Tighter FHA loan rules won't stall Sacramento home sales, experts say
NO HARM LIKELY IN CAPITAL MARKET
Qualifying for federally backed mortgages is about to get harder, but a Sacramento market dependent on the loans won't stall as a result, housing industry officials say.
The Federal Housing Administration, which insures lower-income buyers, has outlined tougher lending rules starting this spring and early summer to curb rising defaults that have eroded its cash reserves. The FHA insures more than 40 percent of Sacramento County mortgages and fueled a surge in home buying as house prices fell in 2008 and 2009.
The loans are especially popular with first-time buyers, requiring only 3.5 percent down payments. That will remain unchanged for most buyers, federal officials said this week. But other rules designed to keep FHA from needing a taxpayer bailout will raise costs.
"It will prevent some people from buying their new home," said Michael McGee, president of Rancho Cordova's Winchester McGee Real Estate & Loans. "Not a lot of them, but it will be a percentage."
The FHA, which insures lenders against defaults for loans made to its standards, wants to raise its up-front mortgage insurance fee from 1.75 percent of a loan's value to 2.25 percent. On a $200,000 loan common in the capital region, that would boost the current $3,500 fee to $4,500. But buyers can roll the added cost into the loan amount.
The FHA, citing a move to "better risk management," also wants to require 10 percent down payments for borrowers with credit scores below 580. That's not likely to affect a significant number of borrowers. Most lenders don't loan for credit scores below 620, said John Arvanitis, president of Sunrise Vista Mortgage Corp. in Citrus Heights.
"But you'd be surprised how many clients out there have a 580 score," said Arvanitis. "Maybe they don't have an extensive credit history or one or two collections slipped through the cracks." Often, he said, two or three months of changes such as paying down credit balances can raise scores to qualify for a 3.5 percent down payment.
One change could help a foreclosure-plagued Sacramento market: making it easier for investors to "flip" houses to buyers who use FHA loans. Current FHA rules prevent investors from re-selling a house to an FHA-backed buyer for 90 days.
The new rule lets investors "buy today and sell tomorrow," said McGee. He said it will help investors clear the region's distressed inventory.
La Jolla property researcher MDA DataQuick says nearly 5 percent of December sales in Sacramento County involved investors reselling homes within three weeks to six months of buying them.
The FHA also wants to prevent sellers from contributing more than 3 percent of a sales price to buyers to pay closing costs. The government says the current 6 percent limit overexposes it to risk as sellers inflate prices to compensate for the cost.
For all the changes, however, most buyers will still qualify, said Bob Bronswick, Sacramento-area president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. He said, "It's not that significant."
Steve Goddard, a Manhattan Beach real estate agent and president of the California Association of Realtors, added, "We don't expect it to affect sales that much."
Goddard said the Realtor trade group "supports the FHA decision to shore up its reserves. We want them to be solvent."
The FHA was created in 1934 to help people buy homes in economic eras marked by credit tightening. The loans nearly disappeared during the housing boom when 41 percent of first-time California buyers got loans requiring no down payments. In early 2008 the FHA again backed 10 percent of Sacramento County mortgages. That rose to 50 percent late last year, according to DataQuick.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Sacramento awaits next growth wave
Road to Recovery: Sacramento awaits next growth wave
• Today's story is the first in an ongoing series, Road to Recovery, reported by The Bee in partnership with Capital Public Radio. Look for stories during the next several months that reveal the industries, companies and people likely to pull the region from recession and provide new jobs.
• In Monday's Bee and on Capital Public Radio, we will report the potential for growth in green-tech jobs.
Behind emerald-tinted windows in a Folsom office building, a company called SynapSense Corp. has crafted a breakthrough: a wireless green-technology device that helps customers such as Facebook and Yahoo slash their energy usage.
Co-founder Peter Van Deventer calls the product "the next big wave." Some Sacramento business leaders hope pioneers like SynapSense can help lift the region out of an epic recession, and diversify its economy beyond the traditional mainstays of government and suburban development.
But in reality, Sacramento's next wave might look like more of the same.
