Saturday, December 27, 2008

My summery of bank own sales

You have to remember: Bank calls all the shots.

Some terms might be deleted and some terms might be added. You have to review them carefully.

Banks will do both BPOs and appraisale to have a clear idea of how much the propertie really worth.

No low ball offers!

Somecases, bank would pay some escrow and closing fees. But not always.

No TDS, and not all disclosures are provided.

As-is!

What you need to do to get a bank own properties:

  • Pre-approval with bank or from lender you planning to use.
  • Vefification of funds. Don't wait for the bank request it. Include it anyway.
  • Be aggressive with time contingencies. 10 days for inspection is preferred. 7 days is becoming the norm.
  • Speed things up...order inspections upon verbal acceptance.
Don't submit low offers, change lender or terms, don't enter seller names on any documents, don't ask for credit or repairs.




Saturday, December 20, 2008

这周贷款利率下降到历史低点

最近大家都说贷款的利率下来了,看来Fed 和 Treasure bail out Wall streets 之后,不得不对实体经济下手了,主要就是把housing 的问题想办法解决一下,要不然congress 也不答应。怎么做呢,Fed 说要买500B的Fannie和Freddie的mortgage backed security 和100B两F的债券, rumor 说treasure 要买两F的债券把30年固定的利率压到4.5%。最近的利率大跌,基本创下了2000年来的最低点。前两天confirming 30 yr fixed hit 4.5%, jumbo confirming 30yr fixed hit 5.25%.

这对新购买者来说是好消息。但对现房主来说是亦喜亦悲,主要是这个jumbo confirming 的要求,对 san diego 来说是贷款最高不得高于54.6万。如果80%的loan to value ratio (LTV), 这是说对68.4万以上买入的房主,都需要把 LTV 降到80%一下才能申请的贷款,这就意味着得往里再砸钱。

对新购买者而言,现在很多很不错的房子都在68.4万以下,可以放心贷款。

估计现在到Obama 上台初期,利率只会降不会升了。Fed 的几百B还是可以撑一段的,但长远来看超级通胀的风险始终是存在的。

Monday, December 8, 2008

Adjustble rate mortgage reset schedule

这篇是我对市场上即将要reset利率的房子的数据分析。 因为很难用中文说明白,所以用英文写了。

From the chart, we can see that subprime ARM is getting smaller in percentage in 09 and 10. But there are still significant Prim and Alt-A ARMs. With the hope that "Santa" Obama will give U.S. home owners some big help on reducing mortgage rate, we should see a lot of these ARMs to get refinanced in the coming year. It will be a good news for the housing market.

It is almost concensus that there will be a pickup in transaction volume in next spring, but it might not be able to translate to a pickup in home price. However, for people who need a house to live in, with potentially low interest rate and low home price, next spring is not a bad time to buy.

Click to see bigger image:

Friday, December 5, 2008

Mortgage Rates Take a Big Dip This Week

这个星期rate大降。 很多人纷纷去做refin. 搞得圣地亚哥中国人的最大一家贷款公司的人个个都接电话接到手软!@@

The rate came in at an average of 5.53 percent, down from 5.97 percent the previous week and 5.96 percent a year ago; while 15-year fixed mortgages settled at 5.33 percent compared to 5.74 percent last week and 5.65 percent in the year-earlier period.

Borrowing costs for short-term loans also were lower, with one-year adjustable-rate mortgages dipping to 5.02 percent from 5.18 percent a week ago and 5.46 percent a year ago.

Five-year hybrid ARMs, meanwhile, fell to 5.77 percent from 5.86 percent last week and 5.75 percent during the same period of last year.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Good news?

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/03/news/economy/treasury_mortgage_rates/

This is gonna be huge if 4.5% really happens. Back in 2003 the best rate couldn't even compare not mention for jumbo loan!

Is that means the market going to stable? Let's wait and see.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

CNN 今天报道,Obama 的团队已经筹划通过大量印钞票

CNN 今天报道,Obama 的团队已经筹划通过大量印钞票 (~2 Trillion)
来源: realtiger

举债来逃出目前的经济危机.

