Uncategorized Archives - Page 4 of 8

February 6, 2024

The Impact of Low Housing Inventory in The Bay Area

Denise & Cortney Laugesen here, bringing you the latest from our dynamic housing market.

The tides are turning in 2024, and it’s an exciting time for both buyers and sellers! With the stock market’s historic rally in 2023, there’s a fresh wave of enthusiasm among buyers. More money in pockets means more dreams turning into reality.

But here’s the twist: While interest rates are inching down from their recent highs (we all got a bit spoiled during COVID, didn’t we?), they’re still a factor to consider. The good news? Quality is key, and the market knows it!

Homes that stand out – those that are turnkey, brilliantly marketed, and represented by top-notch agents – are seeing unprecedented demand. Imagine lines out the door, eager to get a piece of our beautiful Bay Area!

For those plotting to buy this year, the stars are aligning, but preparation is crucial. With my team’s expertise, we’ll ensure you’re not just ready, but ahead of the game.

Ready to dive in? Let’s navigate this exciting market together. Call us, and let’s make your Bay Area home dreams a reality!

By cortney

March 8, 2023

Steps to Home Loan Pre-Approval

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, you probably know what you want—an island kitchen, a big backyard, a finished basement. Scrolling through the perfectly staged pictures in online listings can fuel your dreams, but your home-buying journey begins once you get pre-approved for a home loan.

Home loan pre-approval is the process of figuring out what kind of mortgage you may be eligible for and how much money a lender is willing to let you borrow. It allows you to shop smarter, make stronger offers, and have a better shot at getting your dream home. Let’s look at some actions you can take to get your pre-approval letter in hand.

Know when to get pre-approved

The best time to get pre-approved is when you’re ready to start looking for a home. It usually takes a few days to a week to receive pre-approval, but it could take longer if you undergo an income audit or other holdups. If you wait until you’ve found the home of your dreams, it may be too late to get pre-approved in time to put an offer in.

However, remember that mortgage pre-approval offers come with an expiration date. Most last for 90 days, but some may expire more quickly. Your pre-approval letter will state exactly how long the offer is good for.

Determine your monthly budget

The most important part of any major purchase is making sure that you’ll actually be able to make the monthly payments. Before you start applying for pre-approval, crunch the numbers and decide how much you feel comfortable spending each month. You may find that some lenders will approve you for a higher monthly payment, but having a defined budget in mind will help you choose the best offer for your needs and situation.

Check your credit score

Mortgage pre-approval usually requires a hard inquiry into your credit history. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to check your credit before lenders do, in case some issues impact your chances of getting pre-approved. Disputing errors and working with creditors to resolve other issues can bump your score before you start reaching out to lenders. If you’re applying for a conventional mortgage, you’ll generally need a credit score of at least 620 to qualify. If your score is lower, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t get pre-approval, but the higher your credit score, the lower your interest rate will be.

Calculate your debt-to-income ratio

Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments. That includes credit cards, student loans, car loans, etc.—and when you’re applying for pre-approval, it also includes the prospective mortgage payment. Lenders generally prefer borrowers with a DTI of 36% or lower. If your DTI is high enough to hurt your chances at pre-approval, you may need to take action to lower that number by refinancing, getting on an income-based repayment plan, or paying down debt more aggressively.

Collect any required documents

When you apply for pre-approval, your lender will be taking a comprehensive look at your financial situation. You should be prepared to provide the following documentation:

W-2 statements from the past 2 years (all employers)
Pay stubs
Bank statements from the past 2-3 months
Driver’s license or other legal identification
Social security card

Depending on your situation, you may also need:

Rental information and landlord references
Gift letters (if a loved one gives you money to put towards a down payment)

Shop around for a lender

These days, you aren’t limited to your local bank—you can shop for mortgage pre-approval online or in-person, and there’s no shortage of convenient options. Every lender has different guidelines and interest rate options, so comparing offers from multiple lenders can help you get the best deal possible. As we mentioned above, applying for pre-approval requires a hard credit inquiry, so your credit score may take a slight hit. However, if you submit all your applications within the same window of time (shoot for 14 days), your credit score will only get dinged once.

