Bay Area Homebuilders are paying attention. “Bay Area Homebuilders are downsizing the American Dream to lure in entry-level homebuyers frustrated by the Bay Area resale housing market,” according to Dani Romero at Yahoo Finance.They’ve already increased Bay Area housing starts, which reflects their aim to meet the wants and needs of homebuyers who are frustrated by the paltry number of existing homes for sale.This is huge news for you if you’re among that group. Would you ever imagine that you could buy a brand-new home? No greasy smells from someone else’s cooking, no nasty carpet. Everything, down to the last detail, is brand new.But wait … there’s moreHave you ever met a Bay Area homeowner who threw in a pricey country club membership as an enticement to purchase his home? We haven’t... 12/04/2023

The FHA 203k loan is going strong in Richmond, CAI get such a kick out Realtors who think they know all about the  FHA 203k only to find they heard from someone years ago who heard from someone else that had a bad experience. Well, we have been doing this since 1994. That is 28 years this year. In 1998 I stopped doing standard home inspections and went 100% with consulting for the FHA 203k and FNMA HomeStyle® Renovation Mortgage. If you are a Realtor and need more volume this could easily be your nitche. How you ask?1. You can sell commercial property for 3.5% down payment while your competition is requiring 35% down.  I've had so many Realtors tell me they just never run into commercial properties. Well, they are in every town and I mean every town. This is just a sample. This one has ... 05/21/2022

Have you ever thought you wanted to have another source of income, you certainly could have. Many people think we only work in areas where the price of homes is very low or in very poor neighborhoods. The photo above is an FHA 203k project we did a few years ago, as you can see some of these homes are in pretty nice areas. This one was in Fair Oaks, CA and the buyer was all over the 203k loan as it fit his needs most readily. Advantages to a contractor becoming a consultant include that you get to look at a property before most and you get to be paid to prepare a bid. Advantages to a Realtor is you get some cash up front while you wait for your commission on the sale. You also get to control the inspection. Conflicts of interest, well yea. Of course but you can make them go away by havi... 09/28/2021

Construction issues on your 203k project?This is an actual project that was being completed and the contractor really screwed up and failed to properly read the plan... then kept going. Had he installed the windows correctly in the first place this couldn't have happened.We helped the client put in for a 203k loan in Alamo, CA on this one and the contractor was fired. He threatened to file a lien which he never did. We actually was hoping he would as to get him front of a judge with these photos may have been a blessing to the owners. If he had filed a lien then "perfected it" by getting our client in front of a judge he would have risked having to pay back 100% of the money he had charged for this type of outrageous behavior.The new contractor was able to fix the issue by removing the ... 01/09/2021

Listing DetailsCorner Lot Single Story Home In Antioch For Sale4415 Folsom Dr. Antioch CA, 94531Price: $459,950MLS number: 40877612Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2Square Footage: 1772Call Broker Shonn at 925-754-1611 to see if this property is still available and arrange a showing. Search Current inventory of Single Story Homes In Antioch For Sale You Will Feel the Love Given To This Home As Soon As You Enter It's Airy One Owner Property!You will love the spacious family room and dining area, new laminate wood style flooring and baseboards, fresh interior and exterior paint, new high-efficiency HVAC system, new lighting fixtures which includes LED recessed lights for additional energy saving benefits. The master bedroom is large with abundant storage, master bathroom has a large tub and separate... 08/09/2019

Antioch CA- This is a wonderful home located in a quiet Cul-De-Sac. The property sits next to open space and has no rear neighbors. This incredibly private and peaceful space is a perfect place to let your little ones run free.  This home sits on a lot that is over 8500 sq ft and has a large rear patio as well as a elevated deck which is a perfect place to enjoy this peaceful environment.  The interior is spacious, light, bright and freshly painted.  There is a bedroom and full bathroom on the lower level.  The eat-in kitchen has a large center island, ample cabinet and counter space.  The family room is open to the kitchen, perfect for entertaining guests, and is attached to a 200 sq ft bonus room.  The bonus room is the perfect place for your Man Cave, Movie Room or Sewing Room among ... 04/11/2018

