The Bluffs Act Fast

Please click on the link to view my amazing home Tour in Carlsbad This one will go quickly!



Aidan Circle, Carlsbad, CA - Virtual Tour

882 Home Ave A, Carlsbad, CA | Powered by Postlets

882 Home Ave A, Carlsbad, CA | Powered by Postlets

Check out our new listing in Carlsbad Village this a amazing opportunity to live in the village. Walk to all the shops and the beach. This townhome has a unheard of 3 car garage for all your toys and surfboards! 4 Bedrooms with 4 bathrooms! Vaulted ceiling in living room with cozy fireplace. Some baths have been upgraded with custom tile, Laundry is conveniently located next to 3 of the bedrooms. Balcony off of living room with cool ocean breezes. Call for this home as they are rarely on the market!!!! 760 533 4551 www.SellingNorthCounty.com

The Perfect Storm

Hi all I was at a seminar the other day and learned some interesting facts that you wont hear on the news. I already know the market is getting better, but did you know we are expecting a housing shortage in the next 18 months? This is also the first time in 30 years the house prices are down and the interest rates are as well, but you say how the news says the sky is falling. So I say listen to your local Realtor as to what is happening you will be suprised the answer you get. Stay tuned for more interesting facts or contact me with any questions. Hope you had a great St. Patrick's day I did I went to Swami's in Encinitas to soak in all the beautiful views California has to offer

I am still here are you?

Hi all it has been awhile since my last post. As they say life happens, but I am here to tell you I am still doing Real Estate and I hear to tell you if you been on the fence thinking the market is going to plummet more I think you should re think that. I am seeing the market turn around and if you were thinking of buying now is the time to jump in with both feet. For the last 8 months we have seen the market go up every month. People do not want to engage in short sales because they take so long (2 months if your lucky and up to a year) Yes I said a year. So when a bank owned property comes on the market or a regular sale up to 450,000 it is gone the 1st day and there are multiple offers and bidding wars, and I am not talking about 4 or 5 offers I am talking more like 22 offers. I bid on house for my clients and they were 1 of 43 offers!! I know this seems hard to believe but it is what is going on. I welcome you to call me or email me with any questions I can help with. My email is Bridget@SellingNorthCounty.com or my cell is 760 533 4551. Take Care, Bridget

No News Is.....

“For most folks, no news is good news; for the press, good news is not news.”

– Gloria Borger

Dear Friend,



You hear the bad news everywhere you turn. It’s on the television, the Internet, the radio

and in print headlines. What you don’t hear is the good news about the real estate market.



Bad news sells newspapers and gets high television ratings; therefore, the media has no reason

to report the upside of today’s real estate market to the average American. This is where I

come in. For example, did you know that approximately 30 percent of homeowners own

their home free and clear?



The current market also affords some great opportunities for those looking to purchase a

home. First-time homeowners, move-up buyers and investors can all benefit from low home prices, large selection and historically low interest rates.



In addition, the government recently approved a First Time Buyer Tax Credit, up to

$8000, that does not require repayment if the borrower resides in and maintains ownership

of the property for at least three years. Regulations do apply and can be reviewed at www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com, or just give me a call and I will be happy to discuss

it with you.



Call me to hear more about the good news in today’s housing market. I can’t wait to share

it with you.

To view the article click here

Market Statistics

Market Statistics

Know Your Market……



Active listings as of Friday, June 12:



MRMLS: 17,391

Sandicor: 10,278

SoCalMLS: 17,077



SFR and Condo Activity from May 31 - June 6.



New Actives:

MRMLS: 1,383 Sandicor: 762 SoCalMLS: 1,134



New Pendings:

MRMLS: 1,571 Sandicor: 877 SoCalMLS: 849



Closed Sales:

MRMLS: 1,397 Sandicor: 623 SoCalMLS: 815

Staggering Numbers

If you follow my blog you will find I post these statistics often. These numbers show you how the Sandicor MLS, Multiple Listing Service of homes on the San Diego Multiple Listing service for one week. Our inventory has dropped to an amazing low which would explain why last week when I wrote an offer for my clients we were 1 of 42 offers. If your thinking of listing your home now would be the time especially if you own your home. Many buyers are trying to steer clear of short sales due to there response to buyer offers. Bank owned or foreclosure homes are quicker to receive a response but the competition is staggering as my above example. Please feel free to contact me to assist you with any questions you may have in regards to buying or selling in this market.

Active listings as of Friday, May 29:

MRMLS: 18,252

Sandicor: 10,996

SoCalMLS: 17,683

SFR and Condo Activity from May 17 through May 23.

