February 2025 Bay Area Home Prices are going to Explode! What’s Next for Buyers and Sellers?

Every week, I go over news that can affect Bay Area Real Estate. I look into news and data that can affect the Silicon Valley Real Estate Market. Tune in weekly and ask me anything!Check out my latest listing! www.2173laguna.comFacebook closes on massive NYC office expansionhttps://nypost.com/2020/08/03/facebook-closes-on-massive-nyc-office-expansion/?es_id=dcd799c434 U.S. home ownership rate hits highest level since 2008https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvXLEQ1OeME&list=WLMortgage Rates tumble to new record lows this weekhttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/mortgage-rates-tumble-to-new-record-lows-this-week/Mortgage applications drop 5.1% despite record low rateshttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/mortgage-applications-drop-5-1-despite-record-low-rates/Surging mortgage volume puts pressure on appraisal turn timeshttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/surging-mortgage-volume-puts-pressure-on-appraisal-turn-times/Forbearance rate falls to the lowest level since Aprilhttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/forbearance-rate-falls-to-the-lowest-level-since-april/In a virtual learning world, do you still need to buy a house in a good school district?https://www.housingwire.com/articles/in-a-virtual-learning-world-do-you-still-need-to-buy-a-house-in-a-good-school-district/Zillow Offers resumes buying houses in all operating marketshttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/zillow-offers-resumes-buying-houses-in-all-operating-markets/Latest Market Data for all counties in the Bay Areahttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1P5T3T4doU9vutLotcKnZ0WCZahU0nvKn1khR-QQsrTI/edit?usp=sharing--If you’re interested in buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate in the 📍SF Bay Area, contact me today!📧Spencer@spencerhsu.com📞 (408) 547-4590⏰ Set up a time to chat: https://calendly.com/spencerhsure🌍 Find your dream Bay Area home https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/🎙️ Listen to my podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/bayarearealestate📸Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerhsure🧑‍💼 Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhsu🛎 Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest real estate tips and updates: https://forms.gle/c5xkznHLTBh7Yzgi7🏠💲 Track the value of your home and see if it's beneficial to refinance! http://bit.ly/3aFdyMW--My Background: Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent 11 years as Technology Sales Manager before becoming a Realtor. Having personally invested and done renovations through house flips in the Bay Area, I wanted to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream home by leveraging tech, data and local insights. Our team specializes in creating trusted frameworks of buying, selling, and investing in the Bay Area. In 2022, we are thrilled to share that we have helped 80 clients in the Bay Area with their moves, which positions our team as the Top 1% groups in the country. Looking forward to helping you into your next home and save/earn you more money!Spencer Hsu, MBA, RealtorSpencer@SpencerHsu.com408-547-4590EXP Realty DRE #02077253https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/#BayAreaRealEstate

7 Aug 202027min

Every Wednesday at 12PM PST, I interview and introduce a top Realtor from all across the country to hear about how they got into the business, what they are seeing with real estate impacts with COVID, and the economic drivers of an area!This week I am delighted to have Suzanne Vasbinder from Cape Coral who has been in the business for 8 years and does over 100 transactions a year!She can be reached at (239) 357-8787 or on her website http://www.suzannevasbinder.comShe implements different value propositions like below with her consistent marketing and has found tremendous success after joining a coaching program.P.S. Your Home Sold Guaranteed or We'll Buy It!* To discuss the sale of your home call me at 239 357-8787 (no obligation to list)P.P.S. Buy Your Home From Me and If You Are Not Happy, After 12 months, I'll Sell it For FREE* Call me at 239.357.8787--If you’re interested in buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate in the 📍SF Bay Area, contact me today!📧Spencer@spencerhsu.com📞 (408) 547-4590⏰ Set up a time to chat: https://calendly.com/spencerhsure🌍 Find your dream Bay Area home https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/🎙️ Listen to my podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/bayarearealestate📸Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerhsure🧑‍💼 Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhsu🛎 Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest real estate tips and updates: https://forms.gle/c5xkznHLTBh7Yzgi7🏠💲 Track the value of your home and see if it's beneficial to refinance! http://bit.ly/3aFdyMW--My Background: Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent 11 years as Technology Sales Manager before becoming a Realtor. Having personally invested and done renovations through house flips in the Bay Area, I wanted to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream home by leveraging tech, data and local insights. Our team specializes in creating trusted frameworks of buying, selling, and investing in the Bay Area. In 2022, we are thrilled to share that we have helped 80 clients in the Bay Area with their moves, which positions our team as the Top 1% groups in the country. Looking forward to helping you into your next home and save/earn you more money!Spencer Hsu, MBA, RealtorSpencer@SpencerHsu.com408-547-4590EXP Realty DRE #02077253https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/#BayAreaRealEstate

