Archives of real estate blog entries for October 3, 2007 (Page 10)

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Test Your Knowledge of Jamestown, Tuolumne County, California - 06:19 PM
Here comes another quiz in the "Testing Your Knowledge of the Mother Lode" series. This time the focus Jamestown, California. It has a fascinating past with the discover of gold at the center. After you're done you can check your answers below. Don't forget to click on the hyperlinks (in purple), too. 1. Gold was first discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848 in a Jamestown creek (Woods Creek) named after the following individual: (a) Elijah Wood; (b) Tiger Woods; (c) Natalie Wood; (d) Benjamin Wood. 2. Woods Creek was yielding some 40-60 ounces of gold per day at its height. At … (0 comments)

Is it time to change your lightbulb??? - 01:16 PM
Not that I am the most energy conservative person in the world, anyone who knows me will say that I could be considered a pretty large user of electricity; but I came across a chart that astonished me. If you read below you will see the amount of money that can be saved by just changing 1 lightbulb in your home to one of those funnly looking fluorescent ones.Two hours per day is 730 hours per year. Multiply by the cents-per-kWh calculated below. The compact fluorescent costs $3.43 to operate for a year, while the incandescent costs $14.89. That is a … (0 comments)

Sacramento Real Estate...Boom or Bust? - 08:04 PM
Are you waiting for the bottom of the market to buy more real estate?  Whether it's the stock market or real estate, people try to buy low & sell high.  Very few people get the timing just right. But by waiting for the perfect time, most  people miss the opportunity to build wealth altogether.
Think about annual appreciation rates for residential real estate in Sacramento. In the past 7 years there have been 4 perfect times to buy.  That was Q1 of 2000, Q2 of 2002, Q3 of 2003 and Q1 of 2004. In all 4 of these quarters, appreciation rates had dropped to a low point. If you were … (0 comments)

Vote on the Zillow REALTOR quiz - 10:03 AM
Over at Zillow, there is a quiz asking what the difference is between a REALTOR and an Agent.
So far 66% have gotten it correct.  Head on over.  Even non-REALTORS should be able to get this one.
As of right now they only have 21 votes on the quiz.  It's in the lower right hand side of the screen.  
… (26 comments)

Builder's Home and Garden Expo 2007 - 06:36 AM
The Home Builders Association of Livingston County (HBALC) will be presenting this year's Home and Garden Expo at the Brighton High School Field House on Saturday, October 6th from 10am-7pm and Sunday, October 7th from 11am-4pm. Tickets are $5 for adults, 15 and under are free.
Come and browse the exhibitors to see the latest and greatest in home remodeling, home building, decor, and gardening materials and techniques.  There's a full schedule of home owner seminars, too.
There's great value in finding vendors for windows, roofs, tile and so much more - all under one roof.
Seminars include topics on roof shingles, arsenic in … (0 comments)

Orange County CA Real Estate - Foreclosure Activity September 2007 - 02:05 AM
 
Sept. 2007 Unusual Month or Moment of Relief from Foreclosure Turmoil
By Namneet Dhaliwal
Orange County Real Estate
October 2, 2007
It is the first time in last twelve months, that foreclosure curve for Orange County CA Real Estate had turned its direction. Although, it is premature to say if it is just an isolated monthly statistic or an early sign of stability but for sure it is reassuring
There are buyers looking for the good deals, including REO and Short Sales.
Homeowners who are late or unable to make their payments, they should be talking to their banks to make a different payment arrangement. At the … (0 comments)

Multi-Unit in Pottstown PA for sale - great income producing investment property! - 03:07 PM
Main Line Pennsylvania Real Estate - Christopher BenedictIf your Realtor isn't giving you cash back at closing, perhaps you need a new Realtor! Offering $1500 in CASH BACK for my Buyers, on this great opportunity. Live in the home, and off set your mortgage with the 2 bed apt over the detached garage. This is a duplex, with the benefit of not having the second unit attached to your home! Apartment has been rented by the same tenants for 13 yrs and wish to stay!
To view the virtual tour please visit: http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=379074
Use my buyer services and get $1500 CASH BACK at … (0 comments)

Main Line Real Estate | Lower Merion Home Sales Statistics - Q3-2007 Real Estate Market Data - 09:59 PM
In the Lower Merion School District, the housing market data from July 2007 to (end of) September 2007 showed some surprising results, as compared to the negative data we have been bombarded with from the main stream media. Then again, nothing sells like bad news, except worse news.
The lowest sales price for a home in Lower Merion township was $90,000 (I can only imagine the shoebox that home must be!), with the highest selling home (or should I say Main Line Mansion) sold at a mere $4,495,000. The home was originally listed at $3,999,000.
If you are thinking of buying a … (0 comments)

Collegeville PA home sales market report for Q3 - 2007 | house values - 10:06 PM
Growing up on the Main Line, and attending Lower Merion High School, Collegeville was considered a land far, far away. Fast forward 10 years later, and I would follow my parents out to western Montgomery County as the Route 422 corridor exploded with new housing growth. Now it is a short 30 minute commute for people working in King of Prussia and Great Valley, Chester County, who moved west for a lower cost of living. The Spring Ford Area School District is a good place to find a good home in a good school district at an affordable price.
As far as … (0 comments)

Main Line Real Estate | Narberth PA Home Sales Statistics - Q3-2007 Real Estate Market Data - 10:20 PM
Growing up on the Main Line, and attending Lower Merion, Narberth was always known as a quaint borough, not off the Main Line, but not quite in the Main Line either. Classmates were referred to as "Narbs," and the general consensus was that it was not the best place to live. Fast forward 25 years, and a lot has changed. Narberth is the new Manayunk of the Main Line, a "walking town" so to speak, which I wish there were more of!
Compared to Lower Merion, Narberth is a steal, but if you want to buy, keep a sharp eye out. There … (0 comments)

