Thursday, July 29, 2010

From the category archives:

Sellers' Tips

Loan Modifications: Facts and Fiction

If you are considering a loan modification, please take the time to research how they are properly done.  There are many scams out there.  In fact, the first stop for any home owner considering a loan modification should be the California Department of Real Estate web site where there is a list of loan modification [...]

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Defining “AS-IS” when Buying or Selling a Home

The “AS-IS” title has a different meanings to different people.  When I speak with buyers and sellers about selling or purchasing a home, they rarely have the same definition of what “AS-IS” means.  If you speak with a seller they might believe that by having their real estate agent advertise the home “AS-IS” on the [...]

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Choosing a Real Estate Agent. What Should You Expect?

I am not necessarily a fan of the National Association of REALTORS®.  I don’t agree with many of their political maneuvers.   I only have one reason for being a member.  I commit to the ethical standards the organization created.  I believe making a promise to uphold high integrity, market knowledge, and consumer protection will make [...]

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Want to Know More About Asbestos and Your Home?

Asbestos is a material that many of us have heard about in the news.  The inhalation of asbestos fibers has been linked to a cancer called mesothelioma.  To know whether or not your home contains asbestos, it is first important to recognize where asbestos can be found  in the home. The two most common places [...]

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Alum Rock San Jose – Housing Market at the Bottom?

In the last couple of weeks, I have heard more and more real estate agents and loan officers tell me that they believe we might be near the bottom of the housing market in San Jose.  Their biggest support for this theory is kind of interesting.  It goes like this: ” How much lower can [...]

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Deed of Trust, Note, Mortgage: What are all these papers I’m signing?

Buyer’s look forward to closing escrow (COE), because they have been told that after escrow closes they will receive the keys to their new home.  Signing documents regarding the purchase of a home can be a little overwhelming for some and for others a white and black blur.  For many clients simply signing their legal [...]

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House Values in San Jose Decline. Should Your Property Taxes?

In 1978, the ballot initiative “People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation” was put in place by the voters of California.  This initiative basically restricted the increase in property taxes per year to 1% of value.   The result was a 57% cut in property taxes for California. This initiative also placed a high bar for change [...]

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Foreclosured Homes, Inspections, and You!

Many real estate agents will recommend that a seller obtain inspections on their home prior to listing the home for sale.  “Why should I get an inspection? Once we know what needs to be repaired we will have to fix it.”  Well, that is one way to look at it. There are other things to [...]

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Put Something Green Under Your Feet!

Unless you’ve been living in the remotest regions of Iceland, you’re probably aware that being “green” has become a very big deal. And it should be. So let’s talk about green flooring. If you even briefly thought of grass at the mention of green flooring, I’d rather not be invited over for cocktails [...]

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How to let go, sell your home, and laugh while doing it.

There are a lot of reasons why I enjoy working with Karen Negrete at Transform Your Home. She is an amazing talent, an efficient professional, and most importantly she keeps me laughing while working in this sometimes challenging world called real estate. This week Karen has allowed me to post a recent article [...]

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New home owners here is how to fix…

I always like passing on great web sites that provide real time help. Gary Dullect at The Home Inspectors is a local home inspector in San Jose and offers some great online help for home owners. With quick, get-it-done videos Gary goes through a variety of topics like fixing a faucet where [...]

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Good advice on how to buy a home or counseling on foreclosure

The Neighborhood Housing Services of Silicon Valley is offering a series of classes for both first time buyers and home owners who are having trouble with their mortgage and want to avoid foreclosure.  This week they have a class on Tuesday, February 6th, 2008 on foreclosure prevention.  You can call to register at 408-279-2600 ext. [...]

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