San Diego Real Estate Voice by William Johnson GRI CRS e-PRO

Please Read This! Procedure Change

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:17:21 -0600

ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group Change in Procedure - Please Read this !

The reason for this post is to bring forward a change in procedures.

Our ActiveRainPhotoBlogger Guidelines provides that our photo story posts should meet a minimum standard for ActiveRain's recognition in awarding points towards a members overall standing.

Our procedure up to this point has been to e-mail any member whose post does not conform to this guideline and allow 24 hours to for the member to correct the deficiency.

This procedure is now changed to where the moderator's must now delete the post from the group first and then e-mail the member to encourage that member to correct the deficiency and then re-post it the group.

This new corrected procedure also helps prevent the member from receiving more than one e-mail notification from different moderators as they may each discover the deficiency at different times.

We encourage all members to recognize this change in procedure and also to take seriously the guidelines as it pertains to the minimum number of words required in the respective photo story post.

We are delighted with our growth as the newest group in ActiveRain and the overall quality of our member's posts. We look forward in the months to come of expanding our membership and providing many new opportunities to share and learn from each other and ways that your posts will be recognized and made to stand out on ActiveRain.

We have had numerous posts featured on ActiveRain already from our group and we couldn't be very happy about ActiveRain's enthusiastic support of our group's efforts.

We expect our first ActiveRainPhotoBlogger contest to be announced sometime around the first of the new year.

We encourage you as members to help us build the membership of the group. Please remind your subscribers, associates and friends in the Rain about our group and encourage their participation.

Most Sincerely.

William Johnson, Founder
ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group

1980 Business Card Photo Challenge... Who's Brave Enough?

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:59:59 -0600

I love this idea that Mike came up with and decided to repost his blog so that many more readers can take advantage of this very fun idea Mike had.

I really enjoyed going through Mike's coments and I recognised a few members and the photos or business card photos is such a cleaver idea. I can't speak for others but I buried mine in the back yard hoping that insects would eat them but alas they didn't. I dug mine up so I am guessing more of you will do that as well.

Via Mike Jones (SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC):

My Darlin' says I have a lot of nerve posting this photo.

It's me. Thirty years ago in upstate New York...

Do you still have a business card photo from that ancient date?

Are you brave enough to endure the LMAO's?

Would ANYONE you know in the Rain be able to put your "today" photo together with your 1980 photo?

Oh, I know there are those out there who haven't changed the glamour photo on your business card in the last decade. Some of you are right here in Tucson, working for... Well, never mind. I'd only get in trouble.

Anyhow, those of you who were in diapers in 1980 needn't comment. Let's hear from those who were born before 1960.

Don't be shy. And please do upload a photo. Tell us where you were when it was taken. LOL!

___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.

SUNSTREET MORTGAGE
Call me if I can help you or someone you know
with a purchase or refi mortgage.
(520) 349-9090

ActiveRain Photo Blogging Group Presents The A B C's Of PhotoBlogging

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:15:43 -0600

ActiveRain Photo Blogging Group Presents The A B C's Of PhotoBlogging

For many members of ActiveRain, this post will be mostly redundant. But as a refresher, let's start from the beginning. In the beginning there was Adam and Eve, we will skip over that part and get to the good stuff.

A Photo blog tells a story with a photo, augmented by words to position the story and expand on it. The first element of this is then adding a photo to a post. But not necessarily the first thing you do in setting up that post.

The first thing you encounter when you are adding a new post is the title bar. This is where you decide if you want Google Juice for that post. Google Juice is that warm fussy stuff that people work so hard to obtain. In a nut shell, it is Page ranking for your post.

While we are on that subject, what do want in return for the photoblog presentation? Kudos from your subscribers or real page ranking. So let's assume it is the latter, otherwise I don't have a very good reason for writing this.

Selecting a title for a Photo blog is really no different than that for a regular blog post. Does the title capture interest? Wait a minute, the spiders and crawlers don't care about interest. They are interested in key words people use to search for things and that is what they are looking for.