而且是1)不管把赤字搞得多高; 2)不管通货膨胀;3)以救就业为主体 (Democrat agenda),大量注资撑着夕阳工业的Detroit 的三大巨头。4) 看来重新modify homeowners' loans' terms, 即使有大量的fraud 也在所不惜了。

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Carmel Valley Phone numbers

Police non-emergency: 858-484-3154 or 619-531-200

SDGE: 800-411-7343
Water Del Mar - 858-755-9354
Water SD - 858-755-7211

Trash:
Waste Mgmt - 760-753-9412
Edco - 760-436-4151
SD refuse - 858-492-5060

Carmel Valley Library: 858-552-1668
Carmel Valley Rec Center: 858-552-1616
Ocean Air Rec Center
: 858-
Rec Center Pool: 858-552-1623

Thursday, November 6, 2008

School Districts: Carmel Valley


School Districts:

Carmel Valley Private Schools


  • San Diego Jewish Academy
    Upper School (grades 6-10)
    11860 Carmel Creek Road
    voice (858) 704 3770
    fax (858) 704 3771
    Lower School (grades K-5)
    11860 Carmel Creek Road
    voice (858) 704 3761
    fax (858) 704-3701
  • Cathedral Catholic High School
    5555 Del Mar Heights Road
    858-523-4000
  • Notre Dame Academy
    pre-school to 8th grade
    4345 Del Mar Trails Road
    858.509.2300
    thesisters@ndasd.org

Carmel valley Highschools

Torrey Pines High School
3710 Del Mar Heights Road
858-755-0125
(Torrey Pines High School Foundation)


Canyon Crest High School
5951 Village Center Loop Road
858-350-0253
(Canyon Crest High School Foundation)

Carmel Valley Middle Schools

Carmel Valley Middle School
3800 Mykonos Lane
858-481-8221




Earl Warren Junior High
155 Stevens Street, Solana Beach, CA 92075
858-755-1558

Carmel Valley All Elementary Schools

  • Solana Highlands: 3520 Long Run Drive; Office: 858.794.4300, Fax: 858.794.4350, CDC: 858.794.4377
  • Carmel Creek: 4210 Carmel Center Road; Office: (858) 794-4400, Fax: (858) 794-4450, Absence: (858) 794-4451, CDC: (858) 794-4477
  • Solana Pacific: 3901 Townsgate Drive; Office: (858) 794-4500, Fax: (858) 794-4550, CDC: (858) 794-4577, Absence: (858) 794-4551
  • Ashley Falls: 13030 Ashley Falls Drive; voice 858.259.7812, fax 858.259.1828
  • Carmel Del Mar: 12345 Carmel Park Drive; voice 858.481.6789, fax 858.481.7418
  • Del Mar Heights: 13555 Boquita Drive, Del Mar, CA 92014; voice:858.755.9367, fax:858.509.1412
  • Del Mar Hills: 14085 Mango Drive, Del Mar, CA 92014; voice: 858.755.9763, fax: 858.755.6107
  • Sage Canyon: 5290 Harvest Run Drive; voice: 858.481.7844, fax: 858.481.7949
  • Torrey Hills: 10830 Calle Mar de Mariposa; voice: 858.481.4266, fax: 858.481.0344
  • Sycamore Ridge: 5333 Old Carmel Valley Road; voice: 858-755-1060
  • Ocean Air: 11444 Canter Heights Drive; voice: 858.481.4040