Choose a lender

Once you’ve made an offer on your dream home, it’s time to get official loan estimates from your list of pre-approved lenders. The lender should provide the estimate within three business days of receiving your application. It will include estimates for your monthly payment, interest rate, closing costs, and taxes and insurance, as well as details on how the loan works. (Keep in mind that if your financial situation has changed since you applied, your offer may also change.) Now you can compare estimates from different lenders and choose the best fit for your needs.

Mortgage pre-approval is a great first step to buying a home. Getting pre-approved gives you a clear idea of how much you can afford, as well as allows you time to correct your credit (if necessary) before actually taking on a loan. But perhaps most importantly, coming to the table with pre-approval shows that you’re serious about buying a home, helping you stand out from the crowd in a sea of prospective buyers.

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SELLING your Bay Area property, it is important you hire a real estate team of professionals with an extensive portfolio of home sales, a significant list of happy clients and a history of excellence.

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to list and sell your distinctive property successfully.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

OUR RESULT-FOCUSED SERVICE
• Always available to show qualified buyers and agents.
• Schedule Open Houses and Broker’s Tour
• Follow-Up Quickly and Consistently
• Immediately respond to all leads.
• Encourage serious buyers to make serious offers.
• Facilitate the closing process to ensure a successful, competitively priced, stress-free sale.

By cortney

March 2, 2023

Should You Rent or Buy a Home?

Renting or buying is one of the most common decisions people struggle to make when finding a new place to call home.

Aside from the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with becoming a homeowner, many other reasons make buying the apparent choice.

But before we dive in, we know that buying a home comes at a cost that may seem out of reach to some. Therefore, we always encourage you to consult with an expert to find out your options.

Here are five of our best reasons to buy instead of rent.

#1. Your House, Your Choice

A lot of freedom comes with homeownership – like the freedom to do as you please within your own walls. Want to knock out the island in the kitchen to free up space for you and your family? Or paint over that awful-colored wallpaper plastered across the walls of the primary bath? You can do it. You can change anything you’d like, and you don’t have to ask permission from a landlord. Just be sure to keep building codes in mind for the more extreme projects.

Painting, remodeling, or adding on is all under your control, allowing you to turn your home into everything you want it to be.

#2. Say Goodbye to the Hassles of Apartment Life

If you’re familiar with apartment life, you know it doesn’t come without these frustrations.

Less Privacy: One of the biggest frustrations about living in an apartment is sharing walls with strangers. Hearing their favorite Netflix show or private conversations isn’t exactly the background noise you want when you’re trying to relax in the living room after a long day at work.

Parking: When living in an apartment, you are left with two main options for parking, street parking or a paid spot – and are we really sure of the better choice? Street parking, depending on where you live, can be a safety hazard as well as an inconvenience, and paying for a parking spot is just another charge to tack on the list, along with rent, utilities, electricity, and WiFi. Owning your own home makes parking one less thing to worry about.

Pet Fees: Having pets can limit your living opportunities if you rent an apartment. Some landlords will even ban pets, but others charge fees anywhere from $10-200 monthly. Owning your own home removes this, allowing you to welcome as many pets as possible.

Say goodbye to the hassles of apartment living when you buy instead of rent.

#3. Reap Tax Benefits

As discussed in our previous blog post, there are so many tax benefits to take advantage of when you become a homeowner. To name a few…

Mortgage Interest

Home Equity Loan Interest

Property Taxes

Discount Points

Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

Necessary Home Improvements

Home Office Expenses

These deductions can save you thousands of dollars when all is said and done.