For example. Here are two posts titled differently based on the same photo story. Pardon me while I add a bit of interest for myself and San Diego as I select those titles.

A. San Diego Real Estate PhotoBlog - Make this Beautiful Townhouse Your New Home.

B. San Diego Real Estate PhotoBlog - San Diego Housing Prices Drop, Make this Stunning San Diego Townhome Your New Affordable Home !

What have I accomplished here in the second title? I incorporated search terms that are likely to be searched by those looking to buy property in San Diego. So lets add up the search words or tags that the spiders and crawlers will pick up on. [ housing prices, san diego, san diego townhouse, affordable home, new home, san diego real estate]. That is a lot of search terms for just the title, wouldn't you agree?

Assuming we have now selected that as the title , what's next? To optimize the title. How about using it as the first line in the post. Google also likes the key words to be used more than once and definitely wants to see them used in the post or photo story, sort of re-enforcing why you chose them in the first place.

Now I just know that you went back up to my title of this post and saw nothing of what I just said. The search terms for the title of this post are [activerain,photoblogging, abc'S] Not going to be a lot of people searching those terms other than ActiveRain. So you can see my title of this post will not get very good page positioning in Google. But if you can learn some basics here, it will be worth the effort anyway.

Should we write the story first or load the photo. We know that the first line of the story is going to be your title re-stated. So I would add that first. The next step is put your cursor where the photo edge will be and then go to the picture icon. Adding a photo from your computer or where you store them online is is easy. But each of those locations will take a slightly different action to load the photo.

Here is a little tutorial on Adding Photos to your post that Jeremy Blanton of ActiveRain created to help you with that process.

This first video will just show the 2 different ways to insert a picture onto your blog.

This second video shows you how to align the photo in your post, re-size it & also place some white-space around your picture so that the words of your post do not run into your picture

Now that you have your photo downloaded into the post, you are ready to embellish your photo story. You have seen the word PhotoBlog used in this post and I think I should better define it.

You may ask, " what's the difference between a PhotoBlog and a regular blog since both can and usually do have photos" ? It is a nuance of course but here is how I would explain the difference. When you write a blog you will naturally want to illustrate it and add a photo or a slideshow. The photo and slide shows add interest and support the blog or story you have written. In a photo blog, the photo or slide show is the story and you write words to further enhance and embellish the story.

Think of it as photo journalism. The photo becomes the story and the words support it. As I mentioned this is anuanced meaning that it is open to other interpretations. That is why we started the ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group. To share resources , to share experiences and to learn how better to enhance our own photo telling stories and presentations. We also share in photo enhancements,tutorials on photo taking, branding and copy writing your photos for public presentations, etc.

Your photos are your valuable property and you should determine how they are used and by whom. And our Photo Blogger posts are ALWAYS with our own photos. Some of our members posts even share how they originally took the photos. There is so much we can all learn about Photo Blogging but it is mostly about having fun and sharing what we do.

We welcome you to become a member of what we think will become one of the strongest and growing groups in the Rain. We will have contests, we will present you with awards that will appear right on your posts for all to see. We use guidelines that have been approved by ActiveRain and by doing so, our photo posts are also eligible for consideration for featuring just like the regular blog posts. We welcome you to the ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group.

San Diego Real Estate Photo Blog - And Then There Was Only One

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:39:39 -0600

San Diego Real Estate Photo Blog - And Then There Was Only One

I was outside early the other morning watering the plants on the back patio and a flock of black crows , our local birds of prey commonly found here in inland San Diego, came swooping in making a huge racket.

Having experienced this before, I put down the watering hose and ran in the house to grab my camera. I knew from past experiences with crows swooping and hollering ,10-15 in this case, that they were chasing either an owl or a hawk and I wanted to see if I could get a photo. But in the past by the time I reacted, the interesting subject had flown off already.

