Out with the old in with the new!
I hope that 2009 is filled with bright optimism and hope for you.
OK a brief over view of the auctions for all you real estate fans!
There are several auctions that come thought the Victor Valley,
REDC and Hudson & Marshall seem to be the most frequent.
REDC will be here Jan 24.
Time to prep for it if you are going.
GENERALLY here is how it goes, everyone is a little different.
FIRST!!!!!!!!!!! Preview the property! REPEAT! VIEW THE PROPERTY! DO Not bid on something you have not seen!
Next read all the legal stuff on line.
You can bring an agent to the auction. This will cost you NOTHING! It may help keep things going in the end. We get paid for trouble shooting and making your life less complicated.
Next decided ahead of time what you are willing to spend on a property. You and your agent have gone over the comps near by, looked at a few other houses around there etc. Do your homework.
Get your funding together, come with a pre-qual from a lender you chose.
You will most likely need a cashier check for $5000.00
This will be your deposit for the first $95K of bidding.
The auction will add 5% premium to your last bid.
You will need a personal check for 5% of anything you bid over $100K.
You will need a second cashiers check for $10K for any 2nd property you present the winning bid on.
NOTE!!!!!!!!!!! All bids are subject to seller approval. So if the seller is expecting to sell for $200K and you fall short of $200K and win the bid, they can not accept you offer and you will get your money back. It's like on e-bay when you win but you didn't meet the reserve price.
Next....read the contract VERY CAREFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is a mean nasty contact written to the sellers advantage.
If you win and the house won't make appraisal or meet some other condition set out by your lender and they won't lend on it. Too bad, so sad for you. Bye bye deposit. No joke! BEWARE! INSPECT! Be careful!
Please be 1000% sure before you go into this.
You can get a great deal, but it's not for the faint of heart, it is a risky way to buy a house.
So before you buy,
get an agent
look at the house
inspect the property thoroughly
have fun.
By the way....
you can check out the next REDC auction in Victorville Jan. 24.
Open houses Jan 3,10 and 11.
Or call your favorite realtor (Hopefully that is me!) to see the houses.
Happy House Hunting!
Karen
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Is there a house under your tree?
Looking for a unique gift, that will keep on giving?
How about a rental house?
Seriously folks there are move in ready houses out there for $50K.
Now if you think that you can go in and offer that at $45k and get it, most likely not, you need to be prepared to over bid on the best priced stuff. I'm not the only agent in the Victor Valley that can find a deal and despite what you hear people are out there buying. So you would need to come in strong, like $55k with a nice deposit to out bid everyone else looking at the house.
Some of the REO's are coming in low to create this kind of frenzy with their listings, and it's working, that type of listing tends to sell at 10% over asking.
The point is there are deals to be had.
You have to have PATIENCE! YOu most likely will not get the first house you bid on.
But Karen does not give up. We'll keep grinding out paperwork till we get your dream to come true.
Happy House Hunting!
Happy Holidays!
Karen
How about a rental house?
Seriously folks there are move in ready houses out there for $50K.
Now if you think that you can go in and offer that at $45k and get it, most likely not, you need to be prepared to over bid on the best priced stuff. I'm not the only agent in the Victor Valley that can find a deal and despite what you hear people are out there buying. So you would need to come in strong, like $55k with a nice deposit to out bid everyone else looking at the house.
Some of the REO's are coming in low to create this kind of frenzy with their listings, and it's working, that type of listing tends to sell at 10% over asking.
The point is there are deals to be had.
You have to have PATIENCE! YOu most likely will not get the first house you bid on.
But Karen does not give up. We'll keep grinding out paperwork till we get your dream to come true.
Happy House Hunting!
Happy Holidays!
Karen
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Hello Blogger Fans!
If you haven't jumped into the home buying market, come on in the water is fine.
So the scoop in Apple Valley is in the last month......
85 homes have sold
3 of those where short sales
The average sq ft is 2052
The average price sold is $186,453.00
The highest price house sold $545,000.00
the low $68,250.00
It's a blessed life, made all the better by great friends and clients like you!
Happy Thanksgiving!
If you haven't jumped into the home buying market, come on in the water is fine.
So the scoop in Apple Valley is in the last month......
85 homes have sold
3 of those where short sales
The average sq ft is 2052
The average price sold is $186,453.00
The highest price house sold $545,000.00
the low $68,250.00
It's a blessed life, made all the better by great friends and clients like you!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Nov. Notes
Hey Real Estate Fans, News hot off the press.......
Here is the scoop from the market conditions report by Chicago Title for Nov.
Apple Valley
788 houses listed
109 sold
7 month supply
Median list price $180k
Median ask at offer $160K
Median close $156k
So to overstate the obvious, the lower priced homes is selling faster that the higher priced homes.
Still a great time for first time buyers, prices low supply good.
But if you are waiting to hit bottom we are seeing some numbers go up. To be certain some areas still have to come down some. But the deals are out there.