5 Aug 202028min

Every Tuesday, I go into detail a question I frequently get asked. Are Single Family Homes a better long term investment than Townhomes? Let’s look into it.A single-family home is an independent residential structure that sits on its own land and is designed to be used as a single dwelling unit, having just one kitchen, unshared walls and unshared utilities. A townhouse is an attached home also owned by its resident. One or more walls are shared with an adjacent attached townhome.Townhomes typically have an HOA or a Homeowners Association. A homeowner's association is an organization in a subdivision, planned community, or condominium building that makes and enforces rules for the properties and its residents. Some people really hate having this monthly fee but it’s not so bad as most associations would cover the exteriors of your home including paint, landscaping, and your roof. Thus, your insurance premiums tend to be lower. Standard townhomes HOA range between $250-$450 a month but it may vary by location.Many of the newer Single Family Homes after the 90s also have an HOA but the monthly amount tends to be much lower. They may cover any communal space like swimming pools and shared regular pavement of roads. They also may have specific rules as to overnight parking on the streets so it does keep the streets cleaner and less congested.So what are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a Single Family? For Single Family homes, you own the land itself so you have a lot more flexibility and options as to what you want to do with it. Whether it’s creating your own hydroponic garden, doing an extension in the future, or even building out an ADU/In law unit, that’s up to the owner. The downside? It’s significantly more expensive to get into a Single Family home when compared to a townhome in that same city, typically a few hundred of thousand more, and there is also more upkeep/repairs that you are responsible for.So what about townhomes? The advantages are that the price point entering is much lower and you are typically in rates vicinity to a lot of commercial space nearby. Most townhomes these days have three if not four levels which may make it more difficult if you are living with your parents going up and down the flight of stairs. Your HOA dues may increase over the years and that's out of your control.Now, what’s the better long term investment?I tracked the returns of Single Family Homes and Townhomes all the way back to 2006 in several cities around the Bay Area. You may actually notice that it’s very comparable in the specific cities that are being measured and in many cases, Townhomes/Condos have out performed Single Family Homes. The more important measurement isn’t whether you should pick between the two asset types but to pick in great locations. The city matters more. For example, if you bought a Townhome in Sunnyvale or Santa Clara in 2006, you would’ve done better than owning a Fremont Single Family home during that time.https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...I hope this was enlightening! Location matters more than the type so if you are thinking from an investment perspective, be sure to strongly factor that in. The supply of new properties in these areas are very low with little new development given the lack of space.What do you think? Were you surprised with this result? Leave it in the comments below.--If you’re interested in buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate in the 📍SF Bay Area, contact me today!📧Spencer@spencerhsu.com📞 (408) 547-4590⏰ Set up a time to chat: https://calendly.com/spencerhsure🌍 Find your dream Bay Area home https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/🎙️ Listen to my podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/bayarearealestate📸Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerhsure🧑‍💼 Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhsu🛎 Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest real estate tips and updates: https://forms.gle/c5xkznHLTBh7Yzgi7🏠💲 Track the value of your home and see if it's beneficial to refinance! http://bit.ly/3aFdyMW--My Background: Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent 11 years as Technology Sales Manager before becoming a Realtor. Having personally invested and done renovations through house flips in the Bay Area, I wanted to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream home by leveraging tech, data and local insights. Our team specializes in creating trusted frameworks of buying, selling, and investing in the Bay Area. In 2022, we are thrilled to share that we have helped 80 clients in the Bay Area with their moves, which positions our team as the Top 1% groups in the country. Looking forward to helping you into your next home and save/earn you more money!Spencer Hsu, MBA, RealtorSpencer@SpencerHsu.com408-547-4590EXP Realty DRE #02077253https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/#BayAreaRealEstate

