burlingame: Increasing May Jobs Report Shows Strengthening Economy - 06/11/13 07:31 AM
 
The U.S. Department of Labor released its Non-Farm Payrolls and National Unemployment Rate reports Friday showing 175,000 jobs were added in May, which surpassed expectations of 164,000 new jobs and April's reading of 149,000 jobs added. The jobs added in May were largely from the private sector.
However, the national unemployment rate for May was 7.60 percent, one-tenth of a percent higher than expectations and the April reading of 7.50 percent. The rise was attributed to more people entering the workforce as opposed to people losing jobs.
420,000 workers joined the workforce in May, which pushed the civilian participation rate … (2 comments)

burlingame: What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week -- June 10, 2013 - 06/10/13 01:18 AM
Last week's economic reports provided a mixed bag of results. On Monday, the Department of Commerce reported that construction spending increased by 0.40 percent in April and fell shy of the expected reading of 1.0 percent, but exceeded the March reading of -0.80 percent.
Home Prices Increase Fastest Since 2006
On Tuesday, CoreLogic released its Home Prices reported that the national average home price had increased by 12.10 percent year-over-year in April. The comparable year-over-year reading for April 2012 was 11.00 percent. This represents the fastest pace of home price increases since 2006.
The national average home price expanded by 3.20 … (0 comments)

burlingame: What Does The Future Hold For The Security System In Your Home? - 06/07/13 06:56 AM
Imagine walking into your home and turning off the alarm, locking your doors, opening the windows and starting your coffee maker, all with a few taps of your finger on your smart phone?
What if you had a home security camera that you could monitor from anywhere and a motion sensor that would send you an email when your kids come home from school? What if you could open your blinds or unlock your home for a visitor, even from halfway around the world?
The technology that powers our home security systems is getting more and more sophisticated and in the … (0 comments)

burlingame: Four Important Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know - 06/06/13 08:25 AM
One of the important aspects of owning a home is having the knowledge of how to keep it maintained to avoid costly repairs and serious damage. Over the years weather and use will wear down both the interior and exterior of your property.
If you are able to practice preventative care on your home, then you will prolong the life of all of its systems and components. At least every six months or so, you should be performing an inspection of your property so that you can ensure that it is still functioning properly and safely.
What should you be looking … (0 comments)

burlingame: 3 Critical Tips To Improve Your Credit Score And Mortgage Terms - 06/05/13 09:02 AM
When you are looking for a mortgage for your home, your credit score is very important. Any potential lender will check your score and will use the number to assess your creditworthiness and the interest rate that they offer you.
The better your credit score the lower the mortgage interest rates will be available to you, as the lender will be able to see that you can handle credit well.
However, if you have a very bad credit score, it could be causing you to be offered high interest rates on your mortgage that could cost you thousands over the years.
… (0 comments)

burlingame: 6 Ceiling Solutions To Update Your Home - 06/04/13 07:59 AM
If you're absolutely sick of looking at the popcorn ceiling of your 1980's home - it's time for a change.
However, behind the facade of a ceiling is a mess of plumbing, wiring, joists and structural beams, so you have to be careful and creative when updating your home.
Whether you're dealing with an older home, a tricky duct system or an unfinished basement, below are several ceiling solutions to brighten up the space above your head.
Bring Back Wood Paneling
The 70's are making a comeback. If you have a flat or slanted ceiling, wood paneling is easy to affix … (0 comments)

burlingame: What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week -- June 3, 2013 - 06/03/13 06:36 AM
Last week’s financial news was relatively limited due to the Memorial Day holiday and no economic reports being released on Wednesday.
The biggest news in terms of housing and mortgages was the S&P/Case-Shiller Housing Market Indices (HMI) released on Tuesday.
The March HMI data for national housing markets reflected a sharp increase in year-over-year home prices from 9.30 percent in February to 10.90 percent in March.
Twelve cities included in the Case-Shiller 20-city index reported double-digit year-over-year percentage gains for March home prices. While this data strongly supports recovering home prices, analysts cite the need for more jobs, which would enable … (0 comments)

burlingame: Why Should I Choose W.J. Bradley? - 06/02/13 01:35 PM
 

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burlingame: Case-Shiller Reports Energetic Annual Home Price Gains Nationally - 05/31/13 08:17 AM
The most recent S&P/Case-Shiller Index showed all three composites posting double-digit increases over the last four quarters.  The national composite, which is the broadest based index, showed an increase of 10.2% annually. The 20-City composite posted even stronger annual growth at 10.9%.
Click Here To Download The Full Report
The Case-Shiller Index measures changes in home prices by tracking same-home sales using 10-City, 20-City and national housing markets; and the change in sales price from sale-to-sale. Detached, single-family residences are used in the Case-Shiller Index methodology and data is for closed purchase transactions only.
12 Of 20 Metro Markets Notch Double-Digit … (0 comments)

burlingame: Simple Ideas To Create An Outdoor Living Space For Your Home - 05/29/13 01:20 AM
As the weather gets warmer, the desire to get outside and enjoy the fresh air begins to take hold. Having a place to entertain or just unwind can add a new dimension and enjoyment to your home.
First, you have to decide what type of space you want to create. Whether you want to have an outdoor living room, a vacation-like spot or a place to meditate and enjoy nature, how you extend your living space is limited only by your imagination — and possibly your budget.
Start with your vision and make a list of the things you want to … (3 comments)

