Sunset District. S.F. real estate market trends: Inventory is low, buyer demand is high, median price is up

By Cheryl Bower | May 31, 2012

Sunset District, S.F. real estate market trends: Inventory is low, buyer demand is high, median price is up       Full report:Sunset district real estate market trends_May_31_2012_09_31       Posted by: Cheryl Bower, Realtor CRS, GRI, ABR, ePro Cell/Text: 415.999.3450 cheryl@cbower.com DRE #: 01505551 Zephyr Real Estate San Francisco San Mateo Bay Area listing…

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Using a Reverse Mortgage to BUY a home

By Cheryl Bower | September 21, 2011

  The following has been provided by Judy Schwartz, an expert on reverse mortgages:  http://www.reversemortgagesonly.com   Thank you Judy for the great information.   If you’d like to explore if a reverse mortgage is right for you or your parent/s please get in touch with me &/or Judy.     Using a Reverse Mortgage to BUY…

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Is An FHA Mortgage Better Than A Conforming One?

By Cheryl Bower | July 26, 2011

The FHA is insuring a greater percentage of loans than during any time in recent history. In 2006, it insured roughly 5 percent of the purchase mortgage market. Today, it insures one-quarter. “Going FHA” is more common than ever before — but is it better?

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  1. 2011 Conforming Loan Limits : No Change From 2010
  2. Why Now’s A Good Time To Consider An Adjustable Rate Mortgage
  3. Mortgage Rates Are Going Up — But Not For The Reason You’d Expect
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The Difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification

By Cheryl Bower | 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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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 […]

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  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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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.

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  1. Mortgage Rates Buck Conventional Wisdom And Rise Despite The Plunging Cost Of Living Index
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FHA Loans: Opening Your Doorway to Homeownership in the S.F. Bay Area

By Cheryl Bower | January 27, 2011

During the Great Depression, the federal government sought to create a stable platform for economic growth, and that platform was homeownership. Through bolstering the rate of homeownership, the feds felt citizens would be in a better position to give back to the economy.
With that in mind, in 1934, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) was established. […]

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  1. FHA Home Loans Emerge As A Cheap Alternative For Low-Credit Score Homeowners
  2. An Appetite For Jumbo Loans Returns
  3. How The Recasting of Interest Only Loans Helps With Financial Planning
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When comparing your insurance premiums, use your discounts!

By Cheryl Bower | January 11, 2011

When comparing your insurance premiums you need to make sure you are looking at the whole picture rather than looking at one mono-policy compared to another. Often the various discounts available through a multiline carrier will make your overall insurance cost less than if you just compared one mono-line policy to another.

For example, […]

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