire Real Estate in Burlingame, California who specializes in relocation services, homes for sale and luxury homes.  She is a seasoned buyer’s agent who serves the San Francisco Bay Area Peninsula communities of Atherton, Burlingame, Cupertino, Hillsborough, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Woodside.

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/2/prweb10486539.htm

Article source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1101611