Gene Ward's Real Estate Blog

How to be successful in today's real estate market

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:25:54 -0700

As the Technology Integration Specialist for Area Pro Realty I talk daily with agents in our franchises from around the country. In addition to questions about using our technology they ask how the real estate market is doing and what my projections are for the future. My answer is always the same, it's doing great if you focus on the specific needs of buyers and sellers in your area. Once you become an agent with the knowledge buyers and sellers are so desperately seeking you will get excited about the possibilities that abound on every street.

Buyers and Sellers in today's market are not sure how to go about meeting their goals, whether buying or selling a property. An informed agent can provide them with the information they need to make informed decisions. After all, isn't that in our job description?

So if you are experiencing a slow year, turn it around with a comprehensive marketing strategy to get back in the game. That strategy starts with educating yourself about the real estate market in your area and the best approaches for buying selling. Short sales, REO's or convention sellers each require a different approach and information. Compile the market information for each category into an easy to understand package that can be presented to sellers depending on which category they fall into.

In addition to being the technology specialist for Area Pro Realty I'm a licensed real estate broker. Most of my time is spent at corporate helping agents understand technology, but I still take on a couple deals a year so I can stay informed about a dynamic real estate market. A recent listing presentation reinforced what I've stated here, clients are confused about the market and are looking for answers so they can make informed decisions. They are looking to you for help.

I could go on and on about using technology to increase your exposure on the Internet and how to attract more business, but that does little good if you don't have the essential materials to follow through. So get back to the basics, education, marketing and follow through, it will make a difference in how you perceive the real estate market.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Interconnected social networking

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:24:26 -0700

As the technology integration specialist for Area Pro Realty my duties include finding and evaluating new technology to help our agents locate new business. I signed up for a Posterous account some months back but had not had the time to really put it to test.

One of the things I like about Posterous is it allows me to auto update my twitter, facebook and other social media sites by just posting in one location. Today I'll be testing those features and will report my findings in another blog post.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Alamo Home Search

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:54:43 -0700

The Alamo, CA home market summary below for Active, Pending and Sold listings. The Pending and Sold homes are dated from June, 20 2010 to July 20, 2010.

Active Listings= 1, Avg. days on the market= 110 days.

Pending Listings taken off market in the last 30 days= 19 (Keep in mind some of these pending listings are short sales and may never close.

Sold Listings, close escrow and buyers took possesion= 1

By dividing the number of active listings by the number that went pending in the last 30 days we get the months of inventory, number of months to sell active listings at the rate of pending listings.

110 divided by 19 = 5.8 months of inventory.

When you are ready to start your Alamo home search give us a call.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

21 Tactics to Increase Blog Traffic

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:50:34 -0700

Join me today on Techcall for a discussion about blogging and SEO.

www.blogtalkradio.com/techcall

11:00 am to 11:30am PST

21 Tactics to Increase Blog Traffic

Gene Ward

Broker and Technology Supervisor at Area Pro Realty

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Alamo Home Search

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:40:09 -0700

Latest marketing statistics from Alamo, California. April 27th, 2010.

Let's put these numbers into perspective. A 38 million dollar listing was removed (where indicated), from the statistics as it's an unusually high price.

1. Sold (coe), in the last 30 days = 1, the remaining closed after the 1st of the year but before 3/27/2010.

2. DOM is less for pending listings. Pending listings DOM is 61% of Active.

3. The Avg. sold price is 71% of the Active listing avg. price. Indicates price does matter.

4. Five months of inventory should indicate a sellers market but it does not seem like it as prices are still dropping. We expect more foreclosures in the next few months.


Active listings	110
Pending	40	(17 of these listings were REO or Short Sales)
Pending last 30 days	22	(5 months of inventory at this rate)
Sold year to date	43
Sold last 30 days	1	(Closed escrow)

Low price	$399,999
High price	$5,950,000	(38,000,000 unique property taken out of statistics.)

