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How to Find the Best San Francisco Listing Agent

How to Find the Best San Francisco Listing Agent

04/29/21

Here’s How You Can Find the Top Realtor in San Francisco to Help You Sell Your HomeNo matter where you live, working with a high-quality and experienced agent must be your number one priority when it comes to selling a home. The real estate team you decide to work with will directly influence the number of people viewing your home, your sales strategy, and even what kind of offers you get on your home. However, sometimes finding that ideal agent can be more of a challenge than homeowners expect.​​​​​​​Rather than searching through the seemingly endless list of potential agents in the San Francisco area, there are a few tips and tricks you can keep in mind to find the best realtor in San Francisco for you. If you’re looking to list your home, here’s what you need to know to find that perfect agent. Always Consider Experience While it’s possible that a newbie just entering the field will have the skills and the brains to get you a great deal, there’s just something to be said for working with someone who has years of experience under their belt. Experts who have been working in the San Francisco real estate market for years will be able to provide you with numerous benefits, including extensive networking connections, rapport with fellow local agents, a strong understanding of the local market, and even a role in the community. ​​​​​​​According to The Balance, “...experienced real estate agents work in local markets on a day-to-day basis and can provide the kinds of nuanced information and advice unlikely to be found through online real estate searches.”Their unquestionable knowledge and insider insight will help guarantee that you make the right moves when listing your home, including addressing curb appeal, staging, and even choosing an initial listing price. In order to gauge an agent’s experience, you can ask how many times they’ve renewed their license. “Knowing how many times an agent has renewed a license allows you to calculate how many years they have been working, and it also is a starting point for gauging an agent's track record. Agents who have renewed their licenses multiple times are more likely to have a history of consistently closing deals.” Are They Organized? Selling a home can be stressful and nerve-wracking. This can often become an even bigger issue when you’re working with a real estate agent who’s unorganized or has poor communication skills. Rather than hoping that someone will get better with time, it’s best to find an agent who makes you a priority right from the get-go. ​​​​​​​Ensure they make themselves available to you for questions and concerns. Keep track of how long it takes them to respond to emails and phone inquiries. Do they have all the information and data you need to understand current market trends? These are all things you need to consider to find a great San Francisco realtor. A great real estate agent will strive to always be in contact, so don’t waste your time on someone who isn’t giving you enough of theirs.Ask for Incentives As with anyone working in sales, real estate agents need to make their product—in this case, your home—as appealing to potential buyers as possible. For that reason, many high-quality realtors will offer a range of world-class incentives to sweeten the deal for you and your prospective buyers. ​​​​​​​Compass Concierge offers buyers the opportunity to update and restore their homes while having their agency front the cost. This means you’ll be able to get your home in prime condition, which is a tremendous advantage in any market. Some of the covered services include:Floor repairCarpet replacement Deep cleaning Staging Landscaping Electrical work Pest control Kitchen improvements And much more This means that working with a luxury Compass realty team will guarantee that your home is in the best possible condition before it hits the market, which will not only bring in a wide range of potential buyers but also help ensure you get the offers you deserve. The Art of NegotiationNo matter how much a potential buyer loves your home, they’re going to try everything in their power to get you to lower the price. For this reason, you need to make sure that you’re working with an agent who can handle themselves in a complex negotiation. Unfortunately, this can also be one of the most challenging characteristics to evaluate ahead of time. Recognize that it’s just as important for your agent to keep the sales price up as it is for you. Real estate agents work on commission and will earn their wages based on what you’re able to get for your home. Also, remember that there’s nothing wrong with asking to see an agent’s sales history. This will allow you to see for yourself in clear-cut numbers what kind of deals an agent was able to make for their clients in the past. If they consistently accepted lower prices for numerous clients, it’s very likely they’ll do the same for you. The Art of NegotiationThe post-COVID real estate market is an entirely different world than what many agents were previously used to. Many sales tactics and strategies have had to be readjusted to work in a virtual world. In fact, according to a study put on by the National Association of Realtors, ​​​​​​​“90% of home buyers searched online during their home buying process.”This means that you need to work with an agent who not only understands but successfully implements every tool and trick this virtual marketplace allows. Ask whether the team can offer a high-end listing video that prospective buyers can see on their site. You could even inquire about their experience hosting virtual open houses.​​​​​​​Another area you want to look at is their social media. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube have become essential selling tools in today’s market. You need to make sure that they have a solid online presence to reach a broader and more appealing audience. Social distancing has turned the world of real estate on its head. The more experience your agent has navigating this new virtual landscape, the better off you’ll be.Ask About Pricing The price at which you decide to initially list your home will be one of the most impactful decisions you can make when you first enter the market. For this reason, it’s essential that you understand your realtor’s reasoning when they come up with that price. According to Nerdwallet, “The “right” price is one that's in tune with what similar homes are selling for in your market. It’s a figure that you and the buyer agree accurately reflects the home’s value.”Before you meet with an agent, take a look at what comparable homes in the area are listed for and what the final offer ended up being to know what to expect when speaking with your agent. If they offer you an astronomical number that far outreaches what any other homes in the area are going for, there’s a chance the agent may be exaggerating to attract business. On the other hand, if they end up lowballing you and suggest a listing price far below what you were expecting without offering any valid reasons, they may be more interested in making a fast sale rather than making your home a priority. Do You Feel Comfortable? When you start working with a real estate agent, you are trusting them with one of the biggest and most important moments in your life. For this reason, it is absolutely essential that you feel comfortable with them and the ideas they have for how to best approach the sale of your home. Meet with your agents multiple times. Ensure that communication flows easily and that you feel at ease addressing your concerns with them from the very start. Your intuition and your gut instinct about your agent are things you really should take into consideration. Do you feel like they’re being honest? Are they sincerely making you and your home a priority, or are they just trying to snag the deal? Do you feel comfortable having them in and out of your home? Make sure you ask yourselves these questions during your initial meetings before you agree to any contract. Finding a realtor that best suits your needs doesn’t have to be impossible, and working with a great real estate agent will be the key to selling your home at the price you want and in the most acceptable timeframe. Of course, as with any business, there can be setbacks, but a great agent will know just how to work around these challenges to get you as close as they can to your listing price. The experts at Susie Lee Group will employ the best strategies and marketing techniques to ensure you walk away from your sale a winner. Contact these professionals now and get your property listed on the market today. 