Happy House Hunting,
Karen
Here is the scoop from the market conditions report by Chicago Title for Nov.
Apple Valley
788 houses listed
109 sold
7 month supply
Median list price $180k
Median ask at offer $160K
Median close $156k
So to overstate the obvious, the lower priced homes is selling faster that the higher priced homes.
Still a great time for first time buyers, prices low supply good.
But if you are waiting to hit bottom we are seeing some numbers go up. To be certain some areas still have to come down some. But the deals are out there.
Happy House Hunting,
Karen
Monday, October 20, 2008
Some good news about loans and something to think about.
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20081020_washingtonreport.htm
It's not horrible trying to find a loan. Especially if you are looking for a first home. Jumbo loans....don't know. Where I'm having to put my extra thought is into investment property. You might have to think outside the box. We that went though the last go round of housing upset in the Victor Valley, many of us were caught up in fear and missed the chance to invest. NOW this is a GREAT time to buy an investment house. Now aren't you kicking your self for not buying a lot in Desert Knolls last time?
There is this old joke which reminds me of opportunity and how we look at things...
here goes....
A very religious old man lived just downhill of a big dam. One winter, after heavy rains, he got a knock at the door.
When he answered the door, there was a policeman in a raincoat. "I'm here to tell you the dam's in danger of bursting" he said. "If you want to leave, you have time to do so."
"No, thank you." said the old man. "My Lord God will save me."
"Okay," said the Policeman..."suit yourself!" and he left.
The next day, there was a knock on his door. When he answered the door, there was a Fireman dressed in flood-gear...down at the bottom of where his driveway used to be was a boat.
"I'm here to tell you that the dam has burst. It will soon take over your home. Please take some clothes and come with me!" He said.
"No, thank you" said the old man..."I've prayed to my Lord God, and he will save me!!"
The fireman shook his head and said "Suit yourself!!" and he left.
The next day the flood waters had taken over his home and he was stranded on the roof.
Soon, a helicopter came by, and a Rescuer shouted through the open door "Give me your hand!! We'll get you out of here!!!"
"No!!" replied the old man...."My faith in my Lord God will rescue me!!"
"Suit yourself!!" said the Rescuer, and he flew away.
The next day, the old man drowned.
At the pearly gates, he met up the the Almighty. "My Lord God....I have always tried to be a good Christian!!! I prayed and prayed for you to rescue me, and I died anyway!! Why!!???"
The Almighty answered in a booming voice: "HEY!!! I SENT YOU A POLICEMAN, A BOAT AND A HELICOPTER!!! WHAT MORE DID YOU WANT!!!??"
So my fellow real estate fans.... Don't miss the boat.... call me.
760-684-0250
It's not horrible trying to find a loan. Especially if you are looking for a first home. Jumbo loans....don't know. Where I'm having to put my extra thought is into investment property. You might have to think outside the box. We that went though the last go round of housing upset in the Victor Valley, many of us were caught up in fear and missed the chance to invest. NOW this is a GREAT time to buy an investment house. Now aren't you kicking your self for not buying a lot in Desert Knolls last time?
There is this old joke which reminds me of opportunity and how we look at things...
here goes....
A very religious old man lived just downhill of a big dam. One winter, after heavy rains, he got a knock at the door.
When he answered the door, there was a policeman in a raincoat. "I'm here to tell you the dam's in danger of bursting" he said. "If you want to leave, you have time to do so."
"No, thank you." said the old man. "My Lord God will save me."
"Okay," said the Policeman..."suit yourself!" and he left.
The next day, there was a knock on his door. When he answered the door, there was a Fireman dressed in flood-gear...down at the bottom of where his driveway used to be was a boat.
"I'm here to tell you that the dam has burst. It will soon take over your home. Please take some clothes and come with me!" He said.
"No, thank you" said the old man..."I've prayed to my Lord God, and he will save me!!"
The fireman shook his head and said "Suit yourself!!" and he left.
The next day the flood waters had taken over his home and he was stranded on the roof.
Soon, a helicopter came by, and a Rescuer shouted through the open door "Give me your hand!! We'll get you out of here!!!"
"No!!" replied the old man...."My faith in my Lord God will rescue me!!"
"Suit yourself!!" said the Rescuer, and he flew away.
The next day, the old man drowned.
At the pearly gates, he met up the the Almighty. "My Lord God....I have always tried to be a good Christian!!! I prayed and prayed for you to rescue me, and I died anyway!! Why!!???"
The Almighty answered in a booming voice: "HEY!!! I SENT YOU A POLICEMAN, A BOAT AND A HELICOPTER!!! WHAT MORE DID YOU WANT!!!??"
So my fellow real estate fans.... Don't miss the boat.... call me.
760-684-0250
Saturday, October 18, 2008
GREAT DEAL!
OK for everyone out there saying, "LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU FIND A GREAT DEAL" This is it! Don't wait. I'm telling you now this is the best deal I've seen all year.
