Regardless of our political beliefs, regardless of our station in life, regardless of whether we have experienced or escaped disaster in our personal lives so far... in order to excel as a nation, and as a people, we must examine our personal beliefs, our values.  What virtues do you believe in?  What values do you hold onto?  What is the core of your principles?   Is it our responsibility as humans to lessen the suffering of others?  Or do you believe "what's mine is mine" and God help the others.  Is your life driven by the value of money?  Do you realize that the last jacket you wear doesn't need any pockets?  "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence."-Helen Keller (who was born blind and deaf)  "Come to me, all you who are wea... 07/15/2009

  I support a single pay system absolutely. Our healthcare is rated #37 in the world... every other industrialized nation provides their citizens with healthcare (like we provide a fire department to save our houses). With the insurance and pharmaceutical companies recently hiring 2,000 lobbyists now, and spending $1.4 million a DAY against a single pay system.... the chances today are slim to none. Unfortunately it will have to get worse before our citizens see the light of day. I have relatives in London, Italy, Australia, and other parts of Europe who receive excellent care. Those who wish can purchase private insurance, in addition to the government coverage. They do not find this necessary. It is because we are so isolated from the world that we do not see the extreme injustice of ... 07/15/2009

Hi Neighbors, I wanted to remind those folks using the link page on my website to look up the mello-roos and special levy taxes for Placer County that this information will not be loaded onto the county website until September.  In the meantime, you can call the tax office to get that information at (530) 889-4120.  You will need to provide the APN# to get the information.  Also, this is the month that you should get a notice of re-appraisal if your taxes have been reduced in the past.  If you have questions or need help to determine this, give me a call. Jeff (916) 303-0257 07/13/2009

  My Mom is an inspiration to me.  I'm hoping to inherit her genes.  Although she says "they won't fit you"!!  Given any opportunity, whether it be Greek Festival, Salsa dancing, or Jazz at Taco Tuesdays in Lincoln, CA,  you will find her out on the dance floor.  Her zest for life, despite obstacles over the years, is something to immitate and enjoy.  She birthed us 5 children, and I salute her for her positive outlook, never saying negative words about others, and her ability to self-actualize her life.  I continue to learn from her.  Thanks Mom. 07/13/2009

All Buyers and Agents Take Notice:   This article says it all.  Home prices in some areas have started to creep upward and regardless of whether the "bottom" is in site, interest rates are at an all-time 40 year low so that any increase in rates will squeeze some out of the market.  By the time the "bottom" is recognized, many opportunities will have been lost for buyers. Please reblog this information at will, and keep others and the public informed.  That is the responsibility of all good real estate professionals.  Opportunites Abound in Today's Market. Foreclosure Listing Site Says Investors Should Act Quickly Carrie Bay | 07.13.09 Despite recent negative information about the job market in the United States, a report issued by Foreclosurelistings.com last week shows the housing mar... 07/13/2009

 Another helpful tool from the folks at Google as reported at the Media Daily Online. Google says it has improved its search capabilities for real estate shoppers.Its new landing page allows buyers to link directly to property and rental listings using general screens like "homes with pools in Wilmington, Del." The 10 most relevant listings are shown with pins. Its street view lets buyers check out what the neighborhood looks like. Mike Blumenthal, a blogger, says so far these additions have been largely ignored because Google hasn't promoted them. "It's indicative of Google wanting to get into real estate, but at the moment the tool is buried deep in Maps," he says.Google Maps continues to trail Yahoo Real Estate, Realtor.com and Trulia.com Hpe this helps your searches, Jeff 07/12/2009

As always at Neighborly, we keep an ear and eye out for changes and updates to help us live green and have a more sustainable environment.  H.R. 2454 recently passed and the California Association of Realtors reported a summary of the bill that has important information for home owners retrofitting homes to be more energy efficient.  Some important points from C.A.R.: In the week following the passage of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, the Internet and talk radio were abuzz with erroneous reports of mandatory point-of-sale retrofits, audit and labeling, and other misinformation.  This misinformation was due, in part, to the inability of Congress to post a current draft of the bill on the Web in a timely manner, due to a last-minute, 300-plus pages amendment. There... 07/12/2009

