Homebuyers. They can be both the very thing the drives me, and the very thing that drives me nuts. They’re a diverse lot. They have lows. They have highs. Some have thank you cards and wine when you hand them keys, others have lawyers to right a wrong.

It got me thinking. Who is it, that I deal with on a day to day basis?

They’re people at the end of the day. They are me. They are you. They are them. They just come in all sorts of different personalities. Here’s my take on the variety.

The 5 types of homebuyers. Which one are you?

The Grinder

This homebuyer likes to…grind. They are the deal seekers who pack a tool belt with a grinder in it (is there such a tool?). While getting the deal they want is the ultimate goal, The Grinder is also extremely well versed in the minutia of a real estate transaction, and is there to micromanage. As if a full 30 days of constant negotiations isn’t enough, The Grinder always has stamina for more. Before 9am, only The Grinder could put their agent on hold after they were the one to have made the call, and then subsequently show up to the real estate office without notice to set the record straight. The phone call just wasn’t enough. Like the praying mantis, The Grinder will eat their own, a team member if you will, if that’s what it takes to make the deal go through. The home must be had. No. Matter. What. That is The Grinder. Don’t feel bad Grinders. Wait? Who am I kidding? They don’t have feelings!

The Note Taker

If you’re compelled to bring a note pad, or your iPad, to the home tour and note how many stars each home earned (1-5)…you may be The Note Taker. Real Estate agents usually get along very well with The Note Taker. Rarely is there a conversation not based in fact, since The Note Taker is usually just clarifying what they already knew and had written down. During the contract and disclosure signings, The Note Taker is very fastidious. They’ll be the ones to spot a missed signature or, remind their agent that their take-home stack is missing a particular copy. The Note Taker will usually take the advice of their real estate agent, and feel accomplished when they start to really “get” how the whole buying a house process works.

The Stresscase

If you’re prone to getting cold feet, or buyer’s remorse, then you may be The Stresscase. Much of an agents energy is spent calming the nerves of The Stresscase, and reassuring them that the home purchase is in-fact going as planned. Quite often, The Stresscase is inclined to think that the transaction has strayed off course, and the deal is close to falling apart. While back in Realityland, what seems like the end of the world, is simply one of the interesting cogs to a real estate transaction, and usually gets ironed out within a day or two. To keep the nerves at bay, to the extent that they can be, The Stresscase needs replies to their emails after 10pm. They also prefer to have their agents home phone number, just in-case the world does end after hours. The Stresscase is also likely to friend their agent on Facebook and secretly look for the agent’s Foursquare check-ins, just to make sure they aren’t taking a vacation during the escrow process. After-all, that would cause stress. In the end, it usually works out for The Stresscase, and all the worry was for nothing. Not only do they get the home, but they identified with, and made a friend out of their stressed out agent.

The AWOL

If you’re the type to plan a two week vacation in the middle of your four week escrow, and or not even attend your own home inspection…then you may be AWOL. You have the ability to throw caution to the wind. Being AWOL and all, you’re very busy, and you must somehow fit this home buying crap into the schedule. Bank shmank. They give you 10 days to inspect the home, and you need 25. After all, your plane doesn’t land back in ____ until ____. The AWOL homebuyer doesn’t usually feel that buying the home is as urgent as, let’s say, The Stresscase. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. They’ll usually apologize and thank everyone for their time. They’ll be back and ready to look for another home, when they have time.

The Faithful

If you think that you’re a cross between The Note Taker and the AWOL homebuyer, then you may actually be the Faithful buyer. The Faithful homebuyer totally entrusts their agent. They rely on their advice, without jotting down every word. The Faithful tend to show up for all necessary appointments such as the home inspection, disclosure signing, loan document signing, and finally to just pick up keys. There aren’t many calls however. Nor emails. You’re qualified, able, and question-less, mostly. You just trust, and have faith in your real estate agent. You hired an excellent agent, and you prefer to let them do their job. You prefer to be on a “need to know” basis so you don’t turn into The Stresscase. Perhaps you’re a seasoned homebuyer, and you’ve worked with the same real estate agent for years?  You have faith that it will all go as planned. This way you can focus on all the other details involved with the move, such as packing, and arranging for future home improvements.