Listing #362115
$133,000 (LP)
Price/SqFt: 43.68
13361 Central Rd, Apple Valley, CA 92308 * Active (10/14/08) DOM/CDOM: 4/4
Beds: 8 Baths: 4 Sq Ft: 3045* Lot Sz: 30900sqft*
Area: 28 Yr: 1957*
Listing #362115
$133,000 (LP)
Price/SqFt: 43.68
13361 Central Rd, Apple Valley, CA 92308 * Active (10/14/08) DOM/CDOM: 4/4
Beds: 8 Baths: 4 Sq Ft: 3045* Lot Sz: 30900sqft*
Area: 28 Yr: 1957*
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Here is the scoop on Apple Valley zip 92307
Hey, check it out things are moving up!
Average Sales Price and Volume
Average Sales Price and Volume
Friday, September 26, 2008
Apple Valley News....
As of today there are 807 homes for sale in Apple Valley,
342 are bank owned,
133 are short sales.
There are currently 248 homes pending.
In the last 30 days 89 homes have sold,
65 of those were bank owned
4 were short sales.
342 are bank owned,
133 are short sales.
There are currently 248 homes pending.
In the last 30 days 89 homes have sold,
65 of those were bank owned
4 were short sales.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
We love Learning RX,
Hi all,
This is one of my favorite place and if you mention ME, you get a Karen discount.
LearningRx
Training the Brain to Make Learning Easier
Learning is a lifelong endeavor, and whether you are a student in a classroom or a student of life, tapping into your cognitive potential can bring big benefits. LearningRx offers just the prescription needed to strengthen brain power. LearningRx is not a tutoring service; it’s much more. The highly trained staff at LearningRx offer their clients individually designed programs that will focus on specific cognitive functions such as long-term memory, auditory and visual processing, as well as boost analysis, logic, reasoning, and other higher order thinking skills. The director of LearningRx, Steve Hackney, says, “Our goal is to make learning quicker and easier.”
Unlike tutoring, which merely attempts to re-teach information not previously understood, LearningRx uses one-to-one training to strengthen cognitive abilities so that the brain is able to access and process information more readily. While the professionals at LearningRx are serious about their clients’ success, the sessions don’t have to feel serious. Seven year-old Rachel has a lot of fun in the program, and her mom Andrea says that training has “broken down the mental wall” her daughter had built up against learning. Kristy says her daughter Brooklyn has “improved her comprehension and retention skills.” Serving clients of all ages, LearningRx even works with patients who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of cognitive impairment to strengthen brain function and keep them cognitively active for as long as possible. LearningRx does not offer a “quick fix.” Steve Hackney reminds his clients that what they are investing in are cognitive skills that will not go away, skills that will benefit the client throughout his or her life, and he says the cost to benefit ratio is phenomenal. LearningRx offers financing plans as well. LearningRx helps their clients improve cognitive function, achieve higher levels of comprehension, and develop greater confidence that will last a lifetime. -- Susan Landers, HD Living Magazine
This is one of my favorite place and if you mention ME, you get a Karen discount.
LearningRx
Training the Brain to Make Learning Easier
Learning is a lifelong endeavor, and whether you are a student in a classroom or a student of life, tapping into your cognitive potential can bring big benefits. LearningRx offers just the prescription needed to strengthen brain power. LearningRx is not a tutoring service; it’s much more. The highly trained staff at LearningRx offer their clients individually designed programs that will focus on specific cognitive functions such as long-term memory, auditory and visual processing, as well as boost analysis, logic, reasoning, and other higher order thinking skills. The director of LearningRx, Steve Hackney, says, “Our goal is to make learning quicker and easier.”
Unlike tutoring, which merely attempts to re-teach information not previously understood, LearningRx uses one-to-one training to strengthen cognitive abilities so that the brain is able to access and process information more readily. While the professionals at LearningRx are serious about their clients’ success, the sessions don’t have to feel serious. Seven year-old Rachel has a lot of fun in the program, and her mom Andrea says that training has “broken down the mental wall” her daughter had built up against learning. Kristy says her daughter Brooklyn has “improved her comprehension and retention skills.” Serving clients of all ages, LearningRx even works with patients who have Alzheimer’s Disease or other forms of cognitive impairment to strengthen brain function and keep them cognitively active for as long as possible. LearningRx does not offer a “quick fix.” Steve Hackney reminds his clients that what they are investing in are cognitive skills that will not go away, skills that will benefit the client throughout his or her life, and he says the cost to benefit ratio is phenomenal. LearningRx offers financing plans as well. LearningRx helps their clients improve cognitive function, achieve higher levels of comprehension, and develop greater confidence that will last a lifetime. -- Susan Landers, HD Living Magazine
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
a re-run but bares repeating.
Buying your first house.
So you want to buy a house?
First you go talk to a loan person, hopefully my pal Craig at Wells Fargo. His # is 760-265-3423. Then you find out what you qualify for and match that to how much you are comfortable in paying per month. Make sure you start rounding up everything the loan people need.
Then go look for your dream home. (This could take 1 day or 6 months.)