We've heard it before, and I've written about these report earlier and here it is again.  The Chicago Tribune is reporting another wave of foreclosures to come about again as early as this summer.  It cites: Loan defaults have surged due to the troubled economy and the unemployement rates Expiring of government and self imposed moratoriams Home sales have been steadying nationally, the report further states, but rising foreclosures will depress home values. Of primary concern is at what rate will the banks release these properties for re-sale.  Currently the number of REO homes available less than the demand, so some increase in REO volume won't change the home values for our area.  Also 80,000 default borrowers have had loan modification according to Chase and 45,000 according to Bank ... 07/12/2009

The California Association of Realtors recently published results of their 2009 Survey of California Home buyers.  Key points include 68% of buyers indicated that price decreases motivated them to buy a home and 39% reported that low interest rates helped them move to a better location. Housing affordability in California created an opportunity for home buyers helping to rebound home sales during 2008 and early 2009. 49% of all buyers bought traditionalmarket sale (not REO or Short Sale).   38% bought an REO (bank owned).  Only 13% bought short sale property citing difficulties of closing shot sales.  (Note that short sales comprise the largest number of homes on the market in Placer County yet a much smaller percentage of actual market sales). Home buyers purchasing REO properties expe... 07/12/2009

The good news is that congress is looking at extending or expanding the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. The bad news is that passage of any new legislation is highly uncertain according to Robert Freeman Senior Editor of Realtor Magazine.  He further states that while the legislation has broad support, with the number of bills needing work during this next legislative cycle it may be difficult for it to pass in time to have any type of smooth transition. He further states that "with Congress, you never know what's going to happen." What you do have now is the $8,000 tax credit through November of this year. Jeff 07/12/2009

Good news neighbors! Interest on 30-year fixed mortgages, 15-year fixed loans, five-year adjustable-rate mortgages, and one-year ARMs all fell this week, according to Freddie Mac. The average on 30-year financing slipped to 5.2 percent from 5.32 percent a week ago. The 15-year mortgage declined to 4.69 percent, down from 4.77 percent. Five-year ARMs were down to 4.82 percent from 4.88 percent. One-year ARMs fell to 4.82 percent from 4.94 percent. Source: Los Angeles Times (07/10/09) 07/12/2009

HI Neighbors, I'm sure I'll see many of you around the streets of Lincoln.  Hope you enjoyed the 4th of July Parade!  Thanks to all who helped organize it and those crazy enough to participate!!!!  Special thanks to the Western Placer Amateur Radio Club (WPARC) who help with the communication efforts; way to go hams! Stay cool and stay safe and enjoy family and friends. Jeff - Neighborly Realty http://www.englepropertiesonline.com 07/04/2009

After 12,000 applications were received California stopped accepting applications for the first time home buyer credit for new homes.  Funding was for $100 million or 10,000 applications.  12,000 applications were accepted because there were some duplications and expectations that some of the applicants may not qualify. Applications will be funded on a first-come first-serve basis. The program was aimed at promoting sales of new homes. 07/03/2009

Programmable Thermostats can save about $180 a year by utilizing the automatic settings built in to the device according to the Energy Star website.  For most HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) units it's easy to replace the thermostat with one that is programmable for between $50 and $100 (see Sears.com as an example).  Besides saving you money, they can have your home warmed up or cooled off on your schedule. Why does it save money reason #1?  Because if your like me, you often forget to turn the manual thermosat at the right temperature in a timely manner. Another good article about programmable thermostats can be found here.  In this article, the author states "Research has shown that for every degree you can raise the thermostat setting in summer or lower it in winter... 07/02/2009

