“Because individual homes are unique, there isn’t one single strategy that works equally well for every property,” says Wendy Forsythe, the executive vice president of a real estate company. “The real trick is understanding that today’s marketplace is cash driven, quick and highly competitive. Owners who understand their local markets and work with a knowledgeable agent are those most likely to succeed.”

In March roughly one-third of all sales were cash, meaning a large number of buyers are not dependent on lender financing, the sale of their existing home or a settlement that might be 45 to 60 days in the future.

Instead, they can act quickly and in many cases seek properties which can be bought today and occupied tomorrow.

To ready a home for sale in today’s marketplace, Forsythe says owners should consider six basic keys to selling success.

Six Keys to Success

1) Curb appeal counts. Most home buyers want homes which look great from the outside. It’s not just a question of curb appeal — it’s about perception. If a home looks good from the street it probably means the property is ready for a new occupant without a lot of cost or hassle.

Buyers tend to pass on a home that doesn’t appeal to them from the street — not even bothering to look inside. An experienced local REALTOR® can show you how to generate the most curb appeal with the least cost.

2) A clutter-free home. With the new emphasis on cash sales and speed owners must show homes which are free and clear of clutter. A clutter-free home will make interior spaces look larger and eliminates the need to get rid of stuff when you are in the throes of moving. It makes sense to donate or reduce clutter before a home is placed on the market — not only as a sales tactic but also as a practical step toward relocation.

3) Working condition. Having your home’s systems in good mechanical condition is an advantage in today’s market. Most distressed homes can’t compete when it comes to such basics as working heating, plumbing and air-conditioning. Properties that can readily pass a professional home inspection are often easier to finance, and are generally more appealing to buyers who don’t want to face the unknown costs and delays sometimes associated with major renovations.

4) List and negotiate properly. According to Forsythe, “a seasoned REALTOR® can show owners how best to market a particular home according to such factors as location, price, condition and financing. Owners want to work with us because our experience brings value and confidence to a transaction, factors that are enormously important in a changing marketplace.”

5) Seek prequalified buyers. While many sales may be for cash, the majority still require financing. It would be frustrating to enter into a sales contract with a potential buyer who ultimately cannot obtain financing to purchase your home — meaning you have lost time — and potentially money — and then you have to start over. When a home is shown by appointment, the buyer should have a pre-qualification letter in hand.

Such letters from lenders are not binding but at least show that the purchaser sat down with a loan officer and has some realistic sense of what he or she can reasonably afford.

6) Distressed properties. Roughly 30 percent of today’s home sales involve “distressed” properties — a term which includes short sales and foreclosed properties owned by lenders. You need to consider the distressed properties in your neighborhood when pricing and marketing your home. These properties typically sell at discount, especially in major foreclosure centers and sometimes require substantial repair and rehabilitation.

“Home sellers can compete with these offerings,” according to Forsythe. “There’s no question that a large number of distressed properties in a local market will impact prices, but price is not the only factor buyers consider. While distressed homes work for some purchasers, they’re not the right choice for buyers who want homes that offer move-in condition — homes in better shape that can often command higher prices.”

While the housing market is just in the beginning stages of a recovery, it’s still possible to successfully sell your home by making sure you’re catering to the kind of buyers in the market today, and by making sure that you — and your home — are ready to move as quickly as these buyers are.
http://rismedia.com/rrein/8507/1022617/5040415/36629

I wish them the very best in their new home!

The perfect house! 4 bedrooms 3 baths. One bedroom and bath down. 3 car garage, gorgeous solar heated 60′ lap pool with spa, private backyard, meticulously clean and decorated. Family room with fireplace, crown molding and beautiful woodwork, huge laundry room, Jack and Jill bath upstairs. Master has double sinks, separate shower and tub, new lighting. Lots of extra parking, low HOA, no mello-roos. Beautiful manicured neighborhood. New water heater, dishwasher and stove. Private backyard.

That prediction from Fiserv, the analytics company the publishes the Fiserv Case-Shiller Indexes, estimates that at the bottom, or “trough” of the peak-to-trough fall, prices will be 35 percent lower than their peak level in the first quarter of 2006.

“After years of large declines, the housing market is showing signs of stabilization. In the fourth quarter of 2011, home prices in 70 markets, representing 18 percent of the 384 metro areas tracked by Fiserv Case-Shiller, were unchanged or had increased compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. In 32 percent of the markets (122 metro areas), the price declines were under two percent. In the fourth quarter of 2011, the average price of a U.S. single-family home fell to a new post-bubble low, declining four percent from the year-ago period. Fiserv Case-Shiller projects a further modest decline of 0.8 percent by the end of 2012,” estimates Fiserv.