Next you make an offer and go through the back and forth till you strike a deal.
Fill out paper work.
After you have an accepted offer, get your home inspected. Something will always be wrong, be ready. Ask for repairs or not. NOW...... you can start getting attached. Fill out more paper work.
You'll meet back with the loan people, more paper work.
Sign disclosures all from the other side of the transaction, get the escrow instructions, now you have someone else to fill out paperwork for, that is your hopefully your good friend the escrow officer.
Then if you are a NORMAL first time buyer, you start writing letters. why this, why that, your thinking who cares, well the loan underwriters do.
Make double, triple, quadruple sure you are on top of all the paperwork chasing you are doing for the loan.
You will hear, we passed termite and septic or not. Deal with that, more paperwork if there is a problem.
WOW!!!!!!!! You are still here.
SO FINALLY someone calls and says, come in and sign docs. That's the huge stack of paperwork that has scary things in it, like how much you will pay if you make 30 years of loan payments. Four little letters that really mean sign 4 feet it seems of paperwork. Good news is your about done.
These could be some really long long days, are you packing yet, I hope so.
Time to do the final walk through.
Next you'll hear the loan funded. I'm sure you are thinking I should have mentioned keys at some point right.
Now are all the loan conditions met? Everything fixed? Everything signed? This is no time to be losing sleep, you are moving soon. Now in a day or more....
Get ready, get set...........the words you have been longing to hear.
"YOU RECORDED!"
THEN you get your keys! Congratulations! You are now a home owner.
Ps The good news is the second one is less painful.
So you want to buy a house?
First you go talk to a loan person, hopefully my pal Craig at Wells Fargo. His # is 760-265-3423. Then you find out what you qualify for and match that to how much you are comfortable in paying per month. Make sure you start rounding up everything the loan people need.
Then go look for your dream home. (This could take 1 day or 6 months.)
Next you make an offer and go through the back and forth till you strike a deal.
Fill out paper work.
After you have an accepted offer, get your home inspected. Something will always be wrong, be ready. Ask for repairs or not. NOW...... you can start getting attached. Fill out more paper work.
You'll meet back with the loan people, more paper work.
Sign disclosures all from the other side of the transaction, get the escrow instructions, now you have someone else to fill out paperwork for, that is your hopefully your good friend the escrow officer.
Then if you are a NORMAL first time buyer, you start writing letters. why this, why that, your thinking who cares, well the loan underwriters do.
Make double, triple, quadruple sure you are on top of all the paperwork chasing you are doing for the loan.
You will hear, we passed termite and septic or not. Deal with that, more paperwork if there is a problem.
WOW!!!!!!!! You are still here.
SO FINALLY someone calls and says, come in and sign docs. That's the huge stack of paperwork that has scary things in it, like how much you will pay if you make 30 years of loan payments. Four little letters that really mean sign 4 feet it seems of paperwork. Good news is your about done.
These could be some really long long days, are you packing yet, I hope so.
Time to do the final walk through.
Next you'll hear the loan funded. I'm sure you are thinking I should have mentioned keys at some point right.
Now are all the loan conditions met? Everything fixed? Everything signed? This is no time to be losing sleep, you are moving soon. Now in a day or more....
Get ready, get set...........the words you have been longing to hear.
"YOU RECORDED!"
THEN you get your keys! Congratulations! You are now a home owner.
Ps The good news is the second one is less painful.
another article about the housing bubble, this summed it up pretty well.
http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/105782/How-We-Got-Here-It-Is-Housing-Stupid
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
RE in the news
http://realestate.msn.com/Buying/Article_usnews.aspx?cp-documentid=5088688
Interesting article about buying a home.
Interesting article about buying a home.
Monday, September 8, 2008
The lastest on Freddie and Frannie
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122088294934209997.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news
Thursday, August 28, 2008
More News from Chicago Title
So the newly updated exciting Foreclosure Report is out.
Jan. 08 (Remember we were cold and wondering when we would be warm again)
we had 35 trustee sales in Apple Valley, fast forward to July (now we are wondering when it's going to be cold again) there where 114 trustee sales. June was the high month with 130 houses going to Trustee Sale.
It isn't over my friends, but what changed is that down payment assistants through the Nehemiah and Hart programs are gone. You MUST have direct underwriting approval by Sept 30. So if it's not a deal today we need to fry the fish a new way.
That's the hot news from the housing front. Be well and Happy House Hunting,
Karen
Jan. 08 (Remember we were cold and wondering when we would be warm again)
we had 35 trustee sales in Apple Valley, fast forward to July (now we are wondering when it's going to be cold again) there where 114 trustee sales. June was the high month with 130 houses going to Trustee Sale.
It isn't over my friends, but what changed is that down payment assistants through the Nehemiah and Hart programs are gone. You MUST have direct underwriting approval by Sept 30. So if it's not a deal today we need to fry the fish a new way.
