The Bay Area, famous for its rich history and breathtaking landscapes, harbors a spooky secret. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, two of its luxurious hotels have earned a spot on Historic Hotels of America's exclusive list of "America’s Most Haunted." Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa: Ghosts in Wine Country Nestled in the serene Sonoma Valley, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa offers more than just relaxation—guests and staff have long reported encounters with the supernatural. One of the most infamous figures is Victoria, an early settler who celebrated her wedding and anniversaries at the hotel. On foggy nights, she is said to stroll the inn’s hallways, making her ghostly presence known. The paranormal activity doesn’t stop there. The inn is also home to the eerie figure of an elderly man, frequently spotted in one of its oldest rooms. This room, dating back to the 1920s, has a chilling backstory. A guest was reportedly beheaded in the bathtub by a jealous lover, and since then, visitors have experienced flickering lights, strange noises, and even shadowy figures—proof that Wine Country offers more than just a great vintage. Claremont Club & Spa: Berkeley’s Paranormal Playground Across the bay, Berkeley’s historic Claremont Club & Spa, which opened in 1915, has developed its own eerie reputation. Phantom elevators that move without cause, unexplained voices, and ghostly sightings have sparked ghost stories for over a century. Among the most talked-about spirits is a peaceful apparition of a 6-year-old girl. Guests have described encounters with her at night, where she gently reaches out, as if to greet them. Whether you're a fan of historic hotels or a thrill-seeker looking for a brush with the paranormal, these Bay Area landmarks are sure to give you an unforgettable stay. Source: www.sfchronicle.com

According to the Keeping Current Matters, if selling your home in 2025 is on the horizon, now’s the ideal time to start preparing. While the new year may seem far off, starting early can make a big difference in how smoothly the process goes. Prepping in advance means you’ll have ample time to address repairs, updates, and any improvements that will help your home stand out when it hits the market. Why Early Prep Matters Getting an early start on your home prep helps you pace out tasks like repairs, decluttering, and possible upgrades—ensuring your property shines. Whether it’s fixing a leaky faucet, refreshing your landscaping, or adding a fresh coat of paint, knocking out tasks now reduces last-minute stress. When your home looks its best, it has a stronger chance of selling quickly and for a favorable price. Key Improvements to Consider If you’re ready to start on your to-do list, think about the areas of your home that have the highest impact on buyers. Common improvements for sellers include enhancing curb appeal, refreshing interiors with paint, and ensuring appliances are in top shape. However, the most effective updates depend on your local market, which is where a local real estate agent’s insight becomes essential. The Advantage of Working with a Local Agent A knowledgeable agent understands buyer preferences in your area and can guide you on which updates will yield the best returns. For instance, if nearby homes with updated kitchens are selling faster, an agent might advise focusing on kitchen enhancements over other changes. Local agents are also attuned to market trends, helping you decide if major updates, like a new roof or HVAC system, make sense based on recent home sales. Smaller touches, like landscaping, adding fresh mulch, or a freshly painted front door, can also have a big impact, and an agent can guide you through these cost-effective improvements. Bottom Line Planning to sell next year? Don’t wait to get your home market-ready. By starting now, you’ll be well-prepared to make a great impression on buyers when 2025 arrives. For guidance on prioritizing tasks, connect with a Benson Group and take the first step toward a successful sale. Source: www.keepingcurrentmatters.com