Main Line Real Estate |Radnor Township Home Sales Statistics - Q3-2007 Real Estate Market Data - 10:26 PM
In the Radnor Township section of the Main Line, the housing market data from July 2007 to end of September 2007 showed some surprisingly similar results to those of Lower Merion, as compared to the negative data we have been bombarded with from the main stream media. Then again, nothing sells like bad news, except worse news.
The lowest sales price for a home in Radnor township was $150,000 with the highest selling home (or should I say Main Line Mansion) sold at $3,602,140.
If you are thinking of buying a home on the Main Line, better get out your checkbook … (1 comments)

Blaine's Recipe of the Week - 10/3/07 - 12:00 PM
Pot Roast Tacos and Grilled Corn
  2 pounds beef shoulder Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Extra-virgin olive oil 2 cloves garlic, smashed 1 large onion, sliced 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, (recommended: San Marzano) 1 tablespoon ancho chile powder 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper 1 tablespoon ground cumin 3 bay leaves
Vegetable oil, for deep frying 6 fresh medium corn tortillas Kosher salt 3 cups finely shredded white cabbage Guacamole, recipe follows 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro leaves
For the simple salsa: 1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained, reserving the juice (recommended: San Marzano) 1 small red onion, roughly chopped 1 Serrano … (0 comments)

A bunch of fruits helped sell this house to my buyers - 01:07 AM
Yep, the house was exactly the same as the one next door, but the difference was a bunch of fruits in the back yard. The backyard had grapes, apples, plums, and even an Asian pear tree.
This house wasn't anything special and neither was the neighborhood, but because this seller planted these items 15 years ago, today, it helped them sell their home! If you own a home and have the room for trees, and want pies or canned fruit, and want to increase the perceived value of your home in a few years, PLANT A TREE!
                  Apple Tree                      Asian … (15 comments)

The fed’s lowering the interest rate doesn’t really help you qualify for a loan - 11:46 AM
I had four clients call me this week asking me, "Since the fed lowered interest rates this week, can I get atraditional loan?" Well, in a simple answer, "NO!"
I am willing to help these people work on their credit over the next couple years. But, if you couldn't getapproved for a loan last week, more than likely the feds lowering the interest rate isn't going to help you.
The only thing the fed's lowering interest rates can do for buyers is basically get them more home for theirdollar. You see with a ½ of a percent interest cut on a mortgage, … (3 comments)

The wave is over – Have you lost your surf board? - 10:33 PM

Many agents got in to real estate when the waves were high and surfing it was great! Real estate school was your boat and it took you right out to the edge of the wave. You rode that wave of a great real estate market, where you walked into a house, left with a listing, and before you got back to the office, you had three offers all above asking price.
Well the wave is over and unless you still have your surf board and are prepared to swim back out to catch the next wave, then you are going to be … (14 comments)

Environmentally Friendly Foliage For Orange County Homes - 10:13 PM
Orange County, California is a blooming desert.  Prior to the introduction of irrigation and water systems, much of the land was desert.  There are many indigenous plants that are heat resistant and require little or no water, making them perfect for the environmentally-conscious Orange County home owner. 
This photo is a great example of beautiful plants that thrive in our climate.  It's a wild California Sage.  The flowers get to between 8-10 inches in diameter.  I snapped this photo in early spring.  The arid, - area alongside the tracks at the San Juan Capistrano Depot provides a perfect sunny spot for about 50 of … (10 comments)

Refinance Boom in Wenatchee - 01:54 AM
With the extraordinary increase in home values over the past 2-3 years, most people gained a lot of equity in their homes and land.  I am now seeing a lot of people coming in to refinance; some to take equity out, others to eliminate PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance).  I closed loans recently for two separate clients who wanted to pull some cash out of Chelan building lots, each of which had more than doubled in value.  (Yes, you can refinance a building lot).
 
More commonly, people are pulling modest amounts of cash out their primary or investment homes for remodeling or to … (2 comments)

Photography Copyright Law - 12:34 AM
Dear Abby,
It is my understanding that a photograph is the property of the photographer, unless that photographer sells the right to someone else.  Therefore, when an individual copies a photograph and uses it for commercial purposes without permission of the photographer, they are in violation of copyright law.  Their action could make them liable. 
If anyone has information to the contrary I would be interested in hearing from them. 
Now here is the situation.  I always take all of my own photographs of my listings.  I process them and upload them into the local MLS and on many other Internet sites for visibility and exposure.  I … (41 comments)

Rising median home prices? | Do Agents Know How To Interpret It ? - 10:07 PM
Rising median home prices?  Is the Atlanta real estate markets getting better or worse? What does it mean to you?  I think a lot of real estate agents and brokers really don't know how to interpret sale statistics.  Contrary to belief, a rising median home price is not an indicator or market strength. It does not tell you if a seller sold at a profit or loss.  It is just middle number that's all!  That means half of all home sold were above the median price, and half were below. That is all that median means!  There was a lot of confusion this … (4 comments)

Lofts Are Not Bedrooms! - 11:08 PM
I guess of all the pet peeves I have in real estate is the counting of a loft as a bedroom upstairs!  Over the years in real estate I cannot count the times that I showed a home that billed itself as a 4 bedroom 2 and a half home.  When you go upstairs there is invariably a loft that the agent is billing as the 4th bedroom.  It isn't!  In fact it never will be!  Let's dispel the myth that a loft could even be considered as a 4th bedroom.  The reason is simple...there is no privacy!  The listing agent … (20 comments)

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