RISMEDIA is reporting that Mortgage applications have decreased 18.9%  in the US according to the Mortgage Banker's Association (MBA) for the week ending June 26th.  The biggest driver is a reduction in home refinances.  The complete article can be read here. On the flip side, Pending home sales increased for the 4th straight month - read the complete article here.  May increased .1% over April.  However, issues regarding the new appraisal process (see my earlier blog this week) and other issues may be slowing down the closing process. The article also points out that housing affordability is still at an all-time high with many more people qualified to own entry level homes than just about anytime in recent history, stating " A median-income family, earning $60,800, could afford a home ... 07/02/2009

Hello Neighbors! GREAT NEWS from our friends at CNN and CNNMoney!  Thanks CNN Teams! Government driven changes to the home financing markets continue to roll out, and we couldn't be happier.  Home owners can now refinance up to 125% of their home values.  Fantastic news for owners underwater due to the huge market shifts we've seen since 2006. Don't let these rates pass you buy.  Although they are no longer in the 4%s, we are still getting great rates in the 5%s.  Those of you with adjustable or very bad 2nds can now take advantage of locking into the new lower rates even if we couldn't help you just a month ago! If you need help with a re-fi, CALL!  You can start with Jeff at (916) 303-0257 The full article from CNN is below: NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Obama administration is widen... 07/02/2009

June 2009 Placer County Market Update for single family detached homes Hi Neighbors, it's time for the monthly market snapshot, Jeff's style. What's for sale? Today, July 1st sees 2,041 homes on the market - a slight decrease from June 1st's 2053. In the under $200,000 range there are 172 homes on the market, a slight increase from 166 at the beginning of last month.   REO or Bank Owned homes comprise 8% of the total market and Short Sales 42%. The remaining 50% are 'non-distressed' sales. What's Selling (Pending overall market) Pending sales show a different story. Of the 563 homes in Pending Status, 166 or 29% are REO and 136 or 24% are Short Sales.     Again, we continue to see a disproportionate amount of REO pending vs. REO on the market. REO is 7% of the overall active market, yet... 07/01/2009

I wanted to share these thoughts from Jim - our broker at Neighborly Realty.  He's got two key points - first he has a listing in the sweet spot of the market right now - the under $250k price range that both investors as well as first time home buyers are scrambling for.  Secondly (and in my mind most importantly) the home was priced correctly.  Even higher priced homes are selling if they are priced right for the market (something we as real estate agents can't control). WOW.You use this site to keep up on the latest market activities. No spin, just good solid data.Here is an example of how insane the markets are right now, from one of our own listings (in Marysville, CA).We listed a house in Marysville for $79,800 at 11:00pm on Saturday the 20th. Within 10 hours, we had 3 written off... 07/01/2009

Big homes are not as popular as they were a few years ago.  However, this recent article in the Wall Street Journal points to the fact that home owners are still looking for upgrades including more living space.  They just don't want big for the sake of big. From June Flecher of the Wall Street Journal: McMansions have fallen out of favor, according to a new study by the American Institute of Architects.The survey of 500 architects showed that only 4 percent thought their clients wanted more space in their new homes, compared to 16 percent in 2008.Home builders have already taken that information to heart with 59 percent of builders surveyed in May by the National Association of Home Builders saying they plan to build smaller homes in the coming year.But don't dismiss big houses. The bu... 07/01/2009

Recently new legistlation went into effect that put additional regulations on home appraisals.  These regulations have slowed down appraisals in some cases in this area.  An example in point is a recent appraisal for a home sold in Sacramento where the appraisal was done out of a LA office!  This appraisal clearly did not know the market for the neighborhoods in this area, and it forced the team to get another appraisal and postpone closing. The American Banker recently posted this information: U.S. Reps. Travis Childers (D-Miss.) and Gary Miller (R-Calif.) have teamed up to champion a bill that would put a moratorium on the new Home Mortgage Valuation Code of Conduct. HVCC is an agreement between Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the New York State Attorney General that went into effect ear... 07/01/2009