Markets rebounding off very large price declines include Detroit, Mich. (+9.8 percent), Cape Coral, Fla. (+3.5 percent) and Port St. Lucie, Fla. (+1.1 percent). However, prices dropped by more than two percent in nearly one-half of metro areas (191), including double-digit decreases in Atlanta (-12.8 percent), Reno, Nev. (-10.8 percent) and Tucson, Ariz. (-10 percent).

“We expect that home prices, which generally lag changes in sales activity by nine to 12 months, will stabilize by the end of this summer and then rise at an annualized rate of 3.9 percent over the next five years,” says David Stiff, Fiserv’s chief economist.

“The precipitous drop in home prices was an immediate cause of the last recession and the financial crisis. Falling home equity has cut into household consumption and has further constrained the economic recovery,” Stiff added. “However, very low prices have also started to draw in more buyers. As demand for houses ramps up, construction activity will increase and residential investment will begin to make a substantial contribution to the recovery and GDP overall.”

Due to the unprecedented price decline and record-low mortgage rates, affordability has improved dramatically. The relationship between home prices and rents has returned to 1998 levels. The ratio of median single-family home price to median family income is lower than any time since 1991. For a conventional mortgage, the payment for a median-priced home represents just 12 percent of median-family income, the lowest percentage on record (since 1971). Fiserv Case Shiller projects this record-level affordability will eventually bring more first-time and trade-up buyers back into the housing market, especially as apartment rents continue to increase and new households are formed, making buying a cheaper option than renting. Growing demand from first-time and trade-up buyers will finally put a floor under home prices, ending the nearly seven-year collapse of the housing bubble.

Other highlights from the latest Fiserv Case-Shiller Indexes include:
• Some of the hardest-hit markets are expected to experience the fastest growth during the recovery. Six of the 10 markets where annualized prices are expected to rise the most over the next five years have experienced price declines of more than 50 percent from their peaks.
• Conversely, home prices in markets that were spared the worst of the housing downturn are projected to grow at a slower pace. Texas, for example, accounts for 11 of the 39 markets where prices are projected to increase at an annualized 1.5 percent or less over the next five years.
• Of the 30 best-performing housing markets in the 2011 fourth quarter, 13 had unemployment rates of seven percent or less and 14 had a median family income above the national average.
• Seven of the 10 worst-performing markets in 2011 had unemployment rates higher than the national average and median family incomes below the national average.
• Twenty-two of the 25 markets that have seen the largest decline in home prices from peak to the end of 2011 are in California and Florida.

For more information, visit http://www.realestateeconomywatch.com
http://rismedia.com/rrein/8507/1022617/5040415/36627

The Vista Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 8:00 am until 12 noon — every month, every week, every Saturday — at the County Courthouse, 325 South Melrose Drive just South of Highway 78 in Vista, California, USA

There are over 50 farmers at the market, a few prepared food vendors, and a handful of hot food vendors, and a few crafts sold by those that made them. The Vista market has a focus on farmers and will always maintain priority for farmers that produce crops that are needed in the market.

The Vista Farmers Market is the first in the county, and one of the first in the State of California. It has been operating since 1981 and is a central gathering place for the region.

Most of the farmers, who are certified by the county to be the actual growers of what they sell, are VERY local . . . the majority from Vista and nearby communities.

Location: County Courthouse at 325 South Melrose Drive, just South of Highway 78.

From West — Highway 5 to Highway 78 East for 7 miles, off at Melrose, right, then right at third signal.

From East — Highway 15 to Highway 78 West for 10 miles off at Vista Village Drive left, then right on Hacienda then quick left on Melrose Drive, then right at 2nd signal.

http://vistafarmersmarket.com/wordpress/

Personalized automobiles known as lowriders “are part of a subculture whose aesthetic tendencies cross over into the world of fine art.” Lowrider cars are typically customized with a hydraulic setup to be low to the ground, an elaborate paint job, striking chrome features, uniquely designed upholstery. Lowrider culture can be seen in cars and motorcycles as well as in sculpture, photography, paintings as an expression of individuality, cultural pride. “Cruisin’ Califas: The Art of Lowriding,” including several full-size cars and motorcycles in lowrider style, paintings, and sculptures opens Sunday, May 13 and continues through September. Featured artists: Victor Cordero, Eddie Galindo, Rick Alvarez, David Avalos, Magu, Teen Angel, Salvador Gonzalez.

“Lee Silton: Evolution” juxtaposes organic shapes to create a lyrical sense of design, Silton’s three-dimensional wooden wall sculptures have a sense of motion while exploring universal themes of encapsulation, isolationism, and escapism. The largely abstract pieces are “expertly crafted through the layering of wooded panels painted in a monochrome or polychrome scheme,” tracing “the trajectory of the artist’s career over the past ten years, focusing on a collection of pieces that show her evolution of style from a more figurative approach to a stronger abstract sensibility.” Closes Sunday, August 12.

