Morbid Thoughts on Home Buying

Someone died in that house! Okay, it is an odd topic, I know … Fifty years ago, it was normal for people to die in their homes and the buyer that subsequently purchased that house had no concerns about it (if it was even disclosed — disclosures 50 years ago is a whole different topic!). Today, buyers are leery of buying a home someone died in. Even if it was natural causes. Does this indicate society has superstitions, a fear of ghosts or a just a general fear of death? (You know, you are not getting out of this life alive right??). I recently went on a broker tour of my local area of San Jose, Willow Glen, and we toured a house that had two recent deaths in the home. The first died of natural causes and the second died from a heroine overdose. Both were non violent deaths. Even as we were about to go through the house with over 40 ‘live’ agents, I heard comments from people who did not want to go in the house. That heightened my awareness and I tried to use my best psychic abilities and see if I could feel anything. Although I did not feel or see anything unusual it was a topic of discussion for about 15 minutes before and after seeing the house. During those discussions, I learned that the house nearby also had a recent death in it. That makes the count 3 deaths and I heard some people say, ‘well death comes in three’s so the bad luck has passed.” To be honest, I would be a bit uncomfortable purchasing a house that someone had died in, and I shyly admit to being a bit superstitious. Would you buy a house someone had recently died in? Do you think a death in the house should result in a lower asking price? Why do you think disclosing a death in the home is such a hot topic? WGx wants to know what percentage of WG homes could be haunted by a previous occupant’s at-home death … Someone died in that house … and still we’re overpriced?

Safety Fair at River Glen

Local Realtor Holly Barr – hey! I’ve heard of her – and Willow Glen PAL Soccer are teaming up to host a special community Safety Fair on Saturday, August 16, at River Glen Park. Along with the soccer league’s festive “Pre-Season Games,” the entire community is invited to meet representatives of the SJ Fire Department, K-9 unit and the SJPD Mounted Police Unit – yes, the horses and doggies! AND MANY MANY MORE!

RG Neighborhood Produce Exchange

Realtor Holly Barr continues her ongoing WGx column with a twist this time around. During a quiet week for the home tour, she instead brings word of a Produce Exchange hosted by neighbors in the Rosegarden area: Highlights of July 17, 2008 Willow Glen Realtor Tour Tricky to find a theme this week. I did see a lot of unusual homes. Just for the record if your third bedroom does not have a closet it is not a bedroom. Also, if your third bedroom is in a separate structure, like a garage, appraisers state that it is technically not a 3 bedroom house. I recommend you put a clear description of where that bedroom is. On a neighborhood update note I went to the first neighborhood produce exchange. Well, the neighborhood was Rose Garden, but we are all neighbors right? Anyway, gotta love the idea. Basically you bring some produce in 2 to 4 lbs. bags between 4:00 and 7:00 and Cass has a table in her front yard. You trade what you brought for a mixture of the items other people brought. I brought two bags of large nectarines, I walked away with a big zucchini, some apples, plums and lemons. All organic and fresh let me know if you want to exchange produce next month. Here are some interesting numbers about this past week in Willow Glen’s real estate scene:

• 10 sales last two weeks in area 10 (Mostly 95125)
• 229 active listings in Willow Glen this week 7/17/08

210 active listings is the gold standard for a sign of a healthy market for this area. The fact that we are consistently in the 230-240 range indicates Willow Glen to be a stable market. If you ever have any questions about what I put here, or would like to see me take a different approach with this weekly summary of the tour, please let me know!