Brentwood, CA

Are we all headed for Public Housing?

The Feds have announced Thursday under Fannie Mae that homes in default would be taken over and leased back to the defaulters or the current tenants. The stated claim is that they are trying to stabilize neighborhoods and provide a transitional arrangement.

The occupants will be given a one year lease then go month to month. On one level this sounds very nice and practical but it raises big concerns. With the governments taking over the banks will they soon just take over the entire housing supply?

The Obama Administration admits they want government control of vast portions of the economy. They have taken over two car companies, regulated wages in some companies, bailed out banks and or financial service industries to only make them subservient to the government programs.

The banks are holding on to a large amount of inventory. I do not think it far fetched for them to start this type of program. Will it soon be like what they want for health care where we go to a board to see what we are allowed to live in (rented to us) at the government housing bank? Will they be deciding where we live and how? Barney Frank has changed his tune from making sure everyone can own a home (pre-housing melt down) to everyone has a home.

Right now there are not enough homes on the market. The market should take care of itself. Put the homes out there and get people in them. By limiting the supply of homes the only people that are profiting is those with cash, not middle class buyers looking for a place to live.

The housing policies are further eroding the middle class. Home ownership is an important part of building a strong country and community. Public housing is a disaster and the dream of social planners.

First Time Buyers

There has been a lot of debate about the $8,000.00 Tax Credit for First Time Home Buyers. Should we keep it? Does it create home sales? Are we borrowing against future sales? Is it causing price increases?

However, right now there is something that should motivate everyone to buy a home as soon as possible. In 2010 the Bush Tax Cuts Expire. Why should this be a big concern? Because it will effect every tax payer in the country and it will make it harder to save for a home.

But if you get into a home now the tax deduction for Mortgage Interest and Property Taxes may actually save you enough money to make ownership more affordable than renting. The other consideration is that interest rates are still low but will probably start to go up at some point soon.

So if you want to save money now is the time to buy that new home.

Don't Let this Happen to Your Photos - Why is there no Photo here?

I want to make a point about taking care of our photos. About a year ago my wife's computer began to have trouble. I told her to back up. She quickly began to upload all of her photos. But the computer went before she could finish.

She got another computer and I procrastinated on taking her old computer in. When I did they told me the hard drive was damaged. To even see if stuff can be recovered they need to send it out to a clean room and that starts at $1,500.00. She lost a year and a 1/2 of baby photos for one of my kids.

I have the hard drive still and maybe sometime I will have $1,500.00 to spend on this project. Maybe someday the recovery can be done cheaper.

Just a reminder - BACK UP. Put your photos on line at one of the many free sites you can do this at.

Brentwood Short Sale Homes - Why you cannot ignore this Market!

First off I want to get this out of my system and say what all my buyers say, "I HATE SHORT SALES!" I also hate Big Banks, Broccoli, and the New England Patriots; but they are still here and like Short Sales are not going away.

In the Brentwood Market there are 148 Homes for sale as off today. Of those 56 are Brentwood Short Sale Homes. While there are 56 Short Sale Homes on the Market there are only 27 Bank Owned Homes. On every Bank owned home there is an average of 12 offers right now.

Now there is probably someone out there saying, "Good now that means there are 65 homes that are not Short Sale or Bank Owned." And right you are math genius, but there are some other numbers you need to see.

Of the 65 Homes for Sale in Brentwoood that are not Short Sale or Bank Owned the Median Price is $866,279.00 and the Median Price is $500,000.00. The Average Price per SF is $360.00. If you are OK with those numbers, don't want to deal with a Short Sale in Brentwood, and want to buy a home in Brentwood at those prices you should contact me right away.

Now of the 56 Short Sale Homes the Average Asking Price is $348,667.00 and the Median Price is $336,500.00. The Average Short Sale Price per SF is $148.00.

In Short (Short Sale that is) Short Sales are over 1/3 of the market. The Short Sale Market in Brentwood is increasing and Short Sales are the best Buy on the Market. A Short Sale may even be your only option. There are new Federal Regulations in the works that will make Short Sales easier. I will try and write on this Short Sale issue next week so you should subscribe below.

To Save Thousands of Dollars on a Short Sale there is one important thing you need to do - Get my Free Report on Buying a Short Sale that will answer all of your questions and tell you what to do to get the home rather than wait for the home. This home covers 15 Points everyone Buying a Short Sale should know. You may also search homes and request the Hot List of Homes that NEED TO BE SOLD NOW!

If you think you might have to sell your home in a Short Sale and have no idea where to start and not even sure of the questions to ask Get this Free Report on Nineteen Things You Need to Know to Short Sale Your Home. The Short Sale report is Free and includes of Check List of things for you to cover. Find out How we will Market Your Home and Get you the results you want to save you Time and Money, and HELP SAVE YOUR CREDIT.

Tax Strategies – Real Estate Investing – Part 15 - And In Conclusion

This is Part 15 of my Real Estate Investing Series. You can view the first 14 Parts here:

Are you planning for your Future? Real Estate Investing – Part 1

Starting at Home! Real Estate Investing – Part 2

Maintain Your Leverage! Real Estate Investing – Part 3

Picking Your Investment Property – Real Estate Investing – Part 4

Location * Location * Location – Real Estate Investing – Part 5

Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 A

Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 B

Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 C

Cash Flow Analysis – Real Estate Investing – Part 6 D

Passive Losses – Real Estate Investing – Part 7

Gross Rent Multiplier – Real Estate Investing – Part 8

Capitalization Rate – Real Estate Investing – Part 9

Comparable Pricing – Real Estate Investing – Part 10

Rates of Return – Real Estate Investing – Part 11

Growth or Income – Real Estate Investing – Part 12

More on Rate of Return – Real Estate Investing – Part 13

Tax Strategies – Real Estate Investing – Part 14A

Tax Strategies – Real Estate Investing – Part 14B

Tax Strategies – Real Estate Investing – Part 14C - The 1031 Exchange I

Tax Strategies – Real Estate Investing – Part 14C - The 1031 Exchange II

Tax Strategies – Real Estate Investing – Part 14C - The 1031 Exchange III

With this Post I am concluding the Series. But there are several things you need to know:

• There is a lot more to learn about Real Estate Investing. This is an attempt to get very basic information out so people to give people systematic tools to look at investing. I hope to pick up again with more real estate investing information in the near future.
  
  
• I have other tools for on Real Estate including information on Short Sales, First Time Buyers, and Bank Owned Homes.
  
  
• I am starting another exciting series soon, probably Next Week on a surprise and unique topic I do not see a lot on.
  
  
• I will be turning these post into an e-book with updated and new information. If you are interested in a copy of the ebook please let me know.
  
  
• Be Sure to Get the Free Calculator to help you through this series.

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