Listing avg. price	$2,072,842
Listing avg. price	$1,743,235	(38,000,000 unique property taken out of statistics.)
Active avg. price p/sq. ft.	$443

Average DOM Active	104
Average DOM Pending	64
Avg. Price Pending	$1,245,517
Pending avg. price p/sq. ft.	$375

If you need more information about Alamo or when you are ready to start your Alamo home search give me a call.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

History of Home Prices and Interest Rates

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:13:33 -0800

I couldn't wait to see what the graph looked like this year as 2009 was a down year for home prices across the country. In normal markets, when interest rates are low (see history of interest rate chart below), home prices normally increase. Even at the previous historic low in 1963 rates were around 6%. Last year they averaged just under 5%. The government has kept interest rates artificially low. There is always a price to pay when the government interferes in the markets. Unintended consequences can be expected later this year and in future years.

Here are the actual percentage decreases in home prices for 2009.

Alamo (-15%), Danville (-11%), Blackhawk (-14%), San Ramon (-9%) Walnut Creek (-8%).

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Alamo Home Search

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:40:01 -0800

Are you looking for a home or property in Alamo, CA? If you are in the process, or getting ready to, start your Alamo home search, now is the time to get started. Interest rates are still at historic lows and home prices have dropped to reasonable levels compared to 1 or 2 years ago. You will of course need to qualify for a loan but if you have the down payment, good credit scores and work history it can be done.

I'll be posting my yearly "History of Home Prices" here in just a few days. In the meantime this is the current Alamo, CA housing market summary.

Active Listings= 76

(Currently for sale properties.)

Pending in last 30 days= 7

(Includes one subject to lender approval.)

Sold= 12

(Closed escrow in the last 30 days.)

Months of Inventory= 10.86

(Number of months to sell current inventory at this rate of Pending sales per month.)

Below for comparison are the numbers from July 2009, we've seen an improvement in the housing market.

132 active listings

14 Pending Sales

13.2 months of inventory

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

How to clean and keep your PC free of viruses and trojans

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:02:25 -0800

One of my laptops was lent out and the virus protection had expired so of course it got infected. A total of 56 viruses and trojans. I spent many hours researching and removing all viruses and trojans. The only error left was windows automatic update would not complete the update process. Microsoft supports their software update problems for free so I tried them. After four supports calls lasting 1+ hours each I gave up on them and figured out how to solve the problem myself. I'm amazed that they couldn't solve a problem with their own update software.

I used 2 free programs to remove the viruses and trojans. Microsoft's MalwareBytes and HighjackThis from Trend micro. I also uninstalled Norton antivirus as that program slows down the operating system and internet usage, and they charge $80 a year for it. Once the PC was clean I installed Windows Defender and Avast Home Edition, both free programs I have used on my other PC's with great success. The PC operates much faster and Avast updates virus definitions whenever they are availble. The cleaned PC has never operated better or run faster.

The hardest trojan to remove is called Personal Guard 2009. This is an especially insidious tojan. It installs in the registry keys among other places and loads before windows operating system so it's hard to stop or eliminate. It informs you that your computer is unprotected and infected then offers to fix it for $39.95. If you take their offer, they take your money and credit card info but nothing will change, the trojan is still there. Thank god the person that borrowed the PC didn't take the offer.

There are a couple simple ways to protect your computer from viruses and trojans. Always have the IE status bar active. It can be found in the IE View menu. In the status bar at the bottom of your browser, when you roll over a link, it displays the actual website URL. If it doesn't match the site URL you expect don't click on it. It's easy to create a link that displays whatever text you want it to and hide the actual url.

Always read the text on any image with a link on it offering a product of any kind. A lot of the images look just like a Windows or other reliabe virus software company. Many of the fakes have miss-spell words. If it doesn't look right, or a trusted site, don't click on it.

Always keep virus updates current, use a good virus detection program like Avast and Windows Defender. It updates automatically when you connect to the internet. Keep windows updates current.

If your PC does become infected, don't try to clean it yourself unless you know what you're doing. You can do a lot of damage to an operating system or installed programs if you delete the wrong files or dlls.

