San Rafael Homes For Sale - Gerstle Park 27 Ross Street San Rafael 94901
This San Rafael Home for Sale - Gerstle Park has VINTAGE CHARM & METICULOUS REMODELING! Rare offering!
This classic turn-of-the-century Victorian has been thoughtfully and beautifully restored – period details with modern functionality in San Rafael's Gerstle Park.
From the calming, traditional front porch, enter the upstairs into your 2BR/2BA, living room with wainscoting. Kitchen opens to dining room with bay window. Parlor/den provides another area for reflection, relaxation or conversation.
This San Rafael - Gerstle Park Home features stunning Brazilian Cherrywood floors, custom maple cabinets with generous storage, celadon ceramic tile, butcher-block & Corian counters, restored Wedgewood stove & recessed Sub Zero refrigerator.
Beautiful bathroom fixtures include claw foot tub with vintage-style rain showerhead & pedestal sink with period-style handles.
Full redesign has been done with attention to design & quality and architectural presentation. Recessed lighting, seismic reinforcement and upgraded electrical system provide modern convenience for the busy homeowner.
To see this home and more San Rafael Homes For Sale - Gerstle Park contact Jeff Sterley CA DRE License#00494655.
To be pre-approved for a mortgage for this or other homes for sale contact: Mary Anne Daly 415-381-1995
Fairfax CA HomeFor Sale - 150 Madrone Road Fairfax CA 94930
ARCHITECTURALLY DRAMATIC, PRIVATE & QUIET HILLSIDE RETREAT Fairfax CA Home for Sale $967,000
• 3 Bedrooms PLUS separate home office/3.5 baths PLUS huge family room
• Wide hallways, skylights & open-connected spaces • Lots of glass (dual paned) brings the sunlight and the outdoors in
• Several redwood view decks • Vaulted ceilings & great space and dimension
• 2 car garage plus large additional storage
PRICE REDUCED! This contemporary Fairfax CA Home for Sale was built with custom quality & design by a builder for himself.
Rounded corners, clerestory windows, niches, high ceilings, coffered ceilings, recessed lights and Douglas fir wood floors enhance the custom tone.
This spacious 3,000+ sq. ft. architecturally stylish Fairfax CA home for sale features an open dining area with clerestory windows and built-in china cabinet that connects the kitchen to its own deck outdoors. The white bright kitchen has a gas cook top, convection oven, trash compactor, greenhouse window and its own eat-in area. The step-down living room features a marble fireplace with gas starter and sliding doors to another deck.
The ambience of the library/home office is enhanced by the clerestory windows. This full-size loft area has its own bathroom. The master suite has vaulted ceilings, sliding doors onto the deck, walk-in closet, skylight, sunken jacuzzi tub and separate shower. The main-level guest room is a 2nd master, with built-in alcoves, a large walk-in closet, an en-suite bath with electric skylight, and sliding doors to a small deck.
As a Marin resident since 1993 and a loan officer since 2003, I can help you find the right Marin Realtor for your needs. Whether you’re buying or selling.
As a loan broker since 2003, I have worked with Marin Realtors and have an extensive network of real estate professionals to draw on to help you find the best Marin Realtor for you.
Here are some Tips for Finding A Marin Realtor:
1. Ask someone in the Real Estate Field: People who work in Real Estate have relationships with Realtors and can give you several to choose from.
You might think going with the most successful top producing Marin Realtor is the way to go. But the number one Marin Realtor may not give your property the attention it deserves. It’s best to meet at least 3 Marin Realtors and talk to them about your situation. Like Goldilocks and the porridge, you’ll find the one who is “just right”.
I have helped several clients and others in need of a Realtor referral. A recent client, decided to relocate to the East and needed a Realtor to sell her home. Using my real estate network, which includes Realtors, escrow officers, loan agents and real estate attorneys, I recommended 4 qualified Realtors for her to interview. All the Realtors I suggested were experienced in her her local area.
2. Interview them over the phone: Before connecting her to the Realtors, I discussed her situation with them over the phone. We talked about what they thought the challengers were regarding my client’s property. I then let my client know a little bit about each of them including the results of my interviews and encouraged her to meet and interview all four of them.
3. Meet the Realtor in person at your home. When you interview them over the phone, ask them to come to your home to discuss listing your property for sale. Each Realtor should arrive with a current market analysis to let you know what homes have recently sold for in your neighborhood. They can talk about the state of the market, the number of days homes are staying on the market before selling and other trends that will affect your home sale. They may also discuss challenges in lending that might affect the sale. Finally, they will also discuss and recommend improvements you might want to make in order to make your home desirable to a larger number of buyers. A good Realtor will have a network of experienced and affordable contractors to give estimates of any work that might be recommended.
