Redwood City, CA homes: Now that the summer has come to an end, I wanted to check in with you to see if you have any real estate questions I can help you with. I also want to briefly share with you how I recently helped a client achieve their dream.

Geoff and Tina were looking to buy their first home and wanted to live in a very expensive area. After they were pre-approved with their personal lender it was discovered they had great credit, but not the income to purchase a home in the neighborhood they wanted to live in. After a consultation with me and my Team, we showed them how they could still buy a home in the neighborhood they wanted to live, however, it was going to take hard work and a period of time for them to accomplish such a feat. Together we all came up with a workable plan that would not hinder Geoff and Tina’s lives. Like being tied down to their home and not able to enjoy life. The plan was conservative enough to allow Geoff and Tina to be constantly working towards their goal: moving to the area they wanted to live in. After two years we sold the home they purchased and fixed up for a substantial profit. The profit was not enough for them to get into the area they wanted but they could afford another neighborhood close by to their goal neighborhood. They did the same thing as before and purchased a home they could afford and fixed it up for the current real estate market. Two years later they sold this home, and once again made a hefty profit. Now they had the down payment, great payment history, and know how and we found a “fixer-upper” in the area they initially wanted to buy their home. Sure it took a few years but they got what they wanted and did it the way one does with attaining a dream with real estate. You can too. I can help you too.

If I can ever help you achieve a goal with your home, no matter how difficult it may seem, please call me. (You may use any of the contact numbers/email addresses below) My business is built on serving my clients needs-not just during a sale but before and after. And for any real estate-related questions, such as the name of a good electrician or an update on the houses for sale in your neighborhood, it is my job to help you. In other words you can count on me.

And if you know of anyone that is interested in buying or selling a home, pass their name on to me. I will treat them just as I have treated you.

Have a good day.

Your friend,

Cliff

Redwood City, CA homes: Would you like to build a “Green” Home?

Maybe wind and solar power is in your future?

There is a piece of property in Redwood City that is on a double lot and currently has a 3 bedroom modular home upon it.

The property, if subdivided, will afford someone the opportunity to build a “green” home while still having a home to live in.

They are so many ways to accomplish this you just need to get you and your friend to brainstorm on the many different ways

Here is a VIRTUAL TOUR you can click on to see the modular home you can live in while building and then recycle

The home is located at 523 Ruby Street in Redwood City, CA 94062. It’s a redwood city ca home.

Email for details: Cliff@SFBayHomes.com

Redwood City, CA: 22 cities in danger of double dip.

“A new report from Moody’s Economy.com singled out 22 cities that are at risk of slipping back into a recession in as early as three months. To come to this conclusion, the economists considered dwindling progress in employment, housing starts, home prices and industrial production. The at-risk cities are spread across the country, ranging from Missoula Montana to Mobile Alabama, though more than half of the cities are in the South, and five are concentrated in the Midwest. “With chances of a national double-dip recession now estimated at about one in four, several metro areas will probably experience their own downturns in the first half of 2011,” said economist Andrew Gledhill, author of the report. Private sector hiring has been tapering off in recent months compared to the start of the year, triggering Moody’s to boost its forecast for a national double-dip from a 20% chance to 25% chance. In the 22 identified metro areas, Gledhill said private sector hiring is particularly sluggish, increasing the chances of a slowdown. Without a substantial pick-up in hiring, Gledhill said the number of cities in danger of a double-dip recession could grow, possibly reaching the triple-digits.

“There was a time when all 384 metro areas were in a recession. We probably won’t get to that point again, but given the growing risk of another national recession, we’re on the lookout for more metro areas that will be weakening substantially on several levels over the next six months to a year,” Gledhill said. He added that a handful of metro areas, particularly those that are industrial economies, are also suffering from a recent falloff in manufacturing.”

How does this apply to San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties? Probably we won’t have the same effect at the aforementioned 22 cities, as our economy is a lot stronger and robust along without being an industrial economy. You may see in certain area of the counties a slight decline in price, 5-9%, however, for the most part we will remain as a healthy but level market.

All the home buyers who are sitting on the fence because they are waiting for the double dip, forget it! Within San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties we just don’t follow the National trends. We are unAmerican that way. Now is the time to take full advantage of the current soft prices and low interest rates. Come next April you will be glad you bought that home when you see your 2010 tax returns.

Additionally, if you are have a loan on your home that is 5% or more call me, 650-479-6607, because there are loans available out there that can reduce your monthly payments using a 30-year, fixed rate loans. NOW is also the time to take advantage of those loans. I am doing it myself, right now and it looks like I will save monthly, on two properties, around $550/mo with no money out of my pocket. NOW is the time to get your financial house into perfect shape. Maybe you would prefer to email me at Cliff@SFBayHomes.com?

Redwood City, CA: If you have been in the market to purchase a home for over six months you need to act soon and not wait any longer. Especially is you are thinking of using FHA to fund your mortgage or 1st Deed of Trust.

