Matthew Sturkie 909-969-3805

Hesperia California Homes for Sale

Here is the current inventory of homes for sale in Hesperia California as of today 3-12-2012 along with homes sold in the last three months. This includes homes for sale in both the 92344 and 92345 zip codes.

Homes currently for sale: Homes sold in the last three months:

Total for sale 169 Total sold 255

Average list price $129,361 Average List price $111,340

Average sold price $109,705

Average square footage 1895 Average square footage 1828

Average price per square foot $67 Average asking price per sqft. $60.90

Average sold price per square foot $60

Average days on market 87 Average days on market 57

Lowest list price $42,900 Lowest sold price $17,000

Highest list price $750,000 Highest sold price $340,000

Bank owned 51 30.2% Bank owned 143 56.1%

Short sales 48 28.4% Short sales 38 14.9%

Standard listings 70 41.4% Standard sales 74 29.0%

This information was compiled from the local MLS and does not include contingent listings or pending sales. From the information above, we can see that homes are selling very close to their asking price. In fact, on average, the closed sales sold for more than 98% of the asking price and only .90 cents per square foot less than the asking price. Bank owned homes account for only about 30% of the listings, but they make up the largest percentage of the sales at 56.1%. In the last three months, 255 homes have sold for an average of 85 per month. With 169 homes for sale, we have about two months worth of inventory on the market.

If you would like information on Hesperia California homes for sale, give me call, or email me. I am always ready to help.

Matt Sturkie Action Realty cell: 760-813-5220 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting email:end_of_the_skype_highlighting mstu888@aol.com

Hello again,

The other day day, I had a long conversation with a guy about real estate and rental properties. He told me he had some rental properties a while back but lost them all. During our conversation, I told him of my fifteen years experience with rental properties and explained some of the benefits of owning rental properties. Even though he had some trouble and lost his rentals, he had not given up on owning rental properties. He expressed interest in buying more rental properties in the future. After our conversation, I thought the benefits of owning rental properties would be a good topic for a blog post. So, here it is, the benefits of owning rental properties as I see it.

First let me say that rental properties are not for everyone. I have met plenty of people that just couldn't deal with it. This post is intended for anyone interested in rental properties. Here are the benefits as I see it. These are not in any particular order. I have never tried to rank the benefits. Each property and situation is different.

1. CASH FLOW. If you buy it right, the property should be producing a positive monthly cash flow right from the start. This is extra income for doing very little and this income will usually grow over the years as the rents go up.

2. PRINCIPAL REDUCTION. As payments are made to the loan, a small amount is applied each month to the principal, which pays down the loan and builds up equity over time which adds to your net worth.

3. TAX SAVINGS. Not only can you write off expenses of managing and maintaining the rental properties, Residential income properties can be depreciated over 27.5 years. So, if you buy a property for $100,000, you can claim a depreciation deduction of just over $3600 per year. This will offset other income and ultimately lower your income taxes. See your tax advisor for tax advice.

4. ASSET APPRECIATION. This is not when you line up your assets and admire them. This is when your property appreciates or goes up in value. I know we have not had any of this over the last five years, but we will. Over the long term, real estate values go up. With only a 5% appreciation rate, your property will double in value in about 14 years. See the rule of 72.

5. OPTIONS. Income properties can provide options you might not otherwise have. You can borrow against your rental property in a emergency, or to pay for college, or to start a business.

6. FREE MONEY/FREE LOANS. That's right, free money and free loans. This is the best benefit of all and probably the most overlooked. When you borrow money to buy a rental property, you never ever have to pay it back. You read that right. You never have to pay back the loan. Your tenant pays it back for you. Imagine that, you borrow $100,000 to buy a rental property and your tenant pays back the loan for you. that's an unbelievable benefit. What other investment is there, where you can borrow money and have someone else pay it back. Real Estate is the best investment there is.

What about the downsides of owning income properties. Well, let me think.....Uh.......I can't think of any. Even if there was a downside, it would be temporary. So you have to replace a water heater, how long does that last? It's temporary. So you have a bad tenant that trashes your place and has to be evicted, well, how long will that last? a couple months maybe, It's temporary. The benefits last forever, and what's not to like about free money.

