Sellers: Want a fast sale at fair market value? Buyers: Want to find it fast & avoid over-paying? I've helped HUNDREDS of clients do just that.

The Truth about Real Estate Agents/Brokers The Truth about Real Estate Companies The Truth about Relocation Services The Truth about Appraisals The Truth about Real Estate Loans

Buyers: In selecting your broker, it's important for you that I really know how to interpret values with expert clarity. No better way to show you this than what I have done for other Buyers and Sellers below. In 2007, it is a year of huge changes, and yet I am able to still deliver. One of the unexpected problems, however, is that some lenders have failed us, and financing break-downs are causing deals to fall apart like never before in my 25 years.

 

Sellers should list with me the first time, but I usually am the one they call the 2nd time around, because they "FIRED" their first broker when their home did not sell with an "area specialist." The table below shows how I have re-listed and sold properties that other agents, brokers and real estate companies couldn't sell the first time. My average marketing time is 3 weeks since 1982. That's remarkable, because the markets have not always been so "hot" as they are today, where homes are selling in days no matter how over-priced they are. In good and bad times, it takes a marketing specialist (among other abilities) to do it right! The market and values are always changing, continually a challenge. Call me today!

 

In a typical week I am in very different areas: From Lamorinda, Pleasanton, Half Moon Bay, San Jose, Walnut Creek, Albany, Fremont, Redwood City, Los Gatos, Oakland, Castro Valley, Danville, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Los Altos, Berkeley, Martinez, Woodside, Hayward. Every day and every week is different. It's not that I want to list and sell the entire bay area, but rather a few homes at a time around the Bay Area, where I am needed most.

 

Attention buyers: Sometimes, I have found my Buyers their homes within the 1st day of meeting them, but more realistically it takes a few weeks or more. Yes, sometimes I have spent 2+ years with Buyers to find the right one! Get signed up for my Custom Reports by email today - click here...SearchNow! What a recent client says about me: Click here. There are hundreds more. *List price when property sold and Days on Market after listed at this price.