That's the hot news from the housing front. Be well and Happy House Hunting,
Karen
Sunday, August 17, 2008
14199 Auburn Ct, Victorville, CA 92394
A great 2 bedroom, move in ready, cute and clean. Check it out at VVMLS.Com listing #358185
Way to many features to list, but here are a few
newer paint and carpet
closed circut security system
A/C
swamp cooler
includeds frige
Help save the DAP
http://www.getdownpayment.com/
Please TAKE ACTION...........Help save Down Payment Asstiance Programs!
Please TAKE ACTION...........Help save Down Payment Asstiance Programs!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Hi House Hunters!
News from the real estate front....thanks to Chicago Title
Early in Aug, there were 773 homes listed in Apple Valley, 93 sold in July, with an average of 67 days on market.
A little more housing trivia for you, if your house is priced between $250-$300k you have a 1 in 4 chance of selling. the percent selling is rising slightly.
So what does all this mean.....
boiled down, if you need to sell, now is a tough time, it's a buyers' market. But priced correctly it will most likely sell.
The reality for buyers' is there are bargains out there. But dog gone, I'm not the only one that can find them, so we are getting into multiple bid situations where people are bidding over the asking price in order to get the deal or compensate for
concessions.
Patience is the KEY in this market as a buy to getting a great deal.
You can not fall in love with a house until you get a counter offer from the bank in your hot little hand.
News from the real estate front....thanks to Chicago Title
Early in Aug, there were 773 homes listed in Apple Valley, 93 sold in July, with an average of 67 days on market.
A little more housing trivia for you, if your house is priced between $250-$300k you have a 1 in 4 chance of selling. the percent selling is rising slightly.
So what does all this mean.....
boiled down, if you need to sell, now is a tough time, it's a buyers' market. But priced correctly it will most likely sell.
The reality for buyers' is there are bargains out there. But dog gone, I'm not the only one that can find them, so we are getting into multiple bid situations where people are bidding over the asking price in order to get the deal or compensate for
concessions.
Patience is the KEY in this market as a buy to getting a great deal.
You can not fall in love with a house until you get a counter offer from the bank in your hot little hand.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
links to news about the housing bill
http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/29/pf/saving/toptips/index.htm?section=money_latest
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/business/25money.html?adxnnl=1&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1217011884-O5P2v31mR0wGSYBo2KBt8g
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052001330.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92826335
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/business/25money.html?adxnnl=1&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1217011884-O5P2v31mR0wGSYBo2KBt8g
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/20/AR2008052001330.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92826335
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
DAP and FHA
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080616_washingtonreport.htm
Hi all,
Hey~ FHA is trying to take a swipe at the Hart and Nehemiah type programs.
If you are one of my buyers that have used this program to get your dream home you may want to let your Congressman know that you are excited about these programs and want to see them stay in place.
Happy House Hunting,
Karen
Hi all,
Hey~ FHA is trying to take a swipe at the Hart and Nehemiah type programs.
If you are one of my buyers that have used this program to get your dream home you may want to let your Congressman know that you are excited about these programs and want to see them stay in place.
Happy House Hunting,
Karen
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Buying your first house.
So you want to buy a house?
First you go talk to a loan person, hopefully my pal Craig at Wells Fargo. His # is 760-265-3423. Then you find out what you qualify for and match that to how much you are comfortable in paying per month. Make sure you start rounding up everything the loan people need.
Then go look for your dream home. (This could take 1 day or 6 months.)
Next you make an offer and go through the back and forth till you strike a deal.
Fill out paper work.
After you have an accepted offer, get your home inspected. Something will always be wrong, be ready. Ask for repairs or not. NOW...... you can start getting attached. Fill out more paper work.
You'll meet back with the loan people, more paper work.
Sign disclosures all from the other side of the transaction, get the escrow instructions, now you have someone else to fill out paperwork for, that is your hopefully your good friend the escrow officer.
Then if you are a NORMAL first time buyer, you start writing letters. why this, why that, your thinking who cares, well the loan underwriters do.
Make double, triple, quadruple sure you are on top of all the paperwork chasing you are doing for the loan.
You will hear, we passed termite and septic or not. Deal with that, more paperwork if there is a problem.
WOW!!!!!!!! You are still here.
SO FINALLY someone calls and says, come in and sign docs. That's the huge stack of paperwork that has scary things in it, like how much you will pay if you make 30 years of loan payments. Four little letters that really mean sign 4 feet it seems of paperwork. Good news is your about done.
These could be some really long long days, are you packing yet, I hope so.
Time to do the final walk through.
Next you'll hear the loan funded. I'm sure you are thinking I should have mentioned keys at some point right.
Now are all the loan conditions met? Everything fixed? Everything signed? This is no time to be losing sleep, you are moving soon. Now in a day or more....
Get ready, get set...........the words you have been longing to hear.
"YOU RECORDED!"
THEN you get your keys! Congratulations! You are now a home owner.
Ps The good news is the second one is less painful.
