1 comment | Friday, September 28, 2012
Posts Tagged ‘Buy now’
1 comment | Monday, September 3, 2012
HELLLLOOOO My Wonderful, Beeeeeautiful Bay Area!!..We’re in a very aggressive multiple offer market… you need to take action asap… I’m happy to help and at your service… 925.997.2426 or isiwu@comcast.net…
(please read below…from a satisfied repeat client)….
Now is a great time to make your dream come true of owning a home. Interest rates are great and real estate prices are good. That’ s all you have to think about, Isi will take care of the rest.
You need a real estate agent who’s fresh and a “go getter” when it’s time to make a deal. Someone who has been around the block. Someone who can represent you when the pressure is on. Timing is crucial when it comes to closing, because there’s so many “unknowns” that can spoil the deal. Isi, has the knowledge of the whole process. She has represented me in two house purchases and one sale.. she knows both sides of the negotiation… This is how she can put together as she would say, “a great package” when its time to submit an offer or receiving an offer. Isi also has an extensive network of professionals to keep the process moving along…This recent purchase Isi made sure we got our inspections done in a timely manner and turned us on to a loan agent with much better rates than what we were already approved for by another company.
I’m convinced I would still be renting if Isi was not my agent… if you’re in the market for a home or considering one… CALL ISI… your dreams can become a reality like it happenend for my wife and me… Thank You Isi!!… by S Hipol
(and NO… I didnt pay him LOL… He’s a very happy client… I would love to go to work for you !!…Thanks for your consideration!!)
Comments Off | Saturday, August 4, 2012
HELLLOOOO My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area…. As you all may have heard or perhaps been a part of... our current bay area real estate market for sellers is in the throes of Multiple Offers...Hooray for the Sellers!… however this sort of situation can put buyers into the fray of uncertainty and aggressive competition for a chance to buy a home… the current low inventory of homes surely adds pressure for the buyer… many have to compromise on what their true desires for a home may be… Today my focus is to provide some information and help for those buyers… whose goal is to become homeowners!! There’s plenty of other types of buyers who have at least 30-40-50% down and in many cases All Cash… Buyers who are barely able to put down 1-3% don’t have the luxury of extra money set aside to repair or remodel the only property they can afford. Lets say for example…
You are attracted to a house that is perfectly located but it just came out of foreclosure and needs a lot of work to make it habitable. To swing the deal, you need to finance both the purchase and the required repairs. How do you do that?
Getting the mortgage required to purchase a house is only one of the challenges facing the buyer when the house needs work. The second challenge is finding a way to finance the needed repairs. The standard purchase mortgage doesn’t do that because it is based on the lower of sale price or the appraised value of the home in its current condition.
An obvious solution is a second mortgage, but they are not available in the current market except where the first mortgage is too small to do the buyer any good. Second mortgage lenders are still smarting from the steep losses they suffered on second mortgages written during the go-go years leading up to the financial crisis. An unsecured personal loan would be extremely costly if it were available at all.
The solution to this problem is a mortgage on which the loan amount is based on the value of the property after needed repairs have been made. Then one mortgage would cover both a purchase and the repairs needed to make the house habitable. This is future value financing, and it is available through a special FHA program termed “203(k).” This program is available to both home purchasers and existing homeowners who want to rehabilitate their properties in conjunction with a refinance.
The Section 203(k) program is complicated because FHA as the risk bearer has to make sure that the future value of the property upon which the mortgage amount is based actually materializes. To protect itself, FHA requires an appraisal of the property’s value after completion of the planned rehabilitation, in addition to an appraisal of the property “as is.”
Further, before the mortgage is insured, the lender must create a rehabilitation escrow account that contains the money allocated for expenses. FHA has procedures in place to assure that draws against this account are properly disbursed and accounted for, and that the rehabilitation work is completed.
Lenders are encouraged to participate in 203(k)s by the insurance against loss provided by FHA. However, 203(k)s are more complicated and involve more paperwork than the mainstream FHA program, and participating lenders use specially trained staff. As a result, many lenders don’t offer 203(k)s. Lenders that do offer them charge a rate above that on standard FHAs — figure on paying about 0.25 percent more.