I'm a real estate broker with lots of experience working with buyers and sellers. I've also been involved with computers, programming and software development since 1982. Even with that much experience I still learn something when a problem like this presents itself. Don't know why, but I like the challenge PC's offer, it's much like a puzzle or chess game.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

TechCall internet radio show

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:07:00 -0800

Area Pro Realty provides the technology and tools to help our agents sell more real estate. We are a vitual real estate company so we must utilize technology ourselves to keep agents informed and trained. One of the ways we do that, a weekly live internet radio show called Techcall. If you have knowledge in a real estate related subject and are interested in being a guest speaker on TechCall give us a call (925) 798-2720. Guests can call in from a remote location.

Shows are recorded and archived so you can listen at any time. Click on the play button in the Player below to listen to the latest shows.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

It's hard work

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:13:01 -0700

Real estate, where we all make tons of money, drive fancy cars, wear stylish clothing and eat in expensive restaurants, yeah, right.

The real estate business is dynamic, changing conditions mean brokerages and agents have to stay on top of what works and what doesn't. Is it a seller's or buyer's market? Are interest rates going up or down? How much inventory is out there?

These questions and many more are presented everyday to those working in the real estate business. One of the most important question for most is, "where is my next deal coming from", or "how do I find more clients". The life of an entrepreneur, it's so wonderful and exciting!

The answer to these types of questions depends on you and what you are willing and able to do. Walk neighborhoods, mail postcards, buy Internet leads, hold open houses, social networking, the list is endless. What do you feel comfortable doing, find out what it is, that way you'll do it consistantly until it produces results. If you hate holding open homes don't expect that activity to produce results. Your real feelings will shine through the veneer and devulge your true desire to be elsewhere.

Not all agents work the same, what works for one agent may not work for another. For example, I won't buy internet leads from the lead aggregators, not that I don't think internet leads have value, it's just that I believe the aggregators are stealing our business then selling it back to us. So if internet leads are your thing, generate your own through social networking, websites, blogs, etc., or buy leads from an agent recommended aggregator. Make them prove their leads produce results, talk with their existing agent clients and make sure you hold them accountable. And if they won't let you try before you buy, keep looking.

If you love to meet and talk with real live people, hold open houses or walk the neighborhoods, this may be exactly what is needed to get your real estate business moving. It's amazing the effect any activity can have on our businesses.

One of the things I like most about the Area Pro Realty franchise is you are allowed to be who you are and run your business so that it meets your needs and your clients. Whatever floats your boat, as long as it's legal and ethical, you'll get the support of the whole company. So whatever "Your Thing" is, do it often, do it right and always remember, Never give up, never surrender.

If you are an experienced agent looking for the right career opportunities, or a broker interested in the availability of an Area Pro Realty franchise in your area, follow these links and/or call Mike Volkin for more information, you'll be glad you did. (925) 798-2732

Welcome aboard to our newest franchises:

Area Pro Realty Treasure Coast, Stuart, Florida
Area Pro Realty East Bay, San Ramon, CA.
Area Pro Realty Mount Diablo, Clayton, CA

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Alamo Home Search and Market Conditions

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:36:47 -0700

If an Alamo home search is in your future the following market statistics and conditions are encouraging.

Active Listings = 133

Total Pending Sales = 29

- Pending Short Sales = 11

- Pending REO (bank owned), = 1

- Pending in Last 30 Days = 15

Months of Inventory (Active Listings divided by pending sales in last 30 days), = 8.86 months of inventory.

Sales in the upper end market seem to be doing well compared to other areas here in Contra Costa county. Alamo has always been a desirable area so those that can afford to move up are doing so.

If you are in the market for an Alamo home now is the time to make your move before interest rates begin their enivitable climb. Jumbo loans are now available at interest rates far below where they were at the beginning of this year. For more information about Alamo and available properties give me a call or shoot me an email to start your Alamo home search.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Open House in San Ramon, CA

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:50:43 -0700

Do you have any buyers for the San Ramon, CA area? If yes, stop by my open house this Sunday, August 2nd between 1pm and 4pm. This is a fantastic home with over 1/2 acre, RV parking, 3058 sq. ft. single level home. For more information visit the properties web site here.

http://909regencycourt.epropertysites.com

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Can't think of a thing to blog about

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:52:39 -0700

As I was getting ready to write this blog I realized I had no interest at all in what I was goint to blog about, after all, it's Monday. I should be blogging about a new listing and the low ball offer we received after just one day on the market.

