Barry Ripp ~ East Bay Area Real Estate

Sales of homes for less than the amount of their outstanding mortgage debt have tripled since 2008, particularly in California, according to a report released last Tuesday.

Known as “short sales”, the increasingly common transactions for financially troubled homeowners are projected to balloon to 400,000 in 2010.  The number of transactions had exploded to more than 160,000 in 2009 from roughly 96,000 the year before. More than a quarter of the transactions occur in California, with another quarter split between Arizona, Texas and Florida

In an economy in which jobs are scarce and a quarter of homeowners owe more on their property than it’s worth, short sales are appealing to investors, banks and owners as a cheaper way out than foreclosure.

And with fluctuating home prices, lenders can be reluctant to approve short sales. The transactions can be a hassle to execute, especially when multiple loans on a home mean a slew of creditors are included in negotiations.

But on the bright side; Short sales could actually end up boosting the job market. Unemployed homeowners who can escape underwater mortgages have an easier time moving around, expanding their job search.

As I finish this posting, there are currently 604 houses for sale in the Fremont tri-city area. Of which 126 are short sales, that’s 20%.  Those numbers decrease sharply for the higher priced homes. Of the homes prices over $500,000 only 12% are short sales.

I just thought I would post this beautiful 4 bedroom home in Newark, CA.  Its been all remodeled through out and looks great. It’s nearly 2000 square feet.

You’ll love the all new custom kitchen with gas stove, Bosch dishwasher, “Corian” counters and Maple cabinets.

New “Milgard” windows, new carpet, new paint inside & out, new roof & gutters and new garage door & opener too. The large master suite with new bathroom and 2 large closets.

Cherrywood floors highlight the family room & kitchen.

Inside washer/dryer included.

Enjoy the front patio and the large backyard also.  I think is could be the perfect home for you and your family.

For a Photo Slide Show, click: http://www.flyinside.com/tour.php?id=42787

Please contact me if you have any questions about this home or others.

 ~ Barry

I just got the news. Interest rate for a 30 year fixed: 4.5% for loans up to $417,000.

For loans up to $729,000 the rate is: 4.75%

These are great rates, and they won’t last forever.  It’s time to upgrade yourself.  So contact me today about buying a new home.

                                                         To comply with the stricter lending guidelines of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and to avoid accusations that the loans sold to Fannie and Freddie are based on inflated appraisals, some real estate professionals have reported lenders lowering home values on appraisals submitted to them. However, effective Sept. 1, Fannie Mae is prohibiting the purchase of loans from lenders who change appraisers’ numbers.

Generally, lenders order a low-cost electronic valuation—based on publicly available statistical data—to review the accuracy of the information submitted by the appraiser. If there is a discrepancy between the electronic valuation and the appraiser’s report, the lender’s underwriters may reduce the appraisal figure.

 ~ Barry Ripp

From:  Calif. Assoc. of Realtors & LA Times

Part One

1-   Remove the top set of cabinets doors, then paint them inside & out with a fresh coat of gloss paint.

2-   Hang matching pendant lamps on each side of the couch. This will free up space on the end tables.

3-   Create cubbies in a bookcase, by cutting vertical dividers to the depth of the unit. Secure them with glue & finishing nails.

4-   Paint your front door a vibrant color. Welcome your friends with a new color, like a rich red or another. Use exterior semi-gloss.

5-   Change the hardware in your kitchen. Give it a new look with new polished nickel knobs and handles.

1. Don’t buy if you don’t plan to stay
If you can’t commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner – even in a rising market.

2. Start by shoring up your credit
Since you probably will need to get a mortgage to buy a house; you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

3. Choose carefully between points and rate
When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points- a portion of the interest that you pay at closing- in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time- say three to five years or more- it’s usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.

4. Hire a home inspector
A home inspector can let you know about potential problems. At best, you can move into the house confident that it’s in good shape; at worst, the inspector’s report can let you back out of the deal if the house has major problems. Most typically, the home inspection can allow you to negotiate the home price to account for necessary repairs.

5. Get professional help
Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, most new buyers (and many more experienced ones) are better off using a professional agent. Look for an experienced agent, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

6. Bonus Tip: Be patient
Buying a home is one of the largest purchases most people will make in their lifetime. The key to avoiding buyer’s remorse is to be completely comfortable before signing on the dotted line.

A new national survey gauging attitudes toward housing finds that 65% of Americans still prefer owning a home, despite the challenging economic environment and the housing downturn. The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, conducted between December 2009 and January 2010, polled homeowners and renters to assess their confidence in homeownership as an investment, the current state of their household finances, views on the U.S. housing finance system, and overall confidence in the economy.

The survey revealed that homeowners and renters alike are taking a more cautious approach to homeownership. 23% renters polled said they will buy a home later than once planned. In addition, Americans with traditional, fixed-rate mortgages with predictable payments are significantly more satisfied than those with other types of mortgages. Respondents cited non-financial reasons such as safety (43 percent) and quality of local schools (33 percent) as driving factors in wanting to own a home, ahead of financial considerations.

60 percent of consumers believe that buying a home today is harder than it was for their parents, and 68 percent think it will be even more difficult for their children. 88 percent also believe that walking away from an underwater mortgage is not acceptable.

 ~ Barry Ripp    www.barryripp.com

Are you ready to paint that old house?

Well, if it’s built before 1978, you may be in for a surprise. That’s because lead-laced paint was used in more than 38 million homes before being banned for residential use in 1978. And starting in April 2010 (next week), the EPA’s Renovation Repair and Painting (RRP) rule takes effect; it requires that anyone paid to do a job that will disturb lead paint must:

• Be EPA certified
• Follow specified safety practices to contain and properly clean the work area, minimizing the generation and distribution of lead-paint dust
• Pass a final cleaning inspection
• Provide homeowners with proper documentation, including the Renovate Right pamphlet and a pre-renovation form

The bad news: Renovation prices may go up, what with more certifications, work requirements and inspections. The good news: Job sites will be safer for contractors and homeowners.

If you’re hiring a remodeler or painting contractor, know what to expect from them. Check these important facts about the dangers of lead, checking for lead in your home and keeping your family safe.

Good luck with your painting project.

This information was obtained from the “Handyman Club of America”

The Federal Reserve announced it will maintain its target for the federal funds rate in the 0 percent to 0.25 percent range, and expects economic conditions to warrant exceptionally low levels of the federal funds rate for an extended period of time. “Information … suggests that economic activity continues to strengthen and that the labor market is stabilizing,” the Fed said in a prepared statement.

“Household spending is expanding at a moderate rate, but remains constrained by high unemployment, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit. Business spending on equipment and software has risen significantly,” the Fed said.  “However, investment in nonresidential structures is declining, housing starts have been flat at a depressed level, and employers remain reluctant to add to payrolls. 

“While bank lending continues to shrink, financial market conditions remain supportive of economic growth. Although the pace of economic recovery is likely to be moderate for a time, the Committee anticipates a gradual return to higher levels” the Fed said.

The Fed also said it would end its program of purchasing mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to help keep home loan rates low. That program will conclude at the end of this month when the Fed’s mortgage bond holdings reach the $1.25-trillion limit it set last year.