What you Need to Know about the San Francisco Housing Market

What you Need to Know about the San Francisco Housing Market

08/31/21 Susie Lee

If you’re interested in buying a house in San Francisco, be ready to navigate a complex market that includes high prices, tight supply, and intense bidding wars.Housing prices in San Francisco (and the rest of the Bay Area) have skyrocketed over the past year, and are projected to continue on an upward trajectory. According to Realtor.com, the median list price of homes for sale in San Francisco as of July 2021 was $1.3 million and the median sale price was $1.475 million. Houses for sale in San Francisco have gone for an average of 5.4% above listing, which is great for sellers—but bad for buyers. The San Francisco housing market is uniquely competitive, out-pricing every other in the state of California.While the San Francisco housing market is far from a buyer's market, with a small dip in median prices and motivation to buy, you could be looking at your best window for purchasing San Francisco real estate.The first step in any real estate transaction is to hire an experienced real estate agent who knows the city well and has a successful track record. An experienced San Francisco agent will have exclusive access to new properties and understand pricing trends in all of San Francisco’s popular neighborhoods. A good agent can be the difference between getting your dream property and settling.Once you’ve hired an agent, constant communication is important. Offers in a hot market like San Francisco’s are accepted and rejected rapidly, so communicating quickly and effectively is crucial. You’ll also want to stay well-informed on real estate developments across the Bay Area, and on the unique characteristics of San Francisco’s market. Market factors The San Francisco housing market has a variety of factors working to drive up home prices, and most are similar to those driving markets elsewhere in California and around the country. A shortage of inventory, remarkably low mortgage rates, and the tech industry creating an influx of high-income workers in the area are the main factors.The tech industry was largely unaffected by the pandemic, allowing its workers to enter the housing market or upgrade their homes. Thus, while San Francisco experienced a small dip, the city maintained a strong seller's market overall.Real estate officials said part of the boom from earlier this year was fueled by people moving out of San Francisco to other cities and states, where they could buy cheaper homes and telecommute. That opened up some inventory, which was snapped up. This trend of “outward migration,” is expected to wane somewhat as employers require workers to return to the office.The San Francisco real estate market is always fluctuating, so it is best to always keep an eye out and be prepared to strike while the iron is hot. Affordability issues Affordability continues to be San Francisco's largest problem. Many families and individuals, including essential workers, are getting priced out. Locals cannot keep up with skyrocketing prices and are being driven out. According to John Burns Real Estate Consulting, the Bay Area had three major hot spots for lack of affordability: San Jose with the ninth-worst affordability rate among 33 U.S. markets that the firm tracked, East Bay with the 20th, and San Francisco with the 25th. When the state hit record home prices in the spring, the California Association of Realtors (CAR) sounded an alarm about affordability throughout the Golden State.“Not only do skyrocketing home prices threaten already low homeownership levels and make it harder for those who don’t already have a home to purchase one, it also brings to question the sustainability of this market cycle,” Jordan Levine, the CAR’s chief economist, said in a report. Median rent price While prices for homes have gone up, rents in San Francisco have fallen, mostly due to the pandemic. When most companies pivoted to work-from-home policies during the height of the pandemic. Many renters chose to leave the expensive urban core of San Francisco in favor of more affordable housing elsewhere, particularly out of state. However, as more companies require workers to return to the office, rent is expected to begin moving upward. The Next Few Months There’s a bit of good news from the CAR, which says that as the state moves from peak home-buying season in the summer months into the fall, both home sales and prices appear to be moderating after reaching a fever pitch."The market remains solid, however, as sales were still the second-highest level for a July in the last six years, and the statewide median price continues to perform above last year's level by double-digits,” CAR President Dave Walsh said in the report. “Housing supply, while improved, remains tight and market competition is still heated with homes flying off the market in record time." As you shop for houses for sale in San Francisco, set a realistic budget for how much you can afford, get pre-approved for a mortgage, focus on your preferred neighborhood, and trust the advice of your real estate pro. If you plan to buy or sell San Francisco real estate in 2021, contact the Susie Lee Group for top-notch service and local expertise.