But... I would rather talk about the great time I had this last Sunday. You see, I like to ride motorcycles, I like to ride them as often as possible. In fact the more time on a bike the better.

I swear I'll take the camera next time because you just won't believe how absolultely beautiful the California coast was. Myself and two friends rode from the east bay over the San Rafael bridge. We took Lucas Valley road through the country to Highway 1. Rode north to Tomales bay and stopped at Tony's on the water for BBQ oysters. Man where they good! Stopped for gas and met two other bikers from South Carolina. They were on a road trip across country to S.F. then north up Hwy 1. They were eventually going to end up in Sturgess before heading back home. Very nice people come from S.C.

The weather was perfect, fog was just on the coast enough to need a jacket. The ocean is fantastic and Hwy 1 winds it's way up the coast line. We went north to Stewarts Point. There is a road heading east from Stewarts Point that looks a little sketchy, always claimed I would take that route someday. Sunday was the day. What a great 47 mile ride through the wilderness to Healdsburg. We didn't get home until after 7pm.

BTW - We did counter the offer, was countered back and generated a counter to that counter. We'll see what happens in the next day.

Just a sidenote; one of the other bikers riding with us was the home owner for the listing.

It's was a wonderful life until Monday roled around.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Alamo CA Home Search and Market Report

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:46:41 -0700

I spent Sunday riding around Alamo, Ca to see what's happening in the housing market. What I saw during my Alamo home search was nothing less than a market correction still playing itself out. As I'm sure you are aware, 2006 was the last year of the "booming real estate market". Some say the downturn started in 2005. As unemployment (currently 12%), continues to rise in California, even more homes will be put up for sale, most not voluntarily.

Let's compare last months market report (June/17/2009), with the current market data to determine the direction of the market, up or down.

Status June July

Active 132 142

Pending (last 30 days) 14 7

*Months of Inventory 13.2 20.3

*Months of inventory is determined by dividing the number of pending sales in the last 30 days into the number of current active listings.

The number of active listings has increased about 9%, but the number of properties that went pending decrease by 50%, which was a slow month.

I don't enjoy reporting on poor market performance but as a real estate agent and broker I must always be honest with my clients and the public.

If you need to sell your home, visit 10 homes for sale in your area that compare to your property. Grab the property brochure and start making notes about the good, the bad, and the ugly. Now go home and view your property just like a buyer would. Compare your home's features, location, condition, etc., with the 10 homes you just visited.

If you were in the market to buy a home in Alamo, would it be your home or one of the others? Let's suppose you selected your current home for whatever reason, how much would you offer? This is an exercise you really should perform as correctly pricing your home in this market will guarantee your home is sold when so many are available.

On another note, I have a listing coming on the market this thursday in San Ramon, view the property site here. http://909regencycourt.epropertysites.com

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Commercial Loan Modification

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:58:31 -0700

We offer assistance to commercial building owners having trouble making the loan payment because of economic conditions. To obtain your free loan consultation simply go to http://www.geneward.com/?q=loan+mod and fill out the contact information form.

Many businesses are struggling to meet their obligations on their commercial real estate loan. The staggering number of defaults have influenced many commercial lenders to start renegotiating the terms of commercial mortgages.

Our team of well-trained professionals specialize in commercial loan workout solutions.

We are committed to our clients and their loan modification needs. Our strong work ethic and persistence are the reason we get results. The organized and efficient back office strategy we implement has literally saved commercial property owners from bank foreclosures and has helped these owners become cash flow positive.

Commercial Loan Modificaton Services

Comprehensive evaluation of your commercial portfolio and Financial Situation

Thorough analysis of your property and consultation from one of our Loss Mitigation / Commercial Loan Modification Professionals

Present all options to you so you can make an informed decision

Renegotiate the terms of your existing commercial mortgage to help avoid a default

Restructure your current loan for better property income cash flow

Negotiate favorable terms with your lender so you get the best deal possible

What is a commercial loan modification?

