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By J.C. Agajanian
As a Real Estate Broker maintaining strategic relationships with some of the nations largest banks, I sell a high volume of REO (Real Estate Owned) Properties. REO is the term used by banks for the homes they take ownership of after a foreclosure process has concluded. I would go into the process and the involved time-lines but that is another subject for an entirely other blog post. Through the course of my day, I often get questions about how to get “the inside track” or more specifically, how people can buy bank-owned-properties before they hit the market. Continue reading
OK,
I’ve mentioned my love for the tasty green stuff (avocados people) in the past. I’ve even gone as far as planting a tree in my small yard with hopes of a plentiful supply. It’s been in the ground for nearly three years now and this is the first time I’ve gotten my hopes up for a yield. We’ve had plenty of buds and flowers on our Dwarf Hass this year which got me quite excited. Then we had several days of 40+ MPH winds here in coastal San Diego and I’m going to be happy if we get any fruit at all. I’m just hoping we didn’t loose all our opportunity for a 2012 crop. Anyway, I came across this article and had to share it.
By Chris Smith
Mobile, while revolutionary, was doing more harm than good in my life. I recently made some major changes to the way I “use” my phone, which I will outline in detail below. I want to encourage you to consider doing the same right now.
Start with this simple question:
Are you in control of your phone or is your phone in control you?
This infographic really says it all. As you read it, consider how many of the listed signs of addiction apply to you.
The problem is that the advice at the end of “shut it off” is not practical.
Existing-home sales expected to rise 6.8% this year. By Inman News
More homes went under contract in January compared to December and a year ago, according to an index released today from the National Association of Realtors that tracks pending sales of existing U.S. homes.
NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index, which is based on purchase contracts signed but not yet closed, rose 8 percent from January 2011 and 2 percent from a downwardly revised 95.1 percent in December, to 97. According to revised figures, that’s the highest index score since April 2010, just before the deadline for a federal homebuyer tax credit program, when the index was at 111.3.
Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said in a statement that “the trend in contract activity implies we are on track for a more meaningful sales gain this year.”
Mulling a kitchen remodel but want to keep costs low? You’re au courant with today’s trends that emphasize options and high-tech wizardry at affordable prices.
By: Jamie Goldberg
Trend #1: Remodeling scales back
A new focus on moderation and value has entered the remodeling mind-set. Trends that are likely to show up in your kitchen next year include:
You’ll repair your existing appliances instead of replacing them, extending their life with good maintenance and care. If you’re replacing cabinets, you’re likely to build around your current appliances rather than choosing new models.
You’re scaling back your cabinetry purchases, with an increased emphasis on kitchen storage and functionality over elaborate decoration. For example, rather than stacked crown moldings throughout the kitchen, you’ll put your money into practical roll-out trays and drawer organizers.
Small-scale kitchen projects are big news. Changing out cabinet hardware, replacing a faucet, and refacing your cabinets upgrades your kitchen without major expense.
Trend #2: Simpler, warmer styles dominate
Fussiness and excess have faded away in favor of pared-back looks that present a more timeless, value-conscious style.
Cabinet decoration continues to streamline. For example, massive corbels, once fashionable as undercounter supports, will give way to sleeker countertop supports and cantelivered countertop edges. Stacked moldings will pare back or disappear entirely. Elaborately glazed finishes will yield to simpler paints and stains.
9th Annual Guacamole Bowl Cook-Off Contest | February 25
Guacamole lovers, feast your mouths on this!! Well, it’s not exactly a cook-off, but more of a whip-up. Teams will come together and use their own guacamole recipes that will be entered into a contest for the best tasting concoction. Come hungry and vote for your favorite! Admission $5.00 – includes a bag of chips and a vote of your choice. Benefits “Sports for Exceptional Athletes.”
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Balboa Park, 2150 Pan American Rd West, San Diego
For more information visit www.guacamolebowl.com
RealtyTrac said that 2011’s foreclosure activity is 34 percent lower than 2010 and the lowest since 2007.
by The Associated Press
About 1.9 million homes nationally entered the foreclosure process in 2011, the lowest level since 2007 when the recession began, according to a report Thursday by the foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc.
The firm cautioned that the decline does not necessarily indicate that the housing market is getting better, as many foreclosures have been delayed because of confusion over documentation and legal issues involved in the process.
There have also been problems with the way some lenders were handling foreclosures. Specifically, signing off on home foreclosures without first verifying documents — a practice referred to as “robo-signing.” Many of the nation’s largest banks reacted by temporarily ceasing all foreclosures, re-filing previously filed foreclosure cases and revisiting pending cases to prevent errors.
5 events that really mattered for housing in 2011 – and beyond.
By Jed Kolko, Trulia’s Chief Economist.
Government, the mortgage industry and forces of nature all shook the housing market in 2011. They had both an immediate impact and slow-burning effects, setting the stage for a bumpy 2012 with more foreclosures, political battles and local market risks.
1) Robo-Signing Reverberations
The “robo-signing” scandal – where banks were accused of approving foreclosures with incomplete or incorrect documentation – exploded in October 2010, but where are we now? Banks want a settlement in order to avoid costly, drawn-out lawsuits. One is shaping up that could reduce loan balances or interest rates for current homeowners, give payments to people who lost their homes and establish new mortgage servicing standards for the future.
Waiver for 90-day resales extended through 2012
By Inman News, Wednesday, December 28, 2011.
For the second year in a row, the Federal Housing Administration is extending a temporary waiver of its “anti-flipping” rule, meaning homebuyers relying on FHA-insured financing will continue to be able to buy homes that have changed hands in the last 90 days.
The waiver is a boon for investors seeking to rehab and flip properties, because it expands the pool of eligible borrowers to include those relying on FHA-backed loans, popular with first-time homebuyers and others who lack the cash to make large down payments.
In extending the waiver through 2012, FHA said all transactions must continue to be arms-length. In cases in which the sales price of the property is 20 percent or more above the seller’s acquisition cost, the waiver will apply only if the lender can document the justification for the increase in value, FHA said.
Five Great Things About Homeownership | Carla Hill
If you’ve been on the fence about homeownership, now is the time to take a leap! Don’t let the negative press deter you from one of life’s greatest joys.
Take a look at five short and sweet reasons that homeownership is great!
1. Equity. When you pay rent, you never see that money again. It is lining the landlord’s pocket. Yes, buying a home may come with some hefty initial costs (downpayment, closing costs, inspections), but you will make that money back over time in equity built in the home. Historically, homes appreciate by about 4 to 6 percent a year. Some areas are still experiencing normal appreciation rates. For the areas that have seen harder times since the recession, experts feel that the housing market will recover. Homeownership is about building long-term wealth. A home bought for $10,000 in 1960 is most likely worth 10 times that in today’s market. Continue reading