10 Tips on How to Choose the Best San Francisco Real Estate Agent for You

10 Tips on How to Choose the Best San Francisco Real Estate Agent for You

11/30/21 Susie Lee

When you’re buying or selling a San Francisco luxury home, it’s crucially important to hire a qualified real estate agent to guide you through these intricate processes. Finding the right agent can feel like a complex undertaking, especially once you realize there are over 5,000 agents serving San Francisco. Purchasing a home for you and your family is one of the most important and expensive decisions of your life. Given this fact, you don’t want to settle for an average real estate agent. You want the best of the best! You want to find someone who can sell your home for top-dollar swiftly or beat the competition when you put in an offer for a property. The perfect real estate agent can mean the difference between finding your dream home or your biggest regret. So how can you be sure the agent you’ve chosen will find the right home for the best deal?The first thing home buyers and sellers do is consult with people they know, ask for recommendations, and then check the agents’ websites. Though this is an excellent place to start, it will only give you basic info, such as a brief bio about the agent, how long they’ve been in business, how many homes they’ve sold/bought, how homes are assessed, marketed, and so on. A simple internet search typically won’t lead you to the right agent right away. To find the best agent for you, you’ll need to interview a few candidates and ask specific questions. Here are some pertinent qualifications to understand and questions to ask as you interview agents. Choose a real estate agent with regional knowledge. It can be a tiresome process to buy or sell a house in the very competitive San Francisco real estate market, which currently has a median home sale price of $1.5 million. Having the right real estate agent by your side is a must for navigating this cutthroat housing market. You need someone who knows San Francisco like the back of their hand. Furthermore, you want an agent who is an expert on the particular neighborhood in which you are selling or buying. Are you dying to live in Central Richmond? Do you have an affinity for the Haight-Ashbury district? Regardless of the neighborhood you’re looking to move to, you need to find a real estate agent who knows the ins and outs of that community. If the agent is commuting an hour to meet you in your neighborhood, you may have chosen poorly. Choose a real estate agent who knows the current real estate market. Properly pricing your home is vital to the selling process. A real estate agent needs to know current San Francisco housing market trends. Whether trends indicate a buyer’s or seller’s market is pertinent to the way your real estate agent will go about selling your property. With a thorough understanding of real estate market trends and homes selling in your neighborhood, your agent will be able to help you establish a selling price. They need to be realistic when setting prices, utilizing comps, market trends, regional knowledge, and experience to assess your home’s worth and, ultimately, listing price. If your home is priced too high, buyers won’t even glance at the listing. A property that is priced higher than it should be will sit on the market longer. The longer your home sits on the market, the more difficult it will be to sell. People will begin to think there’s something wrong with the house. Once you start lowering the price, it’s a slippery slope. When you drop the listing price to reflect the property’s actual value, buyers could take that as a sign of desperation. A real estate agent who does their due diligence in market research will help you avoid this mess. Choose a real estate agent who is dedicated to your goal. An important question to ask a potential real estate agent is how many clients they’re currently serving. Fewer clients mean more time they can dedicate to helping you sell or buy a home. No one wants to feel like they’re on the backburner. Picking an agent who’s currently working with dozens of other clients is a big no-no. If you choose an agent with a high volume of clients, find out how they allocate their services if the client needs additional support. This is when you’ll ask if they have other team members who can help. How big is the real estate agent’s team? Team size should depend on how many transactions an agent is working on at any given time. The many skill sets necessary to complete a real estate transaction require a team of people who are skilled in different areas in order to produce an optimal client experience and outcome. Proper staffing allows the team to carry out a few transactions every month and still give their clients undivided attention. It also gives the staff time to preview newly listed homes and keep up-to-date on off-market properties. Lone agents may struggle to keep up with the latest market research, especially when it comes to off-market inventory research — it’s very time-consuming. A