The California real estate market stayed stable through October. The quantity of sales, and the median home prices dropped slightly, but that's not untypical for this time of year. The mortgage rates went up slightly over the past few weeks, and may effect the affordability index next month. If you ... » Learn More about California Real Estate Market at a Glance
Real Estate and Finance Tidbits 112015
A few recent items of interest, that probably won't hit the general media, or may not hit for a while... Bill Passes House to Expand Mortgage Availability By a vote of 255-174, the House approved the “Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act,” which would broaden the definition of qualified ... » Learn More about Real Estate and Finance Tidbits 112015
Home Equity – Timing’s Everything
According to the latest National Association of Realtors statistics, there's been substantial equity earned by home owners, except by buyers that purchased during the peak of the real estate bubble 8-10 years ago. That said, they're looking substantially better than they did a couple years ago. ... » Learn More about Home Equity – Timing’s Everything
Congress Passes Mortgage Act to Make it Easier to Get a Mortgage, But Don’t Count On It
By a vote of 255-174, the House approved the “Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act,” which would broaden the definition of qualified mortgages – those that qualify for the safe harbor – to include all mortgages held on a lender's balance sheet. The new QM rule would recognize all residential ... » Learn More about Congress Passes Mortgage Act to Make it Easier to Get a Mortgage, But Don’t Count On It
Think Twice About Using a HERO Energy – Water Conservation Financing Program
HERO (Home Energy Renovation Opportunity) is a PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program that allows homeowners to finance energy-efficient and water-saving home upgrades, with payments made through their property tax bill. The government is aggressively marketing this program to homeowners, and ... » Learn More about Think Twice About Using a HERO Energy – Water Conservation Financing Program