Real Estate Articles
July 11, 2011
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Pamper Your Backyard Birds For Free
Wild birds are our backyard buddies: A swallow can eat a thousand mosquitoes daily; and watching birds glide and listening to their songs can soothe our jangled nerves. Read
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Home Ownership Under Assault: 4 Issues Threaten Housing Market Recovery
Drowned out by such salacious news as Weinergate and Wikileaks, the very real attack on our nation’s housing market has gone virtually unnoticed by most Americans. But the outcome of this assault will hurt your ability to buy, own, and sell a home, long after the latest scandal fades from the headlines. So mute Nancy Grace, put down your People magazine, and turn your attention, just for a moment, to the not-so-sexy but far more important topic of housing policy. We promise it’s not just for political wonks anymore. Read
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Copyright 2011 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
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4597 Cimarron Way - SOLD
December 9, 2010
This beautiful three bedroom, two bath home features approximately 1,248 square feet of living space. Soaring ceiling and skylight in the family room. Upgraded fireplace and mantle. Wet-bar area with Wine Cooler. Updated, kitchen has granite counters, generous cabinets and updated appliances. Built-in entertainment center in family room. Home is light and bright throughout with newer roof, HVAC & laminate floors, and tile. Spacious, private backyard with built-in BBQ, two covered patios, perfect for entertaining. Ceiling fans throughout. Side access for boat or storage. Great location, close to schools, shopping and freeway access. For more information or to schedule an appointment to preview this home, call Roseann or Michael at 916.759.1699.
This home is warm and inviting and a must see!
Short Sale subject to lender approval!
- Offered at $210,000 SOLD $195,000
- 3 bedrooms
- 2 baths
- 1,248 approximate square feet
- Built in 1962
Click any one of the photos below to preview additional photos!
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Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis
December 1, 2010
Click on the link to read a Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. This analysis has some interesting fact and figures.
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Green Tip of the Week
June 9, 2010
Check back often, as I will be posting new Green Tips weekly.
Here is your Green Tip for this Week…
Natural deterrents to ants include dry Cream of Wheat, which they cannot digest and is lethal to them, as well as powdered borax mixed with maple syrup (don’t use the latter if you have children or pets). If the aim simply is to deter, but not kill, then sprinkle the substances they don’t like to cross, such as ground black pepper, chalk, or cinnamon, near doors.
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Market News in Real Estate
March 20, 2010
CNN Money reports. . .
Nab a real estate deal – while you still can
The combination of affordable home prices, low interest rates, and the federal tax credit for home buyers have created an opportune time for many buyers to purchase a home. Many real estate analysts also believe that most housing markets have stabilized, but that some markets may decline further.
Keep this in mind. . .
- Buyers should keep in mind that housing markets are local and can vary greatly from one neighborhood to the next. Working with a REALTOR® familiar with the area in which the buyer is searching can help the buyer select a house that best suits their needs.
- California’s housing market has shown signs of stabilization since early last year. Sales of existing, single-family homes bottomed out in August 2007, and the median home price reached its trough in February 2009. In January, California’s median home price was 17.2 percent above the low for the current cycle.
- The federal tax credit for home buyers was extended and expanded late last year. Qualified first-time buyers may be eligible to receive a tax credit of up to $8,000 on homes purchased before April 30, 2010. Repeat buyers may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $6,500. Visit www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=187935,00.html for more information about the federal tax credit for home buyers, including eligibility requirements.
- The Federal Reserve has helped maintain low interest rates, which, in turn, has assisted home buyers. However, the agency plans to stop purchasing mortgage-backed securities at the end of this month, which likely will increase rates on 30-year fixed mortgages. Buyers may be able to lock in a low interest rate by working with their lender.
To read the full story, please click here:
The New York Times Reports. . .
Program will pay homeowners to sell at a loss In an effort to end the foreclosure crisis, the Obama administration has been trying to keep defaulting owners in their homes. Now it will take a new approach: Paying some of them to leave.
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The Wall Street Journal Reports. . .
Home supply increased in February
The number of homes listed for sale increased in many metropolitan areas in February.
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The San Francisco Chronicle Reports. . .
Strategic defaults on homes on the rise
The number of people choosing to cut their losses on their homes continues to rise. Studies estimate about one-quarter of all defaults are voluntary “walkaways,” also know as strategic defaults and jingle mail (for the sound the abandoned keys make in the mailbox).
To read the full story, please click here:
The Wall Street Journal Reports. . .
Home-saving loans afoot
Pressure is growing on U.S. banks to ease terms for distressed homeowners on home-equity loans and other second-lien mortgages.
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The Wall Street Journal Reports. . .
Borrowers miss out on billions in savings
The Federal Reserve has pushed mortgage rates to near half-century lows, but millions of U.S. homeowners haven’t benefited from that because they can’t—or won’t—refinance.
To read the full story, please click here:
What you should know about the market. . .
- Homeowners wanting to pay off their mortgage earlier than planned can do so by making extra principal payments. One extra full principal and interest payment a year will reduce a 30-year loan to about 17 years, and adding the following month’s principal payment to the current one will cut the loan almost in half. It is important that borrowers tell their lender the extra money is to be credited to principal. Homeowners should keep records of their payments and review it once a year to be certain the lender has followed directions.
- Private mortgage insurance (PMI) generally is required for home buyers whose down payment is less than 20 percent. PMI is added to the mortgage payment each month to protect the lender should the borrower default. By law, PMI must be canceled automatically when the loan balance reaches 78 percent of the home’s original value. However, some lenders are allowing borrowers to cancel this coverage when the balance declines to 80 percent of the current value, as long as the loan is at least five years old. Borrowers who have made their payments on time each month for five years should contact their lender or loan servicer to obtain all the details on canceling the coverage.
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