real estate team will likely have strong systems in place to benefit their clients, making this a crucial consideration when choosing an agent. Don’t immediately choose the real estate agent with the lowest commission. Inexperienced real estate agents often set a low commission to bait clients. Sometimes they do it to compete in an overly competitive market, but it can also indicate a lack of knowledge, experience, or negotiation skills. Sure, you’d like to save a buck or two on finding an agent, but at what cost to your goal? If an agent is charging a cheap fee, ask yourself why. Perhaps they’re desperate or unqualified. Do you want to take that risk? Choose a real estate agent with valid credentials. Specific career paths call for employees who specialize in certain areas, such as doctors, dentists, and lawyers, and real estate agents are no different. Even agents who consider themselves generalists tend to get additional training to expand their knowledge and gain credibility. The acronym following an agent’s name has meaning, and you should grasp the difference between the most popular ones to assist you in finding the most qualified real estate agent. Here are the three most common ones: CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): The Certified Residential Specialist is the highest possible credential that residential real estate agents, managers, and brokers can achieve. This designation requires expertise in residential sales. ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative): The Accredited Buyer's Representative designation is for agents who work directly with buyer-clients through every step of the home-buying process. United States real estate agents must have a certain education, work experience, and professional affiliation, and they must take an exam to achieve this designation. SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): The Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation is for REALTORS® who can meet a variety of needs of maturing Americans who are selling, buying, relocating, or refinancing investment or residential properties. United States agents must acquire a specific education, take an exam and be in good standing in the SRES® Council, NAR, or cooperating associations. In addition, if an agent calls themselves a Realtor with a capital “R,” that means they are a registered member of the NAR and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Finding an experienced agent with solid credentials should be a major consideration in your decision. Now that we’ve covered finding the perfect agent for the job, let’s look at a few additional questions you’ll want to ask to ensure they’re right for you. How many deals have they done in the last year? Real estate is a practice — with every transaction, agents become more skilled and savvy. To help you narrow down your search, start by asking how many deals an agent has closed in the last year. A good indication of a serious agent is one who completes two or more deals per month. This ensures you’re working with a career agent and not just a weekend agent. How many of those deals were buyer deals, how many were seller deals? An agent with experience on both sides will make for the most favorable results. If you’re a first-time buyer, you’ll seek out an agent with strong systems to assist buyers. Are you selling your home? Look for someone with a proven track record selling properties. How do they prepare homes for listing? To help sell your home, you’ll want to have it properly staged so that it appeals to house hunters. This requires a thorough assessment of your home’s physical condition and professional advice on what repairs and renovations will improve it. As you decide which repairs and upgrades to make, keep ROI in mind and discuss these matters thoroughly with potential agents. The right agent will know exactly which fixes and changes your home needs to deliver an optimal listing price. As we’ve explored, there are many questions and considerations to keep in mind as you search for the best San Francisco real estate agent for you. Give Susie Lee of the Susie Lee Group a call if you’re seeking an accomplished, professional, and passionate San Francisco Realtor. A native San Franciscan herself, Susie will use her regional knowledge and know-how to exceed your expectations.

market report

Fall October Newsletter 🍂 Real Estate Market Trends 🎃

Fall October Newsletter 🍂 Real Estate Market Trends 🎃

12/27/21 Susie Lee

market report

August Newsletter - Housing Market

August Newsletter - Housing Market

12/27/21 Susie Lee

market report

September 2021 Market Report

September 2021 Market Report

12/27/21 Susie Lee

market report

July 2021 Market Report | Real Estate Housing Trends

July 2021 Market Report | Real Estate Housing Trends

12/27/21 Susie Lee

market report

May 2021 Newsletter | Real Estate Market Trends

May 2021 Newsletter | Real Estate Market Trends

12/7/21 Susie Lee

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March 2021 | San Francisco | Market Update