Commercial Loan Modification is when a business or individual that owns a commercial property such as a mall, hotel, or apartment complex, agree with the mortgage holder to permanently alter the terms of the original loan.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

San Ramon estate home

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:55:57 -0700

This is a sneak preview of a San Ramon, CA estate home that will be coming on the market in the first week of July. It is not yet on the MLS so if you are a real estate agent please don't try to show yet. Call agent for more information.

This home is in the San Ramon, Ca neighborhood of Old Ranch Estates. There is no HOA or assoicated dues and rules. It's one of the only detached single family home neighborhoods built in the 80's in San Ramon that doesn't have an HOA.

The current owner kept an eye on this neighborhood for several years before they purchased this unique property. The side yard access and RV pad were big selling points. Custom estate fencing was added to sheild the RV from the street. This lot is .56 acres, mostly flat, fully fenced and abuts open space at the end of a cul-de-sac.

View the online property website for photos and additional information.

http://909regencycourt.epropertysites.com/?refid=consolidated.data.base

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Alamo Home Search - REO and Foreclosures

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:43:08 -0700

While checking on the housing market conditions in Alamo, CA I used Google base to search for "Alamo foreclosures and REO properties", there were 20 listed. I used realty.trac and found 17, which is correct? Not sure but the numbers below still paint a bleak picture for this upscale community of Alamo.

17 Bank owned

43 in Default (pre-foreclosure)

6 Trustee Sale properties in Auction.

From the MLS:

132 active listings. (That's the most I've seen in over 10 years.)

14 Pending Sales (Just 10 went pending in the last 30 days)

132 divided by 10= 13.2 months of inventory.

With 13.2 months of inventory I would say it's definatly a BUYER'S market.

I thought we would be on our way out of this mess by now but I'm not sure anymore when that will happen. So if you have a home for sale, or thinking of selling one, you have a lot of competition, be prepared to negotiate everything.

Is this a good time to buy? Maybe, depends on where you think the bottom is. If you're thinking of buying a home and you have a secure job or business and need to move or want to move up, go for it. Take on one of those bank owned properties, or a short sale, you're bound to get a pretty good deal.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Current real estate market for Alamo, CA

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:39:03 -0700

So... How is the Alamo CA housing market doing today? With all the talk about the big increases in housing sales here in California you might assume everything was great, right? Well in Alamo and the surrounding communites of Danville, Blackhawk, San Ramon and Walnut Creek you would be wrong.

The Alamo, CA community has not seen a single family detached home priced below $600,000 since way back in 1996/97. I was doing my Alamo Home Search this weekend and found a home priced at $625,000, granted it was very close to the freeway and on a busy road but still, it's a detached home with a 1/2 acre lot. It is not a fixer and had many fine upgrades. When and if an offer is presented on this house you can be pretty sure it will be closer to $600,000, less than the asking price.

There are 116 homes listed in Alamo as of today. Just a few years ago the average number of listings was between 40 and 60. See the charts below for Average Days on the Market and Months of Inventory. As these charts go back two years they graphically tell a story. So why are these previously sought after Alamo homes languishing on the market?

There are a few good reasons...

1. Interest rates on loans exceeding the FHA conforming limits start around 6.7%, This rate requries at least a 20% down payment and an excellent credit score. In comparison, conforming loans can be found today under 5% with as little as a 3% down payment. And if it's a jumbo loan you'll need to find a bank willing to lend.

2. Jobs - Even in the executive arena people are loosing their jobs. No job, no money to pay the mortgage.

3. Option Arms and Alt A loans in default. Many of these currently listed Alamo homes that are either in foreclosure or REO bank owned were purchased between 2002 and 2006, when prices were at their peak and the banks were lending to anybody with a breath. In fact, I'm not sure breathing was even a requirement!

