Consumer credit problems are partly due to continual credit card offers from banks. Offers are sent daily in the mail to consumers which many use or abused the opportunity. Over use of credit cards directly effects your FICO score (more…)
Education is very important and every parent wants to give the best they can offer to their kids. Therefore higher ranking schools have values capitalized into single family home prices. In addition to school ranking, the closer the proximity to schools (especially elementary) the more desirable and higher the home prices
Take for example the highest ranking schools in Fremont CA, Mission San Jose. Home Sales for a 1600-2000 sq ft home built 1055-1970 (more…)
With the $8000.00 home buyer tax credit, low interest rates, short sale listings and foreclosure listings NOW is a good time to purchase a home for residence or investment. Below are just a few things to keep in mind should you want to take the first step.
1) Get pre-approved for a loan. Sellers or banks do not want to consider
your offer unless you can prove your worth. Make sure to lock in that low interest rate.
2) If you are looking for a short sale the closing time could be long
such as 6+ months
and the price you offered and the price the seller accepted may not be
OK with the bank
3) Bank owned properties asking price is the discounted price. Banks
will offer the home at a reduced rate in order to attract investors and
first time home home buyers. The sale price maybe higher than the
original asking price
4) Pick a knowledgeable real estate agent you like and stick with them.
Loyalty to your agent will give you better service and loyalty back. If
you are shopping with every agent in town you will be duplicating
efforts. After all, all agents have access to the same data base
Many of my Fremont CA Bay Area Real Estate clients have called me regarding letters they have been send about lowering their property taxes. The letters are from a company that claims that they can lower your property taxes for a fee like $179.00 Beware! Payment is not necessary! Anyone can get their property reassessed and lower their payments should the home value declined. First Visit go to the Alameda County Assessment forms page and choose the correct form. You will e comparable close sales for your home to prove that it is not worth today what you paid for it. Contact your Real Estate Broker for this information. If your broker can not help and your are in the California Bay Area Real Estate, your can contact me by email or phone 510-793-1700. I can possibly help with comparable real estate sales in the California Bay Area. This service is free. You can also visit 1000′s ofhome for sale in Fremont and surounding bay area cities at http:///www.BayArea-Homes.com
Wow, Sandi Ohms, Fremont real estate broker say the increase in home sales in Fremont California over the last month has increased and prices seem to have leveled off. The Bay Area home sales market has reached a point that it makes sense to buy a Fremont Calif home rather than rent. Rental values have increased in the Bay Area Ca over the past few years. If a home buyer takes into account the tax deduction, home prices have dropped in value enough so it has leveled off enough that it does not make sense to buy not rent. Check out Bay Area CA home prices at Http://www.BayArea-Homes.com
As a veteran Realtor in Fremont Ca and the Bay Area, many people have asked my opinion about how far the housing market will drop.
I, Sandi Ohms, Real Estate Broker since 1979, believe housing is in Fremont Ca and the surrounding citites are selling what they were in 2001-2002. Rentals however have increased. the market will level out when the cost of a rental is close to the cost of a mortgage minus the tax deduction home purchases create. We are approaching this point and I seen home values in the Bay Area level somewhat. to view home prices in the Bay Area vistit Http://www.BayArea-Homes.com
The New Stimulus Package & How It Affects Buying A Home In California Bay Area including Fremont CA?
Stimulus Package, Tax Credit for Home buyers ,
This plan will help many real estate home buyers but buying a home Fremont CA surrounding cities or the California Bay Area, could be limited due to the expense of the area.
First-time homebuyers who purchase homes from the start of the year until the end of November 2009 may be eligible for the lower of an $8,000 or 10% of the value of the home tax credit. Remember a tax credit is very different than a tax deduction – a tax credit is equivalent to money in your hand, as opposed to a tax deduction which only reduces your taxable income.
The tax credit starts phasing out for couples with incomes above $150,000 and single filers with incomes above $75,000. Buyers will have to repay the credit if they sell their homes within three years.
Stimulus Package, Tax Credit Versus Tax Deduction
It’s important to remember that the $8,000 tax credit is just that… a tax credit. The benefit of a tax credit is that it’s a dollar-for-dollar tax reduction, rather than a reduction in a tax liability that would only save you $1,000 to $1,500 when all was said and done. So, if a homebuyer were to owe $8,000 (more…)
Assembly Bill 885 would make home owners of real estate in California with septic systems have to have them tested every 5 years at a cost of around $325.00 wether or not the septic is near a body of drinking water.
If the septic fails the test, owner will be forced to retrofit the system at an estimated cost of $45,000 with all the new required upgrades. (more…)