I got the camera set to on and with me leaning over the fence whistling at them, the crows started to fly off. One by one they left and I spotted what I was looking for. And then there was only one. The hawk. A young hawk sitting in a tree quite a ways out from me but with the telephoto lens I spotted him and took his photo. I guess he saw me as I was clicking away and decided I was no safer to be around than the crows. I have no idea what kind of hawk this is but he looks very attractive in his beautiful spotted tan feather coat.

Sadly he flew off before I could assure him he was safe now. I linked this photo to the list of Birds of Prey from the San Diego Natural History Museum list of the local Birds of Prey in San Diego County. Regretfully no photo to match up but I will discover what kind of bird he is and change the post. But he was beautiful no matter his species ( variety).

If you are Buying, Selling or Relocating to San Diego and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my San Diego Real Estate website and sign up for Listing alerts for your favorite San Diego Home and Condominium Property Searches.

I specialize in Single Family Homes and Condominiums throughout the coast and inland areas of San Diego. Some of those communities are La Jolla, University Town Center, Bay Park, Mission Valley, Pacific Beach, Scripts Ranch, Poway, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho
Penasquitos,Carmel Valley and Solona Beach. If I didn't mention a city or community that you are interested in, just let me know and i will find you an expert for that community as well.

Need Help and Guidelines for Buying or Selling a Home ? Check out my new " Voice of San Diego Real Estate Blog "

San Diego Real Estate Photo Blog - Book Your Free Ride in My New Hearse Mobile on All Hallows Eve

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:04:22 -0500

San Diego Real Estate Photo Blog - Book Your Free Ride in My New Hearse Mobile on All Hallows Eve.

All Hallows Eve is just a day away and my new Hearse Mobile is all festooned and ready to entertain the life out of you on this very special evening. I still have plenty of room so make your reservations early ( like last week if you get my meaning ) and prepare for a great ride into the darkest reaches of our great city ,San Diego. We will first visit all the famous movie star's homes here in San Diego. Come to think there aren't any movie stars here, dead or alive, so we will skip that.

We were going to swing by our real Haunted House in Old Town but I hear those spirits were booked already into another venue for the evening. Seems that there is this very rich old guy ( I mean really really rich and really really old) who used to live in the Whaley House and he is getting married again. He says that all those haunts are his ex-wives and since he has no living friends, he invited all of his ex-wives to witness his new marriage for "Old Times " sake . Guess we might as well skip that one too.

Seems all the fun places are already booked and everyone not living is busy that night. So we might just as well go to a bar and park this thing and hang one on for the all the dearly departed. I am figuring if we get drunk enough, I am sure I'll have some new bookings within a few days. hehehehe

San Diego Real Estate Photo Blogger - Temecula Wine Country in Southern California

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:35:35 -0500

San Diego Real Estate Photo Blogger - Temecula Wine Country in Southern California

I had the pleasure to visit Temecula this past Sunday and I saw something so breathtaking and totally unexpected. I live less than hour from Temecula and passed through Temecula on my way over to Palm Desert a couple times a year. But I always take the short route through the new section of town. Living in San Diego and having never been to the Temecula Wine Country and not realizing what a strikingly beautiful area was certainly an eye opener. The size of the numerous Wine Estates and the acres of vineyards are mind boggling. I have never seen anything more beautiful or deluxe and you can be sure I am heading back very soon. You can be sure I will be writing more on the Temecula Wine Country and sharing some of the many photos. This photo was taken at the Wilson Creek Winery.

Announcing the Launch of the ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:15:56 -0500

I am delighted to announce the formal launch of the ActiveRainPhotoBlogger group today here on ActiveRain. This is an exciting opportunity for all us here in the Rain to learn better ways of presenting our photo blogs, sharing resources for those presentations and having the BEST photo blogging available on the Internet. We will have tutorials on developing rich SEO for your blog posts , branding and copyright features to protect your valuable photo property, contests for developing the best community posts and most importantly a place where we photo bloggers can call home here in the Rain.

