Thursday, December 17, 2020 / by Ellen Patterson
Back in the Saddle again...
… Flash forward. 2019, homebuyers turn to the internet to find properties, along with attending some open houses. Home buying seems so impersonal for most.
This past 2020 year has rocked us all here on the San Diego coast. The only constant has been 'change and uncertainty'. There are so few homes available for sale these days. With COVID, homeowners are scared to list their homes on the ‘open market’ with the fear of sick strangers parading through their homes. Adding to San Diego low inventory is fierce competition between buyers thanks to the new low interest rates and a remote workforce. Until just recently, empty nesters also couldn’t afford to downsize and pay more in property taxes. (Nice that that just changed with the election...With Prop. 19, that's is no longer the case).
Some buyers are winning big though! Right here in Del Mar, Solana Beach, La Jolla and Encinitas too. Many of our clients have secured off-market properties, not even listed online. Guess how it happened...Relationships. Each one was someone I knew, word of mouth, or a referral. It's happening more for me and our team than you might suspect. Our team sales are up more than 30% this year when the rest of the market is down more than 20% I'm not bragging...However when I reflect over the last year asking, how did we do that? We worked as connecters, putting people with needs together. We listened carefully, we planned and we hustled connecting people the old-fashioned way. Relationships.
In such a bleak time, bringing "victory" to my clients is just the energizer our clients and our team needed to power through whatever 2021 throws at us.
So, When I was a kid, I rode my bike to school every day. Today, I ride my bike in and around the neighborhoods where I represent my clients knowing that those daily relationships can and does change lives. I keep my ear to the ground looking for another client "Victory".
I'm not a superhero, but the "My Fitness App" did label me a “Local Cycling Legend” just the other day! HAHA
Back in the Saddle again!
Ellen Patterson
858-876-4568
DRE Lic 02068571