#4. It’s Cheaper Long-Term

It’s no secret that the price of renting has increased across the nation at a fast pace. Last year, the average percentage increase in rent was 12.2% for new tenants and 3.5% for tenants making a lease renewal, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

One of the many benefits of becoming a homeowner is that your monthly mortgage payment won’t change {assuming you’ve chosen a fixed-rate mortgage).

Think of it this way. Each month as a renter, you are handing over your payment with nothing to show for it when you move out. But as a buyer, you are putting money on your mortgage in hopes of paying it off – thus building equity – and eventually even selling it for a profit someday.

#5. Settle Down with Peace of Mind

Aside from being able to make decisions about the appearance of your home and what you do with it – there is a sense of security that comes with being your own landlord. When you are renting, there is always the chance your landlord will choose not to extend your lease for many reasons, like selling the property or other circumstances, leaving you searching for a new place to call home. Owning a home makes it yours and offers the peace of mind you may not always feel as a renter.

We hope this blog post helped provide you with some of the very best reasons to buy a home. If you are looking for a real estate agent to help make your house-hunting experience a seamless and exciting one, don’t hesitate to contact . We look forward to helping you meet your real estate needs.

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to list and sell your distinctive property successfully.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

By cortney

November 28, 2022

WAYS TO GET A BETTER INTEREST RATE!

I should’ve bought a house last year when interest rates were low.

Maybe that’s true, but you can’t go back now! Don’t let the should’ves, could’ves, would’ves stand in the way of achieving your dream of homeownership! We can’t predict what will happen in the real estate market over the next few months, but I can tell you this. Owning your home helps to create your overall wealth!

Here are 3 ways to get a better interest rate and save money on your next mortgage:

1. Look into a temporary rate buydown

A temporary interest rate buydown is not a long-term solution but is a way to temporarily lower your interest rate for the first few years of the loan. This financing tool allows you to reduce the cost of your mortgage payment in exchange for an up-front cash deposit. Talk with your lender to learn more and see if a temporary rate buydown is a good option for you!

2. Improve your credit score

Your credit score plays a huge role in qualifying for a mortgage and can also help you get a better interest rate. Lenders typically view a high credit score as an indicator that you’ll be a strong and safe borrower. Improving your credit can help you to get a lower interest rate, as your lender will feel more confident that you’ll be responsible with new credit. Start by disputing errors if necessary, making payments on time, and paying down your credit balances to boost your credit.

3. Make a larger down payment

The more money you put down on a home, the better your chances are of getting a lower interest rate on your mortgage. Making a sizable down payment will give you a lower loan-to-value ratio (LTV), and lenders will see you as less risky of a borrower since you have more stake in the property.

One of the first steps in the home-buying process is to work with a mortgage lender to get your finances in order. If you need a lender in SEATTLE, send me a message, and I’d be happy to connect you with a couple of my preferred lenders!

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to list and sell your distinctive property successfully.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

By cortney

November 20, 2022

HOLIDAY DECORATIONS WHILE LISTING YOUR HOME FOR SALE.

Decorating your home for the holidays is only one of the many joys of the season. Decorating can make any home feel joyful, whether it’s with a cornucopia and pumpkins for Thanksgiving, a Douglas fir with lights for Christmas, or a menorah for Hanukkah. When choosing your holiday décor, you might want to remain objective while you’re preparing to sell your home around the holidays. Make use of these decorating recommendations while keeping in mind the selling of your home.

Limit clutter

While some people use the holidays as an opportunity to decorate every nook and cranny of their home, it’s best to keep things to a minimum. A significant focus of staging is to remove clutter to make your home appear as spacious as possible. Select a few pieces of festive flair to bring the holiday spirit into your home, and leave the rest in storage this year. If you need help choosing decorations, you should avoid anything with names or photos. Personalized items can make it difficult for homebuyers to see themselves living in your home.

