Bel Air Park 2nd Quarterly Report 2021
1 July 2021
Dear Bel Air Park Neighbor:
First of all, Happy Fourth of July. We have much to be thankful for — California has ‘re-opened’…we’re getting out, shopping, and dining, and seeing our friends again! Yes, while we still face some Covid-19 challenges, we hopefully have gotten through the worst of it and have all done a great job in helping our communities be safer. Hopefully we don’t back slide with the variants that are out there now. Be safe!
On the real estate front — we have seen a dramatic improvement in pending home sales across the country — experts expected a 1% drop, instead there was an 8% increase in transactions for existing homes, the highest level of sales activity for May since 2005. We too, continue to see increased marketing activity in our communities with median sales price still hovering above 5% compared to 2020.The good news is that the Fed is committed to keeping interest rates low, meaning mortgage rates will remain near record lows as well. This bodes well for those of you thinking of selling or buying. Mortgage rates remain in the low 3% range, which makes financing or getting a re-fi on your home much easier.
On the mortgage, financing front in one my recent sales meetings we were discussing the fact that a lot of transactions are falling out of escrow. The primary cause is that buyers are bidding up the purchase price only to find out that they cannot qualify for the property, and if there is a “back up offer” in place, which I always encourage, if possible, many times that buyer will become the prevailing buyer and end up with the property. Please give me a call at 310 442-1384 and I will be more than happy to explain the process.
The record breaking heat we are experiencing all over is a major cause for concern given the drought we are experiencing. so once again, I remind you to please be fire safe and clear the brush around your property. In the last week or so, I have received a number of emails from clients telling me they have been cited by the Fire Dept. They are out there inspecting our properties, so please make sure you are in compliance. There is a new mandatory statewide disclosure that goes into effect today, 1 July 2021 where in every property sold in a high fire risk area will need to comply with the brush clearance guidelines. You might want to check out…http: www.readyforwildfire.org for more information.
What is going on in Bel Air Park from a real estate perspective? The community like many parts of the city is slower in catching its breathe as pertains to real estate activity. Currently there is one home on the market, and another closed escrow which sold over asking and was on the market for 8 days! As you may recall, I usually compare the activity for this past quarter to the same quarter last year, but for now it is a little different in that the second quarter of last year is when the closing of the world because of Covid-19 just beginning so there was very little activity, and a personal basis… I was sick with Covid 19, had just lost my 98-year-old Mom and frankly was just not up to working and “doing my thing”. I did however send out an update for the 1st, 2nd & 3rd quarter at the end of the 3rd quarter. Rest assured I am fine now and completely back at it ready to take on the world. Please let me know how I can assist you with all of your real estate needs and questions.
Cordially
Carole Schiffer
