Not all realtors are created equal. Yes we will all have the same license but there is a huge difference between someone who was born and raised in Southern California and someone who moved here from somewhere else. Here are four reasons why, when it comes to real estate, native is better.
Local knowledge
Since the advent of the internet it is very common for customers to contact me already knowing the neighborhood, price and sometimes even the house they want to buy. While this makes my job seem easier my goal is to make sure that my clients are delighted by their choice. In on-line real estate, as in on-line dating, sometimes what looks perfect on your screen can be less than perfect in real life. It is not unusual for the dream house seen from afar to become a nightmare up close.
It’s 2018 do I really need a realtor at all?
I was born and raised in Southern California and have a deep understanding of what it’s like to live here. Even paradise has it’s challenges and my job is to give my customers a clear idea of what they can expect if they buy this house in this neighborhood.
There are few things worse than buying your dream home and then finding out, once you’ve moved in, that you don’t like the neighborhood. Maybe the commute is horrendous, maybe the closest grocery store is miles away or maybe you simply don’t feel at home there.
If you have kids, schools are going to be very important to you… now. However if you plan on having children ten years from now schools will be very important… in the future. If that’s the case you can spend a little less to get a house in an up and coming “transitional” neighborhood, where you expect the schools to improve in the future.
Unless you have a clear picture of the changes a city is undergoing how could you possibly know that?
Emerging trends
When you live in a place long enough you notice the emerging trends of each neighborhood. It’s also important to recognize how these trends intersect with lifestyle changes and preferences; Twenty years ago people had no problem commuting an hour or so to work, today more people work from home and are looking for smaller, cozier neighborhoods were they can walk to a main street and get coffee from a local place. This is true all over the country but particularly prevalent in a city like LA where traffic can be so “challenging”. Some of the trendiest areas in LA became trendy because they fit this category.
More and more people are focused on the lifestyle that home brings with it. They are less interested in the house itself and more interested in location. This is where local knowledge is a must.
Are you a Southern California native or newbie? Find out here
Inflection points
As with any city LA is a city in constant transition. There are “hot” areas to live where the prices are going up and some areas that are starting to settle down or even decline in value. If you look at a single day, or single month snapshot of a neighborhood you cannot see this transition. Arguably one of the most important things about buying a home.
I watch the market very carefully and I can see not only the changes that are occurring but also have an idea of which areas are overpriced and where the homes are undervalued.
Selling a home
If you are selling a home this knowledge in also indispensable. What are the comparative prices in the neighborhood and how is the area trending. If you are in a hot, buzzy part of the city then it is smart to price your home higher than the comps. People are willing to pay a premium to be close to the action, especially in a city like LA where for many being close to the action is almost a job requirement.
An accurate price is very important. Price too high and obviously it’ll be harder to sell. Price too low and people might assume that there is something wrong with the home. But pricing is as much art as science and again this is where it pays to have history in an area. If you simply look at a snapshot of the comps in that area you have no idea if the area is on the rise or on the decline. If you are only pricing the brick and mortar then you may be leaving money on the table.
