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February 2011 - Posts

Thursday, February 24, 2011 7:14 PM

Loan Talking Points...

Talking Points … When shopping for a mortgage, some home buyers shy away from getting multiple loan quotes, fearing their credit will be impacted when multiple parties check their credit within a short period of time. However, consumers have 30
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Thursday, February 24, 2011 7:04 PM

Should You Pay Off Your Home?

An increasing number of homeowners are considering paying off their mortgage early. While paying off debt generally is a sound strategy, homeowners also are aware that mortgage interest is tax-deductible, so paying off a mortgage early may not be in the
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Thursday, February 24, 2011 6:37 AM

Solar Roadways...It's The Way of the Future!

The Solar Roadway is a series of structurally-engineered solar panels that are driven upon. The idea is to replace all current petroleum-based asphalt roads, parking lots, and driveways with Solar Road Panels that collect energy to be used by our homes
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Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:57 AM

Green Roofs

Greenroofs, eco-roofs, nature roofs, or roof greening systems are living, vegetative roofing alternatives designed in stark contrast to the many standard non-porous roof choices. Their greatest potential lies in this capacity to cover impervious surfaces
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Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:42 AM

Weekly Fraud Alert: Suing bank for fraud

A California appeals court ruled that a former homeowner's lawsuit against U.S. Bank for fraud may continue after the bank allegedly reneged on a promise to negotiate a mortgage modification, opening the door for claims from potentially thousands
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Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:30 AM

Foreclosures Rise in January

Reversing a four month declining trend, Notice of Default filings in California rose 6.9 percent month-over-month in January, while Notice of Trustee Sale filings declined 13.8 percent compared with the prior month, ForeclosureRadar recently reported.
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Friday, February 18, 2011 8:16 AM

Home Sales Grow Aided by More Stable Prices - CNN Money

Home sales volume rose sharply in the final three months of 2010 aided by more stable prices oon a year-over-year basis, the National Association of Realtors reported last week.Sales jumped 15.4% in the fourth quarter to an annual rate of 4.8 million
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Friday, February 18, 2011 7:50 AM

30 Percent of Mortgages are Underwater - CNN Money

Home prices dropped 2.6 percent nationwide during the last three months of 2010 pushing more borrowers underwater, according to quarterly real estate market survey from Zillow.com. Now 27% of homeowners with mortgages owe more than their homes are worth.
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 6:43 PM

Southern California Home Sales, Median Sale Price Edge Lower per DataQuick

La Jolla, CA---Southland homes sold at the slowest pace for a January in three years – and the second-slowest in 15 – amid record-low new-home sales, tight credit, and a persistent reluctance among would-be buyers. The median sale price dipped
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 6:37 PM

C.A.R. Responds to White House Proposal

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 11) – In response to the White House’s recommendations today to phase out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) said the elimination of government involvement would raise borrowing
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011 6:25 PM

January Sales and Price Report - C.A.R.

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 15) – California home sales rose in January, marking three consecutive monthly increases and posting their highest level since May 2010, while the statewide median price declined to its lowest level since June 2009, according to
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Monday, February 14, 2011 10:15 AM

February Housing Trends eNewsletter

Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, real estate glossary, mortgage
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Monday, February 14, 2011 9:56 AM

The Habit Burger Grill is Open

The Habit Burger Grill has opened! It is located at Chino Hills Parkway and Pipeline in the old Conroy's Florist Shop building. I really like the Teriyaki Charburger and the sweet potato fries! It has received good reviews at Yelp . For some, it may
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 10:05 AM

Bank Payment Policy Keeps Some from Mortgage Aid - San Francisco Chronicle

Some California homeowners are finding that bank policies are preventing them from participating in the new Keep Your Home California program, which provides up to $3,000 a month in mortgage payments to qualified, unemployed homeowners in California.
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 10:00 AM

Online Mortgage Shopping Made Easier - NY Times

Online mortgage shopping made easier The vast amount of information available online about mortgages – such as interest rates, loan benchmarks, prepayment penalties, and the like – can cause home buyers to feel confused and overwhelmed when
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 9:53 AM

Managing a Potential Flood of Foreclosures - CNBC

You can talk all you want of renewed interest in housing, slowly increasing sales and supposed stabilization in prices, but the elephant in the room is slowly growing, and banks, Fannie, Freddie and the government know it. I'm talking about foreclosures.
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Saturday, February 12, 2011 9:48 AM

Home Affordability Returns to Pre-Bubble Levels - The Wall Street Journal

Home affordability returned to pre-bubble levels in a growing number of U.S. markets over the past year as price declines laid the groundwork for a housing recovery. Data provided by Moody's Analytics track the ratio of median home prices to annual
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Thursday, February 10, 2011 3:05 AM

Fraud Alert - Free Tax Preparation

As tax season heats up, there are several options available for free tax filing assistance for qualified taxpayers. Unfortunately, the numbers of taxpayers seeking free tax help also have created new opportunities for con artists and scammers. Some taxpayers
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Thursday, February 03, 2011 9:10 AM

"Worst Case Needs" increase by 20 Percent

In a report to Congress, HUD found that "worst case housing needs" grew by nearly 1.2 million households, or more than 20 percent from 2007 to 2009 and by 42 percent since 2001. "Worst case housing needs" are defined as low-income
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Thursday, February 03, 2011 9:09 AM

Obama Administration Releases January Housing Scorecard

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the January edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard. The latest housing figures show increased new and existing
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Thursday, February 03, 2011 8:59 AM

Homeownership More Affordable Than Renting in 72 Percent of Major US Cities

It is more affordable to buy than to rent a two-bedroom home in 72 percent of America's 50 largest cities, according to Trulia.com's latest Rent vs. Buy Index. Meanwhile, a nation of renters has emerged as more Americans rent by choice or due
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Thursday, February 03, 2011 8:49 AM

Fraud Alert: Wandering Contractors

Door-to-door roofers and other home improvement outfits have been scamming homeowners since the Dark Ages. They take money from the homeowners and then fail to do the work - or do a sub-par job. To avoid falling prey to this scam, homeowners should look
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Thursday, February 03, 2011 8:41 AM

Homeowners Reduce Debt in Fourth Quarter

Nearly 50 percent of homeowners who refinanced their first-lien home mortgage in the fourth quarter of 2010 lowered their principal balance by paying in additional money at the closing table, according to Freddie Mac. This is the highest "cash-in"
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