Stimulus Projects to Slow Down Traffic in Santee

Federal stimulus money is making its way to Santee in the form of asphalt overlay projects along N. Magnolia Ave. and Mission Gorge Rd. Starting August 24, work will be going on along N. Magnolia Ave. between Mast Blvd. and El Nopal between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. The work will include filling and patching cracks and potholes, putting in video detection cameras, and putting on a rubberized asphalt overlay. The project should be completed around September 4, but it will cause delays during that time – but access will continue during the work.

From about September 14 to October 9 similar work will go on along Mission Gorge Rd. from Fanita Dr. to the Post Office. Most of this work will be done during the night to avoid major traffic delays. If and when I get more specific details I will post them.

(Source: Scouting Santee Blog 8/20)

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

Buyers Rush to Beat Tax Credit Deadline

Real estate professionals report that first-time home buyers are flooding the sale market, pressed to finalize a deal before the federal government's $8,000 tax credit offer expires on Nov. 30.

Because mortgage approvals, residential inspections, and other steps in the buying process typically take about two months, buyers hoping to take advantage of the incentive will need to have a contract by the end of September.

The new flurry of activity now as house-hunters try to meet the deadline is triggering bidding wars and energizing the property market, which historically is slow at the end of summer. As a result, more homes are getting their full asking price.

Source: REALTOR.org & Chicago Tribune, Kathleen Lynn (08/14/09)

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

JUST SOLD - LOS COCHES RD.

Sonic vs In-N-Out – The Results Are In

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"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

$280,000 LAKESIDE 4/3 +FIREPLACE, SM YARD

$280,000 LAKESIDE 4/3 +FIREPLACE, SM YARD




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"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

Foreclosure vs. Short Sale

No equity? Struggling to make payments?

What’s better a short sale or foreclosure???

Here’s my objective opinion of the pro’s and con’s of a Short Sale vs. Foreclosure.

Your first step is to contact your lender and ask to talk with someone about a loan modification. In some cases, banks will actually modify (decrease) mortgage loan interest rates and payments to allow people to stay in their homes. I suggest you try it on your own at first… However, I’ve heard some people have gotten good results paying a consultant $500 to $3,000 for assistance. I would hire an attorney! If this route isn't working your next option is Short sale or Foreclosure.

Short Sale:

• - Arguably a little better for your credit than a foreclosure. To be approved for a short sale, you typically need to be several months behind on your payments, which will hurt your credit.
• - Better emotionally than losing your home to foreclosure
• - Involves the hassle of having your home on the market and waiting a very long time to find out if the bank will approve your short sale. Many are not approved.

Foreclosure:

• - Allows you to stay in the home longer (payment free)
• - After the foreclosure, you’d likely receive “cash for keys” of a $1,000 to $3,000 to help you move

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071
Lic. #01742839

Experts Say Now is the Time to Buy

Experts Say Now is the Time to Buy
Many investment experts advise it's time to buy. With prices falling, it is a once-in-a-generation chance to load up on property, they say.

How much of an investment portfolio should be devoted to real estate? David Swensen, who manages Yale University's endowment, says 20 percent is a smart number.

One possibility is real estate investment trusts (REITs), which, despite the fact that they are slashing dividends to conserve cash, are still paying average yields of 7.3 percent. That’s double the yield on Treasurys.

Should a home be part of the equation? Michael Kirby, founder of Green Street Advisors, says no.

"You should own a house to provide shelter," says Kirby. "In a way, it's not an investment, and it's not part of your investment portfolio. It's really just a living expense. By owning a house you are prepaying rent."

Source: Forbes (08/03/2009)

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

FHA Loans Set Record

FHA Loans Set Record
The Federal Housing Administration guaranteed 186,000 mortgages in June, a record number in its 75-year history.

FHA loans are popular because they are one of the few sources of low-down-payment mortgages. In the last year, they have accounted for about 46 percent of all mortgage applications.

Along with increasing numbers of FHA activity comes a rising number of delinquent loans, with the level of FHA mortgages in some stage of foreclosure reaching 7.4 percent in May.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiraos (07/20/2009),Source:REALTOR.org

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

First-Time Buyers: Hurry for $8,000 Tax Credit

First-Time Buyers: Hurry for $8,000 Tax Credit
It’s time to remind first-time home buyers that in order to qualify for the government’s $8,000 gift in the form of a tax credit, the deal must close by Dec. 1.

Buyers should have a purchase contract signed by early October, so they have 45 to 60 days to arrange financing and safely close the deal.

"There's not as much sand in the hourglass as we may think," said Jim Merrion, regional director at RE/MAX Northern Illinois.

Source: REALTOR.com, Chicago Tribune, Mary Ellen Podmolik (07/11/2009)

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

Downpayment, Closing Costs Biggest Obstacles

Downpayment, Closing Costs Biggest Obstacles
Most Americans still consider having enough money for downpayment and closing costs to be the biggest obstacles to buying a home, according to the 2009 National Housing Pulse Survey, an annual survey released Thursday by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

The survey, which measures how affordable housing issues affect consumers, also found job security concerns to be the highest in seven years of sampling. Two-thirds of Americans think job layoffs and unemployment are a big problem; eight in 10 cite these issues as a barrier to homeownership.

