http://www.mortgageporter.com/reportingfromseattle/images/2008/08/06/unclesam.jpg The U.S. government’s home buyer tax credit was extended to April 30, 2010 and it will not be extended again. This tax credit can benefit first-time home buyers up to $8,000 and current homeowners up to $6,500, provided they meet certain guidelines. And because this program is a tax credit — it does not have to be repaid. There has never been a better time to take advantage of this tax credit because hundreds of homes are priced below market value. If you have a family member or friend who could benefit from learning more about this program, please have them call me for a free one-hour consultation so we can discuss how they may be able to take advantage of this benefit. Larry Weichman, Your Real Estate Consultant For Life http://TeamWeichman.com , 714-241-4532 P.S. This program expires soon! Who are the next renters, growing families, or empty-nesters you know who should learn about this program? Larry Weichman is President and Broker of Costa Mesa-based real estate powerhouse Weichman Realtors. Larry and his highly-trained team of professionals have proudly served Costa Mesa since 1976. For questions about an upcoming sale or purchase, call him directly at 714-241-4532 or email your questions to Larry@TeamWeichman.com. Be sure to visit www.TeamWeichman.com for the latest news and information on the Orange County real estate market.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
Weichman Realtors- Home of good looking agents & especially their children!
Congrats to Keith Cotarelo on his daughter being named Miss Huntington Beach yesterday! We are very proud of her award here at Weichman Realtors!
HUNTINGTON BEACH – Cassie Cotarelo was crowned the 2010 Miss Huntington Beach Sunday at the city's annual pageant at Huntington Beach High School.
Lana Leigh Brewster was first runner-up and named Miss Photogenic and Chelsea Short was second runner-up and named Miss Congeniality.
< Click on the photo to open a slide show of pictures from the pageant.
The new Miss Huntington Beach and her court will receive scholarships prizes and the queen will compete in June for the title of Miss California, a forerunner to the Miss America Pageant.
Cotarelo is a senior at Marina High School and is a dancer at the Ballet Repertory Theater. Her platform is "Give to Live.''
The contestants in order of appearance were: Dylan Cristel Thomas, Brandi Alexandria Bondoc, Rachel Culhane, Sara Budnik, Taralyn Pecht, Sarah Maines, Cotarelo, Samantha Belle Seligman, Brewster and Short.
The competition is sponsored by the Women of Action, a division of the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Contact the writer: aburris@ocregister.com or 714-796-7922
This article was reprinted courtesy of the Orange County Register. http://WeichmanRealtors.com 714-444-4663
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Good Open House Yesterday in Costa Mesa California Between The Rain Drops!
Great turn out yesterday at this open house! Our exclusive 10 step marketing program for holding open house's worked fantastic yesterday during the southern California rain's! We had 14 potential buyers tour this lovely home.
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Pressure Cooker on Costa Mesa California Real Estate!
Phew! After four years of declining home sales, the numbers appear to be finally turning back upward, with closed sales and pending contracts at above-normal increases. In particular, first-time buyers helped buoy the market by taking advantage of low prices and interest rates, as well as the $8,000 tax credit offered by the federal government.
At least for now, home prices remain attractively low, and mortgage payments as they relate to income are very comfortable. All the information seems to point to the fact that home prices have actually overcorrected downward. What does that mean? It indicates that many markets may experience a price "snap back," with values increasing a lot more than the historical average of 4% appreciation per year.
Some factors may continue to make buyers cautious, mostly declines in retirement savings and a lukewarm economic recovery with unemployment hovering around 10% nationally. Now is not the time to hesitate, however, as mortgage interest rates are expected to rise in 2010.
We can expect the momentum of home sales to continue, especially with the extension of the tax credit through April and the fact that qualification is no longer limited to just first-time buyers. Prices and interest rates will rise this year, so buyer confidence should be at an all-time high. The pressure cooker of pent-up demand is about to blow its top!
Larry Weichman is President and Broker of Costa Mesa-based real estate powerhouse Weichman Realtors. Larry and his highly-trained team of professionals have proudly served Costa Mesa since 1976. For questions about an upcoming sale or purchase, call him directly at 714-241-4532 or email your questions to Larry@TeamWeichman.com. Be sure to visit http://TeamWeichman.com for the latest news and information on the Orange County real estate market.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Join Us Tonight at this event in Costa Mesa California. february 4, 2010
http://www.leadershiptomorrow.org/images/body/body_03.jpg Leadership Tomorrow celebrates its 6th Annual Celebrating Leadership awards event tonight from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Country Club. Leadership Tomorrow friends, alumni and the community at large are invited to enjoy hors d'oeuvres, food stations and a no-host bar. The evening's honorees include: Chief David J. Maggard Jr., Irvine Police Dept. for the Outstanding Community Leadership Award and Cindy Brenneman, Director of Volunteer Services O.C. Affiliate of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in addition to her many volunteer efforts, for the Excellence in Leadership Award. Special Guest Speaker is Steve Becker, Vice President of Human Resources for Golden State Foods and Board President of the Orange County Ronald McDonald House. Master of Ceremonies is Larry Weichman, Weichman Associates Realtors and Chairman of the Board, Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce. Tickets: $40 per person and includes free parking. Leadership Tomorrow, through its programs – expands knowledge, empowers citizens and promotes community involvement. Online reservations can be made by calling Jessica Quadra at (949) 729-4412 Larry Weichman is President and Broker of Costa Mesa-based real estate powerhouse Weichman Realtors. Larry and his highly-trained team of professionals have proudly served Costa Mesa since 1976. For questions about an upcoming sale or purchase, call him directly at 714-241-4532 or email your questions to Larry@TeamWeichman.com. Be sure to visit www.TeamWeichman.com for the latest news and information on the Orange County real estate market.
$0 down on VA or $19,500 down on FHA! Call for details on this newly listed home in Costa Mesa, CA
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Open House This Sat. February 6, 2010. Costa Mesa California- Mesa Verde with 3 car garage!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
What is a Short Sale?
A "Short Sale" is when a home seller sells his home for a lesser amount than what is owed on his mortgage, and the mortgage lender agrees to accept the lesser amount in lieu of a full payoff. By way of example, a Short Sale may be appropriate for a home seller whose mortgage balance is $250,000 but whose home wouldn't sell for more than $220,000. Rather than pay the $30,000 difference to the lender at the time of sale, the seller enters into an agreement with the lender by which all sale proceeds are paid to the bank and the deficient balance is forgiven.
Short Sales are a preferable alternative to foreclosure but the process still harms both parties. For one, the seller is penalized with a derogatory trade-line on credit for not fulfilling a mortgage obligation. And, two, the lender is forced to take a loss on a mortgage loan. Versus an executed foreclosure, however, Short Sale damages are relatively limited on both sides.
For this reason, Short Sales are sometimes considered "the economical alternative" to default. The process of getting a Short Sale approved varies from lender-to-lender and can be time-intensive. Home sellers should not go at it alone -- speaking with a real estate agent about the proper protocol is usually the best place to start. And sellers should be aware of how a Short Sale on their credit can impact future borrowing.
Current Fannie Mae guidelines prevent short-selling homeowners from obtaining new mortgage financing for a period of 2 years. FHA may be a shorter length of time. Call me for details if selling by a short sale works for you, at 714-241-4532.