Gordon Allen's Track Record (All Listed by Gordon except where marked "Represented Buyer only") Photo Address List Price Sales Price Days to Sell While Listed w/Gordon Previously Listed (did not sell) with... Bottle Brush Ct Newark $535,000 $480,000 78 Century 21 95 days 694 Everglades Livermore $530,000 $515,000 Sale fell through 30 Buyer lost job 184 Days 393 Hacienda Ave San Lorenzo 465,000 455,000 Sale fell through - 38 Lender problems 43 Days 4304 Suzanne Dr Pittsburg 560,000 540,000 Sale fell through - 9 Lender problems 119 1622 San Luis Walnut Creek 460,000 405,000 Sale fell through - 121 Lender problems 107 3930 Pinon Cyn Terrace Castro Valley 599,000 595,000 35 Client from 11 years ago    4098 Alder Terrace Fremont $525,000* $515,000 2 Days  Intero Real Estate Svcs for 106 Days  235 Wildwood South Hercules  $509,000* $509,000 11 Days  1st California Realty and Coldwell Banker for 84 Days  no photo or sign needed 255 S. 19th St Richmond $301,000 $306,000 2 Days Egger Realty for 47 Days 330 6th St Richmond $449,950* $442,000 11 Days Coldwell Banker for 204 Days 5217 Catanzaro Antioch $499,000 $499,000 46 Wall Street Realty & Barnes Realty for 126 Days 4 Pacini Pittsburg $480,000 $465,000 24 Coldwell Banker for 47 Days   10 Applegate Ln Oakley $445,000 $480,000 38 Camelot Properties for 66 Days   2362 Brooks Ave Richmond $496,000 $496,000 44 Security Pacific for 23 Days 1741 Bancroft Way Berkeley $590,000 $590,000 Probate 45 days Jordan Real Estate for 39 days 12 Lycett Circle Daly City $1,100,000 $1,060,000 8 Bay Realty for 39 days 17-19 Montana Richmond $649,000 $641,500 n/a Representing Buyer Only 675-677 Sunset Blvd Hayward $622,500 $600,000 22 n/a 952 Country Run Martinez $615,000 $615,000 13 n/a 1614-1616 Thomas San Francisco Previously Listed at 799,000 840,000 41 Coldwell Banker for 138 Days 3100 Persimmon Antioch $375,950 $380,000 Within 1 hour of "hitting the market," I showed this to my Buyer and wrote the 1st offer - accepted next day by Seller. Represented Buyer Only 461 Glacier Dr Martinez 369,828 372,000 - Represented Buyer Only 291 Calle Lolita Los Gatos $750,000 $735,000 29 days RE/MAX for 35 days 5 Quail Hill Ln Richmond 327,500 327,500 15 days California HeritageProperties for 27 days 800 Mariposa + lot next door Rodeo 359,950 120,000 350,000 $120,600 37 days Prudential California Realty for 76 days   6150 Dimm Way Richmond 625,000 580,000 120 days Security Pacific for 146 days    1960 Gentle Creek Fairfield $535,000 $525,000 - Represented Buyer Only   2048 Sandcreek Way Alameda $419,950 $410,000 7 days Key Properties for 31 days   16900 Robey Dr San Leandro $590,000 $590,000 190 at this price n/a 477 Stonefield Ct San Jose  $585,000  $575,000 At this price, 3 weeks.   Originally listed at $635,000, reduced 3 times; $620,000, $599,000 and $585,000. n/a   4532 Loon Ct Antioch $375,000 $379,950 21 Represented Buyer only. 3316 Hillcrest El Sobrante $370,000 Sold (withheld 46 Prudential for 75 days   716 Eagle Ct Livermore $489,950 $490,000 14 Century 21 for 65 days 3511 Lyon Ave Oakland $349,950 $349,950 1 Community Home Sales for 75 days  952 Country Run Martinez $389,950 $396,950 1 Represented Buyer Only 1st to get there   3231 Briggs Ave Alameda $888,000 $865,000 184 Property Investments for 88 days. 97 Taylor Place Bethel Island $499,950  $500,000 Undoubtedly, the most difficult home to sell in my 21 years! 250 Pacific Union and Coldwell Banker for 405 days   1265 Oakes Blvd San Leandro $419,000 $406,000 n/a Represented Buyer Only    1049 Dolores San Francisco  $399,000 $420,000 n/a Represented Buyer Only    3461 Moretti Dr Concord  $313,000  $313,000 Zero down! Zero Closing costs! 100% financing! I arranged the financing on this as well.  Represented Buyer Only 5462 Trumpet Ct Castro Valley  $625,000 $595,000 "as-is" fixer 23 RE/MAX + 2 other Independents for 196 days    41721 Paseo Padre Parkway Fremont  $569,888 $569,950 0 Represented Buyer Only. 1st to get there   2111 Norse Dr Pleasant Hill  425000 405000 "as-is" 16 Realty World for 155 days   18 Starflower Terrace San Ramon  499,950 490,000 26 Closed in 16 days. Call Cash Pacific Union for 33 days    12 Dolores Way Orinda  575,000 569,000 137   I must have showed this home 20 times.myself. It was a "mild fixer." ----   10585 Center Ave  Gilroy  $699,000 652,500  49 Century 21 for 322 Days     24 Dolores Way Orinda $650,000 $620,000 58 Coldwell Banker for  94 Days    45113 Pawnee Fremont  687,200 659,000 as-is  40 California Realty Realty World for 223 Days    Porthole Ct, Hercules $233,500 227,500 n/a Represented Buyer Only   133 S 3rd St, San Jose $515,000 $495,000 n/a Represented Buyer only    5757 Moraga Ave Montclair $399,000 $355,000 7 Represented Buyer only    766 El Granada Blvd, El Granada (Half Moon Bay)  $799,950 $785,000 -5 days (I showed/sold this 5 days before listing it)  Coldwell Banker for 124 days   (Represented both Seller and Buyer)   5581 Lemke Pl Fremont $525,000 $510,000  40 Represented Buyer only    933-935 Carmel Ave Albany  $399,950 $425,000  10 Days Represented Buyer only Competed with 4 other Buyers. My Buyer won!    3495 Mt. St. Helena San Jose  $399,950 $462,500  5  Represented Buyer only. Competed with 7 other Buyers. My Buyer won!    19 Orchard Ln Alamo $699,000 $699,000 10 Represented Buyer only (Thanks Cindy!)  1620 Armstrong Ct Concord $272,950 $268,000 3 Represented Buyer only  2031 69th Ave Oakland  $520,000  $520,000 61. 6 unit property Not many qualified Buyers for this property type  Realty World 6 months    198 4th St Montara $875,000 $850,000 30 days all cash Coldwell Banker for 6 months.   1460  Corte de Thais San Jose $549,000 560,000 1 Represented Buyer only Found this within the first few hours of being listed, showed it to my Buyer that afternoon, sold it the next day.    15420 Maureen San Leandro  275,000 262,500 13 days (as-is) all cash n/a    16872 Robey Dr San Leandro  549,950 592,000 24 days Independent Broker for 186 days   Sold one across the street, too - the seller of that referred me to this one.    509 Saddleback Livermore  315,000 315,000 1 Represented Buyer only.   Click me  1275 Calhoun Hayward  1,599,000  1,500,000  72 days  Sotheby's for over a year. Represented Seller and Buyer   Click me  16897 Robey Dr San Leandro  400,000  450,000  30 days  Coldwell Banker for 94 days   3127 Hyde St Oakland  $200,000  $208,000  14 days - 8 offers RE/MAX for 115 days    3374 S. Lucille Lafayette  355,000  355,000  40 days  Better Homes for 96 days   1122 Valota, Redwood City  $460,000  430,000  65 days Coldwell Banker for 93 days   29853  Vanderbilt, Hayward  $360,000 $25K in work  $335,000 "as-is"  48 days  Century 21 for 167 days   5134 Royal Palm Fremont  $280,000  $280,000  21 days  Realty World for 41 days 1888 Maybelle Pleasant Hill $206,000 $206,000 18 days Independent for 3 mos    265 Sparrow, Hercules  $205,000  $200,000  47 days  Prudential for 85 days 2936 D St, Hayward $167,000 $173,000 21 days Mason McDuffie for 3 mos 5340 Camino Alta Mira Castro Valley $268,000 $270,000 32 days Better Homes for 3 mos 502 Allegheny Walnut Creek $245,000 $245,000 1 day Represented Buyer Only 1700 Tulare Richmond $167,000 $167,000 26 days Locators for 3 mos 3922 Harrison Oakland $355,000 $355,000 28 days Pacific Union for 3 mos 404 Roberta, Pleasant Hill $295,000 $295,000 20 days Prudential for 3 mos 2070 Emerson, Berkeley $285,000 $255,000 68 days Prudential for 3 mos 17426 Dellhaven, Castro Valley $304,000 $298,000 21 days Mason McDuffie for 6 mos 445 Pazzi, Walnut Creek $323,000 $320,000 33 days Re/max for 3 mos 988 Arbor, San Leandro $285,000 $280,000 7 days Allied Brkrs + 3 other brokers for 2.5 yrs 18597 Vineyard, Castro Valley $449,500 $449,500 70 days Re/max for 6 mos 2198 Granite, Alamo $389,000 $389,000 3 days Pacific Union for 18 days 14967 Peninsula San Leandro $240,000 $235,000 7 days Gadsby Assoc for 128 days 4118 Phoenix, Concord $178,000 $176,000 5 days Independent for 6 mos    1333 Rose, Berkeley $165,000 $165,000  22 days     1338 Hopkins Berkeley $550,000 $550,000  38 days   5650 Carberry, Oakland $200,000 $200,000 24 days Mason McDuffie for 9 mos 6344 Alisal, Pleasanton $549,000 $525,000 45 days Independent for 15 mos 795 Pinedale, Hayward $195,000 $193,000 80 days Mason McDuffie for 3 mos 1333 Club, Richmond $160,000 $165,000 16 days Independent for 3 mos 9678 Alcosta, San Ramon $310,000 $300,000 50 days Pacific Union for 3 mos 980 Lambaren, Livermore $175,000 $175,000 30 days Valley Realtors for 3 mos 2156 Owens, Pinole $195,000 $195,000 11 days Security Pacific for 5 mos    361 Violet Hercules  $193,500  $193,500  40 days  Security Pacific for 3 mos 1180 Brown, Lafayette $800,000 $800,000 40 days Pacific Union for 3 mos 999 Arbor, San Leandro $350,000 $310,000 30 days  Represented Buyer only 2323 Lake Meadow, Martinez $139,000 $135,000 30 days  Represented Buyer only 2708 Laramie Gate, Pleasanton $324,000 $322,000 30 days  Represented Buyer only Many more are listings and sales since 1982. These Sellers and Buyers went through hell before they met me - learn how I came to their rescue!

The Truth about Real Estate Agents

Only approx. 10% of the 50,000 agents and brokers in the Bay Area are full time.

All brokers and agents are self-employed and not salaried. They are solely responsible for the service and results they provide, including how they obtain clients.

Most real estate agents rely on referrals for obtaining business (from family, friends and "sphere of influence" sources). This means that they have to stay local and do not market or sell to people outside their area.

I meet with a lot of people who have been mistreated, misrepresented and lied to by other agents and brokers. I fix all that, if I can reach them or if they can reach me in time.

 

The Truth about Real Estate Companies

A typical real estate office is embarrassing to describe. There is what is called "floor time." Agents take turns answering calls and any walk ins. This is a huge waste of time. Instead, I'm out in the field all the time answering my calls, meeting people, showing properties, listing properties, presenting offers.

Everything done in an office can be done in the field - in my car, at a vacant house, at Starbucks, anywhere!

The real estate business is a huge revolving door, and this is why real estate companies are in the business of managing agents, not selling properties.

Real estate companies make their income off of the commissions earned by their own agents, most of the time taking 50-75% of the total commission. So the reality of a large company with dozens of agents has no real value to Buyers or Sellers, just to the company, which makes money off the agents/brokers!

What all this means is that if a broker is really successful, he or she should be running their own small company. Wouldn't you? But to be really successful, one must have services that really work.

 

Why don't sellers list their property with the same agent they purchased the property with?

Very few property owners use the same agent because...

1. The agent is no longer in business. Most real estate agents leave the business after 6 months. Also known as the "revolving door."
2. The agent provided poor service and/or representation during the purchasing process.
3. The owner finds a better Realtor.

The Truth About Appraisals

Believe it or not, I am a more accurate estimator of the real market value of a property than an appraiser (most of the time - I'm not perfect!) Even though I am not a certified appraiser, here's why I get over 95% of my Sellers full price sales (even in bad times):

 

Appraisers do not look at the competing homes for sale and they do not look at the "pending" sales (in escrow). I look not only at these and the closed sales, but also the history of each of the properties (how long they have been for sale and at what prices they have been at). I also go back in time more than 6 months when appropriate, which appraisers are not allowed to do. I present all of this information to you (and buyers) in living color, complete with color photos, maps and full text details of the properties and their history. Pricing your home accurately is very important in any market. Since most properties are inaccurately priced, they "expire." I take over many of those expired listings and, as my track record testifies, I am very successful at getting them sold quickly AND at or near the full price. Is this a service you want? If so, call Gordon Allen today.

The Truth about Loans

All the quotes you see in the paper, on TV and on the radio are worthless, because the rates and points change every day, and the points (percentage of loan amount) a lender charges determines the rate. APRs are advertised but rarely understood and never broken down as to how many actual points it takes to obtain a certain interest rate.

 

So just call me for the lowest rate and points for any type of loan, from over 150 different lenders.

 

If your property is already listed with a broker,

this is not meant to be a solicitation of that listing

 

Copyright 1995-2001 © Gordon Phillip ALLEN REALTORS®. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate or distribute in any form.