Foreclosures & Short Sales Offer Market Opportunities

We open a newspaper, turn on the T.V. or radio and we hear more and more about the volatile housing market. We may have heard analysts evaluate, estimate and attempt to predict what will happen. What we need to remember is the housing market is a continual cycle. The housing market has been on a downward turn over the past year or so.

Tips for Selling Your Home

It’s a buyer’s market. There are no if, ands, or buts about it. It is simply a matter of supply and demand. Right now we are seeing the inventory of available homes for sale increase and the number of active buyers decrease. So, what does a home owner need to
know in order to sell their home?

When the housing market changes so should your strategy in selling your home. Buyers are aware that

Yesterday’s Loan Qualifications vs. Today’s Loan Standards.

In recent years, about all you needed to get approved for a mortgage loan was a pulse. Today’s standards however have changed significantly. Loan programs such as the 100% Loan to Value, or the No Income and No Asset qualifier loans are about as rare to find as a cheetah on Watt Ave. in North Highlands. Don’t despair though, interest rates are still historically low and prices have come down to make home purchasing possible for buyers.

Insure Your Future

Many unfortunate Californians have recently learned a hard and horrible lesson about the importance of adequate homeowners insurance.

As the wildfires in Southern California burned out of control, insurance companies issued immediate moratoriums on all new policies or changes to current policies in the affected counties, making it impossible for uninsured homeowners in those areas to buy protection at any price.

The time to think about protecting your home is before the trouble begins.

Value Down, Payment Up . . . What Do I Do?!

Home owners across the area are experiencing a new situation in the real estate market. The value of homes are decreasing and many mortgage loan payments are adjusting up. The result can be a difficult situation for home owners and you may need some help.

Where do you turn and what are your options?

The Short Sale

Much to the dismay of everyone in and out of the real estate industry we are being paid a visit by an old acquaintance – The Short Sale.

As a result of rapidly rising real estate prices and ultra-aggressive leading practices many people who otherwise would have continued renting jumped into home/ownership over the past five years. Real Estate investors bought homes at a staggering rate – nearly one in four purchases in the Sacramento metro market was attributed to investor buying.

Free Local Home Savings Tips

This month we are going to be looking into the freebies offered by local businesses and companies.

SMUD – Sacramento Municipal Utilities District

If you’re having a problem at your home or are afraid you may have a electrical problem SMUD can send out a service representative to inspect the problem. With so many homes in the North Highlands area receiving power from the lines attached at your roof, if you notice something wrong this could save you from a fire, power outage, and possibly your life.

Smud offers a great “Free Shade Tree” program.

Real Estate Market Status

As we round out the summer, the real estate market is just bouncing along, still moving but certainly not flying like it was . As we have seen over the past 12 months, those homes that are properly prepared for sale and also properly priced, are selling. Those sellers who are not taking the time to prepare their homes for sale are being forced to reduce their prices drastically to accommodate buyers, that is, if they get an offer at all. Particularly now, it is important to talk to a Realtor who knows your neighborhood market and who extensively markets in your area.

Your Uncle Can Help You Pay The Mortgage

I’ve been working with a client on purchasing a home. First thing we did was get him qualified. He remarked after seeing the payment that there was no way he could afford to pay that much each month and be able to afford living expenses. What he failed to realize was that his Uncle Sam was willing to help him meet those monthly obligations. It’s not a trick; it’s just the facts. Knowing the system will help.

A Reverse Mortgage?

A reverse mortgage puts to use the equity in your home so you can recieve cash, a tax free monthly income, and/or line of credit. There are no income, credit, or medical requirements for the Reverse Mortgage. Best of all, there are no monthly payments to make. The payments are made out to you! You get to convert the equity in the home into tax free income, retain title, and stay in your home. What you do with the funds is up to you.

Several examples would include paying for health care, long term care insurance, paying off existing debt, and remodeling.