Monday, June 28, 2010

Marvelous Mortgage Rates At 60 Year Lows Continue to Help Buyers and Sellers

mortgage interest rates

 

  Home loan mortgage interest rates continue to be a 60 year lows, which is fantastic for buyers and making sellers happy too. 

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We've been working with a client who wants to find and buy a home here at Orange County in the range of about $550k and get a 30 year fixed conforming rate loan.  Good news for this buyer is that he can get a $417k conforming loan at less than 4.5% fixed rate for 30 years, and his monthly payment would be about $2,150.   

(See First Capital Mortgage Market Rate Watch Chart, June 26, 2010 - click here).

Lots of people have been focused on price and getting a "good deal" on price.  They sometimes forget the current historically low interest rates, which have become an expected part of our market.  

excellent mortgage interest rates

But low rates shouldn't be counted on forever.  With so much stimulus money that the US government has poured into our economy, there is a threat of inflation in the future. 
 
One of the ways for US government to counter that possible inflation is to raise rates and remove money from the market.  But the economy has been down, and the Federal Reserve won't be able to raise rates in the short run.  That will change, and home loan rates are predicted to increase to at 6% during the next year.

When interest rates rise, buyers will afford less of a monthly payment, and they'll get less of a home.  For a buyer with an income of $100,000 and putting 20% down, an increase in interest rates from 5% to 6% is equal to a drop in home affordability from $590,000 to about $540,000. 
 
Some buyers are waiting for that "great deal" on price.  That might or might not happen.  What will the waiting cost the buyers in terms of value and payment?

good rates won't last foreverEven though mortgage rates are at this 60 year low, this won't last forever. 

 People should get going with their home selling and buying plans with these great loan mortgage interest rates, which is fantastic for buyers and making sellers happy too.     

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Harrison K. Long, REALTOR® & broker, Explore Group, Coldwell Banker Previews, Irvine, CA.  CA DRE #01410855.  ExploreProperties@gmail.com. 949-854-7747.  National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, and Orange County Association of Realtors.  California State Bar Association #69137. Serving Laguna Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Costa Mesa, and South Orange County.

www.CostaMesaLive.com

www.NewportCoastLive.com

www.CoastLivingHomes.com

www.LiveAtNewportBeach.com

www.LiveAtIrvine.com

www.LiveAtLagunaBeach.com

www.ExploreOCHomes.com 

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Source of some information: Steve Thomas, Altera Real Estate

Posted via email from Explore OC Homes

Income Tax Considerations on Sale of Your Home - Consult with Your Income Tax Professional

income tax on sale of your home

 
Selling your home always involves income tax considerations for possible gain and what is taxable.  

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The IRS has a good web site with information about income tax and form 523 on sale of your home - click here for link.  

Taxable Gain on Sale of your Home must be considered for possible exclusion of gain on sale up to $250k for sole taxpayer and $500k if married taxpayers.

  • Rules for excluding the gain.
  • Ownership and use test - normally 2 of past 5 years.
  • Exceptions to ownership and use test.
  • Qualified use the property.
  • Non-qualified use.
  • Business use of part of the home.
  • When property is used partly for business or rental. 
  • Reporting Sale to the IRS.

Check out other valuable information: 

  • US Homebuyer tax credit expanded (concluded as of April 30, 2010).
  • Recapture of homebuyer income tax credit for 2008 - form 5405.
 
 
 
 

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Source:  Internal Revenue Service; www.IRS.gov.  We do not provide income tax consultation or services.  This is for information only and not providing of legal or accounting services. You must contact your income tax lawyer, income tax professional or CPA, to determine qualifications and facts in your personal situation. 

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Harrison K. Long, REALTOR® & broker, Explore Group, Coldwell Banker Previews, Irvine, CA.  CA DRE #01410855.  ExploreProperties@gmail.com. 949-854-7747.  National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, and Orange County Association of Realtors.  California State Bar Association #69137. Serving Laguna Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Costa Mesa, and South Orange County.

www.CostaMesaLive.com

www.NewportCoastLive.com

www.CoastLivingHomes.com

www.LiveAtNewportBeach.com

www.LiveAtIrvine.com

www.LiveAtLagunaBeach.com

www.ExploreOCHomes.com 

Posted via email from Explore OC Homes

Friday, June 25, 2010

CA Governator Office Reaches Deal to Sell OC Fairgrounds Property to City of Costa Mesa

Our CA Governator office has reached a tentative deal and ...   

CA will sell The ORANGE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS property at Costa Mesa

This CA state owned property was subject of land use election on June 9, 2010, when voters confirmed its use as fairgrounds and agricultural.

