Ar_home_b_search
 



home: Home Buying Much Cheaper Than Renting - 05/01/12 03:06 PM
By Les Christie @CNNMoney
(CNNMoney) -- It's the eternal question in real estate: Should I buy or rent?
 
The answer has never been clearer: Buy.
 
In 98 of the top 100 housing markets, buying a home is more affordable than renting, according to the online real estate company Trulia. Only Honolulu and San Francisco buck the trend.
There are several reasons. Home prices are falling. Mortgage interest rates are at historically low levels. And rents are on the rise.
 
Of course, many renters are not in a position to buy. For one, it's hard to get a mortgage these days, despite low rates. And paying rent … (0 comments)

home: Get Your House Ready To Sell - 04/19/12 10:07 PM

Failure to Prepare Your Home’s Appearance for the Buying Eye
When buyers look at a property, they are looking for a home, NOT a house. Impressions and emotions are vital to a buyer’s decision-making process. They are seeking a certain feeling, a place in which they’d be comfortable living. So if you want to sell your home, give the buyer that feeling that they are “home.”
 
Let’s examine the emotional factors influencing the choices made by the buyer. Emotions are one of, if not the most important factor for swaying a buyer’s opinion for or against a property. It … (1 comments)

home: 3 Steps to Getting Your House Sold - 04/10/12 09:35 PM
Doug Reynolds, a Sacramento Area Realtor, gives the three most important steps for a seller to ensure their homes get sold fast and for the highest amount of money: 1) Make sure the home shows well. Clear clutter, no odors, no personal photos/items, lights on and great curb appeal. 2) Make sure you pick a Realtor that Markets the home well. Many good quality photos, virtual tour, and the property should be on all of the major real estate websites to reach as many consumers as possible. 3) Price the home Right.  create competition between buyers to have a choice of … (3 comments)

home: Basketball Legend Michael Jordan’s Home for Sale - 03/27/12 09:37 AM
 [1]Recently, the longtime personal residence of NBA legend Michael Jordan in Highland Park, Illinois, was presented for sale by Katherine Chez Malkin and will be marketed globally by Luxury Portfolio International. With an asking price of $29 million, the secluded compound offers over 56,000 square feet of livable space on three levels; including nine bedrooms, more than 15 baths, and five fireplaces.
Designed to Jordan’s exacting specifications, the tastefully furnished and luxuriously appointed property will afford its owner the ultimate in privacy, security and amenities.
 [2]In addition to the main residence, the estate features an attached and beautifully appointed three-bedroom guesthouse, an … (1 comments)

home: Answers for First-Time Buyers - 03/25/12 04:32 PM

March 2, 2012| by Sarah Stelmok, ABR, GRI, e-Pro
 
Many people in the market today are first-time home buyers who would not have been able to buy when home prices were higher. Enticed both by lower prices and bank promotions, these eager hopefuls are have taken the signs of deals as the best chance to make their first real estate move  .
While all home buyers need help with the short sale process, it’s especially challenging to address the needs and concerns of a first-time home buyer who has decided a short sale is the home for them. Here’s how to … (0 comments)

home: Top Reasons Your Offers Are Not Getting Accepted - 03/23/12 09:17 PM
 
 
Doug Reynolds, Sacramento Area Realtor, discusses the recent sellers market in Sacramento Spring 2012.  He shares tips with buyers as to why your offers are not getting accepted when you are competing with other buyers:
- Price (low ball offers no longer work)
- Financing (Cash is best, then conventional, then FHA and last VA)
- Needing a credit from seller for your closing costs
- Terms (break down of closing costs)
- Lender (small, direct, local lenders are the best right now)
- If it's a short sale, the commitment you are showing the seller.
 
