Homeownership – The Real Estate Beat

Kidde Recall – Check Your Smoke Detectors

Hello Caton Team Friends

I wanted to alert everyone to double-check your smoke detector – a Kidde Recall was just issued – read more HERE.

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

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The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

Your Property Tax Bill is due November, 1, 2018

Property Tax Due

Just a friendly reminder that the 1st Installment of your Property Tax Bill is Due on November 1 – delinquent December 10.

For more information visit:

San Mateo County

http://www.smcare.org/default.asp

Santa Clara County

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/dtac/Pages/default.aspx

San Francisco County

http://sftreasurer.org

The Caton Team strives to be more than just Realtors – we are also your resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral or some guidance – we are here. Contact us at your convenience. Info@TheCatonTeam.com

The Caton Team

A Family of Realtors

With over 35 years of combined, local, Silicon Valley Real Estate experience – What can The Caton Team do for YOU?

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

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How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

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Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook *Yelp Us * My Yelp * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Should Buyers Crowdfund Their Way Into Homeownership?

In recent years, crowdfunding has become a popular way to pay for a remarkably wide range of ventures. Want to back a sliced-ketchup product, a self-serve cocktail machine, or maybe a charity race? Just pull out your smartphone. But more recently the technology has been moving a bit closer to home—right up, in fact, to your doorstep. Crowdfunding is becoming an increasingly popular way for aspiring home buyers to tap into their networks to come up with down payments.

A new wave of crowdfunding platforms, like Kickstarter for real estate, could be a game changer for younger, tech-savvy generations of home buyers saddled with student loan debt. It’s an idea that is gaining traction, with sites such as HomeFundMe and Feather the Nest, which helps folks raise money for down payments and repairs, and online registries such as HoneyFund, which includes the option of gifting a down payment contribution.

“The No. 1 challenge that we hear from millennials in terms of their ability to buy a home is the down payment,” says Jonathan Lawless, vice president of customer solutions for Fannie Mae. “Crowdsourcing is an interesting new way that a person can generate a down payment, one made possible by technology. … We think there is a great future for it.”

Users who are typically pre-qualified for a mortgage can create personal pages on these platforms, on which they can talk about their journey toward homeownership, illustrated with photos and maybe video. These pages can be shared with family and friends.

“[Many] people find they can afford [mortgage] payments, but not the down payment to own a home,” says Christopher George, CEO of CMG Financial, a San Ramon, CA–based mortgage banking firm that launched HomeFundMe late last year.

George, a father of four millennial sons, came up with the idea for HomeFundMe in 2016 after seeing the financial struggles of his kids’ generation. The crowdfunding platform is the only one of the bunch designed solely for down payments and is the first to be backed by mortgage industry giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“We’re talking to millennials saying their social network is their net worth,” George says. “Why not allow your sphere of influence [to] help as well?”

What you need to know about a crowdfunded down payment

Using gifted funds for a down payment can be tricky—mortgage lenders typically require a letter from the giver, specifying that the money is a gift, not a loan, and there are no strings attached. But using an online fundraising platform can allow buyers to bypass some of that red tape.

Using HomeFundMe, anyone can give up to $7,500 to a campaign without documentation. HomeFundMe also doesn’t charge fees to use the platform, or take a cut of what’s raised. The company will even give buyers $2 for every $1 they raise, up to $1,000, or up to 1% of the purchase price if they undergo home buyer counseling beforehand. Buyers who earn less than their area’s median income can earn up to $2,500, or 1% of the home price.

So what’s the catch? Crowdfunders must get their mortgage through HomeFundMe’s parent company, CMG Financial. They have to close on a home within a year of accepting their first gift. And if they don’t use the money to buy a home, funds marked “conditional on the recipient purchasing a home” are returned to the donor. The crowdfunder can keep the rest.

Other crowdfunding platforms have slightly different business models.

The online gift registry Feather the Nest has helped about half of its 3,000 “nesters” raise down payments since it launched in 2014, according to company officials.

Fees include a 5% transaction fee that goes to Feather the Nest, and a fee of 2.9% plus 30 cents that goes to its payment processing system, Stripe.

At HoneyFund, another online registry, about 6% of the 100,000 mostly millennial couples who use the site each year ask for down payments, according to company officials. There are no fees to use the platform, but users are charged 2.8% processing fees plus 30 cents per gift when the money is moved into their PayPal or WePay accounts.

“A lot of couples are not only saving for their home down payments but also home improvements,” HoneyFund CEO Sara Margulis says.

The dangers of crowdfunding your down payment

However, there are risks to buyers relying on crowdfunding to come up with money for a home.

“If somebody is not able to save for their own down payment, it might be because they are stretched financially. But it [also] might be that they are bad at saving,” says Fannie Mae’s Lawless. “The ability to generate savings is a critical aspect of being a responsible homeowner.”

Remember, it was homeowners who couldn’t really afford their homes that led to the financial crisis just over a decade ago. So helping more people who haven’t mastered the art of saving, or who may be so financially stretched that they can’t afford to save, is worrisome.

