Pasadena CA Real Estate

What sells Pasadena Homes?

1. Location, Location, Location!
2. Correct Pricing!
3. Condition and Staging!
4. Sales Words Used in the Multiple Listing Service!

Huh?  Words sell homes?  That’s something new…

Well, experienced and successful Pasadena Real Estate agents have known this for quite awhile.  Now, there’s an article in The Seattle Times by Ann Brenoff that discusses just that.

Words matter. Wars have started over words. Civilizations have collapsed because of them. And, it appears the speed with which a house sells can be determined by them. Ann Brenoff

So, how can home sellers use words to give them the edge in selling their Pasadena house? 

A study done by a Canadian professor, Paul Anglin, after analyzing more than 20,000 home listings, found that sales words not only affect the speed of home sales, but also the PRICE of a home sale.

Certain words can make your home sell faster and for more money.  So roll up your sleeves and let’s look at this together.

Words that help sell your Pasadena home faster and for more money are:

Handyman special

Beautiful (these homes moved 15 percent faster and for 5 percent more in price than the benchmark)

Curb appeal

Move-in condition (home listings took 12% less time to sell)

Landscaping (homes sold 20% sometimes)

Granite

Gourmet

Golf

Words that hurt:

Motivated seller (homes sold for 8% less in the study! In another study by Ronald Rutherford of University of Texas, afinance and real-estate professor, homes that listed “Motivated Sellers” in their description stayed on the market for 15 longer and sold for 4% less!)

Moving (homes sold for 1% less in the study)

Good value

As-is

Clean

Quiet

New paint

 Los Angeles Times

Another word: “MUST SEE” was not received well by home buyers and did not do anything statistically to improve the number of days a home was on the market before selling.

If you are selling your Pasadena home, review your Multiple Listing Service (MLS) description to see how your home is advertised and feel free to share this with your Pasadena Real Estate agent.

If you are selling your home by owner (FSBO), review all your marketing – MLS, flyers, etc and incorporate the words that sell.

If you are considering selling your home in and around Pasadena, work with a respected and knowledgeable real estate agent who can ensure that you get the highest $ for your home.

It’s always interesting to see what homes sell for as compared to the home’s asking price. 

When I start working with a new buyer, I recommend that we set them up to receive home listings directly from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) inclusive of homes that go under contract and homes that just sold. 

Why?  Because getting information on home sales show how quickly these homes sell and for how much.  It’s the quickest and easiest way to get a pulse on the real estate market.

So far, San Marino real estate home sales for the month of July are at 9 homes sold.

On average, these homes sold at 97.97% of asking price.  That’s pretty good considering the average price per square foot for these San Marino homes is $611.22 and they were on the market for 57 days on average.*

This month, there was a bit of a multiple offer war for the property at 1522 Wembley Road: 

It originally came on the San Marino real estate market at $1,598,000.  It just closed escrow (SOLD) at $1,668,000 at a whopping $725.85 a square foot (compare it to the $611 average for the rest of the sales.)  It also sold in about two weeks!

Why was this home so special?

The location was great – it was in the Huntington LibraryDistrict of San Marino minutes from Lacy Park.  This home was beautifully staged and nicely updated. 

Congratulations to the Sellers and the new Buyers!

Interested in More San Marino Real Estate data? 

ALSO READ:  San Marino Real Estate Market Report

* ITEC data as of July 29,2008

We all love Summer!

Summer is about being outdoors, enjoying activities with friends and family and of course, heading over to your favorite park for a concert.  If that concert is free, well… that’s even better.

So, without further ado, here’s a list of Summer Concerts in the Park.

ALHAMBRA, CA

Location:  2nd Street, between Main Street & Commonwealth Avenue

Time:  6:00 to 10:00 pm (Headliner Band starts at 8:30 pm)

 READ MORE:  Alhambra, California

ARCADIA, CA

Location:  City Hall West Lawn, 240 West Huntington Drive, Arcadia

Time:  7 pm to 8:30 pm

READ MORE:  Arcadia California

COVINA, CA

Location:  Covina Park Bandshell, 301 North 4th Avenue, Covina

Time:  7:30 pm

GLENDORA, CA

Location:  Bandshell at Finkbiner Park, 160 North Wabash Avenue, Glendora

Time:  6:00 pm

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE

Location:  Memorial Park, 1301 Foothill Blvd

Time:  6:00 pm until 8:00 pm

LOS ANGELES – DOWNTOWN

Location:  California Plaza, 350 South Grand Avenue, Downtown Los Angeles

Call:         213-687-2159       

MONROVIA, CA

Location:  South West Portion of Recreation Park, 620 South Shamrock Avenue, Monrovia, CA

Time:  6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

PASADENA, CA

Location:  Levitt Pavillion, 87 North Raymond Avenue #250, Pasadena

Call      626-683-3230     

 READ MORE:  Pasadena, California

SIERRA MADRE, CA

Location:  Memorial park Bandshell, 222 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre

Time:  6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

READ MORE:  Sierra Madre, California

SOUTH PASADENA, CA

Location:  Garfield Park (on Mission Street between Stratford & Park Avenue)

Time:  5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

READ MORE:  South Pasadena, California

TEMPLE CITY, CA

Location:  performing Art Pavilion at Temple City Park, 9701 Las Tunas Drive

   626-285-2171   

Time:  7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

For home purchase information, please contact Irina Netchaev, Pasadena real estate agent at  626-627-7107