New Actives:

MRMLS: 1,196 Sandicor: 693 SoCalMLS: 1,091

New Pendings:

MRMLS: 1,476 Sandicor: 906 SoCalMLS: 706

Closed Sales:

MRMLS: 1,307 Sandicor: 630 SoCalMLS: 806

Market Statistics

I am happy to report that that homes that were pending meaning put into escrow is exceeded the homes that were listed on the market. The San Diego MLS is listed as Sandicor. The MRMLS is for Riverside and SoCalMLS is for Orange County.




Active listings as of Friday, May 1:

MRMLS: 21,903
Sandicor: 14,723
SoCalMLS: 19,362

SFR and Condo Activity from April 19 through April 25.

New Actives:
MRMLS: 1,381 Sandicor: 791 SoCalMLS: 1,250

New Pendings:
MRMLS: 1,565 Sandicor: 930 SoCalMLS: 818

Closed Sales:
MRMLS: 1,240 Sandicor: 604 SoCalMLS: 689

Could The Market Be Coming Up??!!

Below you will find the inventory for the multiple listing service. San Diego's is Sandicor. The activity below is for the week of 3/22- 3/28 and for the first time in awhile the pending sales at 1000 exceeds the New Active listings at 925. I think this is just another sign the market is turning around. Should you like to find out more please call me at 760 533 4551

Active listings as of Wednesday, April 1:

MRMLS: 25,169

Sandicor: 15,471

SoCalMLS: 21,253

SFR and Condo Activity from March 22 through March 28.

New Actives:

MRMLS: 1,486 Sandicor: 925 SoCalMLS: 1,175

New Pendings:

MRMLS: 1,724 Sandicor: 1,000 SoCalMLS: 839

Closed Sales:

MRMLS: 1,175 Sandicor: 580 SoCalMLS: 734

Great Opportunity For 1st Time Buyers

Thursday, April 2, 2009 the Housing Affordability Fund will launch a new program designed to provide peace of mind to first-time buyers who are hesitant to enter the housing market due to concerns about potential job loss, and subsequently being unable to meet their monthly mortgage obligations.
To be able to qualify for the Mortgage Protection Program, applicants must:. · Be a first-time home buyer – someone who has not owned a home in the last three years. · Open escrow April 2, 2009, or later, and close on or before Dec. 31, 2009 · Use a California REALTOR® in the transaction · Purchase the property in California · Be a W-2 employee (cannot be self-employed or military personnel) To receive a copy of the application please contact me at 760 533 4551 or Bridget@SellingNorthCounty.com

Five Star Award

I am honored to mention that I am in this months issue of the San Diego Magazine. I was awarded the Five Star Real Estate Agents Best In Client Satisfaction. I was given this award from feedback from my previous clients. I want to thank my clients for there generosity. I have included a link that explains about the award and how I was chosen. Again I want to thank you for the award and the opportunity to serve you. http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/media/San-Diego-Magazine/March-2009/FIVE-STAR-Real-Estate-Agents/

FAQ For First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit

Please refer to this link for answers to questions you may have regarding First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit. http://www.realtor.org/gapublic.nsf/files/hbtaxcreditqa2008.pdf/$FILE/hbtaxcreditqa2008.pdf

FHA Credit Link

Hi I wanted to post a link you can view that will break down the First‐time Homebuyer Tax Credit. This may be a little easier to view then my previous blog entry. http://www.realtor.org/GAPublic.nsf/files/chart_homebuyer_tax_credit_.pdf/$FILE/chart_homebuyer_tax_credit_.pdf
As always if there is anything I can help with please let me know.

First-Time Homebuyer Federal Tax Credit

As part of the “Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008” that was recently signed into law, Congress has created a new, temporary federal income tax credit to provide an incentive for first-time homebuyers.

The amount of the federal tax credit is for 10% of the cost of the home, up to a maximum credit of $7,500. In essence, this is an interest-free loan that enables consumers to receive a tax credit on a dollar-for-dollar basis on their personal income tax return in the calendar year following the year of closing on their home. They begin paying the tax credit back the year after that and make equal installments during the next 15 years. If the homeowner sells the home at any point during the 15-year payback period, then the remaining amount is recaptured, unless they sell the home at a loss, at which point the balance is forgiven.
e.g., If a home costs $65,000, the allowable credit would be $6,500. If a home costs $120,000, then the allowable credit would be $7,500.
Eligibility is for first-time homebuyers only. In this case, a first-time homebuyer is defined as an individual who has not owned a primary home at any time during the past three years, but who may have done so previously. Although certain income limits do apply, the amount of the credit is the same for all taxpayers, married or single.
Individuals whose Form 1040 filing status is single (or head of household) are eligible for the tax credit if their income is no more than $75,000. Individuals who file a joint return may have no more than $150,000 in income.
Individuals with incomes between $75,001 and $94,999 (single) or $150,001 and $169,999 (joint returns) are eligible for a partial tax credit.
Individuals with incomes greater than $95,000 (single) or $170,000 (joint return) are not eligible for this tax credit.
The federal income credit can be claimed on one’s individual or joint tax return for the purchase of any single-family home between April 9, 2008 through July 1, 2009. Individuals should consult a professional tax advisor for exact tax calculations.
e.g., If an individual’s actual tax liability was $5,000, then after the tax credit is applied the purchaser would receive a total refund of $2,500. The refundable amount is the difference between the $7,500 tax credit and the amount of one’s tax liability.
e.g., If an individual’s actual tax refund was $2,000, then after the tax credit is applied the purchaser would receive a total refund of $9,500.
This tax credit is required to be repaid without interest in equal installments of 6.67% of the total credit each year for 15 years beginning the year after the tax credit is claimed.
e.g., If a homebuyer claims the $7,500 credit in 2009 on their federal income tax return for a closing that occurred in 2008, then the credit is received in 2009, so repayment begins in 2010 with an annual repayment amount of approximately $500 a year.

