If you’re planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase. It’s also a different step in the process from a home inspection, which assesses the condition of the home before you finalize the transaction. Here’s the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home.

Home Appraisal
The National Association of Realt... Read more

As a Real Estate professional I get asked this question daily. I have my ideas and opinions and quite frankly they change as the "market" changes. But the one constant for me has been this: Any given property is worth what someone is willing to pay.

If you are trying to sell a property in today’s market put yourself in the shoes of a buyer. Ask yourself this question:


Would I pay what I’m asking?



Today’s buyer studies the market to determine for themselves what a certain property in a certain neighborhood is worth.



... Read more

The average sales price of homes in Yuba City CA for the month of Sep 09 to the month of Nov 09 was $165,000. This shows an increase of 3.1%, or $5,000, from the previous quarter. There was a decline of 6.8% compared to the year 2008. Sales prices have depreciated at a drastic rate of 38.2% during last five years in Yuba City.

It was found that the average list price for a Yuba City home on sale was $266,086, week ending Jan 13th; this is clearly a decline of 1.2%, or $3,107, compared to the decline of 4.7% during the previous week. The price per square foot on an average in Yuba Cit... Read more

If you are an investor looking to invest on a foreclosed property, then you may also want to consider whether to buy the Real Estate Owned property or the pre- foreclosed property that is still owned by the borrower. You may feel that investing on an REO property is a fairer deal as you will be assured with the title to the property and the insurance. Also you will have a security of the old owner not returning to claim back the property.

However, these features are not applicable when you buy a pre foreclosed home! But the real problem you will face when you want to invest on an REO... Read more

A depression in the economy can cause many home owners to throw up their arms and sell their homes in order to get rid of financial difficulties. But does that mean they can give away their property to a lender only because they cannot afford it anymore! Also those in financial crisis cannot treat their homes as easy to dispose consumer goods. I agree that a real estate investment can also be termed as an illiquid investment. But real estate history has known that selling a home takes much planning and patience for months before a suitable buyer turns up.

The early 1990s saw homes se... Read more

Your dream of owning a home in Elk Grove will no longer be a dream. With many loan programs for the first time investors on the Elk Grove homes for sale and all necessary information present on the internet, you can easily buy your dream home. With the right information and money in hand, your investment becomes easy. But it is essential that you handle your finances correctly. Here are a few steps to help you properly manage your money.

• Your credit score and credit grade will play an important role in determining the mortgage and interest rates that you are eligible to. So to begin... Read more

Investing in real estate has been a booming business from many years. With many homes for sale in Elk Grove, you are sure to find homes that will suit your necessities and finances. Irrespective of the purpose of investment you want to make, you will need a plan. Especially when you are investing on a home with the intension of living in it, the planning must be effective and complete before you begin the investment.

When you want to make a serious investment on the homes for sale in Elk Grove, you will need sufficient time before you move to find a suitable home and negotiate a good ... Read more

Recession has had its impact on real estate too. The real estate market is now struggling in many areas of the country. The real estate agents and brokers have realized the importance of being a financial planner in accord to being a sales person. Traditional approaches to the current market do not have its stand in the global real estate market. With real estate transactions going online, agents are seeing themselves in new levels with professionalism and customer service. In such a situation, real estate agents are to be high on heels with technology.

The easy access to information... Read more

Investment in real estate is said to be the safest form of investment any individual can make. Having found your dream home with the help of a real estate agent, you are all set to buy it. But wait! Are you warned about the risks involved in investing in real estate investment? Here are a few points that you need to before making your bid on the property.

Getting a ‘real’ real estate agent:
With many agents in the market, finding an agent who has the best deals to offer at the best property is difficult. With real estate going online, the reach of agents to clients has grown over... Read more

The golden city of Sacramento, California, is has a vibrant past. The recent government program, 2-1-1 Sacramento, provides the citizens with information about all the government services available to them. 2-1-1 Sacramento addresses various community services including housing, education, medicine, employment, finance, schools, children and women health and food programs and many more.

The culture, sports, music and arts in Sacramento is unique in its own way. The presence of theatres, museums, sports fields and constant opportunity for artists and sportsmen to display their skills, ... Read more

Ask the Experts: Do your homework on reverse mortgages

Our three new "Ask the Experts" writers have been busily answering financial questions this month from online readers.

Here’s a sample of their advice on personal finance, wills/estates and investing.

To see more questions or to get advice from our other financial experts on taxes, banking and investment clubs, go to: www.sacbee.com/ask.


Pamela Christensen, Certified financial planner

I expect to retire in about four years and will have a small Sacramento County retirement. We also h... Read more

Real Estate - A Great Long Term Investment

GreatWest GMAC Real Estate professionals know real estate is a good long-term investment. Although home values have stalled or experienced decline in recent years, longer snapshots in time have proved real estate to be a fantastic investment.

Let’s consider one scenario provided by a real estate professional. If someone were fortunate enough to buy a home even in 2002 and paid $500,000. If they put 20% down, there mortgage was $400,000. That home went all the way up to $800,000 in 2005 and is now only worth $560,000. They likely ref... Read more

Construction: New land deals seen

By Jim Wasserman
jwasserman@sacbee.com

http://www.sacbee.com/business/story/2080102.html?storylink=pd

The real estate market isn’t cured yet, but several indicators suggest that it is beginning that long, slow and greatly anticipated climb out of intensive care.

If so – and if the patterns continue – the market here could stabilize, finally reversing the decline that has marked the capital region as one of the worst-hit metro areas in the United States. Sacramento’s ill-fated housing boom peaked four years ... Read more

Real Estate Sales

Posted: Friday, Jul 24, 2009 - 05:11:08 pm PDT

http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2009/07/24/real_estate/1-real-estate-sales.txt


Email this story Printer friendly version By Press staff and
The Associated Press
Jeff Chiu/Associated Press In this July 21 photo, a home for sale is shown in San Francisco. A real estate group’s report said Thursday, July 23, sales of previously occupied homes rose 3.6 percent from May to June, the third consecutive monthly increase and a sign that a housing recovery is under way in much of the country... Read more