Prepared for the North San Diego County Association of REALTORS® by Robert Brown, Ph.D.
Department of Economics California State University, San Marcos. Inquiries may be directed to Robert Brown

The key is to stay organized, so check out moving checklists online to help you with your move to the Carlsbad, San Marcos, Oceanside California areas. Make a list of questions to ask for either your local moving truck rental business or decide if you need to go with actually hiring a moving company.

Experts in the moving and storage industry say that, you should plan six to eight weeks in advance to book a reputable moving company. Finding that reputable company can be a challenge, however, and a little research should be done before you entrust all of your worldly possessions to professional care. Check out listings online of moving companies that allow you to compare movers and interview moving companies to find just the right one. On interstate moves, charges are based on the weight of the items to be moved, the distance to be moved, packing, and other services. Get two or three estimates well in advance of your move. Be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau about any moving company you are considering.

Renting a moving vehicle or a portable on demand moving crate can be your best and easiest option to make sure your stuff gets moved to the new place the way you want them to. If you choose to rent a moving vehicle, you can rent it the day of the move or the day before. If you really want a lot of time to make sure you can arrange your furniture and household goods in your moving vehicle, then you might consider an on demand storage unit. These units get delivered to your driveway and you have as long as you need to fill it up. Then, when it is full, you call the company and they will come and pick the container up and deliver it to storage or to your new home.

No matter which moving option you choose, you will make things a lot easier on yourself if you weed out all the “stuff” that you haven’t used in a long time and donate it or throw it out. Start packing the items you want to keep but don’t use everyday away well before the moving day. Think about this tip: get wardrobe boxes to pack clothes. By simply hanging clothes inside these boxes, you’ll save time both packing and unpacking.

Facing relocation can be scary. Let your Real Estate agent, Roger Lee, ease the pain with packing tips, relocation advice and moving companies that specialize in relocation near and far.
]]> http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/relocation-and-moving-tips-in-the-carlsbad-san-marcos-oceanside-california-areas/feed/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/credit-after-foreclosure-bankruptcy-or-short-sale/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/credit-after-foreclosure-bankruptcy-or-short-sale/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:12:09 +0000 Roger Lee http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/?p=39

One of the concerns a consumer has after experiencing a bankruptcy, foreclosure, or short sale (referred to as a “preforeclosure sale” by Fannie Mae) is the ability to obtain credit to purchase another home.  Fannie Mae has updated its credit guidelines.  This legal article summarizes those guidelines in Part I.  In addition, since lenders use FICO scores in order to determine the creditworthiness of a borrower, this article covers the impact of a bankruptcy, foreclosure or short sale on FICO scores in Part II.

I.  Fannie Mae Credit Guidelines

Q 1.  How long is the time period after a foreclosure before a consumer can be eligible to obtain credit to purchase a home?

A Five years from the date the foreclosure sale was completed.

Additional requirements that apply after 5 years and up to 7 years following the completion date are as follows:

^. The purchase of a principal residence is permitted with a minimum 10 percent down payment and minimum representative credit score of 680.

^. Purchase of a second home or investment property is not permitted.

^. Limited cash-out refinances are permitted for all occupancy types pursuant to the eligibility requirements in effect at that time.

^. Cash-out refinances are not permitted for any occupancy type.

(Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08 )

Q 2.  Why do the additional requirements for foreclosures in Question 1 only apply from 5 to 7 years following the foreclosure completion date?

A According to Fannie Mae policy in Part X, Section 103 of the Selling Guide, Fannie Mae requires only a 7-year history to be reviewed for all credit and public record information.  The 7-year timeframe also aligns with the information provided by the borrower on the loan application relative to disclosure of a past foreclosure action.  (Source:  FNMA Selling Guide, 4-1-09. )

Q 3.  Does a shorter time period apply if the borrower has “extenuating circumstances” that led to the foreclosure?

A Yes.  Three years from the date the foreclosure sale was completed.  The same additional requirements apply as listed in Question 1 except the minimum credit score of 680 is not required.  (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08. )

Q 4.  What are”extenuating circumstances” ?

A Fannie Mae describes “extenuating circumstances” as follows:

Extenuating circumstances are nonrecurring events that are beyond the borrower’s control that result in a sudden, significant, and prolonged reduction in income or a catastrophic increase in financial obligations.

