3 Real Estate Trends to Watch This Spring

Spring is often the most active season for the real estate industry. The days last longer, offering buyers more favorable opportunities to view homes. The homes themselves look more aesthetically pleasing. There also tend to be more properties for buyers to sample and compare. Home owners frequently wait until spring to sell their homes.
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Mortgage rates dip to annual low: Will they stick?

When the Federal Reserve raised its interest rates late last year, most mortgage rate prognosticators saw it as a sure sign that home-loan rates would finally rise meaningfully. In fact, just the opposite has happened. The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed loan is now at its lowest level of the year and could potentially head lower into new record territory.
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Homebuyers finally fuel mortgage volume applications up 10%

It took a few weeks, but near record low mortgage rates may be pushing more homebuyers into this spring's housing market.
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Setting the stage to sell your home

Ask most real estate agents and they'll tell you that the toughest conversations they have with their sellers are about price and presentation.
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Check out this beautiful mountain view! What do you think of this unique living space?

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Find out What These 7 Questions Are Right Now FREE of Charge With NO Obligation!

ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT PUTTING YOUR HOME ON THE MARKET? BEFORE YOU DO READ THIS:
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55 White Kitchens That Are Anything But Vanilla

Bright, cheery and timeless, white remains the kitchen color of choice. And, it's easy to see why with these 55 traditional, modern, cottage and contemporary white kitchens that are anything but boring.
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Take a look at some of these amazing deals on Waterfront homes!

NEW EXCLUSIVE LIST of Waterfront Homes in LOS ANGELES COUNTY
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10 of the Most Affordable Places to Live in the U.S.

You’re ready to move to a new city. But, before you pack up and select a new place to live, make sure you do your research. While it’s great to have an idea of some of the different entertainment options and attractions that an area offers, you also want it to be somewhere that fits into your budget.
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Check out this elegant master suite! Is this what you're looking for?

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6 Smartest Moves for First-Time Home Buyers

Ready to buy a home? Be prepared: With inventory tight and prices rising, this is a tricky time to be entering the market. Your biggest challenge is that you’re probably bringing less cash to the table, which makes it harder to compete with more seasoned, flush buyers.
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Does this look like the perfect place to lounge after a long day?

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7 Ways to Declutter Any Room Using Feng Shui

Feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of harmonizing your surroundings—think more along the lines of "create energy flow," rather than "tidy up."
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What do you think of this vintage inspired bathroom? Is it your style, or do you prefer a more modern look?

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Home Values in Inglewood are up 11.5%

Home Values in Inglewood are up 11.5% This is incredible news for anyone looking to sell their home.
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How Your Home Stacks Up as an Investment

Is buying your home the best way to increase your portfolio? It depends.
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Check out this beautiful double door entryway into the living room! What do you think?

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West pushes up sales of new homes in February

U.S. homebuyers in the West accounted for all of February’s increase in sales of new houses, possibly signaling uncertain growth prospects for the broader real estate market heading into the spring buying season.
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Do you love these pops of yellow in this dining room??

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US home sales slump in February; supply shortage hits market

U.S. home sales suffered a steep drop-off in February, reversing months of prior gains as low inventories weigh on the real estate market
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What is your favorite element of this grand entryway?

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VA Loans

I was recently talking with the Buyer’s agent when we were closing Escrow on one of my listings.  He off-handedly mentioned that his client had served in the Army during Desert Storm.  Since they had used a conventional loan, I asked why they hadn’t used a VA loan.  He said, “Well, I thought your Seller might pick up any termite work needed, but I didn’t think he’d pick up the closing costs that VA won’t allow the Veteran to pay, and I certainly wasn’t going to pay them, so we went Conventional.”

As someone who served 29 years on active duty in the US Air Force, I was dumb-struck!  When I asked some of my other agent friends, I discovered that none of them will touch VA for the same reason.  I know these fees can be around $8-$10K, but I thought we were supporting our Veterans?  As a result, I thought I’d let everyone know that I will always handle a VA loan, and I DO pick up those fees.  Well, me and my Loan officer.

A VA loan will always have a lower interest rate than a Conventional loan, even when the Buyer is putting 20% down!  There are other benefits to a VA loan as well.  For example, a Veteran with a 680 credit score will often be able to secure a loan that’s a quarter point lower than a Conventional Buyer with a 740 credit score.  In addition, Conventional Buyers have a debt-to-income limit of 45%, where the VA Buyer’s debt-to-income limit is greater than 50%.  Another benefit of a VA loan is that there’s no monthly mortgage insurance required, saving the Veteran hundreds of dollars per month in mortgage payments.  Finally, a Veteran can qualify for up to $687,500 on a VA loan in LA and Orange Counties, where the loan limit for Conventional and FHA Buyers is $625,000.

So, if you’re a Veteran, or know a Veteran, who’d like to buy a home, using their VA benefits, I’d love to talk to you.  I feel it’s a privilege to take care of those who serve.  Oh, and for those who have a VA loan tied up on another property, there’s a good chance I can get that Veteran another VA loan.  Yes, no joke...a second VA loan!  I’ll be more than happy to explain how we can get that accomplished when I speak with the Veteran.