Karl's Blog

Stockton Ca Events - Asparagus Festival 2007

North State Financial, Inc. — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:27:50 -0700

Bring your family and enjoy the 2007 Stockton Asparagus Festival! April 27th - April 29th Downtown Stockton, at the Waterfront.

This year's festival will include the usual fun activities, arts and craft exhibitors, live entertainment, and of course...lots of Asparagus!

The festival also provides needed donations to local non-profit organizations! The proceeds of the Stockton Asparagus Festival are shared by over 100 charities that are represented by the Spear-It Staff volunteers. Each charity receives a "donation" based on a schedule of units, or hours, for the work performed by the volunteers. In 2006 the Asparagus Festival was able to distribute $419,893 among the charities involved. In the past 21 years, over $3.6 million dollars has been contributed back to local charities directly from the Stockton Asparagus Festival.

For more info on the 2007 Stockton Asparagus Festival, please visit the following link:

http://www.asparagusfest.com/

If you are interested in Real Estate Values or Mortgage Financing for your property in the greater Delta/San Joaquin area, please give Karl Kruger a call at 925-895-6467, or send an email to karl@northstatefinancial.com

Estate Home - Oakley, Ca $899,995

North State Financial, Inc. — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:36:07 -0700

Fantastic Opportunity - Estate Home in Silverado Crest - Oakley, California - Offered at $899,995

Quiet Neighborhood - Beautiful Interior - Lush Landscaping Front and Rear

4 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 2546 Sq Ft, Lot 19,602 Sq Ft Built 1996, Corner Lot, 3 Car Garage, 2 Workshops

· Custom Painted Interior, Vaulted Ceilings, Central Vac System

· Window Treatments, Silhouette Shades

· Island Countertop Food Appliance System by Nutone

· Whole House Intercom and Streaming Stereo In All Rooms

· Two Walk-In Closets - Master Suite

· Jetted Spa Tub in Master, With Dual Vanities

· Video Security System With Intercom

· Landscaped Front & Rear, Includes 2 Oversized Workshops, 3 Car Garage, Covered Boat/RV Pad

· Outside Custom BBQ Island, Gazebo, Water Fountain

· Award Winning Oakley Schools

· Shows Well - Great Pride In Ownership

· Motivated Sellers - Priced Reduced 50K For Quick Sale!

For More Information or to Request a Showing, please contact Karl Kruger at 925-895-6467 or send an email to karl@northstatefinancial.com

Isleton Events 2007

North State Financial, Inc. — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 22:08:52 -0700

Looking for something fun to do on Father's Day weekend 2007? Be sure to check out the 2007 Isleton Crawdad Festival, on Saturday and Sunday June 16 & 17.

The festival is held in the Delta community of Isleton, just a short drive from the Bay Area or Sacramento. The annual event is held waterfront, in the historict delta town of Isleton. Bring the entire family for a weekend of fun, that includes music, entertainment, food, arts/crafts, etc. Isleton is located on Hwy 160, close to Rio Vista and Davis, Ca. Children under 12 are free, adults entry is $5.

For more information on the Crawdad Festival, please visit the following link: http://www.crawdadfestival.org/

If you would like information on living in California's Delta communities, or if you have questions regarding Real Estate and Mortgage Financing, please call Karl Kruger at 925-895-6467, or send an email to karl@northstatefinancial.com

Brentwood 3Bd Charmer - Priced To Sell Quickly! $399,950

North State Financial, Inc. — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:05:46 -0700

A gem in the desirable community of Brentwood. Offered at $399,950 MLS # 40250718

Recently Remodeled - 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1372 Sq Ft, Lot 5600 Sq Ft, Built 1967.

· Beautiful Pergo Flooring Throughout

· All new Dual Pane Windows

· Ceiling Fans

· Dual Convection Oven, Updated Kitchen Cabinets

· Surround Sound System

· Landscaped Front and Rear

· Bonus Storage Building in Rear

· No Rear Neighbors

· Award Winning Brentwood Schools

· Newer Paint Inside and Out

· Shows Well - Great Pride In Ownership

· Close to Downtown, Shopping, & Proposed BART Ext.