If a borrower claims that derogatory information is the result of extenuating circumstances, the lender must substantiate the borrower’s claim.  Examples of documentation that can be used to support extenuating circumstances include documents that confirm the event (such as a copy of a divorce decree, medical bills, notice of job layoff, job severance papers, etc.) and documents that illustrate factors that contributed to the borrower’s inability to resolve the problems that resulted from the event (such as a copy of insurance papers or claim settlements, listing agreements, lease agreements, tax returns (e.g., covering the periods prior to, during, and after a loss of employment).

The lender must obtain a letter from the borrower explaining the relevance of the documentation.  The letter must support the claims of extenuating circumstances, confirm the nature of the event that led to the bankruptcy or foreclosure-related action, and illustrate the borrower had no reasonable options other than to default on his or her financial obligations.

(Source:  FNMA Selling Guide, 4-1-09 at 391. )

Q 5.  How long is the time period after a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure before a consumer can be eligible to obtain credit to purchase a property?

A Four years from the date the deed-in-lieu was executed.

Additional requirements that apply after 4 years and up to 7 years following the completion date are as follows:

^. Borrower may purchase a property secured by a principal residence, second home, or investment property with the greater of 10 percent minimum down payment or the minimum down payment required for the transaction.

^. Limited-cash-out and cash-out refinance transactions secured by a principal residence, second home, or investment property are permitted pursuant to the eligibility requirements in effect at that time.

(Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08. )

Q 6.  Does a shorter time period apply if the borrower has “extenuating circumstances” that led to the deed-in-lieu of foreclosure?

A Yes.  Two years from the date the deed-in-lieu was executed.  The same additional requirements apply as listed in Question 4 after 2 years up to 7 years.  (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08. )

See Question 4 for the definition of “extenuating circumstances.”

Q 7.  How long is the time period after a ”preforeclosure sale” before a consumer can be eligible to obtain credit to purchase a property?

A Two years from the completion date.  No exceptions are permitted to the 2-year period due to extenuating circumstances.  (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08. )

Q 8.  What is a “preforeclosure sale” mentioned in Question 6 and is that the same as a short sale?

A “A preforeclosure sale involves the sale of the property by the borrower to a third party for less than the amount owed to satify the delinquent mortgage, as agreed to by the lender, investor, and mortgage insurer” (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08 ).

Although the terms preforeclosure sale and short sale have been used interchangeably, there is a significant difference for purposes of obtaining credit.  For Fannie Mae purposes, a preforeclosure assumes that the borrower has been delinquent in paying his or her mortgage and the lender agrees to accept a lesser amount to avoid the time and expense of a foreclousre action.  A short-sale, however, can also refer to situations in which the lender of the mortgage agrees to a payoff of a lesser amount than is actually owed, even on a current mortgage, to facilitate the sale of the property to a third party. (Source: FNMA Announcement 08-16 Q&A, 8-13-08. )

Q 9.  Does a shorter time period apply if the borrower has “extenuating circumstances” that led to the preforeclosure (short) sale?

A No.  There are no exceptions to the 2-year time period.  (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08. )

Q 10.  If a borrower sold his or her property as a short sale but was never delinquent on that mortgage and is now attempting to purchase a new primary residence, will Fannie Mae purchase the loan?

A The loan will be eligible for delivery to Fannie Mae provided that the borrower’s previous mortgage history complies with Fannie Mae’s excessive prior mortgage delinquency policy–that is the borrower does not have one or more 60-, 90-, 120-, or 150-day delinquencies reported within the 12 months prior to the credit report date–and the borrower has not entered into any agreement with the short sale lender to repay any amounts associated with the short sale, including a deficiency judgment.  (Source: FNMA Announcement 08-16 Q&A, 8-13-08 ; FNMA Selling Guide, Part X, Chapter 3, Section 302.09. .)

Q 11.  Are preforeclosure (short) sales and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure actions identified on a credit report?

A Preforeclosure sales may be reported as “paid in full” with a “settled for less than owed” remarks code, and the mortgage tradeline would indicate any recent delinquency.  A deed-in-lieu may be reported by a remarks code indicating a deed-in-lieu. (Source: FNMA Announcement 08-16 Q&A, 8-13-08. )

Q 12.  How long is the time period after a bankruptcy (all except Chapter 13) before a consumer can be eligible to obtain credit to purchase a property?

A Four years from the discharge or dismissal date of the bankruptcy action (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08 ).

Q 13.  How long is the time period after a Chapter 13 bankruptcy before a consumer can be eligible to obtain credit to purchase a property?

A Two years from the discharge date and four years from the dismissal date (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08 ).

