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There has been a lot of talk about how hot the market is right now.  Have you wondered how your market is doing?  Whether you are a buyer or a seller, this might be the best time to make the move.

SELLERS, home prices are at its highest.  This might be the right time to sell an investment property, downsize, or relocate.

BUYERS, have you been on the fence about buying waiting for prices to go down?  If interest rates continue to increase, even if prices were to come down, your monthly payment might be the same or higher.

Take a look at this list of cities and their median home sales price.  Click on the cities to see live data trends going as far back as one year.

San Gabriel Valley

Pasadena, Duarte, Monrovia, Arcadia

Alhambra, Rosemead, San Gabriel

Azusa, Baldwin Park, Covina, West Covina

Pomona Valley/Inland Empire

Claremont, La Verne, Glendora, San Dimas

Pomona, Diamond Bar, Walnut

Rancho, Upland, Ontario, Montclair

Chino, Chino Hills, Corona

Fontana, Rialto, San Bernardino, Riverside

High Desert

Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, Apple Valley

Not too long ago, I was reading a CoreLogic’s Special report that gave a nice chart on the sales trends since the Great Recession. It said the average nationwide home prices are about 1% higher than what they were at its peak in 2006 –with the West Coast States having the greatest price growth. (CoreLogic. Evaluating the Market Since the Great Recession. February 2018). As we know, the high unemployment rate between 2007-2009 had a major impact in the crash in addition to other known reasons (luckily, that is not the case today).

However, there is still uncertainty. As many other things in life, real estate trends function in cycles. So, rumors have been that we are overdue for another market shift. Perhaps, we are…Perhaps, we are not. I understand data speaks for itself but as our country has experienced recently, data can still surprise us. We have experts who believe we are bound to continuous growth; while others believe the recession is coming soon. Zillow recently published an article, which said that half the experts interviewed believe the next recession is starting in 2020 and price growth will begin to slow down. (Zillow.com. 2020 Vision: Experts Say Next Recession Looms at Decade’s End. May 2018).

Thankfully, we have recovered and many homeowners have had the opportunity to sell their homes and downsize or relocate while investors have had the business opportunity to invest and flip for profit. We can only forecast and rely on data. We do not know for sure what will happen in the next few years. But, we can make decisions based on the information we do have. Personally, I have already started to see some changes in the market that have led me to believe we will see a shift in the next few years.

So, if you have been considering selling your home and have been sitting on the fence, today might be the time to sell.  Contact me if you or anyone you know would like to sit down and strategize on the best price and marketing plan for your home!

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring time.” Martin Luther 

Is your dream to become a homeowner interrupted because you are a recipient of the Deferred Action for Early Arrivals (DACA) policy? Perhaps, you have been told it is not possible because you are not a permanent resident. Do not be discouraged! It is possible to become a homeowner if you are a non-permanent resident.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “A borrower who is a non-permanent resident alien may be eligible provided:

• • property will be the borrower’s principal residence;
  • the borrower has a valid Social Security Number (SSN), except for those employed by the World Bank, a foreign embassy, or equivalent employer identified by HUD;
  • the borrower is eligible to work in the U.S., as evidenced by the Employment Authorization Document issued by the USCIS; and
  • the borrower satisfies the same requirements, terms and conditions as those for U.S. citizens.

  The Employment Authorization Document is required to substantiate work status. If the Employment Authorization Document will expire within one year and a prior history of residency status renewals exists, the lender may assume that continuation will be granted. If there are no prior renewals, the lender must determine the likelihood of renewal based on information from the USCIS.“ (HUD, 3/27/18, Do borrowers have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for FHA financing? hudgov.prod.parature.com).

You would still need to qualify under the same credit and debt-to-income rules as any other permanent resident or U.S. Citizen. But, if you meet those rules you may still be able to qualify.  Although a few bumps on the road may be that not all banks will lend to a non-permanent resident and you may not qualify for down-payment assistance programs; there are still banks willing to lend under their respective financing programs.

Do not be discouraged! Follow your dreams! If you do not know of a lender who may be willing to qualify you for a loan, ask your REALTOR! We are always a good resource to start off your home search.

