What’s Hot in Real Estate – The Rental Market

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 […]

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The Difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification

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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Indonesia, Haiti, New Zealand, now Japan… Are you ready for the Big One?

Interior kitchen

We have had several major Earthquakes around the world the past three years, and the USGS has predicted an 80% chance of a 6.0 or larger earthquake will hit northern California within the next 30 years, or for most of us, sometime in our lifetime. There is a 60% chance of that Earthquake happening in […]

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When comparing your insurance premiums, use your discounts!

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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10% down and not FHA!

Property type: Three-bedroom, two bath in Half Moon Bay
Appraised value: $585,000
Loan amount: $508,000
Loan type: 30yr fixed
Rate: 5%
Back story:
For a long time in this economy the only way to do a 10% down mortgage was through FHA. This loan makes the blog because it was the first loan we’ve done in a long while […]

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A Lender’s Perspective: How does the Homeowners Insurance Agent fit in during a Home Purchase?

In the case of a home purchase, the mortgage lender cannot do his job unless homeowners insurance is provided. And a good insurance agent is very important to make sure the client has the correct and adequate insurance coverage. How is the right coverage amount determined and how does the mortgage lender and […]

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Eight Quick Tips for Living Green

Today, living green isn’t just a lifestyle choice; it makes solid financial sense. As home energy costs increase, homeowners are seeking simple and smart ways to save energy and consequently save money, too. Trying to create a more environmentally sound household doesn’t have to start with taking out a massive loan in order to […]

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