Real Estate Rates Slip

Real estate rates slip overnight
30-year fixed rate at 6.05%; 10-year Treasury yield at 3.85%
Thursday, February 28, 2008

Long-term mortgage interest rates came down Wednesday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield was down at 3.85 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average fell to 6.05 percent, and the 15-year fixed rate declined to 5.48 percent. The 1-year adjustable rate dipped to 4.87 percent.
The 30-year Treasury bond yield sank to 4.65 percent.
Rates and bonds are current as of 7:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Mortgage rate figures are according to Bankrate.com, which publishes nightly averages based on its survey of 4,000 banks in 50 states. Points on these mortgages range from zero to 3.5.
In other economic news, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 9.36 points, or 0.07 percent, finishing at 12,694.28. The Nasdaq was up 8.79 points, or 0.37 percent, closing at 2,353.78.
Stock figures are current as of 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Call us @ 408 399 1495 and let's help you take advantage of this market!
Email us @ monica.manocha@cbnorcal.com and let's get started...

The Malcolm & Manocha Group
www.mmgproperties.com

A Great Opportunity in the Irvington District!!

We Proudly Present …
4271 CAROL AVE, FREMONT
The Best Deal in the Irvington Area!! Hurry!!

This Gorgeous Contemporary Style Corner Lot Home Features the Following:

Approx 1251 sqft of living space
Approx 6600 sqft lot great for the kids & entertaining
3 spacious bedrooms
2 updated bathrooms
Beautifully updated kitchen
Newer windows
Window coverings
Newer landscaping
Newer electric
New furnace
2 Car Attached garage
Fremont Union School District (Hirsch Elementary, Horner Middle & Irvington High School)

This home is just waiting for you to move right it and start entertaining…

Hurry this home won’t be on the market too long!!!!

Offered @ $565,000

(Lowest price home in the neighborhood. Hurry!!)

(This is a short sale.) Call 408 399 1495 to schedule an appointment today!

The Malcolm & Manocha Group

Brian Malcolm & Monica Manocha

"A Team That Works"

http://www.mmgproperties.om/

Is a Pre Listing Inspection worth it?

Pre-listing inspections increasingly are being used to give our listings a competitive edge, although it may be difficult to get sellers on board when they insist that inspections are the responsibility of the buyer.
However, there are numerous benefits to using pre-listing inspections on a regular basis. If sellers know about flaws and repair needs ahead of time, they can remedy them in a time frame that is less hectic than when problems arise out of buyer’s inspections.
Additionally, when sellers provide inspection reports to buyers before offers are made, it creates an atmosphere of honesty and trust and decreases the likelihood that deals will fall through after the buyer’s inspection.
Pre-listing inspections allow us to market the homes as “Certified Pre-Owned;” and homebuyers, like those purchasing new cars, are willing to spend more money on properties that have been professionally inspected.

Call us today @408 399 1495 or email me @ monica.manocha@cbnorcal.com
to get the pre listing inspections on your home.


Please call us today so we may help you further.
Brian Malcolm & Monica Manocha Re, CMRS
The Malcolm & Manocha Group
www.mmgproperties.com
Direct: 408 399 1495 or Cell: 408 930 5623

Why isn't your home selling?

Whether it’s a buyers market or a sellers market, there’s always a reason a home is NOT selling. There are three major elements to consider. 1. Location. 2. Condition. 3. Price. If any of these three major areas are neglected, the market value or the resale value of your home may be in question and it will most likely be very difficult to sell your home.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these elements. When it comes to location here are just a few things that may make a difference. Does the home sit near an airport, freeway or railroad tracks. What is the crime rate in the area? Or does your home sit on a quiet tree lined street, close to parks, recreation, schools and shopping? It’s been said before and I’ll say it again … location, location, location.

What is the condition of the home? Is it the best house on the block or the worst? Are there many things to be fixed, updated or replaced? Do you have a unique style (that you love) but may not appeal to the masses? These things can be deal breakers. If your home is a “Fixer Upper“, the third element is crucial (Next paragraph). As a professional Realtor and Home Stager, I’ve found if you neutralize the home, most can then see the potential. Don’t be afraid to hire a staging professional to help you make your home looks its absolute best. Staging works! Whether you’re currently living in your home or if it’s empty … Staging works! At the very least, get a “Staging Consultation”. You never know if the potential buyer is looking for a home to fix up and “put their stamp on” or if they are looking for move in ready… either way, I believe you’ll find a Staging Consultation to be most beneficial.

Be sure your home comes on the market at the right price. It’s important to look at comparable homes in your area. Add value for upgrades or features in your home and decrease value for elements that are less desirable. It’s difficult for most to place a value on their own home; after all, you purchased this home because you loved it … someone else must feel the same way … right? This is where having a good Realtor comes into play. A good Realtor, like myself, understands what buyers are looking for and what they typically do not want to see and will price your home at its best current value.

I’ve only mentioned a few things that can make a difference in whether or not your home sells quickly or at all. Call us today and lets talk about why YOUR home isn't selling. Let Brian and I come and look at your house in more detail.

Call 408 399 1495 and schedule a time with us.

Visit us @ http://www.mmgproperties.com/ to contact us and talk in person.
Brian Malcolm & Monica Manocha Re, CMRS
The Malcolm & Manocha Group
http://www.mmgproperties.com/
Direct: 408 399 1495 or Cell: 408 930 5623

Is now a good time to buy a home in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Nowadays we hear, “It is not a good time to buy real estate” … then we hear “It IS a good time to buy real estate!” So which is it? You could ask 100 different people and you’d get 100 different answers.

