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Pick A Realtor You Trust And Then Let Them Do Their Job. - 02/29/12 06:54 PM
Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Area Realtor, gives advise and opinion for buyers that are in the hunt for a home.  Buyers need to carefully select the Realtor they want to work with, discuss their wants and needs and then hand over their trust to the agent they picked.  A lot of times buyers can end up being their own worst enemies in this current market of low inventory, bank owns, foreclosures, short sales and auctions.  The most important thing for buyers in this market is taking the time to find the right match with an agent.
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Shopping For The Best Mortgage Rates - 02/27/12 01:31 PM
Interest rates are the lowest in decades, enticing many borrowers to shop for a loan.  Mortgage lenders adjust their rates based on perceptions of risk, so unless the borrower can show they’re a low-risk individual, the borrower is unlikely to qualify for a rate that matches those seen in recent advertisements and headlines.
Making sense of the story
The rates quoted are averages drawn from a variety of financial institutions, and lenders use varied approaches to set them.  Consumers who want to try for the lowest rates available need to consider basic factors, such as credit score, points, property type, down … (0 comments)

How Long Before You Can Buy After A Shortsale, Foreclosure, Or Bankruptcy - 02/25/12 02:07 PM
Unfortunately, in our economy man people have got through a short sale, foreclosure or bankruptcy.  The good news is you can establish your credit and in a fairly short people of time, be able to purchase a home again with the currently historical low interest rates and very low prices.  Take a look at the video to see when you'll be able to start looking again as long as you have got your FICO back up.  Call or email if you have any questions.
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Mood Improves on Home Prices - 02/24/12 07:45 PM
 

By Mia Lamar, Wall Street Journal
Consumer expectations for U.S. home prices perked up in December, matching a modest fourth-quarter improvement in the U.S. economy, according to a monthly survey from mortgage market firm Fannie Mae.
For its December reading, Fannie Mae said survey respondents now expect home to rise by 0.8% over the next year, up from the 0.2% gain predicted in November.
Views on the direction of the U.S. economy also improved: 22% of respondents indicated a belief that the U.S. economy is on the right track, marking a 6-percentage-point jump from November’s survey.
On personal finances, 40% … (2 comments)

Converting Foreclosures To Rentals To Help The Real Estate Market - 02/23/12 09:21 AM

 
Talking Points
·         In coming weeks, federal policy makers could roll out pilot programs to further test the concept of renting out single-family homes.  
·         There are two different types of programs that officials are likely to consider.  Under the first, the Federal Housing Administration could sell properties in bulk to investors who agree to rent them out.  
·         A more likely option for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be to set up pools of properties in which third-party investors would take a stake.  Investors could be responsible for handling maintenance and day-to-day operation of the rental pool, with Fannie and … (0 comments)

Real estate: 5 reasons to get a new mortgage in 2012 - 02/22/12 08:48 AM
By Marcie Geffner,  Bankrate.com Mortgage interest rates, near all-time lows, are likely to remain attractive throughout 2012. That means opportunities for new homebuyers and for homeowners who want to refinance.
Here are five reasons why you might want to get a new mortgage, and what you should know.
While depressed housing prices and low mortgage rates have made homes more affordable, economic uncertainty and volatile housing markets have discouraged so many homebuyers that mortgage purchase applications dropped to a 15-year low in August, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported.
In qualifying for loans, buyers face hurdles including a down payment and the … (0 comments)

But I Thought It's A Buyers Market in Sacramento Real Estate? - 02/21/12 07:35 PM
I hear it from new clients all the time: "But I thought it's a buyer's market?"  Take a look at this video to learn about how Sacramento Real Estate has low inventory and high demand, creating a "Price Sensitive Seller's Market."  The inventory of homes for sale in the Sacramento area is only 2 months.  A "normal" market is considered 6 months of inventory.  So, as buyers are quickly finding out when they get started house hunting, a home that shows well, is marketed well and priced right will have multiple offers on it within a week or less.  It's hard … (1 comments)

A Good Rental History Can Help Borrowers - 02/20/12 12:02 PM
First-time home buyers planning to purchase a house later this year may have a better chance of qualifying for a mortgage if they have had a history of paying their rent on time.
Making sense of the story
Last year, credit-reporting agency Experian added a section to millions of credit reports showing on-time rent payments and raised the credit scores of many people.  The company said that this year it would add in negative marks, including mentions of bounced checks or of tenants’ leaving before a lease was up. Incorporating rental payments into credit scores could affect millions of people who … (1 comments)

4% Interest Rates ... Are You Freakin' Kidding Me? - 02/19/12 06:56 PM
Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Area Realtor, discusses the history of interest rates in America and shows how the current interest rates in 2012 are at record lows for home buyers.  The unheard of interest rates of 3.5% and 4% combined with the bottom of the market for prices are creating the best time to ever buy real estate in Sacramento, the beginning of 2012.
 
