Adam Brett's Blog - All Things Real Estate in Fullerton and Beyond

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Short Sale Bets Thriving in O.C.

Long Road A short sale is when a bank or other loan company sells a house and accepts less than the amount of the debt for ownership of the property.

In the buyer's market of today, this is becoming more and more common as banks find expensive properties are becoming so difficult to unload.

Getting a home at a foreclosure auction or other type of property auction and being able to snag a short sale is a great deal for any home-buyer.

However it can sometimes be a long road, and every bit of information counts.

There have been a record number of foreclosures in Orange County this year, and 33 percent of the homes available on the real-estate market in the O.C. are either bank-owned or listed as short sales.

The lender has often cleaned up the property and discounts of 20 to 30 percent off are not unheard of, recently a 1 million dollar home sold for 770,000 at auction.

It's important to begin early in the process though, closing a short sale and getting all the paperwork in order can take 3 to 4 months, so make sure to ask your real estate agent about the status of the paperwork.

And often-times it can be confusing navigating the administrative bureaucracy of a lender to even make an offer in the first place.

But for those who are willing to put in the time and effort, substantial opportunities are waiting, as some buyers are winning big betting on short sales in Orange county.

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com
www.AdamsMLS.com

Quarter Million Discounts in Orange County

Because of the buyer's market that has been driving real estate for the last several months as property values dip, some home buyers in the O.C. are seeing some massive discounts on desirable property.

Both in the inland counties and in valuable beach cities properties are being discounted by thousands, and sometimes hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

Now might be the best time to buy that first dream home in the beautiful California county, whether as permanent residence or an investment and winter home.

According to DataQuick Information Systems, nearly 1 out of 4 homes that were sold in Orange County in the first half of 2008 were foreclosures.

And with the bnks needing to unload so many properties, discount rates have been easy to find, homes are often selling for more than 20 percent less than they might have been purchased for a year ago.

Because of this they are selling at a rapid rate, the estimated market average that a house is on the market is only 2 to 3 months, a drastic reduction just since the beginning of the year.

People who were previously on the fence about making a home purchase have been coming in on the side of purchasing, unable to resist the temptation of homes that sell for up to 250,000 dollars less than they did just 1 short summer ago.

If you're interested in real estate in the Orange County area, the drop in the real estate bubble might be providing just the opportunity you're looking for.

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

More and More O.C. Homes Selling For Less and Less

Last week the O.C. Register printed an article that half of the homes in Orange County were selling for less than their purchase price. This is fantastic news for those in the market to buy a house, whether as an investment or simply to fufill the American Dream of home ownership.

Data from DataQuick Information Systems showed that 82 out of the 83 Zip Codes in Orange County experienced a drop in the value of their homes, in fact the average selling price was 27 percent less than the value of the home!

Even though most of the homes that had the largest drop in price were in the Inland areas, even the beach zipcodes aren't immune to the massive discounting going on in Orange County.

Santa Ana, Ladera Ranch, San Juan Capistrano have all experienced significant declines in the price of a home in late 2007 and early 2008.

Home buyers are recieving price cuts of 35 to 45 percent off in these popular zipcodes, making a vacation home in Orange County an affordable reality for people who wouldn't have dreamed of it before.

Now more than ever is a time to take advantage of this turn in the real estate market, and recieve some of the best deals that have been available since the 90's.

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

O.C. Slump in Housing Sales May Be at an End

Orange County has not been exempt from the current mortgage industry woes but those troublesome days may be coming to an end.

A nearly 33 month slump appears to be lifting giving homeowners something to be joyous about once more.

Reports show that compared to a year ago home prices are up 17 percent. This figure comes as quite a relief to everyone in the housing industry.

This news comes on the tail of a month that showed the rate of home sales was 40 percent lower than any prices in history since 1988.

The prices garnered from homes that were sold in July of this year were a whopping 27 percent lower than any month in 1988 giving homeowners and real estate investors a reason to tremble in fear.

This year alone housing prices have been 50 percent lower than at any time in the past 20 years.

With real estate being a primary source of financial security for most families the crash in prices has left many fearing for their futures.

Experts feel that the discount in housing prices in July of this year helped to break the downward spiral of prices and allowed for increases in buyer interest that may provide for more active trading during the remainder of the year.

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

Fullerton Airport Day - Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Fullerton, California, an interesting event happens every two years. The main purpose of "Airport Day" is to showcase the important role the Airport plays in providing aviation services to all of North Orange County.

In an attempt to keep with the spirit of Airport Day, the Orange County Fire Authority, California Highway Patrol and Anaheim Police Department all open the doors of their air operations hangars to the public, also offering tours.

Other displays include vintage aircraft and aviation-related displays and booths.

The Fullerton Chapter of Ninety-Nines, a local women's pilot's organization, offers plane rides for free, and you can expect an appearance by Commander Chuck Street, local air traffic reporter for KIIS (radio) and KTLA (TV).

