Barry Ripp ~ East Bay Area Real Estate » 2009 » October

New Info on Tax Credit

Barry Ripp — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:39:28 +0000

Great news coming regarding the home buyer tax credit. The Senate has now agreed to extend the tax credit. The bill must be voted on and then go through the House of Representatives next. But most of us are certain it will pass before the current deadline.
As you can imagine, many buyers are looking forward to that tax credit, and many are rushing to make their home purchase before the current deadline. It has definitely helped our real estate market. But I truly feel we are at the bottom of this real estate cycle right now. Home prices should stay flat for a while, 18 months to 2 years, before we see significant increases.
For more information, or your comments, please respond.
~ Barry Ripp
Selling real estate since 1985

High Property Tax Bill?

Barry Ripp — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:43:12 +0000

Concerned that your 2009 property tax bill is too high? Many homeowners who lost value in their homes have filed a “decline in value” form to lower the tax base. Therefore, reducing what they pay to the county in property taxes. But homeowners still received tax bills with a high property value.
Well, I called the Alameda County assessor’s office, and they told me that those “decline in value” forms have not been reviewed yet. It will take a few months for them to go through all of them.
So don’t worry right now. Even though we’ll have to pay this property tax bill, we will all have to wait for a refund if the county agrees to lower the value of our homes.
~ Barry

QUESTIONS FROM HOME BUYERS

Barry Ripp — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:03:38 +0000

If you’re ready to buy a home, there are probably many questions on your mind. Let’s address a few right now.
1) When should I buy? Since we are pretty much at the bottom of this cycle, you should buy when you’re ready. And you should start getting ready right now. Get pre-approved and then talk to a Realtor about what’s for sale in your price range.
2) Should I buy a condo or house? Buy what you can afford. Condos offer some beneficial features (pool, etc) and they do appreciate, but many people prefer a house. You should see for yourself what’s in your price range and then decide.
I hope this helps with some of the many questions you may have. For more answers to your questions, please feel free to contact me directly. It will be my pleasure to serve you.
~ Barry

SOME QUESTIONS FROM HOME SELLERS

Barry Ripp — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:33:58 +0000

If you’re ready to sell your home, there are probably many questions on your mind. Let’s address a few right now.
1) How long will it take to sell? Well, that will depend on many things; asking price, condition, & location. (are just a few). We can’t change the location, so let’s talk about the others. If you’re priced too high for the area, your home will take longer…priced too low, and you’ll sell faster. Generally, the better the condition, the faster it will sell (that’s true in any market).
2) What should I price it at? Well, this can be tricky. Look at home sales in your neighborhood and then surrounding areas. See which homes compare with yours. Always use the most current data…old comparables won’t do much good since the market is changing.
I hope this helps with some of the many questions you may have. For more answers to your questions, please feel free to contact me directly. It will be my pleasure to serve you.
~ Barry