Santa Maria Archives - Page 32 of 35 - Santa Maria CA Real Estate Blog & Information, REALTOR® Selling Santa Maria CA Homes

Santa Maria CA & Orcutt CA New Home Buyer Alert – $10,000 California Tax Credit

02/19/2009
Santa Maria

The California Association of Realtors reports that the newly signed California budget provides for a tax credit of up to $10,000 for new home buyers. The credit will apply to purchases made between March 1, 2009 through March 1, 2010. Buyers are eligible for a credit equal to 5% of the purchase price of the home u to a mxaimum of $10,000. It does not apply to the purchase of existing homes; but it does apply to any buyer (not just first time buyers) as long as they are purchasing a primary residence.

Bank Owned Bidding Wars in the Santa Maria – Orcutt CA Foreclosure Market

02/17/2009
Buyer Info, Foreclosure / Bank Owned (REO) Info, Santa Maria

Is it a great time to buy? Yes. Interest rates are at historic lows, Congress just passed an $8000 tax credit for first time buyers, and prices just keep getting better and better. There are plenty of folks who are taking advantage of this opportunity. As such, jumping into the current market for foreclosure properties in Santa Maria - Orcutt CA can be a rude awakening for potential buyers. Currently, there is a lot of competition for foreclosed properties. REOs comprise the majority of sold properties in the Santa Maria and Orcutt housing market.

Santa Maria CA & Orcutt CA Short Sale Buyer Information

02/16/2009
Santa Maria, Short Sale Info

With the majority of single family homes and condos being listed as "short sales" in the Santa Maria CA and Orcutt CA market, buyers are considering this type of listing more often. A "short sale" is a property listing where the owner owes more than the homes' current value, but still desires/needs to sell. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon position for sellers in Santa Maria CA.

Santa Maria CA Foreclosure Buyer Alert – $8000 First Time Home Buyer Credit Approved

02/13/2009
Santa Maria

If you are sitting on the fence about buying, Congress just gave you another reason to jump into the market for foreclosures in Santa Maria, CA. The recently passed stimulus bill modestly increases the first time home buyer credit from $7500 to $8000. But more importantly, buyers now do not have to pay the credit back as long as they stay in the home a minimum of 3 years.

River Oaks Market Update & Santa Maria CA MLS Home Listing Search

02/11/2009
Santa Maria

Sold listings were on the market an average of 77 days, were about 1900 sq.ft., and sold for about $155 per square foot. 12 of the 17 sold homes were REOs, 3 were closed short sales, and only two were regular sales. 88% of the sold activity in this neghborhood was forelcosure related; so, like many other developments that were built during the housing boom River Oaks is now overloaded with foreclosures during the housing bust.

Mission Creek Village Condos vs. Oak Creek Villas (Santa Maria CA & Orcutt CA Condos)

02/09/2009
Santa Maria

The Mission Creek Condos and Oak Creek Villas were built by local builder, Inland Pacific, who is also currently finishing up Pacific Crest in Westgate Ranch. Oak Creek and Mission Creek offer the same basic floor plans and amenities; however,…

Buying Bank Owned Homes (REOs) in the Santa Maria CA & Orcutt CA Market – Should I Use FHA/VA or Conventional Financing?

02/01/2009
Foreclosure / Bank Owned (REO) Info, Santa Maria

When the bidding gets competitive, buyers are often left to wonder how asset managers make their decisions about which offer to choose. If you have 15 offers how do you select one over the other? The obvious selection would be based on the net to the lender, but there are other factors. In particular, time and time again, I see FHA buyers assed over in this market for buyers using conventional financing. That is not to say that FHA financing is not being used -- it is.

Luxury Townhomes in Santa Maria – Orcutt CA – The Villas at La Ventana & Somerset Gardens

01/14/2009
Santa Maria

Both the Villas at La Ventana and Somerset Gardens townhomes were built by a well respected local builder, Inland Pacific, who is currently finishing the Pacific Crest development in the Westgate Ranch area. The townhome floor plans offered in each community are virtually identical. There are three basic floor plans in each. These upscale townhomes offer no maintenance patios, gas fireplaces, and two car garages. The standard features in these communities were very generous, so even units that were not upgraded with granite countertops and the works still have a very elegant feeling.