Cheryl Bower's Real Estate Blog

Moving to the S.F. Bay Area with a dog or cat? Tips on how to make your rental app stand out for a pet-friendly rental

By Cheryl Bower | March 26, 2011

Moving to the S.F. Bay Area with a dog or cat?  Tips on how to make your rental app stand out for a pet-friendly rental   Planning a move to San Francisco or surrounding regions & you have a dog?  Here are a few tips to help your rental application stand out from your competition.…

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Arts & Crafts inspired Redwood Shores condo for sale, San Mateo County, CA

By Cheryl Bower | March 21, 2011

Arts & Crafts inspired Redwood Shores condo for sale, San Mateo County, CA   Welcome to the Redwood Shores lifestyle. Bay trails, nature & water abound; there is easy 101 access to S.F., SFO, Caltrain & SiliconValley. For outdoor activities, there are world class kite boarding & windsurfing spots, paddle boarding, sailing & biking/walking trails…

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Ways to help Japan; Reputable agencies to make donations

By Cheryl Bower | March 20, 2011

  In addition to the Red Cross, the following are recommended reputable agencies involved in helping Japan.  Thank you Zephyr Real Estate for compiling this list & for donating $1000. I will be donating at least $150 from my next 5 escrows to these agencies. Please be aware of the scam artists who are out…

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The changing demographics of S.F. neighborhoods per new census data

By Cheryl Bower | March 20, 2011

    There are demographic changes that have been in motion for several years that you’ve likely been aware of if you’ve lived in S.F. for any period of time.  For those who are curious about neighborhood demographics this is an interesting read.  I wasn’t aware that Golden Gate Park had such a large homeless…

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Buying a Short Sale — The Need for Speed

By Cheryl Bower | March 17, 2011

Short sales offer not just a lifeline to homeowners in over their heads, but an opportunity for homebuyers seeking an amazing deal. Better yet, thanks to new regulations, the once lengthy process has recently become considerably more streamlined.

In a short sale, a homeowner that cannot afford to pay the mortgage and the lender that loaned […]

Related posts:

  1. Simple Real Estate Definitions : Short Sale
  2. What You Should Know About Making an Offer on a Short Sale
  3. How “Repair Credits” To The Buyer Can Sabotage Your Home Sale
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San Francisco: Portola district home market sales activity

By Cheryl Bower | March 7, 2011

San Francisco: Portola district home market sales activity     The full report for Portola district single family home sales 2010/2011 comparison can be downloaded at the link below. A few highlights include that inventory has come down quite a bit from 2010 to 3.8 months of inventory.  A balanced market is considered 6 months…

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FHA : Monthly Mortgage Insurance Premiums To Rise April 18, 2011

By Cheryl Bower | March 5, 2011

Effective for all FHA case numbers assigned on, or after, April 18, 2011, annual mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) will increase 25 basis points.

Related posts:

  1. FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Approved To Triple In Cost
  2. Higher (And Lower) FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Start October 4, 2010
  3. Separating FHA Fact From Fiction : Mortgage Insurance Premiums
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Cost of Living Reaches An All-Time High, Pressures Mortgage Rates Higher

By Cheryl Bower | February 24, 2011

Inflation fears are harming home buyers. The Cost of Living has reached a record level, surpassing the former peak set in July 2008. Mortgage rates would be rising more right now if not for the Middle East unrest.

Related posts:

  1. Mortgage Rates Buck Conventional Wisdom And Rise Despite The Plunging Cost Of Living Index
  2. The Cost Of Living Includes The Cost Of Gas And Food (And May Get More Expensive Through The Winter)
  3. Mortgage Rates Spike On Highest Cost Of Living Index Since 1991
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Heath Ceramics: Creative re-use! Wine bottles transformed to drinking glasses

By Cheryl Bower | February 23, 2011

It was a productive shopping trip to Heath Ceramics in Sausalito this week (BTW, they now have a small store at the Ferry Building in S.F.). Not only did I piece together a beautiful set of dishes (seconds at that, which had the slightest flaws!), but I came across these beautiful glasses which were formerly…

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Practical Advice : How To Help Your S.F. Bay Area Home Sell Faster

By Cheryl Bower | February 12, 2011

Home sellers that want to sell quickly should take a listen to this 3-minute interview from NBC’s The Today Show. It’s loaded with practical advice.

Related posts:

  1. Making Your Home Sell Faster With Psychology
  2. How To Sell Your Home For 17% More, 40% Faster This Spring
  3. Builders May Be Figuring Out The Market Faster Than Home Sellers
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