Category

Sellers

Dec 13
0

Changes in the Home Buyer Tax Credit Program

By | Buyers, Economy, Sellers, Sonoma County info | No Comments

Reporting from Washington – If you’re thinking about applying for the new $6,500 home buyer federal tax credit or the extended $8,000 version, the Internal Revenue Service has just issued its first formal guidelines for you.

A great article in the Los Angeles Times: it is an easy to read outline of the new rules.

It is still a great time to buy but also a great time to sell with the tax credit for repeat home buyers. So you can sell your home and take advantage of the tax credit to buy your new home. The housing inventory in Sonoma County is so low, properties priced well sell fast and you are able to take advantage of the current market to move into your dream house.

 mirjamnew.jpg Mirjam

Sep 29
0

LOAN MODIFICATION ATTORNEYS UNDER INVESTIGATION

By | Economy, Foreclosure, Sellers, Short Sale, Sonoma County info | One Comment

This came in my email news feed today:

Brought to you by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

The State Bar of California has recently launched numerous investigations against attorneys for misconduct related to loan modifications.  In a rare move, the State Bar has released the names of 16 attorneys under investigation, by opting to waive investigation confidentiality in favor of public protection.  These attorneys have allegedly taken fees for promised services, but failed to perform those services or even communicate with their clients who face the possible loss of their homes.  Their non-attorney staff may also be under investigation for unlawfully practicing law.

Not all attorneys engaged in loan modifications are unscrupulous.  However, this announcement from the State Bar serves as a good reminder for REALTORS® and their clients to be careful when dealing with attorneys and others for loan modifications.  Scam artists may intentionally associate or affiliate themselves with attorneys in an attempt to lend credence to their fraudulent schemes.  The list of attorneys currently under investigation is available at http://calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10144&n=96395.

Your Realtor will be a great source of information and help to look at your options. Recently I finished the CPDE training: a training for Realtors to help distressed homeowners with options to avoid foreclosure. Foreclosure has serious consequences and for some it might mean not only loosing a home but also loosing a job… There are many options out there, contact your Realtor for help.

  Have a great day!

mirjamnew.jpg Mirjam

Sep 05
0

Rental Scam Advisory from our local MLS®

By | Buyers, Economy, Financial news, Foreclosure, Sellers, Sonoma County info | No Comments

Yesterday we received a ‘Red Alert’ email from our local MLS board about the Rental Scam on Listed properties. The PressDemocrat had an interesting article about the subject earlier this week.

There is a rental scam taking place in which listed properties are advertised on Craigslist and other online classified services for rent, when the property is not for rent at all.  The ads run for a very brief period of time.

 How can you protect your listings from being a part of the scam?
Some brokers have removed the address of their listings on the internet.  While this hides the address from the scammers, both the buying public and the seller could be disadvantaged.
Monitor classified advertising internet sites like Craigslist to watch for ads using your listing information “for rent”.
Put a “NOT FOR RENT” rider on your signs.

The FBI’s guidelines for the general public to avoid being victimized.

  • Only deal with landlords or renters who are local.
  • Be suspicious if you’re asked to only use a wire transfer service.
  • Beware of e-mail correspondence from the “landlord” that’s written in poor or broken English.
  • Research the average rental rates in that area and be suspicious if the rate is significantly lower.
  • Don’t give out personal information, like social security, bank account, or credit card numbers.

Should you have your property listed, please follow the advise your Realtor gives you. He/She is made aware of the problem and knows how to handle this. So far we do not know of people being victimized in Sonoma County and right now it is a major nuisance.

Enjoy the rest of this wonderful weekend, it’s a bit breezy still sunny and warm.

 mirjamnew.jpg Mirjam

Aug 29
0

Would you work with you?

By | Economy, Financial news, Sellers, Sonoma County info | No Comments

In talking to people I have come to realize that some people have an interesting view on banks. You might blame the bank for offering you the ‘bad’ loan, however you might ask yourself: who ultimately signed? Also, banks are not social security, they have obligations to their share holders. I know, some ‘not so smart’ decision in life have dire consequences ;-(

One of the statistics I recently received from Bank of America was that 80% of all the loan modifications they did was in default again within 8 months. That is a poor success rate considering the time and effort put into this.

So when looking at you situation, figuring out what to do, ask for a loan modification, do a short sale (talk to your CPA when considering this), or wait for the foreclosure (might, depending on your job, cost you your job too), think what you would do with yourself should you be the bank.

When pursuing a loan modification think about this: if I were the final decision maker who was held accountable for my decision, would I offer myself a loan modification? If yes, it’s worth pursuing the loan modification.

Last week I had an interesting conversation with Darren Seliga from Seliga Financial, he mentioned some really good ideas to come up with when talking to the bank.

Any loan modification is hard work, doesn’t come easy but if it keeps you in your house and the result is a good mortgage, it’s worth it.

Oh…. and don’t forget the beautiful weather outside, enjoy it, despite all the hardships, it’s only money, spending time with friends and family that’s what’s really important. Don’t let your money worries keep you from being and enjoying time with your spouse, kids, friends, name it.

Have a wonderful day!

 Mirjam de Rijk Mirjam

Jul 29
0

Streetview by Google

By | Buyers, Sellers, Sonoma County info | 12 Comments

Isn’t it great, all the tools we have to totally check out a property before setting foot in it? Of course when a property is for sale there is the property website : www.3605Sumatra.com is an example, the virtual tours: here’s on of my newest versions and the Google satellite views. 

And now there is Google Street View…  And MSN has bird eye view. Here is my office, it’s on the corner… Did you get a chance to travel through your neighborhood?

picture-6.png

The Pressdemocrat had an article about the privacy issues involved. The people who are concerned to make a point, in the meantime: it’s a great tool to ‘scope out’ a property and a neighborhood before even visiting the property.

There is ofcourse lot’s more to learn about a property when you decide to sell or buy, but technology today gives a great start.

Have a great exploring day!

Mirjam