Tartuffle's, the airport restaurant, will be open, and food vendors will be on site selling refreshments throughout the day (Vendors are cautioned not to cross or walk on the runways).

Other organizations and public safety agencies that participate in Airport Day typically include various airport businesses, the Fullerton Police Department, Fire Department, and Public Library; the Aero Squadron Reserve; the Civil Air patrol; Fullerton Airport Pilots Association, and Fullerton Radio Club.

Fullerton Municipal Airport, a strictly general aviation airfield, is the last of its kind still fully functioning in Orange County.

The Airport's history dates back to 1913, when the land it sits on was still vacant, it was used as a landing strip for crop duster and barnstormer pilots.

In 1927 the Fullerton City Council signed into legislation Ordinance 514, formally establishing the airport.

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

Foreclosed homes may not be for everyone

Many Americans are worried by the record numbers of homes going into foreclosure, but a few bright optimists see it as an opportunity, rather than a danger.

Enter John Laing Homes, a home builder that is trying to dissuade prospective buyers from pouncing on the foreclosure deals.

In a recent press release, the company explains: "A foreclosure may appear to offer the best deal on a home, but there are numerous hidden costs. A foreclosed house is sold 'as-is.'"

The Irvine-based home builder warns that a foreclosed house will require more work and skill to repair, which in turn means higher cost to buyers.

It's obvious that as a home builder, John Laing Homes has reason to turn buyers from foreclosed houses to new homes.

But the issue is still valid. The company says that many customers ask about buying foreclosed homes, only to return months later looking for a new house.

“Mostly they found it a very frustrating process because they’ve looked at many homes, often not in good condition.

Sometimes they were told they had the winning offer and then find out the bank has decided not to sell the property,” says the home builder's vice president for sales and marketing in Southern California, Linda Mamet.

Mamet explains that the type of customers most satisfied with foreclosed homes intend them to be an investment property, rather than a primary residence.

According to her, those looking to buy a home to live in should consider alternatives to foreclosed houses.

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

Repossessions in Orange County Rise 37%

While the housing market continues to slow in California, foreclosure properties are on the rise throughout the state.

Orange County, California is not immune to the whole foreclosure process, and has experienced a climb in the number of foreclosure filings over the last year, particularly the last few months.

Orange County, California had an increase in home repossessions by around 37% in only one month, from June of 2008 to July of 2008.

The number of bank repossessions in June of 2008 was 1,093, and one month later in July of 2008 was an outstanding 1,503.

When this is compared to the number of bank property repossessions, or REOs (real estate owned) from 2007, the increase is just unbelievable.

Orange County only had 58 real estate owned foreclosure properties in July of 2007.

The national average of foreclosure property filings increased 8% between the two months of June 2008 and July 2008, including notice of defaults, auction sale notices, and real estate owned properties.

A notice of default or NOD is the first step in the foreclosure process.

In Orange County, the notice of defaults actually declined from 2,431 in June of 2008 to 1,983 in July of 2008.

This amounts to a decrease of around 18%, but is still relatively high when compared to only 1,209 notices of default in July of 2007.

Total filings in Orange County, California amounted to 4,325 in July of 2008, up 177% from July of 2007.

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

California is Approved for $105 Million Dollars for Housing

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been working with Steve Preston, to bring additional funding to support affordable housing and development in California.

Steve Preston is the United State’s Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, and has stated that California will receive $105 Million Dollars in funding for the state’s housing market.

The good news for homebuyers is that much of the housing fund will go towards down payment assistance for first time home buyers as well as assisting families and individuals who might otherwise be living on the streets.

HUD’s funds are broken down into several categories including HOPWA, or the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, which will receive $3,069,000 and ESG, or the Emergency Shelter Grant, which will receive funds amounting to $6,757,419.

The American Dream Down Payment Initiative will bring in $371,363.

The top beneficiaries of the HUD funding are the HOME Investment Partnerships fund and the CDBG, or Community Development Block Grant fund.

The HOME Investment Partnership will receive $55,776,502 and the Community Development Block Grant will receive $39,262,869.

The Community Development Block Grant will be used to hopefully remedy the housing situation by bringing affordable housing back to California as well as improving California’s public facilities.

The financing from HUD will be added to a California bond that has already been approved by California voters, which will be used for the California housing market’s infrastructure.

With this increased funding, first time homebuyers can receive the assistance that they need to live the American dream.

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

Now is the Time to Buy Foreclosure Properties in Orange County

Orange County, California is one of the most desirable locations for homeowners in the state and perhaps the nation.

With the average home price in California on the rise, combined with the slowing housing market, many prospective homebuyers are choosing to purchase foreclosure properties throughout California.

Purchasing a foreclosure property in California and particularly Orange County has never been more profitable or lucrative.

