by Michael Repka, Esq. Dishonesty in Real Estate — Fraudulent Marketing Techniques There are an awful lot of real estate agents out there and they all seem to be scrambling for the same potential clients. Given the low barriers of entry in the real estate industry, and the tremendously high commissions, some agents give in […]
By Michael Repka, Esq. I recently had a listing in Palo Alto, which illustrated the importance of having free legal representation as part of the listing. The facts of this war story are interesting to say the least. The home was owned by a lovely couple for nearly 50 years. They raised their children in […]
By Michael Repka, Esq. In Silicon Valley, the typical approach to taking offers on a home is for the buyer’s agents to present their clients’ offer in-person to the listing agents and the sellers on offer date. The buyers are generally not present for this presentation. The listing agents often advice their sellers to remain […]
by Michael Repka, Esq. As the world continues to shrink due to efficient transportation and ever-evolving telecommunications, global reach has become critically important. This is as true for real estate as it is for most industries. The real estate community is served by countless professional organizations that go to extraordinary lengths to enhance the lives […]
By Michael Repka Over the past 20 years, technology has enhanced and improved many industries. The quality of products and services has gone up, while, thanks to improvements in efficiency, the cost to consumers has often gone down. Unfortunately, real estate is not one of those industries — even in Silicon Valley, the technology capital […]
By Michelle Lee As a long-term resident, it sometimes feels like there’s not much to do in this quiet small town where the bars close at 10:00 pm and the streets are empty by 9:00 pm – how many can relate? However with recent remodels, expansions, and initiatives, it’s clear that the City is facilitating […]
By Michael Repka, Esq. It is easy to tell when an election is coming up—just watch the countless television commercials paid for by special interest groups. However, every proposition seems to be either the greatest idea ever or pure evil, depending on which side’s ad happens to be on at the moment. Here are some […]
By Michael Repka, Esq. When looking to buy or sell real estate, many clients ask their real estate agent whether they should initial the arbitration provision. If initialed by both sides, this provision binds the parties to arbitrate most disputes that arise under the contract. Realtors® typically respond in one of two ways: (1) they […]
By Michael Repka, Member This article is the first of a series in which we will look at some of the area’s best country clubs and social meeting places. Approximately five years ago, my wife and I considered joining a local country club. We looked at a few options and found the Palo Alto Golf […]
By Michael Repka, Pilot As a licensed pilot and Silicon Valley’s most active real estate listing agent, I have a unique perspective on how air traffic impacts local real estate. From this vantage point, I can see and understand the concerns of both sides of the debate as to how we can keep aircraft noise […]
Global Real Estate Trends – Part Two: Japan and FranceJune 5, 2019 - 10:50 amExclusive PhotographyMay 26, 2019 - 10:22 amTinsley Voluntary Transfer ProgramMay 22, 2019 - 9:26 amConflicts of Interest with “Coming Soon” MarketingMay 21, 2019 - 9:53 amNeighborhood Spotlight: Old Palo AltoMay 19, 2019 - 9:39 am