Q 14.  Does a shorter time period apply if the borrower has “extenuating circumstances” that led to the bankruptcy (all actions)?

A Yes.  Two years from the discharge or dismissal; however, no exceptions are permitted to the 2-year time period after a Chapter 13 discharge (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08 ).

See Question 4 for the definition of “extenuating circumstances.”

Q 15.  How long is the time period after multiple bankruptcy filings before a consumer can be eligible to obtain credit to purchase a property?

A Five years from the most recent dismissal or discharge date for borrowers with more than one bankruptcy filing within the past 7 years (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08 ).

Q 16.  Does a shorter time period apply if the borrower has “extenuating circumstances” that led to the multiple bankruptcies?

A Yes.  Three years from the most recent discharge or dismissal date.  The most recent bankruptcy filing must have been the result of extenuating circumstances.  (Source:  FNMA Announcement 08-16, 6-25-08. )

See Question 4 for the definition of “extenuating circumstances.”

Q 17.  What is the difference between a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and a Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

A Chapter 13 permits a borrower with a regular income to propose a plan to repay some or all of his or her obligations over a period of up to five years.  A borrower who files a Chapter 7 is permitted to retain exempt assets and receive a discharge of the borrower’s debts.  Chapter 7 is a relatively quick liquidation process that is generally completed within 120 days.  Chapter 7 cases are rarely dismissed.  (Source: FNMA Announcement 08-16 Q&A, 8-13-08. )

Q 18.  What is the difference between a Chapter 13 dismissal and a Chapter 13 discharge?

A A borrower who files a Chapter 13 can dismiss the case at any time (voluntary dismissal) or the case may be dismissed by the court based on the borrower’s failure to comply with the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code or to make the required payments. If the borrower who files a Chapter 13 case makes all of the payments required by the plan, the borrower receives a discharge at the end of the plan.  A borrower who doesn’t make all the payment required by the plan may still receive a discharge if the court finds, among other things, that the borrower made a certain amount of the payments and the borrower’s failure to make all of the payments was due to circumstances beyond the borrower’s control.  (Source: FNMA Announcement 08-16 Q&A, 8-13-08. )

Q 19.  What are the requirements to re-establish a credit history?

A After a bankruptcy or foreclosure-related action, a credit history must meet the following rquirements to be considered re-established:

^. It must meet the requirements for elapsed time (as discussed in this article).

^. It must reflect that all accounts are current as of the date of the mortgage application.

^. it must include a minimum of four credit references.  At least one of the references must be a traditional credit reference, and one of the references must be housing-related.

(1) A housing-related reference must cover the period following the bankruptcy discharge or dismissal, foreclosure, or deed-in-lieu, and can be in the form of mortgage payments or rental payments.

(2) If rental payments wre not reported to the credit repositories, the lender must obtain copies of bank statements, money orders, or canceled checks for the most recent 12-month period as a supplement to the rent verification.

^. It must reflect three of the four credit references, including rental housing references, as active in the 24 months preceding the date of the mortgage application.

^. It must include no more than two installment or revolving debt payments 30 days past due in the last 24 months.

^. It must include no installment or revolving debt payments 60 or more days past due since the discharge or dismissal of the bankruptcy or the completion of the foreclosure-related action.

^. It must include no housing debt payments past due since the discharge or dismissal of the bankruptcy or the completion of the foreclosure-related action.

^. It must include no new public records since the discharge or dismissal of the bankruptcy or the completion of the foreclousre-related action.  Public records include bankruptcies, foreclosures, deeds-in-lieu, preforeclosure sales, unpaid judgments or collections, garnishments, liens, etc.

(Source:  FNMA Selling Guide, 4-1-09 at 392. )

II.  Bankruptcy, Foreclosure, and Short Sale and the Impact on a FICO® Score

Q 20.  What is a FICO® Score?

A A FICO® score is a number representing the creditworthiness of a  person or the likelihood that person will pay his or her debts. The three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, collect data about consumers in order to compile credit reports. The credit agencies use FICO® software to generate FICO® scores, which are then sold to lenders. Actually FICO® is just one of the several credit scoring systems available. The Fair Isaac Corporation (known as FICO®) created the first credit scoring system in 1958.  Others are NextGen, VantageScore, and the CE Score.  They all evaluate the creditworthiness of a borrower.  However, FICO appears to be the most-used credit scoring system.  A FICO® score is between 300 and 850.  The higher the better the credit.

