Mortgage rates slip below 5%

Loan applications jumped 13% last week and are up 50% from late June, borrowers have been taking advantage of rates that now average 4.97% on a 30-year loan. This is the time to buy!!! Talk to me about the $8,000 first-time buyer tax credit. Time is running out but if you are eligible you can still get the credit if you act quickly.

Fast Facts From The California Association Of Realtors

California median home price - July 09: $285,480 (Source: California Association of Realtors.)
California highest median home price by California Association Of Realtors region July 09: Santa Barbara So. Coast $885,000 (Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region July 09: High Desert $110,650 (Source: C.A.R.)Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Second Quarter 2009: 67 percent (Source: C.A.R.)Mortgage rates - week ending 8/27/09 30-yr. fixed: 5.14% Fees/points: 0.7% 15-yr. fixed: 4.58% Fees/points: 0.7% 1-yr. adjustable: 4.69% Fees/points: 0.6% (Source: Freddie Mac)

Home Energy Efficiency Rebates

REFRIGERATOR REBATES ARE BACK!!$100.00 combined rebate when you purchase a new Energy Star® refrigerator and recycle your old one.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is continuing its Consumer Rebate Program (CRP) to promote energy-efficient products. The LADWP is providing cash rebates to make purchasing energy-efficient products EASY and AFFORDABLE.

EFFECTIVE JAN. 1, 2009, SINGLE-SPEED POOL PUMPS WILL NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR A REBATE. REBATES WILL ONLY BE OFFERED FOR POOL PUMPS AND MOTORS WITH MULTI-SPEED TECHNOLOGY. CUSTOMERS WILL RECEIVE A REBATE OF $300.
• Funds available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• All applications must be postmarked within 12 months of purchase date to be considered eligible for a rebate.
HOW TO APPLY
• Click here to download the CRP Application.

Fast Facts From the Callifornia Association Od Realtors

Calif. median home price - May 09: $267,570 (Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region May 09: Santa Barbara So. Coast
$875,000 (Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region May 09: High Desert $106,210 (Source: C.A.R.)Calif.
First-time Buyer Affordability Index - First Quarter 2009: 69 percent (Source: C.A.R.)Mortgage rates - week ending 7/16/09
30-yr. fixed: 5.14% Fees/points: 0.7%
15-yr. fixed: 4.63% Fees/points: 0.7%
1-yr. adjustable: 4.76% Fees/points: 0.5% (Source: Freddie Mac)

First-Time Homebuyers Push Sales Up In Studio City and Sherman Oaks

Southland Regional Association of Realtors® reported that first-time buyers are taking advantage of favorable market conditions and are pushing home sales up in the San Fernando Valley with May being the eleventh straight month of sales gains.
Seven hundred and eight single-family homes sold during May, an increase of 5.8 percent over a year ago and 2.5 percent above figures.
Currently there is a 3.8-month supply of homes compared to the 8.5-month supply of May 2008 (a five- to six-month inventory indicates a balanced market.)
The median price of homes sold during May was $350,000, down 22.2 percent from a year ago. The condominium median price of $185,000 was off 38.1 percent from May 2008.

Thought For The Day

"Look for sale prices, and never regard falling prices as inherently bad news. Instead, falling prices create the opportunity to buy even more of something that was already worth owning. " Warren Buffet

California First Time Buyer Tax Credit

California running out of Ten Thousand Dollar tax credits. First-time home buyers wanting to take advantage of the state’s $10,000 tax credit may not have as much time as they thought they had. California set aside $100 million to help home buyers purchase new construction, hoping to get the residential-construction market going. The good news is; it worked and is helping to lure home buyers into purchasing a newly built home. However, there only is about 20 percent of the funding remaining. Call me now to buy your NEW Studio City of San Fernando Valley Home before the money runs out.