Bay Area Real Estate - What's Hot & What's Not

According to December's issue of Realtor Magazine, exterior projects top the home owner payback list of projects that add value to a home.

Interested in the article? We'd be happy to send an electronic copy, just drop us an email at sales@brokersforlife.com.

Some home owners are worried about their mortgage payments and what options they might have for eleviating the effect these payments have on them from month to month. Options exist however, as each case is unique so are the solutions.

Possible options might include; - Refinancing - Renegotiating Loan Terms - Selling - Short Sale - Bankrupcy

Last night the City of Santa Clara identified a financial gap in the feasibility review of the proposed 49er stadium. The result of which leaves the city approximately $50 million dollars shy of the funds required to build a stadium and bring the 49ers to Santa Clara. 49ers are evaluating alternative funding sources and remain optimistic.

What do you think? Should the 49ers move to Santa Clara? 

Today the Fed is meeting to decide what to cut rates by in order to spur the economy and prevent further slipping. Economists are saying that today's meeting is not to decide whether or not to cut rates, but rather to decide by how much. It is expected that rates will adjust by either 1/4th or 1/2 a percent.

Fannie Mae has announced that it will impose an extra charge on all new loans it buys/guarantees. Following suit other mortgage insurers have followed suit and also tightened standards.

The good news is that with a rate cut and good credit/equity standing home owners and buyers can still get attractive rates from lenders! Now many be a good time to consider refinancing or purchasing your new home!

Many lenders will be making asset management loss mitigation decisions from now until portfolios are again in balance. In Santa Clara County we have seen an inventory surge of homes on the market, but that is starting to taper off. Although still high, a decrease in supply generally stabilizes prices.

We are seeing that financially sound investors are beginning to capitalize on real estate bargains as a long term strategy. Now may be the perfect time to diversify an investors portfolio with real estate properties.