March 2021 | San Francisco | Market Update

12/7/21 Susie Lee

Know Your Value Curious to learn your home's projected worth? Click "Home Valuation" below to receive aFREE personalized report for your home! Home Valuation

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February 2021 Newsletter | Real Estate Market

February 2021 Newsletter | Real Estate Market

12/7/21 Susie Lee

Our January report focused mostly on 2020’s annual statistics. This report will put most of its attention on quarterly and monthly indicators, which better illustrate changes occurring as 2020 progressed and 2021 began. Of Bay Area counties, San Francisco was most negatively affected in the months immediately following the implementation of shelter-in-place. Inventory soared and sales plunged, especially in its condo market. In the second half of the year, buyers rushed back into the market. Sales volume, very unusually, peaked for the year in December, hitting its highest December number ever. Home sales in January were up 67% over January 2020, a tremendous increase. Year-over-year, house median sales prices are up a little, and condo median prices, divided by size of unit, are down about 10%. The city remains a very complex market, varying by neighborhood, property type and price segment. And vaccines may alter the dynamics considerably in 2021. New listings coming on market jumped up in January, as is the norm. The market seems to be heating up much more quickly than typical at the beginning of the new year. This next chart illustrates the rapid growth in inventory that occurred after the pandemic struck: The spike was heavily weighted to condo listings, which hit an all-time high. In the last 3 months, inventory began dropping quickly - due to increasing demand, a drop in new listing activity, and a jump in listings being pulled off the market by sellers in December for the holidays. Month by month, year-over-year comparison of home sales volumes - illustrating the initial pandemic crash in activity followed by the market rebound that saw monthly sales volumes climb far above the levels of the previous year. Blue columns represent monthly sales within the last 12 months, and gray columns, sales in the previous 12 months. Sales were up 60% and peaked for the year in December (first time ever), and January sales soared 67% above January 2020. Of the sales reported to MLS, closing in December and January, 43% were houses, 51% condos, 5% TICs and 1% co-ops. Of the active/coming soon listings in MLS as of early February, 26% were houses, 63% condos, 9% TICs and 2% co-ops. The chart below: Comparing 2020 to 2019, luxury house sales were up, luxury condo sales were well down, and non-luxury home sales were about flat. However, none of these statistics do justice to the rapid acceleration in market activity occurring in the second half of the year. Sales price to original list price percentage: Over 100% - as seen in the 4 quarters of 2020 for houses - signifies an average sales price above original list price. Under 100% - as seen in the 2020 condo market - means, on average, sales prices were negotiated below asking price. Overbidding has declined substantially over the past 3 years. As buyer demand bounced back, the number of price reductions dropped from the historic high reached in early autumn - however, on a year-over-year basis, the number remains higher than is typical for January. A much larger number than usual of unsold listings were pulled off the market in December. We expect many of these to be re-listed early in the new year, some of them at lower prices than before. The 2 tables below reflect market statistics and values for Q4 2020 only, by city district (each containing a variety of neighborhoods), first for houses and then for condos. Q4 stats will often be different than those for the full year 2020. It is not unusual for more expensive markets to have softer supply and demand statistics, though this is not always the case. City condo markets - especially in districts dominated by high-rises and large projects - often saw much cooler conditions than house markets. Below is the first of 4 tables reviewing full-year 2020 SF home values by neighborhood. The full report along with a home price map is here: San Francisco Neighborhood Home Prices. And for the entire region: Bay Area 2020 Home Prices. Two major factors behind the Bay Area housing market recovery were the dramatic drop in interest rates, and the significant rebound in the stock market – especially in the stock prices of some of our local high-tech giants.

