Lodi / Stockton CA Homes For Sale & Real Estate Information

If you’re faced with the decision of which direction to go, you might want to watch the video down below because you may not even have a choice.  The bank may be makng the choice for you without fair warning.

This video shares some insight as to why homeowners are having such a hard time trying to get their lenders to do a loan modification on their current mortgage.

Feel free to post any comments that you may have on this subject.

CLICK HERE to view the video

According to Bloomberg’s Kathleen M. Howley…

Increasingly aggressive mortgage lenders are seeking to collect deficiencies from former home owners who walked away from their properties or sold them in short sales.

Many states, including Florida, give mortgage holders as long as five years to seek a deficiency judgment. If granted, the bank gets up to 20 years to collect and the option to renew for another 20 years if the debt isn’t paid.

About one-third of U.S. states, including California and Arizona, prohibit collection efforts after foreclosure, but home owners usually waive that protection in a refinance.

Most states allow collection on unpaid home-equity loans.

Banks are most likely to try to collect from people who walk away from a property in which they are still making payments.

“The bank is going to pull your credit report, and if you’re current on your other bills they are going to come after you and potentially ruin you,” says Larry Tolchinsky, a Florida real estate attorney.

Hey dad, are we there yet?  No, I’m not referring to the camping trip.  I’m talking about the ‘bottom’ of the real estate market.

Sometimes I think what I see and read from the so-called ‘experts’ is all smoke and mirrors.  Personally, I feel that we’re pretty much there, but for sure we’re a lot closer to the bottom than we are from the top.

Once again, Stockton, CA has made it on the national news, but at least the news is not as bad for Stockton as it is for some other cities.

Take a look at this article and short CNBC video that talks about the current state of real estate foreclosures and what we can look forward to.

Image via Wikipedia

If you are a current real estate investor or looking into how to get started, then I recommend that you look into a new group in Stockton that is already making a name for itself in the “Where do I go to learn and network” circles.

Here is a link (CLICK HERE) that will take you to the site for the Real Estate Investor Community of Central Valley.  The 1st meeting was a great success!

Real estate investing is a hot topic right now, and especially in the Stockton and Modesto areas of the central valley in California.  These two cities were listed recently in a list of the Top 10 undervalued markets.

Be sure and check out the Investors link above and I’ll see you at the next event.

I’ve written a few times lately and have also discussed a lot about whether NOW is a good time to buy real estate.

It seems less time is put into whether or not now is a good time to buy a new car or big screen tv.  Do those items ever go up in value?  Unless it’s made of gold, I don’t think so.

If you’re thinking of buying a home either as an investor, a first-time homebuyer, or moving up into a larger home, you can look into it now or wait for when home prices or interest rates increase, or both.

According to CNNMoney, Les Christie, there are 242 of the 299 largest U.S. housing markets that are selling for prices even bankers think are less than fair market value.

Of this Top 10 list of undervalued housing markets, two of them are right here in our beautiful central valley.  What does that mean to you?  What does that mean FOR you?

To me, it means that now IS a good time to buy.

Here is that Top 10 list:

1. Las Vegas, -41.4 percent
2. Vero Beach, Fla., -39.8 percent
3. Merced, Calif., -37.7 percent
4. Cape Coral, Fla., -36.8 percent
5. Houma, La., -34.6 percent
6. Port St. Lucie, Fla., -33.3 percent
7. Warren, Mich., -32.3 percent
8. Vallejo, Calif., -31.9 percent
9. Modesto, Calif. -31.8 percent
10. Stockton, Calif., -31.8 percent

Ultimately you have to be the judge when it’s a good time buy your 1st or your next home, but with the current tax credit of $8,000 for 1st-time buyer as well as the incentive now for existing homeowners to purchase real estate, I’m thinking now instead of later is good, if not better, timing.

At Realty World-Davis Homes & Properties, we are able to everyone with their real estate needs, but because of the low home prices we seem to be specializing in first-time buyers and investors.

You’ve heard the slogan…If you’ve got questions, we’ve got answers.

Make it a great day!

Today, more than ever, I still get asked…”Is now a good time to buy real estate, or should I wait a little longer?”

There is always going to be that ever-so-popular 64 thousand dollar question.  Sometimes there’s no easy or simple answer.  But right now, I think there is one.  And that answer is “YES”.  It most definitely IS a good time to buy real estate, especially here in the Lodi, CA, Stockton, CA, and pretty all the surrounding areas in the San Joaquin and Stanislaus County areas.

Home prices are lower than they’ve been in years.  Incentives like the $8,000 tax credit are plentiful.  But here’s the real kicker, interest rates are said to be on the rise.  Oh, they’re still lower than ever right now, but from what I hear and read, that’s not for long.

