All Forum Posts by: Ariel Smith

Congrats! Working smarter pays off! :)

Hi @Sinan M. and welcome from the Bay Area! I am looking forward to watching your journey to owning property. Feel free to reach out to the community with any comments or questions!

@John Shmon have you considered house hacking a duplex or triplex? Not sure of your living situation or if that's something you'd consider, but there are still deals to be had with those in SF. My colleague just house hacked a duplex in SF in the outer sunset. 

Hi @Sean Carroll what are your goals? I can set you up with some people I know in SJ if I know what you're looking for. Feel free to PM me!

@Bill Henley yes HELOCs can be great strategies to leverage equity. Well congratulations it sounds like you are on the fast track to hitting your end goal! 

@Bill Henley that seems like a great price point for your area. I'm interested to see what you end up selling for. If you don't mind me asking, where are you moving to? Most sellers I'm working with have a desire to cash in on their equity, but have no where to go unless they move out of the area. For that reason, many sellers are holding on despite the high sales prices. 

@Andrew Wong thanks I'll PM you

Hi BP! I'm taking on a new furnished rental in Sunnyvale and would love a referral to a great cleaning company who can do the cleanings. I need someone who can wash linens, dishes, make beds, etc. in between tenants and would prefer someone who already might work on vacation or corporate rentals. Does anyone have a recommendation?

@Sean Walton is right. The new construction in the city has been a huge factor in the rents going down. Same with down here on the Peninsula. These brand new buildings have 2 bedrooms renting for $4k/month. Pool, gym, rooftop deck, business centers, bike parking, and all the bells and whistles. As a renter, when I'm looking at an old building for $3800/month or new construction for $4k, it's a no brainer what I'd choose. 

@Bill Henley over here in San Mateo County, pretty much all sellers pay for inspections prior to listing the home for sale. Therefore, the disclosures show all inspections and the home is then sold as-is. This causes the buyers to offer their best and final right up front. 

In hot markets like this, it's almost necessary to ensure a smooth close. To get a winning offer as a buyer, you pretty much have to come in non-contingent and that includes the financing. As a seller, you can also always counter and ask for contingencies to be removed. I'd talk with your agent, as they should be able to answer those questions for you and help strategize to get you what you want. Let me know if you have any other questions.