Jean's Jingles

  I use Placer Title company in California whenever possible. A broker has started a company called the Short Sale Advantage which is affilieated with Placer title. The only thing is that the selling agent must usePlacer Title company if the listing agent is using this service. The plus is that ...

Ready to close the deal? Maybe not. Sometimes unforeseeable issues arise just prior to closing the sale. Hopefully, with negotiation, most of these have a workable solution. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. But don't panic. Another buyer might still be found who is willing to accept th...

Buying a home in today's market may be a challenge.  And given the economic news we're getting, it may take nerves of steel to jump in right now.  But there are many homes on the market right now that are great values.  If you have good credit, money for a down payment and are pre-approved by a ...

ACTIVE DETACHED REO & SHORT SALES Criteria: All Active, Detached and Patio Home Villas 12/14/2008 Detached Area Active #REO %REO #PotentialShort Sales %PotentialShort Sales %PotentialShort Sale + %REO Alameda 87 10 11.49% 11 12.64% 24.14% Castro Valley 161 20 12.42% 33 20.50% 32.92% Danville 193...

I just read an article regarding traditional sellers finding it very difficult to compete with banks and still retain much equity in their home. I closed an escrow last month in which the seller was over extended and had to sell his home. He is a contractor and his home was in great conditon wit...

With the interest rates down to 4.5% buyers are not completing their applications for a new mortgage. They think it will go down and want to wait. It seems they are doing their own bail out. It is possible for the buyer to lock in at a rate on the condition that it be changed if the rates go dow...

For all of you who celebrate Christmas, are you ready. It seems that the time is just flying by so fast. Before we know it, the new year will be here. Are your children, grandchildren going to have a wonderful Christmas or will it be sparse this year as it will be for us? I think it is a year in...

I have been lucky in the last few months. I have had a few closings. Every one of them have had different issues. One listing had major, major work and finally closed. the seller of another was so upset because he had to sell for a price that he thought was low and unfair due to all the foreclos...

I have been moving towards being as green as I can be.  I have been watching and reading about the issue of drinking bottled water.  They say that drinking tap water is better and cheaper than drinking bottled water.  It definitely helps the environment by not purchasing plastic that causes so m...

Being that I have lived on the Island of Alameda all my life it always a pretty site to see the Parade of Lights on the estuary that surrounds my great city! Many owners of sailboats, little boats, barges, motor boats and yachts decorate with bright holiday lights and parade up and down the estu...