Volume 1 | Issue
2 | Feb 2011
In This Issue:
A Note From John:
This Month's Note from
John:
How Can I Help?
Featured Article:
Real Estate Investing
- Is Now The Time?
Mixed Bag
A Monthly Offering on a Variety
of Current Topics |
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*I
have much more data at my fingertips than can go in the
newsletter. If you would like more specific information
about a particular area or neighborhood, even if it is
what the neighbor's house really sold for, just call or
email me and I will be happy to provide the information
for you.
** These statistics reflect
active, pending and sold single family homes for the
month ending January 31st, 2011. |
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Loan
(National Average)
15 Yr Fixed Conforming
30 Yr Fixed
Conforming
30 Yr Fixed Jumbo
5/1 ARM Conforming |
Rate
4.24%
4.88%
5.50%
3.24% |
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Interest rates per
MonitorBankRates
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MEANINGFUL LINKS |
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John Fischer Real Estate
San Ramon Valley School District
Pleasanton School
District
Acalanes School District
Danville Express
Groupon
Blackboard Eats |
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If you have a family member, friend
or co-worker who is thinking about buying or selling
their home, please forward this email to them or have
them contact me at:
jfischer@rockcliff.com
Your referrals are truly appreciated! |
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How Can I Help?
 I hope that you enjoyed my first newsletter. I had one
reader ask me how I was going to put meaningful content
in each month's issue. Good question!
As you know, the real estate market is not static,
but very dynamic. It's that way nationally, regionally
and in the Tri-Valley, so it should be easy to come up
with topics that are current and relevant.
While there is always something new happening in the
market to report on these days, I would prefer to write
about what you are interested in. So I need to enlist
your help. If you have any ideas for topics that you'd like
to hear about on the market, our community or anything
else, please let me know by sending a email to me at
jfischer@rockcliff.com.
Thank you in advance,
- John Fischer |
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Real Estate Investing - Is Now The Time?
 With the steady inflow of new foreclosures, short sales and
other distressed properties coming on the market, and with low interest
rates that are inching up, you might be thinking about diving into the cold
waters of real estate investing.
There are tremendous opportunities right now in California,
Arizona, Nevada and Idaho just to mention a few. Those unfortunate enough to
lose their homes to foreclosure or short sales still have to live somewhere,
so the rental housing market is booming. And it's actually possible to fix
and flip homes for a profit right now.
So, here are a few tips to keep in mind while exploring
the possibility of buying real estate investments.
You make money when you purchase the home, not when you sell
it. This may seem contrary to what you might think, but you MUST buy
property for less than it is actually worth if your investment it to be
sound.
Make sure there is positive cash flow from the rental of the
home. Be conservative in calculating your numbers, it's better to under
estimate your income than over estimating it.
 Buying
real estate, like any other investment has inherent risks and you can lose
money. Choose wisely and know that some investments will go down in value.
One key is to be unemotional when looking to buy property. You may love the
home, but that doesn't make it a good investment. Be sure to set a maximum
price before beginning the negotiations and be willing to walk away if you
don't get your price.
The following basic investment tenets hold true in real
estate too; buy low sell high. When people are selling, buy. When people are buying, sell.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
All that being said, this is a great time to invest in real
estate. I'd be happy to sit down and discuss the opportunities with you. |
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The State of REOs and Foreclosures
It doesn't look like foreclosures will stop for quite awhile,
and predictions range from 2 to 5 years before we see
the end. Currently, sellers are
forced to be competitive with
REOs (bank owned
properties), thus prices continue to decline.
 Fortunately
for buyers, good values abound, but you need to be aware
when purchasing an REO that the
banks in most cases are not accepting any Request for
Repairs or even
Section 1 termite corrections once the
price has been negotiated for these REOs. It's truly
Buyer Beware with Foreclosures. Of course, lenders won't
lend on homes where certain repairs have not been
completed. Yes, everything is in the bank's favor, so
cash is King when purchasing bank owned properties.
It appears that home prices are compressing, meaning
that homes priced at the low end of the market are firming and in some cases going up
while higher-end priced properties are mostly selling at
below asking price. Generally speaking, families are not moving up to larger
homes, but low interest rates have given buyers
looking for lower priced homes a reason to be aggressive
in the market. Now is a good time to be a buyer in both
high-end and lower priced homes. |
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Have a question about Real Estate, buying or selling a
home or the community? I encourage you to get in touch
with me, I'm here to serve.
Click here to get
answers
Ask Your Question |
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About J. Rockcliff Realtors:
J. Rockcliff Realtors is one of the fastest growing real
estate companies in California and after four years has
distinguished itself as The East Bay’s Premier Real
Estate Company.
We currently have over 600 agents located in nine
offices (Danville, Blackhawk (2), Walnut Creek,
Lafayette, Orinda, Pleasanton, Livermore and our newest
in the Montclair District in Oakland). We are doing more
business than any other company in our area. The agents
are a select group of the East Bay's most talented real
estate professionals that have more experience and more
resources available than any other company. I feel very
proud to be a part of this group and to work closely
with my fellow Rockcliff agents. We are able to share
market knowledge and service vendors to enhance our
client's experiences.
J. Rockcliff Realtors is strategically positioned to be
the company of choice now and in the future. |
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