Chuck Barberini Real Estate

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter In a recent appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Ivy Zelman of Zelman & Associates shared her take on the current housing market, just as new reports from NAHB and the U.S. Census Bureau revealed a sharp drop in builder sentiment and a slowdown in permits and completions. The common thread? Uncertainty. Interest rates remain high, policy direction is unclear, and pricing homes has become a gamble for builders navigating both buyer fatigue and material costs. Zelman doesn’t just skim over the biggest takeaways on builder sentiment and housing starts; she speaks to specific pain points and brings up a piece of legislation that could offer real relief for both buyers and sellers. Byron Lazine broke down Zelman’s insights in today’s  Hot Sheet:  Read on for a quick overview of Zelman’s thoughts on home builder sentiment, new construction versus existing homes, and a NAR-backed bill that could incentivize small landlords to sell. Confidence Fa...

  “Just Thinking” I’ve written several times about growing up in San Francisco—what a great place it was, and at such a great time. I’ve often lamented how much “The City” has changed over the years. Sure, some of that is looking back with rose-colored glasses, but the crime, homelessness, and exodus of the tax base cannot be overlooked. Last night, however, I was reminded how fortunate I am to have my roots in San Francisco. I had dinner at Harris' The San Francisco Steakhouse, whose head chef and owner is a grammar school mate. I was joined by seven classmates from high school. Fifty years later, and the ties from our youth are still strong, built on a bond of shared experiences. I really need to give a shout-out to Chef Mike and the whole Buhagiar family. If you haven’t had the opportunity to dine at Harris’ Restaurant, you truly owe it to yourself to try it out. The restaurant was founded in 1984 by Ann Harris, after her husband, Jack Harris, the founder of Harris Ranch, passed...

  “Just Thinking” Well, here we go, it’s finally that time again! Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer. The weather’s warming up, the grills are coming out, and it’s time to dust off those white loafers and chinos for a few months of stylin’ and profilin’. As we enjoy this three-day weekend with our loved ones, laugh and tell stories around the grill, and enjoy the in the sunshine, celebrating the freedoms that make these moments possible. Let us never forget the true spirit of Memorial Day. It’s a day of reflection and gratitude for the brave men and women who have laid down their lives defending our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and service are the foundation of the liberty we cherish. May we always remember and honor them. I found this poem over a dozen years ago and was immediately impacted by the message that the author shared. Kelly Strong wrote this poignant poem “Freedom Isn’t Free,” in 1981 as a high school senior. The poem was a heartfelt tribute to h...

  Check Out This Weeks Newsletter More than 6 in 10 buyers expect a recession in the next year. And yet, nearly 1 in 3 say that would make them  more  likely to buy a home. In the first quarter of 2025, economic anxiety hit one of its highest points since the pandemic. The stock market’s been volatile, tariffs are back in the headlines, and no one knows what the Fed will do next. The full Q1 2025 Site Visitor Survey from Realtor.com reveals where buyers stand right now: What’s holding them back What’s driving them forward, and What agents should be doing in response The data shows a market shaped by uncertainty, but not retreat. Read on for the biggest takeaways from the report. Recession Concerns Are High A majority of home shoppers— 63.4% —expect the U.S. to hit a recession within the next 12 months. That level of concern is the third highest since 2019, following a peak of 78% in Q2 2020 and sustained concern through 2022 and early 2023, when bank failures and aggressi...

“Just Thinking” So, the boys were over last night, and we were watching the basketball game, the Warriors were already knocked out and the Giants had a day off, so we watched Denver play OKC. Denver was down 2 to 3 to OKC’s in the best of 7 series. It was a good physical game, Denver played well at home and won, forcing an elimination game 7 in Oklahoma City, winner goes to the Conference Championship against Minnesota and the looser goes home.  The Denver home court had a 5280 in the middle of it and on the front of their home uniforms instead of their Nuggets logo. Of course, 5280 is the number of feet in a mile and Denver is the “Mile High” City, so its gimmicky, but cool and is really just a marketing scheme, that all teams these days take advantage of to sell more jerseys. 5280 feet above sea level, talk about a home field advantage, the air up there is mighty thin. Not having a dog in the fight and getting to chop it up with the family, the question was posed, why is there 52...

Check Out This Weeks Newsletter When mortgage rates are high, home prices are still climbing, and the Fed isn’t budging on cuts, most buyers press pause. But Barbara Corcoran—the real estate icon who turned $1,000 into a multi-million dollar empire—says  that’s exactly when to pounce . In a recent interview with Realtor.com®, Corcoran made one thing clear: uncertainty creates opportunity. While other buyers hesitate, she moves fast. And she thinks more people should do the same. “When things are uncertain, buyers hesitate before committing to a new home—they might be worried about the stock market, politics, or interest rates, but when they worry, they hesitate to move. That makes uncertain markets the best time to buy!” According to Corcoran, these are the three signs it’s time to stop sitting on the sidelines and make your move. 1. When You Can Buy Below Market Value Everybody loves a deal. But in real estate, the best deals often hide in plain sight, especially during volatile t...