50 Fun and Free Activities in San Diego


  1. Put on your bathing suit, grab your towel and head to one of San Diego's 33 beaches, all open to the public, and perfect for body surfing, boogie boarding, building sandcastles, collecting seashells and basking in the sun.
  2. Bring a picnic and listen to Coronado's Summer Concert Series in Spreckels Park on Sunday evenings throughout the summer. On the first and third Sundays of the month, come early and browse the work of San Diego artists during the Coronado Art Association's bi-monthly Art-In-The-Park event.
  3. Soak up the international flavor at the House of Pacific Relations in Balboa Park during the freeInternational Cottages' Lawn Programs. A summer-long event, a different country is celebrated each Sunday through ethnic foods, songs and dance.
  4. Head to the historic Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside on June 9 - 10 for the Annual Inter-Tribal Pow Wow. Hosted by the San Luis Rey Luiseno Mission Indians, this event draws tribal members from all over the United States for contest dancing, Native American arts and crafts, games and food.
  5. Catch a magnificent Pacific sunset and watch sea lions play along the shoreline at La Jolla Cove, one of the most spectacular natural settings in the world.
  6. Visit Seaport Village on weekends for free entertainment and hours of leisurely strolling and window shopping. Guests can also walk along the bay-front or sit in the grass and gaze at passing yachts and ships along picturesque San Diego Bay.
  7. Listen to live bands lined along the 26.2-mile route of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon on June 3. The course begins in Balboa Park, runs through various popular locations around the city and ends at SeaWorld San Diego. Visitors can also stop by the marathon's free Health and Fitness Expo on June 1-2 at the San Diego Convention Center.
  8. Stroll through the 16½-block historic Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. Once the stomping grounds of the legendary Wyatt Earp, the Gaslamp Quarter is now home to unique stores and numerous restaurants, nightclubs and bars, many of which are set in turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture.
  9. Check out the La Mesa Car Show along La Mesa Boulevard in the village of La Mesa every Thursday night during June through August. In addition to vintage cars on display, guests can enjoy shopping, dining and live music.
  10. Take free fly-fishing lessons from the San Diego Fly Fishers club on Sunday mornings from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Lake Murray, located in La Mesa. If you don't have your own gear, arrive early for a free equipment loan.
  11. Sample some of the more than 200 varieties of fresh produce grown in San Diego at one of the region's many Farmers' Markets, held daily at locations throughout the county.
  12. Enjoy free organ concerts during the Annual International Summer Organ Festival at Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Concerts are held on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. from June 25 - August 27.
  13. Bike, walk or jog along Mission Bay Park's many trails. Bikers, walkers and joggers share more than 20 miles of scenic paths winding through sunlight and shade near the shoreline with workout courses at planned stations along the route.
  14. Attend the 33rd Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-off on June 23, featuring more than 200 vendors, local artists, food, a children's area and entertainment on five stages.
  15. Rollerblade, skateboard, bicycle or people watch along the Mission Beach and Pacific Beach Boardwalk, a scenic three-mile boardwalk running along the coastline of these lively neighborhoods.
  16. Stargaze on the first Wednesday of every month from the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park during "Gazin' with the Experts." Members of the San Diego Astronomy Association set up huge telescopes and offer guests a great view of the moon, planets and brighter stars.
  17. Join the festivities at San Diego's many Fourth of July celebrations, held in numerous communities throughout the county. Coronado's popular Independence Day Celebration on July 4 features a two-hour parade followed by a family concert in Spreckels Park and spectacular fireworks over Glorietta Bay. The Port of San Diego celebrates with the Big Bay Boom fireworks extravaganza over San Diego Bay, the largest fireworks display in the county.
  18. Take a scenic drive to Mt. Laguna to hike, bike or picnic while enjoying the fresh mountain air whispering through the pines.
  19. Hike the trails of Torrey Pines State Beach and Park and see the rare and elegant Torrey pine trees, a number of animal species and miles of unspoiled beaches below.
  20. Visit Mission Trails Regional Park featuring a state-of-the-art Visitors Center where guests explore and learn about the wonders of nature and the native people who once lived on the land. The park also offers over 40 miles of natural and developed hiking and biking trails.
  21. Go scuba diving or snorkeling off San Diego's shores to see spectacular creatures of the sea. La Jolla Shores and Cove offer some of the clearest waters on the California coast, as well as miles of protected underwater preserve to explore.
  22. Watch the 59th Annual World Championship Over-the-Line Tournament, San Diego's original boisterous beach softball event, during July 14 - 15 and July 21 - 22 at Fiesta Island on Mission Bay.
  23. Walk along the downtown Embarcadero and view impressive public art sculptures, tributes and memorials set along San Diego Bay. The artworks celebrate San Diego's international ties, cultural diversity, military significance and unique oceanfront environment.
  24. Join San Diegans in a local natural phenomenon, the grunion run, on warm summer nights when the tide is high and the moon is full. Guests can witness thousands of small grunion fish swimming ashore to mate and bury their eggs in the sand before riding the waves back out to sea.
  25. Watch tail-waggin', Frisbee-catchin' and stick-fetchin' dogs splash in the surf. Man's best friend is permitted to roam leash-free at all hours of the day on designated dog beaches in Ocean Beach,Coronado and Del Mar.
  26. Join the festivities of the annual San Diego LGBT Pride Parade and Festival, one of the most popular events of its kind in the country. Free festivities include a mile-long parade through Hillcrest on July 21, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
  27. Celebrate the discovery of gold in the East County mountain community of Julian during theJulian Gold Rush Days, June 9-10, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The weekend includes gold panning, gold mine tours, face painting, historic skits and more.
