Claremont Real Estate Market Watch - January 6-12, 2012

Claremont Real Estate Market Watch - January 6-12, 2012

Market Watch

New Listing (7)
Price Change (12)
Back On Market (5)
Backup Offer (2)
Expired (3)
Pending (4)
Sold (1)

 

Okay, so once again we are starting a new year.  Happy New Year once again to all of you.  Here is this week's Claremont Real Estate Market Watch - and we're off and running!

This week there are 7 new listings which is a good sign that people are getting more and more confident in the real estate market.  Only 1 sold and 4 went into escrow.  That's 1 homes that have new owners and 4 that will hopefully in a few weeks.  So home sales are happening in Claremont but it's not a really strong start to 2012.

There are 5 that went back on the market and 2 that have gone into backup status.  Usually the homes that go back on the market are homes where the buyer has backed out for some reason and the seller has to start all over again.  Most recently the reason most buyers back out is because of the time it has been taking for the lenders to approve short sales.  To be fair, the lenders are working on it, but it hasn't helped much to this point.

You know, I try to be positive about the amount of price changes. Claremont has 12 this week and that seems like a lot.  But with the sales for the week being at only 1, the sellers have got to do something to get their home sold.  Again, the banks change their minds on pricing sometimes but that can't be all 12 of them.

I try to stay on top of my communities and be a local expert for all of them.  So if you are interested in buying or selling or simply have questions about real estate, please feel free to contact me.  I will be more than happy to assist you!

**All information is taken from the IMRMLS.

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

La Verne Real Estate Market Watch - January 6-12, 2012

La Verne Real Estate Market Watch - January 6-12, 2012

Market Watch

New Listing (12)
Price Change (5)
Back On Market (3)
Backup Offer (1)
Expired (1)
Pending (6)
Sold (4)

Okay, so once again we are starting a new year.  Happy New Year once again to all of you.  Here is this week's La Verne Real Estate Market Watch - and we're off and running!

This week there are 12 new listings which is a good sign that people are getting more and more confident in the real estate market.  Four sold and 6 went into escrow.  That's 4 homes that have new owners and 6 that will hopefully in a few weeks.  So home sales are happening in La Verne.

There are 3 that went back on the market and 1 that has gone into backup status.  Usually the homes that go back on the market are homes where the buyer has backed out for some reason and the seller has to start all over again.  Most recently the reason most buyers back out is because of the time it has been taking for the lenders to approve short sales.  To be fair, the lenders are working on it, but it hasn't helped much to this point.

You know, I try to be positive about the amount of price changes and this week I can.  It's not that many this week in La Verne with only 5.  Again, the banks change their minds on pricing sometimes and with only 5, I believe that's what has happened here.

I try to stay on top of my communities and be a local expert for all of them.  So if you are interested in buying or selling or simply have questions about real estate, please feel free to contact me.  I will be more than happy to assist you!

**All information is taken from the IMRMLS.

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

San Dimas Real Estate Market Watch - January 5-11, 2012

San Dimas Real Estate Market Watch - January 5-11, 2012

Market Watch

New Listing (10)
Price Change (13)
Back On Market (3)
Backup Offer (1)
Expired (0)
Pending (6)
Sold (8)

Okay, so once again we are starting a new year.  Happy New Year once again to all of you.  Here is this week's San Dimas Real Estate Market Watch - and we're off and running!

This week there are ten new listings which is a good sign that people are getting more and more confident in the real estate market.  Eight sold and six went into escrow.  That's eight homes that have new owners and six that will hopefully in a few weeks.  So home sales are happening in San Dimas.

There are three that went back on the market and one that has gone into backup status.  Usually the homes that go back on the market are homes where the buyer has backed out for some reason and the seller has to start all over again.  Most recently the reason most buyers back out is because of the time it has been taking for the lenders to approve short sales.  To be fair, the lenders are working on it, but it hasn't helped much to this point.

You know, I try to be positive about the amount of price changes.  If we only had ten new listings and yet there were thirteen price changes, that's a lot.  Again, the banks change their minds on pricing sometimes, but more often than not, the agents need to do a bit more research before they price the home in the first place.  Enough said.

I try to stay on top of my communities and be a local expert for all of them.  So if you are interested in buying or selling or simply have questions about real estate, please feel free to contact me.  I will be more than happy to assist you!

**All information is taken from the IMRMLS.

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

The American Government in the Real Estate Business

The American Government in the Real Estate Business

Okay, so just imagine it!  Our American Government (who has already gotten into the automobile industry, the banking industry and the list goes on and on...) has started the discussion of rental homes.  Ben Bernancke has 'suggested' that we start a nationwide government supported "REO" rental program.  I'm really trying not to preach politics here, so I'll just stop at that.