The real quesstion is … “Is it a good time for YOU to buy a home?
Before you decide to shop for a new home ask yourself a few questions. For example: Why are you buying a home? Are you a first time home buyer? Looking to upgrade? How long do you plan to live there? What interest rate do you qualify for? Is it a fixed or variable rate? How much are you planning to put down? How much income do you earn? Are you living alone or sharing expenses? What are the many tax benefits? These are just a few questions you should ask yourself.

Do your homework. Buying a home is probably the biggest and most important decision you’ll ever make, so make sure that all of your answers are in your favor.
Buying a home in the San Francisco Bay Area can cost a lot more money than in other parts of the county, but typically the return on investment is also a lot more.

Depending on your circimstance, now may be a great time to buy! Why? Because …
Reason #1: Home prices lower than they’re been in long time!
Reason #2: Mortgage rates lower than they’ve been in years!
Reason #3: This is a Buyer’s Market!
Reason #4: Because it’s a Buyers Market, usually you can take a little more time to make a decision.
Reason #5: Plus you typically do not have to worry about bidding wars in a Buyers Market.
Reason #6: Prices are more likely to be negotiable in a Buyers Market.
Reason #7: With a home as a right-off, you’ll most likely pay less in taxes.
Reason #8: If you’re currently renting, you’ll be able to decorate or renovate YOUR home any way you like.
Reason #9: Appreciation! Although real estate moves in cycles, sometimes up and sometimes down, over the years real estate and consistently appreciated.
Reason #10: We are available to assit you in finding and purchasing the place you’re looking to call home.

Call us today so we may get started in helping you with your real estate needs!

Don't wait another minute... email me now @ monica.manocha@cbnorcal.com

Brian Malcolm & Monica Manocha Re, CMRS

The Malcolm & Manocha Group

http://www.mmgproperties.com/

Direct: 408 399 1495 or Cell: 408 930 5623

Paint Color Tips & Tricks

Here are 3 useful tips I use...

1. Most of the local hardware/big box stores carry poster sized pieces of wallboard and sample boards (about the size of a piece of paper). These are GREAT tools to have if you are unsure about your color choice. Buy samples of the paint you’re considering and paint on the boards. You can move these all around the room and you won’t have paint patches all over your walls. Be sure to place the board on each wall because the color will look different on every wall depending on the lighting.
2. Now that you’ve selected the right color, you have one more choice to make. Which sheen do you want? Ah geez! Another decision. Flat, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss or Gloss? (These are in order from flat to one with the most shine for Kelly Moore paints). Here’s a tip. The higher the shine the more washable the paint/wall. However, the higher the sheen the easier it is to see imperfections in the wall. Nowadays, I find the most popular sheen is Eggshell. It give you a little wash-ability without being over shiny. However, if you’re painting a wet area (bathroom/kitchen) most people use a semi-gloss.
3. How to get a perfect seam. Sometimes you’ll find that you’ll need a perfect seam in between paints. Maybe it’s a rounded corner or a transition from one room to another where two different paint colors meet. Here’s the tip. Start by making a line with painters tape. Then (and this is the most important part) apply a clear acrylic - matt finish to the seam of the tape and let dry. This seals the tape to the wall so your new paint color won’t seep under the edge of the tape. Paint your walls and remove the tape to find a perfect paint line.

Now your home looks ready to go!

Call us today so we may help you with your real estate needs.

Brian Malcolm & Monica Manocha Re, CMRS
The Malcolm & Manocha Group
http://www.mmgproperties.com/
Direct: 408 399 1495 or Cell: 408 930 5623

President Approves Stimulus Package

It’s finally official! The President has signed the economic stimulus package, which, among other things, includes a temporary increase of the conforming loan from $417,000 to as high as $729,750* and a temporary increase of the FHA loan from $362,750 to $729,750* through December 31, 2008.


With the passage of the stimulus package, people may now obtain less expensive loans, thus reducing their monthly payment, improving homeownership affordability and increasing buyers’ purchasing power. Now couldn’t be a better time for Northern California real estate.
NAR is projecting that this package may result in as many as 500,000 refinanced loans and could help reduce foreclosures by as many as 210,000.


In addition, the national organization reported:
• That over 300,000 home sales could be generated thus reducing housing inventory and home prices could be strengthened by two to three percentage points.• Nearly half a million people with higher priced jumbo loans may be able to refinance to conforming loans under the provisions of the bill, saving these people approximately $270 to $410 a month, according to NAR estimates.



Call us today so we may get started with your real estate needs.



Brian Malcolm & Monica Manocha Re, CMRS

The Malcolm & Manocha Group

http://www.mmgproperties.com/

Direct: 408 399 1495 or Cell: 408 930 5623

Hot Market: The Way to San Jose Looks Bright

San Jose, California, is on its way to a brighter economic picture, according to the city's latest Economic Center Report. Job growth rose through 2007 and commercial real estate vacancy has dropped by nearly a third, creating opportunity for those selling and buying in the nation's 10th largest city.
The average price of a home in the San Jose area, which includes Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, stands at $852,000. That figure is up more than 9 percent from the same reporting period last year and up 22 percent since 2004.
The job growth in the Silicon Valley Capital city creates competition for office space, as well. The vacancy rate in that category dropped 30 percent in the last year.
Paul Krutko, chief development officer for the city, says in a press release at the city's website, "Demand for housing will continue to be a challenge as San Jose continues to rebound from the effects of the dot com years." Housing statistics bear that out, with residential rental vacancy rates at a 7-year low.
San Jose Mercury News quotes John Sloven, director of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, saying, "Silicon Valley is in better shape than the overall U.S. economy. My overall assessment is the Silicon Valley economy is going to come through this pretty well unscathed."



Call us today so we may get started.



Brian Malcolm & Monica Manocha Re, CMRSThe Malcolm & Manocha Grouphttp://www.mmgproperties.com/Direct: 408 399 1495 or Cell: 408 930 5623