It’s “a very risky proposition,” says Rick Sharga, executive vice president at Carrington Mortgage Holdings, a real estate company in Aliso Viejo, CA. These kinds of buyers may be “one unexpected car payment, one roof repair, one water heater replacement away from missing a mortgage payment and possibly going into a downward cycle they can’t recover from.”

By Young Ha

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help. We are but a call or click away!

The Caton Team is comprised of Susan and Sabrina Caton – a mother/daughter in law team. We are full time, local Realtors with over 35 years of combined Real Estate experience. How can The Caton Team help you?

I read this article at: https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/online-platforms-to-help-millennials-crowdfund-payments/

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

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Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts and the information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

How to Lower Utility Costs for Any Home

You may be able to decrease utility costs with just a few energy upgrades and tweaks. “There are so many small changes people can make to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, and it all adds up to significantly lower energy bills and a smaller environmental footprint,” says Christina Kielich of the U.S. Department of Energy. Kielich and home energy auditor Erlend Kimmich offered the following tips on Curbed.com about how to cut energy costs in a home, including:

Replace lightbulbs. The typical American household spends 5 to 10 percent of its energy budget on lighting alone, according to the DOE. Replace incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs, which on average are 85 percent more energy-efficient. You can shave $100 a year on your energy costs by making the switch.

Unplug. Leaving cellphones, TVs, computers, and other electronic devices plugged in can continue to pull power from the grid. That can add up over time. Unplug devices or plug your electronics into power strips that you can easily turn off whenever they’re not being used.

Use an automatic thermostat. Save up to 10 percent on your annual heating and cooling costs by just dropping the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal setting for eight hours a day. An automatic thermostat, which can be purchased for just $18, can help to more easily adjust the thermostat during the day and cut energy use, too.

Seal your attic and basement. For a more substantial investment, seal and insulate the attic and basement—basically the top and bottom of your home, says Kimmich. “Especially if the house was built before World War II, that’s where you tend to find the most leakage,” Kimmich adds. “Think of your home’s air sealing and insulation like a windbreaker worn over a sweater. If there’s a rip or you leave the windbreaker unbuttoned, it can’t really help. So we fix the sweater by making the insulation more substantial and we improve that air seal anywhere the indoor space is connected to the outdoor space.”

Get more tips from Curbed.com and view the DOE’s instructions for DIY jobs like sealing air leaks with caulk, which could potentially offer energy savings of 10 percent to 20 percent.

Source: “How to Make Your Home Energy Efficient,” Curbed.com (Feb. 23, 2018)

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help. We are but a call or click away!

The Caton Team is comprised of Susan and Sabrina Caton – a mother/daughter in law team. We are full time, local Realtors with over 25 years of combined Real Estate experience. How can The Caton Team help you?

I read this article at: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2018/03/16/how-make-any-home-more-energy-savvy?tp=i-H43-Bb-1ma-2WEoU-1p-EHi7-1c-2WFwg-15LVaY&om_rid=37236114&Om_ntype=RMOdaily&om_mid=6856

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts and the information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Could the Inventory Crunch Worsen?

I share this article as I look forward to hearing the Chief Economist for the California Association of Realtors speak next week – I’ll keep you posted.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? The Caton Team would LOVE to hear your thoughts on our local real estate market! COMMENT PLEASE!

Could the Inventory Crunch Worsen?

Housing permits, a gauge of new-home activity, slipped in the final quarter of 2017, which could worsen a housing shortage already shaking many markets across the country.

Single-family permits are running at only 56 percent of normal activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index.

“We are concerned with the sluggish permit activity,” says Robert Dietz, chief economist at the National Association of Home Builders. “The weak permit numbers indicate that builders may be hesitant to start projects as they contend with supply-side hurdles, such as rising material prices and labor shortages.”

Permit levels are at or above normal in only 62 of the 337 metro areas tracked in the NAHB/First American Index, which is a drop of 7.5 percent compared to the third quarter of 2017.

Despite sluggish permits, the index showed that many markets are showing a stronger recovery in their economy and home prices. Housing markets in 195 of the 337 metro areas tracked nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity in the fourth quarter of 2017. The LMI measures three components: housing permits, employment, and home prices.

Employment is at 98 percent of normal activity, while home price levels are well above normal at 158 percent. Single-family permits were the only of the three components to see a decline in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Overall, the index shows the fastest-growing new-home metro areas are in the South and West, says NAHB Chairman Randy Noel.

The major metros scoring the highest on the LMI—meaning they are performing at the highest levels compared to their historic normal market level—are Baton Rouge, La.; Austin, Texas; Honolulu; Oxnard, Calif.; and Provo, Utah. Among smaller metro areas, the metros scoring the highest in besting their own previously normal market levels are: Odessa, Texas; Midland, Texas; Walla Walla, Wash.; Florence, Ala.; and Gadsden, Ala.

Source: National Association of Home Builders

WHAT DO YOU THINK? The Caton Team would LOVE to hear your thoughts on our local real estate market! COMMENT PLEASE!