SynapSense's neighborhood on Iron Point Road is a sea of big-box stores flanked by residential cul-de- sacs named for pop musicians. Even in a weak economy, the real estate machine grinds on: Palladio at Broadstone, a major open-air shopping mall down the street from SynapSense, is set to open this fall. Folsom officials are working to annex thousands of acres on the other side of Highway 50, setting the stage for the next wave of growth.
"The housing industry is really what pulls the economy out of recession," said Russ Davis, a vice president at Elliott Homes, which has developed much of the neighborhood. "Always has, probably always will."
There's no mistaking the power of development and real estate in Sacramento. Not only did housing construction account for much of the job growth locally during the past decade, it spread its tentacles throughout the economy – driving demand for retail, restaurants and services.
Despite the recession, with thousands of construction jobs lost, development remains a major component of the economy, employing more than 55,000 people in the region.
But real estate development is a volatile business subject to bubbles and bursts, and Sacramento needs to find more stable long-term sources of job creation, leaders say.
The building binge of the early 2000s has left Sacramento with a significant economic hangover. Although the market seems to be bottoming out, analysts say construction activity in Sacramento won't resume in earnest for another couple of years or so.
That's not to say the near-term future is without glimmers of recovery. Public money is driving some substantial construction work, from the new terminal at Sacramento International Airport to the early phase of the overhaul of downtown's railyard. Federal stimulus dollars are being poured into roads and highways.
Other industries are showing strength, too. Thanks to an aging and growing population, Sacramento's health care industry has been largely inoculated against the recession. It has added about 3,000 jobs in the past two years and employs more Sacramentans than state government (89,000 vs. 82,000). Analysts expect steady growth going forward.
Health care will be "the bright spot for the region," said Ryan Sharp, head of the Center for Strategic Economic Research, a Sacramento think tank.
Public sector payrolls cut
If health care is the bright spot, state government is the black spot – at least for the time being. Facing a $20 billion deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is seeking $1.6 billion in personnel savings in the upcoming fiscal year. He has proposed replacing "Furlough Fridays" with 10 percent pay cuts. There could also be layoffs or attrition via an executive order.
The state's problems are rippling through the rest of the public sector. Local governments and school districts, starved for cash in part because of reductions in state spending, have imposed extensive layoffs.
No one's suggesting Sacramento turn its back on government, though. Despite its ills, it remains a solid economic anchor long term. "It will eventually turn around," said Chris Thornberg, an economic consultant in Los Angeles. "The budget will start growing again."
• Today's story is the first in an ongoing series, Road to Recovery, reported by The Bee in partnership with Capital Public Radio. Look for stories during the next several months that reveal the industries, companies and people likely to pull the region from recession and provide new jobs.
• In Monday's Bee and on Capital Public Radio, we will report the potential for growth in green-tech jobs.
Behind emerald-tinted windows in a Folsom office building, a company called SynapSense Corp. has crafted a breakthrough: a wireless green-technology device that helps customers such as Facebook and Yahoo slash their energy usage.
Co-founder Peter Van Deventer calls the product "the next big wave." Some Sacramento business leaders hope pioneers like SynapSense can help lift the region out of an epic recession, and diversify its economy beyond the traditional mainstays of government and suburban development.
But in reality, Sacramento's next wave might look like more of the same.
SynapSense's neighborhood on Iron Point Road is a sea of big-box stores flanked by residential cul-de- sacs named for pop musicians. Even in a weak economy, the real estate machine grinds on: Palladio at Broadstone, a major open-air shopping mall down the street from SynapSense, is set to open this fall. Folsom officials are working to annex thousands of acres on the other side of Highway 50, setting the stage for the next wave of growth.
"The housing industry is really what pulls the economy out of recession," said Russ Davis, a vice president at Elliott Homes, which has developed much of the neighborhood. "Always has, probably always will."
There's no mistaking the power of development and real estate in Sacramento. Not only did housing construction account for much of the job growth locally during the past decade, it spread its tentacles throughout the economy – driving demand for retail, restaurants and services.
Despite the recession, with thousands of construction jobs lost, development remains a major component of the economy, employing more than 55,000 people in the region.
But real estate development is a volatile business subject to bubbles and bursts, and Sacramento needs to find more stable long-term sources of job creation, leaders say.
