December 10, 2008 – 8:07 PM | No Comment

ShareThere are what will seem like over 1,000 details between “I think it’s time to move” and “We’re finally unpacked!”
I’ll help you with more of them than any other Realtor.

What are you getting when …

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What a great eco-friendly, affordable idea! ZippGo: Green, Plastic moving boxes
June 9, 2010 – 10:31 AM | One Comment
What a great eco-friendly, affordable idea!  ZippGo: Green, Plastic moving boxes

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What a great eco-friendly, affordable idea!  ZippGo: Green, Plastic moving boxes

In my internet meandering this morning I came across this great eco-friendly, affordable moving resource:  ZippGo
Here’s their scoop:

Moving is complicated and wasteful – we …

The Right Way To Take A Cash Gift For Downpayment
May 27, 2010 – 8:55 AM | No Comment
The Right Way To Take A Cash Gift For Downpayment

As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines, minimum downpayment requirements are increasing. It’s leading to an increase in the number of buyers accepting cash gifts from family. There’s a right and wrong way to accept a gift.

Related posts:

  1. How To Receive A Cash Gift For Downpayment
  2. The Proper Way To Give And Receive Gifts For Downpayments
  3. FHA Bans Seller-Financed Downpayment Assistance Programs

Your Mortgage Approval Isn’t Final Until It’s Funded
May 17, 2010 – 11:55 AM | No Comment
Your Mortgage Approval Isn’t Final Until It’s Funded

A mortgage approval is never final until it’s funded. A host of things can “go wrong” while your home loan is underway. Some are in your control, many more are not. And just being aware of some potential pitfalls could help save your loan down the road, and your peace of mind today.

Related posts:

  1. Did You Know : The Lifespan Of A Mortgage Approval
  2. It’s Time To Re-Approve Your Pre-Approval
  3. 6 Things To Avoid While Waiting For A Mortgage Approval

What should I expect from my insurance agent/agency when I buy a new home?
May 14, 2010 – 2:00 PM | One Comment
What should I expect from my insurance agent/agency when I buy a new home?

Insurance is a part of your home closing process. So, outside of being sure that you have an agent that cares about your purchase and protection, offers a reasonable rate and appropriate coverage, you want to make sure that there will be no hiccups in your closing process!
Some insurance companies have specific issues with [...]

Related posts:

  1. What Should I Expect from My Lender and My Real Estate Agent’s Relationship?
  2. What are my options with Home Owners Insurance and how do I figure out what I need?
  3. The Difference between Homeowners and Landlord Insurance

What Should I Expect from My Lender and My Real Estate Agent’s Relationship?
March 10, 2010 – 2:00 PM | No Comment
What Should I Expect from My Lender and My Real Estate Agent’s Relationship?

The relationship between your lender and agent is extremely important when purchasing a home. The new market environment has many more regulations, hoops and sharp turns and everything relating to your home purchase should be correct and accurate up front.
The lender doesn’t want any surprises, like a seller credit the day before the lender [...]

Related posts:

  1. Simple Real Estate Definitions : Refinance
  2. Simple Real Estate Definitions : Short Sale
  3. Why Should I Have A Buyer’s Agent?

IRS Issues New Guidelines on Obtaining Home Buyer Tax Credits
March 3, 2010 – 10:05 AM | No Comment
IRS Issues New Guidelines on Obtaining Home Buyer Tax Credits

Share As provided by S.F. Association of Realtors:
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued new guidelines and clarified documentation that taxpayers must submit to successfully obtain the federal tax credit for home buyers.
The federal tax …

Thinking about window replacement for your home? Which product is best? Vinyl vs. aluminum clad/wood vs. all wood
February 21, 2010 – 12:57 PM | 2 Comments
Thinking about window replacement for your home?  Which product is best? Vinyl vs. aluminum clad/wood vs. all wood

ShareThis post is long over due & is inspired by a first time buyer couple that I’m working with.  We’ve been looking at a handful of pre-40′s homes with various interpretations of owners updating, renovating …

Mortgage Approvals Are Getting More And More Scarce
February 15, 2010 – 8:00 AM | No Comment
Mortgage Approvals Are Getting More And More Scarce

The economy’s improving but lending standards are not. Nationally, banks are making mortgage approvals harder to come by. Underwriting guidelines are tightening.

