If you are thinking of selling your home, now is a great time!  There is a demand for nice homes at a reasonable price, and locally in the Santa Maria Valley real estate market, we are experiencing multiple offers on properties that meet that description.  The market is no longer dominated by bank-owned REOs and short sales, but is more...Read More!

Are you wondering why there are so few homes for sale in the Santa Maria Valley?  I'm asked frequently by buyers who are often influenced by national real estate news, and information garnered from the internet: why is it so difficult to buy a home here? INVENTORY As of this moment, our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has 89 active residential listings, including...Read More!

The New York Times published a story on May 8 about Bank of America's latest efforts, which you can read in its entirety right here.  To be eligible for the principal reductions, homeowners will have to meet certain criteria, including: having a loan owned or serviced by Bank of America; owing more on the mortgage than their property is worth;...Read More!

I am often asked by buyers and sellers alike, how many sales in our local market are actually bank-owned foreclosures and short sales?  In the industry (and in the press too), these are generally known as "distressed properties".  Today I can tell you that since January 1, 2012, there have been a total of 439 closed transactions. Of the 439, 135...Read More!

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, beginning this June Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are to help homeowners sell their homes faster by obtaining short sale approvals within 30 days. Should this come to pass, it will streamline an incredibly slow and frustrating process and allow sellers to salvage their credit, move on with their lives, and let buyers...Read More!

As usual, one of the most frequently discussed topics at the California Association of Realtors business meetings (held three times a year) is short sales. To bring it down to the local level, I checked our multiple listing service for the total number of active short sale listings we have currently. As of today, we have a...Read More!

 Short sales aren't going away any time soon. Many of us who have been through these transactions have watched in abject horror as a sale that has been approved, suddenly is scheduled for a foreclosure sale on the courthouse steps. Part of the problem is the banks' short sale (loss mitigation) department is often far from the foreclosure department, often...Read More!

When they are good, they are good as gold in Foxenwood Estates!!  This special home had barely opened the doors for showings when we received three offers, and you will see why as you view the slideshow below.  First, the location is special. Poppinga Way is the first street Mark Smith developed in Foxenwood Estates, and the homes are all...Read More!

Following the Monday Market Update, I was curious about the number of sales year-to-date this year over last year, as well as the percentage of so-called "distress" sales vs. traditional, regular sales.  A little research brought the following results:So far this year, regular sales are neck and neck with short sale closings and REOs still top the other categories.  Yet...Read More!

If you were one of many local homeowners who took advantage of the first-time buyer tax credit that was offered as an incentive a few years ago, please take note of the following important information.                   Here is the link to the IRS website, directly to the page you need!  Article courtesy of the California Association of REALTORS® magazine, March/April issue. Although we...Read More!