Real Estate Articles

John Fukuda, national chair of the Asian Real Estate Association of America, told REALTORS(R) at a recent seminar hosted by AREAA's new Silicon Valley chapter that 20 percent of Asian Americans feel discriminated in this country, so it is AREAA's goal to educate real estate professionals on how to better serve the needs of Asian Americans in their market.

A real estate information service reports California mortgage defaults hit a three-year low in the second quarter of this year, but foreclosures appeared to be on the rise statewide. The Bay Area, as whole, and Santa Clara County, in particular, appear to have taken less of a hit this period.

Fannie Mae recently came out with Selling Guide Updates and Additional Guidance on Appraisal-Related Policies, which address many concerns raised by REALTORS(R) , builders and mortgage brokers regarding the Home Valuation Code of Conduct and the appraisal policies of government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The announcement addresses geographic competency, lender changes to the appraisal report, communication under HVCC, and the use of short sales and foreclosures as comparable sales.

With warmer weather already upon us, many families will be spending their time outdoors. Even though summer has officially started, it's not too late to get your outdoor space ready for a summer of fun at home.

More than 2.5 million people became first-time homeowners last year. Like graduating or getting married, this life-changing event will usher in a new chapter in their lives. Once new homeowners have their house keys in hand and prepare to move furniture into their new place, one question they may find themselves pondering is, “What happens now?”

The housing market may not seem as attractive to Americans without another federal home buyer tax credit, but it is receiving increasing interest from international buyers, especially in Silicon Valley, which is a center for international business.

There's been much speculation that the housing market, which gained momentum in the last few months due to the federal home buyer tax credit, is headed for a double dip, despite record low interest rates. This may be true for some parts of the nation, but local figures paint a rosier picture.

The window is closing for prospective California buyers who may be able to take advantage of the opportunity for the state tax credit. Earlier this year, California created two state tax credit programs, each with a $100 million allotment. As of last week, one of the programs received more applications for tax credits than funded, lowering, but not eliminating, the possibility of more first-time home buyer credit allocations being issued.