Some proponents suggest the rate of return by renting these homes out for now would be much greater than the prices at which they have been selling on the real estate market right now.

Those against it suggest that home ownership should be promoted during this time and not discouraged as they feel this program would do.  Not to mention the fact that the taxpayers, lenders and bond investors would bear the burden of this cost.  Another bail out in the making.

Some of the things they don't ask are, how do you rent an REO where there is major repair work to be done?  Who is in charge of that and who pays for it? There are many more questions I can pose here and I'm sure you are thinking of a few yourself.

You can read more about the topic HERE on HousingWire.

If you are interested in buying or selling or simply have questions about real estate, please feel free to contact me.  I will be more than happy to assist you!

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

California Home Sales in November 2011

California Home Sales in November 2011

Okay, so a bit late due to the holidays, but never the less, here it is.  Your California report for November.  

According to DQ News, the home sales completed were down 4.2% from October 2011 and up 4% from November 2010.  we could assume that this means we are on the roller coaster of an uphill run.  What I mean by that is that year over year we are trending upward, but the last month was higher so we are going up and down still from month to month at this point.  Foreclosures and short sales - distressed sales - are still making up more than half the total of our homes sale here in California.  

The median home price paid in November was up to $244,000 which is up 1.7% from October and down 4.3% from last November.  It's hard to tell if we are still trending down from this or if it was simply a bad month.  But with home prices in my area still falling one would assume that the state as a whole is falling as well. And the mortgage payments that homeowners committed themselves to in November was $931, up from $924 in October and down from $1010 in November 2010.  

You can read more about it HERE.

If you are interested in buying or selling or simply have questions about real estate, please feel free to contact me.  I will be more than happy to assist you!

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

Claremont Colleges Complete Their New Construction Projects

Claremont Colleges Complete Their New Construction Projects

Okay, so the world-famous Claremont Colleges have completed Phase 1 of their building projects.  The reason they are doing this is that they are seeking LEED certification - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.  

LEED is a four-tier system ranking for high performance green building by the U.S. Green Building Council. (Really, I never knew we had a council like this!)  I do know that the City of Fontana has all new homes being built with solar power, but I digress.  The completion of Phase 1 indicates a GOLD ranking, the highest available at the time this all started.  Phase 2, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013 will make them qualified to achieve the Platinum ranking which is now the highest ranking available.

You can read more about it here.

If you are not familiar with the colleges, they are an elite group of higher learning colleges on par with the likes of Harvard, etc.  The list of schools includes Harvey Mudd, Pomona College, Claremont College, Pitzer College, Scripps College, Keck Graduate Institution and Claremont McKenna College.

Not only that, but Claremont is a wonderful town to live in with an amazing old town area which has been expended and upgraded.  Amazing restaurants, some of which date back to when I was a child, and new ones which I'm sure will be around for my grandchildren to enjoy.  But more about that in another blog.

As always, if you are thinking of moving into this area, contact me for any questions regarding real estate or if you are interested in buying or selling.  I will be honored to assist you.

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website

Five Great Things about Owning Your Own Home

Five Great Things about Owning Your Own Home

Okay, so in order to stay on top of real estate and my area I do a lot of reading. (I know this surprises you greatly!  LOL) Some of the articles have to do with real estate in general, some are local market statistics and pricing, and some are events or information about the local commiunities.  This is why I can call myself a local real estate expert - because I stay on top of the issues in my areas.

The other day I was reading this great article which I found on LinkedIn.  (I never knew that LinkedIn would have such great information on real estate, but every once in a while the articles there are very infomative. Who knew!)  This article was about the benefits of owning your own home and some of them are different from the normal regular articles.

For instance, one of the points was about relationships.  When you rent, especially in an apartment, people come and go, it's a regular revolving door of people and relationships.  But when you own a home, you get to know your neighbors, borrow a cup of sugar, etc.  And maybe, if you're lucky enough, you'll move into a neighborhood where they have block parties.  I have always wanted to live in one of those kind, where everyone knows everyone and are friends and are there to help each other just in case.

Another point was the predictibility of your mortgage payments.  Naturally when you live in a rented home, the rent payments change, usually every year and you're never quite sure how much the payment will increase.  If you happen to have a fixed mortgage on your new home, you will know exactly how much your payments will be from month to month, year to year.

Naturally, there are some of the same points such as equity and tax benefits.  But the article is worth reading, so simply click the above link and read if you're thinking of buying your own home soon.

If you are interested in buying or selling or simply have questions about real estate, please feel free to contact me.  I will be more than happy to assist you!

Warmest Regards,
Linda K. Mayer,
Realtor, Office Manager  
License # 01767321
A Realtor you can Trust!
(626) 824-8927 Cell
(909) 670-2711 Direct
LindaKMayer@live.com
Linda's Website