The borrower looking for future value financing must deal with multiple players. In a typical case, the real estate agent who shows a potential buyer a house in need of work will recommend a lender who will preapprove the borrower for a 203(k). The preapproval is based on estimates of sale price and repair costs. The sale price estimate is provided by an appraiser selected by the lender who values the property on both an as-is and after-repairs basis. The repair cost is provided by a licensed general contractor who is usually recommended by the lender.
In addition, if the repair costs are more than $35,000, FHA requires the borrower to retain a HUD-approved consultant to help manage the process… Among other things, the consultant prepares the required architectural exhibits, and monitors the improvements at each stage. HUD provides a list of consultants and sets their fee schedule, but does not warrant their performance. Lenders will usually recommend consultants that they have worked with, and this is one case where a lender referral is likely to serve the borrower well. The consultant’s fee can be included in the mortgage.
Increased use of 203(k) in the next few years is expected. Millions of homes emerging from the foreclosure process will enter the market, and many of them have been neglected and need work.
(written by…Jack Guttentag is professor of finance emeritus at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania)
Perhaps its time to get you lined up for this sort of financing… contact me for further information… Call or Email Me Anytime… Isi
Comments Off | Thursday, May 24, 2012
English: Homeless Woman Iraqi War Veteran in Wheelchair and her Chihuahua, at San Diego Stand Down. Photograph by Patty Mooney of San Diego, California, 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Housing vouchers known as HUD-VASH can help veterans resolve their housing situation if they are in danger of becoming homeless.
HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are working together to provide the fastest and most complete service possible to those who served our country who now need housing assistance.
The first step is to locate the VA center closest to you, register, and explain your circumstances. If you are a low-income veteran, the VA will refer you to the local housing authority nearest you that received HUD VASH vouchers. These are housing vouchers funded by HUD, coordinated by the VA and administered by local housing agencies that allow you to live in the place of your choice.
The basic eligibility requirements are determined initially by the VA, as the veteran must be eligible for medical services from the organization and his or her economic situation should be classified under the definition of homeless as defined by law. Read all the details here.
The person must participate actively in obtaining services to help to stabilize his or her situation. A requirement for participation is to accept the assistance of a social worker to help with handling your case, whether that is related to physical or mental disabilities. The most vulnerable veterans are ideal candidates for this program.
The next step is to contact the housing authority, which determines whether your income level is right for the program and establishes that the veteran and immediate family living with him (or her) are not sex offenders, which automatically disqualifies the person.
Once the eligibility process is determined, the veteran receives a list of homes whose owners are interested in renting to people with housing vouchers, or the veteran can select the property he or she wants, provided the owner agrees to receive payment for the rent on a contract with the housing authority and the tenant. The property must pass inspection to verify that it is habitable and sanitary housing. The next step: move!
If you need help, do not wait. Call the National Center for Homeless Veterans Assistance at 1-877-424-3838.
Comments Off | Saturday, October 15, 2011
HELLLLOOOOO My Beautiful Wonderful Bay Area!!… Dreams Do Come True!!
Scott & Jenn… Huge Congratulations!!!
Welcome to Your New Home in Beautiful Estudillo Estates…
Comments Off | Thursday, March 24, 2011
HELLLLOOOOOO My Wonderful Beautiful Very Wet Outside Bay Area… Rain is Good, Rain is Good… Am so enjoying staying in and catching up on much needed computer work… yes realtors dont just sell properties we also use and work on our computers LOL> LOL…
Today I have a heads up for all of you…
COMING VERY SOON TO MARKET…
A Gorgeous, Spacious Bi-Level Home located in
“Distinguished Castro Valley Schools” on a quiet – private street…
3 Bedrooms – 2 Large Baths
2,364 sq.ft. interior – 5,029 sq.ft. lot
( Huge Master Suite with Adjoining Office & Master Bath upper floor)
List of Amenities & Upgrades are too much to list…
(will forward to you upon request)
Move In Ready!!
