Tag Archive for: realestatetrends

Low Housing Inventory and High Interest Rates – If Your a Buyer, What Does this all Mean?

Housing inventory remains very low in the Bay Area.  Even though interest rates remain high due to inflationary fears from the Fed’s, the higher cost of financing isn’t slowing the market down. 

In Santa Clara County, there are approximately 930 properties for sale (consisting of homes, town house and condos (as of July 2023)) with a median days on the market of 10 days.

In Santa Cruz County, there are approximately 305 properties for sale with a median days on the market of 22 days per Charles Holcomb with Compass Real Estate with the Dawn Thomas Team.  Its still very much a seller’s market with sellers demanding and getting prices well over list prices.

Last year I sold my home in Saratoga to downsize, thinking prices would go lower due to higher rates allowing to scoop up a great deal…Was I wrong!  In searching for property, I have seen multiple offers and listings going well above the list price.  In fact, I have seen accepted offers well above what comps support.  It feels a little like 2018 again.  Jen Beehler with the Elevate Group states as inventory remains lows, expect more of this.  She then went on to explain that when making an offer where financing is involved, its very important to be fully preapproved with the ability to close quickly.

At 101 Loan, we take pride in that, our preapprovals are fully underwritten (with DU run) allowing our buyers the ability to make offers without a loan contingency and close in a timely manner, sometimes in 3 weeks or less.  This helps our buyers make the strongest offer possible often times resulting in accepted offer.

For more on what we do for our buyers, please see below:

  • We get the buyer completely pre-approved before they make an offer, so they won’t need a loan contingency (unless we recommend having one), something seller’s require.
  • We strategize with the buyer and Realtor, to close in the quickest amount of time with the least amount of contingencies while keeping the buyers risk as low as possible.
  • At the time of an offer, we call the listing agent on behalf of the buyer and their Realtor to differentiate the offer over someone else’s. (This makes a huge difference in the eyes of the listing agent and seller and conveys strength in the preapproval)
  • We can close purchases in 21 to 25 days (as needed) depending on the loan program the buyer chooses. Faster is better in the eyes of the seller!
  • We provide a timeline to the buyer, the listing agent and the buyers agent, once the loan is locked; detailing each step of the transaction to ensure a smooth closing.  We ensure the buyer knows exactly what the loan will cost once locked and then update them immediately if there are any changes to the loan structure, as a result due to a change of circumstance.  We then re-summarize the costs before the buyer signs the loan docs.
  • We coordinate the buyer’s signoff with escrow and their Realtor, to ensure the purchase closes on time, as scheduled.

We basically “micro-manage” the purchase from start to finish to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible, something crucial in this market, to ensure all parties have a smooth and stress-free closing.

If you’d like to get preapproved or determine your purchase power, please contact us.

Best Regards,

Rob McCarthy

Senior Mortgage Advisor

www.101Loan.com

650-465-8957 c  408-377-4123 o  408-608-1921 f

CA DRE – License # 01205444  NMLS #326829

6090 Hellyer Ave #100, San Jose, CA 95138

Products/Services/Accolades:

  1. Residential Financing for Purchases and Refinances on 1 to 4 unit properties.
  2. Reverse Mortgage Financing to include Conforming, Jumbo, HELOC Jumbo’s.
  3. Commercial & SBA Financing to include Multifamily, Office, Retail and Light Industrial.
  4. Access to over 50 banks with over 300 “Five Star” Reviews on Yelp, Google, Facebook and Linkedin.

Note: Interest rates and loan programs quoted are subject to change without notice or until locked and approved by lender.

 

What’s New in Real Estate?

It’s been an interesting last few weeks with Real Estate, the Stock Market and Interest Rates!

First…

With the debt ceiling deal in place (thank god), what’s in store for us a country?  See what AP News wrote.  Glad this got put into place as interest rates in just 2 weeks rose .5% and since last month Monday have dropped .25%.  Hope this continues, as interest rates; since December 2021, have climbed 3% and have crippled the real estate and mortgage industry as whole.

Next…

Check out the Case Schiller Report.  It shows that in the last 2 months, the home value index rose.  Selma Hepp, the chief economist at CoreLogic, stated that the CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index reveals unexpected resilience through notable growth in home prices. The spring home buying season has witnessed a stronger influx of buyers compared to sellers, leading to a highly competitive market scenario. The scarcity of available existing homes is compelling buyers to pay more than the listed price, resulting in substantial price increases during the early spring period, surpassing the customary patterns observed during this time.