According to  The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the "Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers" report since 1981 offers an in-depth analysis of home buying and selling trends over the past year. The 2024 report reveals pivotal trends shaping the real estate market today. 1. First-Time Home Buyers First-time buyers have reached a historical low, facing inventory shortages, high down payment challenges, and debt from rent, student loans, and other sources. Finding a suitable property remains the toughest step for these buyers. 2. Rising Household Income Household income among home buyers has climbed to new heights, with higher interest rates and rising home prices pushing income needs upward. In the last two years, incomes for first-time buyers have risen by an average of $26,000. 3. Median Age of Buyers The median age of home buyers is at an all-time high, as many save longer to buy in today’s competitive market. Both first-time and repeat buyers are older on average, with some repeat buyers moving after retirement. 4. Families with Children Under 18 Buyers with children under 18 represent only 27% of recent buyers—a historic low. The trend toward older buyers and delayed family planning has influenced this demographic. 5. Growing Interest in Multigenerational Homes Multigenerational living has grown to 17% of buyers, reflecting a shift toward larger homes for extended families or cost-saving arrangements as housing affordability declines. 6. Typical Down Payments on the Rise Down payments are the highest since 1997 for first-time buyers and 2003 for repeat buyers, as homeowners leverage increased home equity for larger down payments and lower monthly mortgage payments. 7. Surge in All-Cash Purchases All-cash home purchases are at a record high of 26%, partly due to the use of inheritance and financial assets among first-time buyers and home equity for repeat buyers. 8. Increased Urban Purchases City living is back in demand, with 16% of buyers moving to urban areas—the highest in a decade. Most buyers still prefer suburbs and small towns, but urban areas offer dynamic communities and amenities beyond workplace proximity. 9. Buyers’ Use of Real Estate Agents A significant 88% of home buyers rely on real estate agents for support, from finding the right property to negotiating deals. Real estate agents play an essential role in helping buyers make informed decisions. 10. Sellers’ Use of Agents For sellers, 90% used an agent, favoring professional expertise for pricing, marketing, and finding buyers. FSBO (For Sale By Owner) sales are at a historic low of 6%. These trends underscore the evolving dynamics of the real estate market, from home affordability challenges to rising demand for multigenerational housing and professional guidance in transactions. Source: The National Association of REALTORS®

According to US News , moving is one of the most stressful life events, ranking just behind divorce and the death of a loved one. Amid the whirlwind of packing, coordinating with movers, and settling into a new home, it’s easy to overlook crucial steps that can make your transition smoother and safer. While unpacking boxes and arranging furniture often take center stage, some less obvious tasks are just as important for your peace of mind and long-term comfort. Here are 8 commonly forgotten tasks  every homeowner should prioritize when moving into a new home: 1. Deep Clean Before Moving In Starting with a clean slate is key. Many homeowners rush to move in without giving their new home a proper deep cleaning. Whether you tackle this yourself or hire professionals, make sure to clean areas like cabinets, drawers, and closets, where previous owners may have left behind unexpected—and sometimes dangerous—items. Thorough cleaning not only creates a fresh environment but also makes future upkeep easier. 2. Change the Toilet Seats This simple, low-cost change is often overlooked. Swapping out toilet seats ensures better hygiene and eliminates lingering germs from previous occupants. It’s a quick and easy DIY task, and it’s well worth the peace of mind. 3. Change the Locks Even if you receive all the keys at closing, there’s no way to guarantee that others—like former housekeepers or dog walkers—don’t still have copies. Changing locks or rekeying existing ones is a cost-effective way to secure your new home and your family’s safety. 4. Replace and Clean Filters Don’t underestimate the importance of clean filters. Air filters, dryer vents, and even dishwasher filters can harbor dirt, lint, or debris left behind by the previous owners. A clogged dryer vent, for example, can become a fire hazard. Checking and replacing these filters improves air quality, efficiency, and safety. 5. Test and Update Smoke Detectors Smoke detectors are vital safety devices that require regular maintenance. Test each one upon moving in and replace batteries or units as needed. Don’t rely on assumptions; take the time to ensure your detectors are fully operational. 6. Update Your Address Everywhere Filing a change of address with the postal service is just the start. Update your address with key entities like your bank, insurance provider, driver’s license, voter registration, and subscription services. Forgetting this step could lead to misplaced packages or important documents being sent to your old address. 7. Reset Smart-Home Systems If your new home features smart locks, thermostats, or security systems, reset these devices to ensure that only you have access. Neglecting this step could leave your home vulnerable to previous owners or third parties. 8. Create a Receipt Folder for Future Tax Benefits Homeownership comes with long-term considerations, including potential tax advantages. Start a dedicated folder (physical or digital) for receipts related to home improvements, like renovations or system upgrades. These expenses can help reduce capital gains taxes when you sell the property in the future. Even small projects, like adding grab bars in a bathroom, can add up over time. Taking these proactive steps helps set the tone for a successful move and ensures that your new house feels like home from day one. Change the Locks! Eight Commonly Forgotten Tasks When Moving into a New Home Contact Benson Group  today to learn more about streamlining your move and protecting your investment. From start to finish, we’re here to guide you with expert advice and personalized solutions. Source: US News