In Summary…

There isn’t one business in the world where raw emotions and personalities shine through, as much as they do, in real estate. Ok, well, maybe in the Wedding Planning biz, too? Real estate is usually the biggest investment one will ever make. So it makes sense that you’d want a deal, and grind until you get that deal. It makes sense, that you’d get stressed when making such a huge life-changing decision. It’s prudent of you, to become a student of the game, take notes, and ask questions, before moving forward. It makes sense, that after years of experience buying homes, and years of experience working with your real estate agent, that you’d have faith in the process, and let go a bit.

What doesn’t make any sense to this day, is…for the love of God, why would you go on a 2 week vacation during escrow!? C’mon AWOL!

So which one are you? Award yourself with 5 bonus points for being honest.

It only stands to reason, that the best communities to go Trick or Treating at for Halloween 2010, would be the more posh communities of Santa Clarita. I’ve heard this over and over again, for years. I think it makes sense. The community I live in, is totally average, and I’m just handing out lame stickers. Certainly I have the kind of house any normal kid would have wished they didn’t waste their precious Halloween time at.   

So, in the event you’re new around here, and you’re the kind of parent who mooches only the best candy from your child’s Halloween treat bag, I’ll kindly tip you off to the SCV tracts/communities where you just may find the king sized Snicker bars! Halloween utopia!

Here you go:

Castaic: Hasley Canyon Estates

Stevenson Ranch: Southern Oaks Estates

Newhall: Peachland Estates

Valencia: Westridge Custom Estates (if you can get in), if not try the Bridgeport Valencia homes. Just stay off of the grass. The HOA doesn’t look too kindly on outsiders there, as of late.

Saugus: Hidden Hills

Canyon Country: Robinson Ranch Golf Course Estate Homes

Remember, think King Size, and lots of calories. It’s just one night. Be safe. And Happy Halloween!

cc: Ridiculous blog post file

Found this on Facebook today, thanks to a colleague of mine. It's hilarious and has a lot of truth to it! When dealing with a bank, or two, in order to get a short sale approved by them, it's no small task, and you're lucky if you EVER run across anyone helpful. And by the time you do, they usually have to pass you off to someone who isn't because of how compartmentalized short sale departments are. They're worse than the government bureaucracy.

If you know anything about short sales, whether you're in the industry, or you've had a short sale for your own personal residence….this should bring a smile to your face.

Give us a call if we can ever assist you with Santa Clarita short sale questions. Enjoy!

Santa Clarita water front office space

Originally uploaded by The Scv Agents

Well for at least 10-15 minutes I had quite the view from my office here on Valencia Blvd. Not sure if a car hit “whatever,” but the fire dept had a heck of a time turning that geyser off!

Robert Mickalson
Realtor
Vintage Sothebys Int’l Realty
cell 661-373-2374
office 661-219-2260

Have any of you seen a home for sale in the Santa Clarita Valley like this? Maybe Green Valley? It’s homes like this that make me happy to sell real estate in Santa Clarita!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNSWccfdO3Y[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZPPvOzLurE[/youtube]

Not sure who they are, or where they’re from, but thanks to ScvTalk.com for finding this on YouTube and sharing. I’ll repost because I thought it was cool! I actually think the song is catchy…give it a few minutes! A few of the family members didn’t seem into it though.

I think thats Central Park in Saugus in one of the scenes? Correct me if I’m wrong.

Merry Christmas, and enjoy!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DmzudFbYVA[/youtube]

This is Funny! The truth may hurt as they say, but it’d be no fun to not point it out!

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=cmAm8GNJ_IA[/youtube]

Note to NBC, just email me to remove this video, and I will. Don’t sue me.  

Obviously this Lancaster, Ca new home developer didn’t see a few of my last posts. The one with the local Santa Clarita home builder offering 10%, or the latest one showing how horrible the zip codes are performing out there in Lancaster, although their zip code where this development is at isn’t worse than the WORST Lancaster zip code, but what’s the difference anyways, really?

Here is their ad: