The Seven Real Estate Stages of the Pandemic  By now, some of us have lost a loved one, friend or community member to COVID-19.  Though if the cavalier denialism exhibited by some Americans is an indicator, there are still many who have yet to share the magnitude of such a loss.  But even putting one's head in the sand about the medical realities of the coronavirus cannot spare us the social, emotional and economic impacts.  It's accepted as true that though we all grieve a loss, everyone grieves in a unique manner.  One of the most referenced works on the topic was written in 1969 by Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, in her book On Death and Dying. This philosophy is popularly referred to as the "stages of grief," and whether comprised of five emotions or seven, it fee... 10/13/2020

Asking $575,000  Highly sought after Sonoma floor plan, with a Master Suite , 2 bedroom 2 bathroom. The is a recent full home remodel with dual vanity sinks in the master bathroom suite, and two walk in closets. Sun drenched home has shutters in bedrooms and awnings on the veranda. New wiring, dry wall, tile and stone throughout. Electric fire place in the family room. Immaculate water proof laminate flooring throughout. Stainless steel appliances, Quartz counter tops in the kitchen, and bathrooms. Comes with the washer and dryer and all of the stainless steel appliances. Gated community, very close to entrance to Rossmoor and full club house, full gym, 18 hole Golf Course with a practice putting range and driving range. For those with impeccable taste this is a must see!! This is CoOP ... 03/20/2020

Are Your California Property Taxes On Supplements? Are you one of the 77% of U.S. adults who takes some form of nutritional supplement?  If so, you've contributed to the estimated $31 billion dollars of revenue that this industry generated in 2018.  So it stands to reason that California counties would want in on the supplemental action, and they've figured out just the way to do it... Seriously, taking on home ownership for the first time is a big responsibility.  And since many first-time buyers are coming from a background of paying rent, it's important that we, in the mortgage industry, educate them about how making a monthly rent payment differs from coming up with the new housing payment once the home is officially in their name.  Specifically, buyers are no longer just responsibl... 12/16/2019

 How Can I Make My Home Appraise Higher? Whether buying or refinancing a home, when obtaining a mortgage it can be expected that an appraisal will be required.  I talked in a previous post about how we are able to use appraisal waivers in certain instances, but still, most residential real estate transactions that involve a mortgage also involve an appraisal.  An appraisal is a professional opinion of value, completed on a standardized report by a licensed appraiser.  Are there steps the buyer or homeowner can take to assure that this value comes in as favorable as possible?  Here are a few tips from the experts:  Choose a lender that uses an appraisal management company (AMC) with access to local appraisers.  At Guaranteed Rate we place a high degree of importance on contracting with a... 10/28/2019

The Haunted Loan Process As we wind our way closer to Halloween, I wanted to cover a few of the graveyard variety hobgoblins of the mortgage process.  You know, the things our clients don't tell us at the start and that later come back to haunt their home loan transaction like so many nightmares on Friday the 13th.  The goal here is not to scare the prospective borrower, but instead to provide fair warning about the actions you can take or avoid at the start of your application that will help you close your loan on time and without undue stress.  Let's peek-a-boo at some of the most common loan zombies that come out when the moon is full:  Amending a tax return.  It can be such an innocent mistake.  You file a tax return and later amend it for some reason.  When we ask you for your tax ... 10/17/2019

ARM vs. Fixed If Stairway to Heaven is the most overplayed song, then the 30-year fixed mortgage has got to be the most overplayed loan option.  And like the iconic tune, the 30-year fixed is really great.  I mean for most borrowers, it's the clear way to go.  No rate changes, 360 equal payments and if you don't refinance, sell the house or kick the bucket first, the loan is fully paid off 30 years down the road.  But even if the 30-year fixed is a great and popular option, is it the best option for everyone?  We're seeing that more and more homeowners are opting for ARM loans these days but with that choice comes additional complexity and terminology to understand, so let's roll up our sleeves, bear our guns and get our arms around ARMs. Slingin' ARM LingoWhen one starts examining an a... 04/11/2019

03/14/2019

  For more mortgage news and information visit http://www.craigbosse.com  03/01/2019

