Dear Reader, Welcome to my August monthly letter. Can you believe we’re already at the end of August? My mind is entirely ready for cooler fall weather, which is hands down my favorite season—there’s just something so refreshing about it! But what I’m excited about is my upcoming trip to see my mom and great-niece in mid-September. It’s been nearly four months since my last visit, and I can’t wait to catch up with them. If you didn’t know, my mom made the big move to North Carolina almost two years ago, and I’m beyond thrilled to spend time with my family. I hope you’re also finding time to connect with the people who bring you the most joy!
Remember to add a few extra minutes to your daily routine as the new school season begins. Parents always take a few weeks to get back into the groove of school drop-off and pick-up, so please slow down and exercise extra patience on the roads. Parents, please don’t block driveways and crosswalks.
In November, California voters will decide the fate of Proposition 5, making it easier for local governments to borrow money for housing and various public infrastructure projects. A taxpayer watchdog says Prop. 5 will essentially let governments increase property taxes whenever they want. The opposing view: A local mayor says the measure will help public agencies pursue vital projects that can make California more affordable. What do you think?
Now, let’s dive into some real estate updates. You might have heard about recent changes affecting home buying and selling. Here’s the gist: Homebuyers must sign a Buyer Broker Agreement with an agent to view homes, except for open houses. There are three types of Buyer Agreements to choose from. For sellers, the fundamental change is that you can no longer offer a buyer commission in your listing contract. Instead, buyers and their agents will negotiate the commission, and buyers might request that sellers cover this fee in their offer. This adds a new layer of negotiation. For more details and the latest homebuyer contracts, head to my blog.
On the listing front, I’m thrilled to share some exciting properties!
1: Coming Soon: A charming one-level, three-bedroom home in Glendale’s Montecito Park neighborhood, hitting the market in late September.
2: Just Listed: A fantastic Studio City townhouse at 4308 Whitsett Ave #3 for $728,000.
3: Available Now: 3104 Los Olivos in La Crescenta, listed at $1,250,000. This one needs a little TLC, but it has incredible potential.
A few more tidbits of information that you may find both helpful and interesting: Over a year ago, I shared a post about dryer vent safety. Recently, a client experienced a dryer fire, so I want to bring this critical safety hazard to your attention once again. Learn why it’s essential to clean all the vents on your dryer by checking out my latest blog post.
Curious about how the real estate market is shifting? In my Market at a Glance posts, I break down the data in 30-day increments, offering a clear picture of any significant or minor changes in the areas I cover: La Crescenta-Montrose, Sunland-Tujunga, Shadow Hills, Altadena, La Cañada, and Glendale 91208. If there’s another market you’d like me to include, let me know! Explore the latest trends and insights by reading my full report.
As always, feel free to text, call, or email me whenever you want to chat about real estate. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you! 818-388-1631 or robbyn@thehouseagent.com .
Kind Regards,
Robbyn Battles