Is It Just Facebook Keeping An Eye On Us?

Weird story of the week. Creepy if you ask me...

In case you haven't heard, Amazon is partnering up with Realogy to entice home buyers, offering financial incentives/gifts, if they use their services to buy a home.

We all know Amazon! Realogy is a conglomerate of several different real estate firms that mostly deal with relocation transactions. Mostly.

I did a little research on this yesterday, looked at what they are offering. One thousand to five thousand, depending on home purchase price, in Amazon products and services. 150k-399k gets you 1k. 400k-699k, gets you 2500, and purchase price over 700k, gets you a whopping credit for services and products in the amount of five thousand smackers. Honestly, most of my clients would prefer a credit towards closing costs vs. a bunch of stuff they may already have that Amazon is offering as a 'gift'. And, if they need it, I'm frequently known to help with that. #AskMeFirst

So, I Googled the Realogy company. I'd heard about it but wanted to read a bit more about it. This apparently will help their company which really took a beating this past year with their stock price tumbling almost 80% and lawsuits, which the company says have no merit. Only 11% of their agents qualify for this partnership program. Okay. I thought that was a bit odd, the only 11%. Makes sense why Realogy would want to partner with Amazon since they need a financial boost alright!

But, the creepy part? Not more than 30 minutes after I was googling about all of this, reading a couple different websites and links, not entering my name anywhere.......I get a call from Meghan at Amazon saying they are looking for agents in my area. Please call. See? Creepy. Yes, I checked with my 250+ associate agents to see if anyone else had gotten a call about it. Only one....only one, plus me, and he said that was a month or so ago. Still creepy in my opinion...

So, you know how you look for a product on one website & then Facebook scrolls advertisements on their page for the same thing? Or, your email starts sending you stuff you 'may be interested in' after you were peeking at another site? Yea, we all know search engines are keeping our 'cookies' or whatever to know what we want and then give it to us....well, try to give it to us at least.

So, to me that is one of the biggest reasons I wouldn't want to get a 'rebate' from Amazon if I was looking to purchase a home. Way too much private information goes back and forth when you are purchasing a home. Do you really want Amazon to have anything to do with that kind of data? If you are looking to buy a home with a pool...likely you'll start getting ads for patio furniture or pool repair men that are affiliated with Amazon. I could make up several different scenarios for this. I'd love to hear some of yours too!

With that all said.....#AskMeFirst before you consider utilizing a rebate-back from any company that is wrapped up in gaining your information. The price you suffer just may not be worth the products and rebates you get. 

Oh, and Google all you want....let me know if Meghan calls you too! 

Ask Me First....Anything Real Estate Related....Ask Me First

Whatever you are thinking, ask me first. Should you or shouldn't you? Ask me first.

ANYTHING Real Estate Related....Ask Me First.

Our parents always taught us to ask before taking the last cookie, ask before getting up from the table, before this & before that.

I'm trying to teach you....ask first, particularly Ask ME First, anything you have thoughts on related to Real Estate.

Even if you think the answer may not be what you want to hear. Ask First. I just may surprise you.

Even if you think you're 99% sure, Ask Me First.

Thinking of Selling? Ask First before you make a decision you may regret. 

Thinking of Buying? Ask First before you ...oh, wait....same answer as above!

I'm here to help you, with anything Real Estate related. Whether it's in Santa Clarita, Southern California, Texas, Ohio, North or South Carolina, Oregon,....I won't list all 50 states, you get the idea.

Questions about property taxes? Ask Me First. Questions about Title issues? Ask Me First.

Need a handyman? Ask First. Plumber? Same. Painter...yup same. Home Warranty issue? What should you do? I think you know the answer.

I do this alllllllll the time. I've helped people in and out of homes...and, everything related to their home.....a bazillion times more than you have. Ask Me First.

I'm here to help your life be a little better. A little easier. A little happier. BUT, I can't do that for you if you....what? If you don't Ask Me First. Nope, ya gotta do it the way your parents taught you. Ask Me First.

