5 Reasons to Work with a San Marino Real Estate Agent

The last two years of global change and upheaval have caused a roller coaster effect in the housing market. But take one look at San Marino real estate, and all you'll see is a robust and vibrant community of exclusive homes that are ripe for the picking. San Marino has around 15,000 residents within its nearly four-square-mile area, and it’s one of the wealthiest cities in the nation in terms of household income.

This jewel in Southern California’s crown is home to the glorious Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. The library has nearly two million books and almost two million prints and photographs. Its art collections span 500 years, and the botanical gardens feature many themed gardens within its 120-acre perimeter. Locals simply call it "The Huntington."

Another place of interest is the Edwin Hubble House. Hubble was the famed astronomer who, among many other discoveries and accomplishments, created the Hubble space telescope that brought the vastness and wonder of space down to earth for all to see.

It’s a healthy time to invest in San Marino real estate, and teaming up with an experienced real estate agent can smooth the buying and selling process and avoid pitfalls commonly faced by laypeople attempting to buy and sell themselves.

Realtors can access the nationwide real estate database called the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Your agent will teach you how to analyze the selection of active listings that meet your homebuying criteria. They can also alert you when listings that fit become active and provide up-to-date information on current offers and sales. One benefit of the MLS is that it updates much faster than public realty sites, so you can see which listings are still active and which ones are closed.

A realtor has access to a property’s entire history, including past sales, foreclosures, and any hidden or undocumented structural problems or repairs, to name a few. In some cases, realtors will even research the property's historical topographic maps, aerial maps, and other records that date back to before the property was developed. This study can determine if the property lies in a flood plain, whether the ground is sandy and unstable or rock-solid bedrock, and more. Public online sites generally do not disclose this level of detail to potential sellers and buyers. As well, when you make an offer on San Marino real estate when multiple offers are present, your realtor can give you tips on what you need to adjust to complete the transaction ahead of your competition.

Sellers of San Marino real estate may assume they can sell their homes more easily without a realtor's assistance. This practice is known as "for sale by owner" or "FSBO," and many sellers believe that they'll be able to save money in commissions. In reality, FSBOs generally sell for roughly 30% less than properties listed with realtors. Suppose you're an FSBO seller, and a real estate agent represents your buyer. In this case, you'll still have to pay the commission for the buyer anyway. If the seller pays the commission, there's no practical reason not to use an agent for representation. The fractional cost of a commission is more than worth the headache and additional costs a seller can incur if he misses a critical component of a sales transaction. Realtors make their jobs look easy, which is why so many laypeople assume they can buy or sell their homes without them. Some people succeed and break even or can even earn a small profit, but chances are most will not.

Not all homebuying transactions are straightforward, and laws and regulations change frequently. A realtor is highly, specifically trained. To keep their license current and active, they must take part in continuing education every year. These professionals act as your expert guides and help you correctly complete the many reports, disclosures, and legal and financial documents needed to sell or buy a house. If you attempt to complete these forms—or even interpret them—on your own, you can make costly mistakes or, at the very least, delay the transaction. Your realtor’s commission is worth its weight in gold, as real estate is what they're experts in—the same way as tax professionals, attorneys, and doctors are. All you have to do is sign on the dotted line and breathe a sigh of relief.

A professional realtor is in your corner and will assess the transaction from your perspective, whether you're a buyer or seller. Realtors possess a fiduciary responsibility—that is, an ethical obligation as well as a moral one—to their clients that’s very similar to a doctor’s Hippocratic oath of “do no harm.” They are legally obligated to place clients’ best interests first.

Your agent will protect you from disclosing private financial details to an FSBO seller or the "other side's" agent—neither of whom has any legal obligation to keep your financial information confidential. They can control the appropriate transfer of information to make all requests reasonable and prevent exposing any sensitive information or data.

Trusted local agent Gordon Wang is ready to take your search for your new home in San Marino real estate to the next level. He has the experience and care to guide you through a successful home purchase or sale.