Archives
2008: Reliving the dark days, ten years after the real estate and mortgage collapse (part 2)
It’s now 2018, exactly ten years since 2008, which was a seminal time in the world of any real estate agent, lender, or homeowner – and not for a positive reason; 2008 was when we saw the housing market implode. Over the ensuing months and years, we saw not only the mortgage, real estate, and […]
Everything BUT rates: 10 Important U.S. real estate and mortgage statistics.
Everything BUT rates: 10 Important U.S. real estate and mortgage statistics. If you’re a homeowner, you probably are keeping a close eye on the real estate market, watching your home price carefully as your neighbor’s home sells for top dollar. But there are many other statistics that describe our current mortgage and residential real estate […]
Revisiting the benefits of Google My Business for Realtors
Realtors are always looking for a leg up on the competition, which means staying on top of the newest innovations and trends in marketing. But there’s one mainstay that’s been around almost as long as the world wide web itself that shouldn’t be ignored – Google. Back in the day, advertising on Google meant paying […]
A look at Fannie Mae’s updated Economic and Strategic Research Group report for 2018.
In total, Fannie Mae forecasts economic growth to surge from an anticipated 2.8 percent to 3.0 percent for the year, but we’re going to look more specifically at the housing numbers. First, let’s get a sound bite from Fannie Mae Chief Economist Doug Duncan: “Housing continues to drag on growth due to lackluster homebuilding activity, […]
Does it pay to be a Realtor? A look at real estate agent income based on seniority.
Realtors make big money, driving around in fancy cars, cashing six-figure checks and taking money baths every night. Realtors struggle and scrape just to get by, earning a modest average income per hour, and many of them have to work second jobs or leave the business because they don’t make enough. Which one is the […]
I’m honored to be considered a 5-star mortgage lender!
I’ve been a mortgage lender for quite some time now, providing home loans for people who want to fulfill their dream of homeownership (or moving up to their dream home!) as well as helping current homeowners refinance so they can save a whole lot of money. I love what I do and appreciate every “thank […]
Examining the high cost of housing in California (and why we’re lucky to live in Sacramento)
An interesting report came across my desk (actually, my computer’s desktop!) the other day, and I thought the information warranted sharing. The report, California’s High Housing Costs; Causes and Consequences” was produced by LAO, the Legislative Analyst Office in our Golden State. I’ll interpret and summarize their key findings as they pertain to residential real […]
Understanding the 4 cycles of any housing market.
When it comes to the housing market, plenty of people speculate what might happen next, treating it as some unknown and mysterious entity that’s hard to pin down. But, in fact, every single real estate or housing market has four distinct cycles. And just like the four seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall, they […]
Keeping Realtors out of hot water: A closer look at RESPA
If you’re in the real estate business, whether a licensed salesperson, a broker, or working in the fields of title, escrow, or appraisal, you’re already aware that there are some very specific rules that need to be followed. In fact, RESPA – the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act – prohibits a real estate salesperson, agent, […]