Is it going to pick up anytime soon? That's the $64,000 question and the answer is directly related to jobs and interest rates. If the government keeps printing money interest rates will most certainly rise. If businesses can't borrow money job growth won't happen. It all depends on our current batch of leaders and how they handle the current problems. If they do a good job we'll come out of this sooner rather than later. If they get it wrong, all bets are off. But if you are in a position to buy a home in Alamo, now may be a great time. Prices and interest rates are low but no one knows for how long. Find a great agent with knowledge of the market and proceed with caution.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

History of Home Prices and Interest Rates

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:21:53 -0800

Average Selling Price for Detached Single Family Homes

Average selling price, since 1983, for detached single family homes for the towns of Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, San Ramon and Walnut Creek, California, with corresponding inserted interest rate chart.

I've charted and graphed price changes for the last 25 years in these areas. It's interesting to note that if you were to project a line at an angle aligning the most stable years you'll see we're still about 25% higher now than we should be, but that's just my opinion.

Take a look at the interest rate chart which goes back to 1963. Current interest rates are exactly the same as they were in 1963. This is a historic low for interest rates but hang onto your hats, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Also note how high the interest rates were in the late 70's, early 80's. If you're old enough to remember, and I am, that's the last time the government tried to control the free market economy (Jimmy Carter years).

National Average Mortgage Contract Interest Rates

To put the current mortgage interest rates into perspective see the mortgage interest rate chart below. These rates start in 1963 and go through 2008. This chart confirms that we are experiencing historically low mortgage interest rates.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

I had no idea!

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:55:36 -0800

Just discovered some interesting information about a group of people that work for you.

Read to the bottom, you'll be surprised by the answer.

500+ employees

29 have been accused of spousal abuse.

7 have been arrested for fraud.

19 have bounced checks.

117 have bank rupted at least 2 companies.

3 have done time for assault.

71 cannot get a master card or visa because their credit is so bad.

14 were arrested for drug charges.

8 have been arrested for shop lifting.

21 are currently defendents in lawsuits.

84 were arrested in the last year for drunk driving.

Who is this infamous company?

It's your U.S. Congress

To find out the real truth about how we got into this housing mess follow this link and read the article "How we got into this mess".

http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php

Get involved, ask questions, vote.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Is it time to buy a home yet?

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:07:57 -0800

Last year was a slow one for real estate sales but it did start picking up towards the end of the year when buyers started realizing that homes were now affordable. Lot's of bank owned properties being sold 50% less than they sold for just a couple of years ago. If fact, everyone of the homes I sold last year were bank owned, REO properties.

We just went pending on a seller owned COOP I had listed in the Rossmoor retirement community back in 2007 for $180,000, but did not get any offers. We rented it out for one year then put it back on the market in December 2008. The new listing price was $140,000, then reduced to $129,888. This was a property that sold in 2005 for about $300,000. It will close in 15 days.

So what has changed so much that a property would be reduced by more than 50% and still have difficulty selling? It's simple, there were few buyers ready willing or able to purchase in 2007/2008 and the banks did not want to make loans without 20-30% down payment.

Now that interest rates and home prices have dropped to reasonable levels buying just makes a lot more sense than renting. Not to mention the $15,000 tax credit that will be offered very soon.

The majority of my real estate business is representing buyers. We've been writing offers on bank owned (REO's) and have the knowledge and experience you need to make sure you get the best deal possible. As a standard practice we write into the offer that the seller (bank) pays up to 5% of the value of the purchase price towards the buyers closing costs. That even includes buying down points on your new loan's interest rate.

As a example, let's say the loan interest rate is 5%, part of the seller's consession can be used to buy down (points), the loan interest rate to 4.5%. That means the loan payment will be approximately $450 per month per $100,000 borrowed.

Considering the historic lows in interest rates, the availability of reasonably priced homes, banks paying the closing costs and FHA loans with as little as 3% down, it's time to take a look at the benefits of home ownership.

So if you have been thinking of buying a home but have been afraid to do so, now's the time to reconsider. We've been through tough times before but you can be assured that America will survive and prosper. Home prices will stablize when the cost of replacement is more than the cost of existing homes. Do the math to determine if existing home prices in your area are less than the cost to build new. If they are, it's time to seriously consider buying a home. Give me a call if you would like to discuss further. We have many ways to structure a deal that will benefit your needs, not the banks.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Is it to late to stop big government?

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:15:55 -0800

I believe the root cause of all our current problems is the government and the policies they enact. Even well meaning programs that sound good will have unintended consequences. Social Security is a good example of failed socialist programs. I know I'll never get back anywhere near the amount I've contributed. If only I could have saved that money in my own account. After all, isn't it my money?

Freddie and Fannie providing loan guarentees to unqualified buyers at the request of the government during the 90's was the start of this housing crisis. It was a noble cause but like all socialist well meaning programs, they don't work because of human nature. Banks that provided these types of loans should be held responsible. The investors should lose their investments, not receive bailout money from "we the people". (Remember the S & L Crisis of the 80's? This was not supposed to ever happen again.)

Less government is the best government. If you don't believe it take a look at the state of California as an example of big socialist government. We have many well meaning government programs to take care of every conceivable situation, including the required care and feeding of illegals. Over 50% of all school children here get free school lunches because they are poor. Does that make sense to you? I remember buying or taking a lunch when I was in school, and we were poor. Now "we the people" of California pay some of the highest taxes in the country because our state government is afraid to deny services to anyone, even when we can't afford it.

What can "we the people" do about it? The next time you vote, vote for anyone except a Republican or Democrat. They just play off each other to scare the public. There really is no difference in these two parties. Don't be fooled again. The Libertarian party is starting to look pretty good about now.

To get our country and freedom back a good first step would be to require all elected officials to uphold the constitution of the United States, after all, didn't they swear on a bible when they were sworn into office? To many have fought and died for our freedom. Please don't forget their sacrifices. We owe it to our children to pass on the freedom so many have fought and died for.

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Walnut Creek, Rossmoor Listing

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 17:50:31 -0800

Gene Ward | Area Pro Realty NorCal | 925 798-2720

1300 Canyonwood Court, Unit 7, Walnut Creek, CA

Rossmoor 55+ retirement community, available 2 bedroom 1 bath unit.

2BR/1BA Co-Op

offered at $129,888

Year Built	1967
Sq Footage	1,054
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$767 per month

DESCRIPTION

Fantastic Rossmoor retirement unit with view of the hills from the private balcony. Clean and neat this unit is ready for the fussiest buyers. Close in carport parking and laundry. Enjoy this 55+ retirement community, it's golf course, tennis, swimming and active lifestyle.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Living room
Dining room	Dishwasher	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Covered parking	Guest parking	Business center
Clubhouse	Laundry on-site	Storage space(s)
Fitness center	Swimming pool(s)	Sauna/Spa
Tennis court(s)	Golf course	Secured entry

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Gene Ward

Area Pro Realty NorCal

925 798-2720

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Feb 6, 2009, 4:17pm PST

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

Looking for MLS software

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:37:08 -0800

We're completing the design of our new company websites and was wondering if anyone in the tech corner knows of a good MLS IDX form provider. We will be building our own company listings database but would really like to have the ability to feed MLS listings into each franchisee and agent sites.

We are a new franchise with a business model not at all like the traditional brokerage houses.

Please take a look at our Area Pro Realty websites. Any suggestions?

www.areaprorealty.com this is the franchise website

www.geneward.com this is the Area Pro Realty NorCal web site. This site has more features than the Franchise site above.

Best regards,

Gene Ward

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com

ActiveRain feed has problem in Firefox

Gene Ward, Gene Ward (Area Pro Realty) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:32:17 -0800

I checked all settings in my Firefox browser but could find no settings to properly display my AR blog feed.

The AR rss feed is in an iFrame and it works great in IE 7 but not such luck in Firefox version 1.5.0.1.

This is what's displayed. Anyone have this problem and find a solution? Is it a setting in the blog feed?

This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.

It then dutifully displays all text along with the markup language. Any insite would be appreaciated.

Open this link in Firefox and let me know if you see the blog formatted correctly.

http://www.geneward.areaprorealty.com/My%2BReal%2BEstate%2BBlog

Best regards,

Gene Ward
Area Pro Realty
425 El Pintado Road, Suite 100
Danville, CA 94526
(925) 890-6278
www.geneward.com