ANDERSON FORECAST SAYS HOUSING CRISIS TO EASE

The housing market woes are expected to begin easing up by late 2008 and, despite mounting job losses and fuel and food cost increases, the country will avoid a full recession, according to the UCLA Anderson Forecast report released Tuesday."Our no-recession forecast remains nervously intact," said UCLA Anderson Forecast Director Edward Leamer. "We see a lot of problems in the first half of 2008 as housing remains a drag on GDP growth and weakness in personal consumption contributes as well. We expect one quarter of negative GDP growth. The Fed continues to dish out good news for Wall Street with ever lower interest rates. The labor market is sluggish and unemployment elevates to 5.5 percent by the end of 2008. But the housing drag on GDP dissipates in the second half of the year and a normal economy returns in 2009."

Amazing Value

I have just listed a great home in Oceanside to view the virtual tour click here to experience this wonderful home features. http://www.previewfirst.com/ViewVirtualTour.do?id=15923
5 bedrooms plus loft with 3 bathrooms with 2664 sqft for $559,000

The San Diego Fires

It has been a week now since the devastating fires came through San Diego. The air is starting to clear up and seem "normal" again. I hope you and yours are safe. I was lucky not to have had to evacuate. What affects this fire will have totally have yet to be determined. For the housing market I am not sure either, but I would expect there will be more people that are displaced looking for homes.

What The Recent Fed Cut Really Means

Friday, September 21, 2007provided by
Fed's Half-Point Move Likely to Trim Payments on Credit Cards, Home-Equity Lines, but Offer
Scant Relief on Certain Mortgages

Consumers should soon start feeling the impact of Tuesday's Fed rate cut in the form of lower borrowing costs and stingier savings rates. But the rate cut doesn't offer much help for the key problems bedeviling many mortgage borrowers.
The Federal Reserve said it lowered short-term interest rates by half a percentage point, to 4.75%, to combat the effects of a weaker housing market and tighter credit on the broader economy. The steep reduction in the Fed funds rate surprised many on Wall Street who expected a more modest rate cut. Stocks on Sept. 18 rose sharply after the Fed's announcement, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 335.97 points, or 2.5%, to 13739.39.

The rate cut should reduce payments on many home-equity lines of credit, credit cards and some car loans. Perversely, however, some economists say it could lead to higher rates on fixed-rate mortgages down the road if bond markets expect the Fed move will spur higher economic growth or inflation.
There also is likely to be little immediate relief for borrowers with certain types of adjustable-rate mortgages. That's because the rates on some of these loans are tied to the London interbank offered rate, or Libor, which recently jumped sharply above the Fed funds rate because of the continuing credit crunch in the markets. Libor, which has drifted downward recently, is an interest rate charged by banks for short-term loans to each other.
"If Libor doesn't come down, there is no relief" for many mortgage borrowers, says James Bianco, president of Bianco Research LLC, a market-research firm in Chicago.
Borrowers who should see immediate benefits from the Fed cut are those holding loans tied to U.S. banks' prime rate. Consumers can contact their lenders to inquire how their rates are calculated. Many banks cut their prime rates by half a percentage point after yesterday's Fed move.
Here is a look at what the Fed's action means for consumers:
• Homeowners. The rate cut is good news for borrowers with home-equity lines of credit, and savings could show up as soon as the next monthly statement. Borrowers looking for a new fixed-rate home-equity loan could also see lower rates. There are likely to be regional differences, with lenders most likely to cut rates on these loans in areas where the housing market is healthy and the local economy is robust, says Doug Duncan, chief economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association. Before the Fed's latest move, rates on home-equity lines averaged 8.72%, while home-equity loans averaged 8.29%, according to HSH Associates.
But in a twist, the Fed cut could boost rates down the road for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. These rates are typically influenced by rates on 10-year Treasurys, which have moved lower recently in anticipation of a quarter-point cut in rates and because of a flight to quality in bond markets. But if markets expect a higher level of economic growth than previously anticipated, or a pickup in inflation, borrowers could see "some modest increase in fixed-rates going forward, though not necessarily immediately," Mr. Duncan says.
Recent news has been mixed for borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgages. Borrowers with ARMs that are tied to Treasury averages have benefited from a recent decline in rates. For those who are facing their first rate reset on Oct. 1, "that reset will be less painful than it would have been had it taken place a couple months ago," says Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst with Bankrate.com.
But higher borrowing costs may still be in the offing for homeowners whose adjustables are tied to Libor. Libor is frequently used to set rates for subprime adjustables, loans made to borrowers with scuffed credit. As for non-subprime ARMs, roughly half of these originated in recent years are also tied to Libor, estimates Keith Gumbinger, a mortgage analyst with HSH Associates. Borrowers can determine which index their adjustable is tied to by checking their loan documents.
The rate cut isn't likely to do much for the biggest problem facing the mortgage market: a liquidity crunch that has made it tougher for many borrowers to get a loan. "People have been characterizing this as a bailout for housing, but I don't think that's accurate," says Mr. Duncan of the Mortgage Bankers Association. The rate cut is "much more about the broader economy," while the mortgage market's troubles are "all about credit and property values."
• Savers. Savers could soon see lower payouts on their savings accounts, certificates of deposit and money-market mutual funds. In fact, some banks have already started to reduce their rates or scale back their deals. Bank of America Corp., for instance, recently shortened the maturities on its promotional CDs paying 5% to four months from eight months.
Nevertheless, banks are going to be reluctant to cut rates before their competitors, in part because consumer deposits remain one of the cheapest sources of funds available for the banks, says Bankrate.com's Mr. McBride. In fact, average CD rates have barely budged in recent months with yields on five-, three- and one-year CDs currently at 4%, 3.77% and 3.76%. "That is very uncharacteristic," since CD yields normally move well in advance of a Fed action, he says. "Savers are getting a break."
Average yields on money-market mutual funds, which have been hovering at 5% for about a year, are likely to drop to about 4.5% in the next month, says Pete Crane of Crane Data LLC. But part of the fall in yields may be counteracted by some managers' moves to buy higher-yielding asset-backed commercial paper, he says. As a result, there may be a benefit to shopping around since money managers can differentiate their funds' performance by investing in the higher-yielding securities.
• Credit Cards. Many credit-card customers should soon see some relief. About 85% of all credit cards carry variable rates. But many holders of these cards will see a benefit only if their current rate exceeds any floors established by the issuers, typically around 14% to 15%, below which their rates can't fall. Today, most interest rates are in the 18%-to-19% range.
Since most issuers adjust their pricing on a monthly basis, about half of all variable-rate cards should see an adjustment in October, with the rest in November, says Robert McKinley, chief executive of CardWeb.com. "Consumers could find some money in their pockets in about a month." The half-percentage-point drop in rates should result in a savings of about $30 a month for the typical household, which carries a median credit-card debt of $7,000, he says.
• Auto Loans. A rate cut isn't likely to have a big impact on new-car loans in part because more than half of all auto loans are already offered at reduced rates due to heavy manufacturer incentives, says Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research Inc. But the Fed's move could make it cheaper to get a used-car loan because many people turn to banks and credit unions to finance their purchase, he says.
Still, consumers could start seeing better financing deals if the Fed continues to cut rates. Auto-loan rates, generally tied to the movement in Treasurys, already had started to ease given the recent drop in Treasury yields. Average rates on five-year new-car loans are 7.72%, versus 7.81% on July 4, according to Bankrate.com.
• Student Loans. Students with private, variable-rate student loans pegged to the prime rate may see their rates adjust more quickly than borrowers with loans tied to Libor. (Loans pegged to Libor or the prime rate are split about equally.)
But that doesn't automatically mean that borrowers should switch to prime-based loans. Historically, loans pegged to Libor have tended to yield a slightly lower rate than loans tied to prime over the life of the loan, says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org.

Builder Blow Out Weekend

If you have seen alot of the builders are advertising BIG incentives this weekend. I am not sure why this weekend maybe 1 started and then the rest followed. I visited a new home site today to find another large incentive. Please feel free to call me as I am always previewing new homes as well as resale for all my clients. Bridget 760-533-4551. Bridget@SellingNorthCounty.com

3 Stories

In California it is no secret land is at a premium and I believe we are really seeing that now as the amount of 3 story condos seems to be increasing. I have previewed many of these units and I have come to the conclusion you better like stairs. I am curious to see how the sales will do. I personally when I make my next move will be to a single level, but here that is no easy task. I work with many buyers who like single level living as well. I will be surprised to see how there sales go.