The minutes for the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held March 19 and 20 were released on Wednesday April 10, 2013. These periodic meetings by the FOMC cover a wide-ranging group of topics that impact the overall economy in the United States.
The decisions made and acted upon from the FOMC meetings often sway the real estate and residential financing markets. Some highlights of the recent FOMC minutes for the March meeting include: Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: best rates, Comstock, dan tharp, dan the planner, Economy, FOMC Minutes, lower interest rate, Personal Wealth, rent or buy, sacramento
Buying a foreclosed property in Sacramento and the surrounding area can be different than buying other types of real estate. And if you are a first time home buyer, this may not be a road you want to travel down.
In many cases you will be able to get a fantastic deal on a home, but you will need to go through quite a bit of work and negotiation. Here are some of the basics facts from a local agent with a ton of experience in the area of Foreclosed property – click here for video Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: california, Comstock, dan tharp, Elizabeth Weintraub, Foreclosure, Home Maintenance, Home Purchase, i want the best deal, sacramento
At the opening this morning, we are experiencing our 3rd day in-a-row of rising rates. What’s up with that? Thankfully, at the moment, they are clawing their way back. Last week, Mortgage rates rose as investors gained confidence in the global economy. China and Europe posted better-than-expected manufacturing rates, U.S. Jobless Claims fell for the second straight week, and the worst of the European debt crisis appears to have passed.
A strengthening economy = Mortgage Rates will go up! Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: best rates, Comstock, dan tharp, FOMC, i want the best rate, Jobless Claims, mortgage, mortgage rates, Non-Farm Payrolls, refinance, sacramento
We are experiencing somewhat of a seller’s market in Sacramento, and a changing climate, as value’s are starting to rise across the country. With this added demand, comes multiple offers which can drive up the purchase price of a home - sometimes artificially. We know that too many buyers are chasing too few sellers, and reaching a sales agreement can be just the start of the negotiation process. One particular negotiation point which can present difficulties for both buyers and sellers is when a home’s appraised value falls short of its contracted sales price.
Sometimes, this happens because the home’s price was inflated. Other times, it’s the result of a faulty appraisal. Or, everyone knows the home won’t appraise, but the market is heating up and the seller feels they deserve what “the market will bear”, and don’t care what the appraisal says. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: Appraisal, Comparable Homes, Comstock, dan tharp, Home Value, my house didn't appraise, sacramento, Weintraub
That picture to the right is our very friendly cat, Stanley. He actually handled the move into his new home without much fanfare – he settled in quite nicely. But, I know this is not true for many, and moving to a new home can be a difficult transition for everyone in the family, including the furry, four-legged members.
Dogs and cats develop a strong bond with their environment so when they from their territory it can cause them stress.
Here are some tips to ease your pets’ transition to a new home : Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: california, Cats, Comstock, dan tharp, dan the planner, Dogs, help with my animals, Moving, my new home, my pets
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, stories have emerged of homeowners whose hazard insurance coverage was too low to cover the damage to their respective properties.
Unfortunately, this scenario is common among U.S. homeowners, and is not just limited to damage from natural disasters. Homeowners in Sacramento and nationwide are often woefully under-insured against catastrophe in its many forms. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: california, Comstock, dan tharp, Dwelling Coverage, Homeowners Insurance, Liability Coverage, mortgage, sacramento
According to the Federal Reserve’s quarterly Senior Loan Officer Survey, it’s getting easier to get approved for a home loan.
Between July – September 2012, fewer than 6% of banks tightened mortgage guidelines — the fourth straight quarter that’s happened– and roughly 10% of banks actually loosened them.
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Tags: approving my loan, california, Comstock, dan tharp, Federal Reserve, loan application, Mortgage Approval, mortgage rates, needs list, sacramento, Senior Loan Officer Survey
Mortgage rates fell again last week and are again near record lows.
When looking to buy or sell Sacramento real estate, confusing terminology can leave you feeling somewhat uneasy. From a multitude of numbers to marketing jargon, property listings can give you an overwhelming amount of information — and it’s hard to know what’s important. 
As a home buyer in Sacramento, you can get a feel for whether a home’s systems and appliances are in working order. However, you won’t know for certain until after the home’s been inspected.