Antioch CA – I recently received a question from Dan. Here was Dan’s Question.“I recently purchased another home and tried to sell my former home. It isn’t selling and I can’t afford to make both payments. The home won’t rent for even 1/2 of the mortgage payment.An agent told me the house is worth about $50K under the mortgage amount. Is it realistic for me to try the short sale?  The only hardship created was when I decided to move to a larger home for family. Dan.”Click Here to discover how other sellers successfully did an Antioch short sale and avoided foreclosure.Here was our answer to Dan’s Question.Dan, I think you can short sale your house. Do you have a legitimate hardship?I know you said you needed a larger house. However, if you also moved for a job transfer, then most lender... 02/27/2018

Antioch CA – The I  recently received a question from Susan about short sales. Here was Susan’s Question.“My home is scheduled to be going on the courthouse steps in about 2 months. I had thought about short selling, but a friend told me I wouldn’t have enough time to do it.Because of that I didn’t pursue a short sale earlier. Recently I decided to look into it further. It looks like a good option compared to foreclosure. My question is this.Do I have enough time to short sale my house, or is the foreclosure already too far along? Please let me know. Sincerely, Susan.”Click Here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.Here was our answer.  Susan, we can still help you with a short sale. Most lenders will postpone a foreclosure when a short sal... 02/26/2018

Have you ever lived in a neighborhood where one of the homes for sale seems to sit for an especially long time with fewer and fewer people viewing it? It’s a nice enough home, right? Lots of curb appeal and you’ve seen the interior and it’s delightful.So, why isn’t it selling?In a word?OverpricedEven worse, if it was originally overpriced and has experienced a series of price reductions, the home is stigmatized.What this means is that homebuyers think that there is something wrong with the home and most of them won’t even bother to look at it.So, if you’re considering selling your home and want to “experiment” with pricing, beware of these 3 common home pricing mistakes. Click Here to find the estinmated value of your property today. 1. Pricing too high out of the gateIt’s common knowle... 02/25/2018

Yes, short sales can actually help preserve home values in a neighborhood. Here is why.Most people short sell their home while they are still living in the home. They are maintaining the home, mowing the yard, keeping the air conditioning on, etc.Most bank owned properties are empty for 3-6 months, if not longer. No one maintains the home during that time period. Empty homes are easy targets for vandalism and thieves.Click Here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.The grass and yard get overgrown. Pools deteriorate and the water turns green with algae.In some Southern States, such as Florida, if a home is not air conditioned during the summer, then mold will grow on the walls inside.In the Northern States, if a home is not heated during the... 02/25/2018

Didn’t they tell us years ago that we’d be a “paperless society” in the near future? Somebody forgot to tell the real estate industry. There must be a form for every single step in the selling process when selling your home.In all fairness, real estate is fully in the 21st century, with online document signing and other tech wizardry.Still, the amount of paperwork you’ll sign when selling your home, whether digitally or in hard form, from listing to close, is amazing. One thing is for sure, you’ll never, ever forget how to sign your name after this!While every form I put in front of you for your signature is important, I thought we’d take a look at those that most of my selling clients have questions about. Thinking about making your next move? Schedule a Free No Obligation Consultation... 02/23/2018

Antioch CA – A home owner thinking of a short sale recently asked us why they should short sale versus just walking away and letting their lender foreclose on the home. We gave them the normal answer: “It’s much better for your credit.”That was the first thing that popped into our head. But, I knew there are more benefits to a home owner than simply better credit. So I put together the entire list and here they are. Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure. 1. The upside down debt is erased in most cases.  If you are selling because of a financial hardship, then the upside down debt will be automatically erased in most cases.Is your loan is owned or insured by the following agencies: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and or VA? If you ar... 02/22/2018

The biggest beneficiary of a Deed-In-Lieu is the bank. They get a faster, easier foreclosure. But, what do you, the homeowner, get?Unfortunately, not much. I see no benefit to a homeowner. Here are some Deed-In-Lieu myths I saw floating around on the internet. A well respected personal finance website is stating the following as though it is fact.Here is the biggest myth this article has about Deed-In-Lieu: Your lender agrees not to initiate foreclosure proceedings if you agree to a Deed-In-Lieu.The article would lead you to believe that somehow the lender would get the property without having to foreclose. That is simply not true.A Deed-In-Lieu is when a homeowner simply tells the judge that they are not contesting the foreclosure in any way. The judge then bypasses the foreclosure law... 02/13/2018

