10/30/2025
Good Day,
“We’re so glad you told us not to buy that house.”
That’s something I’ve heard more than once over the years, and what it means to be a fiduciary.
A fiduciary is, “a person who is legally and ethically bound to act in the best interests of another, putting that person’s needs above their own.” A Realtor or real estate agent’s work is a legal fiduciary. This means treating each client’s situation with the same care and diligence you would use when making your personal decisions.
Sometimes that means calling on cost effective tradespeople for staging and market preparation. Or possibly discussing if it may be advantageous to build an ADU, do a DST Exchange, or if it's best to rent before you buy. There are many benefits to having deeper conversations about timing and options to make a good plan.
A salesperson’s job is to sell something. A fiduciary’s role is to represent, advise, and guide through the full range of possibilities. The focus is always on a client’s long-term goals and helping align their choices with the best possible outcome about one of life’s most significant investments.
DID YOU KNOW?
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Investor activity surged in Q2, with investors buying one-third of all single-family homes sold, marking their largest share in five years, and up from 27% in Q1. That’s according to the latest CNBC update sourcing info from CJ Patrick Co. and BatchData. The gain reflects fewer total home sales, which amplifies the presence of investors in the market, even as raw purchase numbers fell year over year. (CNBC)
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California is taking a lead in regulating the A.I. industry, that till now has remained pretty open to doing exactly as they please..... One law requires that chatbots disclose they are AI and tell minors to take breaks every 3 hours. Another requires that device makers, like Apple and Google, implement tools to verify user ages. California isn’t the first jurisdiction to pass laws like these, but these laws carry significance due to the size of California’s population and the fact that many tech companies are based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Utah and Texas have also signed laws implementing AI safeguards for minors. (CNBC)
Home Sweet Home
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Remodel Tip! Has the open floor plan had its day? Think twice before remodeling homes with a single living space that includes the kitchen. Common regrets include a weak downdraft exhaust on a center-island range, which allows grease and cooking odors to spread to everything around the island, including chairs. Additionally, the constant visibility of kitchen chaos can disrupt the entertaining area.
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Benjamin Moore’s 2026 Color of the Year is... Silhouette (AF-655). Described by the brand’s color marketing and development director Andrea Magno as “a beautiful, rich espresso hue” with “a subtle bit of charcoal.” (House Beautiful)
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About 990,000 older adults were living with unrelated housemates or roommates in 2023, which is up 8.8% since 2021, and more than double the number two decades ago. (WSJ)
Bay Area Updated Market Reports
Around the World
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China’s real estate market is expected to fall for a fifth straight year in 2025, with new home sales dropping about 8%. (CNBC)
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Tokyo introduces cat-optimized condos with built-in climbing walls, balcony cat bridges, and robot litter valet services! A building in Shinjuku even has a café where residents’ cats can “socialize” while owners work. (QZ.com)
I always appreciate being reminded, maybe you will too -
Thoughts about creating happiness:
- Appreciate what’s in front of you rather than dwelling on what you don’t have.
- The happiest people aren’t the wealthiest, they’re the most content.
- The more you desire something you don’t have, the more you’re just focusing on the fact that you’re not happy right now.
- The person who has everything but wants even more feels poorer.
Reach out now for 2026.
Funding also available through closing with Compass Concierge.
https://homebykatherine.com/concierge
My best wishes for to you and yours,
Katherine