The building binge of the early 2000s has left Sacramento with a significant economic hangover. Although the market seems to be bottoming out, analysts say construction activity in Sacramento won't resume in earnest for another couple of years or so.
That's not to say the near-term future is without glimmers of recovery. Public money is driving some substantial construction work, from the new terminal at Sacramento International Airport to the early phase of the overhaul of downtown's railyard. Federal stimulus dollars are being poured into roads and highways.
Other industries are showing strength, too. Thanks to an aging and growing population, Sacramento's health care industry has been largely inoculated against the recession. It has added about 3,000 jobs in the past two years and employs more Sacramentans than state government (89,000 vs. 82,000). Analysts expect steady growth going forward.
Health care will be "the bright spot for the region," said Ryan Sharp, head of the Center for Strategic Economic Research, a Sacramento think tank.
Public sector payrolls cut
If health care is the bright spot, state government is the black spot – at least for the time being. Facing a $20 billion deficit, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is seeking $1.6 billion in personnel savings in the upcoming fiscal year. He has proposed replacing "Furlough Fridays" with 10 percent pay cuts. There could also be layoffs or attrition via an executive order.
The state's problems are rippling through the rest of the public sector. Local governments and school districts, starved for cash in part because of reductions in state spending, have imposed extensive layoffs.
No one's suggesting Sacramento turn its back on government, though. Despite its ills, it remains a solid economic anchor long term. "It will eventually turn around," said Chris Thornberg, an economic consultant in Los Angeles. "The budget will start growing again."
Monday, January 18, 2010
Only 2,800 new Sacramento area homes sold in 2009
Home Front: Only 2,800 new Sacramento area homes sold in 2009
It's hard to find words for how low the once-powerful Sacramento-area home-building industry has fallen. The first official 2009 count is in now, showing just 2,814 new-home sales in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.
The count comes from Folsom-based industry consultant the Gregory Group. It's a stunning 40 percent less than the worst year previously imaginable – 2008's 4,695 sales.
Gregory Group President Greg Paquin was asked if 2009 might be the worst regional sales count since the early 1950s – as builders are claiming statewide.
"I think it's a reasonable assumption," said Paquin, who has tracked the local market since 1998.
Roseville was the region's sales star. Builders reported 733 sales in the city of 112,000. That was 26 percent of the six-county region's total. Others in 2009:
• Elk Grove, 368 sales, a 13 percent share.
• Rancho Cordova, 316 sales, 11 percent share.
• Natomas, 230 sales, 8 percent share.
• Rocklin, 204 sales, a 7 percent share.
Lincoln counted 150 sales, El Dorado Hills had 109, and West Sacramento 101.
The positive side of such dismal figures: The supply of unsold inventory has been cut. Paquin said 2009 ended with a historic low of 855 available homes and lots.
Falling supply also pushed up prices. The regional fourth-quarter average, $385,311, beat the same time a year earlier for the first time since 2006, he said.
Loan defaults keep rising
New statistics from First American CoreLogic prove again what negative equity and 12.4 percent unemployment is doing to household bottom lines throughout Sacramento. The U.S. market tracker said 11.6 percent of mortgages in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties in November were severely distressed. That is, they were collectively 90 days or more delinquent, somewhere in the formal default-foreclosure process or linked to a repossessed house not yet resold.
The severely distressed percentage rose all through 2009 after starting at 7.6 percent in January. One other possible reason: Many borrowers tell Home Front they stop making payments to get banks' attention and obtain a loan modification.
Second time around
Just as individual bank repos eventually get new owners and fresh starts, so do entire repo subdivisions.
This weekend, sales resume at Folsom's 25-acre Treehouse development. United Commercial Bank repossessed it last year when Orange County builder John Laing Homes imploded.
Treehouse's new developer, Signature Properties of Pleasanton, will release 18 new homes for sale Saturday. Prices for town homes start in the high $100,000s. Thirteen months ago, the starting price was $269,000, according to Hanley Wood Market Intelligence.
Give us single-story homes
A story last week on four-story apartments planned at Curtis Park Village in Sacramento prompted a fresh senior outcry about the lack of tiny single-story housing.
