Blog Feed: San Jose Real Estate Blog

The wealth of information available online certainly helps when trying to decide whether to relocate to another area for a job. When I moved to San Jose from Dallas, I had limited information about the cost differences. The salary jump was enough to

Places to Make a Donation for the Holidays

Published on 2012-12-11 11:00:51

There are lots of ways to help organizations by donating money this holiday season. Some (like the Red Cross) prefer money so they can purchase specifically what is needed. However there are also lots of places you can donate slightly used items. Her

Buying a Home After Short Sale, Foreclosure or Bankruptcy – A Complete Guide

Published on 2012-12-10 09:45:34

Guest Post by Shashank Shekhar After the Mortgage meltdown of 2007 the rapid depreciation in real estate prices post resulted in financial crisis for a lot of homeowners. As a result of which many went through the nightmare of a foreclosure short-s

Holiday Giving

Published on 2012-12-04 11:24:57

Give yourself a fabulous gift this year – the gift of making a difference in people’s lives. There are so many ways to do something important during this holiday season. Quite simply you can change someone’s life. Is there any bette

5 Tips for making an offer on a home during a competitive market

Published on 2012-11-26 10:10:44

The San Jose, Silicon Valley real estate market has once again taken a swing toward the positive upswing on average sales prices. In some areas, like Palo Alto, the residential real estate market has already recovered the loss of the 2006 real estate

Winter Events in Willow Glen and Los Gatos

Published on 2012-11-24 17:47:28

The Thanksgiving left overs are all eaten. We battled the crowds on Black Friday and shopped locally for the Shop Small Businesses Saturday. Now it’s time to schedule all those special holiday events in December. Los Gatos and Willow Glen hav

Historic Home Tours

Published on 2012-11-15 08:00:19

Not too long ago I was able to enjoy the Los Gatos Historic Home Tour. I love learning about homes and how neighborhoods were formed and the area around Glen Ridge in Los Gatos provided me a great opportunity to experience a variety of great homes

5 Favorite iPhone iPad Apps

Published on 2012-11-05 21:14:28

Tags: Info Graphics

5 Ways Technology is making Real Estate more Green

Published on 2012-10-31 11:09:54

It is said, one tree falls for every 17 real estate transactions completed. There is no doubt there is a lot of paper shuffling related to the buying or selling of a home, particularly if financing is involved. Not to mention the number of miles

Harvest Festival and Holiday Boutique

Published on 2012-10-26 15:34:23

Looking for some Halloween family fun this Saturday (October 27th)? Check out the Harvest Festival and Holiday Boutique at the library/community center at 6445 Camden Ave. in San Jose. There will be a costume parade, a bake sale, pumpkin patch, story time, a carnival, trick and treats and so much more. You can even start your shopping at the Holiday Boutique. It begins at 11 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. Tags: San Jose, Willow Glen, bake sale, carnival, costumes, festival, Halloween, holiday boutiq [..]

Walking Willow Glen

Published on 2012-10-18 11:15:52

I love walking around Willow Glen. It’s certainly an architect lover’s delight and is known as a “walkable” town. The homes are historic and fabulous. The streets are lined with huge old trees that keep you cool while walking in their shade. Downtown has that special small town feel. I created this walk for my Willow Glen Neighborhood Guide. The walking tour starts with a cup of coffee, meanders through the gorgeous neighborhood and ends with dessert at one of Willow Gle [..]

Multiple Offers, Historic Low Interest Rates, and Competition Galore!

Published on 2012-10-16 16:36:23

Tags: Market Information

San Jose Real Estate Prices climb as interest rates drop

Published on 2012-09-26 18:13:35

Current stats from Movoto.com. Tags: Market Information, San Jose

Relocating to Silicon Valley? Average Home Price for Santa Clara County Cities

Published on 2012-09-19 10:47:46

Tags: Buyers' Tips, Market Information, Average home price Los Gatos, home prices in Silicon Valley, relocating to San Jose, relocating to Silicon Valley

Walkability and San Jose Neighborhoods

Published on 2012-09-11 20:30:17

Find out your neighborhood’s walk score!

