Archive for year: 2021

Before you purchase a home, it’s important to educate yourself of the various types of mortgages you can get so you can make the right decision when the time comes to choose yours.

Fixed Rate. The most popular on the market, a fixed-rate mortgage is ideal for homeowners who expect to stay in their home for many years. With a fixed interest rate and monthly payment, this loan makes it easier to plan your budget year over year.

Adjustable-Rate. This type of mortgage offers a lower interest rate and monthly payment at first, then slowly increases as time goes on. This type of loan can be beneficial for younger home buyers who expect to grow in their careers and make more money in the future.

Government-Insured. There are several types of government-backed mortgages including Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans, and more. These programs can help you finance a home if you meet each one’s qualifications.

Conforming. A conforming loan is one that falls within the maximum limits set by government agencies that back most U.S. mortgages, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. With this type of mortgage, borrowing costs and required down payment are generally less, but interest rates can be a little higher.

Jumbo. This type of conventional loan applies if the home’s price exceeds federal loan limits. Your credit score generally must exceed 700 and you are required to make a larger down payment. However, it allows you to borrow more money to purchase a more expensive home.

3075 Kittery Ave, San Ramon, CA 94583

$1,198,000 | 3 Beds | 2 Baths | 1,025 SqFt

Welcome Home! Turn-key single story rancher in the heart of San Ramon! Recent updates (2021) include: Roof, HVAC (heating and air), kitchen remodel (light quartz counters, white Shaker-style cabinets, stainless steel appliances, subway tile back-splash), flooring & baseboards, light fixtures, interior/exterior paint, pavers (driveway, walkways, patio), front & back yard landscaping, garage door (including opener) and more! Close (walking distance) to award winning San Ramon K-12 schools, Iron Horse walking trail and a short drive to San Ramon’s City Center! Close to parks, freeway access, commute access, shops & restaurants! One of the lowest priced detached homes in San Ramon! Offers to be reviewed on 11/22/21 at 5:00pm!

FULL LISTING

228 Jewel Ter, Danville, CA 94526

$874,888 | 3 Beds | 2.5 Baths | 1,559 SqFt

Location, location, location! Great opportunity to live on the west side of Danville! Walking distance to The Livery, downtown Danville, shops and restaurants! Situated in the Diablo View community, town-home style living, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, open floor plan, two-car attached garage, two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, freshly painted interior, community pool and much more! Close to highly rated Danville schools! This one is a must see!

FULL LISTING

You’re probably well aware that there’s more to real estate than just owning your home. There are countless success stories of people who made a fortune, or even just a comfortable extra income, by investing in real estate. Here’s an overview to get you thinking about an investment property.

Improving A Home
Quickly flipping a home is one way to make money off a real estate investment, but it can be risky. A safer play is to buy a fixer upper and carefully manage costs over a year or so as you improve the property. You’re likely to get a great return.

Rental Properties
Instead of selling your investment property, you can rent it and make a good monthly profit if the rent exceeds your costs. Renting to a stable, reliable tenant can put extra money in your pocket every month for years on end. You can even hire a property manager to handle repairs, rent collection, and other administrative tasks. And if you’re ever ready to stop dealing with tenants, you can sell the home and profit on the improvements and appreciation of your asset.

Multi-family Rental Properties
Renting out a single family home is a good starting place for investment properties, but you can get an even better return once you learn the ropes and move on to multi-family homes. Buying an apartment building or dividing a larger home into several apartment units comes with some added complications with taxes and regulations, but it also comes with huge income potential.

So you’re thinking about putting your home on the market, and you want to make sure you’re going to get the best return on your investment. These tips should help!! I know, selling homes is second nature to me as I’ve been doing it for 20 years, but I get nervous nellie sellers all the time, and of course you’re nervous, it’s a big deal.

Well, Let’s talk about Curb Appeal. This is important as it’s the first impression your buyer will have when they arrive at your home. The best thing that you can do is either rent a power washer or have someone come and do it. Either way, you want to wash years of dirt off your driveway, sidewalk and home. You also want to pay attention to the front door. As an agent, it takes a few seconds for me to open a lockbox, and this gives the buyer a chance to really look at your entryway while they are waiting. Take a moment to make sure there isn’t any peeling paint on the door or cobwebs around the lights.

Next, step #5 is to work with your agent on staging your home. 77% of buyer’s agents said that staging a home makes it easier for buyers to visualize themselves living in it. And Staging will help your home stand out against the competition by showcasing the best features of your home to any prospective buyers. Also, research shows that professionally staged homes can sell for as much as 10% more than homes that are not staged.

Also, #6 is now that you’ve gotten your home ready, you will want to get professional photos of your home. According to Nat’l Assoc of Realtors, 67% sixty seven percent of buyers will walk through a home that they saw online so professional pictures are a must in your preparation.

Lastly, now that your home is all ready for buyers, you must have a showing plan. Buyers and their agents may request a showing of your home at any time, and you must be prepared. Until your home is under contract, it’s important to be able to leave your home at a moment’s notice. A few things you can do is plan simpler meals for easy clean up and make plans for some outdoor activities. Also, find a place to bring your pets during showings, maybe family or a good friend to take care of them.

These steps will help you in selling your home faster and for more money.

For more information feel free to call us anytime, Jason Caskie with the Ohlmeyer Team at Coldwell Banker. We are your San Ramon Valley & Bay Area real estate experts! And remember Sell Your Home Smarter!’