Apr 25
0

This Old House!

By | Disclosures, Sellers | No Comments

Today I am not going to talk about HAFA or distressed properties, no something else caught my eye in the CAR newsletter I received this week.

There is something special about owning an older home. Personally, I love older homes in older neighborhoods. For that reason, I love the MacDonald area. But older homes are built in a time when building rules and products where different and there are new laws to comply with when remodeling or perhaps selling a house.

Starting today, renovations that disturb lead-based paint in older residential dwellings and child-occupied facilities must generally comply with the Lead-Based Paint Renovation Rule of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Under the newly implemented rule, renovators of target housing built before 1978 must now be trained and EPA-certified to perform safe work practices to prevent lead contamination.  Additionally, renovators must deliver EPA’s lead renovation pamphlet to an occupant within 60 days before a project begins (and, if mailed, at least seven days before a project begins).  Renovators must also obtain the occupant’s signed acknowledgment of receipt or substitute documentation as specified.

The EPA issued this rule in 2008, but delayed implementation until now.  The rule generally applies to building contractors, handymen, residential landlords, property managers, and anyone else who is paid to perform renovations or to direct workers to perform renovations as specified.  The lead renovation rule does not apply to homeowners renovating the homes they live in.  However, sellers of target housing must, among other things, disclose to their buyers any known lead-based paint and lead-based paint hazards (C.A.R. Form FLD).

Should you decide to sell your older home and are going to repaint the house, you need to keep the above in mind.

Have a beautiful day!

Mirjam

Apr 18
0

It’s all about HAFA:

By | Making Home Affordable, Sellers, Short Sale | No Comments

HAFA, HARP, HAMP all acronyms for government programs for distressed home owners. These programs have seen some major changes and there are still a lot of details to be figured out.

Bottom line: a loan modification is doable but is still a lot of work and persistence but the HAMP program gives great guidelines on the likely hood of a decent loan modification in a specific situation. As to HAFA, the short sale alternative for foreclosure: it is not applicable for everyone, some distressed homeowners will not fall in the HAFA guidelines they will have to do a non-HAFA short sale which is not a bad alternative, just more work for your realtor.  And HARP, that is a special refinancing program that might work for some.

As to all these programs: it is good to discuss your options with your Realtor -preferably one who has a CDPE certification- and your lender -or the one your Realtor works with. Reason, a better understanding of your specific situation sets realistic expectations and you will be able to make an educated solution.

And yes, yours truly is CDPE certified and happy to help.

Don’t forget to enjoy this beautiful Sunday.

 mirjamnew.jpg  Mirjam

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

Dec 04
0

Reasons to buy right now…

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

I am copying a posting from Kevin deBoer from 3 Oceans Real Estate. The link didn’t work but the info is interesting:

We are continuing to see the benefits of the current government programs to spur home sales across the country. Recent news that the $729,750 limit on conforming loans in our area has been extended into 2010, and that the government will continue to buy loans into 2010 have both contributed to increased sales and consumer confidence in our area, which means more buyers and sales. buyers+sales = Happy Realtors!

Even with those two incentives in place, there are some would-be-home-buyers that are still sitting on the fence. Here are two additional data points of interest:

Today the 10 year Treasury yield is at 3.2%. This indicator corresponds to mortgage rates – typically when it’s down, mortgage rates are down. Throughout this year rates have remained at historical lows; the average 10 Year Treasury yield for the last 12 months was 3.17%. However, the average yield over the last 10 years was 4.50%. In fact, from April 1953 to December 2008 the average annual yield for the 10 year Treasury was 6.36%. The highest rate during that 55 year period was 15.32%; the lowest rate was 2.29%. The high was attained in September of 1981. The low was achieved in April of 1954.

Translation: Evidence shows the 10 year Treasury yield and conforming mortgage rates are at historic lows; it’s unlikely they’ll continue in this range throughout 2010. How often does a 55 year interest rate low occur? About every 55 years!
According to the National Association of Realtors®, last month showed another big gain in existing-home sales, while inventories continue to decline.

Translation: the competition is getting tougher.

So, let’s see if all this “once in a lifetime” economic data, low interest rates, low prices, etc. are the bottom, or just the middle of the “double-dip recession” that the pessimists are talking about.

Mirjam

Oct 25
0

Due Diligence

By | Buyers, Disclosures, Economy, RE Investing | No Comments

For all of us in Sonoma County the name Clem Carinalli is a familiar name. Once a name of trust and reliability, now a name connected to scandal and swindle. This morning’s Pressdemocrat has an interesting article about the shock of the investors.

Interestingly, halfway in the articles, several investors did admit that they also have themselves to blame by not doing their due diligence as to the investments they were making.

Due diligence… related to Real Estate, many times used in the CAR purchase agreement we generally use and the disclosures being given to sellers and buyers.

It used to be ‘buyers beware’ and sellers/agents were not statutary obligated to disclose anything they know about a property and affects the desirability of a property. However… always and I mean always read your disclosures, if you don’t understand what you are reading, talk to your Realtor, Mortgage broker, Home Inspector, Pest Inspector, Escrow officer etc etc. Not only do you have the right to do so, you also owe it to yourself to do so. These professionals are there to help you. Sometimes they might ‘assume’ that you understand every document you sign and read, please don’t hesitate to ask, the only ‘dumb’  question is a question not asked.

For myself, I have included a copy of the purchase agreement as wel as some general disclosure documents in a Buyers Guide I put together for my buyer clients. Quite frankly I hope they take the time to read it and mark the items they don’t understand. I love working with people who like to educate themselves as to what they are doing.

harvest.jpg   It is a beautiful autumn day in Sonoma County, enjoy it.

Mirjam