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San Francisco January 2021 Report

San Francisco January 2021 Report

12/7/21 Susie Lee

Pandemic, shelter in place, mass unemployment, terrible financial hardships for many households and small businesses, new ways of working, office buildings empty, people move, rents plunge, dreadful fires, an anxious presidential election, interest rates to historic lows, stock markets to new highs, billionaires decamp to save on taxes, IPO mania breaks out again, vaccines begin to arrive – and the real estate market in San Francisco saw complicated dynamics in supply and demand, with a strong recovery after an initial crash in activity. 2020: a year of social, political, economic and environmental extremes. Let us give thanks to those who worked so hard and sometimes risked their lives to help others. The following analyses were designed to be self-explanatory, but please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

5 Ways Social Media Can Sell Your Home

5 Ways Social Media Can Sell Your Home

12/11/20

Discover How to Give You and Your Property an Advantage Every year, more people begin their home search online. The power of utilizing social media when selling your home cannot be underestimated. Let’s break down key ways we can use social media to our advantage when selling. Work With a Social Media-Savvy Agent Let them navigate the world of social media for you. As a significant portion of real estate search and communication has moved online during the pandemic, working with an agent who knows how to sell homes on social media can be a huge advantage. Hire an agent who has a strong presence on Instagram and Facebook—this will help determine how effective the agent can be when exposing prospective buyers to your listing, and consequently, how quickly your house will sell. High-Quality Photography and Video Is a Must Online imagery will be the first impression prospective buyers will have of your home. Investing in professional photography and videography will capture your home in the most flattering light and encourage buyers to explore your listing more thoroughly. Upload these images to Instagram and Facebook. In the caption, be sure to include contact information and a brief description highlighting what is shown in the images. The high-quality, eye-popping imagery will help compel buyers to reach out. Invest in a Facebook Ad This is an incredibly precise and effective tool not to be overlooked. Facebook is the most popular social media platform in the world, and its advertisements can target people by their interests, location, and behaviors. The specific market you want to cater to for your home probably uses Facebook regularly, and these advertisements can put your listing directly in front of their eyes. No other advertising platform offers this high degree of certainty, and using Facebook ads will make your listing’s online presence more robust. Instagram Hashtags When used with precision, Instagram tags can be another potentially useful tool. Once professional imagery of your home has been produced, you and your real estate agent should post them on your respected Instagram accounts. Confer with your agent to determine key hashtags to use—such as #LuxuryCondo, #MasterBath, or #FullServiceBuilding—to ensure your listing pops up when prospective buyers are searching for said features. This will help direct traffic to your listing and increase your pool of potential buyers. Virtual Tours Providing a virtual tour will improve the marketability of your listing in multiple ways. It will provide potential buyers a more complete image of your home, and you can continue to highlight the property’s best features to lure their interest. Virtual tours can also increase the number of potential buyers, as people in other states will be able to experience the property without going there in person. Finally, this feature will give a buyer more to reference when considering your property—an aspect which can only work in your favor. Looking for more social media tips or searching for homes for sale in San Francisco? Free to contact us. We’d love to show you Bay Area homes for sale.

Everything You Need to Know About Virtual Open Houses

Everything You Need to Know About Virtual Open Houses

01/15/21

The Marketing and Selling Trend Taking the World by Storm Now more than ever, real estate agents, sellers, and buyers are employing and interacting with virtual open house options. So, what exactly is this trend, and how does it work? What Does It Entail, and When Did It Start? Open houses have been a tried and true method of selling real estate for decades. After all, what better way to interest a buyer in a property than by giving them a real-time look into the place they’ll be purchasing, living in, and using? With the advent of new technology, open houses have started to shift towards video options, which primarily include two choices: Static—videos recorded ahead of time and embedded into your website, uploaded onto social media, or included in the listing. These videos can include 3D tours with virtual staging or a guided walk-through of the property. Live—scheduled in advance, live virtual open houses are streamed on social media sites like Facebook Live or other various platforms and allow potential buyers to interact with the agent or seller in real-time. Like regular open houses, these virtual events can cater to a broad audience or be a one-on-one session with specific interested buyers. Who Is It for? Everyone can benefit from the use of virtual open houses. For sellers, virtual open houses are a way to entice long-distance buyers and relocators with more information and content. Buyers in all locations can view more about the house without committing, and static videos offer the chance to tour the home on your own time. In the age of social distancing, virtual open houses are also a safe alternative to the traditional event, and sellers can host large gatherings online to generate leads that then narrow down into potential buyers who might want an in-person tour. This is particularly useful for those with health concerns who might otherwise be limited in their searches. Interested parties can ask questions and learn about the neighborhood, all from the comfort of their own home. Are They Effective? More than merely a clever, convenient way to maintain the social component of real estate transactions, virtual open houses are also a handy marketing tactic. According to a 2019 NAR study, nearly 50% of home buyers who used the internet in their search found virtual tours very useful, and almost a quarter of the same group found videos to be very useful. Additionally, videos generally draw in more traffic to your website, which means you’ll generate more leads. Looking to buy or sell San Francisco real estate? Contact The Susie Lee Group today to get in touch with some of the top real estate experts in the Bay area.