4 Aug 20205min

Every week, I go over news that can affect Bay Area Real Estate. I look into news and data that can affect the Silicon Valley Real Estate Market. Tune in weekly and ask me anything! Thoughts on Big Tech Hearingshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuPmIdtjBIo&list=WL&index=5&t=0sBig Tech Blowout Quarterhttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-tech-posts-blowout-quarter-220310889.htmlMore stimulus coming - HEALS ActLIkely decrease of $600 a week as it’s too generoushttps://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/next-stimulus-bill-heals-act-would-include-benefits-beyond-another-payment/Pending home sales surge for a second straight month https://www.housingwire.com/articles/pending-home-sales-surge-for-a-second-straight-month/10th straight week of increased mortgage applicationshttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/mortgage-applications-remain-steady-amid-continued-economic-stress/Forbearance continues to fall for 6th straight weekhttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/loans-in-forbearance-fall-for-the-sixth-straight-week/Homeownership Rate Soars to 12 year highhttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/u-s-homeownership-rate-soars-to-an-almost-12-year-high/ San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa Market Date Updatehttps://bit.ly/2WUkpe5 --If you’re interested in buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate in the 📍SF Bay Area, contact me today!📧Spencer@spencerhsu.com📞 (408) 547-4590⏰ Set up a time to chat: https://calendly.com/spencerhsure🌍 Find your dream Bay Area home https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/🎙️ Listen to my podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/bayarearealestate📸Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerhsure🧑‍💼 Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhsu🛎 Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest real estate tips and updates: https://forms.gle/c5xkznHLTBh7Yzgi7🏠💲 Track the value of your home and see if it's beneficial to refinance! http://bit.ly/3aFdyMW--My Background: Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent 11 years as Technology Sales Manager before becoming a Realtor. Having personally invested and done renovations through house flips in the Bay Area, I wanted to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream home by leveraging tech, data and local insights. Our team specializes in creating trusted frameworks of buying, selling, and investing in the Bay Area. In 2022, we are thrilled to share that we have helped 80 clients in the Bay Area with their moves, which positions our team as the Top 1% groups in the country. Looking forward to helping you into your next home and save/earn you more money!Spencer Hsu, MBA, RealtorSpencer@SpencerHsu.com408-547-4590EXP Realty DRE #02077253https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/#BayAreaRealEstate

31 Jul 202023min

Every Wednesday at 12PM PST, I interview and introduce a top Realtor from all across the country to hear about how they got into the business, what they are seeing with real estate impacts with COVID, and the economic drivers of an area!This week I am delighted to have Renee Ruth who was previously a university professor for 15 years before getting into real estate. While her average price point is $250k, she does 5 transactions on average a month for more than $12M a year! Learn how she got started as she has only been practicing real estate for the last 2 years!--If you’re interested in buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate in the 📍SF Bay Area, contact me today!📧Spencer@spencerhsu.com📞 (408) 547-4590⏰ Set up a time to chat: https://calendly.com/spencerhsure🌍 Find your dream Bay Area home https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/🎙️ Listen to my podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/bayarearealestate📸Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerhsure🧑‍💼 Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhsu🛎 Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest real estate tips and updates: https://forms.gle/c5xkznHLTBh7Yzgi7🏠💲 Track the value of your home and see if it's beneficial to refinance! http://bit.ly/3aFdyMW--My Background: Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent 11 years as Technology Sales Manager before becoming a Realtor. Having personally invested and done renovations through house flips in the Bay Area, I wanted to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream home by leveraging tech, data and local insights. Our team specializes in creating trusted frameworks of buying, selling, and investing in the Bay Area. In 2022, we are thrilled to share that we have helped 80 clients in the Bay Area with their moves, which positions our team as the Top 1% groups in the country. Looking forward to helping you into your next home and save/earn you more money!Spencer Hsu, MBA, RealtorSpencer@SpencerHsu.com408-547-4590EXP Realty DRE #02077253https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/#BayAreaRealEstate