Open House this weekend Sat 8/25 & Sun 8/26 1-4pm

Published on 2012-08-23 13:03:40

Seascape Beach House for Sale Overview Maps Photos Description Seascape Beach Neighborhood Open House $525,000 Townhouse Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1,520 sqftLot: 3,484 sqft Location 2159 Penasquitas DriveAptos, CA 95003USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the “Like” button below: CJ Brasiel Broker Associate, SRES, GREEN Fireside Realty(408) 406-6035CJ@CJBRealEstate.comhttp://www.CJBRealEstate.com Listed by: CJ Brasiel, Fires [..]

Not Yet on Market! Charming Evergreen Home for sale in San Jose

Published on 2012-08-13 04:19:13

Charming Home Ready for You! Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood Market Stats IDX Search $399,000 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1,786 sqftLot: 6,599 sqft Location 2690 Brahms AvenueSan Jose, CA 95122USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the “Like” button below: CJ Brasiel Broker Associate, SRES, GREEN Fireside Realty(408) 406-6035CJ@CJBRealEstate.comhttp://www.CJBRealEstate.com Listed by: CJ Brasiel, [..]

I am buying a home and the seller wants no contingencies, what does it mean?

Published on 2012-07-29 13:20:12

Purchasing a home is almost always the largest financial decision a person will make in their lifetime. In the San Jose, San Francisco Bay real estate market, we are easily talking about a range of a quarter of a million to $5 million dollars. Not a decision to take lightly. To show commitment to the purchase the buyer is asked to deposit a “Good Faith” deposit into escrow upon seller acceptance of the offer. Typically, the good faith deposit is 3% of sales price and on a $ [..]

Buyer’s Earnest Money Deposit on a Short Sale?

Published on 2012-07-27 23:01:32

Q. CJ, can you explain what “buyer to deposit earnest money with escrow pending lender approval” means in the purchase agreement for the short-sale I’m buying means? In ”traditional” sales, the earnest money deposit is put into escrow within a contractually designated period (3 days customary for California) upon confirmation of acceptance of the offer by the seller. But in a short sale, because of the lengthy approval time, the deposit is typically held back un [..]

Custom Built Home for Sale in Campbell, CA Open Sunday 2-4 pm

Published on 2012-07-14 01:19:59

NEW Custom Built Home For Sale Campbell Overview Maps Photos Features Description Campbell Wine Walk Neighborhood Open House Market Stats IDX Search $1,300,000 Single Family Home Main Features 4 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Interior: 2,728 sqft Lot: 8,688 sqft Location 663 El Patio Drive Campbell, CA 95008 USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the “Like” button below: CJ Brasiel Broker Associate, SRES, GREEN Fireside Reatly (408) 406-6035 CJ@CJBRealEst [..]

Hear Ye Realtors, Banks, and Sellers: Veterans Need Homes!

Published on 2012-07-04 11:29:57

On this, our Independence Day I want to call out to all involved in the real estate industry for your help. As the wars in Afganistan and Iraq wind down for our U.S. troops, soldiers are returning home, reuniting with their families and looking for homes. They are being rejected by Realtors, banks (short sale lender and banks selling foreclosures), and sellers because of their utilization of the VA loan. What is the hang up? VA loans have a couple of unique requirements which make it difficult t [..]

Home for Sale in North San Jose! Open 6/30 and 7/1 1-4pm

Published on 2012-06-29 01:07:03

Ready to move in! Cute Berryessa Home! Overview Maps Photos Open House Market Stats IDX Search $398,800 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1,041 sqftLot: 5,876 sqft Location 2520 Fallingtree DriveSan Jose, CA 95131USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the “Like” button below: CJ Brasiel Broker Associate, SRES, GREEN Fireside Reatly(408) 406-6035CJ@CJBRealEstate.comhttp://www.CJBRealEstate.com Listed by: CJ Brasiel, [..]

Why do I need a preapproval letter to make an offer on a home?

