With prices up as high as values from 7 years ago (source: Corelogic), we are definitely in the middle of a housing recovery. Buyers are qualified, there are no stated income loans, and with interest rates creeping up, this could be a signal to make your move.

Inventory in Fremont, Union City, and Newark are still low. There are only 13 homes available under $500,000, 9 available in Newark, and 7 available in Union City. If you are in the upper price range you might have more selection (Source: MLS).

For sellers: it is good to be selling now, being well-priced, and have buyers fight over your house. Don’t get too cocky, however, you still need to find a strong Realtor who can navigate between offers that look strong but won’t perform, and other buyers who might bail out after offer acceptance. Try to get the buyer to commit early by removing some of their contingencies, see what they do and choose wisely. Pre-inspection reports are useful here so they do not bail out from investigation findings later in the contract.

For buyers: With interest rates climbing and prices climbing, it would be ideal to start looking for houses now. Many buyers may feel discouraged by the competition, but it is just a part of the process. Buyers with less than 20% down can expect lots of rejections from offers, but there is light at the end of the tunnel: for every 20 rejections, there is sometimes 1 acceptance. So moral of the story: play the numbers game with persistence and be rewarded accordingly.