JULIE GARDNER
  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS

This is Overdue . . .

4/24/2020

1 Comment

 
​While working in my garden the other day, wondering what to write . . . and feeling rather CRABBY about the entire state of affairs, this lovely note popped into my inbox and was just the tonic I needed to elevate my mood. I'm sharing it here (unedited) because it captures the moment so much better than another real-estate pep talk from me ever could.

Dear Julie,
​

This note is TRAGICALLY overdue and frankly should be handwritten . . . but in the interest of time, I've decided to use this medium in order to ensure a swift delivery.

We cannot thank you enough for the help, hand holding, and dedication you showed us last year in helping us find our home. This has turned out to be the best decision we have ever made and we could not be happier. . .
With Violet coming fast we knew we needed more space . . . that was certain! But no one could have predicted this "Shelter-in-Place" order and the changes we would all be facing this year. As we sit in our backyard and watch our girls play in the sandbox and water table, or run past the flowers, we are so grateful to be outside in our own space. Or when we dance around with them in the living room . . . I cannot even imagine how this shelter program would be going if we were still in our 2-bedroom condo.

This house has been a true gift to our family and our hearts are full as we watch these girls grow and enjoy their new surroundings. The house, the neighborhood, the whole package is more than we would have dreamed of and we just have to say thank you! Thank you for your guidance and support - you and Jill are true masters and wonderful partners and we are happy to call you our Realtors for life.

Sincerely,

V & K


So at the risk of blowing my own horn, this note illustrates just how important our homes have become to all of us, in a time of unknowns and invisible battles, AND why, despite the difficulties Realtors are experiencing simply trying to show houses (gloves, masks, entry forms, sanitary wipes, your first born, etc.), properties are still, in fact, selling at a fairly brisk pace.

Which isn't to say we're anywhere near the volume of sales we enjoyed last year with respect to homeownership. Across the board, the number of sales are down 56%, including here in Piedmont, so I don't mean to imply that it's "business as usual." It's not - in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS is it "business as usual," nor anywhere close to it, NOR should we expect an immediate return to normalcy once the Shelter-in-Place mandate is lifted. To the contrary, we as a society, are very likely going to be forging a "new normal" going forward. What "normal" looks like is anybody's guess and may still be weeks away, if not several months. (Hat's off to every parent of school-age children trying to keep it together. There's a reason more of us don't "home school.")

That being said, people still need homes and they are actively seeking them - even in the midst of a pandemic! If that's not the very essence of hope and faith, I don't know what is.

Are properties selling for last year's prices? Not necessarily. As there are fewer Buyers who now qualify, savvy Sellers should be putting great stock in the Buyer that can perform and close quickly. While none of us knows what tomorrow will bring, it's a fairly safe bet that it's going to take more than a few weeks, few months, or even a few years to get back to the prosperity we enjoyed during the last decade's run. However, if you adjust your expectations and understand things could be far worse, you're certain to find a willing and able Buyer, even if it requires more time, more patience, and more flexibility than in the recent past. (A LOT has changed since February.)

Because Sellers are often the last to pivot when a market correction is imminent (I know, it's hard to process.) let's understand that overbidding and outrageous results were driven by high demand and multiple offers. Without that, we're back to a more-level-playing field come time to sell. Here's the good news - in Piedmont at least - demand is still outstripping supply. With only three houses on the market, Buyers have very little choice but to wait or to buy what's available.

So what's the silver lining? Homes have never held more emotional value.

Will housing stock increase once SIP is lifted? It certainly might . . . and probably will.

Homes that weren't quite ready for prime time, OR that were impossible to prep as gardeners, contractors, housekeepers, and painters were deemed "non-essential," OR were owned by Sellers that felt it more prudent to wait, found themselves in an unfortunate holding pattern. Once our crews can get back to work, we'll undoubtedly be bringing these listings to market as quickly as we possibly can.

However, if you've got a home that's ready to go, I wouldn't wait.The old adage that your value is only ever relevant in today's market has never been more true. Moreover, lending criteria is only going to get tighter and likely more scarce as we move through the next several months. In short, strike while the iron is still relatively hot and loans are still available.

How can we help you?
1 Comment
Robin Dustan
4/24/2020 08:11:13 am

Hi Julie,

Enjoyed your letter! Particularly liked "Homes have never held a more emotional value". I hope you are well and I look forward to seeing you and Jill soon.

Thanks for your good work.

Robin

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Author

    Julie Gardner, has been writing The Perspective for 18 years and has published more than 775 humorous but always informative, essays on life and real estate. 

    Picture

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008

    Categories

    All
    Business
    Design
    Drought
    Holiday
    Home Maintenance
    Homes For Sale
    Life
    Market
    Politics
    Renovation

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Piedmont · Oakland · Berkeley
 510.326.0840
[email protected]
DRE# 01431765
​COMPASS

  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS