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

 

Dear Gordon, We are so grateful for your assistance in selling Herb's property. This has surely been somewhat of an ordeal for us all, but having you on our team kept us from losing faith. It will take a while before the realization that this phase is really over will sink in, I think! Anyways, we really hope that Andy enjoys Dimm Way as much as Herb did. <Sue>
Dear Gordon, thank you! We hope sometimes you will come by to see us and get the drive (to Oregon) I promised. Thank you so much for your help. Use us as a reference. <Nelson>

 

With the recent fires, smoke and covid-19, I have finally had the time to update my track record. Still working on it, loading more listing below as of 10-2-20

1) Home owners who listed with me after their previous listing with another company did not sell. (See below and attached PDF).

2) Home owners listed with me and had NOT been previously listed with another broker. See this PDF.
3) Home buyers who I exclusively represented. See "S" in the chart below.
4) Home owners who not only listed with me, but bought another home through me. See chart below - working on this.

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My Track Record 2nd column: Homeowners who Listed (L - stands for Listed) with Gordon. Homebuyers who purchased (S - stands for Sale) with Gordon. Status Listing (L) or Sale (S) Address Days* to Sell While Listed w/Gordon Previously Listed (did not sell) with... closed L 425 A St Dalcy City 12 n/a closed L 578 Tahos Rd Orinda 33 n/a closed S 44 Oak Dr Oakland Represented Buyer only n/a closed L 127 Trellis Bay Hercules 47 not applicable closed S 57 Betten Ct Danville Represented Buyer only n/a closed L 1074 63rd St Oakland 68 days Elite Realty for 182 days closed L 1024 Barbara Ln San Pablo 7 not applicable closed L + S 3435 Tanager Cir Concord 30 not available closed L 3320 Tahoe Ct Antioch 12 n/a closed L 1881 17th St San Pablo 10 n/a closed L 2943 14th St San Pablo 15 n/a closed S 983 55th St Oakland 21 not closed L 301 S. 19th St Richmond 6 n/a closed L 1 Sequoyah View Ct Oakland 249 days It was a pink house w/tenant problems Century 21 for 51 days closed S 695 Fountain Dixon -3 Represented Buyer. Made offer & got accepted despite List Agent not allowing entry for 5 days after entry of MLS designated as "Coming Soon." n/a closed L 1015 Wood Hollow Fairfield 16 n/a closed S 325 Dutton Ave San Leandro represented buyer n/a closed  L 42 Haas, 56 Haas, 68 Haas San Leandro 65 Century 21 for 371 days closed L 617 Golden Gate Ave Pt. Richmond Buyer showed up on day 1 n/a closed L 88 Coral Dr 17 days Coldwell Banker for 120 days with the Top Listing Agent in Orinda closed L 1445 Livornia Rd Alamo 17 days n/a closed L 9115 Lawlor St Oakland 78 days Dutra Realty for 98 days closed L 251 Sandy Cove Ln Bay Point 31 days Century 21 for 113 days closed S 8560 Golf Links Rd Oakland found while pending with other buyer, who canceled, represented buyer n/a closed S 3038 Davis St Oakland represented buyer n/a closed S 374 Beck St Richmond found while pending previous buyer canceled, we sneaked in and made a deal n.a closed L 361 Dutchman Watsonville 30 days RE/MAX for 292 days closed S 1015 Wood Hollow Fairfield found in 1 day Represented buyer only Beat 10+ other offers n/a  closed L 2551 Renwick Oakland 20 days 40 days with Independent Broker closed S 16627 Rolando San Leandro represented buyer n/a closed S 900 Lake St San Pablo Found & sold within 1 day. Represented buyer 10+ offers n/a closed S 3000 School  Oakland represented buyer only found off market n/a closed   6940 Balsam Oakland 94611 represented buyer only n/a   85 Scenic Ave, Pt Richmond represented buyer only n/a   2624 99th, Oakland, CA 94605 represented buyer only n/a   1332 Santa Clara Richmond 30 to receive offer 120 days with Fairmont Real Estate   5243 Cole Oakland 19 124 days with Century 21   1074 63rd Oakland Short sale: Sold 5 times, 2 weeks each 182 days with Elite Realty      710 Masonic Ave Albany 9 227 days with Security Pacific +   2454 Benchmark Fremont 31  Intero for 121 days   796 Santa Maria El Sobrante represented buyer only n/a   19078 Carlton Castro Valley represented buyer only n/a wrote offer 1st day it hit MLS closed 30 days   105 Krause Terrace Martinez sold 5 times fell through because BoA declined short sale. One of my failures. 180 closed L 1664 Grove Way Castro Valley Sold it twice, 8 days, & prior sale fell though (buyer didn't qualify) 251 days with Independent Realtor, "First Class" closed L   2661 Grove Way Castro Valley 17 days 75 days with Century 21 closed S 2137 Freeman Ct, Antioch Represented Buyer only Beat out countless other offers, yet my buyer bought this Bank owned REO at listing price closed L 32 Greenview Ln, Richmond Sold 5 times, took 8 months for lender to agree Short sale with CitiMortgage closed S  955 Grant, Vallejo  Represented Buyer Bank owned, cash closed L 58 Villa Dr, San Pablo 45 days Short sale with 2 loans, WaMu, very difficult, but closed it. closed L 147 Marina Way S. Richmond Represented Seller & Buyer, 7 days Short sale, cash   3100 Persimmon St Antioch Represented Seller sold 5 times, each time 5 days, but escrow took 9 months Short sale from hell, but i did it with 2 existing lenders, cash   2125 Sandra Dr Napa Represented Buyer only   4429 Valle Vista Pittsburg Represented Buyer only   27651 Del Norte Hayward Represented Buyer only   1491 Waverly Pittsburg Represented Buyer only   919-921 Thornton San Leandro 135 Days RE/MAX 134 Days   4632 Fallow Antioch 3 weeks. took 4 months to close because of existing lender problems n/a closed L 609 Frieda Suisun City 10 days 152 Days Prudential   5077 Wilmont Antioch sold 6 times, last escrow took 3 months to close because of lender problems 93 Days ATM real estate   58 Villa Dr San Pablo sold 4 times, each about 14 days apart; last escrow took 2.5 months to close because of lender problems 184 Days ATM real estate   36549 Bottle Brush Newark 78 days Century 21 95 Days closed L 694 Everglades Livermore 30 days Buyer lost job 184 Days   393 Hacienda Ave San Lorenzo 38 Lender problems 43 Days   3930 Pinon Cyn Terrace Castro Valley 35 Represented Buyer from 11 years ago when I sold her house at 988 Arbor Dr      4098 Alder Terrace Fremont 2 Days  Intero Real Estate Svcs for 106 Days    235 Wildwood South Hercules 11 Days  1st California Realty and Coldwell Banker for 84 Days  no photo or sign needed   255 S. 19th St Richmond 2 Days & 18 days Egger Realty for 47 Days   330 6th St Richmond 11 Days Coldwell Banker for 204 Days   5217 Catanzaro Antioch 46 Wall Street Realty & Barnes Realty for 126 Days   4 Pacini Pittsburg 24 Coldwell Banker for 47 Days     10 Applegate Ln Oakley 38 Camelot Properties for 66 Days     2362 Brooks Ave Richmond 44 Security Pacific for 23 Days   1741 Bancroft Way Berkeley Probate 45 days Jordan Real Estate for 39 days   12 Lycett Circle Daly City 8 days Bay Realty for 39 days   17-19 Montana Richmond n/a Representing Buyer Only   675-677 Sunset Blvd Hayward 22 n/a   952 Country Run Martinez 13 n/a   1614-1616 Thomas San Francisco 41 Coldwell Banker for 138 Days   3100 Persimmon Antioch 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 - Represented Buyer Only   291 Calle Lolita Los Gatos 29 days RE/MAX for 35 days   5 Quail Hill Ln Richmond 15 days California Heritage Properties for 27 days   800 Mariposa + lot next door Rodeo 37 days Prudential California Realty for 76 days     6150 Dimm Way Richmond 120 days Security Pacific for 146 days      1960 Gentle Creek Fairfield - Represented Buyer Only closed   L 2048 Sandcreek Way Alameda 7 days Key Properties for 31 days closed  L 16900 Robey Dr San Leandro 34 days at this price n/a   477 Stonefield Ct San Jose 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 21 Represented Buyer only.     716 Ct Livermore 14 Century 21 for 65 days   3511 Lyon Ave Oakland 1 Community Home Sales for 75 days    952 Country Run Martinez 1 Represented Buyer Only 1st to get there     3231 Briggs Ave Alameda 184 Property Investments for 88 days.   97 Taylor Place Bethel Island 250 Pacific Union and Coldwell Banker for 405 days     1265 Oakes Blvd San Leandro n/a Represented Buyer Only      1049 s San Francisco n/a Represented Buyer Only      3461 Moretti Dr Concord I arranged the financing on this as well.  Represented Buyer Only   5462 Trumpet Ct Castro Valley 23 RE/MAX + 2 other Independents for 196 days      41721 Paseo Padre Parkway Fremont 0 Represented Buyer Only. 1st to get there     2111 Norse Dr Pleasant Hill 16 Realty World for 155 days     18 Starflower Terrace San Ramon 26 Closed in 16 days. Call Cash Pacific Union for 33 days      12 Doloress Way Orinda 137   Showed this home 10+ times myself. ----     10585 Center Ave  Gilroy  49 Century 21 for 322 Days       24 Dolores Way Orinda 58 Coldwell Banker for  94 Days      45113 Pawnee Fremont  40 California Realty Realty World for 223 Days      Porthole Ct, Hercules n/a Represented Buyer Only     133 S 3rd St, San Jose n/a Represented Buyer only      5757 Moraga Ave Montclair 7 Represented Buyer only      766 El Granada Blvd, El Granada (Half Moon Bay) -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  40 Represented Buyer only      933-935 Carmel Ave Albany  10 Days Represented Buyer only Competed with 4 other Buyers. My Buyer won!      3495 Mt. St. Helena San Jose  5  Represented Buyer only. Competed with 7 other Buyers. My Buyer won!      19 Orchard Ln Alamo 10 Represented Buyer only (Thanks Cindy!)    1620 Armstrong Ct Concord 3 Represented Buyer only    2031 69th Ave Oakland 61. 6 unit property Not many qualified Buyers for this property type  Realty World 6 months      198 4th St Montara 30 days all cash Coldwell Banker for 6 months.     1460  Corte de Thais San Jose 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 13 days (as-is) all cash n/a      16872 Robey Dr San Leandro 24 days MW Assoc.for 186 days   Sold one across the street, too - the seller of that referred me to this one.      509 Saddleback Livermore 1 Represented Buyer only.   Click me    1275 Calhoun Hayward  72 days  Sotheby's for over a year. Represented Seller and Buyer   Click me   16897 Robey Dr San Leandro  30 days  Coldwell Banker for 94 days     3127 Hyde St Oakland  14 days - 8 offers RE/MAX for 115 days      3374 S. Lucille Lafayette  40 days  Better Homes for 96 days     1122 Valota, Redwood City  65 days Coldwell Banker for 93 days     29853  Vanderbilt, Hayward  48 days  Century 21 for 167 days     5134 Royal Palm Fremont  21 days  Realty World for 41 days   1888 Maybelle Pleasant Hill 18 days Independent for 3 mos      265 Sparrow, Hercules  47 days  Prudential for 85 days   2936 D St, Hayward 21 days Mason McDuffie for 3 mos   5340 Camino Alta Mira Castro Valley 32 days Better Homes for 154 days   502 Allegheny Walnut Creek 1 day Represented Buyer Only   1700 Tulare Richmond 26 days Locators for 3 mos   3922 Harrison Oakland 28 days Pacific Union for 3 mos   404 Roberta, Pleasant Hill 20 days Prudential for 3 mos   2070 Emerson, Berkeley 68 days Prudential for 3 mos   17426 Dellhaven, Castro Valley 21 days Mason McDuffie for 445 days   445 Pazzi, Walnut Creek 33 days Re/max for 3 mos   988 Arbor, San Leandro 7 days Allied Brkrs + 3 other brokers for 2.5 yrs   18597 Vineyard, Castro Valley 70 days Re/max for 6 mos   2198 Granite, Alamo 3 days Pacific Union for 18 days   14967 Peninsula San Leandro 7 days Gadsby Assoc for 128 days   4118 Phoenix, Concord 5 days Independent for 6 mos closed L  1333 Rose Berkeley  22 days not applicable     1338 Hopkins Berkeley  38 days     5650 Carberry, Oakland 24 days Mason McDuffie for 9 mos   6344 Alisal, Pleasanton 45 days Independent for 15 mos   795 Pinedale, Hayward 80 days Mason McDuffie for 461 days   1333 Club, Richmond 16 days Independent for 3 mos   9678 Alcosta, San Ramon 50 days Pacific Union for 3 mos   980 Lambaren, Livermore 30 days Valley Realtors for 3 mos   2156 Owens, Pinole 11 days Security Pacific for 5 mos      361 Violet Hercules  40 days  Security Pacific for 3 mos   1180 Brown, Lafayette 40 days Pacific Union for 3 mos   999 Arbor, San Leandro 30 days  Represented Buyer only   2323 Lake Meadow, Martinez 30 days  Represented Buyer only   2708 Laramie Gate, Pleasanton 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! *Some 'days on market' computed from date of final adjusted list price upon which the property sold.

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.