Social and Virtual Media: Reshaping the Global Real Estate Market

Social and Virtual Media: Reshaping the Global Real Estate Market

11/19/20

Explore How the Real Estate Market Is Going Digital—and How You Can Take Advantage of It The growth of social and virtual media has changed the world as we know it, especially when it comes to real estate. COVID-19 has only reinforced the importance of going online to connect with clients. Social media is a dynamic way for agents to connect with people on a global scale. That means more opportunities to market listings, increase your following, and invite direct interaction between you and your clients. It's a whole new world out there for realtors, and that's exciting! Here are a few ways to take advantage of this and expand your digital presence. Virtual Tours Virtual tours have been steadily on the rise for the past few years, but the pandemic has created a massive increase in demand for them. Virtual tours allow realtors to show homes and create 3D renderings of properties online without having to risk the dangers of an in-person showing. Prospective buyers also have the benefit of looking at homes they're interested in globally, making it a great asset to international buyers and sellers. Increasing Brand Visibility One of the main reasons so many agents are increasing their presence on social media platforms is to build their brand name, cultivate a strong online presence, and connect to potential clients, both locally and internationally. Maintaining a clean, informative, and positive social media feed can significantly increase interaction and forge new connections in a way not previously possible. Agents can maintain long standing relationships with past clients more effortlessly than ever before. Tailoring posts to meet the needs of your targeted audience and niche can grow your business and earn you positive buzz and reception that keeps people coming back. Communication Perhaps one of the biggest and most impactful changes in the real estate market attributed to social media is the new communication methods. Agents are now becoming 100% available and accessible to their clients in a way they haven't been able to before. Being active on multiple online platforms lets people interact with you 24/7. It's not just about client interaction, either. Communicating with peers, sharing experiences, and collaborating with others is now as simple as clicking a few buttons. Digital Marketing Trends Digital and virtual media have become an essential part of online marketing. It's vital for agents to create polished, user-friendly websites that include videos, slideshows, and other interactive features. To reach new clients, you have to have a robust online presence. Building a mobile-friendly website, utilizing video marketing strategies, and launching email campaigns are just a few things that will put you ahead of your competitors. Others have even begun to implement influencer marketing and automated chat features to keep a constant support system to clients at all hours of the day, regardless of location. The reality is, in this day and age, if you're not ready and willing to adapt to the technologically heavy wave of the future, you and your business will fall behind. If you’re looking for a technologically savvy team to help you find homes for sale in San Francisco or a piece of Presidio Heights real estate, contact the Susie Lee Group today. Using their cutting-edge strategies, they can help you find a home that’s perfect for you.

To Post or Not to Post: Tips for Selling Your Home Online

To Post or Not to Post: Tips for Selling Your Home Online

04/7/21

Want to Generate Top Dollar for Your Luxury Home Listing? The Path to a Seamless and Highly Lucrative Sale Begins Online. According to a report from the National Association of Realtors, the three most popular sources a homebuyer uses in their home search are online websites, real estate agents, and mobile apps. 93% of buyers venture online, while another 73% employ the use of an app. In other words, if you want to sell a home, it must have an online presence. It's not enough to simply post a listing and wait for clicks—you want your home to stand out among a sea of other houses. But how do you make the most of an online listing to generate traffic, and ultimately, high-value offers? Let's explore five tips for selling your home online. Master the Basics When selling your house online, you must first take a few traditional steps. These basic, non-digital tenets are a must before posting the listing and involve prepping your home—clean, declutter, and update or repair. These three steps help prepare your home for its digital close-up. In particular, luxury homebuyers will spend their time scrutinizing every last detail of your online listing. They'll notice if you've taken great care to try and impress them with the presentation of your property and prove the value of your home. Create an Appealing Listing The point of mastering the basics becomes apparent when creating your online listing. Your home's digital curb is what initially attracts the high-end buyers you seek. Professional, high-quality photos instantly set your home apart from those that take a DIY approach. Detailed, well-written descriptions enhance both a listing's informative qualities and its ability to capture a buyer's attention. In both cases, ensure the listing is an accurate representation of the home. Buyers will know if you've embellished any details when they physically tour it. List Far and Wide Certainly, your online listing will find a home on the MLS. Ensuring it lands on major real estate websites—Realtor.com, Trulia, and Zillow— is also a must. Beyond those essential listing services, however, you'll want to cast a wide net. Additional online avenues include your realtor's website and potentially developing a standalone landing page or website for your property. The latter two options allow your home space to shine online, away from the directory-like feel of listing sites. A standalone site also gives you a chance to tell your home's story, proving beneficial if you're trying to move a multi-million dollar property. Make It a Social Affair Whether it's a complete listing via Facebook or a quick mention through Twitter, don't be shy about sharing your property via social media. The various platforms that connect us socially are even better at promoting products and services for sale, including luxury housing. Even better, use your home's listing website or landing page to collect names and emails of interested parties to build an email list and engage with them directly. Networking efforts are great for individual home sales but carry even more urgency if you're an investor or home seller with several properties to market. Partner With a Savvy Real Estate Agent Finally, while you might be inclined to make a solo online sale, the process is made considerably easier if you work alongside an expert in the field. Partnering with a marketing-savvy real estate agent alleviates you of the burden of making a hundred different decisions. The top agents understand digital advertising tactics and how to appeal to a wide swath of potential buyers. They will also connect you with the professionals that will make your home shine online through staging, photography, copy, and an enhanced web presence.Ready to explore the best of San Francisco real estate? Contact the Susie Lee Group today to start your home selling (or buying) journey. From Presidio Heights real estate to Pacific Heights homes for sale, allow Susie and her team's experience and expertise to be your guide through the Bay Area.