Don’t block natural light

You should highlight how much natural light your home receives while selling it, so make sure to avoid placing any decorations in front of windows or doors. If you’re limited in the amount of space you have, you can place an item in these areas but be mindful of how it is positioned to maintain the flow of light throughout the room.

Coordinate colors

Certain colors instantly come to mind when you think of the holidays. You may choose a fall color palette when decorating for Thanksgiving and the classic red and green in December. However, it is important to keep your home as visually appealing as possible, so avoid decorations that clash with the current color scheme of your rooms.

Use decorations to accentuate features

Start with some of the best features if you need help deciding where to place decorations when selling your home. This could include a fall-inspired garland for your mantel or mistletoe hanging from an arched doorway. However, you should make sure decorations don’t hide any feature you love. For example, don’t hang seasonal decorations in a window with a spectacular view of your backyard.

Avoid large decorations

Try to limit your decorating to pieces that positively highlight the size and charm of the room. For example, a lush tree can be the ultimate sign that Christmas is on its way. However, if your home is for sale, you may want to go with a smaller tree. While large trees bring a festive feel to your home, they can also make rooms appear small and cramped.

Decorate the exterior

If part of your holiday decorating includes the outside of your home, don’t be afraid to keep up that tradition. Exterior decorating can boost your home’s curb appeal. However, exterior decorating has its limitations, and you should avoid large decorations that take attention away from the aesthetic of your home. You can decorate with a wreath and a few pumpkins for Thanksgiving and replace them with a few strands of white lights and a ribbon on your mailbox for the December holidays.

By creating a cheery feel on the inside and outside of your house, potential buyers will be able to envision having their own celebrations in your home.

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to list and sell your distinctive property successfully.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

By cortney

December 9, 2020

Hot New Listing-647 Hickey Blvd in Daly City

647 Hickey Blvd #dalycity

3 beds, 3 baths

1,740 sqft of living

$1,249,000

This recently rebuilt, modern like-new two story home is located in the most desirable Serramonte neighborhood. Interior has been completely done and many parts of the exterior has been upgraded. This outstanding home showcases today’s desired modern design. Main level features a bright living room with tiled fireplace, large picture windows with panoramic views. Kitchen offers stainless steel appliances, new quartz countertops, plenty of storage and counter space. 3 bedrooms on the main level including a master suite, and 2 bathrooms. Downstairs can be used as a 4th bedroom and office. Expanded new backyard. Located close to shopping centers, bus stop, and schools. Great commuter location with easy access to BART, fwy 280/101, and minutes away from SFO.

www.647hickey.com

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to successfully list and sell your distinctive property.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

OUR RESULT FOCUSED SERVICE
• Always available to show qualified buyers and agents.
• Schedule Open Houses and Brokers Tour
• Follow-Up Quickly and Consistently
• Immediately respond to all leads.
• Encourage serious buyers to make serious offers.
• Facilitate the closing process to ensure a successful, competitively priced, stress-free sale.

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

Denise Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
deniselaugesenteam@gmail.com
Direct: 650.403.6225
Cell: 650.465.5742
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01011089

Cortney Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
cortneylaug@gmail.com
Direct: 650.403.6226
Cell: 650.678.5084
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01859860

Sheran Honneyman

Luxury Consultant

Buyer’s Specialist

650.678.8493

DRE # 01412131

By cortney

November 24, 2020

20 Fun Activities to Do on Thanksgiving Day With Family

Before you fill your bellies with food, create a new Thanksgiving tradition with one of these special things to do.

Fun Things to Do on Thanksgiving as a Family

courtesy of brands

Of course, the food is the main event on Thanksgiving, but when your extended crew gets together for the holiday you’re going to want to find some fun things to together to pass the hours until it’s time to carve the turkey and pass the pumpkin pie. When the shops aren’t open and there’s nowhere to go, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC or hosting a friendly game of touch football are classic Thanksgiving Day activities. But if you’re looking to start a new Thanksgiving tradition this year, we’ve compiled a list of special things to do on Turkey Day that the whole family will love. Adults, preschoolers, and high school students alike will love these Thanksgiving games and activities that can be enjoyed before or after Thanksgiving dinner. Because on occasions when there is built-in entertainment, the laughs seem louder and the memories more plentiful. But even if your family isn’t into elaborate themes, there’s something fun to do on this list that will make Thanksgiving 2020 the most fun one yet.