  28. Check out the local craft beer scene during free, daily brewery tours at Stone Brewing Companyin Escondido. Beer lovers can go behind the scenes and sample several microbrews from one of the world's top breweries.
  29. Hang 10 at the California Surf Museum, which houses a permanent collection of historic boards, photographs and videos on Highway 101 in Oceanside. During free admission day on Tuesdays, visitors can explore its colorful and educational display on the sport of surfing and the legends who braved the waters over generations.
  30. Take a walk through Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in the United States, and discover its beautiful Spanish Colonial-Revival architecture and glorious gardens. Also, visitors can take advantage of the Park's variety of other free offerings, including ranger-led walking tours at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays and Sundays.
  31. Dance along Fifth Avenue during the annual Hillcrest Cityfest Street Fair on August 12 featuring crafts, food booths, three entertainment stages and beer gardens.
  32. Gather friends, family and firewood for a cozy beach bonfire at one of San Diego County's bonfire-friendly beaches, located in Coronado, Ocean Beach, Oceanside, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach.
  33. Go on a self-guided walking tour of The Stuart Collection, a display of contemporary sculptures scattered throughout the University of California, San Diego campus in La Jolla. Tour maps are available at the Gilman Drive campus entrance.
  34. Spend the afternoon at Tidelands Park in Coronado. The park's 22 bayfront acres feature four baseball fields, a playground, skatepark, picnic tables, small beach with an exercise course, boat access, fishing pier and bike and pedestrian paths.
  35. Explore the clear shallow tidepools of La Jolla Cove and Point Loma when the tide is low and the pools are teeming with aquatic life.
  36. Visit Julian in San Diego's East County and enjoy this quaint, historic mining town that grew into San Diego County's second largest urban center during the Southern California gold rush of 1869.
  37. Take a drive to the top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla, home of the Mt. Soledad Veterans War Memorial, for breathtaking, 360-degree views of San Diego. Spectacular views also await at the top of Mt. Helix in La Mesa, offering visitors a birds-eye glimpse of San Diego's East County communities.
  38. Experience the history of the local Hispanic community's struggles and triumphs with a visit to theChicano Park Murals, established by activists in 1970. This cultural park has received international recognition as a major public art site for its commanding mural paintings set underneath the San Diego-Coronado Bridge. Some of the murals narrate the history of Barrio Logan where the park is located.
  39. Take in the action as fun-loving canines brave the waves during the 7th Annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog Competition on June 16 in Imperial Beach.
  40. Witness the living legacy of California's birthplace in Old Town State Historic Park, San Diego's first "downtown." The six-block park features 12 acres of Mexican lore and historical sites presented in shops, restaurants, museums and several carefully preserved or restored adobe and wooden buildings.
  41. Visit the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the nation's first warm-weather, year-round Olympic training facility, located in Chula Vista. Free guided tours of the 150-acre lakefront facility are offered at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday; tours begin at the Copley Visitor Center. Self-guided tours are also available Mondays-Saturdays - 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  42. Take advantage of San Diego's warm summer nights and enjoy a number of free summer concerts held throughout the county.
  43. Explore the mediation gardens of the Self-Realization Fellowship Ashram Center in Encinitas. It is here that Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the preeminent spiritual figures of our time, wrote his "Autobiography of a Yogi." The meditation gardens are open to the public Tuesdays-Sundays - 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  44. Walk 1,942 feet along the Oceanside Municipal Pier, the longest wooden pier on the U.S. West Coast. The pier is a perfect setting for fishing, walking and wave watching.
  45. Browse through the Ocean Beach Antique District, located along Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, offering the largest concentration of antique and collectible dealers in San Diego County. Here, guests can find one-of-a-kind antiques, mid-century modern furniture, fine estate sale items, vintage jewelry and specialty memorabilia.
  46. Listen to the rhythmic sounds of jazz during the TGIF Jazz in the Parks concert series in Carlsbad. Concerts take place at Stagecoach Community Park, Poinsettia Community Park and Calavera Hills Community Park during June through August.
  47. Celebrate summer with art, food and music during the Fiesta Del Sol summer music festival, June 2-3, at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach. Guests can enjoy live performances, an international food court, beer garden and activities for the kids.
  48. Walk along the Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad and look for birds, insects, plants, fish and animals in one of the few remaining tidal wetlands on the Southern California coast. The nature reserve is open Monday-Friday - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays-Sundays - 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  49. Have fun during the Festival of the Bells, July 13 - 15, the anniversary celebration of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first of California's 21 missions. Guests can celebrate the beginning of Christianity in the western United States with food, entertainment, dance and traditional activities like the blessing of the bells.
  50. Experience the monthly Ray at Night art walk in San Diego's North Park neighborhood, featuring art, live music and fresh food. Guests can stroll through 15 galleries and business venues displaying new and current works by local and nationally known artists. The event is held from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month.
Glorious sunshine, warm breezes and beautiful beaches are calling from San Diego, and we're inviting you to answer the call. Add some spring to your step and plan a visit to San Diego where the sun shines year-round!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Testmoni: Carmel Valley, GREENBRIER

