Gerry Athas-Vazquez
mail@GerryVaz@aol.com
t: 310.413.4089
712,000 Homes in the US Regained Equity in the Past 12 Months!
CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that “over the past 12 months, 712,000 borrowers moved into positive equity.” This is great news, as the share of homeowners with negative equity (those who owe more than their home is worth), has dropped more than 20% since the peak in Q4 of 2009 (26%) to 4.9% today. The […]
How to Save on a Mortgage Payment Whether Buying or Selling
In Trulia’s recent report, Rent vs. Buy: Roommate Edition, they examined the impact that renting with a roommate has in determining whether it is more expensive to rent or buy. The study explains: “Since we started keeping track in 2012, it’s been a better deal to buy than rent in America’s largest housing markets – and […]
Millennials Flock Towards Low Down Payment Programs
A report released by Down Payment Resource shows that 61% of first-time homebuyers purchased their homes with a down payment of 6% or less. The trend continued among all buyers with a mortgage, as 73% made a down payment of less than 20%. An article by Chase points to a new wave of millennial homebuyers: “We teamed up with Google to […]
Hiring an Agent to Sell Your House May Cost You NOTHING!
There is no doubt that it is easier to sell your house when using the services of a local real estate professional. The agent will provide: Greater exposure to more buyers The skills of a professional negotiator A layer of protection from possible legal liabilities Professional guidance in navigating any pitfalls that may arise A […]
4 Reasons to Buy a Home This Fall!
Here are four great reasons to consider buying a home today, instead of waiting. 1. Prices Will Continue to Rise CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index reports that home prices have appreciated by 6.7% over the last 12 months. The same report predicts that prices will continue to increase at a rate of 5.0% over the next year. The […]
How Supply and Demand Impacts Real Estate Home Values [INFOGRAPHIC]
![How Supply and Demand Impacts Real Estate Home Values [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market](https://d39ah2zlibpm3g.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/06153544/20170908-Share-STM.jpg)
Some Highlights:
- The concept of supply & demand is a simple one. The best time to sell something is when the supply of that item is low & the demand for that item is high!
- Anything under a 6-month supply is a seller’s market!
- Nationally, there has not been a 6-months inventory supply since August 2012!
- Inventory levels differ depending on the area of the country and price range, so let’s get together to discuss the exact market conditions in our area.
America Needs Your House!!
The biggest challenge in today’s real estate market is a lack of housing inventory. How big of a challenge is the housing shortage? Here are what four industry economists are saying on the issue (emphases added): Mark Fleming, First American’s Chief Economist “The underlying fundamental issue is an overwhelming lack of supply… The supply of […]
Singles Are Falling for Their Dream Home First [INFOGRAPHIC]
![Singles Are Falling for Their Dream Home First [INFOGRAPHIC] | Simplifying The Market](https://d39ah2zlibpm3g.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/26165916/20170721-Share-STM.jpg)
Some Highlights:
- According to NAR’s Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, the share of recent homebuyers who were single at the time of purchase held steady at 24% last year.
- The percentage of first-time buyers who were single females rose to 17% (up from 16%), as the share of single men dropped from 11% to 8%.
- The primary reason for buying a home amongst singles was the desire to own a home of their own (38% for women and 37% for men).
2 Myths Holding Back Home Buyers
In Realtor.com’s recent article, “Home Buyers’ Top Mortgage Fears: Which One Scares You?” they mention that “46% of potential home buyers fear they won’t qualify for a mortgage to the point that they don’t even try.” Myth #1: “I Need a 20% Down Payment” Buyers overestimate the down payment funds needed to qualify for a […]
The Cost of Renting vs. Buying in the US [INFOGRAPHIC]
Some Highlights:
Historically, the choice between renting or buying a home has been a tough decision.
Looking at the percentage of income needed to rent a median-priced home today (29.2%) vs. the percentage needed to buy a median-priced home (15.8%)…
The Importance of Home Equity in Retirement Planning
We often discuss the difference in family wealth between homeowner households and renter households. Much of that difference is the result of the equity buildup that homeowners experience over the time that they own their home. In a report recently released by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), they reveal how valuable equity can […]
The Supply & Demand Problem Plaguing New Construction
Many real estate economists have called on new home builders to ramp up production to help relieve the shortage of inventory of homes for sale throughout the United States. The added inventory would no doubt aid buyers in their search to secure their dream home, while also helping to ease price increases throughout the country. […]
Do You Know How Much Equity You Have in Your Home?
CoreLogic’s latest Equity Report revealed that 91,000 properties regained equity in the first quarter of 2017. This is great news for the country, as 48.2 million of all mortgaged properties are now in a positive equity situation. Price Appreciation = Good News for Homeowners Frank Nothaft, CoreLogic’s Chief Economist, explains: “One million borrowers achieved positive equity over the last year, […]
Buying Is Now 33.1% Cheaper Than Renting in the US
The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States. The updated numbers actually show that the range is an average of 3.5% less expensive in San Jose (CA), all […]