San Ramon Valley

East Bay Real Estate: Foreclosures Result In $50 Billion NOT Paid To Mortgage Payments!

There is a side benefit to our economy with millions of foreclosures across our country the past four years, and probably four more years to come before the banks work through their “shadow inventory”.  It is estimated that so far $50 Billion have NOT been paid to mortgage payments and billions more that will not be paid to mortgages in the next four years.  Where that money has been allocated is the “story”;  savings;  retirement contributions; credit card payoffs;  college education funds;  and, other investments back into families and communities.

The reason families and people are making the decision to NOT pay their mortgage is obvious.  Their home’s value is underwater with no near future hope for its value to reach what is owned on it for years to come.  So, people stop making their mortgage payments knowing that they will be able to live in their home up to two years or more because lenders have so much inventory already that they are not going to foreclose until some of it is sold. Read more

San Ramon Valley

East Bay Real Estate Continues To Defy The Media

The first two months of 2008 have seen a dramatic change in real estate sales for the San Ramon Valley and the Lamorinda corridor!

No matter what the media is saying about the demise of real estate values and sales it continues to always be a local experience! (Review my past posting on this topic.) Remember…”if it bleeds it reads!” The media is out of business if there are not dramatic headlines that sells advertising. The reality is that the San Ramon Valley and the Lamorinda areas of the East Bay have had dramatic increases in opened escrows in the first two months of 2008!

It is still a Buyers market with a large inventory of listings. However, there has been a sharp turnaround this year with Buyers taking advantage of the very attractive interest rates and a Federal government that cannot let the national real estate markets faulter because of needing their economic horsepower to continue the growth of the economy. The two geographic pockets in the East Bay that are mentioned above have been the stars in real estate sales this year. Prices are still not rising but as the listing inventory is decreased you will see a continued stabilization of the prices to the point of them beginning to rise in the second quarter. (Jim’s prediction.)

The eastern and western fringes of the East Bay continue to be a challenge with large numbers of short sales and foreclosures still the norm of the market. It is a great time for investors to snap up properties at bargain basement prices. But, don’t expect that same experience in the San Ramon Valley or Lamorinda. Mind you, there are still some bargains in these two areas, but that is not typical. The bargains are homes that were over leveraged with crazy mortgage schemes that are not backfiring on the consumers.

We do our homework everyday regarding statistics and what the facts are regarding our real estate market areas. So, if you are wanting a look at reality instead of the media, give me a buzz and lets talk. Until next time…your East Bay lifestyle dective remains on duty.