According to Keeping Current Matter, a recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that 61% of sellers completed at least minor repairs before selling their homes. However, 39% of sellers chose to sell as-is, often due to time, budget, or resource constraints. What Does Selling As-Is Really Mean? Selling as-is means you won't make any repairs before the sale, and you won’t negotiate fixes after a buyer’s inspection. While this may seem like an easier option, it comes with trade-offs. Homes that are updated tend to sell for more, as buyers are often willing to pay a premium for a move-in ready home. Selling as-is may attract fewer buyers and could result in a longer time on the market, potentially leading to a lower sale price. The good news is that 56% of buyers are open to purchasing a home that needs work, especially in today’s market, where affordability remains a challenge. This means there may still be buyers willing to take on the necessary repairs themselves. A skilled agent can help you evaluate your options by comparing local sales and advising on pricing strategies. Whether you choose to sell as-is or make repairs, your agent will market your home effectively, emphasizing its best features to attract buyers. Selling as-is is possible in today’s market, but it’s essential to understand the trade-offs. To ensure you're making the best decision for your sale, contact Benson Group today . Our team of professionals will guide you every step of the way to help you achieve the best possible outcome. Source: keepingcurrentmatters.com

According to ElleDecor, a fireplace can transform any room into a cozy winter retreat. Whether you’re looking to enhance your living room, bedroom, or outdoor space, there are endless ways to incorporate a fireplace for warmth and ambiance. 1. Sultry Red Mantel This sophisticated setup features rich red velvet armchairs paired with red-velvet-lined stockings and a minimal bordering garland, creating an elegant and festive vibe perfect for holiday hibernation. 2. Merry Mantel Designer Ken Fulk's cozy, evergreen-laden mantel is a masterclass in maximalism, featuring a heaping spray of evergreen leaves, doubled by more greenery, topped with white blooms and a knowing deer overseeing the room for a touch of snowy enchantment. 3. Snowy Mantel Anthropologie’s holiday collection offers voluminous boughs of evergreen and warm twinkle lights, creating a chic and seasonal ambiance without the need for blow-up cartoon figures, just perfect for a more sophisticated holiday decor. 4. Patterned Mantel New York designer Phillip Thomas turns holiday decor on its head with a pair of blue Ming vases housing a billowing spray of seasonal greens, complemented by tasteful pomegranates for a unique, decorative flair. 5. Vintage Mantel Embrace nostalgia with this charming setup featuring a mix of saved mementos, found antiques, and dried foliage, creating a cozy ambiance that evokes Christmases of yesteryear. The cocooning leather chair adds to the vintage feel. 6. Modern Mantel Chandos Collective offers a clean, modern aesthetic with a floor-to-mantel garland of colorful foliage and greens, making it the perfect backdrop for a glorious tall Christmas tree and adding a fresh, vibrant touch to any living room. 7. Rustic Mantel Moment A perfect blend of hygge and holiday cheer, this rustic mantel utilizes an assortment of chopped wood, lit lanterns, and chic berry wreaths to create a cozy, woodsy feel that’s ideal for curling up with a book or a close friend. 8. Heightened Mantel Think outside the box with an elevated mantel design that stretches garland along the ceiling trim, enhanced by vertical-running lights for a majestic look that draws the eye upward, giving the room a sense of grandeur. 9. Colorful Mantel A coordinated color scheme of blue and red jars filled with candies complements the stockings, proving that a cackling fire isn’t always necessary to add warmth to a room. This lively setup is perfect for adding a festive pop of color. 10. High-Volume Mantel For a truly festive vibe, embrace abundance with a larger-than-life garland that matches the volume of your Christmas tree. This bold, over-the-top display will fill your space with a delightful evergreen aroma and plenty of holiday cheer. Ready to transform your holiday space with a cozy fireplace? Contact the Benson Group today to explore more decorating ideas and find the perfect home for your festive season. Source: elledecor.com

