The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) in their all-mighty wisdom decided to add a .5% fee to Freddie and Fannie refinances submitted to them after September 1. So basically conforming loan refinances just got more expensive for the borrower. Note this is not applicable to purchase loans (so ... » Learn More about Ouch, A Double Whammy, Rates Up, and a .5% Point New Tax on Mortgage Refinances
Market Updates
San Fernando Valley Housing Statistics July 2020
The San Fernando Valley housing market is feeling the effects of supply and demand. Inventory is low, while the purchase market is being fed by historically low-interest rates and a pent up demand. As was conveyed in my blog in the middle of July, the sales started leveling off in June after ... » Learn More about San Fernando Valley Housing Statistics July 2020
A Home “Buy vs Rent” Analysis
This buy vs rent breakdown example offers a good graphical representation of why it’s advantageous to buy a home rather than rent. Historically, aside from a few isolated timeframes when property values declined or were flat, property appreciation has been a constant. The homeownership acts as both ... » Learn More about A Home “Buy vs Rent” Analysis
San Fernando Valley Street Name Origins
What follows are the name origins of some of the Valley's most prominent streets: Did you know: Most of the major east-west streets in the Valley are in alphabetical order going north to south: Chatsworth - Devonshire - Lassen - Nordhoff - Parthenia - Roscoe - Saticoy - Sherman Way - Vanowen - ... » Learn More about San Fernando Valley Street Name Origins
Where the San Fernando Valley Community Names Came From
The San Fernando Valley is comprised of 38 communities. What follows are the name origins and a brief history of each of these communities: ARLETA – The name Arleta is a Celtic baby name. In Celtic the meaning of the name Arleta is: An oath.In the 1960s, residents in the more affluent, ... » Learn More about Where the San Fernando Valley Community Names Came From