Each consumer has three credit scores at any given time for any given scoring model because the three credit agencies have their own databases, gather reports from different creditors, and receive information from creditors at different times.

Q 21.  What factors go into determining a FICO® score?

A Credit scores are designed to measure the risk of default by taking into account various factors in a person’s financial history. Although the exact formulas for calculating credit scores are closely-guarded secrets, FICO® has disclosed the following components and the approximate weighted contribution of each:

35% — Payment History – Late payments on bills, such as a mortgage, credit card or automobile loan, can cause a consumer’s FICO® score to drop. Paying bills as agreed over time will improve a consumer’s FICO® score.

30% — Credit Utilization - The ratio of current revolving debt (such as credit card balances) to the total available revolving credit (credit limits). Consumers can improve their FICO® scores by paying off debt and lowering their utilization ratio. The closing of existing revolving accounts will typically adversely affect this ratio and therefore have a negative impact on the FICO® score.

15% — Length of Credit History – As a consumer’s credit history ages, assuming the consumer pays his or her bills, it can have a positive impact on the FICO® score.

10% — Types of Credit Used (installment, revolving, consumer finance) – Consumers can benefit by having a history of managing different types of credit.

10% — Recent search for credit and/or amount of credit obtained recently - Multiple credit inquiries for a consumer seeking to open new credit, such as credit cards, retail store accounts, and personal loans, can hurt an individual’s score. Applying for lots of new credit in a short period of time is also viewed as risky and can cause a drop in an individual’s score. However, individuals shopping for a mortgage or auto loan over a short period will likely not experience a decrease in their scores as a result of these types of inquiries.

(Source: http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/WhatsInYourScore.aspx)

Q 22.  How does a mortgage modification affect my FICO® score?

A FICO® credit scores are calculated from the information in consumer credit reports. Whether a loan modification affects the borrower’s FICO® score depends on whether and how the lender chooses to report the event to the credit bureau, as well as on the person’s overall credit profile. If a lender indicates to a credit bureau that the consumer has not made payments on a mortgage as originally agreed, that information on the consumer’s credit report could cause the consumer’s FICO® score to decrease or it could have little to no impact on the score.

(Source: http://www.myfico.com/crediteducation/questions/Mortgage_Modification.aspx)

Q 23.  How does a bankruptcy affect my FICO® score?

A A bankruptcy is considered a very negative event regardless of the type. A bankruptcy is factored into your FICO® score until it is removed from your credit report.  As long as the bankruptcy is listed on your credit report, it will be factored into your score. If you are considering bankruptcy as an alternative to foreclosure, keep in mind that it may have a greater impact on your FICO® score.

Typically, you can expect bankruptcies to remain on your credit report, from the date filed, as follows:

(1)  Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcies up to 10 years.

(2)  Completed Chapter 13 bankruptcies up to 7 years.

These time periods refer to the public record item associated with filing for bankruptcy. All of the individual accounts included in the bankruptcy should be removed from your credit report after 7 years.  (Source: http://www.myfico.com/crediteducation/Questions/Bankruptcy-Types.aspx)

If you plan to file a bankruptcy, here are some things you should do to make sure your creditors are accurately reporting the bankruptcy filing:

(1) Check your credit report to ensure that accounts that were not part of the bankruptcy filing are not being reported with a bankruptcy status.

(2) Make sure your bankruptcy is removed as soon as it is eligible to be “purged” from your credit report.

After a bankruptcy has been filed, the sooner you begin re-establishing credit in good standing, the sooner you can expect your FICO® score to rebound. A good practice is to obtain a secured credit card and continually make all of your payments on time. As time passes and the impact of the bankruptcy lessens, you might apply for a traditional credit card and also continually make all of your payments on time.

(Source: http://www.myfico.com/crediteducation/questions/Bankruptcy-Reach.aspx)

Q 24.  How does a short sale, deed-in-lieu-of foreclosure. or a foreclosure affect my FICO®score?

A The alternatives to foreclosure, such as a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or a short sale, aren’t any better as far as a FICO® score is concerned.

The common alternatives to foreclosure, such as short sales, and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure are all “not paid as agreed” accounts, and considered the same by your FICO® score. This is not to say that these may not be better options for you from a financial or tax perspective, just that they will be considered no better or worse for your FICO® score.

If you are considering bankruptcy as an alternative to foreclosure, that may have a greater impact on your FICO® score. While a foreclosure is a single account that you default on,  declaring bankruptcy has the opportunity to affect multiple accounts and therefore has  potential to have a greater negative impact on your FICO® score.