· Motivated Sellers - Priced for Quick Sale!, Includes Refrigerator

· Sellers willing to negotiate for Big Screen TV!

Get into this Brentwood charmer while the market is still sleepy!

Fantastic opportunity for Investment Property or the First Time Home Buyer.

For more information, or to request a showing of this property, please contact Karl Kruger at 925-895-6467 or send an email to karl@northstatefinancial.com

MLS# 40250718

Fremont 3Bd Priced To Move QUICKLY $559,995

North State Financial, Inc. — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:56:55 -0700

Fantastic Opportunity - Priced Below Market - Quiet Neighborhood

3 Bedroom, 1 Bath, 950 Sq Ft, Lot 7500 Sq Ft, Built 1958, Corner Lot

Offered at $559,995

· Dual Pane Vinyl Windows, Freshly Painted Exterior

· Landscaped Front & Rear, Includes Hot Tub w/Decking

· Includes Washer/Dryer/Fridge/Freezer

· Bonus Storage Shed in Rear

· Award Winning Fremont Schools

· Shows Well - Great Pride In Ownership

· Close to Downtown, Shopping, & Lake Elizabeth/Parks

· Motivated Sellers - Priced for Quick Sale!

MLS# 40255693

Get into this Fremont charmer before the market increases!

Fantastic opportunity for Investment Property or the First Time Home Buyer.

FOR MORE INFO OR SHOWING PLEASE CALL Karl Kruger @ 925-895-6467 or send an email to karl@northstatefinancial.com

100% Financing Options are Available!

Hablo Espanol 510-415-1730 for mortgage financing information in Spanish.

State of California offers free webpage to search for money owed to you!

North State Financial, Inc. — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 10:24:29 -0700

The State of California, as do many states, maintains a database of unclaimed property, money, etc. Take a moment to visit the website for the State of California Controller. On this site, you can navigate to the search page for UCP....Unclaimed Property Search. By entering as little info as you want, to a more specific search, the database will show unclaimed property for specific persons. You can search for yourself to find out what might be waiting for your claim. I found numerous amounts of money, insurance refunds, unclaimed paychecks, etc....all within a few minutes! The website also explains how to file a claim to get a refund.

Check it out at the following link for the State Controlles Website: http://scoweb.sco.ca.gov/UCP

There are many states that offer this free search and online database. If you have lived in another state, or held securities within another state, be sure to visit that state website to see if they have a similar search page for unclaimed property!

Antioch Events

North State Financial, Inc. — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:16:03 -0700

Bring your family to the 2007 Delta Blues Festival, in Antioch, Ca. The event is Free to attend, with some of the best Blues performers and music in the world!

The festival is scheduled for Saturday September 15, 2007. The location of the festival is in the "Rivertown" district of Antioch, Ca. For more information, directions, list of vendors, sponsors, and scheduled performers, please visit the following link: http://www.deltabluesfestival.net

If you would like more information about the community of Antioch, East Contra Costa communities, relocating to the Delta area of Northern California, or any questions regarding Real Estate and Mortgage Financing, please call Karl Kruger at 925-895-6467 or send an email to karl@northstatefinancial.com

Discovery Bay Events

North State Financial, Inc. — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:11:46 -0700

Be sure to check out the Discovery Bay Boat Show this year. Fun for the entire family. Boats in decoration, good music, fun, food, etc.

Discovery Bay Opening Day Parade, by the Discovery Bay YC. All boaters welcome, register in advance, decoration theme is to be selected. Starts at 1 p.m. in Lighthouse Bay.