With ever-shrinking inventories of available homes and the corresponding rise in prices, what will happen in autumn is anyone’s guess at this point. But right now, with expanding job growth and continued low interest rates, it appears that the fall home-selling market will be somewhat robust.So, if you’re among those hoping to sell their homes this fall, we have put together some tips to help you get started. And, by the way, now is the best time to start.Choose your real estate agent nowWhen selling your home in Antioch CA this fall, think about the appearance of the exterior. Leaves change color and begin falling from trees, the lawn may begin going dormant and, if temperatures dip, those colorful summer annuals lose their charm.When homebuyers are perusing the MLS for homes to view i... 08/15/2017

 The real estate industry has done a bang-up job on letting consumers know they’ll need some cash when they purchase a home. Typically, it’s the down payment that’s mentioned. Seldom are closing costs brought up so they end up a major surprise for homebuyers.Between the two of those huge chunks of money are other cash outlays you’ll need to consider.Earnest Money DepositYou found the home you want to buy and you and your agent structured the perfect purchase agreement. In it, you’ll find a section dealing with your earnest money deposit (EMD). Your agent will list the amount you are paying and where it will be held.So, what is this? There are several functions of an earnest money deposit. First, it shows the seller that you are serious about pursuing the purchase. After all, he or she w... 07/30/2017

Antioch CA – Caution: Taking action on a whim, without consulting your real estate agent, may be hazardous to your real estate transaction and, thus, your pocketbook. All questions, no matter how difficult to ask, or how small they may seem, should be run by your agent.Let’s take a look at three common scenarios and show you why you need your agent’s counsel. “We found a brand new house at Delusional Knolls!” “We don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but we’re pretty sure we’ll be using that nice real estate agent we met at the sales office – is this a good idea?” Oh, heck no! Sure, it seems convenient – the agent is right there in the new-home community in which you want to buy, so you won’t have to make an appointment to see her – you can just pop in whenever you like, right?Consider this... 06/27/2017

Budgets: They reflect a reality that we either revel in or despise. If yours is reflecting the fact that, yes, you can afford to make a mortgage payment every month, but it will be tight, you have some tough decisions to make.These include the obvious, such as putting off the purchase until you have more income or savings or buying the least expensive home you can find. Let’s take a look at some of the less-obvious ways to take the money you have right now and stretch it to make the purchase a bit more comfortable.Pay more now to save laterWhether you know it as PMI (private mortgage insurance) or MIP (the FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium), it’s a monthly payment that you would be wise to try to avoid.Required on all mortgages for which the borrower makes a down payment of less than 20 pe... 06/26/2017

It’s Sunday evening in Antioch CA and John and Mary Homeseller and Shonn Thompson, their Antioch CA Realtor, are sitting at the dining room table, ready to confront a pile of purchase agreements. The Homesellers were smart to listen to Mr. Thompson's advice and decided to entertain all offers simultaneously, rather than have them trickle in, piecemeal.It’s a hot market, and the Homeseller’s own an attractive home, priced right. One of these offers will win the day. Which one? And, why is your offer the one that didn’t? What does your competition have that you don’t?They have loan preapprovalEven a suspicion that you may have trouble qualifying for a mortgage could cause the seller to eliminate your offer from consideration. Your competition took the time to prepare for the war by seeing... 06/25/2017

Antioch, CA- Of the many questions we field from homeowners thinking of selling their homes, the most frequent starts with “What’s it worth?” Of course they’re referring to their home’s value, but even after that is determined, the “What’s it worth” questions continue. Following are three of the most common questions about items that may, or may not, add to a home’s valueWhat’s a view worth?We typically get this question from a homeowner who just found out that his home with a gorgeous view of Mt. Diablo is worth less than he thought. If two homes are identical and only one of them has a view, it’s a safe bet that the one with the view will be worth more.How much more? It depends on who you ask. Some real estate professionals claim there is no value in a view, yet others claim that the ... 06/08/2017

I am looking for a buyer in Antioch for this adorable condo. Please spread the word!2304 Peppertree Way, AntiochThis adorable 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home is perfect for a first time home buyer looking for a well cared for condo with a need for convenience. There are restaurants, parks and shopping centers all at your fingertips. Not to mention the convenience of easy freeway access for the commuter in the family. The interior has been well cared for and has recently been painted with new carpets installed. Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity! This adorable condo is awaiting its perfect owner...is that you?  11/17/2016