Category Archives: Home Buyers

Home Buyers, Homeowners, Homeownership

What Do You Want in a Neighborhood?

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When looking at this recent survey of what people want in a neighborhood, I thought it was interesting how important walkability and public transportation are to people buying a home. Since Southern California is so car dependent, these are issues for many of our communities.

Even with our excellent weather and wonderful communities, Walk Score does not rank San Diego County highly on their walkability scale. We have no cities scoring 50 or above on their scale of 0 to 100. The city of San Diego scores the highest in the county at a still car-dependent score of 49.

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Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Homeowners, Homeownership, Housing Appreciation, Housing Market, Market Statistics, News

Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County February 2014

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homedex logo housing statistics

The January numbers from the housing statistics report for San Diego County and North San Diego County show continued year-over rising prices along with possible easing and seasonal slowing. This is not surprising since January closings usually represent homes that went under contract in November and December and the market is typically less active during these months due to the holidays. Most real estate analysts also predict a slowing down of the rapid price increases we have experienced in San Diego County over the past 18 months.

While the median price for all North County home sales decreased slightly, the median price for North County single-family detached homes increased by 5.46 percent compared to December 2013 and 22.47 percent over the last 12 months. Median prices for detached homes in all of San Diego County dropped by 1.45 percent from December to January, but were still up by 21.48 percent compared to January 2013.

The median price on single-family attached homes in North County dropped by 0.59 percent in January 2014 compared to December 2013, but were still up by 18.25 percent compared to the previous year. Attached homes in all of San Diego County saw an increase of 1.67 in their median price compared to December 2013 and an increase of 24.49 percent over January 2013.

To read the full housing statistics reports, please click on the links below.

FULL COUNTY REPORT    NORTH COUNTY REPORT

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Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Homeowners, Homeownership, Housing Appreciation, Housing Market, Market Statistics, News

Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County January 2014

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The December 2013 housing statistics show prices continuing to increase with a 17 month trend of year-over price gains for North County detached homes and a 21 month trend for non-North County homes.

As is typical around the holidays, activity slowed down with listings of North County detached homes decreasing by 13 percent and sales dropping by 3 percent compared to November. Hopefully the new year will bring enough of an increase in inventory to maintain a healthy market. To read the full housing statistics reports, please click on the links below the snapshot.
Continue reading Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County January 2014 →

Home Buyers, Home Loans, Homeownership, Housing Appreciation, Housing Market, Interest Rates, Mortgage

Expect Increases in Mortgage Rates and Housing Prices

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crystal ballThe two most frequently quoted constants in life are death and taxes.  Two more things would-be homeowners can expect in the near future are increases in mortgage rates and housing prices.

Interest rates have been kept artificially low for several years by the Federal Reserve in an effort to strengthen the economy. Policy is shifting to allow them to seek their own natural level and that will surely result in higher mortgage rates.  Rates on 30 year fixed mortgages are up over 1% from January, 2013.

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Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Homeowners, Homeownership, Housing Appreciation, Housing Market, Market Statistics, News

Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County December 2013

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In November we continued to see a slow down in appreciation coupled with a tightening of inventory. This resulted in a decrease in prices compared to October, but still gave us increases in year-over pricing for single family detached homes in the North County area at 11 percent and outside of North County at almost 15 percent.

Prices of attached homes fared even better in North County with a 10 percent increase over the previous month and 30 percent compared to November 2012.

Continue reading Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County December 2013 →

Home Buyers, Home Improvement, Home Sellers, Homeowners, Homeownership, Housing Market, News, Remodeling

The Most Wanted List

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According to a recent survey, these are the features buyers most want in a new home.

According to a recent survey, these are the features buyers most want in a new home.

Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Homeowners, Homeownership, Housing Appreciation, Housing Market, Market Statistics, News

Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County November 2013

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As often happens at this time of year, we’re seeing a tightening of inventory but also a slowing down in appreciation. If you are looking to buy a home right now, you won’t have as many choices, but there isn’t quite as much pressure on home prices. In spite of this, we are still seeing year-over median price increases for single family detached homes at 19 percent in San Diego County. Click on the links below the snapshot to read the full housing statistics reports.

Continue reading Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County November 2013 →

Home Buyers, Home Sellers, Homeowners, Homeownership, Housing Appreciation, Housing Market, Market Statistics, News

Housing Statistics Report for San Diego County and North San Diego County October 2013

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While the market is not as frenzied as it was earlier this year, the housing statistics report is still showing significant year-over price increases in both San Diego County as a whole and North County communities. Prices of single-family detached homes increased 18.75 percent in North County and 21 percent in the county as a whole from September 2012 to September 2013. In the same period, single-family attached home prices increased 30 percent in North County and 29 percent in all of San Diego County. Click on the links below the snapshot to read the full reports.

• The median price for all North County home sales – attached and detached – increased to $499,950 in September 2013 compared to $495,000 in August 2013.

• Detached homes in North County declined 0.87 percent in September 2013 to $570,000 compared to $575,000 in August 2013.

• Year-over median SFD price in North San Diego County jumped 18.75 percent, compared to $480,000 in September 2012 – making 14 months of year-over median price increases.

• The countywide median SFD price increased 3.32 percent in September 2013 to $449,450 compared to $435,000 reported in August 2013.

• Year-over non-North County median price jumped 23.14 percent compared to $365,000 in September 2012, the 18th straight month of year-over median price increases.

• The number of North San Diego SFD listings (active and contingent) increased just 0.18 percent in September 2013 compared to August 2013.

• The number of sold North San Diego County SFD units fell 21.25 percent in September 2013 compared to August 2013. Year-over sold SFD units decreased 5.9 percent compared to September 2012.

• Median days-on-market for single-family detached homes sold in North County increased to 25 days in September 2013 compared to 21 days in August 2013.

• The HomeDex affordability percentage for all homes in North San Diego County was 30 percent in September 2013.

SEPTEMBER 2013 FULL COUNTY HomeDex Report

SEPTEMBER 2013 NORTH COUNTY HomeDex Report

Information taken from HomeDex™ Copyright © 2012 by the North San Diego County Association of Realtors (NSDCAR). Used by permission.

Home Buyers, Home Improvement, Home Sellers, Homeowners, Homeownership, Housing Appreciation

What Features Do Buyers Value in a Home?

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What features do buyers value in a home?

Home Buyers, Home Loans, Homeowners, Homeownership, Rental Properties, Retirement

Retirement Without a Mortgage

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iStock_000014489150XSmall.jpgPlanning for retirement is obviously important and many times, an activity plagued by procrastination. Some people plan to have their home paid for by that magical date so they won’t have payments after they retire. It makes sense to eliminate a large recurring expense before they quit working.

One strategy would be to be make regular principal contributions in addition to the payments so that it will eliminate the debt by the target retirement date.

Let’s say that a homeowner refinanced their $200,000 mortgage at 4% last year with the first payment due on May 1, 2012. Under normal amortization, the home would be paid for at the end of the term; 30 years in this example.

By making additional principal contributions with each payment, it would accelerate the payoff on the home. An extra $257.13 a month would pay off the mortgage in 20 years. $524.55 extra with each payment would pay off the loan in 15 years; and $796.23 would pay off the loan in 12 years.

Having a home paid for at retirement has the obvious benefit of no house payment. It is also a substantial asset that could be borrowed against or sold if unanticipated events should occur.

Another strategy might involve purchasing a smaller home now to use as a rental that you intend to live when you retire; see Retirement Home Now.

To make some projections to pay off your own mortgage, use this Equity Accelerator.

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