May 18, 19, 20,

For more information, please visit one of these links:

http://www.californiadelta.org

http://www.discovery-bay-chamber.com

A SIMPLE WAY TO FORECAST INTEREST RATES

North State Financial, Inc. — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 11:25:41 -0700

If you follow the interest rates on long term mortgage financing, you would see that we are in a relatively flat cycle, with rates as low as a year ago. There are many factors that impact the average rates for mortgage financing. These include the benchmark treasury bond markets, economic reports, federal funds language, oil prices, performance of the stock market, strength of the dollar, etc etc. One quick way to forecast the future of interest rates is to take a walk inside your local bank. See what the rate of interest on a short term CD is paying, versus a longer term CD. Its a no brainer!!! Banks are paying less interest on longer term CDs than the shorter term CDs. What does this tell you? They dont want to pay out higher returns in interest to you, the investor, if they think rates are going to fall in the future. Usually, we see longer term CDs paying slightly higher rates. Check it out! If you would like more information on current mortgage interest rates, home values, or any other questions regarding real estate and mortgage financing, please contact Karl Kruger at 925-895-6467, or send an email to karl@northstatefinancial.com

Contra Costa County Fair 2007

North State Financial, Inc. — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:54:20 -0700

Fun for the entire family! Be sure to visit the 2007 Contra Costa County Fair.

"Wild About the Contra Costa Fair"
Thursday, May 31 - Sunday, June 3

1201 West 10th Street
Antioch, CA 94509

Concerts, Ag and Farming Displays, Carnival, Crafts Home and Garden Exhibits, etc.

For More Info, please visit the Contra Costa County Fair website at http://www.ccfair.org/

Living in Contra Costa County

North State Financial, Inc. — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 10:43:16 -0700

The County of Contra Costa, California was incorporated in 1850 as one of the original 27 counties of the State of California, with the City of Martinez as the County Seat. It is one of the nine counties in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area. The County is the ninth most populous county in California, with its population reaching approximately 930,000 as of January 1, 2000. The County has one of the fastest growing work forces among Bay Area counties, with growth in its employment base being driven primarily by the need to provide services to an increasing local population. Due to the presence of relatively high-wage skilled jobs and relatively wealthy residents, the County achieves high rankings among all California counties on a variety of income measurements. A large part of the County is served by the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District ("BART"), which has enabled the expansion of both residential and commercial development. In addition, economic development along the Interstate 680 corridor in the County has been substantial and has accounted for significant job creation in the Cities of Concord, Walnut Creek and San Ramon. Major industries in the County include petroleum refining, telecommunications, financial and retail services, steel manufacturing, prefabricated metals, chemicals, electronic equipment, paper products and food processing. Most of the County's heavy manufacturing is located along the County's northern boundary fronting on the Suisun and San Pablo Bays leading to San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Descriptions of major employers in selected industries follow.

Availability of a broad transportation network has been one of the major factors in the County's economic and population growth. Interstate 80 connects the western portion of the County to San Francisco and the central portion of the County to Sacramento and points north to Interstate 5, the major north-south highway from Mexico to Canada. Interstate 680 connects the central County communities to the rest of the Bay Area and portions of the Central Valley of the State via State Routes 4 and 24, the County's major east-west arteries.

Caltrans is currently widening Interstate 80 in the western portion of the County at a cost of $200 million and constructing replacement spans on the Carquinez Bridge on Interstate Highway 80 and the Benicia - Martinez Bridge on Interstate Highway 680 at a cost of $1.1 billion.Major scheduled airline passenger and freight transportation for County residents is available at either Oakland or San Francisco International Airports, located about 20 and 30 miles, respectively, from the County. In addition there are two general aviation fields, one at Byron and the other at Concord.

The County is the ninth most populous county in California, with its population reaching approximately 981,600 as of January 1, 2002. This represents an increase of approximately 22% compared to the County's population in 1990. The availability of rapid transit, close proximity to major employment hubs in San Francisco and Oakland, and relatively affordable existing and new housing have combined to attract more residents to the County over the past decade. While population grew in every city in the County during the last decade, population growth has been strongest in unincorporated areas as well as in the eastern portion of the County, particularly in Antioch, Brentwood and Clayton.

Due to the presence of relatively high-wage skilled jobs and relatively high income residents, the County achieves high rankings among all California counties on a variety of income measurements. For example, as reported in the 2000 Sales and Marketing Management Survey of Buying Power, the County's median household effective buying income for the 1999 calendar year of $53,234 was in the top four among all California counties. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis, the County's per capita personal income of $36,006 in 1998 was the fifth highest among California counties. The medians for the State were $39,492 (1999 household effective buying income) and $28,163 (1998 per capita personal income).

