Archives of real estate blog entries for December 11, 2006 (Page 7)

Blog posts


Flip my own house - 05:01 AM
Just finished watching "Flip This House" on A&E and it just reminds me of my own flip earlier this year. 
It was my first flip and it was a great learning experience managing everything from start to finish, from buying to selling.  I learned to expect unforeseen problems and not to expect a smooth flip especially when the history of the home is not really known. 
I was looking through the hot sheet one morning, looking at all the new invetory on the MLS that just came out on the market when I found a new listing that I thought was a really great deal.  The listing was for a 739 square … (18 comments)

Who's in Your House Today? - 04:31 PM
Literally 5 minutes ago I got off the phone with a big client who has investments in roughly 15 different homes, and he gave me some information I dropped my jaw to.  His file was brought to me already having been established, and my job was simply to input information on his ever growing list of homes and get the binders to the lenders in a timley manner (less then an hour if we can reach the insured).  The agent on record requested all Dwelling Fire policies, meaning the insured was using all his properties as daily rentals.  This was what … (1 comments)

Correcting Common Usability Mistakes - 06:22 AM
Each day at StepForth Placement we view dozens of websites that request a SEO Review and a vast majority of these sites have fundamental usability problems. Often times neglecting this important element of a website can lead online visitors to become lost, frustrated and/or confused. All it takes for a visitor to decide to stay, explore or leave a site is 0.4 of a second. Attracting visitors to your website is a formidable challenge; it is yet another to build a fast connection with them and keep them there. With this in mind, here are some simple measures that can be … (3 comments)

Use Your Blog to Write a Book - 10:46 PM
How to write a book in six months using your blog Create Outline – Chapter Titles – Main Points You Want to MakeCreate blog post on Chapter 1, Point 1 – Invite Comments & Pose Questions to blog audienceRepeat step 2 as often as necessary to flesh out chapters.Consolidate and edit points into cohesive chaptersRepost chapters one at a time – Invite Comments & pose questions to blog audienceSynthesize material into bookGo to LuLu  or BookSurge to publishRead rssPieces article – Ultimate Guide to Blog Marketing Go for it!  
Use This Process to Convert Visitors into Leads into Clients
Surf through … (3 comments)

Marin County Historical Average Sales Price and Number of Units Sold 1965 - present - 01:05 PM
 
Unlike anyone else I know of in Marin County, I have these numbers updated to the present.  As you can see in this graph, as well as the month by month above it, prices here in Marin County are holding steady, but with a decrease in the number of homes being sold.  These charts are updated monthly at http://www.kelleyeling.com/ and then click on "Other Interesting Links".  I think they are interesting.... :) 
You can see what happened city by city in November 2006 in the blog post below this one.
… (0 comments)

Marin County Recent Sales, Average Price and Number of Units, Month by Month 2001 - Present - 01:08 PM

Again, for some reason, the background turned very dark on these graphs.  These graphs show the activity for Marin County, California.  While prices don't seem to be affected much, the volume has seriously decreased.  Marin County is located between Sonoma, CA and San Francisco.  So, you get the close proximity to San Francisco and Oakland, as well as the natural beauty, mild weather and almost no crime, not to mention very little buildable land, so these properties really hold their value.  As always, you can visit http://www.kelleyeling.com/ and there is a whole lotta information there for the interested.
 
… (0 comments)

Sonoma Historical Average Sales Price and Units Sold 1997 - Present - 01:11 PM

These charts show year end total for Sonoma, CA, from 1997 to the present.  While 2006 has not yet come to an end, it is clear to see that things have really slowed down in terms of volume.  So far, December looks a bit brighter than November.  We'll see in a few weeks.  Again, you can always visit my website http://www.kelleyeling.com/ and click on "Other Interesting Links".  (For 2005 on this chart, the average sales price was orignally mistakenly only divided by 10 months rather than 12.  Oops!)
… (1 comments)

Sonoma Recent Sales, Average Price and Units Sold, 2001 - Present - 01:13 PM

For some reasons these graphs got a dark grey background, making them somewhat difficult to read.  In any case, they show month by month, year over year the activity in Sonoma, CA from 2001 to the present.  The top graph, in case you can't read it, is the average sales price.  The bottom graph shows the number of homes sold each month.  This is updated monthly.  You can also go to my website at http://www.kelleyeling.com and click on "Other Interesting Links".
… (1 comments)

FHA Sales Incentive: Bring The Holidays Home - 02:35 PM
 
Aloha Everyone, I just received this notice from my local Wells Fargo agent about the new FHA holiday program. 
Effective for HUD REO sales contracts dated betweenDec. 8, 2006 and Jan. 5, 2007
 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is offering a special sales campaign, called "FHA Brings the Holidays Home." This campaign is especially designed for low- to moderate-income families and HUD-owned single-family real estate owned (REO) properties across the country.
During the "FHA Brings The Holidays Home" sales event, homebuyers who purchase a HUD-owned home and finance the purchase with an FHA-insured loan will be entitled to sales incentives including: … (7 comments)

HOME BUYERS COURSE - Introduction - 05:39 PM
We know buying a home can be a confusing , sometimes overwhelming challenge.  That's why we've developed a HOME BUYERS COURSE with a step-by-step approach to purchasing a home - start to finish.
Whether you're buying your first home, moving up, scaling back or buying a vacation home, we think you'll benefit from the detailed, up-to-date information included in our 10-lesson course.
Each lesson will will give you an opportunity to e-mail us questions about the material, or about your particular home-purchase needs and goals.
Please feel free to call or email us at any time for more information.  By all means, feel free … (0 comments)