1 Thanksgiving Bingo

Happiness Is Homemade

There’s nothing more classic than a round of Bingo. Give the game a Thanksgiving twist by downloading free printable Turkey Day-themed cards online. Celebrating virtually this year? Check out versions you can play on Zoom.

Download the printables at Happiness Is Homemade »

2 Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

Thirty Handmade Days

Sure kids will love these, but the whole family can get in on the coloring fun with this gratitude activity.

Download the printables at Thirty Handmade Days »

3 Craft a Family Tree

Philip Friedman/Studio D

What better time to put together a comprehensive family tree than when the whole family is together? Using everyone’s fingerprints will make it even more meaningful. Use red and orange ink to give this craft a seasonal spin.

Get the tutorial »

4 Thanksgiving Trivia

VanillaMintPrints etsy.com

SHOP NOW

Inspire some friendly competition by putting your family’s knowledge of Thanksgiving trivia to to the test. Come up with your own questions and answers, or download pre-made trivia cards from Etsy.

5 Thanksgiving Movie Marathon

rear view of a family watching tv on sofa at home

skynesherGetty Images

Football who? This year, get everyone on the couch to watch your favorite Thanksgiving movies — who can say no to another viewing of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving?

6 Turkey Tag

fun things to do on thanksgiving family games

A Girl and A Glue Gun

Think of this cute DIY turkey clip as the hot potato: It gets passed around all day long by family members sneaking it onto the clothing of their unwitting relatives.

Get the tutorial at A Girl and A Glue Gun »

7 Gratitude Game

fun things to do on thanksgiving gratitude printable

Happy go Lucky

This free printable makes saying what you are thankful for even sweeter — and inspires people to get more detailed than “my family.”

Get the tutorial at Happy Go Lucky

8 Harvest Bowling

fun things to do on thanksgiving hay bowling lane

JP GottGetty Images

Head to the local hardware or gardening store for enough hay bales to create your own personal driveway or backyard bowling lane. Don’t forget to buy some bowling pins, too!

9 Gratitude A to Z

fun things to do on thanksgiving — dinner table gratitude game

Ariel SkelleyGetty Images

A twist on giving thanks that you can use to keep the conversation at dinner going: The first person must say something they are grateful for that begins with the letter A, the next gets B, and so on.

10 Who’s the Baby?

fun things to do on thanksgiving - baby picture guessing game

unknownGetty Images

Go digging in your family photo albums or ask guests to email you a photo of themselves as babies beforehand. Attach them to a board with numbers and then have everyone write down their guesses for each.

11 Ugly Thanksgiving Sweater Contest

Customized Girl

amazon.com

Shop Now

Hilariously-awful clothing is not just for Christmas anymore. Just give everyone enough notice to make their own turkey-themed top or to buy one.

12 Pokeno

Bicycle

amazon.com

Shop Now

This game of chance mashes up Bingo with Poker. If you’re a gambling family, you can up the stakes by playing for change.

13 Turkey Talents Scavenger Hunt

PamsPartyPrintables

PamsPartyPrintables etsy.com

Download Here

Have the kids go around and film family members performing the talents on this one-dollar printable — from wiggling their ears to singing and acting out one verse of the Hokey Pokey — then play the video talent show during dessert.

14 Candy Corn Ring Toss

fun things to do on thanksgiving autumn relay race

Kid Friendly Things To Do

A little spray paint on some mini emergency cones and you have the fall version of horseshoes.