First you go talk to a loan person, hopefully my pal Craig at Wells Fargo. His # is 760-265-3423. Then you find out what you qualify for and match that to how much you are comfortable in paying per month. Make sure you start rounding up everything the loan people need.
Then go look for your dream home. (This could take 1 day or 6 months.)
Next you make an offer and go through the back and forth till you strike a deal.
Fill out paper work.
After you have an accepted offer, get your home inspected. Something will always be wrong, be ready. Ask for repairs or not. NOW...... you can start getting attached. Fill out more paper work.
You'll meet back with the loan people, more paper work.
Sign disclosures all from the other side of the transaction, get the escrow instructions, now you have someone else to fill out paperwork for, that is your hopefully your good friend the escrow officer.
Then if you are a NORMAL first time buyer, you start writing letters. why this, why that, your thinking who cares, well the loan underwriters do.
Make double, triple, quadruple sure you are on top of all the paperwork chasing you are doing for the loan.
You will hear, we passed termite and septic or not. Deal with that, more paperwork if there is a problem.
WOW!!!!!!!! You are still here.
SO FINALLY someone calls and says, come in and sign docs. That's the huge stack of paperwork that has scary things in it, like how much you will pay if you make 30 years of loan payments. Four little letters that really mean sign 4 feet it seems of paperwork. Good news is your about done.
These could be some really long long days, are you packing yet, I hope so.
Time to do the final walk through.
Next you'll hear the loan funded. I'm sure you are thinking I should have mentioned keys at some point right.
Now are all the loan conditions met? Everything fixed? Everything signed? This is no time to be losing sleep, you are moving soon. Now in a day or more....
Get ready, get set...........the words you have been longing to hear.
"YOU RECORDED!"
THEN you get your keys! Congratulations! You are now a home owner.
Ps The good news is the second one is less painful.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
What a great house!
Are you looking for a move in ready home?
This wonderful home is out of the hustle and bustle of the town, but close enough to everything, the new shopping and movies are minutes away, getting to Big Bear, a hop, skip and jump.
It's High Desert living at it's best and it could be your dream home.
Call me if you'd like to see it.
760-684-0250
This wonderful home is out of the hustle and bustle of the town, but close enough to everything, the new shopping and movies are minutes away, getting to Big Bear, a hop, skip and jump.
It's High Desert living at it's best and it could be your dream home.
Call me if you'd like to see it.
760-684-0250
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Need a Realtor?
Hey blog fans, It's Karen.
Just in case you have a comment or you want to see a house.
Get in touch.
I'm at Hamilton Landon GMAC in Apple Valley,
working for the world's greatest broker Jason Landon.
You can always call me on my cell 760.684.0250
or drop me an e-mail to
KarenSoldIt@yahoo.com
Happy Home Buying!
Just in case you have a comment or you want to see a house.
Get in touch.
I'm at Hamilton Landon GMAC in Apple Valley,
working for the world's greatest broker Jason Landon.
You can always call me on my cell 760.684.0250
or drop me an e-mail to
KarenSoldIt@yahoo.com
Happy Home Buying!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
To my first time buyers
I thought about sending an e-mail out to my first time buyers, but hopefully you'll find my comments worth the post.
Young people, good for you, you are looking at right now as a a chance to buy a house.
You are going against the flow, the fear and the uncertainty of the generations that are older than you. CNN, MSMBC, etc all declare what a housing crisis we are in. The sky is falling.
But PLEASE look at what is going on and learn from this.
Many of the houses we look at are REO's, A.K.A. bank owned, so someone goofed somewhere in Some reasons people are in forecloser are;
*Health.......no disability insurance.
*Divorce............I hope none of you are ever in that position.
*Child support issues.......make sure you have documented all your support payments.
*Poor advice from "friends"................all I have to say about that is friends don't let friends make bad loans.
*Re-financing your loan AND TAKING MONEY out for non-investment purposes, ie a trip, to pay off bills. ........do you really want to pay for that trip for 30 years?
*Re-financing your house and paying a contractor upfront and your money and the contractor are gone.
*Buying too high and paying to much on your interest rate.......patience.
*Adjustable rate mortgages......if you can't afford it now, tell me how you can afford it next year?
*Not letting people know when you are in trouble till it is to late.
*The one that really gets me is walking away from your house to go buy another house.
Please don't do these things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really don't want to be looking for someone wonderful to buy your house when it is an REO.
It's happened to a couple of my friends.
So when it starts happening and it will again after this cycle is over, my best advice to you is FEAR NOT!!!! Learn from this and put yourselves in a position of strength when it happens next time. That's the time to pick up a rental, but investment property, rent out your house and move up.
People that don't learn from history repeat it. This current crisis will hit again. The economy goes in cycles. Every cycle has it's positive points for real estate, sometimes it favors the buyer and sometimes the sellers. So put yourself in a place where you can take advantage of the current situation, like you are. At the moment you are looking to buy. Someday you'll be looking to sell.