Published on 2012-06-18 10:58:30

The San Jose, Silicon Valley real estate market is once again heating up. The current housing market frenzy is due to the availability of low interest rate loans, high buyer demand, and a very low number of homes on the market. More and more, buyers are finding themselves in multiple offer situations. A pre-approval letter from the buyer’s lender will help improve the chances for offer acceptance. Many of the offer requirements have been tightened as a result of the busted housing [..]

Can a tenant receive relocation assistance in a short sale?

Published on 2012-06-17 17:49:57

The newly revised guidelines for the HAFA program does allow for tenants or “non-borrowers” to receive up to $3000 dollars toward relocation expenses. The premise being the seller is eligible for the HAFA program and the lender (and or investor holding the note) approve the short sale under HAFA guidelines. This change was made to help those sellers who rented out their home but now can no longer afford the mortgage payments and have to short sale the home. With this relocati [..]

Bank of America qualifying owners for up to $30,000 relocation on short sales!

Published on 2012-05-26 12:05:18

Over the last two years, Wells Fargo, Chase, and Bank of America have come to understand that many homeowners underwater on their home head down the path of non-payment and foreclosure simply because their credit and finances will not allow them to move. After pilot programs around the U.S., the three major lenders have began offer relocation credits to sellers if they short sale their home. The HAFA governmental program allowed up to $3,000 for relocation. Now Bank of America has announce [..]

How do I improve my credit score?

Published on 2012-05-25 13:08:18

According to a recent New York Times article and a report by the Federal Reserve, a majority of banks are less likely to offer loans to people with a FICO score of 620 and a 10 percent down payment than they were in 2006. Lenders were also less likely to do so even for those with a score of 720. Improving your credit scores not only helps increase your chance of loan approval but also will provide you more opportunities to reduce your interest rate. The good news though is there are some t [..]

Real Estate Market in Silicon Valley Heats Up!

Published on 2012-04-13 15:28:03

Well, what a difference a few months can make! If you haven’t picked up on it, the real estate market in many of the Bay Area neighborhoods is heating up. Some areas are actually on fire. For me, the printer and emails are flying presenting and receiving multiple offers on homes that have been on the market less than a week! On average for “highly desire-able” areas we are seeing sales prices at 2-5% over last comp. Even in areas like Morgan Hill, Milpitas, and Evergreen, we ar [..]

Which Home Addition can increase its resale value?

Published on 2012-04-11 11:00:02

Q. I just purchased a 900 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, 1 bath home back in April near Los Angeles. I am considering either adding an additional full bathroom off the master bedroom and/or enclosing the patio to make a sun room. My questions are: 1. What is the better addition to make in terms of resale value, resale potential, return on investment? 2. Do you think the investment is worth it in terms of resale value, resale potential, and return on investment? I’m curious if a 2 BR, 2 BATH is much mo [..]

Can seller rent back for more than 30 days after close escrow?

Published on 2012-04-04 11:00:17

Q. We’ve sold our house. We have 30 days rent back. We would like to ask for 4-5 months rent back extension due to the fact we have not bought a house yet. Our agent (seller’s agent) told us that the bank wont allow the buyers to rent out more than 30 days because this will ruin the buyers loan. But lots of our friends had stayed at their houses for 4-6 months after they closed the escrow. We were told that it can be done as long as both buyers and sellers agree. The bank should not [..]

How is the Brickyard Condo complex in San Jose area?

Published on 2012-03-21 11:00:49

Q. How is the Brickyard Condo complex in San Jose area? I like this complex design a lot. The units have some unique features and different layouts, not so cookie cutter style. I think it is a great space with community rooms available for residents that promote the kind of “live/work” idea. It is a secured, gated garage, and internal entry so that certainly provides a level of security. The challenge to me is the economic issues have not allowed the neighborhood to change with the B [..]

What date is valid for starting the contingency period?

Published on 2012-03-14 11:00:18

Q. We’re buying a short sale. There have been differing points of view from the selling and buying agents, greatly impacting our contingency timeframe. If anyone can offer insight, that would be great. The California Association of Realtors Short Sale addendum form leaves some ambiguity in regards to “acceptance” of a short sale approval is conveyed. The short sale addendum simply states the approval letter needs to be delivered to the buyer. However, the listing agent sending [..]