“Homeownership is an investment in your future; however, saving for a downpayment and closing costs is still too great of an obstacle for 82 percent of house hunters looking to take advantage of the current market,” says NAR President Charles McMillan. “Monetizing the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit for downpayment or closing costs on FHA-insured mortgages is a positive first step. Our hope is that the tax credit will be extended and expanded to all home buyers and will help bring stability to the housing market and enable more Americans to achieve the dream of homeownership."

Survey: Consumers Still Believe in Homeownership

Despite the challenges with the economy and housing market, 83 percent of Americans still believe buying a home is a good financial decision.

Three-fourths of those surveyed also believe now is a good time to buy a home, a number that has increased steadily the past two years. In fact, one-third of renters are thinking more about buying home than they were a year ago.

While Americans are seeing more stability in the real estate market, uncertainty persists. The number of those who feel buying and selling activity has stabilized or stayed nearly the same has grown significantly, from 18 percent last year to 26 percent this year. However the majority (58 percent) report that activity in their market has slowed.

Regarding home sales, nearly eight in 10 say it’s harder to sell a home in their area today than it was a year ago, despite the fact that nearly three-fourths of respondents say home prices are less expensive. Large home inventories could be to blame; 44 percent cite concerns about the high number of homes and condos for sale in their area.

While nearly three-fourths of Americans are concerned about the local drop in home values, respondents expect to see more stability in the near future. Nearly seven in 10 expect local home prices to remain about the same in the next three months; only 18 percent expect prices to further decrease. The drop in prices has improved affordability, and consequently, concerns about the lack of affordable housing are the lowest they’ve been in seven years of polling – 34 percent say it’s one of their biggest worries, down from 41 percent two years ago.

Foreclosures Among Top Concerns

Foreclosures remain a real concern among survey respondents. Slightly more than half (51 percent) say foreclosures are a big to moderate problem in their area. However, the rate of foreclosures is generally seen as stabilizing; 41 percent say the rate of foreclosures in their area is about the same as last year.

Ninety-two percent of respondents said neither they nor members of their immediate family have experienced a foreclosure in the past year, yet it is still a personal concern for many. One in five respondents said they are very or fairly worried that they will have difficulty making their mortgage payments over the next year. Thirty-two percent say it’s a big or moderate worry that they, or a member of their family, may have their home repossessed or foreclosed because they are unable to pay rising monthly mortgage payments.

In 2008, more than half of respondents (54 percent) were open to the federal government taking a more active role in overseeing mortgage and lending practices – the number dropped this year to 47 percent. This could be because 42 percent of Americans believe the country is back on the right track, more than double the number last year (16 percent).

Obtaining Financing Another Obstacle

Regarding financing, seven in 10 Americans cite a lack of confidence in their ability to be approved for a home loan as an obstacle to homeownership. The same number also say that banks are making it too hard to qualify for a loan (71 percent) and that fewer mortgage options offered by banks have made it harder for them to buy a home (71 percent). The perception of qualifying for a loan as a huge obstacle is especially high among minorities.

“Home buyers need protection from risky lending products but also need access to mortgages at a reasonable cost. While there has been some easing of credit in the mortgage market, the availability of credit continues to be an issue for many qualified home buyers,” says McMillan.

The 2009 National Housing Pulse Survey is conducted by American Strategies and Myers Research & Strategic Services for NAR’s Housing Opportunity Program. The telephone survey was among 1,250 adults living in the 25 most populous metropolitan statistical areas.

Source: NAR

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

Real Estate Improves in California

Median prices for single-family homes in California have risen for the third straight month, reaching $267,570, up 4 percent from April, according to a report from the California Association of REALTORS®.

The inventory of homes continues to drop, falling a 4.2-month supply in May, compared to 8.7 month supply in May 2008.

California’s real estate market always has been seen as a leading indicator for the rest of the country. What is happening in California bodes well for the rest of the nation, observers say.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Stu Woo (06/26/2009)

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Real Estate Improves in California

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Best Places for Aging Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs don’t retire, they just find a new project.

Over the past decade, baby boomers produced a high rate of entrepreneurial activity, and Dan Stangler, senior analyst at the Kauffman Foundation, says the number of baby boomers starting a business in their traditional retirement years is likely to increase.

In response to that analysis, U.S. News & World Report identified 10 places that it says are the best places for an entrepreneurial baby boomer to retire. It picked the areas because they have an affordable cost of living, proximity to healthcare, fun recreational amenities, and access to information, particularly colleges and university with technology-focused departments.