For more information on living or re-locating to Contra Costa County, please contact Karl Kruger at 925-895-6467, or send an email to karl@northstatefinancial.com

Brentwood Ca - Real Estate Home Sales Activity 2006

North State Financial, Inc. — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:36:00 -0700

Here is a snapshot of the Housing Activity for homes sold during 2006, as compared to 2005, for the city of Brentwood and Contra Costa County. If you would like more info, please do not hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding home values, current market conditions, free Market Analysis of your home, and any other questions regarding your Real Estate or Mortgage Financing. karl@northstatefinancial.com 925-895-6467

Brentwood California, ZIP 94513, Contra Costa County

Sales of Existing Home and New Construction 2006 $ 643,000

Sales of Existing Home and New Construction 2005 $ 650,000

Percentage Change in Sales Price -1.08%

Contra Costa County Totals

Sales of Existing Home and New Construction 2006 $ 575,000

Sales of Existing Home and New Construction 2005 $ 560,000

Percentage Change in Sales Price + 2.68%

Brentwood Events 2007

North State Financial, Inc. — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:07:38 -0700

Be sure to check out the Brentwood Cornfest, 2007. Fun for the entire family! Located in the downtown area of Brentwood, California, in the heart of East Contra Costa County. Just a short drive from the Bay Area or Sacramento. Lots of activities that include Live Music, Entertainment, Silent Auctions, Games, Carnival Rides, Corn Eating and Shucking Contests, etc. Check out the entry and exit times at the sites listed below.

July 13, 14, 15 2007

http://www.brentwoodchamber.com/

http://www.brentwoodchamber.com/cornfest/

About Brentwood

North State Financial, Inc. — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:46:42 -0700

Brentwood is a city in Contra Costa County, in the San Francisco-Oakland metro area.

The community was named after English home of John Marsh, landholder.

The latitude of Brentwood is 37.931N. The longitude is -121.694W.

It is in the Pacific Standard time zone. Elevation is 79 feet.

At the time of the 2000 census, the per capita income in Brentwood was $24,909, compared with $21,587 nationally.

21% of Brentwood residents age 25 and older have a bachelor's.

Median rent in Brentwood, at the time of the 2000 Census, was $746. Monthly homeowner costs, for people with mortgages, were $1,725. or advanced college degree.

The average commute time for Brentwood workers is 44 minutes, compared with 26 minutes nationwide.

A total of 3 fatal motor vehicle accidents occurred in Brentwood between 2001 and 2003, according to reports gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This is a rate of 1.3 fatal crashes per 10,000 population, which was lower than the national norm.

For More Info on Brentwood, Ca please visit these links:

www.ci.brentwood.ca.us

www.brentwoodpress.com

www.northstatefinancial.com

Solar Powered Homes - ROI and Resale Value

North State Financial, Inc. — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 14:52:54 -0700

Anyone have some feedback on the real ROI for a home with Solar Panels, and the selling points for this type of home to a potential buyer. I have a listing that is coming up that has solar panels, with battery system installed. I have not had a straight answer from appraisers or other associates in the biz, as to the value of this system. I believe it is apx 3 to 4 yrs old. The seller is not able to re-sell back to a grid, as they are not in an area to connect to power. Thus the solar system.