“Contemporary Art Wins a Beachhead: The La Jolla School of Arts 1960-1964,” closing Sunday, July 8, chronicles this institution which drew artists from all over the nation as students, educators, and artists-in-residence. Exhibition focuses on work of six artists who were members of school’s faculty, featuring paintings by Don Dudley, Fred Holle, Sheldon Kirby, Guy Williams; ceramics of Rhoda Lopez; ceramics and paintings of Malcolm McClain.

The painting installation “Penumbra: An Ode to Oceanside in a Time of War,” continuing through Sunday, June 3, is described as “a poetic homage to Oceanside by artist Geoffrey Cunningham, created as an ode to his hometown in a time of war.”

Cost: Free – $8
When: Ongoing indefinitely
Sundays 1pm
Tuesdays 10am
Wednesdays 10am
Thursdays 10am
Fridays 10am
Saturdays 10am
Where: Oceanside Museum of Art
704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, 92054

Get a Professional Home Inspection

•Sellers will be reluctant to listen to or negotiate a request for repair from a buyer without receipt of a home inspection. I’ve had inexperienced agents refuse to give sellers a copy of the home inspection until after the request for repairs was agreed upon; however, that’s like putting the cart before the horse. Besides, sellers will be more agreeable to making repairs if they see other deficiencies on the report that a buyer didn’t request.

•Every buyer should hire an independent and qualified home inspector to conduct a home inspection before buying a home. Not every state certifies inspectors, but most reputable inspectors will belong to a trade association. Ask for those credentials.

•Don’t ask your cousin or a friend to do this for you. There is little recourse available if your cousin or friend misses defects, plus a seller won’t accept your friend’s opinion.

Older Plumbing and Wiring

•Ungrounded Electrical.
Homes built before 1960 often have ungrounded wiring and polarized receptacles. These are two-plug outlets. You cannot change out a two-prong for a three-prong outlet without grounding the receptacle or installing a GFCI. Check your city code requirements.
While there is nothing bad about ungrounded wiring, it’s not a good idea to plug in sensitive electronic equipment such as computers or televisions to an ungrounded outlet, much less appliances that draw a lot of power such as microwaves or newer refrigerators. Many homeowners run Romex from the electrical box to new receptacles for these items.

While some sellers will agree to rewire the house, the majority of them will adamantly refuse. If you do not want to buy a house with ungrounded wiring, do yourself a favor and look at newer homes.

•Galvanized Water Pipes
Most homes built before 1970 have galvanized steel pipes. Over time, minerals in the water supply can cause a build up inside the pipes. If you see low-water pressure, build up could be your problem. Galvanized pipes can also rust and leak.
Many home owners do not replace galvanized pipes but repair them when they leak. It is not unreasonable to ask a seller to repair a leaking galvanized pipe. Few sellers will replace all galvanized pipes with copper, CVPC or Pex.

•Orangeburg Sewer Pipes
Ask your agent if other homes in the neighborhood have had Orangeburg or “tar paper” sewer pipes. You can hire plumbing specialists to insert a camera down the sewer line to look for tree roots or find out if the sewer line is Orangeburg. If so, these types of pipes last about 50 years before they disintegrate. Ask for a sewer inspection. Replacement of sewer lines is expensive, but it’s an item many sellers will replace.

Roofing

Sellers will often provide a roof certification for the buyer, which is issued by a roofing company. If the roofing company recommends repairs, the certificate will not be issued until the repairs are made. Sometimes sellers will offer a cash credit for a new roof, if it needs to be replaced. Many home inspectors do not inspect roofs.

HVAC Systems / Water Heaters

Age is a good indicator for determining when heating and cooling systems need to be replaced. Check with city code enforcers to find out if you will need a permit and today’s standards requirements. It’s not unusual for a buyer to request new systems, but it is expensive to replace. The average life expectancy of a furnace is about 20 years, and 10 years for a water heater.

Cash Credit or Repair

Sometimes buyers are better off asking for a cash credit on a repair item instead of asking the seller to replace or repair. The seller has no vested interest in the home once it is sold, and might not hire the most qualified contractor or do the repair in a manner that is satisfactory to a buyer. Before asking for a cash credit, check with your lender to determine if a cash credit is allowed.

Closing Tips

Above all, unless the home is brand new, do not nitpick small items. Address major issues and safety issues. Do not make repair requests for items that could have been readily ascertained on your initial inspection such as cracked sidewalks, bad paint jobs or uneven floors. Otherwise, the seller will feel you should have asked for those items in the purchase offer.

Smart buyers will ask the seller to pay for a home warranty. Home warranties cover major defects for a year and provide a buyer with peace of mind.