The CA state office has reached tentative agreement for sale of this OC Fairgrounds property to the City of Costa Mesa as buyer with down payment at $19.2 million and total purchase price to be $96 million. 

OC fair and events center

Orange County Fair 

The city of Costa Mesa has reached agreement for its purchase of the OC Fairgrounds property from the State of California.

 

  

OC fairgrounds property

 

 

 

The $19.2 million down payment is to be made by Facilities Management, a private company, and the fee for the 150-acre property would be paid by the city before the close of escrow.

If the sale transaction is finalized between the state and Costa Mesa and the down payment made, the Orange County Fairgrounds Authority will not have to make a mortgage payment until the sixth year.   Facilities Management West, a Newport Beach-based private real estate company, would finance and operate the fairgrounds for the city and would make initial $19.2 million in payment to CA and subsequent mortgage payments for next 40 years.

While Costa Mesa would hold the title of the property, it would not be financially responsible.  According to this agreement, Facilities Management will pay Costa Mesa $750,000 in annual rent for the first five years of the lease, which would go up to $3.2 million through lease term, and would lease the fairgrounds for the next 55 years and run business there including the Orange County Fair.

to city of Costa Mesa

If approved and finalized, this agreement would ensure that the OC fairgrounds property will remain used as a fairgrounds and exposition center and that the land will not be developed for other purposes.

Source: DailyPilot.com

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Harrison K. Long, REALTOR® & broker, Explore Group, Coldwell Banker Previews, Irvine, CA.  CA DRE #01410855.  ExploreProperties@gmail.com. 949-854-7747.  National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, and Orange County Association of Realtors.  California State Bar Association #69137. Serving Laguna Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Costa Mesa, and South Orange County.

www.CostaMesaLive.com

www.NewportCoastLive.com

www.CoastLivingHomes.com

www.LiveAtNewportBeach.com

www.LiveAtIrvine.com

www.LiveAtLagunaBeach.com

www.ExploreOCHomes.com 

Posted via email from Explore OC Homes

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Orange County and Anaheim "Walking on Sunshine" - fun video at YouTube

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Laguna Beach and its Panoramic Blue Water Ocean Views will Take Your Breath Away

Views toward Main Beach Laguna from the north

 View from north to south towards Laguna's Main Beach

It's a special place and enjoyed by many people.  Those who are privileged enough to find a home at Laguna mostly try to stay there. 

from Arch Beach Heights

From high above the ocean at Arch Beach Heights, the drama and sound of the Pacific ocean will take your breath away.

Laguna homes and properties

Laguna real estate has lots of focus on great views.

See Laguna Beach single level homes now for sale - each with ocean views - click here for free active link.

from Surf and Sand to west sunset

 From the Surf and Sand toward the sunset

Mystic Hills Homes for sale at Laguna  - click here for free active link

 

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Harrison K. Long, REALTOR® & broker, Explore Group, Coldwell Banker Previews, Irvine, CA.  CA DRE #01410855.  ExploreProperties@gmail.com. 949-854-7747.  National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, and Orange County Association of Realtors.  California State Bar Association #69137. Serving Laguna Beach, Irvine, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Costa Mesa, and South Orange County.

www.CostaMesaLive.com

www.NewportCoastLive.com

www.CoastLivingHomes.com

www.LiveAtNewportBeach.com

www.LiveAtIrvine.com

www.LiveAtLagunaBeach.com

www.ExploreOCHomes.com 

Posted via email from Explore OC Homes

Monday, June 21, 2010

Shady Canyon Trail - at end of the longest day of the year - June 21, 2010 - Irvine, CA

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Spectacular Newport Beach and its Healthy Housing Market Moving Forward

Newport Beach, CA - spectacular South Orange County city with its focus on ocean, beach, surf, harbor and boating activities

Newport Beach pier

Newport Beach is one of most sought after residential and beach communities in Southern California, with homes located at and near the beach, surrounding the harbor, closed to good schools, in the hills near Pelican Crest and the bluffs at the Back Bay.

See Harbor View area homes for sale – click here for free active link.

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Newport Beach housing market update – June 18, 2010

Newport Beach homes for sale

581 homes are Newport Beach are active for sale listings.

517 of those are regular equity sale listings.

7 of the Newport Beach listings are bank owned after foreclosure (very low).

57 of the Newport Beach listings are short sales, which is less than 10% of market and one of the lowest ratios of short sales to equity in Orange County. 

Average list price:

  • Average list price for the Newport Beach homes now for sale is $2,304,000.

Average sold price:

  • 69 Newport Beach homes sold during May 2010, with average sold price of $1,393,000, and those sold homes had 116 average days on the market.   

