Buyers

East Bay Real Estate Update: 2010 Tax Incentive Window Is Closing!

Hopefully, all of you know that the first time and second time homebuyer tax credit that the Feds have in place ends next month, April 30th! If you are thinking of buying a home in 2010 that is $800,000 or below,  the time to act is NOW!  The tax credit for first time homebuyers is [...]

The Urban Land Institute’s 2010 “Housing In America: The Next Decade”

It is important for all of us to deal with reality in the midst of one of the biggest housing crisis in decades. You know I am looking for ways to make lemonade out of lemons in all aspects of my life.  So, I don’t know how I missed this very important report regarding the [...]

2010 East Bay Real Estate Update: Mortgage Interest Rates Rising In Q2, Q3, Q4!

The $64 Billion Dollar Question is, “When will the Federal Government stop purchasing Mortgage Backed Securities?”  You may ask why this is an important question.  Well,  the purchase of MBS by the Feds is the method in which they are guaranteeing mortgages so the lenders will continue to write them – assuring the lenders there [...]

2010 East Bay Real Estate Update: Smart Sellers Are On The Market NOW!

If you are a Buyer have you noticed that there are not many houses currently on the market in the East Bay?  Inventory is at one of it’s lowest levels in the last twelve months.  And, those houses that are on the market are not that spectacular.  What typically happens in the yearly real estate [...]

2010 East Bay Real Estate Update: Challenges Facing $1 Million+ Buyer/Sellers

As you have discovered over the years, Jim Walberg is one of the most positive people around.  So, this report is not about positive or negative, it is about reality.  There are still some significant hurdles for Buyers and Sellers to climb over in 2010 in the East Bay real estate markets.  The past two [...]

East Bay Real Estate: 2009 Fourth Quarter Can = BIG Results!

For the past 20+ years Jim Walberg has followed the advice of his mentor given him in 1989, “Why not have the fourth quarter be your BIGGEST real estate sales quarter each year?”  That advice was given without me understanding that it was contrary to the belief of most Realtors in our region.  If you [...]

September U.S. Home Sales UP 9.4%! An East Bay Real Estate False Indicator?

Jim Walberg states that all real estate is local, remember? The Bay Area home sales for September were up 8.4%.  It doesn’t matter what the National averages are, it only matters what the stats are in our local market.  And within our local markets are niche markets.  Do you really care about what the statistics [...]

Housing Stimulus Solutions: Some Radical Approaches To Consider!

Bob Waun and I met several years ago at the annual Ragatz Conference in San Francisco – the annual “state of the union” on the world of fractional deeded ownership projects around the world.  Since then, Bob’s company, Vacation Finance, has been our go-to source for financing for the second home markets.  He published a [...]

Jim Walberg Alert: First Time Home Buyer Credit ENDS November 30, 2009!

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 expanded the first time homebuyer credit by increasing the credit amount from $7,500 to $8,000 if the home purchase is completed by November 30, 2009. For home purchased in 2009, the credit does not have to be paid back unless the home ceases to be the main [...]

East Bay Real Estate: Fall 2009 Is The Best Time To Buy Or Sell A Home!

How many of you believe that the best time in 2009 to buy and sell real estate was the Summer?  Well, you picked the wrong season.  During my 35+ years in real estate in the East Bay,  the best time to buy and sell real estate is the Fall and the Spring!  Out of all [...]

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