"We need housing that would serve us, and all we see is three-level apartment complexes," says Barbara Paulus, 70, a 10-year resident of Sun City Lincoln Hills.
Home Front has heard this several times from seniors the last three years: We're banging around in these big empty houses and want to move to something smaller. But everything else you find, you have to climb stairs.
Paulus, a retired real estate agent, says many older people want single-stories near shopping and transit, and around younger people with kids and pets.
She isn't the first to call Home Front and say it: "I don't know how many builders pay attention to the demographics of what's needed."
It's hard to find words for how low the once-powerful Sacramento-area home-building industry has fallen. The first official 2009 count is in now, showing just 2,814 new-home sales in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties.
The count comes from Folsom-based industry consultant the Gregory Group. It's a stunning 40 percent less than the worst year previously imaginable – 2008's 4,695 sales.
Gregory Group President Greg Paquin was asked if 2009 might be the worst regional sales count since the early 1950s – as builders are claiming statewide.
"I think it's a reasonable assumption," said Paquin, who has tracked the local market since 1998.
Roseville was the region's sales star. Builders reported 733 sales in the city of 112,000. That was 26 percent of the six-county region's total. Others in 2009:
• Elk Grove, 368 sales, a 13 percent share.
• Rancho Cordova, 316 sales, 11 percent share.
• Natomas, 230 sales, 8 percent share.
• Rocklin, 204 sales, a 7 percent share.
Lincoln counted 150 sales, El Dorado Hills had 109, and West Sacramento 101.
The positive side of such dismal figures: The supply of unsold inventory has been cut. Paquin said 2009 ended with a historic low of 855 available homes and lots.
Falling supply also pushed up prices. The regional fourth-quarter average, $385,311, beat the same time a year earlier for the first time since 2006, he said.
Loan defaults keep rising
New statistics from First American CoreLogic prove again what negative equity and 12.4 percent unemployment is doing to household bottom lines throughout Sacramento. The U.S. market tracker said 11.6 percent of mortgages in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado counties in November were severely distressed. That is, they were collectively 90 days or more delinquent, somewhere in the formal default-foreclosure process or linked to a repossessed house not yet resold.
The severely distressed percentage rose all through 2009 after starting at 7.6 percent in January. One other possible reason: Many borrowers tell Home Front they stop making payments to get banks' attention and obtain a loan modification.
Second time around
Just as individual bank repos eventually get new owners and fresh starts, so do entire repo subdivisions.
This weekend, sales resume at Folsom's 25-acre Treehouse development. United Commercial Bank repossessed it last year when Orange County builder John Laing Homes imploded.
Treehouse's new developer, Signature Properties of Pleasanton, will release 18 new homes for sale Saturday. Prices for town homes start in the high $100,000s. Thirteen months ago, the starting price was $269,000, according to Hanley Wood Market Intelligence.
Give us single-story homes
A story last week on four-story apartments planned at Curtis Park Village in Sacramento prompted a fresh senior outcry about the lack of tiny single-story housing.
"We need housing that would serve us, and all we see is three-level apartment complexes," says Barbara Paulus, 70, a 10-year resident of Sun City Lincoln Hills.
Home Front has heard this several times from seniors the last three years: We're banging around in these big empty houses and want to move to something smaller. But everything else you find, you have to climb stairs.
Paulus, a retired real estate agent, says many older people want single-stories near shopping and transit, and around younger people with kids and pets.
She isn't the first to call Home Front and say it: "I don't know how many builders pay attention to the demographics of what's needed."
Monday, January 11, 2010
Placerville Homes For Sale - The Trick To Buy The Best Home
Placerville Homes For Sale – The Trick To Buy The Best Home
Are you interested in making the right real estate investment? Then purchasing a Placerville homes for sale can be the greatest investment of your life. Once you make a decision, it can be the most rewarding investment when you purchase the right home in the right way. The best trick to begin will be to start your search online! Internet is an endless resource of information. Here you can find all types of information about the Placerville homes for sale including the locality, demographics, crime rate, community amenities and information on property tax. The internet search will also educate you on the local market statistics that will help you make a decent home purchase.