Blossom Valley Home For Sale

Published on 2012-03-10 19:34:52

Remodeled Oasis Just for You! Overview Maps Photos Description Market Stats IDX Search $488,000 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms2 Bathrooms1 Partial BathroomInterior: 1,546 sqftLot: 4,996 sqft Location 254 Beegum WaySan Jose, CA 95123USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the “Like” button below: CJ Brasiel Broker Associate, SRES, GREEN Fireside Reatly(408) 406-6035CJ@CJBRealEstate.comhttp://www.CJBRealEstate.com Listed by: CJ Brasiel [..]

Do REO foreclosure homes sell for less than regular homes?

Published on 2012-03-07 10:00:55

Q. I am considering buying an REO foreclosure home. Do REO foreclosure homes sell for less than regular homes? The answer is YES, in general. Listing agents for banks tend to price aggressively and lower the price consistently until they find a solid offer. The more important strategy is how you and your agent will manage the offer if there are multiple offers. You have to be clear on what you see as the “value” of the home and set your limits clearly with the help of your agent. I h [..]

Warren Buffet says buy a home!

Published on 2012-02-28 12:09:19

Tags: Market Information

Is it too late (in the market) to buy a fixer upper in Campbell?

Published on 2012-02-21 02:49:10

Q. Campbell has evolved as an amazing small town, there are still quite a few Fixer Uppers out there and am wondering if now is a good time to invest a bit of sweat equity? The answer will depend on the actual property. In general, Campbell is a good strong neighborhood. The return will depend on crunching the numbers. Make sure you obtain all the right inspections on the property you are interested in. In this market, many times the seller can be coaxed into paying for all the inspections. Once [..]

Top 5 Reasons Buyers are Afraid to Buy a House in This Market

Published on 2012-02-13 12:53:02

Historic low interest rates. Lowest home prices in nearly 15 years. Yet, buyers remain hesitant to buy a home. Why? Fear. Here are the top 5 fears associated with buying a home along with some calming solutions and thoughts. 1.) Home prices may fall even more! Yes, they may. When you make a stock purchase, you certainly buy with some understanding it may go up, down, up, and down over the course of ownership. The same with the home. You don’t sell when its low and you hold until its high [..]

How is the appreciation expected for buying a home in Fremont vs Cupertino high school area?

Published on 2012-01-30 03:07:49

Q. We are looking to buy a home in good school districts and we have Cupertino/Fremont in mind. 1. Can some one explain the pros/cons of buying in Cupertino vs. Fremont? 2. With very good api scores in Fremont, why are the home prices way less than Cupertino area? Will they appreciate in the future? Also, I have noticed that town homes in Rivermark are expensive than SFR in Fremont good school areas. Is it because of the Rivermark homes being new vs Fremont homes being old? If so, Cupertino even [..]

Is there any chance of selling a home in east San Jose?

Published on 2012-01-18 20:07:33

Q. Is there any chance of selling a home in east San Jose (between Story and Tully of Mclaughlin) and getting anything for it? There is no doubt the East Side is suffering in this market. There are a lot of short sales and foreclosures in the area you mention and that has had a huge effect on prices in the last 6 months. If you take a look at ForeclosureRadar.com you can see up to 20 houses around your location that are in pre-foreclosure or foreclosure. Unfortunately, foreclosures will be playi [..]

What should a realtor and lawyer advice their client regarding buyer’s requests?

Published on 2012-01-11 09:34:07

Q. I had a buyer ask for money to repair and or clean things on the day of the walk through. He threatened to stop the closing if I didn’t open my wallet. I called his bluff—I was sick of this guy as he’d already gotten a great deal—and the closing went through. My lawyer and realtor provided no real help other than to ask me if I was willing to let the deal fall through over a few hundred dollars. What should a realtor and lawyer really be doing to guide their client through thi [..]

How do you speed up a short sale?