All indicators point to rising interest rates in the coming months.  I don’t believe there’ll be a spike that makes your eyes pop out, but it’ll be enough that you’ll surely notice it in higher monthly mortgage payments if you wait to purchase.  At Realty World – Davis Homes & Properties we work with lots of investors and especially first-time home buyers to help them get the best deals on some really good homes.  Either way you slice it, right now it’s a buyer’s market and you could be in the driver’s seat.

I came across a short video on YouTube that talks a little about these topics and more.  I think you’ll find it informative.  CLICK HERE to view.

I’d love to hear what your thoughts are about what you see in the video.  Please take a moment and click on ‘Comments’ and let me know.

Thanks and make it a great day!

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• Interest Rates of 5% May Never Be Seen Again! Here’s Why.  stroupecondoblog.com)

What is happening with all the applications for loan modifications in Lodi and Stockton, CA these days you ask?

According to THIS ARTICLE on www.msnbc.com by the Associated Press, I would have to say that there’s not much more happening here than there is in the rest of the country.

In the entire nation, only approximately 1,700 homeowners had completed the process for a loan modification out of the approx 650,000 applications for the program.  Those numbers are staggering!

As for the real estate market here in the local Lodi and Stockton CA areas; it is what it is.  Homes for sale is a common search on Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

There are some great deals on REO’s (Foreclosures) and also with Short Sales, which some banks are starting to work a little harder on to get into the escrow process than others.  One of the good ones to work with is Wachovia, but I shouldn’t mention the not-so-good ones though.  (*Cough* B of A *Cough*)  Sorry, I couldn’t pass that up.

To read the entire news article about the pace of loan mods…CLICK HERE

Sometimes it can be a bit confusing when it comes to real estate, taxes, and pretty much anything else financial.  That’s why it’s always good to consult with the professionals in each of these categories as well as among others.

Well, I’ve come across a really good source of information regarding the First-time Home Buyer Tax Credit that I think you’ll find to be easier to understand if you still have any questions about the How and Why’s.

Remember, you repeat buyers are now eligible as well, so you check this page out also.

CLICK HERE to be directed to a great Q&A page.

Make it a great day!

Here is a little more information about the first-time homebuyer tax credit extension and revision to include existing homeowners.

The extension and expansion of the homebuyers tax credit that passed Congress November 5 allows more first-time buyers to qualify and creates an entirely new credit for existing homeowners who buy a new home.

The effective date is Tuesday, December 1 for the enhanced first-time buyer credit and for the new credit. It is not retroactive. However, first-time buyers who have been rushing the meet the November 30 deadline for the existing program need not worry. They can qualify under the new one. Existing homeowners who are also in the process of buying a home should consider delaying closing until December 1 or later to qualify for the credit.

Both credits expire next spring. Buyers must have a contract on a home before May 1, 2010 and they have until June 30, 2010 to close in order to qualify.

Key Provisions

Amounts:

• The first-buyer credit remains 10 percent of the cost of the home or $8ooo, whichever is less.

• The credit for existing homeowners is 10 percent of the value of the new home or $6500, whichever is less.

Definitions:

• A first-time homebuyer cannot have owned a home during the past three years.

• Existing homeowners must have owned and lived in their current home five out of the preceding eight years.

• Only principal residences qualify. No second homes or investment properties.

Income limits:

• The measure raises the income limits for those claiming the credit to $125,000 a year for individuals and $225,000 for couples, up from $75,000 and $150,000 in the previous first-time buyer credit. After that, the value of the credit phases out.

• The cost of the new home cannot exceed $800,000.

Cost:

• Expanding the home buyers’ credit will cost about $11 billion. The total cost of extending the first-time buyer credit and adding the existing owners’ credit is $16.7 billion.

How to Apply::

• Use IRS form 5405, which you file with an amended tax return.

• For more information on applying, go to http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204671,00.html

Make it a great day!

The wait is over!  Yesterday, President Obama signed into law to extend the home buyer $8,000 tax credit until April 30,2010.  This is expected to contribute nearly $22 billion to our economy.

Originally, the tax credit was designed for first-time home buyers, but this new plan will now make it possible for more people to participate.  Current home owners who have lived in their home for five of the last eight years will be eligible for a tax credit of $6,500.

The income limits have been increased to $125,000 for single buyers and $225,000 for couples.  There is a cap on the price of the home at $800,000.

I am hopeful that this extension in the tax credit will help keep the real estate market growing in the right direction.  Especially in the Stockton, CA area where we have an abundance of great deals on homes just waiting for a buyer.

If you’ve already purchased a home this year (Congrats!) and would like a copy of the IRS Form 5405 for the tax credit, you can obtain one at www.IRS.gov

Make it a great day!

Randy