burlingame: Existing Home Sales Numbers Highest Since 2009 - 05/28/13 03:39 AM
The National Association of REALTORS reported that sales of existing homes in April reached 4.97 million on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis.
Although this reading fell short of Wall Street's expectations of 5.00 million existing homes sold, it surpassed the March 2013 upwardly revised reading of 4.94 million existing home sales. This represents a 0.60 percent increase from March to April, and a 9.70 increase year-over-year.
Low Mortgage Rates Contribute To High Sales Levels 
Low mortgage rates and pent-up demand for homes are driving sales of existing homes, which reached their highest level since November 2009. 
Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the … (0 comments)

burlingame: How To Throw A Memorial Day Weekend Party To Remember - 05/24/13 02:54 AM
Memorial Day weekend is widely regarded as the beginning of summer and many people kick off their summer plans on the weekend coming up.
We take this time to remember the brave men and women who have given their lives to protect and defend our liberty and freedom. But even while giving thanks for their sacrifice, we also celebrate the beginning of our summer with fun and (hopefully) sun!
As many people are more budget-conscious these days, holiday travel out of town may not be the best option for everyone. There are so many ways to enjoy the first long weekend … (4 comments)

burlingame: Fed Meeting Minutes Expose Rising Interest Rate Risk - 05/23/13 07:38 AM
Minutes of the April/May Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) recently released may have a significant impact on mortgage rates going forward.  One significant development from the meeting suggests that the present quantitative easing (QE)  program may be modified in the near future. 
The current QE program involves the Fed purchasing $85 billion per month in mortgage backed securities (MBS) and Treasury bonds. The Fed's goal with QE is keeping long-term interest rates, including mortgage rates, low.
Considerations mentioned in favor of slowing the current QE program include concerns over “buoyant” financial markets as evidence of a developing economic “bubble”. FOMC members … (0 comments)

burlingame: Simple Tips To Help Your Flowerbeds Flourish This Spring - 05/22/13 04:32 AM
Flowerbeds can be a very attractive addition to any San Mateo home -- if you have the time to set up and maintain them. Flowerbeds don't necessarily require a profusion of costly flowers that need to be fertilized, mulched, covered during severe weather, and possibly re-planted on a yearly basis.
So put on your green thumb and brave the outdoors this spring. With the tips below, you'll keep your flowerbeds filled and your house looking cheery without a huge money or time commitment.
Weed Eradication
Before you even start picking out roses and tulips, take care of the weeds. Gardens get … (0 comments)

burlingame: Avoid These Common Mistakes When Pricing Your Home To Sell - 05/21/13 04:23 AM
It can be very difficult to determine what your property is worth in the current marketplace, because you are biased by what the property is worth to you. These emotions can get in the way of impartially evaluating a property and often cause sellers to overprice their home.
When pricing your property, you need to be objective and reasonable so you can come up with a selling price that will capture the interest of buyers.
Here are a few examples of common mistakes people make when pricing their house for sale.
Reading Too Much Into Online Comparable Properties
Avoid relying too … (0 comments)

burlingame: What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week - May 20, 2013 - 05/20/13 06:23 AM
Last week was jam-packed with economic news; here are some highlights with emphasis on housing and mortgage related news:
Monday: Retail sales for April increased to -0.1 percent from the March reading of -0.5 percent and also surpassed Wall Street's downward forecast of -0.6 percent. Retail sales are important to economic recovery as sales of goods and services represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. economy.
Tuesday: The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released its Small Business Optimism Index for April with encouraging results. April's index rose by 2.6 points to 92.1. A reading of 90.7 indicates economic recovery. This index is based … (0 comments)

burlingame: Benefits Of Owning A Green Home You May Not Have Considered - 05/17/13 03:40 AM
Going green is not just a new trend; it is a way of life that benefits not only the environment, but also your health — and your pocketbook.
Green living cuts down on carbon emissions and creates a healthier environment both inside and outside of a home. While green structures sometimes cost more initially, the money (and environment) saved in the long run is well worth the investment.
Health Benefits
Owning a green San Carlos home has significant health benefits. Many conventional buildings are not properly ventilated and indoor air quality is often more polluted than the air outside.
Poor air … (0 comments)

burlingame: Home Builder Future Sales Confidence Rises To New Highs - 05/16/13 08:45 AM
Home builders are gaining confidence in current and future market conditions for new homes, but continue to see below-average foot traffic in new homes.
The reading for May's National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) /Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) increased by three points to a reading of 44 as compared to April's revised reading of 41. The HMI measures builder confidence in current sales conditions for newly built homes, buyer foot traffic in new homes and builder expectations for future sales conditions.
Builder Confidence In Future New Home Sales Highest Since February 2007
The HMI reading for current sales conditions … (0 comments)

burlingame: 7 Tips To Make Your Living Room More Appealing To Home Buyers - 05/15/13 05:23 AM
Everyone knows that first impressions are important. By carefully staging your home, you can positively influence the feelings your potential buyers have when they are viewing the property.
Staging is the art of decorating and arranging the spaces within your house to make it more appealing to buyers. If you can adapt the rooms to create an attractive and welcoming zone that home buyers can see themselves in, they will be more likely to buy your property.
One of the most important rooms to stage is the living room, because it is such a central part of the house. This is … (1 comments)

burlingame: Know Your Real Estate Disclosure Laws Before You Sell Your Home - 05/14/13 05:19 AM

When deciding to sell a piece of Burlingame real estate, there are certain things you must disclose about the property to the buyer before the sale can go through.
Disclosure laws are put in place to protect the buyer from unknowingly purchasing defective property. Not disclosing certain information about the property can jeopardize the sale, or worse, invite a lawsuit.
This has become more of an issue lately as some sellers are tempted to gloss over deficiencies in the home they are selling in order to try to get a higher sales price.  In fact, a recent poll of real … (2 comments)