“Bouncing Along the Bottom”

August 20, 2008 · Karin Cunningham · Comment here

Last month I attended the Inman Real Estate Conference at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. It was so cool because I got to listen to different panels of experts talk about the state of the real estate market, new and improved real estate technology, and a lot about blogging and websites. Read more

10 Reasons to use a Mortgage Broker

August 18, 2008 · Dean Rizzi · Comment here

1. Simply put, Mortgage Brokers will save you TIME and MONEY!

2. Brokers are driven to find you the best rate, your bank’s goal is to provide another service to you.

3. You can tell brokers everything, and they’ll present your information to the lender in the most favorable light; once you tell your bank something that’s not in your favor, it’s too late to take it back Read more

Housing Stimulus Package! I don’t think so!!!

August 17, 2008 · Lee Ginsburg · 2 Comments

Credit/Loan Does it Stimulate the Housing Market? I don’t think so!!!

AS promised in my last blog I have continued my thoughts on the most recent Housing Stimulus Package. I will continue in next week’s blog.

Part of the recent Housing Stimulus package is a much publicized First Time Home Buyer Credit! It is not a credit. It is 15 year Interest FREE loan. Gotta take anything For Free. This applies to any home purchased between April 8, 2008 and July 1, 2009. How and why they picked those dates; Read more

Buyers Beware

August 14, 2008 · Nicole Machado · Comment here

Have you ever purchased something from a store to later find out it was defective and feeling frustrated that you would have to return it or find out you couldn’t do to good ole “store policies”? What if you purchased a house and later found out there was something wrong? Sorry folks, no returns on those a couple of months down the road! Read more

Can you really buy a house at the San Mateo County Fair?

August 12, 2008 · Karin Cunningham · Comment here

The San Mateo County Fair runs from Aug. 8th- Aug. 17. Our office has a booth and we have been really busy answering questions about home prices, loans, REO’s, short sales and all kinds of stuff! Its a casual environment not like the tidy, quiet and clean office we’re accustomed to. Its fun to chat with people at the fair because the atmosphere is not so “closed in”. We have a binder of homes for sale that fair goers can flip through and get a good idea of what homes are selling for in their favorite neighborhoods. Come join us at the fair! We’ll even sign you up to win an iPod nano!

Just how SHORT are short sales anyway?

August 6, 2008 · Jean Joh · 5 Comments

Want the “short” answer?… But seriously, a short sale transaction can actually take much longer than a regular sale. First of all, what exactly is a short sale? A short sale is when a home is being sold for less than what is owed on it, i.e. the proceeds from the sale would not be enough to pay off the loan and thus fall “short.” Because the lender is taking a loss, the sale cannot take place without approval from the lender. Unfortunately, the process of getting that approval can sometimes take weeks, even months, depending on the lender.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re thinking about buying a short sale: Read more

10 Simple Ways To “Greenify” Your Home

August 5, 2008 · Sophia Lin · 1 Comment

1. Install low flow toilets, showers and faucets

2. Install solar panels on roof to use the sun’s energy to generate hot water

3. Use “energy star” approved appliances

4. Use eco friendly materials such as bamboo for flooring and non-toxic paint for painting

5. Plant a tree for shade to help cool your house in the summer Read more

Why Does a Good Realtor (R) Make a Difference?

August 4, 2008 · Julie Cleland · 2 Comments

One real estate agent is as good as the next…right? As a hard working, professional, full time Realtor ® my answer would have to be WRONG! A good agent offers an invaluable service by providing a client with a feeling of security in one of the biggest financial transactions they will ever make. Security emotionally, financially and legally. Read more