Published on 2012-01-11 08:46:38

Q. How do you speed up a short sale? I am already pre-qualified to the price the seller is asking. What is the average waiting period on a short sale? So many variables. I once had an approval from lender, and they WOULD NOT email/fax etc me the letter insisting that it would be coming in the mail to my client. It took 21 days to get the letter! Really! On the other hand, I had another short sale approval letter in hand 2 days after the offer was presented. The variables? The buyer’s agent [..]

Do home prices generally rise in the spring months?

Published on 2012-01-01 09:51:18

Q. Do home prices generally rise in the spring months? If so, when is the best time to sell if you are not in a rush? It is an ‘ole real estate tale to say that there are some months better to sell than others. Maybe there was a time when predictability ruled the market place but not anymore. I have looked at the stats for the last 5 years, the last 3 years and here are the market realities that effect home sales: 1.) Homes sell – when there are a lot of homes on the market (inventor [..]

Top 10 Reasons Why a Short Sale Approval is Delayed

Published on 2011-12-13 08:44:43

How long will it take for a short sale approval? Definitely one of those questions that many buyers and sellers are asking. When we first began riding the wave of short sales in 2008, lenders were simply not prepared for the high volume of requests. But as we move through the housing market crash, lenders have staffed up, developed departments and professionals and we are beginning to see improvements in the short sale approval process. However, there are a lot of variables in how long i [..]

San Jose Downtown pushes on, determined

Published on 2011-12-09 11:48:48

Last night I had the privilege of being part of the first Pitch Crawl, sponsored by the ever-so-fabulous Tracy Lee. Pitch Crawl is Tracy’s most recent adventure in the world of bringing people together. The Pitch Crawl format allowed twelve investors to listen to pitches by entrepreneurs over three minute rounds. There were possibly 75 or more people and the interaction was literally buzzing. Ideas were being spat out and demos flying on mobile phones and tablets. Puzzled faces, [..]

How do I know if additions or remodeling on a home have been properly permitted?

Published on 2011-12-06 23:37:38

This is becoming more and more an issue in Santa Clara County. During the housing boom, sellers and buyers turned a blind eye to the permitted work. But now, lenders have placed a magnifying glass on the issue of non-permitted work and buyers have become much more savvy about asking about permits. Appraisers (specifically FHA) can be asked by an underwriter to comment on whether or not additions or remodeling was completed with permits. In speaking with an appraiser, if it is obvious tha [..]

Rents heading up. Affordability for home owner ship at 15 year best. Time to buy a home?

Published on 2011-12-06 12:19:37

The Wall Street Journal reports stronger lure for prospective home buyers with the monthly cost of owning a home more affordable now than at any point in the past 15 years, homeownership is becoming less expensive than renting in a growing number of cities. The Wall Street Journal’s third-quarter survey of housing-market conditions in 28 of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas found that home values declined in all but five markets compared with the second quarter, according to data from [..]

What are the steps in buying a short sale?

Published on 2011-06-07 13:21:49

A short sale is a real estate sale by the private owner (not a bank) where the home’s market value is less than the what the seller owes the bank. Therefore, the seller is asking the lending bank to allow them to sell the home short (at a l

How To Protect The Family Home From Medicaid Recovery

Published on 2011-06-06 14:19:55

Another great article from the National Care Planning Council Because the home is the largest asset a couple can keep while still qualifying for Medicaid, it is also usually the main target of estate recovery. Sidney and Rachel’s Story: Sidney

A Housing Recovery Is Within

Published on 2011-05-30 20:54:11

In a recent industry magazine I saw the word “resilence”. It immediately sent my mind down a winding path thinking about its definition and my world. Indeed, this one word summed up the last three years of my career in real estate. re·

San Jose Rose Garden Home for Sale Open House

Published on 2011-05-20 11:28:46

Open House May 21st and May 22nd 1-4pm. Comfortable Rose Garden Home for sale in San Jose. Overview Maps Photos Neighborhood Market Stats IDX Search � $638,000 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Interior: 1883 sqft Lot: 7,68

Downtown San Jose continues work on San Pedro Square Open Market

Published on 2011-05-13 11:48:21

I for one am excited about the San Pedro Square Market Place in downtown San Jose. Built around the historic Peralta Adobe and Fallon House, the market will boast open market offerings from unique food (no franchise?), fresh foods, and entertainmen

Downsizing, Organizing, Handicap Remodeling or Relocating

Published on 2011-05-10 22:21:08

As Senior Real Estate Specialist, I am a proud member of the Long Term Care Network. This very resourceful web site provides seniors and their families with lots of great information. As a member, I wanted to share this great post on the process

Which neighborhoods in San Jose are the best?

