real estate: Home Prices In Orange County, California are Climbing - 11/18/09 11:49 AM
Great article on the front page of the Orange County Register today. DataQuick reports that the median price of a home in Orange County now stands at $436,500 which is up almost 4% over a year ago and up a whopping 18% from January's price bottom. It also says most
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real estate: I Just Love The Media - 11/11/09 01:22 PM
It is always interesting to me how the media works. I guess it is just easier to say that they print whatever sells the most papers. The same real estate reporters that predicted doom and gloom from 2002 up until the actual crash are now publishing positive real estate articles.
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real estate: Tax Credit Extension For Buyers/Sellers - 11/05/09 04:10 PM
Lots of stories out today with slightly different details but both the House and Senate have approved the $8,000 tax credit for first time homebuyers through the middle of 2010. The program has also been expanded to include those people who purchase an owner occupied home within the past 5
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real estate: Potential Good News For Homebuying ! - 10/29/09 03:03 PM
News out of the government seems to indicate that they will be extending the temporary loan limits for conventional and FHA loans through 2010. This is great news as right now there are very few investors buying loans over the conforming loan limit of $417,000. As I mentioned the other
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real estate: Is The Homebuyers Tax Credit Done? - 10/27/09 01:15 PM
The word is the Senate could vote on the extension of the $8,000 tax credit as early as today. There is lots of debate going on with some people feeling it should not be extended while others feel it should be extended and possibly expanded to offer tax credits to anyone
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real estate: Setting Goals for 2010 It Can Be Done! - 10/22/09 12:51 PM
Here are some ideas I think will help you with setting goals for 2010:
1) Your goals must be your own. They cannot be dictated by your spouse, your broker or any other individual.2) Goals must be ambitious yet attainable. The key is to set goals that are realistic yet challenging.
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real estate: California Governor Signs New Mortgage Laws - 10/13/09 01:44 PM
These has been lots of talk and press yesterday and today about our famous Governor signing a package of mortgage related bills into law. Some of the key components to these laws is prohibiting loan officers from "steering" people into higher priced loan program (the higher priced or sub-prime loans
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real estate: Funny Video on Why It Is Hard to Buy A Bank Owned Home - 10/12/09 12:27 PM
This one of the funnest video's I have ever seen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM7oWKgCVo4
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real estate: Underwriting Woes - 10/07/09 02:26 PM
As we all know, the underwriting process is very tough right now. Source of funds and building permits are two areas to be aware of. Over the last couple of weeks lenders have become increasingly picky about "sourcing' any and all monies deposited into escrow or the buyers bank accounts.
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real estate: Homebuyers Tax Credit Is Ending ? - 09/09/09 01:34 PM
The Federal Tax Credit for first time homebuyers will expire as of December 1, 2009. The transaction must be closed by that date to qualify for the tax credit. There is talk and rumors that the government will extend the tax credit through next year and possible make it available to
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real estate: Media, Media, Media - 08/27/09 01:06 PM
Here we go. The roller coaster of the media is starting to attract some attention. As I mentioned yesterday some positive economic and housing news has been reported over the last few days and yesterday I began hearing on KFWB radio that housing in Southern California had "turned the corner".
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real estate: Improving Housing Numbers In OC - 08/25/09 04:41 PM
The Case-Shiller Home Price Index showed an increase in home prices for the second month in a row. This index measures home prices in 20 cities across the country. Couple that with the Orange County Register reporting an increase in the median price of a home in this area and
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real estate: The Media Our Friends ? - 07/30/09 11:10 AM
Our friendly Orange County Register (yes the same paper that bashed real estate for 3 straight years) reported in the Wednesday business section that "the housing market is on the mend". They also report that this is the "fourth consecutive month the index indicated prices have turned the corner and
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real estate: Is It Over ??? - 07/28/09 12:36 PM
Newsweek magazine says it is. Leading economists say it is. The media says it might be. So the big questions continues to be, is the recession over? With corporate earnings up and resale housing numbers improving it would appear that the economy may be turning the corner. There is a long
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real estate: Is The Media Back in O.C. ? - 07/09/09 04:40 PM
For years the Orange County Register was forecasting a bursting of the housing bubble when real estate prices were going up and the market was strong. As in any economic cycle they were bound to be right at some point and the economy fell into recession taking the housing market with
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real estate: Update on HVCC Mess For Realtors - 06/30/09 02:51 PM
As you all know by now, any lender ordering appraisals on conventional loans must go through an appraisal management company. Loan officers, processors, or anyone associated with the origination side of the business cannot be involved as it could "influence" the appraiser. The big banks are also having to let their
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real estate: Is The Orange County, California Housing Market Turning? - 06/27/09 11:18 AM
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real estate: Good Housing News for Orange County, California - 06/18/09 05:58 PM
The Orange County Register which bashed real estate for the last several years seems to be back on the real estate bank wagon. On the front page of the Business section is news that Orange County's median sales price rose to $410,000 which is the highest it has been in 7
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real estate: Locking In an Interest Rate - 06/15/09 02:53 PM
With the wild spike in interest rates last week it is important to understand how locking an interest rate in works. Once a property is in escrow we have the options of locking in an interest rate for the term of the escrow. If the rates go up the buyer is
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real estate: Condo Sales Heads Up - 05/20/09 02:44 PM
Over the last couple of months we have had a couple situations you rarely see on condo purchase transactions. On conventional loans (not FHA or VA) the lenders usually need a HOA Certification to verify information about the condo complex. This information includes the number of rental units in the
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