In fact, banks have been offering foreclosure properties in Orange County with average discounts of 28% off of the unpaid mortgage balance.

These discounts are huge compared to an average of just 3% in July of 2007.

Statewide discounts on foreclosure properties average 33% which consists of discounts from about 18% in San Francisco, California to as much as 45% in Merced, California.

The discounts that the banks are offering are taken from the actual unpaid balance of the mortgage including late payments, fees and interest.

These discounts can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to the homebuyer.

Foreclosure properties are generally sold with no seller’s disclosure, meaning that the purchaser accepts the foreclosure property in its present condition.

Often times, the buyer acquires the foreclosure property without even looking at it prior to purchase.

This, along with the slow housing market, could explain why banks are using such hefty discounts on foreclosure properties.

If you are in the market shopping for a home in California, purchasing a foreclosure property could an investment that lasts a lifetime!

Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

Pugsly - Pet of the week looking for a new home.

Name: Pugsly
Cage #: A0906926
Breed: Pug
Age: 9 yrs
Sex: Male
 
This week’s featured Pet of the Week for the City of Fullerton is “Pugsly” a nine year old, neutered male, tan and black, Pug, ID# A0906926. “Pugsly” is an older boy who still has lots of love to give. He is looking for a caring family to give him a second chance. Come visit “Pugsly” today in person or online at ocpetinfo.com and make him a member of your family today!
Last week’s Pet of the Week “Abigale” is still searching for her forever home.


Adam Brett
800.997.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com

Foreclosure threat spreads

All across Orange County, more homeowners are entering foreclosure. Notices of default, the first stage of foreclosure, increased in every ZIP code in the second quarter vs. a year earlier, except for two in Newport Beach: 92662 and 92661.This map shows where defaults increased the most. Please note that not all NODs end in foreclosure. Also, while the percentage increases are great, in several ZIPs the total number of NODs was relatively small.

Adam Brett
800.977.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com
www.AdamsMLS.com

THE NUMBERS ARE ENCOURAGING IF YOU UNDERSTAND THEM…

This is a buyer’s market so obviously the numbers are encouraging to them, not sellers. But, if you think the market is stagnant, if you think people are sitting around waiting, you would be wrong.

It is not unusual for any property under $600,000, but especially for a bank owned one to have 6 to 12 offers or more.

Orange County had 1,184 bank owned properties in the MLS as of July 11.

How many were bought in May?

Just about half of them sold with a total of 570.

Time needed to sell all foreclosed homes?

That was a low number of 44 days.

We are nearing the end of loan adjustments for sub-prime loans, which means we are nearing the foreclosure peak and the end all at the same time. Please feel free to call my office at any time and I will let you know current listing counts and the total number of listings that are bank owned.

Remember, no one can predict the bottom. People need to decide based on their own circumstance if it is time for them to act. But what is really happening in the market is a far cry from what you read.

Affordability increases every day. Congress has passed the “Homeowner Rescue.” Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are stable and FHA is a phenomenal opportunity, all made permanent with the new $625,500 loan limits.

Expect real estate to be what it has always been: a cornerstone of our local economy, for better or worse. But you can bet on this; there is opportunity here right now that may never be here again.

There is no question that investors are eyeing the market very carefully.

Adam Brett
800.977.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com
www.AdamsMLS.com

MOST OTHER INDUSTRIES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE, AVOIDING THE DOWNTURN…

Again, The Kiplinger Editors have interesting data on Southern California.

It is important to mention because again, they are experts on California and their information is regional, not national.

What do they say?

Tourism is getting a huge boost because of how strong the Euro is right now.

“High tech will benefit from consumer demand for cell phones, games, and software.”

Kiplinger believes agriculture will benefit from foreign consumers buying more food.

Entertainment is counting on strong ad dollars for TV this fall. Some areas will lag such as retail shopping centers and state and local governments.

Adam Brett
800.977.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com
www.AdamsMLS.com

EXPERTS SEEM TO AGREE ON HOW MUCH FURTHER PRICES WILL DROP…

Real Estate Economics, a homebuilder consulting firm in Irvine has this to say about the Orange County housing market: “Opportunity/Risk Index currently resides slightly below equilibrium, but the trend is toward equilibrium.

Any O/R index above equilibrium represents market opportunity, and any index number below equilibrium represents market risk.

Within 12 months, (the O/R) index should reach equilibrium… There is a need for an additional 5.6% drop in housing prices before equilibrium is reached in the Orange County market.

The Kiplinger Report thought the drop would be 10% in 2009 saying, “Home prices have a ways more to drop before leveling off late next year, then staying flat during most of 2010.

Difficulties will vary by region.

The Inland Empire and Central Valley are sure to have the biggest price drops. Orange County and San Diego prices won’t fall as much.

Bargain hunters will spur sales, probably by year end.”