I am so happy that they finally found their dream house in Carmel Valley. It's not too big but the floor plan is open and house is airy.

Here is what Becky wrote to me:

We felt so lucky to have Connie as our buyer agent, she is so knowledgeable in Rnacho Bernado and Carmel Valley areas, and she always serves a great source of information for us. Connie always puts customer's interest as her top priority, unlike other agents we worked with, she never push you to a sale, instead she will actually give you advice on the house, both pros AND cons! -- that's very rare among real estate agents and extremely helpful in our opinion. We ended up buying this beautiful property Connie found for us, we just can't thank her enough!
-Becky Bai becky_bai@yahoo.com

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Co-Ownership Gets Popular as Lending Tightens

Real estate co-ownership arrangements are becoming increasingly popular, especially in cities where prices—even after the real estate meltdown—remain out of reach for many buyers.

"Lending guidelines have become twice as hard to meet because of the housing market," says Joe Schiller, an associate with Rubloff Real Estate in Chicago. "People just don't qualify like they used to. But if they get some friends and put money together, they can afford that 20 percent down that you now need to purchase."

Schiller says that while financing is easier, these arrangements have the capacity to fail. He recommends that people who are considering a joint purchase hire a lawyer to draw up a co-ownership agreement, including a plan to get out of the arrangement.

