May 2, 2016

A survey by Ipsos found that the American public is still somewhat confused about what is actually necessary to qualify for a home mortgage loan in today’s housing market. The study pointed out two major misconceptions that we want to address today.  1. Down Payment The survey revealed that consumers overestimate the down payment funds needed to qualify for a home loan. According...
In today’s market, where demand is outpacing supply in many regions of the country, pricing a house is one of the biggest challenges real estate professionals face. Sellers often want to price their home higher than recommended, and many agents go along with the idea to keep their clients happy. However, the best agents realize that telling the homeowner the truth is more important than getting...
Home values continue to climb and are projected to increase by about 5% over the next twelve months. That is great news for anyone who owns a home. However, it could present a challenge for a family trying to sell their house. If prices are surging, it is difficult for appraisers to find adequate, comparable sales (similar houses in the neighborhood that closed recently) to defend the...

April 28, 2016

In the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia, they explained that home ownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 5% less expensive in Orange County (CA) all the way up to 46% in Houston (TX), and 36% Nationwide. Here...

February 23, 2016

Want to see all the homes currently listed for sale? Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Price Evaluation so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You can always call us for a FREE home buying or selling consultation at (951) 990-9492 to answer any of your real estate questions...

February 11, 2016

What is the FHA's 90 Day Anti-Flip Rule? In the 1990s, unscrupulous investors were buying run-down houses, slapping a little paint on the outside and reselling them a few days later (often using fraudulent appraisals) for inflated prices and profits. Their buyers, who had obtained FHA-backed mortgages, often couldn't afford the payments and defaulted. To combat this, the FHA has enforced a 90-day "no-flip" rule for a number of years now (also called a "seasoning" rule) which prevents a buyer...