Denver Jobs and Real Estate Get Boost from Boeing-Lockheed Deal - 11:11 AM
The Metro Denver area is already moving in the direction of lower unemployment rates (Denver 4.2% and Boulder 3.6%). Now Boeing and Lockheed issued a press release stating they are forming a joint venture called United Launch Alliance (ULA) that will be headquartered in the southwest area of the city. The Denver Post reported that it "is expected to bring up to 700 high-paying jobs to the south metro area..." The headquarters will be located initially in Jefferson County in their Waterton Canyon facility. Our prediction is that prices at the mid-to-upper end should experience some firming for that part of … (0 comments)

Investor News: Colorado Apartment Vacancy Rates - 04:05 PM
We have previously reported declining multi-unit vacancy rates (6.7%) and increasing rents (up by 2.6% in the third quarter) in the Denver Metro Area (denverpost.com). Seeing an opportunity, larger buyers have moved into the Denver market from other states to invest in the undervalued multi-unit apartments. 
The Colorado Division of Housing recently released their most recent Vacancy and Rent Survey for the larger Colorado areas outside of the Denver-Boulder area.  Areas in the under 3% vacancy range are:  Aspen, Eagle County, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison, Salida, Buena Vista and Alamosa.  All of these are in the mountain areas.  In the … (0 comments)

BIG NEWS!!! - Another Wholesale Lender Shuts down Suddenly - 01:59 AM
Sebring Capital Partners LP has closed up shop, the second subprime wholesale lender to end operations in recent days, prompting Wall Street to cast a suspicious eye towards subprime mortgage bonds.
The Carrollton, Texas-based residential mortgage lender ended operations almost simultaneously with Agoura Hills, California-based Ownit Mortgage Solutions. "Sebring Capital will cease operations and no longer accept new submissions," read the company's website. "We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you or your borrowers. It has truly been a pleasure doing business with you." Licensed or approved to fund mortgages in 41 states, the company employed about 325 people, according to … (1 comments)

I'm late on this one... Major California Subprime Wholesaler Collapses - 02:11 AM
Bill Dallas founded First Franklin back in 1981, later stepping down as CEO after the subprime wholesaler, which he sold to Bank of America, was bought by National City. He then went on to become CEO of Ownit Mortgage Solutions, a company that has now folded as the subprime market has increasingly tightened.
In 2003, Ownit was formed by Merrill Lynch, Interthinx, Mindbox, C-BASS, Litton Loan Services establishing a strategic alliance with Dallas to buy a wholesale mortgage company called Oakmont Mortgage. The Agoura Hills, California-based company had done well during the boom years, building its book of new loans from $1.1 … (1 comments)

The Bad Guys are out there! - 05:45 PM
The story I am about to tell is true. I have not changed any of the identities, because the one's who are innocent need not be worried.
My sister lives in another city, another state. I am not familiar with the intricacies of the local real estate laws in that state, but I am familiar with the NAR's code of Ethics. Perhaps if a real estate agent does not belong to the NAR, ethics are of no concern? This story is disturbing. Fortunately, it is the exception and not the rule.
My sister owns a four unit apartment, situated on a street which consists primarily of these type units. … (8 comments)

Fair Market Value - 02:04 PM
What is the best price for a piece of real estate? Mortgage lenders, appraisers, and real estate brokers use what is called the "fair market value" (FMV). FMV has been defined as "the price that a buyer is willing to pay and the seller is willing to accept, when both parties are knowledgeable about the property and neither is under any time pressure to buy or sell". Sounds great, but how is this price determined? The starting point for determining a fair price may be an opinion of the value or "comparative market analysis". Such an analysis uses information on similar … (0 comments)

Lender Appraisal - 02:07 PM
Many sellers think that the price of their home is determined solely by what they are willing to accept and what the buyer is willing to pay. However, there is one more variable that can affect the sale of a home assuming that a bank loan is involved -- the lender's appraisal. To protect the interest of their investors, the buyer's mortgage lender hires a licensed appraiser to give an independent, objective opinion of what the property is worth. The appraiser compares the house with similar homes in the neighborhood that have recently sold. Square footage, amenities and the condition of … (0 comments)

Housing Recovery - Normal Not White Hot Growth - 03:14 PM
Probably the big news in the December 2006 Economic Outlook published by Freddie Mac's Office of the Chief Economist last Friday was that the office has finally changed its interest rate projection for the year.
The monthly forecast since late last year has clung to a projection that the 30-year mortgage rate would average 6.5 percent for the year. This number went up to 6.6 for a few months in late summer when rates did rise steadily but only now, with recent rates off of July highs by 69 basis points has Freddie revised its projection to 6.3 percent for the 4th … (0 comments)

MINIMUM PURCHASE REQUIRED? - 03:17 PM
Ever been faced with this dilemma when out shopping? You walk up to the register to pay for an item that costs $8. The cashier rings it up, and when you reach into your wallet to pull out a credit card to pay, the cashier explains that the "store policy" requires a minimum purchase of $25 when paying with a credit card. Frustrated and embarrassed, you realize that you are short on cash, do not have a checkbook, and are forced to either pass on the item or make a mad dash to the closest ATM, pull out the cash, and … (0 comments)

New kids on the Block - 03:21 PM
We just discovered Active Rain and liked what we saw.  Seems there is a lot af communications going on and a lot of good information being shared.  We look forward to being a part of the cycle and hope we can contibute to it.  It's always good to get input and ideas from different sources.  Lets get it on..........  … (10 comments)

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