Starting in October 2010 FHA will be charging a new “tax” to all borrowers! This “tax” will be between .35% and 1.5% or $50-$250 extra payment per month. That’s right, you now get to pay more to use FHA as your lender so they can help people who can’t afford loans. Take from one to give to another is a “tax” in my book.

The bottom line is, purchase your new home NOW and save. Otherwise, it will cost you extra in October 2010.

Stop paying rent. Lower your taxes. Take advantage of the current low interest rates and negotiable home prices.

You will be glad you did. Informative free report by clicking here on “How to find bargain deals quickly and easily”.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is considering three policy changes to boost its capital reserves. Under the changes, new borrowers seeking FHA-insured loans will need a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for FHA’s 3.5% downpayment program. New borrowers with credit scores between 500 and 580 will be required to provide a 10% downpayment, and borrowers with credit scores below 500 will no longer qualify. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published a notice today seeking public comment on the measures, which are designed to reduce financial risk and preserve affordable mortgage finance. HUD will accept public comment for the next 30 days on the proposed changes. “These are the latest in a series of changes to allow the FHA to manage its risk better while continuing to support the nation’s housing recovery,” said FHA commissioner David Stevens in a press release.

Foreclosures are down by over 2% for the month of June. This could be a good sign if it continues.

With these new developments now may be a great time to get off the fence and buy your new home.

Once the banks see stabilization in the housing market you are going to see upward movement on interest rates.

Last week interest rates went up .25%. That may not seem like a lot but over a 30 year period it is a lot!

If you want to know; how to find bargain properties at rock bottom prices click this link.

If you already own a home and want to know; 7 ways to increase your homes value for under $100.00 click this link.

If you are facing a foreclosure and want to know; the 5 fastest ways to stop foreclosure in 48 hours or less click this link.

Enjoy the weekend and the heat. What a wonderful summer day.

Has it been 6 months since you started looking for your new home?

Why have you not purchased your home yet? Are you a Lookie Lou?

Interest rates are at an all time low!
The selection of affordable homes to choose from is substancial!
This “buyer’s market” where sellers, give many concessions to buyers, is not going to stay around forever!

If you have been looking for six months, or longer, for your home and you haven’t purchased a home you should fire your real estate agent, fire your lender and fire yourself from the home buying process. You really don’t want to have the American Dream of homeownership. The perfect storm for home buying is right now.

Either stop kidding yourself that you want to buy a home or call me today and together let’s find that special home you have been seeking. You can call be right now by clicking the “Call Me” button on the left.

I am currently seeing a shift in the market towards a “seller’s market“. Interest rate have gone up .25% in the past week…that’s a lot however, still very much affordable! The government has started a program to infuse money into banks to help buyers buy their home. Sellers are starting to price their homes where multiple buyers want the same certain homes again. This points to something is a brewing out in the real estate world like multiple offers on the same home buy several buyers.

If you are looking in Redwood City I have a couple of new homes coming on the market within the next 30 days or so. Contact me and I may be able to get you into them before they hit the open market. Here is a link to a home in San Mateo under $650,000.

Stop being a Lookie Lou, you are wasting your time and efforts on something that will only bring you disappointment and despair.

I just made myself the best tuna salad I have ever had!

Directions: In a bowl add a can of your favorite tuna, I prefer tuna in water, to that add, 1 tbs country mustard, 1 tbs sweet pickle relish or chop up dill pickles if you prefer not so sweet a taste, a couple of splashes of Worcestershire sauce, sprinkle garlic powder over content, black pepper to taste, 1 tbs chopped onion, 1 tbs chopped celery, 1/2 tsp chopped fresh cilantro from the garden and mayonnaise. Mix all together with a fork and taste…ummmm. Take tuna and place over a bed of lettuce chopped up that you have picked from your garden. Prepare to enjoy a salad and eat.

Ingredients:
One can of tuna in water
1 tbs country style mustard
1 tbs of sweet or dill pickle relish (your preference)
2-3 splashes of Worcestershire sauce
Garlic powder
Black pepper
1 tbs chopped onion, (your preference)
1 tbs chopped celery
1/2 tbs of chopped fresh cilantro
Mayonnaise to combined
Fresh lettuce from the garden

House passes bill to extend tax credit deadline

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a stand-alone bill yesterday extending the closing deadline for the federal home buyer tax credit to Sept. 30, 2010. Backers of the House measure said the 90-day extension would permit tens of thousands of home buyers whose paperwork didn’t clear by June 30 to still receive the credit. Estimates from NAR show as many as 17,700 home buyers in California may not receive the tax credit if the deadline is not extended. The bill now must pass the Senate.

If you have not already enter into an escrow on your home before April 30, 2010 you still will not be allowed you to use this federal home buyer tax credit. I hope you were able to take advantage of this opportunity. This really helps home buyers who purchased a REO or Short Sale home purchase and the banks didn’t have approval to the home buyers by the April deadline date.

Is it me or is the Sun more brutal on your skin than in the past?

Is the ozone layer depleting faster?