Here are their 10 best suggestions:

1. Arlington, Va.
2. Columbia, Md.
3. Fargo, N.D.
4. Fayetteville, Ark.
5. Fort Collins, Colo.
6. Knoxville, Tenn.
7. Lincoln, Neb.
8. Madison, Wis.
9. Round Rock, Tex.
10. West Des Moines, Iowa

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Emily Brandon (06/29/2009)

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Best Places for Aging Entrepreneurs

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California Association Offers Mortgage Protection

California Association Offers Mortgage Protection

To make home buyers less skittish about purchasing a home amid concerns about job security, the California Association of REALTORS® has created a Housing Affordability Fund to provide mortgage protection.

The fund will pay buyers' mortgages for six months, up to $1,500 per month, if they become unemployed.

Eligible buyers are salaried employees who have not owned a home during the last three years, are buying properties in California between April 2 and the end of the year, and are working with a real estate pro on their transaction.

Funded by donations from REALTORS® and REALTOR® associations statewide, the program also offers $750 per month for six months to eligible co-buyers, along with a $10,000 death benefit and accidental disability coverage.

Source: American Banker, Kate Berry (04/06/09)

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-California Association Offers Mortgage Protection

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Tread Carefully When Making a Low-Ball Offer

Tread Carefully When Making a Low-Ball Offer
These days, it’s easier to make a low-ball offer than it used to be, but still it’s important to be smart. Here are some things that a real estate practitioner and would-be buyer should consider when contemplating such an offer:

— Use foreclosures as comps carefully. Look realistically at the prices foreclosures in the neighborhood brought. Foreclosures aren’t good comps if the homes were stripped of appliances, pipes, HVAC, etc.
— Examine details of short sales critically. How many liens were there against low-selling short sales? If there were no secondary liens, the lender had considerable flexibility.
— Establish realistic time frames. Even in the best of circumstances, foreclosure takes a long time. Will the seller play the waiting game? How long have houses whose owners have equity stayed on the market? Is the buyer in a hurry?

If your buyer makes a low-ball offer, the bank probably won’t be in any rush to take it. They’ll likely just keep soliciting offers without coming back with a counter. Ultimately, the property is likely to sell for a higher price and, chances are, you and your buyer won’t know it until the deal is done.

Source: ThinkGlinck, Ilyce R. Glink (03/30/2009)

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Tread Carefully When Making a Low-Ball Offer

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Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR

Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com

Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus

9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E

Santee, Ca 92071

Lic. #01742839

Property Tax Info Is a Few Clicks Away

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy has put its property tax database online. The database is a comprehensive source of information about finance in every state and many municipalities.

Users can manipulate the database to compare property tax laws, rates, and assessment rules, and to identify property tax relief programs.

The institute, which is associated with The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., plans to shortly add a database of property values across the United States.

Source: Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (06/08/2009)

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Property Tax Info Is a Few Clicks Away

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"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR

Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com

Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus

9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E

Santee, Ca 92071

Lic. #01742839

With Economy Improving, Rates Become Focus

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-With Economy Improving, Rates Become Focus

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“Foreclosure Moratorium” explained

Recent news headlines have caused confusion by mischaracterizing the new California Foreclosure Prevention Act as a “90-day moratorium” and incorrectly stating that the lender must modify delinquent loans before it begins foreclosure. In reality, the foreclosure process for certain owner-occupied residential first trust deeds has been extended by 90 days, effective June 15, but an exemption is available for lenders with comprehensive loan modification programs as defined by the Act.

Under pre-existing law, a lender must wait three months after filing a notice of default before it can file a notice of sale. The new California Foreclosure Prevention Act extending that time frame by another 90 days may not have much practical impact. For more information call 619-850-4174 to learn more about the Housing Stimulus Laws of 2009.

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

Green Tip: What's your Water Footprint

Green Tip of the Week: What’s your water footprint?
To learn how water-intensive your lifestyle is and how to lessen your
“water footprint,” visit Waterfootprint.org

"Making Real Estate Simple!"

Barbara Ann Paul Wibe, e-PRO, REALTOR
Cell: 619.850.4174 e-Fax: 619.512.5156

www.MyRealtorBarbie.com
Barbarainc@gmail.com

Coldwell Banker Nautilus
9535 Mission Gorge Rd #E
Santee, Ca 92071

Industry Lobbies to Extend Buyer Tax Credit

Industry Lobbies to Extend Buyer Tax Credit
Key organizations in the housing industry are urging Congress to increase the $8,000 home buyer credit to $15,000 and make it available to all home buyers instead of just those buying a first home.

"What is being billed as a recovery is not showing up in the cash register yet," says Richard A. Smith, CEO of Realogy Corp. and a member of the Business Roundtable, which is orchestrating the lobbying effort.

The Roundtable’s campaign is also pushing Congress to make permanent expanded limits for loans eligible for government purchase or backing. The limit is now $729,750 in high-cost housing markets.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiraos (06/10/2009)

April sales and price report

For release:
Thursday, May 28, 2009

C.A.R. reports April home sales increased 49.2 percent, median home price declined 36.5 percent