As a Roseville mortgage broker, I get this question a lot from home buyers, especially ones who have applied for mortgages in the past.  I coach buyers (new and experienced) that the current lending environment and process is much different today.  Lenders/investors are requiring much more information from borrowers than in times past.  This is very frustrating to many buyers. It doesn't make sense, especially to the ones that tell me they pay all their bills on time.   Pay stubs, two months of bank statements with all of the pages (even if they’re blank?), Federal taxes, divorce papers, copies of Driver’s and Social…the list seems endless.   It’s important to understand the lender’s perspective when you are applying for a mortgage: they don’t know you and you are asking them to give yo... 10/16/2009

A short sale is a process in which the mortgage holder agrees to accept less than the balance owed on the mortgage at sale to prevent foreclosure. The lender would much rather see you sell the property than be forced to take the property through foreclosure, as foreclosure is a costly and time-consuming process.Generally speaking, a short sale occurs when a homeowner who is behind on his or her mortgage payments, and who owes more on his home than it is currently worth, contacts the mortgage lender asking the lender to allow him to sell the home for less than the balance of the mortgage. For example, if you owe $100,000 on your mortgage, but are only able to sell your home for $80,000, you would need to have your mortgage lender agree ahead of time to allow the sale to proceed. In fact,... 10/14/2009

Last week Mortgage Bonds finished at levels not seen since May 21 and home loan rates hit near historic lows. It’s hard to believe that some borrowers locked their interest rates under 5% on 30 year fixed rate mortgages. Stocks closed lower and the Dow market had its worse week since mid-June. As a result, money flowed to Bonds which helped home loan rates to stay low. With weaker than expected Job Report for September and the unemployment rate of 9.8%, the Labor Department wasn’t showing much love for US workers. We also saw a decline in the Average Workweek and Average Hourly Earning. Both reports show the weakness in the labor market. Personal Spending indicated that spending rose in August – the fastest monthly pace in almost 8 years. It sound like great news but we need to take int... 10/05/2009

You will LOVE this floorplan! 8129 Bauser Ave. , Roseville, CA 95747 View Map This home has great architectural details with plenty of space for a large or growing family. It features five bedrooms and three bathrooms. It is located in the quite, well maintained neighborhood of Woodcreek North in West Roseville. It offers beautiful granite counter-tops, tile flooring, and large walk in closets. Furniture can also be purchased with this home. You will not want to miss a private showing of this non banked owned property. Presented by: Accelerated Realty Group, Artful Journey and Stage Right Design Details Asking Price: $389,000 Sq. Feet: 3094 Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 3 # of Floors: 2 HOA/Maintenance Fees: none Garage Size: 3 car Subdivision: Woodcreek North Year Built: 1991 Contact InfoLor... 10/03/2009

Anybody out there frustrated with the time it takes to get a response from the bank on Short Sales?  I know, silly question.  Today after umpteen minutes waiting on HOLD with the bank, my own phone told me it had put me on hold.  What the!!!  Grr was my first thought but my mood changed when I called again and after only 10 minutes (what have we come to when 10 minutes on hold seems short) of waiting on the second call a man answered and identified himself by name.  "Wow," I said, "You're just the person I need to speak to."  He was a little apprehensive with that opening... but asked how he could help.  I explained I had sent an offer in 2 months earlier and it seemed that nothing was happening.  He asked me to wait on hold for a while longer and returned to say that everything he need... 09/25/2009

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, or if you read my blog post about the little fly fishing trip I just took, you will know that last week I closed a short sale that posed some insane challenges...who knew a clerical error from the 2nd lender could cause such stress!!In the middle of April, I listed a short sale in Roseville...within a week or so, I had a few offers. Cool beans. I immediately submitted the offers to both the first lender (CitiMortgage) and second lender (Bank of America, formerly Countrywide), along with all of the other necessary paperwork. Within just a couple weeks of submitted all of the documents, I had written short sale acceptance from the first lender. YAY!I continued to call the second lender, and followed up several times per week. I provided additional ... 08/19/2009