(Source: http://www.myfico.com/CreditEducation/Questions/foreclosure-alternatives-fico-score.aspx)

Q 25.  What won’t affect my FICO® score?

A The following information is not considered by the FICO® scoring formula:

^. Your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or marital status

^. Your age

^. Your salary, occupation, title, employer, date employed, or employment history

^. Where you live

^. Any interest rate being charged on a particular credit card or other account

^. Certain types of inquiries (such as promotional, account review, insurance or employment-related inquiries)

^. Credit counseling

^. Any information not found in your credit report

^. Any information that is not proven to be predictive of future credit performance

(Source: http://myfico.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/myfico.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=55)

Following the Senate’s favorable vote yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives just voted 403 to 12 to extend the home buyer tax credit, expanding the parameters to include existing homeowners and not just first-time buyers. As you may know, C.A.R. and our partners at NAR have worked for months urging Congress and the Senate to extend and expand this crucial piece of legislation. We expect President Obama to sign the legislation in short order.

First-time home buyers will continue to be eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000, while existing homeowners will be eligible for a reduced credit of up to $6,500. To qualify for the $6,500 credit, existing homeowners must have lived in their current residences for at least five years. The bill also increases the qualifying income limits from $75,000 for single tax filers and $150,000 for joint filers to $125,000 and $225,000, respectively. The purchase price of the home is capped at $800,000 in both instances.

Taxpayers can claim the credit on purchases completed in 2010 on their 2009 income tax returns. The legislation maintains the provision that home buyers do not have to repay the credit provided the home remains their primary residence for 36 months after purchase, and waives this requirement for active duty military personnel who move due to a military order.

Nationwide, more than 1.4 million first-time home buyers were given the opportunity to become homeowners as a result of the Federal Tax Credit for First-time Home Buyers.  We expect that number to increase dramatically in the months ahead with this new legislation in place. Thank you to our members who called, wrote, and e-mailed their congressional representatives and voiced their support for the home buyer tax credit. Your voices were heard – today’s vote is a direct result of your actions and involvement.

Click Here to start searching now for homes in San Diego.

Homeownership is typically given a lot of importance and homeowners are generally allowed to do whatever they wish in their homes. Homeowners have the right to make choices and decisions regarding changes to their homes that renters may not be able to make.

Homeownership is a financial goal most families share. There are significant community benefits to homeownership as well. Owning a home gives residents a stake in the community and a sense of “rootedness” in their neighborhoods. Enjoying the privacy that a home brings, making long lasting friendships with neighbors and best of all taking pride in your home. The pride you’ll feel in owning and improving your home is an emotional value that cannot be expressed in dollars and cents. The value of homeownership has been thought to pro-mote thrift, stability, and neighborliness.

Homeownership is thought to be an important element in achieving personal fulfillment. When asked to define the good life, polls have shown that many Americans value owning a home over such factors as an automobile, a happy marriage, an interesting or high-paying job, and good health. The value of homeownership is credited with increasing self-esteem, life satisfaction, and an overall feeling of worth. Owning a home embodies the promise of individual independence but there are also many responsibilities that come with owning a home. The value of homeownership has been thought to pro-mote thrift, stability, and neighborliness.

If you are looking to buy your own home in Carlsbad, San Marcos, Oceanside California areas, these are some points to consider when seeing the value of homeownership. Allow me, your Real Estate agent, Roger Lee to help you see the value of homeownership.
]]> http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/the-value-of-homeownership/feed/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/unclutter-your-home-and-get-it-ready-to-sell/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/unclutter-your-home-and-get-it-ready-to-sell/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:58:31 +0000 Roger Lee http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/?p=32 It is very important to make a great first impression to the potential buyers of your home. Every seller wants their home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it’s not luck that makes that happen. It’s careful planning and knowing how to efficiently unclutter your home that will excite buyers. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an appealing and marketable home.

Get rid of those items that have been sitting around for years without being used or even handled. This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it. Buyers and real estate agents should see your house in its best condition from the very first day it’s on the market.

Here are a few approaches to take to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room’s purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don’t want buyers scratching their heads and saying, “What is this room used for?”