High End Market:

  • The high end market of homes for sale at Newport Beach more than average sold price is slow with lots of market time, and owners need to be patient to find the right buyers during this challenging market.

  

NB market activity

125 Newport Beach homes are now in pending purchase contract situation.  With more homes in pending contract situation than sold the last 30 days, the trend shows good buyer activity.

Newport Beach sellers who list their homes for sale correctly relative to market demand, and especially if they have a home in the range under $1.3M, can expect to sell the home at average market time about 3 months.  This favors sellers.  The higher the Newport Beach home listing price, the market is slower and favors buyers. 

See Seashore and Oceanfront Homes For Sale at Newport Beach – click here for free active link.

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Harrison K. Long, REALTOR® & broker, Explore Group, Coldwell Banker Previews, Irvine, CA.  CA DRE #01410855.  ExploreProperties@gmail.com. 949-854-7747.  National Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors, and Orange County Association of Realtors.  California State Bar Association #69137.

www.CostaMesaLive.com

www.NewportCoastLive.com

www.CoastLivingHomes.com

www.LiveAtNewportBeach.com

www.LiveAtIrvine.com

www.LiveAtLagunaBeach.com

www.ExploreOCHomes.com 

Posted via email from Explore OC Homes

Friday, June 4, 2010

Orange County Beach Area Homes Twice as Hard to Sell

Jon Lansner at Orange County Register posted an article about the OC housing market time at:   Beach homes twice as hard to sell - June 4th, 2010. 

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Steve Thomas at Altera Real Estate follows  “market time” — the supply of Orange County homes for sale vs. new purchase deals inked in past month (theoretically, how long it would take to sell all inventory at current buying pace.) His latest O.C. home inventory report says that as of May 28 …

Hottest Supply Deals Mon. Yr. ago Price
Foothill Ranch 37 25 1.5 2.1 $538k
Rancho Santa Marg. 159 104 1.5 1.5 $390k
Dove Canyon 19 11 1.7 5.1 $801k
Cypress 94 52 1.8 2.2 $492k
Anaheim 433 232 1.9 1.7 $367k
County Supply Deals Mon. Yr. ago Price
All of O.C. 9,839 3,303 3.0 2.9 $1.0m
Coolest Supply Deals Mon. Yr. ago Price
Laguna Beach 376 33 11.4 11.0 $3.5m
Newport Beach 581 71 8.2 11.8 $2.3m
Corona Del Mar 180 27 6.7 13.2 $3.1m
Laguna Woods 397 64 6.2 7.3 $217k
Newport Coast 149 28 5.3 19.5 $4.5m
  • Beach-close towns tracked by Thomas had a collective market time of 5.37 months last week vs. 2.51 months for the rest of the county. Thus, it’s theoretically 2.1 times harder to sell a seaside house.
  • 20% of the communities tracked by Thomas had “market times” of less than 2 months, a clear sellers’ market in Thomas’ eyes. Four weeks ago? 43%.
  • The “hardest” O.C. town to find a home to buy in terms of “market time” is Foothill Ranch at 1.5 months to theoretically sell all for-sale homes at the current buying pace. A year ago, this town was at 2.1 months.
  • The 5 “hardest to buy” markets combined have a market time of 1.8 months and comprised 8% of the supply of homes for sale and 13% of homes in escrow.
  • “Hardest” market to sell a home in, based on the same math, is Laguna Beach with market time at 11.4 months to theoretically sells all for-sale homes at the current buying pace. A year ago, this town was at 11.0 months.
  • The 5 “hardest to sell” markets have a combined market time of 7.5 months and were 17% of the supply of homes for sale and 7% of homes in escrow.
  • All told, countywide market time was 3.0 months last week.
  • Chart at right looks at the 5 hottest and 5 coldest markets in O.C. as of last Thursday (supply for sale; new deals made; market time in months vs. a year ago and average listing price) by Thomas’ market time math. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Source: Jon Lansner, Orange County Register, citing information from Steve Thomas, Altera Real Estate
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Harrison K. Long, REALTOR® & broker, Explore Group, Coldwell Banker Previews, Irvine, CA.  CA DRE #01410855.  ExploreProperties@gmail.com.  Member; California State Bar Association #69137; National Association of Realtors, California Association of RealtorsOrange County Association of RealtorsChairperson of Local Government Relations south committee at OCAR.org.  Newport Beach and Irvine area Realtor, broker agent and property information source.  Please always use an experienced and REALTOR® to help you with your decisions about sale or purchase of a home and property.

Posted via email from Explore OC Homes