Archive for June, 2009Keepin’ It Real Estate: The Fed Loses the Mortgage-Rate Battle?This post first appeared on Minyanville. Despite the best efforts of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department, the free market is winning the battle over mortgage rates. Tens of trillions of dollars in support for the financial system can’t change the stark reality: Giving out home loans remains risky business. Borrowers looking to take [...] Home of the Day: $390k Per Bedroom in BerkeleyAddress: 1211 Henry St. Berkeley, CA (MLS Listing) List Date: 5/29/2009 Current List Price: $675,000 Original List Price: $675,000 Interesting Tidbits: * 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1,220 sq ft. * Hardwood floors in the dining room * Located directly across from a school * Lot is on the small side (3,500 sq ft.) Good curb [...] Cirios Top Five at Ten – 6/03/2009A daily list of the stories YOU should be reading. 5. Fed Chairman Bernanke is arguing for fiscal conservatism as a means to achieve long term economic stability. 4. Job losses are down this month, but a half million people still got their pink slips. 3. Increasing mortgage interest rates are leading to a decrease [...] Housing Perspective: April Pending Home SalesThe barrage of positive housing data continued yesterday as April Pending Home Sales — which measure contracts signed for new purchases — jumped 6.7% from a month ago. The index, which is viewed as a leading indicator for future sales, was also up 3.2% from this time last year, according to Bloomberg. Sales continued to [...] Home of the Day: Roof Top Deck on Telegraph HillAddress: 32 Castle St. San Francisco, CA List Date: 5/13/2009 Current List Price: $1,645,000 Original List Price: $1,645,000 Interesting Tidbits: * Awesome roof top deck with views * 2-unit building * 2 car garage * Updated Kitchen Nice open kitchen Guest Bedroom Did I mention the roof deck!? Not a bad view either Cirios Trends – June 2009In this month’s issue, check out: The State of the Markets – 6/1/09 “‘Green Shoots,’ the purported early signs of economic recovery are everywhere. Or are they?” By The Numbers: Price per Square Foot “What does all this mean? It means that price per square foot should only be evaluated on an apples to apples [...] Doing Your Real Estate Homework: Housingwire.comReaching a complete understanding of the real estate market you are looking to buy in requires you to look at more than just local trends. We are entering a new age in housing where the federal government is playing a much bigger role in how we buy homes. As a result, all potential buyers and [...] House of the Month: Rockridge continues to be in high demandWhile many parts of the East Bay continue to see significant declines in home prices, the Rockridge neighborhood in Oakland has seen prices remain very stable. Neighborhood Overview: Rockridge has all of the amenities most upper-middle class buyers are looking for in a neighborhood – quality restaurants, numerous supermarkets, above-average schools and close proximity to [...] Zip Code Spotlight – 94080 – South San Francisco, CAThis month, the Zip Code Spotlight falls on 94080, in South San Francisco, CA. As its name so cunningly implies, South San Francisco lies to the south of San Francisco proper, encompassing a wide swath on the east side of the peninsula. 94080 is populated by about 60% single family homes, 20% townhouses and 20% [...] By the Numbers – Price per square footPrice per square foot is a ratio often used to evaluate real estate prices. It can be an extremely informative metric, as it allows for a comparison of two properties that vary slightly as to the relative amount you are paying for each square foot of house you are getting. Notice I said you can [...] The State of the Markets – 6/1/2009“Green Shoots,” the purported early signs of economic recovery are everywhere. Or are they? This is the fundamental question gripping the US economy right now: Are the worst of our financial woes behind us, having emerged on the other side of the worst recession since World War II, or are we merely in the eye of the [...] Home of the Day: A Chateau in SausalitoAddress: 190 Harrison Ave, Sausalito, CA (Click address for listing) List Date: 3/17/2009 Current List Price: $4,200,000 Original List Price: $4,200,000 Interesting Tidbits: * 6,300 sq. ft. in living space * Incredible view from the patio * 3 car garage * Enormous great room Incredible garden like setting You could fit 3 NYC one-bedroom apartments [...] Top Five at Ten – 6/02/2009A daily list of the stories YOU should be reading 5. Pending home sales jump to record levels as many call the bottom. No word on when prices will stabilize. 4. Could the stock market rally be a result of the weak dollar!? 3. Wait, there is more bad news in the GM debacle!? Shocking. [...] Home of the Day: Foster City with AmenitiesAddress: 1400 Melbourne St., Foster City (Click address for listing) List Date: 4/12/09 Current List Price: $870,000 Original List Price: $899,999 Interesting Tidbits: * Desirable part of Foster City * HOA: $163 – includes access to community pool * House is vacant in good condition * Hardwood floors in the dining room Good Curb Appeal [...] Top Five at Ten – 6/01/2009A daily list of the stories YOU should be reading 5. GM has officially filed for bankruptcy, which will result in the American government owning 60% of the company that emerges at the other end. 4. In a bit of economic wizardry understandable to a select few, increasing mortgage bond yields are signaling a likely [...] |