Must see to appreciate… you will Love This One!!…
Feel free to contact me for more information…
Related articles
- Bay Area Beagle Meetup: Castro Valley (October 2010) (tmdbeagles.wordpress.com)
Comments Off | Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Hellloooo My Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area!!… How many of you have gone through the home buying process and gone to the title company to sign off your loan documents and actually experienced waiting the day or two before your home finally became officially yours??… For those of you who have never gone through the process here’s a glimpse of what actually happens when you go to sign off your closing documents just prior to your home loan funding and recording at the County Recorder’s Office and getting your keys to your new home!… the following video is an actual signing for one of my clients (who happens to be just 23 years of age, who purchased her first home without any financial help from her parents… (I want to make clear that this example is one that is happening much more frequently than ever before … and I want to emphasize that anyone I mean anyone no matter how young or old can achieve homeownership if the desire is there…)
I hope this will enlighten you and give you extra insight as to what happens towards the end of a transaction in escrow… By all means please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have… it will be my pleasure to assist you…
Maddi is now a very happy and proud homeowner and I’m very honored to have represented her!…
Thanks for checking in…
Isi
Isi Wu… the realtor for you
Serving Clients All Over the Eastbay…
3 comments | Sunday, March 21, 2010
Helllloooo My Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area!!… Dim Sum is synonomous to Fun, Good Times, Delicious Food, Variety, Hot Tea and our Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area… or lets say most anywhere where there is a large population of Chinese… As a child growing up in our Wonderful Beautiful Bay Area… my sisters and I looked forward to having our weekly treat of dim sum with our mother… after making the rounds in Chinatown food shopping we got to top off the trip with a meal of dim sum… most dim sum houses are overflowing with folks at noon time… small plates with all kinds of dishes to enjoy!!… Today… after many many years of visiting dim sum tea houses throughout the US and the world… one of our very most favorite places is East Ocean Restaurant in the island town of Alameda, CA.
It is owned and operated by a family of sisters… all of whom focus on welcoming everyone who come to dine… It is by far one of the very best places to enjoy dim sum and always always served with a smile…. The mark of any great place to eat is not only the loyalty of its customers but its staff… the staff at East Ocean have been there many many years… there is a devotion to the business and to the people they serve… My husband and I have been loyal customers there for at least 17 years… the food is always fresh and always always served with a smile… and the price is reasonable… if you’re ever in the mood to have Dim Sum served with lots of smiles… try East Ocean Restaurant.
When you go look for Millie or any of her sisters who will always greet you with a smile and a chat…
4 comments | Monday, August 31, 2009
“Thank you very much for helping and being patient. I would like to talk to you in person or on the phone since I got a good feeling about you in many ways. I would like to share with you a little bit about me…”
In this age of technology and education offered on all the different ways to use the www to help you in your quest for information and building business…The comments above were sent to me directly as a result of using the internet… It is the ultimate to receive feedback such as the aforementioned!!… and it is a great lesson learned as to how we all can use the internet for our benefit. You can bet your bottom dollar I would never ever disregard this message and will make certain that I cherish and use it to stay in constant contact with this “New” client!!…
In an effort to use as much technology to communicate and be communicated with… we have to invest time and care with what we do… at least thats the way I choose to work… its always been about “treat others as you want to be treated” kind of philosophy with me. Instead of talking or sharing thoughts and facts related to real estate… Today… I wanted to share this with you… I think its just as relevant to all of us in how we conduct ourselves in our everyday lives. I cant think of anything more rewarding than to receive positive feedback from someone you’ve never met which then opens up a whole platform of exchanges with that person and others.
I wish you all a thoughtful, invigorating day!
Comments Off | Monday, August 24, 2009
1. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 authorizes a tax credit-set to expire in the fall-of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time homebuyers purchasing a principal residence.
2. Builder incentives are aplenty; from including upgraded features to generous financing assistance (keep an updated list handy!)
3. Your chance to move into the school district or neighborhood of your choice has never been better than now.
4. You can take advantage of historically low interest rates on mortgages. Today’s rates are some of the lowest seen in the past (30) years.
5. You have lots of inventory to choose from – take your pick from single family homes, condominiums, garden homes, gated communities, upscale homes, homes on the golf course, and many others.
6. If you are currently renting, a mortgage payment could be lower than your monthly rent, plus you could be building up equity and getting a tax deduction in the process.