Lock Watch for the Week of 2/25/2019 Volatility-O-Meter:Auctions, GDP and a lot of Jerome Powell talk that could give insight into 2019 interest rate direction.   Economicalendar (all times are Pacific):Mon, 2/25:     2-Yr Note Auction (8:30am), 5-Yr Note Auction (10am).Tues, 2/26:     Case-Shiller HPI (6am), Consumer Confidence and Jerome Powell speech (7am), 5-Yr Note Auction (10am).Weds, 2/27:     International Trade in Goods and Factory Orders (5:30am), Jerome Powell speech (7am).  Pending Home Sales (7am).Thurs, 2/28:    GDP and Jobless Claims (5:30am).  Chicago PMI (6:45am).Fri, 3/1:        Personal Income and Outlays (5:30am), PMI Manufacturing Index (6:45am), ISM Manufacturing Index and Consumer Sentiment (7am). 10-Year Treasury History2.68%     Market Open2.67%     One Week Ago... 02/25/2019

Jumbo Mortgage for the Self-Employed One thing of which our industry does a terrible job is promoting a sense of optimism among the self-employed.  Whether the one-man-band sole proprietor, or the complex, greater-than-25% owner of a multi-million dollar S-Corp, this long-suffering subset of the borrowing population has traditionally experienced stiff headwind in the mortgage process because the objectives of running one's own business frequently fly in the face of what it takes to qualify for a jumbo mortgage.  There are a combination of reasons why this has been the case and we're going to look at those here, along with what the self-employed borrower and business owner can do to stack the deck in his/her favor when it comes to qualifying for any mortgage, but especially one that exce... 02/14/2019

Welcome to 2019. We are another year past the financial meltdown that left many well intended people with Foreclosures on their records. New programs keep coming out that are changing the dynamics of getting a mortgage after a Foreclosure. I will post another blog specifically for getting a mortgage after Short-Sales and Bankruptcy , but for now this is focused on loans after a Foreclosure.  Portfolio Mortgages (Also sometimes referred to as Non-QM) These are the most flexible mortgages to get after a Foreclosure. Some programs do not require a wait period while others have a specific waiting period. The longer the waiting period , the less downpayment is required and rates are better as well. Buying a Primary or Second home after Foreclosure -  No Wait after Foreclosure - There are pro... 01/29/2019

Walnut Creek Downtown Spring 2017 in the Downtown Area of Walnut Creek is a busy and fun time for residents and visitors, alike. Enjoy the many spring and summer events that will take place. Events like Off the Grid food trucks, Community workshops and service days, the Wine Walk, outdoor music, and movies under the stars. Set your calendars now so you don’t miss out on any good stuff!Off the Grid Food Trucks Back this Spring 2017 is a local favorite! Off the Grid food trucks brings deliciousness and a unique take on dining to our area. Here you get the opportunity to enjoy all kinds of varieties of foods, all in one central place. Every Tuesday, come out for food, a wine and beer garden, live music and entertainment, and socializing with friends of the community. There will be 9 food t... 04/14/2017

Experience Walnut Creek Walnut Creek, California is a beautiful community with beautiful, unique qualities. Explore some of the special places this area offers and see what makes the community so rich. From farms to fresh markets, local businesses, and quality of living, it seems as though we have it all. However, here are a few extra special places that are great to visit.Lindsay Wildlife Experience A full nature and educational experience, Lindsay Wildlife is great for children and adults of all ages. They are a wildlife hospital and save animals for free thanks to generous donations from the community. Animals here are rescued and rehabilitated. With over 50+ species, visitors can visit behind the scenes, see the exhibits, take tours, and attend special events all year long. Visit th... 04/02/2017

Walnut Creek Investor Update Hello March 2017! We are a quarter of the way through the year and it is time for a Walnut Creek area update. There is some great news happening for Walnut Creek. Downtown is set to be popular and booming this summer with some new developments. Investors, be informed, Downtown Walnut Creek and Concord are perfect areas to dip into. Here is why….Apartment Complex Surge. The downtown areas of Walnut Creek and Concord boast tons of perks. They are close to restaurants, bars, social life, shopping, entertainment, and BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). BART is a transportation system that has stations in downtown areas of the Bay Area, such as Walnut Creek. This system provides public transportation to the San Francisco Bay Area via a subway system. It makes the comm... 03/17/2017

