RealEstate680

If you’re real estate agent is steering you away from short sales because they do not understand the process.  Have your agent call me.  Here is the list of homes for sale in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.

Homeowners with Wachovia mortgages, please go to www.HomeHelp680.com for a schedule of webinars that will explain the short sale process and Wachovia’s “streamline” approach to the Short Sale process.

Wachovia is making it easier in these tough times.  It seems to be a win win for everyone.

Susan Chong, my California Modern Realtor Associate is having a home tour in San Mateo, California April 24and 25.  People will have the opportunity to see several California Modern, Eichler homes and meet contractors familiar with the design and construction.

http://www.eichlerhometour.com/

Make sure you sign up for this event, as last year was a sell out.  The Home Tour benefits Highland Elementary School.

Nor CA Closing Costs

Wachovia Bank has set up a streamline process for their short sales.  They are taking the lead in creating this process for homwowners with World Savings loans on their homes in order to stop the amount of foreclosures.

As a Certified Wachovia short sale real estate agent, I can market your home in the same manner a non-short sale homes are sold.  Photos, virtual tour, direct mail and the trimmings.  This gives us the ability to reach more buyers.

Other Realtors and finding out that Wachovia is easier to do business with, so they show these homes, where many Realtors shy away from short sale listings in Contra Costa County,  If you need help with your World Savings mortgage, please let me know. We will also have a series of Webinars later this month, March to explain the process.  Drop me a line to discuss your individual situation in complete confidence.

My friend and colleague, Pat O’Neil of Coldwell Banker Loring on the Guanacaste Peninsula of Costa Rica has several waterfront parcels and mountain lots that are priced very well.  Pat offers financing and can also show you have to do a self-directed IRA purchase.

Costa Rica has many Americans residents and vacationers, we run into people from the San Francisco Bay Area each time we visit.  Give Pat a call or email him for more information, he loves sharing is knowledge of a piece of paradise.

 

Rossmoor was once the Stanley Dollar Cattle Ranch.  As kids, we would play in Mr. Dollar’s hay barn, spending hours building forts out of the hay bails.  This aggravated Mr. Dollar to the point that they put all the Bulls in the hay barn pasture.  Only the bravest of us would make the run from the fence line to the barn.  In reality, it was probably only about 50 feet, but the idea of the bull chasing us made it a real adventure.
Today there are about 9,000 people living behind the security gates of Rossmoor.  Several different types of house are available.

CO-OPs:  These garden type apartments were the first  homes built in Walnut Creek Rossmoor.  The ownership is similar to many of the apartment house in New York City because you own a share of the entire building, like shares of stock, but have rights to your own apartment.
CONDOS:  There are many different types of Condos in Rossmoor, they range from garden style to multi story buildings
TOWNHOMES:  These have garages and are larger than the Condos and Co-ops of Rossmoor.
HOUSES:  This is the best kept secret of Walnut Creek Rossmoor.  A few dozern single family homes were build.  They  range in size and view, but offer a great lifestyle.
THE WATERFORD:  Apartments in The Waterford at Rossmoor offer full services, meals, etc.

In order to live in Walnut Creek Rossmoor you must be at least 55 years old. In other words, one of the owners has to my 55 years or older.  Rentals are maximum one year according to the HOA.
The average age in Walnut Creek Rossmoor is about 77 years old, however  well over 1,000 of the residents are under 65 years of age.  It continues to be a buyer’s real estate make in Rossmoor.  Many different type of homes are for sale.  Down sizing is one of the top reasons people move here.  The Rossmoor News is the local newspaper.

If you want a tour of Walnut Creek Rossmoor or would like to receive a package of printed material, just send me an email or give me a call.  It’s my pleasure.

 

California Teachers and Employees may be able to take advantage of loan programs that require as little as 3% down and only 1% of that from you; the other 2% can be a gift.  This rates and fees of this program are set by CalSTERS.

As a long time resident of Contra Costa County, I have been aware that many of the people that work and teach in our schools have not been able to afford to live here.  Times have changed.  With the housing market slump and low interest rate, the homes on the 680 corridor in Concord, Martinez, Walnut Creek and other places have become perfect for our teachers.

I have a relationship with a mortgage banking group, Broadview Mortgage that conducts Webinars that describes the programs and what it takes to qualify.  If you’re renting, please take the time to learn more about these programs.

Call me at 925-262-4299 or email me Sam@Benson4Homesto discuss these programs that put teachers and school employees into homes. 

 
This graphic represents the amount of inventory that’s currently on the market in Northgate. other words, if no other homes were to come on the market, it would take 4.3 months to sell what’s current on the market.Real estate experts use (months of inventory) as a good measure of a market.  It tell us if it’s a buyers or seller market.  A very good argument can be made that’s it’s a stable market, where buyer and seller have something to gain.

The corner of Ygnacio Valley Road and San Carlos Drive continues to be a very busy intersection during morning and evening rush-hour.  We all know the streets do not match up is a symmetric manner, causing cars going across YVR to yield to cars turning that think they have the Right of way.  The City of Walnut Creek continues to do studies and I’m sure the Transportation Engineers will come up with a solution.  Maybe the lights have to be changed or arrows should be added to direct the traffic.

Near misses are frequent.  Bicycles, pedestrians and cars mixing make for an ugly combination.  Beware Eichler homeowners, caution at the corner!

Several of the California Housing Finance programs are on hold.  There are a few programs that are still available.  I know that Diablo Valley College, Walnut Creek School District and the Acalanes School District have several teachers and other qualified people under application.  Please call me or you mortgage lender to inquire about your status.

 There are still Cal HFA programs and standard FHA programs too.  Here’s the link to the Cal HFA website.

http://www.calhfa.ca.gov/suspension.htm