Get the tutorial at Kid Friendly Things to Do »

15 Craziest Thanksgiving Socks Contest

Socksmith

amazon.com

Shop Now

Believe me, Turkey Day socks are a thing — and there are tons of adorable ones on Amazon alone.

16 Dirty Turkey

fun things to do on thanksgiving — yankee gift swap

Maryna AndriichenkoGetty Images

If the whole crew won’t be together for Christmas, why not get a little gift giving — and stealing — in early? This version of Dirty Santa has the same basic rules: Everyone puts a $20 gift that’s been wrapped but has no tag into a pile. Pull numbers from a hat to determine what order everyone will choose a present. If anybody who has chosen before you gets a gift that you want — steal it! The present that always gets stolen when my family plays Dirty Santa? A batch of scratch lottery tickets.

Get the tutorial at How Do the Jones Do It »

17 Puzzle Race

MasterPieces

amazon.com

SHOP NOW

Putting together a jigsaw puzzle as a family is always a nice way to pass the time. If that’s something you already do, take it up a notch this year by buying a few of the same puzzle (choose one that seems like it will be quick but not super easy). Separate everyone into teams and whoever finishes first gets bragging rights.

18 Thanksgiving Corn Hole

amazon.com

SHOP NOW

Just because it’s too chilly for backyard barbecues doesn’t mean you should have to give up everyone’s new favorite backyard barbecue game.

19 Thanksgiving Taboo Cards

AmbiBDesigns

AmbiBDesigns etsy.com

SHOP NOW

Update the charades-like game by adding these downloadable Thanksgiving-themed cards to your stack of subject cards. And if you have never played Taboo (where have you been?!) you can buy the game here.

20 Mini Pumpkin Hunt

fun things to do on thanksgiving — mini pumpkin hunt

Garry GayGetty Images

On Easter, coming up with genius places to hide the eggs before the hunt is as fun for adults as finding the eggs is for kids. Same deal here, just using mini pumpkins instead of plastic eggs.

By Tiffany Blackstone

Looking for experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy representation in the purchase of a luxury property?

Performance driven, insightful with a proven ability to achieve and exceed goals in high pressure environments.

Shared By

#TheLaugesenTeam | Top Producing Team

LUXURY REAL ESTATE AGENTS

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to successfully list and sell your distinctive property.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

Denise Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
deniselaugesenteam@gmail.com
Cell: 650.465.5742
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01011089

Cortney Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
cortneylaug@gmail.com
Cell: 650.678.5084
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01859860

Sheran Honneyman

Luxury Consultant

Buyer’s Specialist

650.678.8493

DRE # 01412131

By cortney

February 24, 2020

🏠 EXPERT TIPS FOR BUYING A LUXURY HOME 🏠

#LuxuryRealEstate #BuyWithTheLaugesenTeam
🏠 EXPERT TIPS FOR BUYING A LUXURY HOME 🏠

1. Learn the search process.
Many luxury homes go unlisted to protect a seller’s privacy. These properties are often found through the Realtor’s personal connections as opposed to the MLS.

2. Go beyond the photos.
Make sure you don’t dismiss properties based on their front elevation photos. Many large homes aren’t photogenic that way and you have to see them in person to appreciate.

3. Work with a local expert.
It’s critical to have a great luxury buyer agent who is familiar with the area you want to buy in. There’s a bit more control on access to high-end properties in terms of fewer open houses and more appointments have to be made to see them.

4. Bank on your relationships.
We strongly recommend you go to the bank you have a relationship with. They have your portfolio already. Also, know the difference between the pre-approval letter and the prequalification letter.

5. Don’t forget about title insurance.
You need to get title insurance so you’ll be insured against any problems that were forgotten about. You want to make sure you have a chance to have a look at the exceptions page of the title insurance process before closing time.

6. Hire smart, reliable advisers.
A good Luxury Realtor will not make the client’s decisions but will make suggestions. Pay attention to your financial planner and Realtor that you trust. They should agree on what you should be doing and if they don’t, arrange a meeting.

