simi valley california real estate: CALHFA Returns As Option For First Time Buyers - 09/19/10 03:30 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent. Search Simi Valley real estate listings. Here's some highlights from an interesting article that was in today's Sunday Ventura County Star paper written by Elizabeth Alvarez.
The California Housing Finance Agency recently announced updated programs to help first-time home-buyers. While this agency cannot offer a cure-all for the real estate market, this is a welcome bit of good news for consumers who are considering buying a home. First, to clear up a common confusion regarding mortgage lingo: First-time home-buyer is a technical term for ANY person who has not owned … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: 29 Essential Tips That Get Homes Sold Fast (And For Top Dollar) Part 4 - 08/25/10 04:16 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Real Estate Agent. Search Simi Valley Real Estate listings.
Tip #24: Don't give yourself a deadline. Forcing yourself to sell by a certain date adds unnecessary pressure and puts you at a serious disadvantage in negotiations.
Tip #25: Don’t take a low offer personally. Make sure it spells out the offering price, adequate earnest money, amount of down payment, mortgage amount, a closing date and any special requests.
Tip #26: A really low offer may mean the buyer is not qualified. Ask how they arrived at their figure, then suggest their agent use comparables to … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: 29 Essential Tips That Get Homes Sold Fast (And For Top Dollar) Part 3 - 08/25/10 04:12 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Real Estate Agent. Search Simi Valley Real Estate listings.
Tip #16: Disclose everything. Smart sellers proactively go above and beyond the laws to disclose all known defects to their buyers-in writing. If the buyer knows about a problem, he cant some back with a lawsuit later on.
Tip #17: The more prospects, the better. By maximizing your home's marketability, you'll increase your chances of attracting more than one prospective buyer.
Tip #18: Don't get emotional during negotiations. If you can just let go of the emotion you've invested in your home and approach negotiations in … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: 29 Essential Tips That Get Homes Sold Fast (And For Top Dollar) Part 2 - 08/25/10 04:10 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Real Estate Agent. Search Simi Valley Real Estate listings.
Tip #7: Find a good realtor. Nearly two-thirds of the people who sell their own home say they wouldn't do it themselves again, according to research by the National Association of Realtors.
Tip #8: Give yourself room to negotiate. In setting your asking price, review your priorities. Do you want to maximize your profit or sell quickly? You'll price high for the former and closer to market value if the latter is the case.
Tip #9: Maximize your home's sales potential. Each year. corporate North America … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: 29 Essential Tips That Get Homes Sold Fast (And For Top Dollar) Part 1 - 08/25/10 04:03 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Real Estate Agent. Search Simi Valley Real Estate listings.
Selling your home is one of the most important steps in your life. Here are 29 essential tips you must know...
Tip #1: Know why you're selling. The reason you look closely at why you want to sell is that your motivations play an important role in the process. They affect everything from setting a price to deciding how much time and money you'll invest to getting your home ready for selling.
Tip #2: Once you know, keep it to yourself. Your reasons will affect how … (1 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Home Buyers: How To Avoid Paying Too Much Part 3 - 08/16/10 07:43 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley Real Estate Agent. Search Simi Valley Real Estate listings.
Tip #19: Check your emotions at the door during negotiations. One of the costliest mistakes you can make is letting the seller's know how much you love their home.
Tip #20: Don't be pressure into a quick deal if it doesn't feel right. It may be a sign that there's something you should know but don't.
Tip #21: Don't be afraid to negotiate. Negotiation is the key to getting a good deal.
Tip #22: Stay out of bidding wars. If there is another buyer, … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Home Buyers: How To Avoid Paying Too Much Part 2 - 08/16/10 07:41 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley Real Estate Agent. Search Simi Valley Real Estate listings.
Tip #8: Shop with your head, not your heart. Don't forget the purpose of your "needs" and "desires" lists. Your heart will cost you money; using your hearts will save it.
Tip #9: Don't ignore red flags when evaluating a home's pluses and minuses. When evaluating the advantages and drawbacks of a particular property, be sure you know the difference between acceptable and unacceptable problems.
Tip #10: Hire a professional home inspector. Spending a few hundred dollars on a professional home inspection is the … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Home Buyers: How To Avoid Paying Too Much Part 1 - 08/16/10 07:37 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley Real Estate Agent. Search Simi Valley Real Estate listings.
Finding the right home to meet your family's needs is hard enough.But knowing how to avoid paying too much for that home once you've found it is another job entirely. The tips included here will go a long way into helping you become a savvy buyer.
Tip #1: Know what you're shopping for before you start. Before you begin shopping, understand that there are two homes out there vying for your interest-the one that meets your needs vs. the one that fulfills your desires.
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simi valley california real estate: Foreclosures Seen Still Hitting Prices - 02/20/10 11:55 AM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent. Search Simi Valley real estate listings. I read a very interesting article in the Wall Street Journal, By James R. Hagerty February 16, 2010, here is an overview:
More waves of foreclosures will keep downward pressure on home prices in parts of the U.S. over the next several years, two new studies project. The studies-by John Burns Real Estate Consulting Inc. and Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC-both conclude that most efforts to modify loans with easier terms will delay, not prevent, the loss of homes to foreclosure. The Treasury … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: 90 Day FHA Guidelines - 02/01/10 01:58 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent. Search Simi Valley real estate listings. Many of you have contacted me over recent months about the FHA 90 day "flipping rule" that states that properties sold in the last 90 days are ineligible for FHA financing.