I've been getting a lot of people asking about the first time home buyer tax credit offered.  Here is some valuable information about it: $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers. Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream. Who Qualifies? First-time home buyers who purchase homes between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. To qualify as a "first-time home buyer" the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase. Which Prop... 08/03/2009

  Finding inexpensive and tasty in the same sentence is sometimes hard. Utopia grill in Roseville seems to have done that very same thing. Yesterday my family and I went there for dinner mainly because of the $10 off coupon. The catch was after 2pm and we had to spend a minimum of $25.  We ordered a large margarita pizza a burger and a bucket of 4 imported beers after my coupon was turned in my grand total was $17 that is it. The great thing about this place is that it offers all organic and fresh food. The service was great and the restaurant was very clean. The atmosphere was extremely pleasant and allowed for a very enjoyable dinner.    Utopia grill is located at 1465 Eureka Rd (916) 788-1122 From a value stand point I give it 5 out of 5 stars and 4 out of 5 for taste and service TRY... 07/31/2009

Hello Everyone, So I was sitting here this morning in ROSEVILLE, CA enjoying a fresh cup of coffee and thinking about the AMAZING week I just had with a particular SHORT SALE deal and thought I should share. As most of you are aware doing SHORT SALES are very time consuming and require someone with the patience and skills of a saint.  Well first of all I LOVE SHORT SALES!!!  I love to list them, and even more to my liking is to NEGOTIATE them!!.  So back to the reason for this blog :), I had listed, gotten an offer accepted by the seller and sent in a complete package to the banks (Wachovia 1st & WAMU 2nd).  Within 2 weeks of sending in the package  I get a phone call from the Wachovia negotiator; I was excited to hear from them so quickly yet worried when the Wachovia negotiator said t... 07/18/2009

Get out of the house this Saturday and enjoy a lovely evening with art, make some new friends, maybe even enjoy some Vino! Perhaps you'll find that got-to-have piece of art for your new home, or the home you will be buying soon! Date: 7/18/2009 Time: 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM 3rd Saturday Art Walk Vernon Street and 225 Taylor Street Downtown Roseville hosts the 3rd Saturday Art Walk every month. Join the ever-growing number of people attending this event. Check out the Roseville Arts Webpage for information on other local Artist events and more! www.rosevillearts.org Watch a video of a featured local artist on a channel 3 interview HERE! 07/16/2009

If you have been pondering whether to become a Roseville home buyer this year or to gamble on just how far the housing prices may fall, keep in mind the tax incentive being offered to first time home buyers in 2009. Remember that first time home buyer means you haven't owned a home in the past 3 years, this doesn't have to be your actual first time purchasing a home. It does mean you have not been in any ownership of a property in 3 years though. This $8000 tax credit runs out on November 30th 2009, so hurry! If you would like to read up on details, here are some great sources: federalhousingtaxcredit money.cnn.com CNNMoney.com Video 07/15/2009

I have been showing a lot of REO properties lately in Roseville CA, and have noticed a new problem crop up with pre-approval qualification. Nearly every REO that I encounter that is owned by one of the big Banks (i.e. B of A, Wells, Chase, etc) is requiring an approval by them specifically in order to review an offer. At first regard, this may not seem like much of an issue. But in the competitive market of purchasing REOs and short sales in California, and especially in my local areas of Roseville CA and Lincoln CA (which were hit hard by the market drop) and the greater Sacramento Valley, buyers are commonly having to make many offers until they enter escrow as houses are selling above asking price due to lowered values and decreased inventory. So each time a buyer is making an offer,... 07/08/2009