Photo Blogging is for everyone. We all use photos to enhance our blogs post. The difference may be as subtle as recognizing that the Photo doesn't just have to enhance the story, it can be the story. Another key difference is that the photo is yours. We will have members that will write tutorials on enhancing your photos to present the best story. From color enhancement to cropping the subject, it is all important in the presentation.

We will share the resources for applications, software and slide show programs that can work best. Photo Journalism has come to the Rain. In fact it has always been here but perhaps not highlighted to the extent that it will be.

We Welcome You to join this group and to help build it to exciting new levels. Below our wonderful new Logo designed and created by our group administer, Debi Boucher, are the guidelines and goals for this group. Please read them over. We welcome your ideas and membership in the ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group.

The Goals and Guidelines for the group are as follows:

The major goal for this group is to provide a type of photo journalism for ActiveRain members that would present our photos in better presentation form. By presentation form, I mean in a more complete way than just adding a picture to a post. It could be a single photo of course or it might be a slide show that could have more to it than just photos. It might be a series of photos that creates a story. For the more complex presentations, there are various tools on the Internet that will facilitate this and we can share those resources that will help each of us learn better how to present our photo stories in exciting formats that will be enjoyed by our members as well as consumers.

ActiveRain has a requirement for it's posts that receive points toward a members standing, that it contain no less than 50 words along with any photo, video or slide show. Respecting that requirement, the ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group will also require at least the minimum number of words (50) in the description or story. Photos, videos, or slide show presentations with no minimum word description will regretfully be deleted from the group posts.

The type of photos that are not suitable would include, obscene, offensive, or photos that would depict personages in any manner deemed derogatory. We have full decision powers over what is obscene, offensive or deemed derogatory and our decision as it pertains to this group shall prevail. Those posts will be deleted from this group. As a member, you are encouraged to invite others to seek membership that would contribute to the overall goals of this group.

The goals for our group would include: to present your own unique photos that inspire, images that inform, images that excite ,images that would enhance our cities and communities by telling a story and in positive ways contribute to the enjoyment and enlightenment of our respective readers. The only real caveat to this group is that the photos and materials you present here are your own. You will be encouraged to use the resources we share to add your name or your own copyright marking to all of your photos.

This is a photo blogging group that use their own photos and the photo (s), videos and slide shows become the inspiration for and an integral part of the post.

One of the first administrators to be announced is the multi talented Debi Boucher who knows a great deal about taking photos and making presentations with them. She also designed and created the wonderful ActiveRainPhotoBlogger logo that you see above. I am looking forward to working with Debi and our group members will have a real professional that knows photography as well as photo presentations for guidance.

Brad Andersohn, one of the amazing talented staff of ActiveRain had agreed to be our counselor and adviser to help us each have the very best experience with our photoblogging efforts. We are all looking forward to welcoming our experienced ActiveRain members and new members alike. We actively invite your participation in the ActiveRain Photo Blogger Group.

ActiveRain Photo Blog- Taking Photos Using a Monopod

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:02:48 -0500

While I was trekking through the Sierra Nevada (Yosemite) on my vacation last month, I came across this very cool monopod that was instrumental in getting some very good photos at Yosemite. When I was getting my new camera, the salesman suggested strongly that if I was planning on using the telephoto lens, I needed something stable like a tripod to be sure that the camera was still and not moving. Naturally I postponed that decision until I could see the need for it. I discovered the need rather quickly. Bringing things in to close up range can be difficult if you don't have the steadiest of hands. The slightest movement is magnified and while ok for some things but if the picture is important, why chance it.

I found the perfect solution for being able to take actions shots and bringing in the best on longer distance shots. I wanted to share this remarkable easy and fun to use monopod with my ActiveRain readers . As you will see in the video, it quickly converts to a sturdy tripod. And it is inexpensive and works for all sorts of cameras, from point and shoot to the larger SLR's. It is so light weight and stores easily. I keep mine in the trunk of the car.

