Homescopes

Thanks to Robert Luna of Diverse Solutions for alerting me to this article on CNNMoney.com about using instant messaging to interact with customers online.  Consider this anecdote from a Park City, Utah broker: Now some savvy website operators are finding that, when used tactfully, it can be a powerful way to boost sales - not just [...]

The time between Thanksgiving and the New Year — actually, often until early February — is traditionally a pretty slow time of the year. With most people’s minds on the holidays and skiing in Tahoe, not many are thinking of buying or selling, and many Realtors take advantage of the lull to kick back, [...]

The Fair Oaks neighborhood in Menlo Park is well known for its traffic-slowing British-style “roundabouts”, specifically designed to slow down those impatient folks trying to skirt around the busy traffic on Middlefield and Marsh. What these busy folks tragically miss when they speed through the neighborhood is the wonderful community-owned and cared-for park. Located on [...]

We Realtors are full of advice on how to do certain things, like, oh, selling your house.  Here’s a contrarian list, to be followed only by those intent on not selling their house. 10. Stage it like your good ol’ great-grandmother from the old country would have.  After all, if that Dutch Delft Tchochkey was good [...]

In the pantheon of lender horror stories, this one may not even make the “honorable mention” list, but it cost a deal nonetheless… The loan officer was a “friend of a friend” of my clients who had promised them a “really good deal.” My clients, avid deal-sniffers, loved the sound of that. I, [...]

As part of my ongoing involvement with foreclosures and how to buy them, I get asked lots of questions. One that comes up frequently is, “When buying a foreclosure at auction, do I have to pay off all the liens?” The answer is, “It depends on the lien priority.” What is lien priority, you ask? [...]

San Jose Mercury News put out a call to action today with their article entitled

“Flaws In System Take Human Face”, by Joe Rodriguez. Now Joe’s article does aim to pull on the old emotional heartstrings 

http://www.mercurynews.com/joerodriguez

I find the timing of this article fitting in two ways.

The holidays are biting at our heels; it is a time we should think about others rather than ourselves.  I guess a sort of insurance of making sure my name pops up on the “Nice List” before I make those self proclaimed affrimations for the new year.

Ironically, this has been on my mind most recently when in starting the Almaden Valley Moms Group last week.  I want to be connected to a group that’s compassionate and willing to teach their children the art of giving selflessly.  Not more than two days after posting an idea about my “Heat Some Feet” - sock drive on Meetups.com, Joe’s article is center stage in Monday’s Valley section of the San jose Mercury newspaper and hits it right to home about how many homeless fall through the cracks when it comes to our over-burdend system of dealing with the homeless in San Jose.  

Now my life has not been directly in contact with such individuals living on the streets, but that’s about to change.

I thought it might help that each time the Almaden Valley Mom’s group gets together they could bring a pair (or more) of clean unused socks with them to donate to the cause of “Heat Some Feet” this winter.  On or around Dec. 20th, 2007 - I will go out and hand out the collection of new socks to several of the homeless shelters here in San Jose. If you’d like to participate in anyway, contact me - let’s Heat Some Feet this winter, for I am sure it is going to be a chilly one.

It’s hard impossible to grow up in a former British colony in Africa — at least this one — without becoming an avid soccer fan. (In answer to your next question, no, I am not responsible for this.) What I am responsible for is this week’s Carnival of Real Estate, and since that [...]

The efforts by Barney Frank (D-MA) chairman of the federal Financial Services Committee should be applauded for this efforts to clean up the mortgage industry…..BUT the consequences could be devestating and once more an example of our well meaning government to over reach and actually create more serious problems.  It is important for every citizen to carefully review this legislation and write your representative immediately if you feel as I do that this legislation may very well cause more pain than remedy.   

As near as I can tell here are some of the serious consequences that will unfold should this legislation pass the house next week….that’s right next week, week of November 12th!   CONSEQUENCES: 

1.  Mortgage brokers will be required to post enormously costly bonds…so much so that most say they will shut their doors.   Mortgage brokers are in part responsible for maintaining a competitive market place holding large banks in check allowing us to shop for and find competitive mortgage rates.   The oil industry is a good example of what can happen when  a few large players control.  The “seven sisters” as the big boys are known are making pretty good money these days thanks to our willingness to pay $3 + per gallon.  Actually it’s not our willingness….we have no choice.  Let’s not let this happen in the mortgage world.

2.  Standardized underwriting would not allow for special circumstance s among borrowers.  My circumstances are different than everyone else and I want my loan broker or bank to take that into consideration when lending.  One loan doesn’t fit all.  There are exceptions every rule…right?

3.  Mortgage interest rates will go up immediately.  That being the case wouldn’t higher interest rates make our current mortgage crisis even worse making it even more difficult for people victimized by the industry’s loose rules and loan practices in the first place. 

4.  Borrowers will no longer be able to finance closing costs.  In other words, you would not be able to include those costs with your new loan as we all now do.  Instead, after HR3915 passes you would now have to pay these [closing] costs out of your own pocket with cold hard cash.  Depending on your loan that out of pocket expense could be considerable and probably keep you from refinancing, buying, or successfully selling your home to a potential buyer.

5.  Read HR3915….Google.com it now, consider the impact of this legislation on you, your family, your friends and people you care about and if you agree with me write your representatives immediatley and urge or beg them to consider these factors and amend the legislation at once.

Joe Parsons

 

I am sure at one time or another we have all asked ourself should I consider another part of the country to live.  We all have our own preferences and levels of importance.  But, how do you really know what some other place might really be like?  Would you just be trading some negatives about your current home front for different and unknown negatives somewhere else?    If our job takes us elsewhere the decision is easy.  But if we are just trying to find a better place, environment, way of life, etc, etc. where do we begin to look?  How will we really know what it’s like short of experimenting or trying a new place out for a while?  Well, I ran across an interesting site I have bookmarked and suggest you do the same.   Check it out:  http://www.bestplaces.net

I am pleased to say I get hundreds of people finding my website http://www.SearchRedwoodCityProperties.com  on Google and Google’s affiliated search engines.  These folks  are thinking of relocating to the Redwood City area just south of San Francisco.   They know Redwood City puts them within striking distance of Silicon Valley’s dynamic economy and robust job market.  Redwood City also puts them in striking distance of San Francisco and so many other economically healthy communities around the bay.    After all  economic conditions are a huge draw for people considering a new place to live. 

Redwood City is one of the last communities that still offers “reasonable” housing prices.  Of course what is reasonable in Redwood City may not be resonable in other parts of the U.S.   All the more important to have a great site like http://www.greatplaces.net  to check “all things considered” before even thinking of relocating.  I hope you enjoy this site as I have…..

Joe Parsons