John Fischer's Real Estate Views

John Fischer

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Volume 1 | Issue 9 | Sept 2011

In This Issue:

A Note From John:
This Month's Note from John:
Short Sale Costs

Featured Article:
Fall Fixes

Mixed Bag
Timely articles and information
 

MARKET MATTERS*


August 2011**

  Active

Pending

Sold

Alamo

93

41

31

Blackhawk

42

13

8

Danville

203

119

68

Diablo

7

4

2

Dublin

108

170

53

Lafayette

90

26

28

Moraga

49

24

22

Orinda

60

21

17

Pleasanton

233

131

64

San Ramon

246

228

107

*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 August 30th, 2011.

MORTGAGE MINDER


WEEK OF September 12th

Loan (National Average)
15 Yr Fixed Conforming
30 Yr Fixed Conforming
30 Yr Fixed Jumbo
5/1 ARM Conforming

Rate
3.37%
4.20%
4.53%
3.12%

Interest rates per MonitorBankRates

MEANINGFUL LINKS
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Acalanes School District

Danville Express

Groupon

Blackboard Eats

Readers Choice 2011 Winners

Danville Patch


Home Search


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!

"John Fischer is a great realtor and a great person.

He sold our house the first week we had it on the market and helped us through all that went with the sale, even though we were out of state.

I don't think we would have made it without his help."

A Note From John

Short Sale – Back Taxes, HOA Dues and Deficiency Judgments


I wanted to clear up some misconceptions around a few short sale related issues. It's important to be clear where your liability lies, whether you are buying or selling a short sale.

Property Taxes – These taxes convert into a lien on a property as soon as they are due. They have to be paid before the title company can transfer clear title to the buyer. Once paid, the Seller and Buyer are free and clear.

HOA Dues – Dues are not extinguished by a short sale. Collection efforts can continue on back dues, not as a lien on the property, but as a personal debt of the former homeowner.

CA Senate Bill 458 – On July 11, 2011 Governor Brown signed SB 458. It expanded the previous statute which prohibited a first lien holder from filing a deficiency judgment against a seller after a short sale, and expanded this no recourse coverage to include any junior loans secured against a dwelling of not more than four units.

If you would like more information on short sales or have any questions about these issues, call me at 925-980-4816 or send an email to
jfischer@rockcliff.com.
 

- John Fischer

Featured Article

Fall Fixes - Low Cost Updating Ideas

Fall FixesWith Autumn quickly approaching and the feel of Fall in the air, now is a good time to consider some low-cost improvements to your home. These are not only relatively inexpensive, but can make a big difference in the way your home looks, even if you are not in the market to sell right now.

Paint – Great for hiding dirt, wear and tear! Consider subtle tones with an occasional bright contemporary room.

Trim – White is replacing natural wood. Those old style thin baseboards should be replaced with new, larger ones. Crown molding is a very popular upgrade as well.

Cabinet Hardware – Bronze and vintage pieces add a classy look to older cabinets. Typically, it's easy to change existing hardware with just a few screws. You can find a wide variety of choices at Home Depot, Restoration Hardware or online.

Flooring – Sand and refinish worn wood floors, this can give a huge lift to aging homes. Have your carpets and tile floors cleaned professionally.

Bathroom Fixtures – Replace old fixtures with new ones. Something as simple as a new faucet or medicine cabinet can make a dramatic difference with a small investment.

Light Fixtures – Again, replace older fixtures with newer ones. Any home improvement store should have a good selection. Choose fixtures that are ENERGY STAR® approved. Consider ceiling fans where appropriate.

Front Door – First impressions are very important! How does the hardware look? Replace if needed, but avoid plated hardware that can scratch and wear easily. Paint the door if needed.

Landscaping – Use bark or other ground cover to make things look neat and finished. Trim bushes and clean out old plants. Replace woody shrubs with a variety of new ones that will provide color in all seasons.

You can easily find other low-cost improvements for your home, just take a look around with a "fresh set of eyes" and you'll see plenty of opportunities.

Home Energy Yardstick

No one loves a huge PG&E bill. So now seems like a good time to do a home energy review, that way you can make repairs and fixes before the Winter weather arrives.

If you have five minutes and your last 12 months of utility bills, use the ENERGY STAR® Home Energy Yardstick to compare your home's energy use to similar homes across the country and see how your home measures up.

Then, use the Home Energy Advisor to get recommendations for energy-saving home improvements for typical homes in your area. Visit:
https://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=HOME_ENERGY_YARDSTICK.showGetStarted

Simple fixes like caulking around windows and switch plates can save you plenty.

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About John Fischer
I've been selling residential real estate for the past six years here in the Diablo Valley. After graduating from UCLA and then getting my MBA, I spent most of my career in corporate sales starting with Xerox in the 1970's.

Following that, I proceeded into IBM computer sales and leasing. My wife, Janeen, and I have lived in the same house in Alamo since 1983 and have raised three children. They all graduated from Monte Vista High School and have gone to UCLA, UC Davis and University of Washington. Our youngest, Kelsey, is now attending UC Hastings School of Law.

John Fischer
President's Club '08, '09 '10
CA DRE #00695958
925-980-4816
jfischer@rockcliff.com
http://www.johnfischerrealestate.com

J. Rockcliff REALTORS
15 Railroad Ave., Danville, CA 94526

"Serving the East Bay communities of Diablo Valley (Alamo, Blackhawk, Danville, Diablo, San Ramon), Lamorinda (Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda), Walnut Creek and Tri-Valley (Pleasanton, Dublin)."

Copyright © 2011 John Fischer

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