… (2 comments)

home: Cleaning House: Secrets of a Truly Deep Clean - 03/22/12 08:42 PM

Deep clean your house and you’ll brighten rooms and help maintain your home’s value.
De-bug the light fixtures
See that bug burial ground within your overhead fixtures? Turn off the lights and carefully remove fixture covers, dump out flies and wash with hot soapy water. While you’re up there, dust bulbs. Dry everything thoroughly before replacing the cover.
Vacuum heat vents and registers
Dirt and dust build up in heat vents and along register blades. Vents also are great receptacles for coins and missing buttons. Unscrew vent covers from walls or pluck them from floors, remove foreign objects, and vacuum … (3 comments)

home: Where Are All the Home Sellers? - 03/19/12 03:51 PM
As we’ve been discussing in our Sacramento area: low inventory, high demand and a flattening sales price.  It’s happening in other parts of the country as well.  Check out this article from the Wall Street Journal.

By Nick Timiraos of the Wall Street Journal  
 
Inventories of homes listed for sale in January dropped by 6.6% from December to 1.77 million, the eighth straight month that listings have declined. For-sale listings are 23.2% below year-earlier levels and at the lowest point since the housing bust accelerated five years ago, according to data from Realtor.com.
All but one of the 146 … (1 comments)

home: Home Buying: Most Affordable in Decades - 03/15/12 01:35 PM

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Buying a home is now more affordable than it has been in the last twenty years.
Thanks to continued declines in home prices and rock-bottom mortgage rates, the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index hit a record level of affordability.
 
According to the index, 75.9% of all new and existing homes sold during the three months ended Dec. 31 could have been comfortably purchased by families earning the national median income of $64,200.
 
That was the highest percentage recorded in the 20-year history of the index, and a sharp increase from just three months … (1 comments)

home: Points Lose Favor - 03/14/12 08:10 PM
With interest rates at or near record lows, many borrowers are seeing little reason to pay points when buying or refinancing a home.  Some are even opting for what’s known as “negative points,” agreeing to a slightly higher rate to help pay closing costs.
Making sense of the story
Paying points enables a borrower to “buy down” the interest rate on a mortgage in exchange for an upfront fee.  The trend away from points partly reflects borrower sentiment that rates are already low enough, according to industry experts. A point equals 1 percent of the loan amount, so paying one point … (0 comments)

home: History of Mortgage Interest Rates - 03/01/12 06:37 PM
By Marcie Geffner • Bankrate.com
Mortgage interest rates have been pretty attractive for a long stretch of time. So long, in fact, that many homebuyers and homeowners might not realize that rates haven't always been this low. Mortgage interest rates in the 4-percent range were unheard of until 2010, and rates in the 5-percent range were unknown prior to 2003, according to Bankrate.com surveys through the years and a chart of monthly average mortgage interest rates tracked by the Federal Reserve since 1971.
Prior to 2003, higher mortgage interest rates were the norm. In the early 1970s, rates hovered in the 7-percent range and spiked up above 9 percent … (0 comments)

home: 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.
… (0 comments)

home: 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)

home: 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)

home: 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)

home: 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)

home: 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?
… (0 comments)

home: 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:
… (0 comments)

home: 8 Tips for Finding Your New Home - 01/25/12 10:01 PM
 

By: G. M. Filisko
A solid game plan can help you narrow your homebuying search to find the best home for you.
1. Know thyself Understand the type of home that suits your personality. Do you prefer a new or existing home? A ranch or a multistory home? If you’re leaning toward a fixer-upper, are you truly handy, or will you need to budget for contractors?
2. Research before you look List the features you most want in a home and identify which are necessities and which are extras. Identify three to four neighborhoods you’d like to live in based … (0 comments)

home: HouseLogic’s Top-10 List of New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home - 01/10/12 08:42 PM

By: John Riha
Published: December 30, 2011
When the new year arrives, promises and resolutions abound. Here’s the top-10 list of what the resolute home owner should accomplish this year.
Ready for 2012? Here it comes:1. Lose weight (cut energy use)2. Quit smoking (purify indoor air)3. Get out of debt (budget for improvements)4. Learn something new (educate yourself on home finances)5. Get organized (de-clutter)6. Volunteer (support your community)7. Drink less (curb home water use)8. Spend more time with the family (share home improvement projects)9. Get fit (exercise your DIY skills)10. Be less stressed (use maintenance-free materials)
1. Lose weight (cut energy … (2 comments)