Although there is no official "FHA Mortgagee Letter" published just yet, effective today, February 1, 2010, David Stevens, assistant Secretary for the HUD Commissioner, stating that they have waived the 90 day flipping compliance rule for 1 year. The waiver is to be in effect for one year starting today (through Feb.1, 2011).
Although … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Do You Have Valuable Papers? - 07/15/09 04:45 PM
Post by Ken Grech a top Simi Valley real estate agent. Search Simi Valley real estate listings. While there is much talk of a paperless society, the reality is that you do have important papers--especially if they can't be found. So before the moment of need arises, now is the time to review what you've got and create a checklist of important papers for you and for family, friends and business associates. Why should you gather such paperwork together? It will help you when it comes time to buy or sell property, figure taxes or create wills and estates. It will also … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: How to Be a Energy Miser - 07/15/09 04:30 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent. Search Simi Valley real estate listings. With home energy costs skyrocketing, the phrase "little things mean a lot" couldn't be more timely! Fortunately, many energy tweaks don't require a handful of money or a great deal of time to perform.
Here are a few no cost/low cost energy savers--great steps to trim home-energy costs:
-Turn down the temperature on your water heater. If you've ever spent the night at a hotel where the hot water scalded you the second it poured from the tap, it signaled one way that … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Has Your Credit Changed? - 07/09/09 09:30 AM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent. Search Simi Valley real estate listings. It's a combination car, pick-up truck and SUV. You really want it. The features are great, the style is the latest and it's affordable--after the down payment, the cost is only $300 a month.
"Would you buy this car today if I can include the genuine wood grain, rubberized side moldings?" asks the salesman.
Before emitting a strong "yes," stop and consider what's about to happen. You will be increasing your debt load and monthly payments, things which make mortgage lenders edgy. If you … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Foreclosure Moratorium - 06/14/09 03:20 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent. Search Simi Valley real estate listings. There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the long awaited California State 90-Day foreclosure moratorium. This moratorium takes effect on June 15, 2009. This doesn't mean foreclosures will stop. Supporters of this moratorium acknowledge the state is likely to see thousands more foreclosures before the the crisis subsides. But the California Foreclosure Prevention Act, passed by lawmakers in February and signed by Governor Schwartzenegger, raises a new hurdle in the foreclosure process. Backers say it will make lenders try harder to keep borrowers … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Top 10 Mistakes of first-time home buyers - 05/17/09 01:28 PM
Post by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent. Search Simi Valley real estate listings. Buying a home may seem a daunting task, but a little preparation will ease the way.
1. Not knowing how much house you can afford. Many new home buyers spend a lot of time researching home, comparing kitchen layouts and backyard square footage, but very little time researching their financing options. One of the first things buyers should do is talk to a qualified lender and get preapproved for a mortgage. Without first figuring out how much you can afford, you risk falling in … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: It's a Renters Market, but there are pitfalls - 03/29/09 12:51 PM
Posted by Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent: Currently, here in Simi Valley, there is a thriving market for renters due to various circumstances. I read a great article in the Los Angeles Times that outlined a very helpful guideline for renters - it really applied towards apartment dwellers, however; there are more home renters that are looking and the same tips can apply. Renters have more choices from traditional apartments to single family homes, and more bargaining power. But they should also be prepared to deal with first time landlords, who have decided to lease a property they can't sell … (1 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Simi Valley Home Warranty - 03/05/09 11:51 AM
Home warranty protection plans are a wonderful investment for both Sellers and Buyers. For a minimal investment the Sellers will alleviate any future stress of possibly being contacted by the Buyers of their home with a list of fix it items. Right now, some Realtors and in fact our company is offering Sellers a Home Protection Warranty effective the day that they list their home with their company. For more information, please contact me at (805) 217-1368 and I'd be happy to share this information with you.
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simi valley california real estate: All About Bank Foreclosure Homes - 03/05/09 11:43 AM
Post by: Ken Grech, a top Simi Valley real estate agent. I read this great article regarding foreclosures, I hope you will find it helpful. If you are interested in researching Simi Valley real estate or Simi Valley foreclosures I believe this article offers some good advice.
When some borrower takes some money from the bank for some personal reasons and is not able to pay back that amount of the debt then bank has all the rights to seize that property. These houses are generally known as the bank foreclosure homes. Another term which describes these foreclosures is "real estate … (0 comments)
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simi valley california real estate: Tax Consequences of Foreclosures - 02/25/09 12:44 PM
I read a great article in the Ventura County Star Real Estate section dated February 8, 2009. The article written by Maria Capritto, really highlights the determining factors of the tax consequences of owners on foreclosed and short sale properties. Basically, whether or not the foreclosure generates taxable income, it depends on the facts and circumstances of each person's particular situation. Before foreclosing, homeowners should know their federal income tax consequences, and it is highly recommended they seek advise from a tax professional.
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simi valley california real estate: Three Ways to Save Energy on Hot Water - 12/20/08 01:13 PM
Heater Jackets: These insulation "jackets" are especially made to fit a hot water heater and are secured with special ties. Pipe Insulation: By wrapping hot water pipes with pipe insulation made for this purpose, you can keep hot water hot longer, and therefore, save fuel. A big advantage is that hot water will flow at the faucet faster-so there also is some savings on water. There are several styles of pipe insulation available. Lower thermostats:Keep the water thermostat between 110 to 140 degrees. If you run out of hot water often, the problem isn't temperature but the small capacity of the … (0 comments)
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