According to usnews.com, the housing market between 2025 and 2029 will likely experience slower increases in home prices and rents. Key factors shaping this will include the impacts of the pandemic's aftermath, the expansion of AI, and climate change costs, as well as potential shifts in immigration and tariffs. However, mortgage rates will play the biggest role in shaping the market. If rates remain high, home sales will primarily be driven by job and life changes. But if mortgage rates decline faster, pent-up demand could drive a return to more typical market volumes. As of mid-2024, nearly 86% of homeowners have mortgage rates below 6%, but this percentage is shrinking. The demand for homes could rise as more homeowners consider selling due to life changes such as job relocation or the need for more space. Renovation is also becoming an appealing option for those who are hesitant to sell in this environment. New home construction is another bright spot. With low existing home inventory, more buyers are considering newly built homes, making up around 30% of the housing inventory. Larger homebuilders are offering incentives like mortgage rate buydowns and covering closing costs to attract buyers. The real estate commission landscape is shifting as well. New rules from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) are changing how commissions are structured, especially for luxury homes. This could lead to more negotiation opportunities and transparency in transactions. As we look ahead, rising property taxes, home insurance, and maintenance costs will make the total cost of homeownership more significant. Homebuyers will need to factor in these costs, including HOA fees, which have been increasing. Despite these challenges, the demand for homes will remain strong, with a housing shortage expected to persist through the end of the decade, though supply will gradually improve. In summary, home prices are likely to see moderate growth from 2025 through 2029, with demand driven by life changes, new construction, and more accessible homebuying options as mortgage rates potentially ease. For more insights on the housing market and how to navigate upcoming changes, feel free to contact the Benson Group . We can help you make informed decisions for the years to come. Source: realestate.usnews.com

According to hillsborough.net, the rezoning of two town-owned sites marks a significant effort to meet the state-mandated goals for affordable housing under RHNA Cycle 6. This initiative aims to increase housing diversity while maintaining single-family zoning across private properties. Here's a concise overview of the plans: Tobin Clark Site Situated adjacent to the College of San Mateo, 20 acres of this 50-acre property will accommodate 100 multi-family housing units. These units will benefit educators, healthcare workers, and local staff: 44 units for Very Low Income 6 units for Moderate Income 50 units for Above Moderate Income Town Hall Campus This 2.5-acre site near Floribunda Avenue and El Camino Real is slated for 16 affordable units. These will cater primarily to seniors and local workers: 7 units  for Very Low Income (0–50% AMI) 9 units  for Low Income (50–80% AMI) Next Steps No developments have been approved yet. Community Visioning workshops will provide residents the opportunity to shape these projects through open dialogue. Embrace this progressive move towards inclusive housing while sustaining the town’s charm. Contact us to explore options today! Source: hillsborough.net

If you’re planning to move soon, you might be wondering if there’ll be more homes to choose from, where prices and mortgage rates are headed, and how to navigate today’s market. If so, here’s what the professionals are saying about what’s in store for this season. Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist, First American: “. . . it seems our general expectation for the spring is that we will see a pickup in inventory. In fact, that already seems to be happening. But it won’t necessarily be enough to satiate demand.” Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist, Bright MLS: “There is still strong demand, as the large millennial population remains in the prime first-time homebuying range.” Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, Realtor.com : “Where we are right now is the best of both worlds. Price increases are slowing, which is good for buyers, and prices are still relatively high, which is good for sellers.” Skylar Olsen, Chief Economist, Zillow: “There are slightly more homes for sale than this time last year, and there is still plenty of competition for well-priced houses. Buyers should prep their credit scores and sellers should prep their properties now, attractive listings are going pending in less than a month, and time on market will shrink in the weeks ahead.” Jiayi Xu, Economist, Realtor.com : “While mortgage rates remain elevated, home shoppers who are looking to buy this spring could find more affordable homes on the market than they saw at the same time last year. Specifically, there were 20.6% more homes available for sale ranging between $200,000 and $350,000 in February 2024 than a year ago, surpassing growth in other price ranges.” If you’re looking to sell, this spring might be your sweet spot because there just aren’t many homes on the market. Sure, inventory is rising, but it’s nowhere near enough to meet today’s buyer demand. That’s why they’re still selling so quickly. If you’re looking to buy, the growing number of homes for sale this spring means you’ll have more choices than this time last year. But be prepared to move quickly since there’ll be plenty of competition with other buyers. For expert guidance and support throughout your journey, reach out to Benson Group  when you're ready to take the next step towards finding your dream home. ---------- Source: keepingcurrentmatters.com