7. Know what you want before you start looking
While you will be working with a good team in making the move to your new luxury home, this does not negate the fact that the choice of home is completely yours. The house must be a good fit for you and your family.

🏠 Looking for experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy representation in the purchase of a luxury property? 🏠

Performance driven, insightful with a proven ability to achieve and exceed goals in high pressure environments.

Shared By

#TheLaugesenTeam | Top Producing Team

👑 LUXURY REAL ESTATE AGENTS 👑

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to successfully list and sell your distinctive property.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

Denise Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
deniselaugesenteam@gmail.com
Direct: 650.403.6225
Cell: 650.465.5742
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01011089

Cortney Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
cortneylaug@gmail.com
Direct: 650.403.6226
Cell: 650.678.5084
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01859860

Sheran Honneyman

Luxury Consultant

Buyer’s Specialist

650.678.8493

DRE # 01412131

By cortney

February 18, 2020

💰 How Pricing Your LUXURY Home Right Makes a Big Difference 💰

Even though there’s a big buyer demand for homes in today’s low inventory market, it doesn’t mean you should price your home as high as the sky when you’re ready to sell. Here’s why making sure you price it right is key to driving the best price for the sale.

If you’ve ever watched the show “The Price Is Right,” you know the only way to win the game is to be the one to correctly guess the price of the item up for bid without going over. That means your guess must be just slightly under the retail price.

When it comes to pricing your home, setting it at or slightly below market value will increase the visibility of your listing and drive more buyers your way. This strategy actually increases the number of buyers who will see your home in their search process. Why? When potential buyers look at your listing and see a great price for a fantastic home, they’re probably going to want to take a closer look. This means more buyers are going to be excited about your house and more apt to make an offer.

When this happens, you’re more likely to set up a scenario with multiple offers, potential bidding wars, and the ability to drive a higher final sale price. At the end of the day, even when inventory is tight, pricing it right – or pricing it to sell immediately – makes a big difference.

Here’s the other thing: homeowners who make the mistake of overpricing their homes will eventually have to lower the prices anyway after they sit on the market for an extended period of time. This leaves buyers wondering if the price drops were caused by something wrong with these homes when in reality, nothing was wrong, the initial prices were just too high.

Bottom Line:

If you’re thinking about selling your home this year, make sure you have THE LAUGESEN TEAM on your side to help you properly price your home and maximize demand from the start.

3 Properties Priced Right By The Laugesen Team

1108 Barroilhet Dr, Hillsborough

SOLD – $5,250,000

2300 Skyfarm Dr, Hillsborough

SOLD – $4,300,000

1295 Lakeview Dr, Hillsborough

SOLD – $4,208,000

Shared By

#TheLaugesenTeam | Top Producing Team

👑 LUXURY REAL ESTATE AGENTS 👑

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to successfully list and sell your distinctive property.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

Denise Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
deniselaugesenteam@gmail.com
Direct: 650.403.6225
Cell: 650.465.5742
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01011089

Cortney Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
cortneylaug@gmail.com
Direct: 650.403.6226
Cell: 650.678.5084
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01859860

Sheran Honneyman

Luxury Consultant

Buyer’s Specialist

650.678.8493

DRE # 01412131

By cortney

February 14, 2020

💚 VALENTINE’S DAY: #SFBayArea Dining and Event Guide 2020 💚

💚 VALENTINE’S DAY: #SFBayArea Dining & Event Guide 2020 💚

BAY AREA, CA — It’s that time of year to wear your heart on your sleeve! Valentine’s Day 2020 falls on Friday, Feb. 14, and it’s time to start planning.

BARRELHOUSE, 305 California Drive, Burlingame, CA
Feb. 16: Valentine Speed Dating. “If you didn’t have someone to celebrate this year’s Valentines Day, here’s your chance to make up for it! Meet new single friends, five minutes at a time, at a fun restaurant. Three different sessions.”