Okay, off my soap box. I just need to make sure you realize I'm here to help you....always. Wow, I sure put a lot of ....'s in this post! ☺️

July 23 2019 - Expert Predictions on the Housing Market

What Experts are Saying About the Current Housing Market

We’re halfway through the year, and with a decline in interest rates as well as home price and wage appreciation, many are wondering what the experts predict for the second half of 2019.

Here’s what some have to say:

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com

“Lower mortgage rates, higher wages and more homes for sale have helped counteract rising home prices, and ultimately, made it so that buyers are able to afford more than last year.”

“Our outlook implies 4% growth for the remaining months of the year, predicated on…more supply than last year, the decline in mortgage rates, moderating home price appreciation and improving affordability.”

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at NAR

“Rates of 4% and, in some cases even lower, create extremely attractive conditions for consumers. Buyers, for good reason, are anxious to purchase and lock in at these rates.”

Doug Duncan, Chief Economist for Fannie Mae

“Moderating home price appreciation and attractive mortgage rates continue to support affordability, particularly as home builders are now paying more attention to the entry-level portion of the housing market.”

Kaycee Miller in a Realtor Magazine article

“At the moment, some observers suggest the housing market is indeed headed for a slowdown. But no need to panic — experts say the financial and economic factors that were in play during the big crash a decade ago don’t exist today.”

Bottom Line

The housing market will be stronger for the rest of 2019. If you’d like to know more about your specific market, let’s get together to chat about what’s happening in our area.

Loan Limits For VA Financing To be Lifted in 2020

Information will officially be released before January but this is a wonderful thing for active and retired military looking to purchase a home.

With VA lending there are a few stipulations, but 100% financing without mortgage insurance (aka PMI) is great!

Must be primary residence. Can't use it for investing. That'd be nice if we could....I'd so be using hubby's VA benefits!

But, the max guaranteed loan amount is currently $484,350. And, that's going to be changing next year.

Not necessarily saying you should wait my military pals, but definitely want to talk with your favorite Realtor and Lender before making any decisions.

You still have to qualify like in a traditional loan, and your Realtor (hint, hint....me, me) needs to know the purchase criteria for your protection, but this is a really good thing. IMHO.

Stay tuned for an upcoming seminar about your VA benefits

 that will include a special guest speaker!

Things to Think About When Thinking About Refinancing Your Home

Should I Refinance My Home?

With the recent lower interest rates, many homeowners are wondering if they should refinance.

To decide if refinancing is the best option for your family, start by asking yourself these questions:

Why do you want to refinance?

There are many reasons to refinance, but here are three of the most common ones:

1. Lower your interest rate and payment – This is the most popular reason. If you have a 5% interest rate or higher, it might be worth seeing if you can take advantage of the current lower interest rates, hovering below 4%, to reduce your monthly payment and overall cost of the loan.
2. Shorten the term of your loan – If you have a 30-year loan, it may be advantageous to change it to a 15 or 20-year loan to pay off your mortgage sooner.
3. Cash-out refinance – With home prices increasing, you might have enough equity to cash out and invest in something else, like your children’s education, a vacation home, or a new business.

Once you know why you might want to refinance, ask yourself the next question:

How much is it going to cost?

There are fees and closing costs involved in refinancing, and Lenders Network explains:

“If you were to refinance that loan into a new loan, total closing costs will run between 2%-4% of the loan amount.”

They also explain that there are options for no-cost refinance loans, but be on the lookout:

“A no-cost refinance loan is when the lender pays the closing costs for the borrower. However, you should be aware that the lender makes up this money from other aspects of the mortgage. Usually pay charging a slightly higher interest rate so they can make the money back.”

If you’re comfortable with the costs of refinancing, then ask yourself one more question:

Is it worth it?

To answer this one, we’ll use an example. Let’s assume you have a $200,000 home loan. A 4% refinance cost will be $10,000. If you want to lower your interest rate from 6% to 4%,  then refinancing is going to save you $244 per month. To break even ($10,000/$244), you need to continue owning your home for over 40 months.

Now that you know how the math shakes out, think about how much longer you’d like to own your current home. If you plan to stay for more than 3 years, then maybe it is advantageous for you to refinance.