In closing, if the home has foundation problems or a wet basement, you might want to think twice about pursuing a purchase on this type of home.

http://homebuying.about.com/od/homeshopping/qt/060107RepairReq.htm

Here are 12 ways to find that down payment.
1) Save Your Tax Refund
If it’s hard for you to save, you can change your withholding exemptions from 1 to zero. This will force your employer to pay more to the I.R.S. and reduce your paycheck by that amount. For some free-spending and undisciplined individuals, this method assures a fat income tax refund. Even a regular tax income refund, however, might be enough to help you buy a home.

2) Borrow From Parents
It’s not unusual to ask your parents for money to help you buy a home. Favorable tax laws will let each parent gift a certain amount without tax consequences (check with your CPA).

If your parents won’t give you the money, perhaps you could ask for an unsecured loan and pay it back at a better rate than your parents could get at the bank or in a money-market account? The rate you pay would likely be less than the prevailing rate from your own lending institution, which makes it win-win for everybody.

3) Sock Away X Amount Periodically
The secret to making a savings account grow is to make identical deposits at the same time every month. For example, if you are paid every two weeks and save $200 from every paycheck, at the end of 12 months, you will have saved more than $5,200, excluding interest.

4) Sell Stuff on eBay or Hold a Garage Sale
Everybody has too much stuff. I’ve never met a person who didn’t. Some people spend thousands every year on storage units where this stuff is stashed. Look in your attic, your basement, under your bed and in your closets for stuff you no longer use. If you haven’t used it in a year, sell it at a garage sale, put it on Craig’s List or set up an eBay account and get rid of it.

I thought I was going to have pay somebody to come haul away my 10-year-old treadmill that was collecting dust in my family room. Put that baby on Craig’s List and sold it (for a lot of money!) in less than week. You can, too.

5) Ask Seller to Give it to You
Hey, you never know. If you pay the seller’s asking price, you’d be astonished at what some sellers will do for you. Some of them will even give you the down payment as a credit or pay your closing costs or both. Check with your lender before asking for the credit because lenders have strict requirements as to how much you can receive. The Nehemiah program, for example, allows up to 6% as a credit from the seller.

6) Settle Lawsuits Fast
From personal injury suits to civil litigation, typically delays just make the lawyers more money, apart from the fact that the time-value of money decreases as the clock ticks. We live in a litigious society where even a simple auto accident involving slight bumper damage ends up being filed in court. Settle the case quickly and use that reward to help you buy a house.

7) Check Out Government Programs
If you’ve served your country in the armed forces, you may qualify for a loan backed by the Veterans Administration, known as a VA loan. The government also runs a slew of down payment assistance programs for first-time home buyers. Also, check with your county to see if it offers special programs to induce home ownership in certain neighborhoods.

Take a Second Job
Some renters will sacrifice evenings to work part-time at a second job. If it’s a short-term situation, it might not be that hard to do. It could also be seasonal work such as from Thanksgiving to Christmas or specialty work around tax time in the spring.

9) Ask for a Raise
Sit down one evening and write up a list of every thing you have done over the past year that made your company money or somehow increased its bottom line. List every accomplishment. Then take that list to your boss and ask for a raise. Ask for more than you think you will receive. You never know, you might get it.

10) Get a Better Paying Job
As long as your field of employment remains the same, taking a different job should not affect your mortgage application. Maybe it’s time to look for employment elsewhere that will pay more. Check with your local employment office, network with peers and send résumés to companies where you want to work, regardless of whether it advertises a position.

11) Tap Your Retirement Funds
Certain retirement accounts will let you borrow from them to buy a home. Check with your CPA for current regulations. Some types of requirement accounts will let you take out the principal balance without a penalty.

12) Consider 100% Financing
If you have excellent credit, you may qualify for a 100% loan, providing your community offers these special first-time home buyer programs. This could be a single mortgage insured through mortgage insurance, or you may qualify for a silent second mortgage, due when you sell. Talk to your mortgage broker to see which programs may be available for you.

http://homebuying.about.com/od/buyingahome/qt/Downpayment.htm

Ideal, private location, huge lot & RV parking with this beautiful single story 4 bedroom plus master retreat home. Come and live the good life! Enter through a gated courtyard to this well maintained pride of ownership home. Double 16′ wide RV parking gates with concrete ramp will accomodate a motor home and a boat easily. Total privacy in the peaceful back yard with NO two story homes looking down. Relax from the wide covered patio and enjoy the delicious Avocados, peach and berries.

Here is a link to the details and photos on the property.

http://kimcarlsonhomes.com/listings/87-avenida-descanso-oceanside-ca-92057/

http://homebuying.about.com/od/homedisclosures/Understanding_Home_Disclosures.htm