I recently took this photo of an October Moon over San Diego using this monpod (opened to tripod). It would be impossible without some sort of stability for the camera to get a photo like this.

San Diego Real Estate PhotoBlog- The Webs We Weave

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:56:28 -0500

San Diego Real Estate PhotoBlog- The Webs We Weave

I found this on a walk early Sunday morning. Of course I wasn't carrying my camera but I wasn't that far from home so I practically ran back , got the camera out of the bag, changed the lens and I was back out the door and off to capture this. I knew the sun was warning and that from what I have seen is that the fine early morning mist starts clumping together from the sun warming the watery mist so I was taking pictures fast from every possible angle. I stood back on the street and wanted to take a look to see if I got anything that was savable.

I turned the camera on to show what I had taken and I got the error message that no data storage card was found. I looked and realized that I left the data card in the reader while downloading all the pictures I had taken the day before. So I ran back to my house and grabbed the card and was able to still get this much of web before the sun changed it to dry threads that would be virtually invisible.

Need Help and Guidelines for Buying or Selling a Home ? Check out my new " Voice of San Diego Real Estate Blog "

San Diego Real Estate PhotoBlog - My San Diego Moon

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:36:01 -0500

San Diego Real Estate PhotoBlog - My San Diego Moon

Need Help and Guidelines for Buying or Selling a Home ? Check out my new " Voice of San Diego Real Estate Blog "

Yosemite - My Tribute To the Works and Inspiration of Ansel Adams and Introducing SlideRocket

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:09:11 -0500

Thank you again for visiting this small tribute to the photographic stylings of Ansel Adams. Being a novice photographer but inspired by Ansel Adam's amazing photography of our National Parks, I felt I wanted to at least attempt to show some of the beautiful natural wonders of Yosemite and to do it in the black and white format he became famous for.

Hope you enjoy this photo presentation. Turn your speakers up as there is music embedded in the presentation and starts when the show starts. . Note: To view this show in Full Screen mode, mouse over the bottom of the first picture as soon as the Show starts and you will see the Full Screen selection.This is a longer show than usual so be sure you get to the end where you will read a "Thank You for viewing this show".

The format for this show is a wonderful new resource I was introduced to by Michael Russer, Mr. Internet and I am introducing it here for the first time on ActiveRain. It is called SlideRocket and I will be telling you more about the amazing features of the great new resource through the soon to be announced new group called the ActiveRainPhotoBloggers. This group will share presentation resources as well as actual presentations and tutorials for those that are interested in creative PhotoBlogging.

Wordless Day After Wednesday - Raised Foundations and Blue Roofs Are In

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:52:30 -0500

If you are Buying, Selling or Relocating to San Diego and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my San Diego Real Estate website and sign up for Listing alerts for your favorite San Diego Home and Condominium Property Searches.

I specialize in Single Family Homes and Condominiums throughout the coast and inland areas of San Diego. Some of the communities are La Jolla, University Town Center, Bay Park, Mission Valley, Pacific Beach, Scripts Ranch, Poway, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos,Carmel Valley and Solona Beach. If I didn't mention a city or community that you are interested in, just let me know and i will find you an expert for that community as well.

Need Help and Guidelines for Buying or Selling a Home ? Check out my new " Voice of San Diego Real Estate Blog "

Copyright 2009 William Johnson author of The Real Estate Text Book
******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG, Subscribe and enjoy all the great and creative things yet to come!

Speechless Sunday - Emerald Bay

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:01:20 -0500

San Dieg Real Estate - California Purchasers of Bank Owned Properties WIN New Rights

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:50:17 -0500

California REO Buyers can now select their own title and escrow services in as provided by California Assembly Bill 957 signed into law today by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Effective last Sunday, October 11, 2009, the Buyer's Choice Act prohibits any REO lender that is selling a residential property of up to four units, from requiring the REO purchaser to purchase escrow services or title insurance from companies that they have previously made arrangements with.

