 Like any good consumer, I tried to take advantage of the post-Christmas sales, but one look at the long lines and I quickly decided that there's no sweater on earth I want badly enough to fight the crowds. Some bargains just aren't worth the savings, nor are some discounts the deal you imagined . . .
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 Hello! It's a new day, a new year, and a new world, and I'm wishing you all a successful, happy and healthy 2019 - however you define that for you and yours . . .
For me, it's going to be about greater self-care and awareness, more balance, and DEFINITELY more joy. (Of course, these are the same goals I set every year.)  It's my last column of the year and I'm wishing you all a safe and happy holiday wherever, or whatever, you'll be celebrating.
Christmas came early for me this year by way of our FINAL & LAST(!) payment on Tristan's college education. After eight years of costly tuition bills, we will thankfully, no longer be footing those costs. . . BIG sigh of relief! (I should clarify that the eight years encompassed TWO kids; it hasn't taken Tristan eight years to graduate.)  The holidays are upon us and whether you celebrate the Festival of Lights, Santa Claus, the birth of Christ, winter solstice, or simply logs on the fire, you've probably been invited to a gift exchange (or two) and know what's coming next.
Last Saturday, we joined our dear friends for Hanukkah at their lovely and inviting home on the peninsula, along with several other couples, for Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), latkes (yum), and holiday cheer, and arrived with two wrapped presents, as instructed.  On Tuesday afternoon, I was joined by approximately 200 other Realtors at the First Republic Holiday Luncheon at The St. Francis Yacht Club adjacent to Crissy Field and the incredibly picturesque SF Yacht Harbor.
Putting aside the free lunch (which was surprisingly tasty), First Republic annually invites one of their top wealth advisers, Alan Zafran, to share his views on where the markets currently sit and more importantly, what lies ahead, and it's always a worthwhile way to spend the afternoon . . . (Thank you, Alan.)  Yes, I have, and I am thrilled to announce my move to Compass in the Montclair Office, effective immediately.
I'm not alone in jumping over to this dynamic, super-charged, vibrant, innovative company that's poised to create a new paradigm for Real Estate, for Realtors, and how future business is transacted, not only locally but nationally and internationally as well.  With news that the Camp Fire is the worst residential fire in California's history (nearly 9,000 homes have burned and counting) AND with no expectation that fire crews can likely get the raging firestorm under control until the end of the month(!!!), I'm counting my blessings for my safe and secure neighborhood - despite the fact that it's tough to go outside. I can't recall a time when the air quality has been this unhealthy.
It feels like the apocalypse, especially for those who have lost everything, including their entire communities.  I'm back from Morocco and excited to jump back into the market once again. I'd like to say I missed you all, but I really needed the time off and enjoyed the trip immensely. (It was long overdue; just ask my husband, Cliff.)
Still, while I've been in the desert (yes, I rode a camel), Jill has been preparing our new listing in Crocker Highlands, debuting this Sunday, so work continued unabated as I checked in sporadically from Africa. That's both the beauty and the curse of smart phones; they travel everywhere we go! (Ugh.)  The Fall market has provided a slew of great listings and savvy Buyers have jumped in to take advantage of this last final push before the holidays are truly upon us.
In Piedmont, we saw more houses on the market in a single week in September (16!), than we did in any given week all last spring, and true to form, if they were priced correctly, they found a qualified Buyer in quick time. ("IF" being the operative word.)  Given the high demand that good Stagers attract, it’s inevitable that, whether through timing, budget, or Seller preference, we Realtors are going to be forced to work outside our tried-and-true group of trusted vendors. (There's a reason they are "tried and true" and why we hate doing this!)
Such an occasion happened last week with a new listing where the Sellers were anxious to get their home on the market almost immediately. Unfortunately, the Stagers I most often collaborate with were booked for at least a month out. |
AuthorJulie Gardner, has been writing The Perspective for 12 years and has published more than 500 essays. She is also a frequent contributor to the Sound Off column in the Real Estate section of The San Francisco Chronicle. 
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Piedmont · Oakland · Berkeley Office: 510.470.9114 Cell: 510.326.0840 CalBRE# 01431765 |
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