Fremont Real Estate and Beyond

This data is for ALL of California for the month of March (I know, they're also REALLY slow at releasing this type of data). 

Here's the visual data on home sales across the country.  More local data will be posted next week!

I'll admit, the National Association of Realtors is quite slow in releasing data (they JUST released news for March?!).  I guess some data is better than none! Their news reel with the summary is here, don't mind the sales-y pitch by the presenter.

Realtor.com posted some good security tips for sellers.  You can check out the article here-- http://www.realtor.com/advice/open-house-security-homeowners/?identityID=54f4ab97489f63f79a000113&MID=2015_04_MonthlyNewsletter&RID=2892295962&cid=eml-2015-04-MonthlyNewsletter-blog_2_ready-blogs_sell Holding an open house is an act of faith. You clean, declutter, and prepare your home to look its best, hoping at least one of the visitors will fall in love enough to make an offer, preferably all-cash. At the same time, open houses are invitations to strangers to walk among your most prized possessions, often with only a single real estate agent present—and so there are very real security concerns, for agents and homeowners alike. At least 40% of the agents surveyed by the National Association of Realtors® for its  2015 Member Safety Report say they have experienced a situation that made them fear for their personal safety: Vacant houses, model homes, properties in re

As part of their obligations under the Real Estate Settlment Procedures Act (RESPA) and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an updated "Special Information Booklet" which is now known as the "Your Home Loan Toolkit."  The toolkit attempts to modernize and simplify the information presented to consumers and is designed to work better with the new forms and processes under RESPA/TILA harmonization that go into effect on August 1, 2015. Download the toolkit at the link below-- http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201503_cfpb_your-home-loan-toolkit-web.pdf

I must have been a cartographer in a past life because I'm a HUGE fan of maps.  The Social Science Research Counsel released a huge map where you can analyze the well being of a population by zip code or Congressional area.     Check it out!  measureofamerica.org/maps/?area=Districts&race=All&sex=All&year=Year2012&index=HD Index measureofamerica.org/maps/?area=Districts&race=All&sex=All&year=Year2012&index=HD Index

An interesting article from the LA Times about HELOCs, which were extremely popular during the boomtimes.   According to the Consumer Bankers Assn., home equity lines of credit, by far the most popular way to turn equity into cash, are booming again — up by 36 percent in the last 12 months alone. Since Americans' home equity holdings have nearly doubled in the last five years and now exceed $11 trillion, this trend is hardly surprising. There are now an increasing number of investors who want the following arrangement: you cut them in on some percentage of your home's growth in value during the coming years — anywhere from 30% to 50% or higher — and they will write you a check for tens of thousands of dollars. Full story-- http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-harney-20150405-story.html

HomePath just announced an education program for first time home buyers.  Those who complete the program will be eligible for up to a 3% closing cost assistance when they purchase a Homepath property.  More details can be found here-- https://www.homepath.com/ ready_buyer.html

I'm glad that FICO and their affiliates are reaching out to worthy individuals who have not been able to obtain traditional credit. More info here-- http://www.housingwire.com/articles/33445-its-official-fico-announces-new-credit-program-for-risky-borrowers

A pretty interesting article came out on Iman looking at reasons why the inventory of homes for sale is so low. http://www.inman.com/2015/04/02/why-is-housing-inventory-so-low/

In light of the new state mandate to cut 25% of your water use, here's a useful map of each water district's additional restrictions.

Click on the city to get the most up to date sales statistics on condos and townhomes.

Click on the city to get the most up to date sales statistics.

News came out today via the National Association of Realtors that any foreclosed property sold by Fannie and Freddie Mac will need to give top priority to owner occupant home buyers. Couple of requirements that need to be made-- -The lender needs to do everything possible for the owner to stay in the property. -In the event the property becomes and REO (or foreclosed property), the owner occupant home buyers will only be considered in the first 20 days of the sale.  After 20 days, investors will have the opportunity to purchase the property. http://www.fhfa.gov/Media/PublicAffairs/Pages/Non-Performing-Loan-%28NPL%29-Sale-Requirements.aspx