I think this bill will go a long way in providing that REO services will be better distributed to locations that better serve the Buyers and will allow them to shop around for the price and quality of those services. Local agents can expect to have escrows and title services from people and companies that they are already acquainted with as well. Now maybe they could pass a law that re-instates some of the Buyer's right's that are stripped away in the lender's re-write of the Buyer's offer that a Buyer either has to accept or just walk away.

A buyer now will have the option to select their own service providers but still may elect to select those service choices from the REO lender . Many lenders have often negotiated lower prices with their choice of service providers often based on sheer volume and REO purchasers now have the option to chose .

The biggest benefit on the enforcement side is that if an REO lender violates this law, they can be held liable for three times the charges the buyer incurs, whereas a violation by the seller's agent now may be subject to license disciplinary action.

This law does however have an expiration to it. That being January 1, 2015. I think our legislatures are telling us that the flurry of REO activity will be over by that time. For some of us, that is hopeful news. For others, not so much.

Fhoto Friday - On the San Diego Waterfront

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:07:25 -0500

ActiveRain comes to San Diego. There are several major Hotels along the waterfront for our upcoming NAR meetings starting Nov 13th, 2009. This hotel is right on the south side of the Convention Center where the EXPO will be. If you get a room with a view, you will be directly across the water from Coronado Island and all it has to offer. If you want to go there, you can take one of the convienient water taxis and find yourself at one of San Diego's finest treasures, Coronado Island. We expect to have beautiful weather but then, we always do in San Diego !

Making New Friends In Lake Tahoe

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 02:00:47 -0500

Speechless Sunday- Well sort of. I met this lttle guy while visiting the Ehrman Mansion at Sugar Pine State Park in Lake Tahoe. As I was out walking the grounds , a couple were having lunch and this ground squirrel had already joined them for lunch. He didn't seem the least bit camera shy either. He seemed as facinated with all of us as we were with him. After he would take the food, he sorted stopped and posed a bit before scampering off only to return for more to eat. I think he knew he would get his photo plastered on the internet in a blog post and that others might regognise him and be willing to share their lunch with him as well. So take a good look and keep your eye out for my new friend.

If you are Buying, Selling or Relocating to San Diego and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my San Diego Real Estate website and sign up for Listing alerts for your favorite San Diego Home and Condominium Property Searches.

SPEECHLESS SUNDAY - The Getty Villa in Malibu, CA.

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:54:23 -0500

For over 20 years in local real estate as a Certified Residential Specialist ( CRS ) , I have specialized in Single Family Homes and Condominiums throughout the coast and inland areas of San Diego. Some of the communities are La Jolla, University Town Center, Bay Park, Mission Valley, Pacific Beach, Scripts Ranch, Poway, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos,Carmel Valley and Solona Beach. If I didn't mention a city or community that you are interested in, just let me know and i will find you an expert for that community as well.

Need Help and Guidelines for Buying or Selling a Home ? Check out my new " Voice of San Diego Real Estate Blog "

Copyright 2009 William Johnson author of The Real Estate Text Book
******************************************************************************************************

LIKE MY BLOG, Subscribe and enjoy all the great and creative things yet to come!

SPEECHLESS SUNDAY - "Dining Should Be More Than Good Food - Grand Scale and Opulence Comes To Mind"

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:53:18 -0500

San Diego Real Estate - Investment Grade REO Before and After Rehab

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:52:51 -0500

Investment Grade REO Before Rehab.

Investment Grade REO After Rehab.

Fhoto Friday - The Aquamarine Waters of June Lake

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:31:46 -0500

Wordless Wednesday They Say That Beauty Is In the Eye Of the Beholder- That Would Be Me In That Eye

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:05:51 -0500

Worldless Wednesday- If you look carefully, I am laying on the ground about 2.5 feet away from this lttle creature and captured myself in his eye.