If, however, your current home does not fulfill your present needs, you might want to consider using your potential refinance costs for a down payment on a new move-up home. You will still get a lower interest rate than the one you have on your current house, and with the equity you’ve already built, you can finally purchase the home of your dreams.

Bottom Line

There are many opportunities for growth in the current real estate market. To find out what’s right for your family, let’s get together to help you understand your options and guide you toward the best decision.

To Stage...or Not To Stage.....

My job is to get my Seller the most amount of money for their property, right?

You hire a Realtor because you know that we've marketed and sold quite a few more homes than you have, right? Quite a few.

You pay us for our experience, right again?

So, should you stage your home for sale? YES, if the Realtor you hired suggests it, yes.

There are many homes that can be 'staged' with just a bit of de-cluttering, moving of furniture, bringing in a few of my decor pieces...I actually have a lot of those.....maybe painting a wall or two.

But, you need to trust your Realtor whey they tell you a professional stager is needed for your home to get top dollar. Because....what? You hired us because we know how to get the most amount of money for your home.

I read this on my favorite staging company's Instagram profile...it is so right on:

"Seeing a vacant house is like looking at yourself in the mirror naked

 ~ you see every flaw."

The Internet of buyers out there likes to see beautiful homes. They pay more for beautiful homes. They come to see more beautiful homes. Staging does the best to make your home beautiful.

And, the good, top quality, staging companies keep a boat load of furnishings in a warehouse so they can create the right atmosphere for the home you want to sell. Not every piece of furniture will go in every home. And, a pro knows what will help your home become one of those beautiful homes those dang bevy of Internet shoppers are looking for.

Questions about Real Estate in Southern California? ~ Lauren@KeepYourWitz.com 

I Just Can't Say It Enough.......

5 Powerful Reasons to Own Instead of Rent

Owning a home has great financial benefits.

In a recent research paper, Home ownership and the American Dream, Laurie S. Goodman and Christopher Mayer of the Urban Land Institute explained:

“Home ownership appears to help borrowers accumulate housing and non-housing wealth in a variety of ways, with tax advantages, greater financial flexibility due to secured borrowing, built-in ‘default’ savings with mortgage amortization and nominally fixed payments, and the potential to lower home maintenance costs through sweat equity.”

Let’s breakdown 5 major financial benefits of home ownership:

1. Housing is typically the one leveraged investment available

Home ownership allows households to amplify any appreciation on the value of their homes by a leverage factor. A 20% down payment results in a leverage factor of five, meaning every percentage point rise in the value of your home is a 5% return on your equity. If you put down 10%, your leverage factor is 10.

Example: Let’s assume you purchased a $300,000 home and put down $60,000 (20%). If the house appreciates by $30,000, that is only a 10% increase in value but a 50% increase in equity.

2. You’re paying for housing whether you own or rent

Some argue that renting eliminates the cost of property taxes and home repairs. Every potential renter must realize that all the expenses the landlord incurs (property taxes, repairs, insurance, etc.) are baked into the rent payment already – along with a profit margin!!

3. Owning is usually a form of “forced savings”

Studies have shown that homeowners have a net worth that is 44X greater than that of a renter. As a matter of fact, it was recently estimated that a family buying an average priced home this past January could build more than $42,000 in family wealth over the next five years.

4. Owning is a hedge against inflation

House values and rents tend to go up at or higher than the rate of inflation. When you own, your home’s value will protect you from that inflation.

5. There are still substantial tax benefits to owning

We know that the new tax reform bill puts limits on some deductions on certain homes. However, in the research paper referenced above, the authors explain:

“...the mortgage interest deduction is not the main source of these gains; even if it were removed, homeowners would continue to benefit from a lack of taxation of imputed rent and capital gains.”

Bottom Line

From a financial standpoint, owning a home has always been and will always be better than renting.

You Certainly Can't Live in Gold, the Stock Market, or Your Savings Account!

Americans Rank Real Estate Best Investment...

 for 6 Years Running! 

Some Highlights:

• Real estate has outranked stocks/mutual funds, gold, savings accounts/CDs, and bonds as the best long-term investment among Americans for the last 6 years.
• Stock owners are more positive about real estate than stocks as an investment.
• Of the 4 listed, real estate is the only investment you can also live in!