If you are new to Placerville, you would like to know that the city has its roots in the 1840s during the gold rush days when it was called Hangtown. This place was the hub of the mining operations in the Mother Lode region and was on the legendary Pony Express. The various services available were banking, lodging, rail transportation, market and a general store. Built on such a remarkable history, Placerville is today, a convenient business hub that houses many families. The prices of the Placerville homes for sale are under $190,000. This makes the homes very affordable.
The proximity to the Sierra Nevada hills is an added advantage on the climate of Placerville. This place enjoys warm and dry climate. This climate is very favorable for the apple trees that adorn the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The orchard region is famous as the Apple Hill and is home to many varieties of apples. Placerville has pride in its cultural heritage that is portrayed through the historical mining museum and other art galleries.
While purchasing the Placerville homes for sale, you must make sure to settle on a home that suits your budget. Remember to look for a home in a locality that supports all your home needs. Hiring a home inspector can give you all the necessary advice on buying your Placerville home. By paying attention to the basic home buying advices, you can make the home buying experience a memorable one. On buying your dream Placerville home, plan on staying there for a long period to get a feel of the place and its rich history!
For additional resources and information please visit the following sites. Resource Links:
http://www.gmacrealestate.com
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com
T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens
GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com
ActiveRain Blog Brodie: http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens
ActiveRain Blog Company:http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac
Sacbee:http://www.sacbee.com
Company WordPress Site:http://www.thehomeholders.com
Real Living:http://www.realliving.com
Are you interested in making the right real estate investment? Then purchasing a Placerville homes for sale can be the greatest investment of your life. Once you make a decision, it can be the most rewarding investment when you purchase the right home in the right way. The best trick to begin will be to start your search online! Internet is an endless resource of information. Here you can find all types of information about the Placerville homes for sale including the locality, demographics, crime rate, community amenities and information on property tax. The internet search will also educate you on the local market statistics that will help you make a decent home purchase.
If you are new to Placerville, you would like to know that the city has its roots in the 1840s during the gold rush days when it was called Hangtown. This place was the hub of the mining operations in the Mother Lode region and was on the legendary Pony Express. The various services available were banking, lodging, rail transportation, market and a general store. Built on such a remarkable history, Placerville is today, a convenient business hub that houses many families. The prices of the Placerville homes for sale are under $190,000. This makes the homes very affordable.
The proximity to the Sierra Nevada hills is an added advantage on the climate of Placerville. This place enjoys warm and dry climate. This climate is very favorable for the apple trees that adorn the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The orchard region is famous as the Apple Hill and is home to many varieties of apples. Placerville has pride in its cultural heritage that is portrayed through the historical mining museum and other art galleries.
While purchasing the Placerville homes for sale, you must make sure to settle on a home that suits your budget. Remember to look for a home in a locality that supports all your home needs. Hiring a home inspector can give you all the necessary advice on buying your Placerville home. By paying attention to the basic home buying advices, you can make the home buying experience a memorable one. On buying your dream Placerville home, plan on staying there for a long period to get a feel of the place and its rich history!
For additional resources and information please visit the following sites. Resource Links:
http://www.gmacrealestate.com
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com
T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens
GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com
ActiveRain Blog Brodie: http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens
ActiveRain Blog Company:http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac
Sacbee:http://www.sacbee.com
Company WordPress Site:http://www.thehomeholders.com
Real Living:http://www.realliving.com
Friday, January 8, 2010
Issues in Real Estate Videos on Property For Sale
Issues in Real Estate Videos on Property For Sale
Online real estate marketing gets more effective this year by including real estate videos on websites. Real estate videos provide access to all property for sale on the online listings. These videos provide buyers a very powerful buying solution that can be accessed from anywhere on the internet. With innovative technology tools, real estate videos provide access to property for sale in the neighborhood on the listings on the local MLS. The instinctive tools designed for the real estate videos make inspection of property and the neighborhood quick and easy.
The videos are responsive and knowledgeable about the local real estate market and help the buyer find out more about the area of the property for sale. These videos are being incorporated in real estate listings. The production of these videos allows viewers to view a complete tour of the property on the internet. These videos can be hosted for free on the real estate website. Some of the following issues can be considered in real estate video production.