We are definitely experiencing that right now. Sales picked up for the first time from May numbers to June. (The latest numbers that are available for a full month.)

Broker and local economist Tom Moon’s predicted price drop for next year, also 10%. Obviously these projections are on top of the already 20% to 25% we’ve seen, depending on the location of the property. So we are looking at a grand total of approximately 35% before we are done.

Is there anyone reading this that doesn’t see what impact this will have on the affordability index and how it will spur sales with old fashioned supply and demand.

Don’t forget we still have people arriving here that need to buy, we still have a lot of people who were left out of the sub-prime run up and if you read on, you will see that we still have decent economic prospects in Orange County.

Adam Brett
800.977.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com
www.AdamsMLS.com

IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING MARKET REGIONALLY AS OPPOSED TO NATIONALLY…

This is probably the biggest hurdle the real estate industry has to get over in the minds of consumers. Unfortunately a lot of the news out there is the dismal outlook for national housing.

Regions such as the mid-west, specific cities such as Detroit, or sub-prime havens such as Riverside and San Bernardino or even Las Vegas and Phoenix, have many more problems than we do here in Orange County and Los Angeles.

That is not to say that prices are not poised for a further drop, because they are.

But it does mean that when you try to apprise yourself of what the facts are, in order to make a decision as to whether right now, is a good time for you to sell or buy, you should compare apples to apples.

For example, if you have a compelling reason to sell your home, i.e. a job transfer, divorce, a health issue, than now is definitely the right time because experts agree, there is more loss on the way before we are done.

But if selling is optional, consider your benefits. If you want to sell and capitalize on a move up, then maybe now is good.

You need to talk to an expert and gather all the facts.

If you are looking to buy, what are your financing needs? Will what you need in a loan program be there in 12 months to make waiting worth while.

Is the price drop of 10% worth waiting for over the need for a place to live, especially if you have found the “right house” as a 25% decrease over its high? After all, houses are not meant to be day traded.

That was a bad habit that most of the country and certainly Californians partook of for a few years.



Adam Brett
800.977.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com
www.AdamsMLS.com

Two of five subprime borrowers who got help defaulted again

Increasingly, the world's leaders are resembling the Ancient Roman Circus: causing problem-after-problem, finding a scapegoat and then offering a solution that only makes matters worse.

Reading the Hanley Wood Market Intelligence website's housing sector statement is like reading the report card of a failing student. Hanley Wood has reported that from February 2006 to May 2008, homes in Orange County lost 33% of their value.

The Orange County foreclosure rate crossed 1,000 per month in May 2008.

Wise men know that the housing market collapse was caused by politicians; who told conservative bankers to lend to people with "borderline" credit or the politicians would sue the lenders for "redlining."

Now, the same guilty politicians are doing all they can trying to hide their mistake. The United States Congress is "throwing good money after bad" with its planned bill to give failed mortgage lenders and borrowers more money.

The Moody's Rating Firm has shown the foolishness of such a policy; when it reported that 42% of struggling borrowers, who had been given assistance in late 2007, were 90 days late in their mortgage payments as of March 31, 2008.

Only the government rewards bad decisions with financial rewards.

No amount of rhetoric can change the fact that many struggling homeowners received mortgages that they probably couldn't afford.

Only honesty will lift the United States out of its housing woes. So far, honesty is a very rare commodity in Washington D.C.

Adam Brett
800.977.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com
www.AdamsMLS.com

A Mistaken Loan Modification Saves a Couple's Home from Foreclosure

After a long and arduous process, the Coffman family managed to save their home from foreclosure.

They had been negotiating for about 6 months with Country Wide Financial. Country Wide is one of the nations largest mortgage financers. These days many mortgage companies are beginning to come to the aid of homeowners that are close to foreclosure.

In this time of of many foreclosures many are turning to their mortgage compnay to help them out. Mortgage companies, like COuntry Wide, have started helping out homeowners that are in trouble.

They are not saving these homes out of the kindness of their hearts. It can cost a mortgage company almost $50,000 just to process a home foreclosure. The loan modification that the Coffman’s received will help them to keep their home.

However this is not the loan modification that Country Wide had though that they were giving them to help them save their home.

The loan modification, that saved the home of the Coffman’s, was one unbelievable deal. The Coffman’s loan modification was for 1% for 5 years. This is one incredible deal to help save their home.

This is not the help that Country Wide wanted to give to the Coffman’s. The mortgage company wanted to start the 5 year loan modification off at 1%. It was then to be raised each year by one percent.

Many in the financial world are shocked that Country Wide would willing accept this mistake.

The mortgage company stated that they decided to accept this mistake because the documents were already signed and it was a mistake on their end.

Adam Brett
800.977.ADAM
RE/MAX NOC
Fullerton, CA
www.Realtoradam.com
www.AdamsMLS.com