I would like to wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving Day. I give thanks for those things in my life that many times I take for granted but that are so much part of my life.

True happiness is not about how much success we have or how much power and recognition we are given. It is about the healthy relationships and memories we create in our lifetime. It is about having a second chance at life when given a life-changing diagnosis or having food and shelter no matter how humble it may be. It is about creating memories with those we love. It is about being content with what we have despite the circumstances. It is about the simple things in life.

Enjoy this day with those you love!

“And when I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, I make a place for God to grow within me.” ~~Ann Voskamp

Thank you Veterans for your sacrifice and dedication.  We honor you for your love and commitment to our country.   You put aside yourselves, your family and your friends to serve this country and ensure we enjoy the freedoms we have.  Thank you for your service!

For those of you looking to support our Veterans by going to a parade, here is a list of parades in California.  For those around the country, here is a list of festivals you can go to.

Thanks to all of those brave women and men who have fought for our freedom since the inception of our nation. Our nation allows us to enjoy the right to speak freely, assemble peacefully, and choose our religion amongst other important rights.  Our nation allows us to obtain the American Dream, to be successful and to improve our lives regardless of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

We have the freedom to pursue happiness whether this includes material or non-material goals.  We all have our own values and vision as to what really makes us happy.  Let’s pursue it if it means finding your inner self and making personal, health, or spiritual changes.  Or, if it means furthering your education, securing a better job, or purchasing your first home.  Above all, lets not take for granted the blessings we enjoy daily in this beautiful country.

Have a blessed and safe 4th of July!

Have you ever driven by a new community and fallen in love with the model homes?  The staging, the ambiance, and the thought of being able to customize your new home can be very tempting.  In the excitement of things, you might not consider the need for REALTOR representation.  But, why should you? You are buying directly from the builder whose sales representative will take care of everything!

Well, purchasing a home, whether it is brand new or a resale, is one of the greatest investments in someone’s life.  The salesperson at the sales office is representing the best interest of the builder.  Not yours.  Consequently, you might want to consider having your own representation.  Most builders will cooperate with REALTORS as long as your REALTOR is present the first time you visit their sales office.

If you happen to stop by without your REALTOR, ask the salesperson if the builder cooperates with REALTORS and inform him/her you are represented.   If possible, provide your REALTOR’s business card. Do not fill out a registration card or sign any contracts without your REALTOR being present.

Your REALTOR can not only assist you in negotiating but also in advising you on what is or is not customary in purchasing a brand new home, what to expect during the process, how to compare your financing options, the pros/cons of upgrades, timeframes, and what inspections are required versus recommended.

Although you may purchase a brand new home without REALTOR representation.  You might want to weigh in representation vs. non-representation before making a decision to purchase a brand new home.

Are you thinking of selling your home but do not know where to start?  The first recommendation would be to meet with your REALTOR® to get your home ready to sell.  You may also want to consider the following 5 tips to get your home ready to show:

1. Declutter:  Organize closets and kitchen cabinets.  Buyers will look through them to get an idea of storage space.  Having a yard sale or donating to a thrift store may be the way to go.  There are also some apps where you may sell used items such as letgo, Varage Sale, or OfferUp.
2. Clean:  Dust on top of the fireplace mantle, cabinets, and ceiling fans.  Clean windows and closets.   If you are too busy, hire someone to do some deep cleaning.
3. Paint:  Paint the walls a neutral color.  This will help buyers visualize their furniture and decor in the home. Replace outside fascia and paint externally as well, if needed.
4. Depersonalize: The idea is to allow buyers to picture themselves in the home. Remove personal pictures or other personal belongings.  Also, consider removing  pictures and magnets from the refrigerator.
5. Stage:  Less is more. Move furniture around to create good flow in the room.  Create vignettes and highlight focal points.  Also, first impressions start with curb appeal.  Trim the front lawn and work on your garden.

These are only a few tips.  Put yourself in the buyers’ place and consider making repairs or other simple fixes which would encourage buyers to submit an offer.  These may be what makes the difference in getting top dollar for your home.