Recent research by ZipRealty.com reveals 55% of home buyers consider the availability of green features in a home, such as energy efficient appliances and solar panels an “important” or “somewhat important” factor when deciding to purchase a new home. At the top of the green wish list, 89%, said energy efficient appliances are the most important green feature in a home. Not a surprise in this economy, however it is surprising that less the 1% of real estate listings promote any green features.

Green-home hunter’s motivations include:

1. Saving money (49%)

2. Opportunity to help environment (40%)

3. Occupant/Family Health (37%)

4. Home’s resale value (15%)

5. Tax credit availability (12%)

These results highlight an opportunity for realtors to help homeowner’s set their homes apart by listing any existing green features in their home, or recommending they add of energy efficient appliances or make a few energy-saving home improvements before putting a home on the market.

In addition attracting “green house-hunters,” other perks for homeowner’s include rebates on Energy Star appliances and eligibility for tax credits up to $1,500 for energy-efficient home improvements in insulation, duct sealing and infiltration reduction, installation of energy-efficient windows and skylights, high efficiency central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps, high efficiency gas furnaces and boilers and high efficiencywater heaters.

For information on tax incentives and rebates for energy-efficient improvements and appliances, visit http://energytaxincentives.org and www.energystar.gov.

Source: http://www.buildingonline.com/news/viewnews.pl?id=9621&subcategory=208

2010 is a Perfect Time to Buy!

There are several good reasons that 2010 is the perfect time to buy a house in Etiwanda!

1. The Extended and Expanded Tax Credit- First time home buyers are encouraged to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit that has been extended again to Sept. 30, 2010! Not only are first time home buyers benefitting from this offer, but Governor Schwarzenegger extended and expanded the California Homebuyer Tax Credit from May 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. This tax credit will be available to buyers on a first-come, first-served basis and is applied in equal amounts over a period of three taxable years.

2. Foreclosures and Short Sale Properties - Todays low prices and an increase in distressed properties represent affordable home buying opportunities for today's homebuyers.

3. All Time Low Interest Rates- Interest rates are the lowest they have been in years and the incentives like tax credits have never been bigger.

With all these dynamics - The tax credit, low home prices and extremely low interest rates are factors that won't be around forever. It doesn't take much to realize that these are ideal conditions for even the most cautious of buyers. Don't wait, it's time to take advantage of buying a home this year!

Not sure where to start? Give me a call! I'd be happy to assist you in buying your Rancho Cucamonga home before this great opportunity passes you by!

As California Realtors, we all know that a Short Sale is a sales transaction in which the lender accepts less than what is owed in full satisfaction of the loan balance. But what is less widely known is that even though California has "anti-deficiency statutes" that protects certain borrowers from deficiency judgments, some lenders were still obtaining deficiency judgments against defaulting borrowers following foreclosure and handing Borrowers over to credit collection agencies.

The passing of Senate Bill SB 1178 last week extends that anti-deficiency protection.

Currently, if a homeowner defaults on a mortgage used to purchase their home -- known as a 'purchase money mortgage' --- the homeowner's liability on the mortgage is limited to the property itself. However, this protection did not extend the anti-deficiency protection to Borrowers that refinanced the original purchase debt; Even if the refinance was simply to obtain a lower interest rate. The passing of SB 1178 corrects this loophole and extends the same anti-deficiency protections to consumers who refinanced their home loans.

Question any language in your Seller's Short Sale approval letter that reads anything like the following:

[Lender] reserves the right to proceed for a deficiency judgment for any deficiency balance remaining on the loan.

Until this bill is fully approved, protect your Seller by ensuring that the Short Sale approval has language like:

Satisfaction and Release of Liability. If all of the terms and conditions of this Request are met, upon sale and settlement of the property, we will prepare and send to the settlement agent for recording, a lien release in full satisfaction of the mortgage, foregoing all rights to pursue a deficiency judgment.

As the SB 1178 Measure protecting consumers from overreaching lenders moves on to the Assembly for full approval, Borrowers are hoping for California's elected representatives to swiftly pass the legislation and send it to Gov. Schwarzenegger for his signature.

First School House In Etiwanda, California

Many buyers that I work with really want to live in the Etiwanda School District because it does have such a great reputation for being one of the best schools in the area.

I did some research on this fantastic school district to see how it was started. I love history, so here is a brief history lesson on how the Etiwanda School District was started:

In the late 1880's there were a lot of folks who came out to California from the East Coast and Midwest States to come for the warmth and opportunities that this area had to offer.

In Etiwanda, you could buy an acre of land for $100-150 with water rights that were guaranteed. This pretty much made it a simple decision to stay when water was available and not like some places

that you needed to live close to a river or stream to guarantee a water source.

The Chaffey family were very much a huge part of getting things started as they built the first hotel in 1883 at a cost of $6,000.00. Another interesting fact is that this was one of the only two places in Etiwanda to have a phone. The other place was the Chaffey's own home located on the other side of town. The Chaffey's were very much pioneers in establishing Etiwanda. They built the first school as well which is no longer there but the location today would be at the SouthEast side of Baseline and East Avenues kind of where the park and ride parking lot is now. The school house cost $1200.00 to build back then and it was a one room school house.

By 1883, The Etiwanda School District was formed. By 1912, a 4 room building was constructed at Etiwanda and Victoria and by 1938, there was a need for even more room for students so a new building was constructed with better construction due to new building and safety codes because of the earthquakes in Long Beach that had happened.

The Etiwanda School District serves the community of Etiwanda, which has become a part of Rancho Cucamonga. It also serves part of Fontana as well. There are over 12 elementary schools, and 4 intermediate schools with over 12,000 students. This is a highly sought after school district as it has won many distinguished school awards.

Students at the first school in Etiwanda

Etiwanda Intermediate School

ESD_Attendance_Boundaries Click on this link to see the boundaries for the different schools.

If I can help you find a home in the Etiwanda School District, please feel free to contact me at 951-204-1864
Joan Patterson, B.A., G.R.I., A.S.P., Realtor, License #01431647
Keller Williams Realty
8250 White Oak Avenue, Ste 102
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

www.inlandempirehouse.com

www.calljoan4homes.com

calljoan4homes2@aol.com