Nöel Valley’s Fourth Annual Holiday Block Party!
San Francisco’s Noe Valley holds it’s 4th annual holiday event, the Noel Stroll on Saturday, December 5, 2009.
Noe Valley's 24th and Church Streets unique mix of boutiques, gift shops, restaurants and cafe's will be hosting a blissful late afternoon and early evening of holiday events to help you get all your shopping done. Enjoy local carolers, special instore promotions and festive libations during Nöel Valley’s Fourth Annual Holiday Block Party.
Santa at Zephyr Real Estate will be available from 11 am to 2 pm for photo opportunities and 4 pm to 8 pm for wishes at Zephyr Real Estate - 4040 24th Street.
Holiday Wagon Ride
4:30pm
7:30 pm
Loading at Walgreens on Castro Street.
"Noel Stroll Official Website"
Join us for a festive evening in Noel Valley!
The other day I received this question in my mailbox...
To which my answer is clearly - Why yes of course you can buy a house in San Francisco with an FHA loan!
Point yourself in the direction of your 'favorite' bank with whom you already have a relationship. If you don't really have a 'favorite' bank then search out a good mortgage broker, I have several names I'd be happy to send you without obligation. FHA is restrictive with whom they certify, so make sure whomever you speak with is certified! The good people at Guarantee Mortgage are my favorite! (www.gmwest.com)
In addition, FHA loans have substantially more complexity to them, but the reward is great when it means you can realize the goal of homeownership as a first time buyer with as little as 3.5% down.
Believe it or not, you can even buy 2 - 4 units with an FHA loan as the loan amounts step up with the addition of each unit up to 4 total. Honestly you will be surprised after talking with a lender at what YOU CAN AFFORD!
One-family Two-family Three-family Four-family
FHA Limits $729,750.00 $934,200.00 $1,129,250.00 $1,403,400.00
In some cases, FHA will allow you to count up to 95% of the income of rental property to quality. FHA is a complex program and NOT everyone is conversant in it's complexities and nuances. You definitely want to speak to a lender who knows the rules, after you are pre-approved, then you are in a position and ready to SHOP for your first home. }:-)
Mike Ackerman, CRS, e-Pro
Zephyr Real Estate - Noe Valley
415-695-2715
ABZ@ZephyrSF.com
www.zephyr-realestate.com
As the HVCC comes knock knock knocking on your door there may be something a LISTING AGENT can do to protect the value of their client's property!
You may find an excerpt from this CAR Magazine article of interest.
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>>Qualify the appraiser. Guy Rivera, a senior loan officer with Pacific Riviera Mortgage in Santa Barbara, says REALTORS® should qualify the appraiser when he or she makes an appointment to inspect a home.
A few questions REALTORS ® might want to ask are:
1.) How long have you appraised homes in this area?
2.) How many properties do you typically appraise in this area each month?
3.) How many properties do you typically appraise each day or on a given day?
4.) What are your data sources and how often are those sources updated?
If an unqualified appraiser shows up to inspect a home, the REALTOR ® should not let him into the home, Rivera suggests.
"We sent back a Ventura County appraiser who came up to do an appraisal in Santa Barbara County. We sent him away," he says.
Offer comparable sales data. The HVCC states: "It would be inappropriate for an appraiser to use comparable sales data provided by the real estate broker who is handling the sale of the subject property, unless the appraiser verifies the accuracy of the data provided with another source and makes an independent investigation to determine that the comparable sales provided were the best available." <<<
http://www.car.org/newsstand/crem/current-issue/september2009/appraisalshakeup/
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As LISTING AGENTS - YOU have the power to PUSH BACK! If we're vigilant in our diligence - we may be able to send those 'out of town' (Carpet bagger) appraisers packing back to whence they came! This legislation has created another profit center for the lenders - (Appraisal Management Companys) Let's use our grass roots influence and the power of technology (Information and the Internet to PUSH BACK!!!)
Think Globally - Act Locally. }:-)
Mike Ackerman (Building Trust for Life)
Zephyr Real Estate - 24th Street
415-695-2715
MAckerman@ZephyrSF.com
ABZ@ZephyrSF.com
www.Zephyr-RealEstate.com
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW??? FHA must now be the new Sub Prime!!!
Last week by a show of hands at our Wednesday sales meeting of nearly 200 agents it was anectdotally confirmed that the majority of our deals at our 7 offices were FHA deals???
How did that happen? FHA was a language, not unlike Sanskrit, long forgotten in the San Francisco real estate market as loan limits were too low for anyone to really use. ($417,000 - the 'old' conforming loan limit.) Now that the the jumbo conforming loan limit is up to $729,750 any number of properties are within range of buyers who have less than 20% down.
2 of the 10 escrows I currently have open are FHA and they for some reason are closing easier and faster than the escrows with 20% or more down. Hmmm... What does this say about lending?
Appar
ently:
If you have 20% or more - you will be asked for additional documentation as to where the down-payment came from, in addition it seems that 20% or more borrowers are subject to greater scrutiny.
If you have less than 20% down and are willing to pay mortgage insurance you can PURCHASE a qualifying home up to the limits allowed with less documentation and if you have extra $$$$ - YOU can hold onto it for reserves and repairs.