Here are some other tips for co-buyers:

* Before you begin looking for property, decide the geographic and financial ranges for the search.
* Understand potential co-buyers’ finances; lenders will look hard at the finances of all partners in the deal.
* If the property is a condo, understand the rules regarding rentals, just in case one partner needs to move out.
* Put everything in writing, particularly the escape plan.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

如果你的房子降了很多。。。

你可以去county要求一个新的估价:

填一个表格(Application for Changed Assessment, form #BOE-305-AH (S1) Rev. 6 (2-06))
It is a single page application that asks you to provide the filed values on the tax roll and asks you for your opinion of current value for land and structures. This form's purpose is to file for an assessment appeal. 填好寄给county后,你会收到一个post card 上面会给你一个application number.

The County Tax Assessor's office has been inundated with appeal applications.

但是要注意的是,一旦你要求county来重新估价你的房子,(re-assess), 你就自动的从一个Prop 13的保护下出来了。 这个Prop 13的意思是fixes your property taxes (with minimal increases) to the value of our home at the time of purchase. 这样一来,以后每2年county都会来重新估价。 That's fine as long as the value of our homes continues to decline; 但是如果房子上涨的话那可能就不那么合算了。你可能反而会多交税了。 但是从现在的房市看,可能还是重新估价一下比较好。

自己再多做做研究。 看看怎么会合适你。

http://arcc.co.san-diego.ca.us/docs/calrev.pdf

房子降价了



最近这么多坏消息,大家人心惶惶, 还是听听歌笑一笑吧。

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Still strong price appreciation? Top-10 most expensive ZIP Codes

Forbes magazine examined the top 100 most expensive ZIP codes in the United States and concluded that most saw strong price appreciation in the last 12 months.

Here are the top-10 most expensive ZIP Codes and the median home sales prices:

1. Fisher Island, Fla., Miami-Dade County, 33109. Median sales price: $3.85 million
2. Alpine, N.J. Bergen County, 07620, $3.59 million
3. Mill Neck, N.Y. Nassau County, 11765, $3 million
4. Newport Coast, Calif., Orange County, 92657, $2.8 million
5. Water Mill, NY, Suffolk County, 11976, $2.72 million
6. Atherton, Calif., San Mateo County, 94027, $2.7 million
7. Santa Barbara, Calif., Santa Barbara County, 93108, $2.7 million
8. Wainscott, N.Y., Suffolk County, 11975, $2.56 million
9. Rancho Sante Fe, Calif., San Diego County, 92067, $2.47 million
10. Beverly Hills, Calif. Los Angeles County, 90210, $2.41 million

Friday, September 19, 2008

30-Year Mortgage Rates Reach 7-Month Low

Freddie Mac reports a decline in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to 5.78 percent during the week ended Sept. 18 from 5.93 percent the prior week, marking the lowest level in seven months.

During the same period, the 15-year mortgage rate dropped to 5.35 percent from 5.54 percent.

Meanwhile, interest on five-year adjustable mortgages slipped to 5.67 percent from 5.87 percent; and the one-year ARM slid to 5.03 percent from 5.21 percent.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Life Is...One Long Negotiation

Slow market...You are never going to find more affordable choices.
Improving market...I'd suggest offering closer to list price.
Buyers...Yes, I think the sellers will accept this price if you close in 30 days.
Sellers...No, I really can't reduce my commission that much.
Parents...What will it take to get you to clean up your room?
Children...Please, I just have to stay out pas midnight this one time.

最近帮客户讨价还价比较多。 毕竟是buyer's market, 每个人都squeezing hard to get the best deal. 我觉得讨价还价的一个关键是你要知道你的底线, 然后坚持这个bottom line. 只有这样你去讨的时候才能有底气。 另外也要研究清楚对方的底线,知道对方的goal和motivation。 这样成功率也会高一些。 不过说到底,能不能成功,还是由市场决定的。还有一点很多人都没有意识到就是,第一次没有成功没有关系,等一等,再试一下。

我觉得有些人天生就是个好的谈判者,不会紧张,不会露底,从和对方的谈话中就能听出一个以丑丁卯来。 所以说,negotiate这个事,也是需要有天赋的还。