Relying on Experience in Changing Conditions

RISMEDIA, Nov. 8, 2007-Prudential California Realty real estate team Maxine and Marti Gellens sold more high-end homes in the San Diego area in the past 120-day stretch than in any previous 1-year period in their illustrious career. Using their combined 53 years of experience in the San Diego housing market, the Gellens Team has accumulated perspective and know-how in dealing with shifting markets.

Maxine Gellens said the team’s remarkable achievement during the July to October time period is due not only to experience, but also was market driven. “Marti and I call upon our years of experience often, but this four-month run of sales also says something important about the positive state of the market we are in.”

One major change the Gellens Team sees in the San Diego market is the increasing need for a smart agent who understands trends and is willing and able to negotiate with the seller.

“A few years ago a Realtor didn’t need much experience because with the amount of buyers out there trying to buy at once, the houses sold themselves,” said Maxine. “In this much more realistic market, it takes sophisticated negotiating skills to sell a house.” Marti Gellens concurs. “The real estate market is, in many ways, better now in San Diego than it was earlier in the decade,” she said. “Buyers have a bigger selection and great agents recognize and use this important negotiating tool to employ on behalf of their clients.”

Maxine Gellens also sees value in considering a home purchase as a mid- to long-term investment. “If you buy a house and keep it for a decent length of time, it will serve you well financially in the future,” she said. “While homes are not ‘flipping’ the way we saw a few years ago, they are still steadily increasing in value.”

She added that many of their clients are expanding their investment strategies to diversify their holdings, with an increasing number taking funds out of the stock market to invest in real estate. Susana Corrigan, another top San Diego Prudential California Realty agent, agrees. “I started my career in 1982 in what was considered a ‘bad’ market,” she said. “My first sale was of a La Jolla home that sold for $1,180,000; today, that same home would sell for $8 million. Areas, such as La Jolla, appreciate over time. Real estate is a terrific investment.”

For smart agents, realistic sellers and savvy buyers, the Gellens Team foresees continued success in the San Diego market. “The agent is key in any real estate deal,” said Marti Gellens. “If an agent is not a skilled negotiator, their chances of closing a successful deal are diminished.” Susana Corrigan believes the combination of agent experience and current trends in San Diego will lead to long-term success. “This year has been the best for me in my 25-year career,” she said. “There are buyers motivated to buy. I am currently working with about a dozen well-qualified buyers waiting for the right home to come on the market.”

For more information, visit http://www.prudentialcal.com/.

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