All the benefits mentioned above come when you buy the right property, at the right price, in the right area, at the right time. This is where it's important to do your homework and research and take advantage of the knowledge of an experienced Realtor.

Call or email me anytime. I am always ready to help.

Matt Sturkie Action Realty mstu888@aol.com Cell: 909-969-3805

Victorville California Homes for Sale

Here is the current inventory of homes for sale in Victorville California as of today 2-24-2012 along with homes sold in the last three months. This includes homes for sale in the 92392, 92394, and 92395 zip codes.

Homes currently for sale: Homes sold in the last three months:

Total for sale 335 Total sold 460

Average list price $140,747 Average List price $118,202

Average sold price $116,297

Average square footage 2038 Average square footage 2039

Average price per square foot $68 Average asking price per square foot $59

Average sold price per square foot $58

Average days on market 77 Average days on market 67

Lowest list price $13,900 Lowest sold price $24,250

Highest list price $699,900 Highest sold price $430,000

Bank owned 76 22.7% Bank owned 267 58.0%

Short sales 116 34.6% Short sales 74 16.0%

Standard listings 143 42.7% Standard sales 119 26.0%

This information was compiled from the local MLS and does not include contingent listings or pending sales. From the information above, we can see that homes are selling close to their asking price. In fact, on average, the closed sales sold for over 98% of the asking price and only $1 per square foot less than the asking price. While bank owned homes account for the smallest percentage of listings at 21.3%, they make up the largest percentage of the sales at 58.0%. It looks like the buyers prefer the bank owned homes over anything else. Short sales make up more than a third of the listing inventory at 34.6%, but only account for 16.0% of the closed sales.

If you would like information on Victorville California homes for sale, give me call, or email me. I am always ready to help.

Matt Sturkie Action Realty cell: 760-813-5220 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting email:end_of_the_skype_highlighting mstu888@aol.com

Here is the current inventory of homes for sale in Apple Valley California as of today 2-23-2012 along with homes sold in the last three months. This includes homes for sale in both the 92307 and 92308 zip codes.

Homes currently for sale: Homes sold in the last three months:

Total for sale 324 Total sold 244

Average list price $175,094 Average List price $140,730

Average sold price $137,851

Average square footage 2108 Average square footage 2029

Average price per square foot $80 Average asking price per square foot $67

Average selling price per square foot $66

Average days on market 98 Average days on market 72

Lowest list price $40,900 Lowest sold price $38,000

Highest list price $999,000 Highest sold price $500,000

Bank owned 69 21.3% Bank owned 104 42.6%

Short sales 88 27.2% Short sales 43 17.6%

Standard listings 167 51.5% Standard sales 97 39.8%

This information was compiled from the local MLS and does not include contingent listings or pending sales. From the information above, we can see that homes are selling close to their asking price. In fact, on average the closed sales sold for nearly 98% of the asking price and only $1 per square foot less than the asking price. Bank owned homes account for the smallest percentage of listings at 21.3%, but make up the largest percentage of the sales at 42.6%.

If you would like information on Apple Valley California homes, give me call, or email me. I am always ready to help.

Matt Sturkie Action Realty cell: 760-813-5220 email: mstu888@aol.com

The Real Estate market is alive and well in Victorville California. Homes are selling very fast.

Last week, two homes came on the market matching the criteria of a buyer I have been working with for three weeks. The first one came on the market on the 18th. Before the buyer could meet with me to see it, it was sold on the 20th. Only two days on the market. On that same day, another home they had their eye on came on the market. This one was bank owned and had the typical bank postings in the windows and a for sale sign in the yard, but was not listed yet. This home was in the Eagle Ranch neighborhood. They had previously asked me about this home because it was in a neighborhood they really liked. On the 20th, It was listed, and we were there within hours of the listing hiting the MLS. They really liked it and were determined not to miss this one. We submitted an offer within two hours of seeing the property. As it turns out, we got our offer submitted in time to be considered, but a higher offer took the property. This one was gone within one day on the market. The point is, homes are selling fast in Victorville California.

Matt Sturkie

Action Realty

Broker

909-969-3805

Apple Valley, Victorville, Hesperia, High Desert