Compass has invested over $1 billion in technology that helps the real estate firm’s nearly 30,000 agents move from the earliest point of contacting a prospective client to closing a deal, all via one tech platform. “Our job is to help agents grow their businesses, make more money, save time, and create great experiences for their clients,” says Rory Golod, president of growth and communications at Compass. The investments by Compass, the nation’s largest brokerage by sales volume, include “Likely to Sell,” an artificial intelligence tool that analyzes prospective client leads and makes recommendations on who may soon be ready to sell their home. More recently, the company rolled out Compass AI, a chatbot tool that can help write listings for properties, marketing materials, and agent profiles. Agents can have thousands of contacts at their fingertips, Golod says, and conversation rates are often exceptionally low for traditional marketing tactics like email and social media. But Compass says that since Likely to Sell launched in the summer of 2020, nearly 8% of recommendations given through the CRM (customer relationship management) tool each month are listed on the market within 12 months. “We want to use AI to help an agent say, ‘If I’m going to reach out to someone, I want to reach out to the people who have the highest propensity to maybe transact,’” says Golod. There’s an estimated $180 billion in value that could be unlocked from the advancements of generative AI, according to McKinsey estimates. The industry could certainly benefit from such a jolt, as U.S. home sales declined to their lowest level in nearly 30 years in 2023 due to lofty mortgage rates and low inventory that has made home buying a lot more expensive. The industry is due for major disruption to commission fees after the National Association of Realtors struck a deal that could lead homebuyers and sellers to negotiate lower agent commissions. There is also a major problem with construction, because the nation just isn’t building enough new homes to meet demand. But there are a lot of complicating factors that make AI adoption within real estate especially difficult. Experts say there are massive amounts of unorganized data, ranging from leases to contracts, from investment documents to design plans. Construction operates on razor-thin margins. The median age of a real estate agent skews older than that of workers in most industries, and those in the sector are notoriously tech-averse. And the highly physical nature of the industry means many technology advancements are still in their relative infancy. “I would say, historically, real estate has always been a bit of a laggard, in terms of use of AI,” says Alex Wolkomir, a partner at McKinsey. Wolkomir says commercial real estate is further along than residential when it comes to AI adoption. The top challenge he thinks the industry faces is making sure members of its workforce—construction workers, real estate agents, designers—are properly trained and understand the capabilities of the AI tools they are given. He is encouraged by some forward momentum in the industry’s AI journey over the past five years. “I think a lot of the [generative] AI use cases are kind of opening up new areas that are very valuable to real estate,” says Wolkomir. Yao Morin, chief technology officer at JLL, says one of the challenges that commercial real estate faces is the abundance of unstructured data, in the form of leases, contracts, and invoices. “I believe in this era of AI, the barrier of using AI will continue to go lower,” says Morin. “And then you ask yourself, ‘If using AI is not a competitive advantage, then what is?’ The answer is absolutely your data.” Last year, the company unveiled JLL GPT, a generative AI model that provides insights to clients based on JLL’s proprietary market research, alongside externally available market data. Morin says 20% of JLL’s 103,000-person workforce is using JLL GPT on a weekly basis because the technology enables staff to complete repetitive tasks more efficiently. JLL is also using generative AI to better predict building-maintenance needs, research investment opportunities, and implement sustainability initiatives. “If you think about classic AI, it takes a higher learning curve to understand it and be able to trust the results,” says Morin. “But with generative AI, it is much easier for us to adopt and for people to see the value.” The startup Higharc has launched a homebuilding automation platform that aims to turn home construction into a faster and more affordable process. “What we do is make data available about houses that are going to be built,” says Higharc CEO Marc Minor. “And when I say, ‘make data available,’ I mean every part and piece of the building, and where it belongs, and when it needs to be built, and who’s responsible for that segment of the building. We control all of that information in an automatic way.” Last month, Higharc raised $53 million in Series B funding, including from retailer Home Depot, the venture arm of France’s Schneider Electric, and others across the construction, building products, and manufacturing industries. Minor says the greatest possibilities lie in both improving the way homes are built alongside access to data from distributors and suppliers. “If you build the right software layer to systematically change housing, in terms of the designs of the houses, that gives you the capability to more easily understand the ways to leverage the hardware side,” says Minor. Prologis Ventures, founded in 2016, has invested $250 million into over 45 supply-chain and logistics-focused startups, including AI-enabled companies like TestFit, Altana AI, and Logiwa. “People have always used intuition as a way to make real estate decisions,” says Will O’Donnell, managing partner of Prologis Ventures. “But there’s just reams and reams of data that if you could pull together and do analysis on [it], you would be able to have better insight to make that decision.” Prologis, as an example, uses TestFit’s AI to better judge the feasibility of new warehouse sites. Information on specific zoning regulations, environmental conditions, transportation around a site, and labor can be integrated to improve decision-making. TestFit can also produce dozens of project renderings in as little as an hour and will make suggestions based on past metrics. “As a company, one of the things that we’ve been spending a lot of time on is, what information is important to our customers when they make a decision?” asks O’Donnell. “What’s important to them as they’re driving their business, and how do we empower both our people and our customers to better understand that information?” Augmenta, meanwhile, automates designs for electrical systems, meaning all the parts and pieces inside a building that take electricity from one point and deliver it to another. “The process of ideation to the full, detailed plan is fraught with challenges,” says Francesco Iorio, cofounder and CEO of Augmenta. The design process, Iorio explains, is extremely complex, because to go from sketch, to a list of parts, to construction, there is a long list of considerations before there’s an actionable plan to construct. The greatest benefit of AI, he says, is to automate the preconstruction phase for electrical systems. “Giving them the ability to design at the highest level of detail, with cost and time being at the forefront very early in the design stages, allows people to experiment and answer those questions that would be costly to answer downstream,” Iorio says. ----------------- Source: Fortune