What is your interest rate at?  Did you ever purchase a home with a mortgage above 12%?
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How Are You Homes New Year’s Resolutions Going? - 02/18/12 10:31 AM

 
·         When the new year arrives, promises and resolutions abound, but few include home improvement.  Here are resolutions every homeowner should make.
·         Cut energy use: Sealing and insulating ductwork can improve the efficiency of a heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent, saving $200 per year or more, according to Energy Star.
Budget for home improvements: Creating a yearly budget for home improvement and maintenance helps prevent overspending, and encourages homeowners to put aside money for major replacements — such as new roofing or a kitchen appliance — that come up every few years. Curb water use: The average household uses … (0 comments)

Sacramento County Real Estate Update February - March 2012 - 02/17/12 07:30 PM
Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Realtor, provides an analysis of the local market statistics from January 2012. This month discussing how inventory is still on the low side at the time, and sales dipped a bit in January, which is typically compared to December. And then quickly hitting on interest rates and lender rebates to have stronger offers.  More information can be found at his website, www.SellWithDoug.com, as well as his blog and Facebook page (Doug Reynolds Real Estate). Become a fan of his YouTube page and Facebook pages.
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How Low Can Rates Go In 2012? - 02/14/12 03:15 PM

By VICKIE ELMER – New York Times
 
IF your New Year’s resolutions include buying a house or refinancing, the Federal Reserve has you covered. It has committed to keep long-term interest rates low through next year, so a 30-year mortgage will be pegged about where it is now — 4.32 percent in New York — at least through spring, said Frank E. Nothaft, the chief economist at Freddie Mac.
 
“Rates are very much at the bottom,” Mr. Nothaft said. But, he added, they may start inching up in the second half of the year. “If you’re planning to … (1 comments)

2005 vs. 2012, What Buyers Are Using To Purchase Homes In Sacramento - 02/14/12 02:33 AM
Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Area Realtor, takes a look at how buyers are purchasing homes in 2012 compared to 2005.  In 2005, conventional financing dominated the market, now there is a balance between cash, FHA and conventional purchases.  Take a look at the astonishing chart in the video to see how the market has evolved over the past 7 years.  Some very shocking numbers when you look at it.  What do you think?  What type of financing did you use for your purchase?
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How Low Can Rates Go? - 02/13/12 11:11 AM

By VICKIE ELMER – New York Times
 
IF your New Year’s resolutions include buying a house or refinancing, the Federal Reserve has you covered. It has committed to keep long-term interest rates low through next year, so a 30-year mortgage will be pegged about where it is now — 4.32 percent in New York — at least through spring, said Frank E. Nothaft, the chief economist at Freddie Mac.
 
“Rates are very much at the bottom,” Mr. Nothaft said. But, he added, they may start inching up in the second half of the year. “If you’re planning to … (0 comments)

First-time Buyers Lean On The Bank Of Mom And Dad - 02/11/12 07:55 PM

By Jane Hodges - Reuters
 
About a third of first-time buyers in 2011 got either a gift (26 percent) or a loan (7 percent) from their families to help finance their home purchases, down slightly from 2010, but consistent with assistance levels seen during the last decade, according to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
But industry observers think the level of parental generosity is even higher, with some giving children money for home purchases so far in advance of a loan application that the gift isn't disclosed to lenders, or, if they've got the resources, buying homes outright … (3 comments)

State Now Allows Smoking Bans In Multifamily Housing - 02/10/12 03:34 PM
By Mark Glover Sac Bee
California landlords, who have long had the right to restrict pets, noise and even water beds in their units, can now prohibit smoking under a new law that took effect Sunday.
California Senate Bill 332, authored by state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown on Sept. 6.
With Brown's signature, Padilla said, "we will see the availability of smoke-free, multifamily housing grow throughout California."
The new law requires landlords to specify in their lease/rental agreements areas where smoking is prohibited on their properties.
Craig Powell, whose Sacramento company Powell Properties LP … (1 comments)

FHA Says: Flip That House - 02/08/12 11:43 AM
By Les Christie @CNNMoney
 
 
Flippers, the real estate investors who buy homes on the cheap and quickly resell them at a profit, just got a reprieve from the Federal Housing Administration.
 
In an effort to help stabilize housing prices and unload some of the foreclosures that are flooding low-income communities, the mortgage insurer extended a waiver of its anti-flipping regulations through 2012.
 
