La Jolla Real Estate: La Jolla Luxury Homes

There are plenty of La Jolla homes for sale. How can you sell your La Jolla home in a buyer's market? First, you must realize how your house is different from other homes that may be for sale in La Jolla Farms or La Jolla Shores. Maybe your home is on a golf course? Maybe your home has an excellent ocean view? The real estate market is competitive. As your Realtor, we would like to assist you in selling your home.

Now, for most houses in most parts of the country, it's a buyer's market. That means that more houses are for sale, there are longer stretches on the market, and prices have slowed, plateaued or, in some places, decreased.

Sellers "need to be prepared for a sustained effort," says Colby Sambrotto, chief operating officer of ForSaleByOwner.com.

Homes are staying on the market for about four months, according to the most recent averages from the National Association of Realtors.

If you plan to plant your "for sale" sign, here are 10 things you can do beforehand:

1. Recognize every market is different. Your state, town or neighborhood could dovetail with national numbers or buck the trend entirely. "There really is no national market," says Sambrotto. "There's a patchwork of regional markets." Never rely solely on one person's advice or opinion. Talk to a handful of professionals, do your own research and listen to your gut instinct.

2. Get your home inspected. "Before I would even call a real-estate agent, I'd have my home inspected," says attorney Diana Brodman Summers, author of "How to Buy Your First Home." Some real-estate agents advise against spending the money (basic inspections range from $200 to $400, according to a 2004 survey from the American Society of Home Inspectors), because the buyers will get one anyway prior to closing. Others recommend it because it gives sellers an early warning on any repairs they might have to make.

But in this market, says Summers, it's better to be proactive. "I would rather know what the inspector is going to find and be able to fix it -- and pick who will fix it," she says. This method also allows you to shop around for the best price instead of perhaps paying an inflated price later on.

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