Realtors, Doomsday, and the 100% Financing Fallout

North State Financial, Inc. — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:50:28 -0700

For anyone on the Realtor side of the business, just a quick update on the 100% financing loans available. This info might be old news to some of us, but I still hear almost daily from Realtors that they are scared of the 100% financing buyers, and that they have heard about the "fallout in subprime lenders". Rest assured, there are still lenders offering 100% financing. Yes, the guidelines are a bit more conservative, but these loans are still available today. As far as the risk involved with a 100% financing buyer, yes...there are risks, just as there were in the past. As always, alot depends on the Loan Officer involved. Is it a good time for buyers to obtain this type of financing? Yes! When would you have rather purchased a home in one of the so called "over inflated markets", today, or a year and a half ago? It is one of the most exciting times I have experienced over the last few years. If you are a mortgage professional, you probably have felt the decline in Subprime lending for 100% or STated Borrowers. We are all feeling that today, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. In every shakeup we see inside the lending circle, what happens next? The very same investors, wall street analysts, and government agencies that crack down on a specific type of lending, are the very same group that feel the pinch in their wallets over the next few months. As always, we will see new programs that come out for these type of borrowers. Will they be as risky or have such liberal guidelines? No, probably not. Think about when the Interest Only loans pulled back with all the lenders, what did they come up with? The 40 and 50 year fully amortized loans. Virtually the same result in low payments, but less risk for the investors. Just watch your radar. I am already hearing of new programs and lenders that are offering solutions for these buyers. How about a 110% loan? Huge allowances for credits, carrybacks, buydowns, etc.

One note about loans submitted under Subprime guidelines, and even some Alt-A guidelines.....just because you have the approval, doesnt mean you will get docs. Lenders selling to the secondary market are changing their programs seemingly daily. Your quote on a loan scenario last week, may not be even a program they can do today. Vice versa, I have had a lender stop a program, then start again a week later. If you lock em, lock a full package/complete package and get to docs as quickly as possible. Oh, the other golden rule, have a backup lender already in place.

Do Not Fear the 100% buyer. Do not bury your head in the sand. Do not listen to the "doomsday predictions". Its just a lot of hype. Just enough to keep you through the next set of commercials, so you hear that story on the evening news about Subprime Fallout, Foreclosures, etc.

The Grass Is Greener?

North State Financial, Inc. — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 11:58:51 -0700

Its funny how many times people in our industry jump ship because they think about Greener Pastures. I frequently speak to agents that are looking for a new home. Obviously, most owner/brokers today are pursuing the Numbers Game.....the more agents and the less overhead, the better the bottom line. Agents are looking for support, leads, good splits, brand recognition, etc. When times get tough, thats when we see the industry change so drastically. The first thing to change...the support staff. Usually offices start to cut down on inside staff. Lenders cut back on their staff, and turntimes increase. Title companies, escrow, etc. The trickle down is immediate. Agents start to feel the pinch of the slowing market, and feel they are not getting the support from their office. So, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Time to jump ship? No, not quite. The first thing I ask a prospective agent is why they are leaving their current broker. Unless they were working in a hostile environment, or the splits were ridiculously unfair, I usually think its more of a productivity issue with the agent.

The Grass Isnt Always Greener. Sometimes, its all how you water your lawn.

There is business out there. How you prospect, farm, and influence your client base will make the difference in leaner times. IYADWYADYAGWYAG If you always do what you always did, youll always get what you always got!

Recruiting LOs

North State Financial, Inc. — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:04:19 -0700

Two simple ideas that are working for my company.

1. Visit Open Houses! Chances are that a LO is sitting at the open house for that Realtor they are hoping to get a deal from. I have spoken to several LO's that are excited to find out about new opportunities for their career. Face it, if they had a lot of business, they probably wouldnt be sitting at an open house.

2. Call Bi-Lingual Agents! If you dont have a Bi-Lingual agent under your roof, a good way to get one is to call a local agent that advertises Bi-Lingual service. Talk with them about the ability to handle the leads you are going to send their way. Honestly, if you cant help the client because you dont speak their native language, then you would send them to someone you know anyways. Why not have a partner that you refer those clients to. What really happens here is....the bi-lingual agent sees the opportunities that you have for them, they come meet with you, and now you have a new agent that can handle the leads coming their way. Chances are, they are not getting the leads from their current office. They see the opportunity at your office, to increase their pipeline.

Good luck in your recruiting efforts!

Karl Kruger; North State Financial, Inc. Mortgage Loans 33 States, Real Estate Purchases and Sales in California, Residential, Commercial, Construction, Reverse Mortgages, 1031 Exch, Referral Network. 925-895-6467