Bay Area Things to Do- This Weekend The Bay area is a great place to live. With access to everything fun under the sun and on the coast of beautiful California, on any given weekend, you can easily find a million things to do. March is here, Spring is in the air, and it is just a great time to be out enjoying the weather. Here are some fun things to do for this weekend that really stood out. Get out, get some culture, and try something different and new.Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure This is a San Francisco treat! Beginning at Union Square, travel through Chinatown, historical San Francisco, and famous Wharf District. This is a great way to sight see. Explore and learn about areas you never know before with a fun game. This is an event for everyone. It makes a great family outing, sin... 03/09/2017

St Patrick’s Day in Dublin, CA St Patrick’s Day weekend is set to be a big deal in none other than Dublin, California! Enjoy 2 full days of events, festivities, a parade, and an overall Irish experience. Free and open to the public, this event is a local family favorite! From Irish music and dance to an international food court, an Irish marketplace, rides, games and activities for the kids, this year’s St Patrick’s Day festival will be packed full of fun times.When: Saturday March 18, 10am to 7pm; Sunday March 19, 10am to 5pm Where: Amador Plaza/Dublin Civic Center The Irish music and dance will include Celtic Rock, bagpipes, traditional Irish folk music, and Celtic harp. With 2 stages to enjoy both music and dance, the Irish dancers will be performing all day on the specified dance st... 03/02/2017

Live Well in Walnut CreekWalnut Creek, California is a wonderful place to live! The quality of our area is magnified by the loads of entertainment, breathtaking views, and never-ending outdoor adventure possibilities. Whatever you are looking for, we have it here. Favorite things to do in Walnut Creek include taking a stroll through the downtown walkways. Downtown is a happening area with over 200 boutiques and retail stores which are mainly original to Walnut Creek. Stroll through the shops or jump on the free trolley and see the entirety of downtown. Hungry? Walnut Creek has the best dining options you could ask for. With more than 100 restaurants downtown and around the city, we are proud to offer fine dining, family dining, and plenty of ethnic cuisine options.Parks 22 parks! And a ... 02/23/2017

Contra Costa County Real Estate Market Update 2017 has quickly moved into its second month. Welcome to February. It is time for a real estate update for our area. There have been several changes in the real estate climate, especially in California. These are changes worth discussing because part of being a successful real estate investor is knowing the market conditions, predictions, and trends. Let’s dive right in.The San Francisco Bay area includes major counties including San Francisco of course, Santa Clara County and Contra Costa County. To generalize the area, we will call this the Bay area in terms of the real estate market. In 2016, we saw low interest rates, and our market up, up, up. Interest rates remained buyer-friendly, and investor friendly. Home sales prices increased whi... 02/02/2017

Good Morning Active Rain!  This is my first post on the A/R and wanted to share a $1,050,000 private money bridge loan that I closed a few months ago on a beautiful home in San Diego.  My niche is private money lending in California, originating the following types of loans: Fix and Flip Bridge Loans Luxury Property Commercial / Agricultural / Retail / Warehouse 2nd & 3rd Trust Deeds Owner Occupied Multi-Proerty Blanket Loans  Cannabis / Marijuana Facilities  For more details on this loan in San Diego, check out the blog post on the company website here.   01/24/2017

What 2017 Real Estate Trends Investors Need to Know We know that real estate investing comes with both risks and rewards. Part of being successful as an investor is being able to change and adapt to all real estate environments. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the market around you. Let’s talk about the 2017 real estate trends you should know about it.New Home Construction As a savvy investor, you may already know that new construction is expected to regain some steam this year. Single-family housing is expected to rise by over 10%. There is a gap to discuss. Inventory is lower than it was a year ago, so this will provide an opportunity for builders to step up and fill in that gap. Supply and demand. With new home construction on the rise, this presents an opportunity for inve... 01/20/2017