Jeffrey Tung's Real Estate Blog

Everybody has gone shopping for one thing or another so this should apply to mortgage loans too.  By taking the time to shop around for the best rates available, you could be saving thousands of dollars during the life time of the loan.  So it pays to be aware of the cost associated in obtaining a loan.  Not to mention, you will be more confident about affording and purchasing that home that says “buy me”. 

After all, purchasing a property could be the most expensive thing you buy in your life time.  Why not take the plunge now?  With the lowest interest rates ever available and lots of homes to choose from, plus slow economic recovery of the market, this is the best time to do so.

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Have you been thinking about when it may be the best time to purchase a property? Well, here’s 5 reasons why you might want to make that big step now. Don’t forget, real estate has cycles. We are now in a buyer’s cycle and it’s the best time to take advantage of the market place. Remember, not too long ago, the last seller’s market? Do you remember when prices went through the roof and properties were selling like hot cakes? Does multiple offers to buy a home and  bidding over the asking price sound familiar? Well, it’s better now. If you can get into a property today, you’ll be able to ride the wave of the next seller’s market.

So how are you going to get the money to take advantage of the opportunity? Unless you have lots of cash to make that purchase, you should see your banker or loan agent to see how much you can borrow. If you need to scrape up some money for a down payment, here’s 7 ways that may help. Good Luck!

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According to Realty Trac, “A total of 340,740 California properties received a foreclosure filing in the first half of 2010, the nation’s highest total but down 15 percent from the previous six months and down nearly 13 percent from the first six months of 2009.”

It is encouraging to know that the foreclosures are on a decline, however is the real estate market going to survive the next wave of REOs? I think it will as long as the interest rates stay at today’s levels, unemployment declines, and the demand for housing remains strong.

The San Francisco market is a great example. Although the hardest hit areas in San Francisco, are in the lower and medium priced homes, the home sales have increased and spurred on the sales of the more expensive areas of the city. It is expected to continue for the rest of the 2010.

Since we have been in this recession for a while now, what’s your feeling about the results from all of the government bail outs? Some areas have seen some improvement but some have not. There have been some many different programs that have been implemented to help everybody, but is it really working or are we digging a big whole, deficit, for our future generations to pay?

Last month San Francisco’s sales price for median priced homes have increased by 11.6% from the same month the previous year. During the month, 188 single family homes were sold and 284 homes were pending. This is an increase of 27% in sales from April 2009 and 33% increase in pending properties during the same period. This is a good sign that we might be on the right track to recovery. Property values are better but they still have a long way to what they were a few years ago. This is still a good time to buy something. Prices are still very attractive, however some prices in some areas are so attractive that it is generating multiple offer situations.

Check out this beautiful updated home in San Francisco’s Parkside District 

Looking for a home that offers old world charm and all of the modern conveniences? Well look no farther. This Parkside home has newer plumbing, electrical systems, roof, double pane windows, skylights, custom smooth Venetian plaster insulated walls, crown molding, hardwood floors w/mahogany borders & accent pieces, recess lighting through out, updated kitchen, granite counter tops, master bedroom suite w/master bath, walk in closet, low maintenance old world charm back yard, 3+ car gar. & more

President Obama has announced that he has a program design to help homeowners that have been unemployed and other struggling borrowers. This is a program that can help stabilize home prices. The White House is also considering a program that would suspend mortgage payments for a unemployed homeowners for 3 months and give them 3 opportunities to extend the payment difference for up to 1 year.

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Do you think that the governmental programs from the president are helping the economy to get better? Well, it seems like it has based on a study by Realty Trac. February’s forclosures have declined by 2% from the previous month but still 6% above the level reported in February 2009. This means one in every 418 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing in February.

I think we are heading in the right direction but I think it is still too soon to say that we are out of the woods.

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Here’s a fresh idea to help the less fortunate people living on the streets.  There’s a non profit organization, Home Free, which has an initiative to eradicate homelessness in urban areas by providing free wireless internet, social networking and resource allotment. Their goal is to provide a resource for the homeless which will allow them to get off the streets.

Where did the year go!!!! The holidays are just around the corner and it’s time to look back and think about next year. This year has been better then last year in terms of the market. Property values have gone down so low that it has spurred a lot of buyers to purchase instead of renting. Some areas have decreased in price to what it use to be 10 years ago. The market seems to be stabilizing and the government is trying a bunch of stuff to help.