The production of a real estate video requires some time and additional requirement apart from a pc, a good camera and good software to develop a good video. Some special techniques are required to produce an effective real estate video. These videos require some movement or transition and are not to be kept stagnant. Focusing and transition techniques greatly contribute to the overall outcome of the video in giving the informative experience to the viewer. People are now looking for polished and convincing real estate videos. It is now the era of incorporating music with videos on the video. The professionally produced videos have audio available that give the experience of a guided tour to the viewer of the property for sale.
The process of uploading an effective real estate video on the real estate website involves the preparation of a property for the shooting purpose, identifying the challenges in real estate video, shooting the actual video and editing and posting the video on the internet. The videos uploaded on the internet in the real estate websites are to be easily accessible by the viewer without any obstacles. The tools and techniques integrated with the video must be simple and easily download-able.
The real estate videos are regarded as the means to close a successful deal. When the property for sale is sold at the desirable price and the related video is viewed a decent number of times then the real estate video mission is successfully accomplished!
For additional resources and information please visit the following sites. Resource Links:
http://www.gmacrealestate.com
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com
ActiveRain Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens
ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac
Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com
Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com
Real Living http://www.realliving.com
Online real estate marketing gets more effective this year by including real estate videos on websites. Real estate videos provide access to all property for sale on the online listings. These videos provide buyers a very powerful buying solution that can be accessed from anywhere on the internet. With innovative technology tools, real estate videos provide access to property for sale in the neighborhood on the listings on the local MLS. The instinctive tools designed for the real estate videos make inspection of property and the neighborhood quick and easy.
The videos are responsive and knowledgeable about the local real estate market and help the buyer find out more about the area of the property for sale. These videos are being incorporated in real estate listings. The production of these videos allows viewers to view a complete tour of the property on the internet. These videos can be hosted for free on the real estate website. Some of the following issues can be considered in real estate video production.
The production of a real estate video requires some time and additional requirement apart from a pc, a good camera and good software to develop a good video. Some special techniques are required to produce an effective real estate video. These videos require some movement or transition and are not to be kept stagnant. Focusing and transition techniques greatly contribute to the overall outcome of the video in giving the informative experience to the viewer. People are now looking for polished and convincing real estate videos. It is now the era of incorporating music with videos on the video. The professionally produced videos have audio available that give the experience of a guided tour to the viewer of the property for sale.
The process of uploading an effective real estate video on the real estate website involves the preparation of a property for the shooting purpose, identifying the challenges in real estate video, shooting the actual video and editing and posting the video on the internet. The videos uploaded on the internet in the real estate websites are to be easily accessible by the viewer without any obstacles. The tools and techniques integrated with the video must be simple and easily download-able.
The real estate videos are regarded as the means to close a successful deal. When the property for sale is sold at the desirable price and the related video is viewed a decent number of times then the real estate video mission is successfully accomplished!
For additional resources and information please visit the following sites. Resource Links:
http://www.gmacrealestate.com
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com
ActiveRain Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens
ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac
Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com
Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com
Real Living http://www.realliving.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Everything That You Will Want to Know About the Sacramento Community
Everything That You Will Want to Know About the Sacramento Community!!
Have you just bought your dream home from the Sacramento new homes for sale? Are you willing to relocate to Sacramento, but are unaware of the community where you will be moving into? Well, you should have had found out about the community before you purchased the home! Since you have not done that, do not worry. We will help you know your community better! After reading through this article, you will be rest assured that you have bought a home in the country’s best community! You will be more than willing to relocate. So what is it that you have to know about Sacramento before you relocate?
To begin with, Sacramento was founded in 1848. Peacefully located along the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the city’s destiny changed by the discovery of gold. From then on the city has been an active community for all activities. Adorned with a rich history and a promising future, this place is the prime target of many first time real estate investors who are buying the Sacramento new homes for sale. As you have just made your purchase, you will know that the median home in Sac Town costs only $360,000.