29 Jul 202040min

Every Tuesday, I go into detail a question I frequently get asked. Are you a medical resident, practicing physician, or a dentist? Did you know that you can buy with 0% down and no mortgage insurance? You don’t want to miss this video.There are certain programs that many people are not familiar with. If people knew this, this is a highly competitive advantage to get out of renting much sooner or to trade up for a larger home without the need to save for a larger downpayment . My goal with this weekly tuesday tip series is not only educating the public, but also providing my network with competitive advantages since I personally track all of the different loan programs. This is a video if you are a medical resident, practicing physician, oral surgeon, dentist, or CPA or if you have friends that are these professions that are renting or living in a home smaller than they would like.Many people are not aware that these professionals have some of the most flexible and lenient programs in the industry. Mortgage insurance is typically needed where a borrower goes less than 15% down. This is an insurance from the government that is there to protect the lender since the borrower is putting less than the standard amount down. It’s typically a monthly premium that’s added to a loan. However, certain lenders are willing to be more leveraged to help certain professionals get into a home faster. This is why these professionals I brought up, can buy homes with little to no money down and this goes for all sorts of price ranges. Take a look at the programs available.-100% loan to $650K with no mortgage insurance-95% loan to $1.25M with no mortgage insurance-90% loan to $1.5M with no mortgage insurance-80% loan to $1.75M obviously with no mortgage insurance.-30, 20 and 15 year fixed loans as well as a 5 and 7 year ARM.-Deferred school debt not counted in qualifying debt ratios-For Residents & Fellows, MD, DO, DDS, DMD (other designations maybe acceptable)These programs are subject to change so reach out to me to learn more about your scenario!Certain hospital chains like Kaiser also provide a down payment assistance program which basically provides up to 10% at very little to no interest as long as you stay with the hospital for several years. Think about it as a use it or lose it benefit sign on package. This program stacks with the lending program offered by the bank so you can use this assistance to cover your commitments for the down payment.Now which bank offers such a great program? Only one that I am aware of right now which is BBVA. Take advantage of this sooner than later since banks do change their guidelines over time. For example Bank of America, had changed their minimal down payment from 5 to 15% a few months so this is not something that may last forever.If you are one of these professionals or know of anyone that is, even if they are a resident, it’s important for them to know about this program especially knowing that their monthly payment may already be lower than what their rent may be. If you have any questions, or would like to begin the homebuying journey, let’s talk! I’m never too busy to have a private conversation and share how I can help you every step of the way. If you found this video helpful, smash that like button, hit subscribe and click on that little bell. You’ll be notified every time I release a new video. Thanks for tuning in to another episode! Engineering a better life, today.--If you’re interested in buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate in the 📍SF Bay Area, contact me today!📧Spencer@spencerhsu.com📞 (408) 547-4590⏰ Set up a time to chat: https://calendly.com/spencerhsure🌍 Find your dream Bay Area home https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/🎙️ Listen to my podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/bayarearealestate📸Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerhsure🧑‍💼 Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhsu🛎 Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest real estate tips and updates: https://forms.gle/c5xkznHLTBh7Yzgi7🏠💲 Track the value of your home and see if it's beneficial to refinance! http://bit.ly/3aFdyMW--My Background: Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent 11 years as Technology Sales Manager before becoming a Realtor. Having personally invested and done renovations through house flips in the Bay Area, I wanted to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream home by leveraging tech, data and local insights. Our team specializes in creating trusted frameworks of buying, selling, and investing in the Bay Area. In 2022, we are thrilled to share that we have helped 80 clients in the Bay Area with their moves, which positions our team as the Top 1% groups in the country. Looking forward to helping you into your next home and save/earn you more money!Spencer Hsu, MBA, RealtorSpencer@SpencerHsu.com408-547-4590EXP Realty DRE #02077253https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/#BayAreaRealEstate