Another way to unclutter your home and get it ready to sell is to make those minor repairs and best of all, make the house sparkle! Only do one room, or even one small area, at a time so you don’t feel overwhelmed. Your best friend is the trash bag; when in doubt, throw it out. Many find it easier to use boxes to sort items, so you don’t have to find a home for everything as you unclutter. Most important, be quick and decisive when sorting. Tell yourself:
• If you don’t need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
• Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
• Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

If you are getting your house ready to sell in the Carlsbad, San Marcos, Oceanside California areas, then take a step back and pretend you are a buyer. Let a friend help point out areas where you can unclutter your home and let myself, Roger Lee, your agent help you to get your house ready to sell.
]]> http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/unclutter-your-home-and-get-it-ready-to-sell/feed/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/going-green-in-california/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/going-green-in-california/#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:16:30 +0000 Roger Lee http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/?p=30 Have you heard the news! Green real estate is getting lots of buzz. More and more homebuyers are looking for ways to increase their green footprint. They are looking for that perfect home and yard that will give them eco-luxury. Going Green in Carlsbad, San Marcos, Oceanside California is happening as we know it.

Not only are we worried about our cleaning supplies being green, but now we want our homes to be green also. Homes with amenities like Gammpar floors, LEED-certified building materials, double-paned windows and even docking stations for electric cars! Also, homes that boast features like rainwater harvesting, passive air ventilation, reclaimed fixtures and recycled content tile and flooring.

This may all seem very over-whelming, but there are a lot of sites on the web that will help you fully understand just what finding a “green” home entails. It will be worth the research and will make your life more comfortable in the long run. Just “Google” the words “green real estate”, for starters. Enjoy the search and learn what makes a “green” home; a home that you want to be a part of. We all want to do our part and so let’s enjoy all of the eco-luxury that we can.

Just a side note - there’s no denying that the mortgage meltdown has meant tragedy for many home owners. But take a look around. You’ll see there’s very positive activity in many vibrant markets throughout the US especially in Carlsbad, San Marcos, Oceanside California areas. By focusing on the good news and passing the message around, we can help speed up the market recovery. Don’t panic, let’s all do our part!
]]> http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/going-green-in-california/feed/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/real-estate-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-going-away/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/real-estate-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-going-away/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:10:43 +0000 Roger Lee http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/?p=28 The oldest use of the term “Real Estate” that has been preserved in historical records was in 1666. In other words, real estate has been around for a very long time. However, it is not going away! It will be around until the end of time. What a comfort that is. With the slump that is happening, it is a reassurance to know that even if the economy gets bad, real estate is here to stay.

Real Estate is a legal term, according to Wikipedia, that encompasses land along with anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings, specifically property that is stationary, or fixed in location. The word “fixed” is the keyword here, meaning unmovable. Real Estate is here to stay!

Wikipedia also states that it has been argued that the word Real is derived from “royal”. For hundreds of years the Royal family and/or King owned the land, and the peasants paid rent or property taxes to be on the Royal’s land. Today, just like hundreds of years in the past, we pay property taxes, or rent to be on the government’s land or the Royal Estate. Isn’t it great to know that even though we do have to pay property taxes our homes are owned by us and not a king or government or royal family!

This article has been a little bit about the history of Real Estate, but thankfully there is a great future for real estate. Make your own future and invest in “Real” estate.

If you are looking for a home or selling real estate in the Carlsbad, San Marcos, Oceanside California areas then we can help!
]]> http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/real-estate-%e2%80%93-it%e2%80%99s-not-going-away/feed/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/july-03-2009-san-diego-housing-market-showing-some-recovery/ http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/july-03-2009-san-diego-housing-market-showing-some-recovery/#comments Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:12:22 +0000 Roger Lee http://www.carlsbadhousehunter.com/?p=24

A spurt in residential home sales that started in some of California’s more affordable inland areas have began to spread to several more expensive coastal areas, another indicator that the California’s real estate market may on it’s way to recovery.

In Perspective

• Many homes in the lower spectrum of the market are receiving multiple offers for mostly every property, with some prospective buyers bidding well above asking prices. Inventory levels for homes priced under $500,000 stood at 3.2 months in May 2009, compared with 9.4 months in May 2008.

• Some buyers, especially those in higher-priced areas such as the San Diego Area, are newly optimistic about buying real estate and are realizing that the combination of historically low interest rates, favorable real estate prices, and first-time home buyer tax credits incentives may not come back for many years.

• Although the median price in the state has risen for four consecutive months, prices in some higher-income neighborhoods still are declining. Some speculators say that declining prices in these neighborhoods are a reflection of buyer’s’ problems getting a jumbo mortgage to purchase these homes.