The waiver, which was initially issued in 2010 and set to expire this month, suspends regulations that prohibit the agency from insuring mortgages used to purchase homes that are bought and resold in less than 90 … (1 comments)

Sierra Oaks, Wilhaggin, Del Dayo and Shelfield - Sales Data for January 2012 - 02/07/12 11:00 PM
There were 3 homes sold in Sierra Oaks, Wilhaggin, Del Dayo and Shelfield in the month of January 2012 .  This is a decrease from the 6 sold in  December 2011.  Here are the addresses and specific details:

 
 
Currently there are: 46  active listings, 8 active short sale listings, 6 contingent short sale listings, and 11 pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to … (0 comments)

Arden Park and Arden Oaks - Sales Data for January 2012 - 02/07/12 10:49 PM
There were 6 homes sold in Arden Park and Arden Oaks in January 2012.  That is exactly the same from the 6 sold in the month of December 2011.  Here are the addresses and specific information:

 
 
There are currently: 15 active listings, 1 active short sale listings, 3 contingent short sale listings, and 6 pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or sell in … (0 comments)

Elmhurst and Tahoe Park Sales Data - January 2012 (Sacramento, Ca) - 02/06/12 10:31 PM
There were 11 homes sold in Elmhurst and Tahoe Park in the month of January 2012.  That is a decrease from the 19  homes sold in the area in the month of  December  .  Here are the addresses and specific information.

 
 
Currently there are: 13 active listings, 8 active short sales, 11 contingent short sales, and 13 pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or … (0 comments)

Land Park and Curtis Park Sales Data - January 2012 (Sacramento, Ca) - 02/06/12 10:21 PM
There were 13 homes sold in Land Park and Curtis Park in the month of  January 2012 .  That is a slight decrease from the 12  homes sold in the month of  December.  Here are the addresses and specific information.
 
 
Currently there are: 33 Active listings, 0  Active short sale listings, 1 Contingent short sale listings, and 15 Pending sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or … (0 comments)

East Sacramento: McKinley Park, Fab 40's, River Park, East Sac, East Portal Park - Sales Data for January 2012 - 02/06/12 10:09 PM
There were 18 homes sold in East Sacramento in the month of January, 2012.  That is an decrease from the 26  homes sold in the area in the month of  December .  Here are the addresses and specific information.

 
Currently there are: 47 Active listings, 4 Active short sale listings, 16 Contingent short sale listings, and 36 Pending Sales.
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or sell in … (1 comments)

College Greens / Glenbrook Sales in January 2012 (Sacramento, Ca) - 02/04/12 03:34 PM
There were 11 homes sold in College Greens / Glenbrook for the month of January , 2012.  That is a slight decrease from the 16 sold in  December .  Here are the addresses and specific information.
 

 
 
 
Currently there are: 17 Active listings, 7 Active short sale listings, 12 Contingent Short Sales  and 18 Pending Sales
 
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy … (0 comments)

Rosemont Sales in January 2012 (Sacramento, Ca) - 02/04/12 03:21 PM
There were 17 homes sold in Rosemont in the month of January, 2012.  That is slight decrease from the 19 that sold in  December .  Here are the addresses and specific information.
 

 
 
 
Currently there are: 17 Active listings, 11 Active short sale listings, 24 Contingent Short Sales  and 34 Pending Sales
 
If you would like more information (pictures, listing history, what type of sales they were, etc.) feel free to call or email and I’d be happy to provide that for you.  Call or email me if you are looking to buy or sell in the 95826 … (0 comments)

Show Your Home Pride: 7 Home Improvement Projects for $1,000 (or Less) - 02/03/12 11:11 AM

By: Lisa Kaplan Gordon
Americans still think buying a home is one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. Here are some ways to increase your home’s value and comfort for less than $1,000.
We knew reports of the death of American home ownership were greatly exaggerated (nod to Mark Twain), and now we’ve got the numbers to prove it.A just-released survey by the Meredith Corp., which publishes Better Homes and Gardens magazine, says the vast majority of people polled believe owning a home is a smart financial move and a source of pride.Here are some results of the 2,500 people surveyed online:
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What Your Remodeling Contract Should Say - 02/01/12 04:12 PM

By: Oliver Marks
Review your remodeling contract carefully and adjust it to make sure it protects you in terms of payments, work schedules, and project specifications.
The essential job of a construction contract is to spell out the project’s “scope of work.” This is the document you and your contractor will consult throughout the job, so make sure it’s as detailed as possible.
Some states require the contractor to write his license number on the document and to include a clause that allows you to rescind within a certain time period after signing. Check your state laws to learn what your construction contract … (1 comments)