Related posts:

  1. Separating FHA Fact From Fiction : Mortgage Insurance Premiums
  2. What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : February 8, 2010

S.F., CA new condo development Infinity Towers have been selling like hotcakes!
February 9, 2010 – 6:24 PM | No Comment
S.F., CA new condo development Infinity Towers have been selling like hotcakes!

ShareIf you are looking for that special place which offers ultimate, luxurious S.F. urban living & amazing S.F. Bay views, look no further than the Infinity Towers in S.F.

You will have to hurry since there …

Federal Housing Administration to raise fees & lending criteria this Spring
January 21, 2010 – 10:45 AM | No Comment
Federal Housing Administration to raise fees & lending criteria this Spring

ShareLooks like change is underway for FHA loans as the Federal Housing Administration prepares to raise fees this Spring.  It doesn’t look like an exact date is in place at this time.
Currently, the upfront mortgage …

For Buyers: A few key questions to ask Realtors you are interviewing
January 15, 2010 – 11:08 AM | No Comment
For Buyers: A few key questions to ask Realtors you are interviewing

ShareDon’t you owe it to yourself to take the time to interview 2-3 agents to find your best fit; someone who is going to listen, have relevant and current experience and be your advocate throughout …

Credit score primer: What buyers need to know to get a loan
December 12, 2009 – 12:27 PM | One Comment
Credit score primer: What buyers need to know to get a loan

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Details are below on credit score basics.  Credit scores continue to be a critical detail in determining what type of loan & interest rate one qualifies for.  Lender criteria can vary.
As of 3/09 FHA lenders require …

Home buyer’s tax credit extended to April 2010!!
November 9, 2009 – 1:12 PM | No Comment
Home buyer’s tax credit extended to April 2010!!

ShareI know many of my buyers will be happy with this news, official as of Friday.  Income limits were also increased for individual and joint buyers along with the extension running to April 2010.
For those …

Current Conforming Loan Limits Extended Through 2010!!
November 4, 2009 – 7:07 AM | No Comment

ShareYeah!!!  Good news for our very pricey market place.  It’s incredibly challenging to find a single family home in San Francisco in the low-600′s (there are more choices if we’re talking condos); this $729+ number …

What tax breaks are officially ending this year?
October 22, 2009 – 10:57 AM | No Comment

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Here’s the latest e-newsletter from my fantastic accountant.  I highly recommend Pat Polo who I’ve been working with for the last 10+ years.  Not the least expensive but you don’t want to …

What’s Going on in the 1031 Exchange Industry?
June 2, 2009 – 9:03 AM | No Comment

ShareThe latest from Asset Exchange Company’s June Newsletter:
Clients have recently asked us what we are seeing in the market?  Is it still slow?  Have things been improving?  What  investors are exchanging? Some of our recent …

Owner Move in Eviction: Potential costs
May 8, 2009 – 9:11 AM | No Comment

ShareThere are several excellent lawyers who specialize in landlord tenant law including Robert Peterson (415-586-7460).
So, how much could an OMI run? Robert’s best/worst case scenario pertaining to expenses with OMI are as follows (per a …

The Owner Move-in Eviction
May 6, 2009 – 9:04 AM | No Comment

ShareSan Francisco definitely has market conditions unlike most markets in the Bay Area.  With rent control & tenant rights alone, there are a host of nuances that one (I!) must be aware of when helping …

Are we there yet? We won’t know we’ve reached the bottom of the market until it’s already on the upswing…..
April 27, 2009 – 3:49 PM | No Comment
Are we there yet?  We won’t know we’ve reached the bottom of the market until it’s already on the upswing…..

ShareI get the frequent question from buyers that I meet, particularly those that I meet at open houses,on where our market is at; has it reached the bottom?  My response is that no one knows …

Basic steps with the offer process
April 27, 2009 – 3:36 PM | No Comment

ShareHi V,
This is a brief overview of details with the offer process.
We’ll review the recent sales for the area to determine a reasonable offering price.
I’ll request from your mortgage broker/loan officer a pre-approval letter specific …

Guidelines for FHA Spot Approval for condos
April 20, 2009 – 2:58 PM | No Comment

ShareFHA loans have been providing a great finance opportunity for buyers to get into our very expensive market especially since the down payment requirements can be as low as 3.5%, interest rates have been in …

FHA FINANCING QUICK‐TIPS
April 19, 2009 – 3:01 PM | No Comment

ShareThe following have been provided by Sue Florence.  She’s been working incredibly hard for my clients getting into an REO condo on the Peninsula!
My clients are actually going to be paying slightly less for their …