Folsom, the suburb that was established during the gold rush days is now a major middle class settlement. This suburb is a priority among middle class families as it offers excellent schooling. It also homes many antique shops, museums, and cafes that relate to the historic days. The Folsom new homes for sale range from $300,000 to $800,000. This area is a perfect mix of the modern suburb and the old Wild West.
The real estate at Sac Town includes single homes, apartments, mansions and townhomes. The town is also home to many Victorian mansions and bungalows. The community amenities include specialty shops, cafes, bookstores, medical facilities, etc. The downtown is always bustling with hassle free activity. The cost of living in Sacramento is much lower when compared to other cities of California.
This city is a perfect place of residence for all age groups. The number of homes sold here in 2009, is a proof of this statement. With excellent education at all levels and job opportunities in various sectors like services, finance, construction, retail and wholesale trade, you are sure to find a very peaceful life in your new home at Sacramento.
For additional resources and information please visit the following sites. Resource Links:
http://www.gmacrealestate.com
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com
ActiveRain Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens
ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac
Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com
Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com
Real Living http://www.realliving.com
Have you just bought your dream home from the Sacramento new homes for sale? Are you willing to relocate to Sacramento, but are unaware of the community where you will be moving into? Well, you should have had found out about the community before you purchased the home! Since you have not done that, do not worry. We will help you know your community better! After reading through this article, you will be rest assured that you have bought a home in the country’s best community! You will be more than willing to relocate. So what is it that you have to know about Sacramento before you relocate?
To begin with, Sacramento was founded in 1848. Peacefully located along the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the city’s destiny changed by the discovery of gold. From then on the city has been an active community for all activities. Adorned with a rich history and a promising future, this place is the prime target of many first time real estate investors who are buying the Sacramento new homes for sale. As you have just made your purchase, you will know that the median home in Sac Town costs only $360,000.
Folsom, the suburb that was established during the gold rush days is now a major middle class settlement. This suburb is a priority among middle class families as it offers excellent schooling. It also homes many antique shops, museums, and cafes that relate to the historic days. The Folsom new homes for sale range from $300,000 to $800,000. This area is a perfect mix of the modern suburb and the old Wild West.
The real estate at Sac Town includes single homes, apartments, mansions and townhomes. The town is also home to many Victorian mansions and bungalows. The community amenities include specialty shops, cafes, bookstores, medical facilities, etc. The downtown is always bustling with hassle free activity. The cost of living in Sacramento is much lower when compared to other cities of California.
This city is a perfect place of residence for all age groups. The number of homes sold here in 2009, is a proof of this statement. With excellent education at all levels and job opportunities in various sectors like services, finance, construction, retail and wholesale trade, you are sure to find a very peaceful life in your new home at Sacramento.
For additional resources and information please visit the following sites. Resource Links:
http://www.gmacrealestate.com
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com
ActiveRain Blog Brodie http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens
ActiveRain Blog Company http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac
Sacbee http://www.sacbee.com
Company WordPress Site http://www.thehomeholders.com
Real Living http://www.realliving.com
Monday, January 4, 2010
Basics on Real Estate Photography to Market the Local Homes for Sale
Basics on Real Estate Photography to Market the Local Homes for Sale
As a realtor you will want to include photos of the property you market on your real estate websites. This is indeed a very good thought as community pictures play a very important role in marketing the local homes for sale. While capturing the photos for your website, you must take care to get all the basics of photography right. These basic aspects of real estate photography include queries on whether to use autofocus, reflection from flash, use of different digital camera features and the format of photo that will be uploaded. Here is a quick brush up on the important basics of photography…
In most cases, the flash plays culprit in photography. If you are using flash either on or off the camera you need not use the tripod. But make sure to get a good focus of the long distance objects by using a tripod when you do not use a flash. When you use flash, reflections and hot spots are unavoidable and can be taken care of with cloning during the post processing. To get a sharp view of the distant images, you can make use of the hyper focal focusing. If you are capturing images in low light areas, it is essential that you turn off the auto focus and switch to manual focusing as controlling auto focus is very difficult in dimly lit areas.