If packaged right under the FHA-203(k or b) guidelines you can even finance repairs and wrap it all into one loan under FHA guidelines.
In short - FHA loans have become our new sub-prime mortgage market as it fuels a bottom up recovery of our housing market.
So my advice to listing agents who are skittish about accepting an offer from FHA buyers - THINK AGAIN!!! The loan process apparently is smoother as only FHA CERTIFIED mortgage brokers or direct lenders may originate these loans. Typically in SF - the FHA CERTIFIED lender is more experienced, has a bigger pool of resources and can get possibly even get the loan with less hiccups than the conventional lender/mortgage broker. Wow - I've since learned to speak Sanskrit - er uh FHA since it's now the de-facto language of properties selling up to about $800k in San Francisco.
If you're a buyer interested in contacting an FHA Certified Mortgage Broker or Direct Lender - let me know and I'll put you in touch with three that have performed well for my clients!
GOT JUNK? -- Don't know what to do? Call the Bulk Item Pick Up Program (BIC) 
To Schedule Collection Service, Call:
Sunset Scavenger Company: (415) 330-1300
- or -
Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Company: (415) 626-4000
The phone number should also be on your garbage/scavenger/trash bill
-or- You are just a click away:
If you call, please tell the customer service representative exactly what items are to be collected. Call by noon and arrange a next day pick up! Monday through Friday. Call by noon on Friday to schedule Monday service. Residential paying customers are entitled to two BIC collections per calendar year. Customers with more than ten items can arrange for the collection of additional items, combining with a RecycleMyJunk.com collection. Additional appointments scheduled through RecycleMyJunk.com program. Large appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines and stoves are limited to one of each type per collection.
If you see JUNK left out on the street without a "BIC" sticker, you may wish to call "311" on your phone and speak with a live City representative who can help you report an abandoned mattress, appliance or auto part!
It's important we all take responsibility in keeping the neighborhood clean as it makes for a great city to live in!
Provided as a courtesy by: Michael Ackerman & Oliver Burgelman
Zephyr Real Estate 4040 24th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
415-695-2715 - http://www.zephyr-realestate.com/ -
Email to: ABZ@ZephyrSF.com
DRE License: 01232037 & 01388135
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Noe Valley Office Top Producer 2008 Top Producer 2001 - 2008 Michael Ackerman & Oliver Burgelman are best described as the A B Z's of good real estate practice.
Top Producer 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008...
Michael Ackerman and Oliver Burgelman are an excellent team at Zephyr Real Estate, best described as the A B Z's of good real estate practice. Impeccable ethics, fair negotiations and smooth transactions are their trademark. Their business is built upon referrals from friends, past clients and those they have touched in their lives. Building Trust for Life... is not just a logo or saying, but a way of living. If these are the kind of agents you are looking for in your next transaction, call upon them -- you won't be disappointed. Call 415-695-2715 or email: abz@zephyrsf.com
Member: NAR, CAR, SFAR, CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), e-Pro, Noe Valley Merchants Association.
A donation is made during every transaction to the charity of our client's choice. - Exemplifying the spirit of giving back to community and maximizing every donation through Zephyr Real Estate's own matching fund program!
Quality representation costs no more...
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Years of experience + hundreds of transactions = results for you! We listen to you first, delivering service beyond expectation each step of the way, building trust for life and helping you fulfill your real estate goals.
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We represent all. Buying or selling, allow us to show you how our professionalism benefits you in achieving your real estate financial goals
"Thanks again. You did a great job and I would be delighted to recommend you to anyone who is looking for an experienced, hard- working, knowledgeable, professional, smart and thorough agent to represent them. You are the best agent I have worked with in the San Francisco and Peninsula real estate markets in my 35+ years as a real estate investor." J. Freiberg, on the sale of his three unit in Noe Valley
" Thank you so much for referring me. Mike and his team have been great throughout the process of selling my home. You know me - if there was anything to complain about, I would be talking about it. So I just really wanted to thank you. My home is IN CONTRACT!" C. Sink, Twin Peaks, San Francisco - Seller
" Michael delivered on his marketing strategy and ended up with over 400 prospective buyers walking through the units in 2 1/2 weeks. Michael and Oliver generated 14 offers. The selected buyer offering a significant premium over the listing price, had no contingencies and a 30 day close. -- A home-run in anyone's book!! "
T. Simoni, Lake District, San Francisco - Seller
" I learned to look for the inner beauty in a home; a bolted foundation, copper pipes and circuit breakers, to see the potential of a home and felt I was supported all the way. " B. Zimmerman, Merced Heights, San Francisco - Buyer
" More than anything else their skills and initiative manifested themselves in results. "
D & H Sanchez, Eureka Valley - Seller
" If any agent would do just half of what you are doing we would be very happy -- So you can imagine how confident and grateful we are to have you as our agent. " N & O Doremieux, Golden Gate Heights - Seller
" As a first time buyer of rental property there were so many aspects of the purchase that you patiently took me through such as assessing the value of the building and rental laws. You have provided me with a wonderful list of referrals with a loan broker, lawyer, an accountant, an electrician, building contractors, floor refinisher and a painter. " M. Campbell, Cole Valley/Haight Ashbury - Buyer
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