Cheryl Bower's Real Estate Blog

Westwood Park, S.F. Bungalow- SOLD

By hjadmin | June 24, 2011

Westwood Park, S.F. Bungalow   Welcome to Westwood Park-a unique bungalow community in the heart of S.F.!  Charming, fully detached 1920’s bungalow with flowing floor plan, beautiful wood floors, spacious garage & private yard offering up a bright space to call home. Great walkability to Ocean Ave., Muni & City College.  Whole Foods market is under…

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Market Update: San Francisco Home Sales Continue Toward Recovery

By hjadmin | May 30, 2011

San Francisco Home Sales Continue Toward Recovery     Curious about how our San Francisco market is doing?    The latest city wide market update is below as provided by the S.F. Association of Realtors.  Twelve weeks of Zephyr Real Estate sales data is below as well.  Our clients are dealing with multiple offers with some…

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Market dynamics district 4, S.F. CA

By hjadmin | May 28, 2011

Market dynamics district 4, S.F. CA   Full pdf report to download; district 4 S.F. A balanced market is considered 6 months of inventory. Less then 6 months = seller’s market more than 6 months = buyer’s market As of April 2011 there was 1.6 months of inventory   Posted by: Cheryl Bower, Realtor CRS,…

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What’s Hot in Real Estate – The Rental Market

By hjadmin | May 26, 2011

Investors who purchase apartment houses see better deals now than in the last four years. In contrast to housing, where prices are low, inventory high, loans are difficult to get, and 40% of the market is foreclosures or short sales, the rental market (especially apartments) have rents growing, vacancies declining, and can produce cash […]

Related posts:

  1. Real Estate: What is it for? Part 3
  2. Real Estate: What is it for?
  3. Real Estate for Growth* Part 2
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Presidio Heights, San Francisco, CA-Neighborhood video

By hjadmin | May 12, 2011

Curious about Presidio Heights?  This San Francisco neighborhood borders the Presidio, Pacific Heights & Laurel Heights. Here’s a quick video snippet about this S.F. neighborhood which includes one of my favorite markets, Bryan’s Market where I’ve been shopping since grade school.  Great meats, seafood & prepared foods; pricey but well worth it. I recently had…

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Foreclosures And Short Sales Distorting “Home Price Trackers”

By hjadmin | May 7, 2011

The Federal Home Finance Agency data had home values down 1.6 percent nationwide in February, on average, marking the fourth straight month in which prices fell.

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  1. Home Price Index Rises 0.3% in March 2010
  2. The Home Price Index Shows Home Values Lower Broadly, But Not Specifically
  3. New Home Sales Fall To All-Time, Recorded Low. Maybe.
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The Difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification

By hjadmin | May 6, 2011

For many new homebuyers, the terms pre-qualification and pre-approval seem interchangeable. But they are not — and the distinction is an important one.

When you get pre-qualified, I perform a quick check to determine generally how large a home loan you can afford. Essentially, when a buyer is pre-qualified, the lender is saying it would most […]

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  1. It’s Time To Re-Approve Your Pre-Approval
  2. Why is pre-approval important? Do I have to go back to the same lender that originally approved me?
  3. 6 Things To Avoid While Waiting For A Mortgage Approval
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How To Screen For A Good Home Contractor

By hjadmin | May 4, 2011

In this 4-minute piece from NBC’s The Today Show, you learn tips for picking a good home contractor. The advice is mostly common sense, but definitely worth heeding.

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  1. FHA Streamline Refi Changes : No Income, No Job Required
  2. Appraisals are as much art as science
  3. The Most Common Defects That Prevent a Home from Passing a Home Inspection.
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Get Your Applications In : FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Rising 0.25 Percent April 18, 2011

By hjadmin | April 16, 2011

Beginning with FHA Case Numbers assigned April 18, 2011, mortgage insurance premiums will be higher by 25 basis points per year, or 0.25%.

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  1. FHA : Monthly Mortgage Insurance Premiums To Rise April 18, 2011
  2. FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Approved To Triple In Cost
  3. Higher (And Lower) FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Start October 4, 2010
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How Does Your Real Estate Tax Bill Compare To Other Parts Of The Country?

By hjadmin | April 7, 2011

Compiling data from the 2009 American Community Survey, the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan educational organization in Washington D.C., published property taxes paid by owner-occupied households, county-by-county.

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  1. Fight Your Real Estate Property Tax Bill Without A Lawyer
  2. How Does Your Work Commute Compare To Other Cities?
  3. Real Estate: What is it for?
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