Published on 2011-05-08 10:22:40

There are a lot of great neighborhoods to consider, now it is finding out more about what you want in a neighborhood. Here are brief summaries of neighborhoods in the Greater San Jose area. - Los Gatos, Willow Glen, and Campbell have nice little down

San Jose Housing Market Report

Published on 2011-05-07 09:53:05

Trends At a Glance Apr 2011 Previous Month Year-over Year Median Price $396,250 $379,500 (+4.4%) $410,000 (-3.4%) Average Price $487,840 $426,794 (+14.3%) $439,217 (+11.1%) No. of Sales 62 44 (+40.9%) 41 (+51.2%) Pending Properties 115 140

Did Case Shiller miss the double dip?

Published on 2011-05-03 12:46:24

I know you are interested in the housing market and I wanted to pass this article on for your review. Lee Adler is a long time investor and wonderfully analytical in how he approaches his own real estate investments. In this post he discusses how

Where are the foreclosures in San Jose?

Published on 2011-04-28 11:48:35

Simple answer. Everywhere. In San Jose, according to Foreclosure Radar, there are 600 foreclosed single family homes, condominiums, and town homes in the San Jose area. See the map below for the general distribution (partial display as there we

Looking for way to make your home more energy efficient? FHA PowerSaver Program may work!

Published on 2011-04-25 16:26:30

With the rising cost of oil, home owners are looking for ways to improve the efficiency of their homes past CFL light bulbs. However, with the change in the lending environment, home equity loans are few and far between and many times interest rate

Can I afford to buy a home? Santa Clara County Homeownership Programs Can Help!

Published on 2011-04-10 22:16:44

In spite of doom and gloom push by many, there are many people that do want to buy a home. For most, the biggest challenge to buying a home in the greater Silicon Valley is finding the funds for a down payment. Even with FHA availability requirin

Unemployed? Worried about your mortgage? CalHFA program may help.

Published on 2011-04-06 11:45:54

In January the State of California was provided federal dollars to help unemployed home owners pay their mortgage. The program is called Keep Your Home California. The program was allocated $874,995,915.28 (Really, 28 cents?) and intended to help hom

Getting ready to move? Beware of Scams!

Published on 2011-04-04 16:02:23

If you are getting ready to move to a different home, you need to be aware of scams that happen every day in the moving industry.

Housing Market Outlook. Really? Looking for the Bright Side.

Published on 2011-03-26 11:30:39

No one in this industry thinks our troubles are over. We all know shadow inventory lurks, we all understand underwriters seem to get tougher and tougher on buyers each day, we understand short sales are far from streamlined. But in my very humble o

Should I keep a contingency on apprasial for a new home purchase?

Published on 2011-03-24 18:24:42

Q. For new homes, do people usually keep the contingency on appraisal? When I asked about it the home builder got quite defensive. There is no house similar to this in the area and I am afraid it may not appraise. The builder’s finance person s

“Who wants to build a house?” A panelist discussion on Bay Area home development.

Published on 2011-03-14 12:24:23

What are residential builders saying about San Jose home market? A panelist discussion with Summerhill, Regis, and Blackrock regarding the housing market and challenges to meeting consumer demands for new housing.

10 Ways To Get Your Offer to Purchase a Home Accepted

Published on 2011-03-08 11:27:48

The housing market in Santa Clara County is very competitive. With home loan interest rates below 5% and at 40 year lows, the housing market near or at bottom, many buyers are making their move and shopping for deals. With that pent up demand comes m

Behind on your mortgage? Free community workshop February 24 San Jose

Published on 2011-02-18 18:35:13

Need Help with your Mortgage? A great program brought to us by the Department of Treasury and Housing & Urban Development to help at-risk homeowners in our community.