Some of you are new friends but some of you are old friends, I seen you grow up and get married and now having babies. It is my honor and my privilege to be with you on the next part of your lives journey, that takes you into home ownership. I don't want to blab on and get all sentimental,(Your Mom's and I can get all mushy about it behind your backs once your in a house.) because that's off the point. Which is........... be a good student of what's happening now and you won't be suffering later.
Happy home buying,
Karen
Young people, good for you, you are looking at right now as a a chance to buy a house.
You are going against the flow, the fear and the uncertainty of the generations that are older than you. CNN, MSMBC, etc all declare what a housing crisis we are in. The sky is falling.
But PLEASE look at what is going on and learn from this.
Many of the houses we look at are REO's, A.K.A. bank owned, so someone goofed somewhere in Some reasons people are in forecloser are;
*Health.......no disability insurance.
*Divorce............I hope none of you are ever in that position.
*Child support issues.......make sure you have documented all your support payments.
*Poor advice from "friends"................all I have to say about that is friends don't let friends make bad loans.
*Re-financing your loan AND TAKING MONEY out for non-investment purposes, ie a trip, to pay off bills. ........do you really want to pay for that trip for 30 years?
*Re-financing your house and paying a contractor upfront and your money and the contractor are gone.
*Buying too high and paying to much on your interest rate.......patience.
*Adjustable rate mortgages......if you can't afford it now, tell me how you can afford it next year?
*Not letting people know when you are in trouble till it is to late.
*The one that really gets me is walking away from your house to go buy another house.
Please don't do these things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really don't want to be looking for someone wonderful to buy your house when it is an REO.
It's happened to a couple of my friends.
So when it starts happening and it will again after this cycle is over, my best advice to you is FEAR NOT!!!! Learn from this and put yourselves in a position of strength when it happens next time. That's the time to pick up a rental, but investment property, rent out your house and move up.
People that don't learn from history repeat it. This current crisis will hit again. The economy goes in cycles. Every cycle has it's positive points for real estate, sometimes it favors the buyer and sometimes the sellers. So put yourself in a place where you can take advantage of the current situation, like you are. At the moment you are looking to buy. Someday you'll be looking to sell.
Some of you are new friends but some of you are old friends, I seen you grow up and get married and now having babies. It is my honor and my privilege to be with you on the next part of your lives journey, that takes you into home ownership. I don't want to blab on and get all sentimental,(Your Mom's and I can get all mushy about it behind your backs once your in a house.) because that's off the point. Which is........... be a good student of what's happening now and you won't be suffering later.
Happy home buying,
Karen
Monday, February 4, 2008
Keep one eye on Washington too.....
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080204_investorreport.htm
You can't turn your backs people. This is info about 1031 exchanges and how Congress is trying to mess with them.
Please don't get so caught up in all this political action stuff that you forget to e-mail me and get your recipe book.
Happy House Hunting,
Karen
You can't turn your backs people. This is info about 1031 exchanges and how Congress is trying to mess with them.
Please don't get so caught up in all this political action stuff that you forget to e-mail me and get your recipe book.
Happy House Hunting,
Karen
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Call to action
Assembly
California Legislature
Anthony Adams
ASSEMBLYMAN, FIFTY-NINETH DISTRICT
REPUBLICAN WHIP
Dear Friends,
California faces a $14.5 billion budget deficit because the liberal politicians in Sacramento have spent too much for too long.
Instead of cutting wasteful spending in state government to pay down the deficit and balance the budget once and for all, there are those in Sacramento who want to punish every California homeowner by repealing the state home mortgage interest deduction!
They think that this important tax savings, relied upon by millions of Californians, is a “tax loophole” for the wealthy that must be closed.
What would repealing the home mortgage interest deduction mean for California homeowners?
It would increase a current homeowner’s state tax bills by hundreds of dollars or more every year.
It would make buying that first home much more difficult, if not impossible, for many young Californians struggling to scrape together enough money to buy their first home.
It would add one more burden to the many homeowners who have already lost substantial equity in their homes in the current market.
Some of these liberal Sacramento politicians have gone even further, suggesting repealing Proposition 13, which limits how much the state can increase property tax bills every year. Repealing or even amending Prop. 13 would be a disaster, leading to thousands of families losing their homes, millions of Californians seeing their home values drop further and billions of dollars in higher taxes. Enough is enough!
We need your help to stop the liberal politicians in Sacramento from following through with their threat to take away the mortgage interest deduction and impose a $5.3 billion tax increase on you and every other California homeowner!
Here’s what you can do to get involved and stop the mortgage deduction grab:
· Write or call Speaker Fabian Núñez today, and tell him to keep his hands off our mortgage interest deduction.
· Remind him that the mortgage interest deduction is not a loophole, but important tax savings that help millions afford their home.
· Urge him to cut wasteful spending in the budget, not raise taxes.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez
E-mail: Assemblymember.Nunez@assembly.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 319-2046
I hope you will join with thousands of your fellow Californians today by writing or calling Speaker Núñez and tell him to stop the mortgage deduction grab. Standing together, I know that we can make a difference and protect our homes, protect the mortgage interest deduction, and reform California .