PENINSULA BALLET THEATER, 1880 South Grant St., San Mateo, CA
Feb. 14-16: CABARET: Love Songs By Peninsula Ballet Theater. “CABARET: Love Songs sizzles with passion and drama this season! By popular demand, Artistic Director Greg Amato’s fiery ‘Carmen’ returns in an expanded version with new dances. In addition, Ron Cunningham, former Artistic Director of Sacramento Ballet for 30 years, stages his critically acclaimed ‘Incident at Blackbriar,’ a dark, moody exploration of relationships. Ticket price includes wine and hors d’oeuvres, as well as a post-show meet-and-greet reception with Company dancers.”

BOON FLY CAFE, 4048 Sonoma Hwy., Napa, CA 94559
Enjoy a romantic dinner at this picturesque and relaxed roadside eatery Friday, Feb. 14 or Saturday, Feb. 15. A three-course menu, courtesy of Chef de Cuisine Nicole Heaney, begins with a seasonal starter, followed by an entrée for two and dessert to share.

HOTEL VALENCIA’S TERRACE, 355 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128
Fondue For Two: Throughout the month of February, Hotel Valencia’s Terrace will offer a “Fondue For Two” experience. For $21 per person, receive a glass of sparkling wine and assorted fruits and desserts for dipping in delectable melted chocolate.

HOTEL ZEPPELIN, 545 Post St., San Francisco, CA, 94102
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day Singles’ Trivia Night with Brainstorm Trivia. “In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Hotel Zeppelin will be hosting a Singles’ Night ‘Quiz Dates’ event with Brainstormer Trivia, where players will have a chance to compete for glory, prizes, friendship and possible romance!”

SILVERADO RESORT & SPA, 1600 Atlas Peak Road, Napa, CA
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day In The Grill. “Silverado Resort will be hosting a festive menu where you can bring your special someone and treat them to exceptional food.”

Shared By

#TheLaugesenTeam | Top Producing Team

👑 LUXURY REAL ESTATE AGENTS 👑

The Laugesen Team has the experience, connections and creativity to successfully list and sell your distinctive property.

OUR INNOVATIVE AND PERSONALIZED APPROACH
• Pricing for Success
• Prepare for Top Sale
• Impressive Marketing
• State of the Art Technology
• Network with other High-End Agents

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

Denise Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
deniselaugesenteam@gmail.com
Direct: 650.403.6225
Cell: 650.465.5742
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01011089

Cortney Laugesen
Luxury Consultant
cortneylaug@gmail.com
Direct: 650.403.6226
Cell: 650.678.5084
www.thelaugesenteam.com
DRE: # 01859860

Sheran Honneyman

Luxury Consultant

Buyer’s Specialist

650.678.8493

DRE # 01412131

By cortney

Uncategorized

I should’ve bought a house last year when interest rates were low.

Here are 3 ways to get a better interest rate and save money on your next mortgage:

1. Look into a temporary rate buydown

2. Improve your credit score

3. Make a larger down payment

The more money you put down on a home, the better your chances are of getting a lower interest rate on your mortgage. Making a sizable down payment will give you a lower loan-to-value ratio (LTV), and lenders will see you as less risky of a borrower since you have more stake in the property.

One of the first steps in the home-buying process is to work with a mortgage lender to get your finances in order. If you need a lender in SEATTLE, send me a message, and I’d be happy to connect you with a couple of my preferred lenders!

Limit clutter

Don’t block natural light

Coordinate colors

Use decorations to accentuate features

Avoid large decorations

Decorate the exterior

By creating a cheery feel on the inside and outside of your house, potential buyers will be able to envision having their own celebrations in your home.

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

1108 Barroilhet Dr, Hillsborough

2300 Skyfarm Dr, Hillsborough

1295 Lakeview Dr, Hillsborough

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

Luxury Real Estate Specialists

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