3 Buying Strategies for San Francisco's Competitive Market

3 Buying Strategies for San Francisco's Competitive Market

04/9/21

San Francisco's Housing Market Has Long Proven to Be One of the Nation's Most Dynamic and Competitive. The Right Strategy Can Land You the Bay Area Home of Your Dreams Few real estate markets in the U.S. match the beauty and diversity of the property options found in San Francisco. That one-of-a-kind appeal also makes the Bay Area's housing market one of the most competitive and in-demand markets in the nation. For buyers trying to find the perfect property, it can prove a challenging area to navigate. However, an opportunity exists for those willing to leave preconceived notions at the door and adopt the following three buying strategies for navigating San Francisco's competitive market. Come to the Market Ready to Act San Francisco's real estate market is not one for window shoppers or casual home buyers. If you hope to secure a residence in one of the city's premier neighborhoods, be prepared to make strong, compelling initial offers. Regardless of the community or type of property you bid for, do your research and understand the market and what the seller expects to be a fair offer. Then, organize your proposal and act upon it. Pre-approval (not prequalification), sizable down payments (over 20%), and competitive first offers (even if above asking) will ensure your submission gets the attention it deserves. An all-cash bid will put you at the front of the line. Further, don't be shy about making personal appeals to the seller on why you are the property's ideal buyer. Come out of the gate with something that demands a seller's attention and sets you apart from other buyers. Accept a Certain Level of Risk The combination of highly desirable and hyper-competitive often leaves buyers feeling like they're traversing a high-wire without a net. And yes, sellers will expect buyers to take on more risk when the market is emphatically in their favor. To secure a highly desirable property, you may be asked to forego standard contractual niceties such as contingencies, inspections, or seller contributions. It's up to you to determine your comfort level. The key is to trust your instincts and not feel pressured into a deal you may regret later. San Francisco offers lots of opportunities. You might have to exercise a lot more patience to find a residence that's right for you. Be Flexible It's easy to put the blinders on when seeking out the ideal piece of real estate. You may have your heart set on a specific neighborhood, or a certain style of home, or a particular school district for your child. One of the great benefits to San Francisco is the vast array of options that greet residents at every turn. Being flexible in one aspect of your home search can open up a world of possibilities in another. For example, your home search may start in Pacific Heights (and let's be honest, it's not a bad place to start). Still, a willingness to venture into neighboring Cow Hollow or Presidio Heights will reveal just as much luxury at a more affordable price point. It would also put you within close walking distance to the Presidio's or Marina District's many outdoor pursuits or allow your child the opportunity to attend one of the Bay Area's esteemed private schools. Ultimately, however you approach San Francisco's highly competitive real estate market, partnering with a knowledgeable, market-savvy professional gives you the most significant advantage. From finding off-market deals to making the best offers to negotiating the final agreement, the most reliable way to succeed in San Francisco is to not go it alone.Ready to explore the best of San Francisco real estate? Contact the Susie Lee Group today to start your home selling (or buying) journey. From Presidio Heights real estate to Pacific Heights homes for sale, allow Susie and her team's experience and expertise to be your guide throughout the Bay Area.