28 Jul 20204min

Every week, I go over news that can affect Bay Area Real Estate. I look into news and data that can affect the Silicon Valley Real Estate Market. Tune in weekly and ask me anything! TransUnion: the percentage of accounts in financial hardship began to level off in Junehttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/transunion-the-percentage-of-accounts-in-financial-hardship-began-to-level-off-in-june/ Purchase activity increases for 9th straight week year over yearhttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/mortgage-applications-climb-4-1-on-low-rates/ Home sales jump a record 21% in June, NAR sayshttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/home-sales-jump-a-record-21-in-june-nar-says/ 1.4 million homes have accessory dwelling units, Freddie Mac sayshttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/1-4-million-homes-have-accessory-dwelling-units-freddie-mac-says/ Low inventory means higher prices for California’s housing markethttps://www.housingwire.com/articles/low-inventory-means-higher-prices-for-californias-housing-market/ Two Reasons why we won’t see a rush of foreclosureshttps://www.mykcm.com/2020/07/22/two-reasons-we-wont-see-a-rush-of-foreclosures-this-fall/ Thinking of selling your house? Now may be the right timehttps://www.mykcm.com/2020/07/20/thinking-of-selling-your-house-now-may-be-the-right-time/ San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Alameda, and Contra Costa Market Date Updatehttps://bit.ly/2WUkpe5 --If you’re interested in buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate in the 📍SF Bay Area, contact me today!📧Spencer@spencerhsu.com📞 (408) 547-4590⏰ Set up a time to chat: https://calendly.com/spencerhsure🌍 Find your dream Bay Area home https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/🎙️ Listen to my podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/bayarearealestate📸Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerhsure🧑‍💼 Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhsu🛎 Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest real estate tips and updates: https://forms.gle/c5xkznHLTBh7Yzgi7🏠💲 Track the value of your home and see if it's beneficial to refinance! http://bit.ly/3aFdyMW--My Background: Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent 11 years as Technology Sales Manager before becoming a Realtor. Having personally invested and done renovations through house flips in the Bay Area, I wanted to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream home by leveraging tech, data and local insights. Our team specializes in creating trusted frameworks of buying, selling, and investing in the Bay Area. In 2022, we are thrilled to share that we have helped 80 clients in the Bay Area with their moves, which positions our team as the Top 1% groups in the country. Looking forward to helping you into your next home and save/earn you more money!Spencer Hsu, MBA, RealtorSpencer@SpencerHsu.com408-547-4590EXP Realty DRE #02077253https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/#BayAreaRealEstate

24 Jul 202024min

Every Wednesday at 12PM PST, I interview and introduce a top Realtor from all across the country to hear about how they got into the business, what they are seeing with real estate impacts with COVID, and the economic drivers of an area!This week I am delighted to have Brett Sikora who does over $100M+ a year out of New Jersey! Learn more about the local market and how he handles this amount a year!--If you’re interested in buying, selling, or investing in residential or commercial real estate in the 📍SF Bay Area, contact me today!📧Spencer@spencerhsu.com📞 (408) 547-4590⏰ Set up a time to chat: https://calendly.com/spencerhsure🌍 Find your dream Bay Area home https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/🎙️ Listen to my podcast: https://redcircle.com/shows/bayarearealestate📸Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencerhsure🧑‍💼 Let's connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhsu🛎 Don’t forget to subscribe for the latest real estate tips and updates: https://forms.gle/c5xkznHLTBh7Yzgi7🏠💲 Track the value of your home and see if it's beneficial to refinance! http://bit.ly/3aFdyMW--My Background: Born and raised in the Bay Area, I spent 11 years as Technology Sales Manager before becoming a Realtor. Having personally invested and done renovations through house flips in the Bay Area, I wanted to help busy professionals in the Bay Area tech industry find their dream home by leveraging tech, data and local insights. Our team specializes in creating trusted frameworks of buying, selling, and investing in the Bay Area. In 2022, we are thrilled to share that we have helped 80 clients in the Bay Area with their moves, which positions our team as the Top 1% groups in the country. Looking forward to helping you into your next home and save/earn you more money!Spencer Hsu, MBA, RealtorSpencer@SpencerHsu.com408-547-4590EXP Realty DRE #02077253https://www.homesbyspencerhsu.com/#BayAreaRealEstate

22 Jul 202043min