My client chose the Realtor I thought was the best fit for her. That Realtor was the most familiar with her neighborhood and was the most proactive of all the folks I spoke to. Instead of reacting negatively about the client interviewing several Realtors, this Realtor was encouraging about having my client meet and interview others.
So if you need a Marin Realtor, or any Realtor in the state of California, I can help you find the right Realtor for you in your town and like Goldilocks in her quest, we’ll find the Realtor who is “just right” for you.
San Anselmo Homes For Sale - Sleepy Hollow - 10 Martling Road
San Anselmo Homes For Sale - Sleepy Hollow is a desireable neighborhood in San Anselmo with large lots, great schools and a strong community.
This special home has been redesigned, reimagined and remodeled to create an ideal San Anselmo Sleepy Hollow family indoor/outdoor resort.
Situated on a sunny, near .4 acre, this home takes advantage of level yard areas – front and back, swimming pool, beautifully designed & planted gardens, an array of fruit trees and excellent privacy.
The San Anselmo Home For Sale -Sleepy Hollow house has been beautifully and artistically remodeled: structural metal support beams in the ceiling have allowed the entry & living area to be connected, open & architecturally dramatic. The kitchen, dining room, entry & living room are united in one warm and welcoming space. The chef’s kitchen is designed for the serious cook but also to engage family and guests in the living/dining areas and at the breakfast bar. Vaulted ceilings, operable skylights & tasteful finishes make this an area that is stylish and comfortable.
The living area of the San Anselmo Home For Sale -Sleepy Hollow opens right up to the newly rebuilt redwood deck that commands fantastic sun and view orientation and a great post to take watch over the various backyard activities – Marco polo, badminton or climbing on the play structure.
This San Anselmo Home For Sale -Sleepy Hollow location is one of the best in The Hollow: close to the clubhouse and community pool, yet not on a main street, so you can enjoy the quiet and privacy of home plus all that Sleepy Hollow has to offer within just a few steps. The sunny orientation, woods and pastoral views could be your place under the sun. 4BR/3BA, dining & family rooms, office space with separate entrance.
Lending has become tougher than ever and the Home Valuation Conduct Code, which became effective May 1, 2009 has thrown the real estate and lending industry into chaos.
I recently had clients approach me who were in need of a cash-out refinance to make improvements to their home. Ordinarily this would be an easy transaction. The borrowers had great credit and enough equity in their home, but after the Home Valuation Conduct Code started it was another deal waiting to die without a mortgage broker knowledgeable in navigating the Home Valuation Conduct Code waters.
If you know anything about the fallout from the Home Valuation Conduct Code you’ll see that homeowners and home sellers are desperate to not let the Home Valuation Conduct Code trip their transactions up.
What is HVCC?
Simply stated the Home Valuation Conduct Code prevents mortgage originators from ordering appraisals for loans that will be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, in other words, the best priced conforming and conforming jumbo loans. That sounds OK, except that the companies now ordering the appraisals, called Appraisal Management Companies (AMC’s) often pay appraisers one half of their pre- Home Valuation Conduct Code fees and often send appraisers from out of the area to the appraisal, a recipe for bad appraisals and the results are killing real estate deals all over the country.
So, back to my transaction: I did the research and asked prime lenders to give an estimate of value for the subject property. They all came in below market value to the point that my borrowers could not refinance. But the story does have a happy ending. The property is a Victorian home in the city of San Francisco and many of the surrounding homes are not Victorians, so the word “comparable” is important. An automated valuation in the hands of a non-local appraiser would not show the true value of this home. I did not want to risk having my borrowers receive a sub-standard appraisal, so what to do?
I turned my search to a portfolio lender, a lender who holds their own mortgage loans and does not sell to Fannie and Freddie. Going “portfolio” meant I could use my trusted local appraiser, who performed her inspection, included comparable properties, real comps - those that actually matched the subject property or were close to it. After I submitted the loan and appraisal to the lender, the appraisal review process went flawlessly and the loan is closing next week. Result: Happy borrowers who know that I safely navigated their transaction through the Home Valuation Code of Conduct mortgage waters.
If you don’t think there is a problem with the Home Valuation Code of Conduct, go to the Home Valuation Conduct CodePetition and read some of the real life Home Valuation Code of Conduct stories of deals falling out from scores of Realtors and mortgage brokers. And if you need a mortgage in California, make sure your lender knows how to safely guide you through the process. Or call me and I will be glad to help you.
If you're paying cash for a primary or secondary residence, congratulations! You'll have a better chance of getting your offer accepted and can close fast.
As a mortgage lender, I love cash buyers. Yes, you read that right. Cash buyers of primary residences and second homes, that is.