California Legislature
Anthony Adams
ASSEMBLYMAN, FIFTY-NINETH DISTRICT
REPUBLICAN WHIP
Dear Friends,
California faces a $14.5 billion budget deficit because the liberal politicians in Sacramento have spent too much for too long.
Instead of cutting wasteful spending in state government to pay down the deficit and balance the budget once and for all, there are those in Sacramento who want to punish every California homeowner by repealing the state home mortgage interest deduction!
They think that this important tax savings, relied upon by millions of Californians, is a “tax loophole” for the wealthy that must be closed.
What would repealing the home mortgage interest deduction mean for California homeowners?
It would increase a current homeowner’s state tax bills by hundreds of dollars or more every year.
It would make buying that first home much more difficult, if not impossible, for many young Californians struggling to scrape together enough money to buy their first home.
It would add one more burden to the many homeowners who have already lost substantial equity in their homes in the current market.
Some of these liberal Sacramento politicians have gone even further, suggesting repealing Proposition 13, which limits how much the state can increase property tax bills every year. Repealing or even amending Prop. 13 would be a disaster, leading to thousands of families losing their homes, millions of Californians seeing their home values drop further and billions of dollars in higher taxes. Enough is enough!
We need your help to stop the liberal politicians in Sacramento from following through with their threat to take away the mortgage interest deduction and impose a $5.3 billion tax increase on you and every other California homeowner!
Here’s what you can do to get involved and stop the mortgage deduction grab:
· Write or call Speaker Fabian Núñez today, and tell him to keep his hands off our mortgage interest deduction.
· Remind him that the mortgage interest deduction is not a loophole, but important tax savings that help millions afford their home.
· Urge him to cut wasteful spending in the budget, not raise taxes.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez
E-mail: Assemblymember.Nunez@assembly.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 319-2046
I hope you will join with thousands of your fellow Californians today by writing or calling Speaker Núñez and tell him to stop the mortgage deduction grab. Standing together, I know that we can make a difference and protect our homes, protect the mortgage interest deduction, and reform California .
Friday, February 1, 2008
New Give Away
Hello Blog fans,
I have a limited number of Pampered Chef Recipe books to give away, so send me your name and address and I'll put one in the mail to you.
Pampered Chef is a fun way to furnish that kitchen with great gagets and essentials.
If you want to host a party and get free stuff from them, call my favorite Pampered Chef guy,
Josh @ 760-486-7919. Or just call him to get a catalog and more great recipe books.
Happy House Hunting.
Karen
e-mail me at KarenSoldIt@yahoo.com for your free recipes
I have a limited number of Pampered Chef Recipe books to give away, so send me your name and address and I'll put one in the mail to you.
Pampered Chef is a fun way to furnish that kitchen with great gagets and essentials.
If you want to host a party and get free stuff from them, call my favorite Pampered Chef guy,
Josh @ 760-486-7919. Or just call him to get a catalog and more great recipe books.
Happy House Hunting.
Karen
e-mail me at KarenSoldIt@yahoo.com for your free recipes
Friday, January 18, 2008
Another first home story
Our first home was a brand new property in Redondo Beach. We moved from La Puente. I was 7 1/2 months pregnant. We had one car, so I had to take my husband to work, which was about an hour away. The movers arrived a bit late, but we finally got everything out of our rental house and the move into our new two story house was well underway when I saw our two year old, by the fireplace with a coat hangar hanging out of her mouth. It wasn't just hanging there, it was attached. I probably heard her screaming before I saw her. Fortunately my mom had come to help. She stayed with the movers and I took my toddler to emergency at the hospital which was only 2 blocks away. She got mended and probably got a tetanus shot. Back to the house and the movers were still hauling boxes and furniture. Now it was time to pick up my husband. My mom, who did not like driving freeways or long distances had to go for him. Again, it was about an hour away. By the time they returned, the movers had left only a short time ago. My husband walked in and saw a huge stack of boxes in the dining room/ family room area, and made some comment about why was this mess still here. At this point I was exhausted emotionally and physically and started crying. He tried to calm me down and volunteered to go out and get some dinner to bring home. I said I was not hungry. Now he was really worried, because I do not skip meals. He went out and brought home split pea soup and something else. That soup tasted so good and revived me. The last time we had moved it was a much easier move, but I was 8 months pregnant that time. I decided if we only wanted two children that we had better not plan on moving again.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Housing Scams
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-01-13-mortgagescams_N.htm?se=yahoorefer
Housing stories are in the paper all the time. Our local paper even ran an article with good news, sort of last week about the housing market.
But the article from USA today is interesting and it just reminds us to beware and if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
Karen
E-mail me at
KarenSoldIt@yahoo.com
Housing stories are in the paper all the time. Our local paper even ran an article with good news, sort of last week about the housing market.
But the article from USA today is interesting and it just reminds us to beware and if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
Karen
E-mail me at
KarenSoldIt@yahoo.com
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