Lastly…

We’re teaching 3 Seminars at the Capitola Library in June (please invite your clients):

The Path to Successful Home Ownership – (On June 3rd at 1pm First Time Buyers looking to buy locally will learn valuable information about the process of buying in today’s real estate market.  Learn from a top Realtor and us, as they provide important info on how to buy, where to buy and why to buy in today’s fast-moving market.  For more info, go to https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10719528)

Age in Place or Right Size – (On June 17th at 1pm, Seniors, Empty Nesters and Son’s and Daughter of Retired Parents are invited to learn about their options in “Right Sizing and or Aging in Place”. Learn about your options in Staying in Your Current Home or Selling and Moving locally or elsewhere. Also, learn about the pro’s and con’s of reverse mortgages and how they can help or how they can hinder home owners. A top realtor and top mortgage broker with over 30 years of experience with over 200 “5 Star” reviews, will be presenting.  For more info, go to https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10719529)

How to Help Your Kids Buy in Today’s Market – (On June 24th at 1pm Learn How to Help Your Kids buy in Today’s Local Market through several real estate and loan options allowing your kids and yourself to create financial stability. There are several financing options available and Rob McCarthy at 101 Loan will teach you them with the help of one of his Top Local Realtors. Help Your Kids Make Home Ownership not just a Dream, but a Reality.  For more info, go to https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/10719532)

Any questions, please contact us.  Thanks.

 

Best Regards,

Rob McCarthy

Senior Mortgage Advisor

www.101Loan.com

650-465-8957 c  408-377-4123 o  408-608-1921 f

101 Loan – 14435 C Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070

101 Loan LLC – CA DRE #01165697  NMLS #121019

101 Loan is an Associate of General Mortgage Capital Corporation

Products/Services/Accolades:

  1. Residential Financing for Purchases and Refinances on 1-4 unit properties.
  2. Reverse Mortgage Financing to include Conforming, Jumbo, HELOC Jumbo’s.
  3. Commercial & SBA Financing to include Multifamily, Office, Retail and Light Industrial.
  4. Access to over 50 banks with over 300 “Five Star” Reviews on Yelp, Google, Facebook and Linkedin.

Note: Interest rates and loan programs quoted are subject to change without notice or until locked and approved by lender.

 

Why Are So Many People Leaving the Bay Area and California?

Moving???

Recently I heard a stat from a Realtor that 10% of the Bay Area’s population in the last 12 to 18 months, have left the Bay Area for other areas throughout CA and abroad.  They have left for the following reasons:

  • Less or no state taxes
  • Lower home prices
  • Lower cost of living
  • Crime and homeless population plaguing our streets.
  • Traffic and congestion
  • For less politics

In addition, because of Shelter in Place (SIP) and Work From Home (WFH) companies have allowed employees to “zoom” in and work from home and not necessarily locally.  Even, my staff an I have not been in the office since March of last year and were realizing, why even have an office any longer.  In addition, so many companies like Tesla and Oracle are moving allowing employees to live and work elsewhere.  We once saw Apple move to Texas but they quickly came back.  Let’s see if that happens again with Tesla and all the other companies considering fleeing the state or Bay Area.

Lastly, I published a video on this subject with my good friend Cherie Schaller.  Cherie is a top producing agent for Sotheby’s in the Rocklin, CA area that is seeing this trend more often:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXPx33Cio2U&feature=youtu.be

If you are considering moving to to Rocklin, Roseville or surrounding areas where real estate is a fraction of the cost here. please contact Cherie at:

https://www.cherieschaller.com/

For more info on relocating out of the Bay Area or determining your purchase power, please go to https://101loan.com/purchasing-start/ or contact me at:

Best Regards,

Rob McCarthy

Senior Mortgage Advisor

www.101Loan.com    rob@101loan.com

408-377-4123 o  650-465-8957 c

101 Loan LLC – 1601 S De Anza Blvd, Suite 260, Cupertino, CA 95014

CA DRE #01165697  NMLS #121019

Products/Services/Accolades:

  1. Residential Financing for Purchases and Refinances on 1 to 4 unit properties.
  2. Reverse Mortgage Financing to include Conforming, Jumbo, HELOC Jumbo’s.
  3. Commercial & SBA Financing to include Multifamily, Office, Retail and Light Industrial.
  4. Access to over 50 banks with over 200 “Five Star” Reviews on Yelp, Google, Facebook and Linkedin.