ROSEVILLE SHORT SALE SPECIALIST CAN HELP IN FORECLOSURE AVOIDANCE DATE: June 20, 2009 KATHY DYER REALTOR ROSEVILLE SHORT SALE SPECIALIST EARNS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN DANGER OF FORECLOSURE,Kathy Dyer of Keller Williams Realty Roseville, has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert(CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales. This is invaluable expertise to offer at a time when the area is ravaged by “distressed” homes in the foreclosure process. Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankrup... 06/22/2009

Find more photos like this on eRealEstate 06/21/2009

Dryer vent cleaning promotes proper air-flow, improves the efficiency of your clothes dryer and prevents dryer fires   Roseville, CA - Gina Fazil is the franchise owner/operator of Dryer Vent Wizard of Sacramento, CA.  Dryer Vent Wizard specializes in dryer fire prevention and "urgent response" dryer and vent maintenance, repair, replacement and alterations. DVW services keep dryers functioning properly, prevent dryer fires and reduce energy costs.    Since purchasing her franchise in 2006, Gina has had many clients who have considered replacing their clothes dryer because they thought it was old and worn out.  "They noticed their dryer taking several cycles to properly dry their laundry and they don't realize that lack of air-flow is the likely cause," said Gina.  "When air flow is res... 06/02/2009

The communities within Roseville and Lincoln continue to be sought after by high end clientele.  Whether it is Sun-City or Cirby Hills, the beautifull properties that surround our Roseville office are a privilege to work for.  New development in Downtown Roseville with restaurants and a growing night life such as found at the Boxing Donkey Irish Pub is an indication Roseville wants to keep their residents at home in local establishments.  Qualified tenants are noticing and making the move to these communities. James Safonov jsafonov@homepointe.com www.homepointe.com       05/25/2009

  How about celebrating Cinco de Mayo 2009 in Downtown Roseville? Downtown Tuesday Nights on Vernon St. in Roseville kicks off tonight, May 5, 2009.  Along with the regular festivities (car show, farmers market, crafts, etc.) tonight there will also be mexican food and a mariachi band for Cinco de Mayo. When: Tuesday nights beginning May 5, 2009- July 28, 2009Where: Vernon St. Downtown RosevilleTime: 5-9pm.Cost: Admission and parking are FREE! For more information visit www.2025events.com 05/05/2009

  Looking for something fun to do with Mom this Mother's Day weekend? The 2009 Roseville Strawberry Festival is taking place this Mother's Day weekend, May 9th and 10th, and will be held at Placer County Fairgrounds in Roseville off of Washington Blvd. At the festival you will be able to enjoy good food, entertainment including a classic car show, farmers market and more! What: Roseville Strawberry FestivalWhen: May 9th and 10th, 2009Where: Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All America City Blvd, RosevilleCost: $8 ages 16-59, $6 ages 6-15, $5 age 60+, ages 5 and under freeFor more information visit www.FeedMeStrawberries.com 05/05/2009

Tomorrow is expected to be a beautiful sunny day in Roseville.  As a matter of fact, it will be 83° F just perfect to go out and enjoy the festivities of EARTH DAY! "CELEBRATE THE EARTH 2009" event will take place at Mahany Regional Park facilities, located on the corner of Woodcreek Oaks Blvd and Pleasant Grove Blvd.  It will start at 10:00AM to 3:00PM.  This event is about bringing community awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.  The event line up is fun filled and educational from adults to kids. There will be limited parking space at Mahany Park so to avoid congestions, here are some green tips for those who wish to attend: 1.  Take a walk with the family to the park.  It will be a beautiful warm day and what an opportunity to take in the beauty of the earth on you... 04/17/2009

As usual when the weather heats up so does the rental activity.  I have had a marked increase in new account meetings and tenants looking to move.  Roseville and the surrounding communities along the I80 corridor are all experiencing elevated activity as well.  Ideally the increase in the tenant pool will help to stabilize rents as they have suffered over the winter and early spring months. James Safonov jsafonov@homepointe.com www.homepointe.com   04/17/2009