Santa Cruz Mortgage 
There are currently 40 blog entries related to this category.
When Santa Cruz Homes for Sale Don’t Fit the “In” Crowd
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 1:01am. 6 Views, 0 Comments.
It’s time for some tough love, here. Your home doesn’t fit in with other Santa Cruz homes for sale. It doesn’t play well with others. When you put it on the market, you priced it more than 8% higher than the other Santa Cruz homes for sale. Frankly, it’s a market bully.
Look, I understand that you want to make the most out of your investment. Maybe you’ve done some serious remodeling that you feel warrants the price hike. I’m not putting any of that down, but I’d be doing you a disservice if I let you ignore the facts.
• There is no longer a federal tax credit to entice buyers and get them interested.
• Your house is competing with several foreclosures – many of which are priced as low as the lender can handle.
• The longer your house sits on the market,…
Rising Trend Points a Way to Keep Your Santa Cruz Home
Thursday, August 26th, 2010 at 1:01am. 7 Views, 0 Comments.
According to RealtyTrac, 1 in 70 homes have received foreclosures notices since January, 2010 – a total of 1.7 million houses in the U.S. Was your Santa Cruz home one of them? In previous blogs, we’ve covered several ways to avoid foreclosure, but a rising trend has brought another possibility to the forefront.
According to a recent Pew Research Center study, many individuals are surviving the economic blues by expanding their households. By the end of 2008, more than 16%, or 49 million, of Americans lived in a household with more than one generation. Although the statistics aren’t back yet for 2009 -2010, experts expect the numbers to be even higher.
These Americans aren’t all young college graduates moving back in with mom and dad, either. Parents have…
Owe More than Your Santa Cruz Home is Worth?
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 1:01am. 9 Views, 0 Comments.
If you’re a homeowner who is unable to refinance to a lower interest rate because your Santa Cruz home’s value has decreased, there’s hope.
A program called the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) has been extended for another year. This program, intended to help borrowers whose homes have fallen in value, was due to expire as of June, 2010. Fortunately, HARP has been extended and will now stay in effect through June 30, 2011.
How does HARP help?
The program allows qualified borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth to refinance at lower interest rates. It’s projected to help 4 to 5 million homeowners with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
If you’re a Santa Cruz home owner whose mortgage interest rate is significantly…
How Buying Santa Cruz Real Estate is Like Running a Marathon
Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 1:01am. 12 Views, 0 Comments.
It's true. There are a lot of parallels between buying a piece of Santa Cruz real estate and running a marathon.
The Starting Line
At first, there is excitement. The idea of buying a new home pulses in your veins and you can't wait to get started. You're like a runner in the blocks just itching to begin. Your muscles twitch in anticipation with every piece of Santa Cruz real estate you see. That's when the real adrenaline rush kicks in.
Start Out Slowly
Keep to a steady, consistent pace and you’ll make it to the finish line. There's so much to do before you can get your Santa Cruz real estate. Home appraisals, inspections and financing to apply for…
You start to think about all the 'what ifs,' like what if you don't get the financing, what if something…
Santa Cruz Home Warranty FAQ
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 at 1:01am. 15 Views, 0 Comments.
In today’s real estate market, it’s helpful when homeowners add incentives to sell their Santa Cruz homes. Incentives may include paying a portion of the buyer’s closing costs, reducing the sale price or offering a home warranty.
Many sellers and buyers are unaware of the advantages of home warranties, so below are answers to some frequently asked questions about home warranties:
• What is a home warranty? A home warranty is a policy that covers the repair or replacement of home systems and appliances. They are typically annual policies that can be renewed and usually cost between $250 and $500.
• Who pays for a home warranty? Either the seller or the buyer can pay for the home warranty, but sellers usually cover the cost as an incentive for selling their…
Closing Deadline Extended for your Santa Cruz Real Estate
Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 1:01am. 15 Views, 0 Comments.
If you’re in the middle of buying Santa Cruz real estate, for which you’re hoping to get a Homebuyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000, you have more time to finalize it.
After a close brush with the deadline, Congress passed a 90-day extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit closing deadline. The extension applies only to buyers who have written, binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010. The new closing deadline is now September 30, 2010.
Extending the tax credit closing deadline will provide additional stability to Santa Cruz real estate and real estate markets nationwide. Additionally, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) estimates that this new extension will help about 180,000 to 200,000 homebuyers who already signed purchase agreements and…
Santa Cruz Homes for Sale: A Case of Cold Feet
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 1:01am. 16 Views, 0 Comments.
While those who own Santa Cruz homes for sale are worried about the real estate market, some buyers are getting good deals. However, there are plenty of people on both sides of the market with a case of cold feet.
For instance, some with Santa Cruz homes for sale took them off the market. Others, who’ve thought of selling, haven’t.
The same can be said for buyers. Many potential homebuyers change their minds or still worry over that age-old question of, “Should I or shouldn’t I?”
Two Cases of Cold Feet
A 26-year old with a steady job, good paycheck and good credit, sums it up for many potential buyers. “My job’s steady and my credit is good. I keep watching the houses that go up for sale, thinking I could go ahead and buy, but then the ‘what if’s’ pop into…
3 Things You Need to Know About the Mortgage Payment for Your Santa Cruz Home
Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 at 2:01pm. 10 Views, 0 Comments.
When you look for a mortgage, you want to find one that allows you to buy the biggest house possible for a monthly payment you can afford. This seems simple enough. All you need to do is a little division to determine your monthly payment.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the entire picture of your monthly mortgage payment, and lenders don’t always explain this to you. Here are three things you need to know about your monthly mortgage payment for your new Santa Cruz home:
1. Interest and Principal. Only part of your monthly mortgage payment actually pays down your loan. A portion of your mortgage payment goes toward your loan principal and part of it pays the interest. The longer you have your loan, the more money goes toward your principal. Be aware that at the…
How to Buy Santa Cruz Real Estate after a Previous Bankruptcy
Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 1:01am. 18 Views, 0 Comments.
A past filing of bankruptcy does not mean you can’t buy Santa Cruz real estate. Your real estate agent may be able to help you get a mortgage or find other ways to buy a home, if you do get turned down for a traditional mortgage.
Before you meet with your Santa Cruz real estate agent, here are a few ways to prepare:
- Have a copy of your current bank statement
- Have written proof of your monthly income
- Make a list of all your current monthly bills
- Collect all your recent credit card statements
- Have a copy of your bankruptcy agreement
Put all this info in a file folder and take it to your meeting. Your Santa Cruz real estate agent will appreciate you doing your homework!
If you have straightened out your credit since the bankruptcy, you are in a much better…
Buying a Home with a Santa Cruz Real Estate Agent
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 at 1:01am. 21 Views, 0 Comments.
If you have never purchased a home before, you may not yet recognize how crucial it is to acquire the services of a professional Santa Cruz real estate agent.
Buying a home will probably be the most expensive purchase you ever make. Therefore, you undoubtedly should consider enlisting the help of a REALTOR® who has experience, extensive knowledge of the area and integrity.
Benefits of using a professional Santa Cruz real estate agent
Having your own buyer’s agent to walk you through the entire home buying process saves you a lot of time and stress, as well as money.
You decide:
• Size of home desired
• Style preferred
• Location
• Price range
That’s easy! With this basic information, your agent begins the hard part: searching for the…
