The Cost of Buying and Selling a Condo

Price goes up, you sell. Price is right, you buy. Sounds simple, but there's more to it. There are closing costs involved on both sides, and this is something that your realtor should go over with you.

SELLERS:
In a nutshell, the average expense to sell a home is about 2% of the sales price. So on an $800k sales price, you're looking at about $16k in escrow fees. This comes in the form of transfer taxes, escrow company fees, doc fees, etc. Then there's the agency commissions. So while you might think there's $200k in profits to be made, remember that anywhere from 2-8% will be shaved off in fees.

BUYERS:
For buyers who are getting a loan, closing costs are about 3% on an $800k purchase price. You're looking at $24k approximately. Most of these are loan and title insurance fees, and these are IN ADDITION to the purchase price. So if you have barely enough to put down on a place, know that you're going to need at least a 3-4% buffer due to these closing costs. Cash purchases cut out the loan and title insurance fees so suddenly you're only needing about .05-1% in closing costs.

Super Lofts Available - 2000sf and Larger

600sf is the new 800sf. What I mean is that new units are getting smaller in scale, and the small 800-900sf 1-bedrooms we used to snicker at are now considered large 1-bedrooms. 1000sf is pretty much consider HUGE. Size is becoming a huge commodity, as land and building costs are rising. Back in 2003-2007, developers were a lot more generous, which is why you often get more square footage for your money in buildings that were either built or converted in that period.

Here are some interesting "super lofts" available for sale now:

1100 Wilshire #3702 - 3000SF - 2 Parking Spaces

$5,950,000

Molino Lofts #213 - 4260SF - 5 Parking Spaces

$1,985,000

  

Barker Block Lofts #102 - 2660SF - 2 Parking Spaces

$1,675,000

Barker Block Lofts #144 - 2460SF - 2 Parking Spaces

$1,795,000

TEN50 PH5 - 2268SF - 2 Parking Spaces

$2,600,000

Flower Street Lofts - 2149SF - 2 Parking Spaces

$969,000

Barker Block Lofts #121 - 2040SF - 2 Parking Spaces

$1,200,000

Luma PH105 - 2001SF - 2 Parking Spaces

$1,995,000

Downtown Area Highlight: Arts District

Downtown really is its own world. While prices have gone up around the country in most cities (5.1% from 2015!), DTLA is in my opinion one of the most exciting and resilient places. Even after the crash of 2008, prices have been steadily rebounding and are now well past the 2007 height. More residents are living in the area. New businesses have arrived. And each week seems to bring about another exciting development.

One of the most thriving areas is the Arts District. I highlight the area because it has seen some serious value gains because of the exciting development and the lack of inventory. There are only FIVE loft/condo buildings in the Arts District, which is keeping demand high. In addition, some of the most exciting developments and destinations are happening in the area: SOHO House, Hauser Wirth Schimmel, At Mateo, Oficine  Brera, Bestia, The Row DTLA, and The Garey Lofts, Church & State, Shinola, Grow, Everson Royce Bar, La Kretz Innovator.