Calif. housing market shows signs of recovery. - 06/25/09 10:01 PM
 A surge in home sales that started in some of California's more affordable inland areas has begun to spread to several more expensive coastal areas, another indicator that the state's real estate market may be in recovery mode.
 •·         Many homes in the lower end of the market are receiving multiple offers, with some prospective buyers bidding well above asking prices. Inventory levels for homes priced under $500,000 stood at 3.2 months in May 2009, compared with 9.4 months in May 2008.
•·         Some buyers, especially those in historically higher-priced markets such as the San Francisco Bay Area, are newly optimistic … (0 comments)

Should you sell your investment using a 1031-tax deferred exchange? - 06/22/09 10:56 PM
A few years ago, many were seeing their real estate investments appreciate at incredible rates, and in turn, were doing 1031 tax-deferred exchanges to defer their capital gains liabilities into new investment properties. But in today's market, many investors see limited or no appreciation in their investment property. In times like this, does it make sense for an investor to sell their property and do a 1031 exchange? In many cases, the answer is "yes."With almost all real estate sales involving improved property, there is the recapture of depreciation. Section 1250 of the Internal Revenue Code requires that depreciation be recaptured … (0 comments)

California's $10,000. tax credits are running out. - 06/20/09 09:27 AM
First-time home buyers wanting to take advantage of the state's $10,000 tax credit may have less time than originally expected.  California set aside $100 million to help home buyers purchase newly built homes, hoping to jump start the residential-construction market.  According to state officials, the tactic has worked well and is helping to get  home buyers into the market.  However, there only is approximately 20 percent of the program's funding remaining.
The program launched in March, and as of June 3 nearly $24 million in tax credit certificates already had been issued, according to the state's Franchise Tax Board, leaving nearly … (0 comments)

New Moratorium On California Home Foreclosures - 06/15/09 10:10 AM
California is imposing a 90-day moratorium on housing foreclosures under a new law that takes effect Monday, June 15th.
The law is expected to make lenders try harder to keep borrowers in their homes.
Loan companies must prove they tried to modify the delinquent loans before they can begin foreclosing.
But supporters acknowledge the California Foreclosure Prevention Act won't stop thousands of foreclosures from eventually happening.
There have been more than 365,000 foreclosures in California since early 2007.
 
Brian Ripp, CRS, GRI, Broker - your Bay Area Realtor
www.BrianRipp.com serving Fremont, Newark, Union City & surrounding communities. Real Estate & … (0 comments)

Questions for Your Lender - 06/12/09 10:01 AM
If you are purchasing a home, obtaining a loan is a big part of the process.  Before you choose a mortgage lender, you may want to talk to a few lending institutions and ask them some questions.  Then use the information you gather as a basis for comparing loans and choosing the one that's right for you.  Here are some questions to consider:
             What documents will I need to provide?  You will need to provide proof of income and assets, but the amount of necessary paperwork will vary somewhat from lender to lender.
            How much time will it take to … (0 comments)

The Importance of a Final Walk-through - 06/08/09 10:01 AM
Before closing escrow on your new home, it may be wise to walk through the house for a final look.  This gives you the chance to make sure that everything is still as it was when you agreed to buy the home.  Usually this walk-through is an informal procedure and not a contingency of your contract.
The walk-through is your chance to check that the sellers completed all the repairs as promised.  It also gives you a chance to get important information about the house from the sellers.  This might include something as detailed as how to program the automatic sprinklers … (0 comments)

Finding the Perfect Neighborhood - 06/03/09 09:36 AM
The surrounding neighborhood is just as important because it can have a big impact on your lifestyle -- safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
NAR also says you can keep your home value stable if you find the right neighborhood.
And you can find the right neighborhood by getting information direct from the best sources -- rather than from second hand and often incomplete data bases professing to offer you one stop shopping for all your neighborhood checking needs.
* Make a list of the activities -- movies, health clubs, … (0 comments)

Real Estate Outlook: Recovery Underway - 06/01/09 09:45 AM
The pattern gets clearer week after week: We are looking at a slow-motion housing recovery that should have us out of the recession later this year.
Now that's not to ignore the fact that there are markets in the country that still face very challenging economic dynamics - with no real turnaround in view yet on housing sales, prices and unemployment. But the national numbers are telling us something important, and they increasingly look postive.
 
Brian Ripp, CRS, GRI, Broker - your  Bay Area Realtor
www.BrianRipp.com   serving Fremont, Newark, Union City & surrounding communities. Real Estate & Property Management.

… (0 comments)

 

Find CA real estate agents and Fremont real estate on ActiveRain.