September 7, 2007
Real Estate Agent Offers Bus Tour for House-hunters
By JONDI GUMZ
Sentinel staff writer
When sales are down, you have to get creative. That's what Santa Cruz resident Dan Doerksen is doing.
Doerksen, an agent with David Lyng Real Estate, has organized a four-hour bus tour Saturday to show homes selling for less than $600,000. The tour, which departs from Aptos at noon, will include homes and condos in Aptos, Capitola, Soquel and Santa Cruz. So far, 15 of the 30 spaces have been taken.
An investor and former business owner who got his real estate license last October, Doerksen quickly picked up on the fact that house-hunting is stressful.
To visit several homes on a Saturday usually means looking in the newspaper for open house listings to see what fits your price range. Then you have to map out your day so you don't waste time driving back and forth. At each property, there's a different agent making a sales pitch to you — and other prospects.
Doerksen figured that a tour of homes in a specific price range would be more convenient for prospective buyers. If the homes aren't part of an "open house," he figured that would allow the agent to give a more focused presentation. And he figured a chauffeured tour on an air-conditioned charter bus, with information on the properties, prizes and refreshments, would mean less stress.
"So, which sounds better: do it yourself or allow us to serve you?" he asked.
Countywide, home sales have been lagging, with 143 homes sold in July, an 11-year low for that month. The median home price rose to $775,000, as high-end homes attracted buyers. August figures are expected to be released by Sept. 10.
When sales are down, the buyer has an advantage.
"Due to the subprime market fallout, many people are nervous about buying, which has caused sellers to offer incentives to sell their homes," Doerksen said. "We feel that right now is one of those rare moments in Santa Cruz County where prices have leveled off."
Given that median prices have risen steadily from $240,000 in 1996 to $744,000 in 2006, he sees the current market as "the perfect time to buy". Loans are available if you have good credit, a good down payment and you can document your income, he added.
If you go ...
WHAT: Chauffeured bus tour of homes and condos.
WHEN: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday.
WHERE: Starts and ends in Aptos.
COST: $16 per person or $30 per couple, includes refreshments, prizes, giveaways. Adults only.
DETAILS: Reservations required; www.openhousefunbus.com or call 345-4893. Another tour on Sept. 22 will feature homes priced $600,000 to $1.2 million.
September 15, 2007
Getting Creative in Home Tours
Sentinel: Santa Cruz Homefinder
By CARRIE SIGUR, David Lyng Real Estate
David Lyng Real Estate agent Dan Doerksen is using his noggin! He has nursed a great idea into fruition and is offering potential buyers a way to get around town. Share excitement and ideas about the great properties on the market in Santa Cruz County with people who share your goals of home ownership. Talk about apprehensions with Dan and the other participants. Discussion with the other passengers on the Open House Fun Bus gives new perspectives and allows you to overcome challenges you my hear about. These people are in the same boat (or bus) as you! Talking with others is a great way to get comfortable with the process of searching and buying a home. It IS a great time to buy and Dan is prepared to show you why.
Since 1970, each decade has seen admirable increases in appreciation in the homes in Santa Cruz County. That is not to say that there have been positive appreciation each and every year, but if you are planning, like most of us, to live in your home, become part of your neighborhood and commit to your community, statistically there is proof that you are not going to lose money! You are safe to enjoy this wonderful area with all that it has to offer. We live in an incredible location, and not a decade has gone by since 1970 with negative appreciation.
We hear so much off-putting information about real estate and the mortgage world. Money is still available, interest rates are still good. Don't let it stop you. Mortgage companies are in a shift right now but not ALL of them are affected. Many of you are still great buyers and borrowers, and this market adjustment is the perfect time to move forward.
Dan is working to share this knowledge and give people an easy, no hassle way to get around town. The next Open House Fun Bus will be Saturday, September 22nd and will feature homes from $600,000 to $1.2 million and will take approximately four hours. Check in, get the schedule and extensive information on all the properties that will be on the tour. The tour departs from the David Lyng Aptos Office at noon on Saturday and will include homes from Aptos, Capitola and Santa Cruz. If you have been tempted by a property you have seen on the Internet and would like it to be added to the tour, call Dan and see if it is included on the itinerary or if it can be added to the tour of properties for the day.
Get chauffeured around town in an air conditioned bus. Don't worry about maps or directions. Open your mind to see properties you may not have considered. Get comprehensive details on properties. Have time to take notes and get your thoughts together about each property while you are driven to the next stop. What more could you want as a potential home buyer on a search for a great new home in this beautiful place we are happy to call home.
Seats are limited on the Open House Fun Bus. Call Dan Doerksen, 831-345-4893, to reserve your spot for next weekend's tour, or for more information.