How much of the San Jose real estate market is short sales?

Published on 2011-02-15 10:40:01

I have been tracking short sales and REOs (foreclosures) in the San Jose area since June 2007. I can tell you, consistently, short sales have represented about 30% of active listings and foreclosures have represented about 10-15% of the active list

Foreclosures San Jose Open Houses February 13th

Published on 2011-02-13 10:42:35

There are some great deals with foreclosures this weekend in San Jose. Lots of open houses to visit and a chance to get into a home while interest rates are still low. Remember, to purchase an REO home, you must be pre-approved, have proof of f

Top 5 reasons you may not get top dollar when selling your home

Published on 2011-02-07 18:20:15

This market is tough on sellers. With nearly 1/3 of homes on the market in some state of foreclosure and distress, buyers believe that every house should be sold at a discount. Every seller, even a distressed seller should believe there is a bene

Bank owned, REO, Open Houses San Jose February 6th, 2011

Published on 2011-02-06 11:25:57

If you are not planning on watching the Super Bowl, here are some potential deals in San Jose this weekend. Here is a list of bank owned homes that are for sale in San Jose with open houses today, Sunday. Contact me if you would like copies of co

When buying or selling a home, when should you sign closing documents?

Published on 2011-02-04 12:05:32

Every state has different closing practices and even within a state, regional differences can occur. In Northern California, a title company many times will double as a title and escrow company for the participants in a real estate exchange. Th

Using past sales to support an offer?

Published on 2011-02-04 08:56:38

Q. I’d like to know your opinion on using past sales as comps to submit an offer. With the quick slide downward since 2007, would it be accurate to say that 2007 sales are pretty much invalid? If there have been April/May 2009 sales for simil

How easy is it to buy a short Sale in San Jose?

Published on 2011-02-02 08:14:23

Q. I’m Thinking of buying a condo in San Jose area but notice they are all short sales. How easy is it to buy a short sale and how long does it take? It it all depends on the lender(s) involved the listing agents experience with short sales a

Bank owned, REO, Open Houses San Jose January 30th 2011

Published on 2011-01-30 12:04:10

Here is a list of single family homes, condominiums, and townhomes that are bank owned (REO) properties available for sale and open Sunday January 30th, 2011. Contact me if you would like comparable market information for any of these homes. Click

Is the seller going to clean up their mess?

Published on 2011-01-26 09:07:12

Q. We just put in a offer on a home in South San Jose and it is a short sale home but our agent thinks it may be a forclosure now, not sure yet. The house is trashed with stuff (garbage, furniture, toys, junk .etc) oh, and a bunch of mouse droppi

Home prices ready for a second dip? Which Silicon Valley neighborhoods are at risk?

Published on 2011-01-24 15:15:18

If you are reading or listening to news reports about the housing market, you may find conflicting information. Hard to believe that three out of the four largest banks showed profits for 2010 while so many home owners are continuing to struggle.

How do I protect my deposit when buying a home?

Published on 2011-01-07 13:24:29

Simple answer: Do what you said you would do when you signed the purchase contract. I follow and participate on many public forums in regard to real estate (like TRULIA, ZILLOW, YAHOO, and ALLEXPERTS) and more and more I see questions from buyers a

What repairs do lenders require in Santa Clara County before approving a loan?

Published on 2011-01-02 10:47:23

Q. What repairs do lenders require in Santa Clara County, Ca before approving a loan? We’re buying a 1940′s house in forclosure. It needs a lot of clean-up & cosmetic work. It has almost no kitchen cabinetry, a really grimey counter &

I’m Thinking of buying a condo in San Jose area but notice they are all short sales. How easy is it to buy a short sale and how long does it take?

Published on 2010-12-05 16:13:51

It it all depends on the lender(s) involved the listing agents experience with short sales and the value perceived by the short sale lender. I have had short sales approved in as little as two weeks and one with WAMU/Chase that took 9 months becaus

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