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Latest from Debora

National Real Estate News: Owners Most at Risk of Home Improvement Scams

It's always good to get a referral when you are looking for a contractor or vendor and using the tips below will help you make the right decision. I welcome feedback on the vendors that I recommend because things change and I want to make sure my referrals meet your expectations. Read on.... Home improvement projects present the biggest opportunity for scammers to take advantage of homeowners, according to the Better Business Bureau’s Risk Index. Victims of home improvement s

National Real Estate News: Teardowns Account for More New Homes!

Vacant land is a scarce commodity and we have a lot of homes that are 60 years and older. Tear downs are a new reality as buyers try and cre

National Real Estate News: Fed Rate Went Up 1/4 Point but Mortgage Rates are Still Dropping!

Last September we were all concerned about the consequences of the first interest rate hike in years. The Fed was predicting 4 rate hikes in 2017 so we all had questions.... What would the hikes do to the refinance and purchase market? How high would the rates go? Well.......it's been 9 months and rates are still below 4%. The Fed just raised the interest rate this week so we'll probably see some slow movement up but....It's still a great time to finance your home. Take a lo

National Real Estate News: Utilities Add 25% to Homeownership Costs!

Every month we tentatively open our utility bills and hope for the best. Coastal summers are cool so we don't have to worry about air conditioners and our heat only comes on periodically in the early mornings. We're pretty lucky in that respect! Our highest utility cost comes from water. We have set days for watering and tiered rates for usage and during the summer months, we need to be careful about our water consumption. The article talks about utility cost as a percentage

National Real Estate News: Investor’s Wish List: More Student Housing!

For those of you with college aged kids, housing can be a huge part of their annual expenses. I was shocked to find that my niece was paying $750 per month to share a room with 3 roommates in Isla Vista near Santa Barbara. There were 12 girls sharing the house. That's a lot of rental income for the landlord and although some might not want to deal with student renters, many see this market as a lucrative investment opportunity. The only issue is, they need more inventory. Re

National Real Estate News: Smart Homes Are No Longer a Futuristic Concept!

With driver-less cars in the news, Roomba sweeping floors and Alexa acting as your household assistant..

National Real Estate News: 5 States With Highest, Lowest Cost of Living!

Here is some interesting information about cost of living rates in the US. No surprise to any of us......California ranks in the top tier. You'll also notice that the entire state is mentioned and not just individual cities! We live in a great state but we pay the price for housing, goods and services! Read on...... Just how widely can the cost of living vary from state to state? Financial website GoBankingRates.com culled 2016 data from the Missouri Economic Research and Inf

National Real Estate News: Globally, the US is a Deal in Luxury Housing!

Based on the real estate frenzy that the Bay Area has experienced over the past few years, you might be surprised to know that the US luxury home market looks like a bargain compared to other countries in the world. Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Miami top the list of US cities but their percentages dwarf those of China and Canada . Read on..... Luxury real estate buyers may find bargains in the U.S. compared to the rest of the world. The U.S. is hardly the most exp

National Real Estate News: The Big Boomer Sell-Off Coming in the 2020s

This article shares some interesting thoughts on why baby boomers are holding on to their homes and what the future has in store for them in the next few years. Most baby boomers sell their home to downsize but shortages in the market and increasing prices often make it a questionable move. Read on...... Baby boomers are expected to sell their homes in large numbers over the next decade. Arthur C. Nelson, a University of Arizona professor, predicts the “great senior sell-off”

National Real Estate News: 48% of Homes Sell in Less Than 30 Days!

I thought this article would be of interest. It gives us a good overview of real estate trends across the country and as always, California is at the top of the list. Homes are selling faster than last year and the Bay Area continues and appriasal turn times have improved and buyers are eager to close before the rates go up. It's good news for everyone! On the flip side, the inventory of homes for sale decreased by 6.6 percent at the end of March compared to a year ago, accor

California Real Estate News: Market Watch Update

James Mike gives us some insight on the first quarter of the California market

National Real Estate News: Vacation Sales Plunge, Investors Rise

Many properties on the Monterey Peninsula are used as vacation rentals so I thought this article would be of interest to you. Take a look...

National Real Estate News: Homeownership Rates Near 50 Year Low

According to a newly released study by the Rosen Consulting Group and Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban economics for the National Association of REALTORS®, the homeownership rate is near its lowest level in more than 50 years. Through the 1990s and early 2000s, the national homeownership rate jumped to 69.2 percent, adding about 11.3 million new owner households nationwide from 1994 through 2004. That trend shifted, however, as the ownership rate plummeted over the pas

National Real Estate News: Comeback Markets Among Housing's Healthiest!

I worked in the REO market (Bank Owned Properties) from 2008-2014. I remember when Florida, Vegas and Detroit were flooded with foreclosures. 10-20 properties from a single area would drop into the pipeline on a daily basis and prices kept moving down. Many new developments were ghost towns and as you drove down the street, every other home was abandoned with a "for sale" sign in the yard. It was a sight to see but time has a way of healing wounds. Take a look at this articl

National Real Estate News: Bidding Wars to Heat Up This Spring

According to Realtor Magazine, bidding wars are likely to be a hallmark of this year’s spring home selling season. As home listings are scarcer and buyer demand remains high, home shoppers are finding a lot more competition this spring, particularly in hot markets like the San Francisco Bay area, Denver, and Boston. An improving job market, growing consumer confidence, and the threat of rising mortgage rates have Americans flocking to housing. But many markets remain tight fo

National Real Estate News: Mortgage Rates Zoom to 2017 High

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surged to its highest average of the year this week, reaching 4.21 percent, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey. “The 10-year Treasury yield rose about 10 basis points this week,” said Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “For the first time in weeks, the 30-year mortgage rate moved with treasury yields and jumped 11 basis points to 4.21 percent. The strength of Friday’s employment report and the outcome of next we

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