Friday, February 20, 2009

Need Help?



I'm sure there are plenty of people who could use a service that offers Loan Modification.
I get A LOT of google hits for "can't sell my house," and if you have arrived here looking for advice, or want to do a Mortgage Loan Modification, then you are in luck. There is help available that will show you how to stay in your house, without your mortgage company harassing you, while you figure out what you are going to do next. Of course you won't be able to stay there forever, but if you are on the verge of foreclosure with no other options you may want some Foreclosure Assistance. For more information, click on one of the links.

Most affordable place in California



From the Modbee

Stanislaus County homes are the most affordable in California, followed by Merced and San Joaquin counties, a study released Thursday shows.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that home sales prices plunged again in January, pushing values back to what they were in autumn 2000. Stanislaus home prices, for instances, have fallen nearly 65 percent since peaking in December 2005, and Merced and San Joaquin values have dropped even more.

Housing statistics from various sources keep demonstrating how drastically things have changed in the valley.

New calculations show that Stanislaus' median-income families can afford to buy 71.1 percent of homes on the market. Three years ago, before the housing bubble burst, only 3 percent of Stanislaus homes were affordable to median-income families.

Most homes also are affordable in Merced (70.9 percent) and San Joaquin (66.4 percent).

That's terrific for first-time buyers such as Tammy L'Allier.

"I have a fairly decent job, but I never thought I'd be able to afford my own home in California because I've always been a single mom," said L'Allier, 47. So she was shocked last summer when she saw a home for sale in her price range. "I thought: Oh, my God! I could actually afford that."

She started searching and by October bought a $129,000 home on Estep Drive in central Modesto. The foreclosed house, with more than 1,600 square feet, costs her only about $150 more per month than what she had been paying for rent. She expects to save at least that much in income tax deductions.

"I still can't believe it. Now I can own dogs and paint my walls any color I want, which I couldn't as a renter," said L'Allier, who has painted her living room dark chocolate and put black stripes on her bedroom walls. "I love it!"

Andy and Amanda Baker of Modesto also are thrilled. They bought their first home in December for $123,000, and their monthly payment is just $930.

"We're so thankful we were able to do this," said Andy Baker, 38, who is an adoptions social worker in Merced County. He and his wife, who is 36 and works with developmentally disabled adults, expressed sorrow that their Carol Street home's previous owner went into foreclosure. "It was hard to buy knowing someone else lost this home," he said.

But the Bakers, who have two children, had been frustrated for years as they watched home prices soar out of reach.

"We were ready to settle down and get that first home," said Andy Baker, who was raised in Merced County. He advises others to consider buying now, but he cautions: "Make sure the home is within your ability to pay for and that it's someplace you want to live."

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index, released Thursday, shows how the Northern San Joaquin Valley has flipped from being among the nation's least affordable places to buy to being among the most affordable.

Stanislaus hit its highest affordability level in 1998, when median-income families could afford nearly 80 percent of homes. That was well above the national average, but the county fell way below average during this decade's housing boom.

The index shows that 62.4 percent of homes sold nationwide in October, November and December 2008 were affordable to families earning the national me- dian income of $61,500. The median income was calcu- lated at $56,500 for Stanislaus, $47,400 for Merced and $61,300 for San Joaquin.

Those incomes were about the same three years ago, even though homes cost more than double what they do today.

In January, the median-priced home sold for just $140,000 in Stanislaus, which was $17,500 below December and $256,000 less than 2005's peak price, according to MDA DataQuick. That's a 64.6 percent decline.

That value drop, obviously, is bad for current homeowners, many of whom now owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.

During the past 24 months, lenders have repossessed more than 11,601 Stanislaus County homes as homeowners have defaulted on more than $3.9 billion in loans, according to statistics released this week by Foreclosure- Radar.

To attract new buyers for those foreclosed properties, banks typically offer to sell at bargain prices. That drives down home values even more.

Because existing homes are priced so low, new home builders are struggling. Stanislaus new home building permits fell to the lowest level on rec- ord in 2008, and this year is expected to be worse, according to recent forecasts by the California Building Industry Asso- ciation.

To see all the affordability statistics, visit www.nahb.org/hoi. Additional home price data is posted with this story at www.modbee.com.


Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Go Big Network

I see all kinds of things that people invent or dream up, and I have asked myself on more than one occasion, "why didn't I think of that?" Here is one of those ideas. You make a website and name it Go Big Network, and have it as a connection for people who need funding for a project or an idea.

The Go Big Network offers more than just funding. You can get business plans, and either find a job or post job. They have been featured in several places like Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and The Street.com just to name a few. So, if you own a business, or want to start a new business, and you either need funding or a business plan, you can get some help on GoBigNetwork.com. Also, don't forget to check them out if you are looking for a job.

At the Top


If you did a search for "I can't sell my house," you would see that this blog is likely number one or very near the top. There are several ways to be on the top when your website is searched. One of these ways is a company named SEO Expert, Inc. This company is excellent at making sure you are top ranked in search engines. In case you are wondering what SEO stands for, it is Search Engine Optimization.

It does not matter if you are a business website, or you have a personal website. If you want people to see your site, then this company is the best. Their website is easy to navigate and offers all of the information you need to make an educated decision. They have been in business for over 10 years, and have clients that range from small start-ups to major corporations.

SEO Expert, Inc. also offers partnerships and affiliates where you can private label their services as your own and sell them to clients. They do all the behind the scenes work, while you handle all of the customer service and billing, etc.

Now is a time in the economy to put your creativity to work. Check this company out!


Representin'


There is nothing wrong with showing a little hometown pride on your house. I love how Modesto is spelled with a dollar sign for the "s". If I were a betting man, I'd say this guy is gunning for Mayor of Modesto.

Truth in Advertising


You may have to click on the picture to see the underlined portion for this short sale that says: WHY RENT WHEN YOU CAN OWE?

At least there is truth in advertising here. I'm just waiting for the sign that says:
WHY RENT WHEN YOUR ASS CAN BE OURS FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS?


It's so refreshing to see some honesty in this day and age.