According to keepingcurrentmatters.com, going into 2023, there was a lot of talk about a possible recession that would cause the housing market to crash. Some in the media were even forecasting home prices would drop by as much as 10-20% — and that might have made you feel a bit unsure about buying a home. But here’s what actually happened: home prices went up more than usual. Brian D. Luke, Head of Commodities at S&P Dow Jones Indices, explains: “Looking back at the year, 2023 appears to have exceeded average annual home price gains over the past 35 years.” The big takeaway? Home prices almost always go up. As an article from Forbes says: “. . . the U.S. real estate market has a long and reliable history of increasing in value over time.” In fact, since 1980, the only time home prices dropped was during the housing market crash (shown in red in the graph above). Fortunately, the market today isn’t like it was in 2008. For starters, there aren’t enough available homes to meet buyer demand right now. On top of that, homeowners have a tremendous amount of equity, so they’re on much stronger footing than they were back then. That means there won’t be a wave of foreclosures that causes prices to fall. The fact that home values went up every single year except those four in red is why owning a home can be one of the smartest moves you can make. When you’re a homeowner, you own something that typically becomes more valuable over time. And as your home’s value appreciates, your net worth grows. So, if you’re financially stable and prepared for the costs and expenses of homeownership, buying a home might make a lot of sense for you. For expert guidance and support throughout your journey, reach out to Benson Group  when you're ready to take the next step towards finding your dream home. ---------- Source: keepingcurrentmatters.com

For expert guidance and support throughout your journey, reach out to Benson Group  when you're ready to take the next step towards finding your dream home.