San Diego Real Estate - Experts Disagree on San Diego Housing Recovery

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:55:50 -0500

San Diego Real Estate - Experts Disagree on San Diego Hosing Recovery

Standard and Poor's Case-Schiller Home Price Index for San Diego jumped 2.5% from June to July of this year. That numbers significance is that it is the biggest one month increase over the last for years. And it is on top of the other price increases for the previous two months. That defines what most most experts agree is clear evidence of a trend.. Three months is is the minimum for a “ trend” to be evident and at least they agree on that premise.But many are saying that we have hit bottom and that a recovery is underway.

The disagreement by other experts lies in the fact that a sizeable part of any recovery picture is a bit too cloudy to declare that we are at the bottom.

The evidentiary ( love that word) factors currently in our markets that need to be factored into to the equation are:

1. The end of the temporary Federal Tax Credit for 1st Time Home Buyers.

2. State and local unemployment figures are worsening.

3. A boat load of new foreclosures are expected to hit the market before years end.

4. General economic weakness. The banks are NOT fully immersed in creating mortgages.

It is my contention that we will experience even more upcoming surges in good sales months ahead but there is no correleation that an increase in the number of sales ( short sleas and froeclosures still making up a significant percentage of the ttal sales) indicate that housing prices have stabilized and will be heading up.

I am course hopeful but we also must be realistic . There is too much that is unclear in the outside factors affecting home values to declrae that we are finally at the bottom.

Speechless Sunday - Taking a Cruise From San Diego Harbor

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:08:03 -0500

San Diego Real Estate - Demand for VA Loans on the Rise Here in San Diego

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:46:48 -0500

San Diego Real Estate - Demand for VA loans is on the rise in San Diego.

For a lot of years, the VA loans had such a low loan limit, they didn't work too well for most homes or even condominiums here in San Diego.

This past year, with significant higher loan amounts of up to $593,750,the new loan limit is well above the median home price now in San Diego. There has been a real surge in VA loan requests. The VA insured loan purchases this past year represent between 9% and 10% of all the sales of single-family homes.

MDA DataQuick, here in San Diego, reported an interesting statistic on loan failure rates associated for VA insured loans. In San Diego County, VA insured loans failure rate stood at 4.3%. This compares more favorably to the other failure rates, Subprime loans failed at a rate of 29%, FHA loans at 7% and Conventional loans failed at 5%.

There have been numerous accounts through our network of real estate professionals working here in San Diego to say that some buyers with VA insured loans are having a more difficult time in getting VA offers accepted. Some of the reasons cited were that Sellers were resistant to pay the required mandated fees normally paid by the seller, appraisals are conducted with more scrutiny and Sellers must have the home in move-in ready condition (meaning, sellers are required to make significantly more repairs if escrows are to close).

Since many of our home sales are centered around distressed property, the Short Sale Sellers don't have the resources to make the property ready since they are already upside down and REO Lenders sell their property "as is" and Va financing is certainly not the best for this category of property. But these properties are priced most within the realistic budgets and VA Buyers get frustrated trying to make a deal work.

In a recent post I wrote about the proposed First-time Homebuyers Federal Tax Credit extension for veterans, Congress has before them a bill supported by the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee to provide an extension of the federal tax credit to veterans that have at least 90 days overseas duty.

If this bill is approved by Congress, it will also help to further increase the demand for VA insured loans , not justhere in san Diego but wherever the Veterans chose to live. And if the amendment that was offered goes along with the original Bill and is enacted, those currently on active duty would get an additional benefit. If they are re-assigned to another base for duty, they would not lose the tax credit benefit if they have to sell the home before the mandated minimum of 36 months of holding ownership as their primary residence.

Fhoto Friday- Another Era, Not So Long Ago

San Diego Real Estate Voice authored by William Johnson (RE/MAX Associates) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:19:29 -0500