Why do I love them? Cash buyers are so grateful when I inform them of this important tip that can save them tens of thousands of dollars in taxes as long as they own that home:
If cash buyers don't apply for a mortgage loan within 90 days of the close of escrow they forever lose the ability to deduct mortgage interest based on the loan amount, also known in this case as acquisition indebtedness. Cash buyers still may deduct interest for loans up to $100,000 in most cases (known as the home equity deduction.) For details, consult your tax advisor.
So I send them to their CPA or tax person or financial planner to be sure they understand the importance of this short window of opportunity for a major tax break that will save them tens of thousands of dollars over time.
For example: A homebuyer pays $500,000 (remember, this does not apply to investment property) and takes out a $400,000 mortgage @ 6.25% for 30 years.
The interest they will pay in the first year is $25,000.
If they are in the 25% taxbracket, they will be able to deduct approximately $6,250 in mortgage interest annualy and this does not include points paid or real estate property tax, both are also deductible (see your tax advisor for your specific situation)
$6,250 x 7 years of living in that home = $43,750
Some of you might be saying, "but paying $2,462.87 in principal and interest monthly is $29,554.43 per year, so who cares about saving $6,250 when you're paying out $29,554.43?"
Most high-net worth individuals who can pay off their mortgage from assets choose not to. The aquisition debt interest deduction is one reason they don't. To see 9 other reasons endorsed by top financial planners and a federal reserve board member, see my blog post: http://activerain.com/blogsview/430543/Top-1-Reasons-To
So be sure to consult your tax advisor about the 90 day acquisition indebtedness window if you're planning on buying a primary or secondary residence with cash.
A Free Loan Modification in California is what you get when you use a non profit agency. That sounds great and might be the way for you to go, espeically with all of the con artists and scammers out there taking money from homeowners with big promises. Federal and State Agencies are cracking down on these charlatans who prey on distressed homeowners.
Just how doesFree Loan Modifcation in California work? Hope Now is the organization that HUD refers homeowners to.
They don't charge homeowners. The Hope Now Alliance was funded and set up by the largest mortgage servicers in the U.S. How does this avenue of Free Loan Modification in California and the U.S. stack up as far as results, you might ask? That is a great question! The Hope Now Alliance released their results January 31st, 2009, of over 1,000,000 homeowners who applied for a modification in 2008 through their non-profit agency, a little less than 20% got a true modification.
California homeowners, particularly those who may not want to represent themselves, may also seek out licensed real estate brokers who have received a "no objection" letter for their advanced fee agreement from the California Department of Real Estate. But buyer beware: Please don't make the mistake of thinking that because a Broker is on the list that they are endorsed in any way by the Real Estate Department. Ask them questions about long they have been engaged in loan modification work, what training and study they persued, how much they charge and how their fee agreement works. Get references and proof of their prior successes. Do you get any money back if they're not successful? If you can meet them in person that is best. Know who you are dealing with and if you don't feel comfortable about what they charge or how their agreement works, say no thank you and move on.
Go with your instincts and be a smart consumer.
a Free Loan Modification in California may or many not get as good a result as working with a broker. The old adage You Get What You Pay For may apply, if you choose wisely. If you have questions about Free Loan Modification, and want more statistics regarding Free Loan Modification in California, email us at info@trustedmortgagepro.com.
Not everyone wants Ben Bernanke's job, but this is a funny YouTube parody of Glen Hubbard, Columbia Business School's Dean who was tagged by the media as a potential successor to Greenspan. The students who created this parody obviously thought Hubbard could do a better job heading the Federal Reserve than Bernanke.
Most of us just want to know how the Fed Cuts effect our mortgage interest rates. My San Francisco Bay Area clients considering a Real Estate financing transaction ask me this frequently.
To answer the question, Rates are down after a Fed Cut, right? The answer is Yes and No.
The Fed Funds rate directly impacts home equity lines, credit cards and LIBOR based ARMs and often makes the long term mortgage rates dip initially, then go higher.
Why? Long term mortgage interest rates are tied to something called mortgage backed securities.
The Fed lowers the funds rate in order to stimulate the economy. When the economy is stimulated, the stock market improves, and when money flows into stocks and out of mortgage backed securities (or bonds), interest rates on long term mortgage loans go higher. The mortgage bond market is sensitive to inflation, and economic improvement often comes with inflation, thus bonds worsen, and long term mortgage rates rise.
Because interest rates have been so volatile, with I advise my clients to apply right away if they are considering refinancing. I present debt strategy and we select their loan product. If the rates are not in our target zone, we wait until they are, at which time I grab and lock the loan.
For my purchase clients, I show them how I track mortgage backed securities throughout the day on my cell phone and closely follow economic reports that impact rates, and float or lock accordingly after selecting a debt strategy and loan program.
Make sure your mortgage professional is tracking mortgage backed securities throughout the day to protect you in this volatile market. And make sure they know what Fed cuts and hikes mean to rates.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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