Once you have the photo ready, you can make it look more attractive by post processing of the photo using photo editing software like Photoshop or Lightroom. It is important that you concentrate on the white balance while post processing of the photo. There is no pre-defined right position for the white balance. It is only your discretion that decides what level of balance is right for the audience you are targeting. You can also make use of the CCD and CMOS in the photo editing software to set the histogram and exposure.
You can get the best results out of post processing by shooting in the RAW mode. You can make changes on the white balance, exposure, histogram, etc on a RAW file without damaging the image. Shooting in RAW will prove to be a better deal when compared to the JPG photo formats. It is also advisable that you keep the ISO on the camera as low as possible. This will give more power to your flash and thus removes all possible disturbances in photography.
For additional resources and information please visit the following sites. Resource Links:
http://www.gmacrealestate.com
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com
T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens
GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com
ActiveRain Blog Brodie: http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens
ActiveRain Blog Company:http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac
Sacbee:http://www.sacbee.com
Company WordPress Site:http://www.thehomeholders.com
Real Living:http://www.realliving.com
As a realtor you will want to include photos of the property you market on your real estate websites. This is indeed a very good thought as community pictures play a very important role in marketing the local homes for sale. While capturing the photos for your website, you must take care to get all the basics of photography right. These basic aspects of real estate photography include queries on whether to use autofocus, reflection from flash, use of different digital camera features and the format of photo that will be uploaded. Here is a quick brush up on the important basics of photography…
In most cases, the flash plays culprit in photography. If you are using flash either on or off the camera you need not use the tripod. But make sure to get a good focus of the long distance objects by using a tripod when you do not use a flash. When you use flash, reflections and hot spots are unavoidable and can be taken care of with cloning during the post processing. To get a sharp view of the distant images, you can make use of the hyper focal focusing. If you are capturing images in low light areas, it is essential that you turn off the auto focus and switch to manual focusing as controlling auto focus is very difficult in dimly lit areas.
Once you have the photo ready, you can make it look more attractive by post processing of the photo using photo editing software like Photoshop or Lightroom. It is important that you concentrate on the white balance while post processing of the photo. There is no pre-defined right position for the white balance. It is only your discretion that decides what level of balance is right for the audience you are targeting. You can also make use of the CCD and CMOS in the photo editing software to set the histogram and exposure.
You can get the best results out of post processing by shooting in the RAW mode. You can make changes on the white balance, exposure, histogram, etc on a RAW file without damaging the image. Shooting in RAW will prove to be a better deal when compared to the JPG photo formats. It is also advisable that you keep the ISO on the camera as low as possible. This will give more power to your flash and thus removes all possible disturbances in photography.
For additional resources and information please visit the following sites. Resource Links:
http://www.gmacrealestate.com
Bill Fields All Star Coaching Program: http://www.AllStarCoaching.net GreatWest GMAC Search all MLS Listings: http://www.LocalHomeLink.com GreatWest GMAC Consumer Buyer/Seller Blog: http://www.GreatWestBlog.com
T. Sami Siddiqui (Broker/ Owner) Buzz About Sacramento Blog: http://www.samisiddiquiblog.com Brodie Stephens (Executive Vice President) One Stop Blog: http://www.brodiestephensblog.com GreatWest Podcasts- Weekly Updates on new REO, Short Sale, Bank Owned Foreclosure Listings: http://www.HouseTalkOnline.com GreatWest Videos: http://www.youtube.com/brodiestephens Facebook Brodie Stephens Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/brodiestephens Facebook GreatWest Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/searchmlshomesforsale MySpace Brodie Stephens Blog: http://www.myspace.com/brodiestephens MySpace GreatWest Blog: http://www.myspace.com/greatwest Picasa Web Album: http://picasaweb.google.com/brodiestephens
GreatWest Real Estate Careers- GMAC is looking for Professional Realtors to Join Us: http://www.CareersWithUs.com Global Employee Relocation: http://www.employeerelocation.blogspot.com Apply for a Loan: http://www.choice1funding.com
ActiveRain Blog Brodie: http://activerain.com/blogs/brodiestephens
ActiveRain Blog Company:http://activerain.com/blogs/greatwestgmac
Sacbee:http://www.sacbee.com
Company WordPress Site:http://www.thehomeholders.com
Real Living:http://www.realliving.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)