I read this article at: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2018/02/07/could-inventory-crunch-worsen?tp=i-H43-Bb-1Yi-27VfQ-1p-EHi7-1c-27WWy-1svHsi&om_rid=31342700&Om_ntype=RMOdaily&om_mid=5996

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCatonTeam

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed

Pssst… Did you remember? Property Taxes are due….

Property Tax Due

Just a friendly reminder that the 2nd Installment of your Property Tax Bill was Due on February 1 – delinquent April 10. You still have time to pay – so get to it!

For more information visit:

San Mateo County

http://www.smcare.org/default.asp

Santa Clara County

https://www.sccgov.org/sites/dtac/Pages/default.aspx

San Francisco County

http://sftreasurer.org

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCatonTeam

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

Information Deemed Reliable But Not Guaranteed

8 Home Projects with a High ROI

8 Home Projects with a High ROI

Article Submitted by Fixr.com

With warmer weather and longer days, summer is the ideal time of year to take on a project in or around your home. Many contractors and other pros often find this time of year a little slower, as many homeowners are waiting until fall to tackle big interior projects, which means that you’ll have an easier time finding the right person for the job.

These eight projects are designed to add value to your home, without breaking the bank at the same time. Tackling them now will make your home more comfortable for the coming months, while ensuring that you can get maximum ROI when the time comes to sell.

1. Fix Window Leaks

Air gap around your windows could be driving your air conditioning bill up higher than it needs to be this summer. Old or leaking windows can cause you to lose as much as 20% of the energy you use to heat and cool your home, which can also make it less comfortable as well.

There are two ways to fix window leaks: installing new replacement windows, or installing weatherstripping around your existing windows. While both will help you save money on your energy bills, replacement windows will also help you recoup about 73.9% ROI at time of resale.

Cost: Weatherstripping your windows costs around $168 on average, while replacement windows cost between $650 and $1,500.

Money Saving Tips: Get an energy audit done on your home before you start replacing windows. You may find that only a few need to be replaced, while the rest can be caulked or weatherstripped to save.

2. Basement Remodel

Remodeling your basement is a great way to increase your existing living space, without the hassle or expense of a major addition. Basements are often cooler in the hot summer months than the rest of the home, so remodeling can help you gain more usable living areas during this time of year. A basement remodel featuring things like waterproofing or french drain installations can also recoup you about 70% at time of resale.

Cost: A full basement remodel including a new bathroom can cost around $50,000. However, waterproofing costs around $5,000, while installing a new set of stairs costs around $1,000 to $2,000.

Money Saving Tips: Simply waterproofing your basement will help make the area livable, allowing you to simply paint the concrete walls and floors, and begin furnishing the room for less.

3. Bathroom Remodel

Bathrooms are among the most frequently used rooms in the home. During the humid summer months, older bathrooms can often become home to things like mold and mildew, which makes now the best time to start remodeling. A bathroom remodel, including all new fixtures, shower, and ceramic tile can recoup you around 64.8% at time of resale, while making your home healthier and more functional at the same time.

Cost: A full scale bathroom remodel costs around $18,000. However, there are many components that can be done for less, such as installing a new bathroom fan to help dry out the room for $350 – $400 or putting in a new mirror for $120 – $150.

Money Saving Tips: Cosmetic updates to an otherwise functional bathroom can save you a lot of money. Simply painting the walls or replacing the sink and faucet can give your bathroom a facelift for less.

4. Add Attic Insulation

Another way to help lower energy costs this summer is to add some insulation to your attic. Most homes are underinsulated, particularly in this area, which can contribute to higher energy costs. Insulating your attic will make your home more comfortable, while saving you money on your AC bill this summer. Best of all, attic insulation recoups a whopping 107% at time of resale.

Cost: The cost to insulate an attic is around $400 for fiberglass insulation.

Money Saving Tips: Purchase the highest R-value you can find for your climate, and you’ll save even more on your energy bills year round.

5. Build a New Deck

Enjoy more time spent outdoors this summer on a new wood deck. Decks increase your usable outdoor space, make entertaining easier, and have a rate of return at around 71.5%. Start this project early in the summer to make the most of your new space before fall.

Cost: The average cost to build a new deck is around $10,630.

Money Saving Tips: If you have an existing deck, consider having it repaired, rather than replacing it. Often pressure washing and staining a deck, while replacing some of the boards can help extend its life.

6. Replace Your Roof

After a long winter filled with ice dams, your roof may be in poor condition and in need of replacement. Don’t wait until summer storms send water pouring in through your ceiling; have your roof taken care of at the start of the season to ensure that it’s in good condition for the rain to come. A new roof will help you recoup about 68.8% at time of resale as well.

Cost: The average cost of a roof replacement is around $6,000.

Money Saving Tips: If the majority of your roof is in good condition, you may want to opt for a partial replacement or roof repair to save money.

7. Replace Your Siding

Siding is just as important as your roof when it comes to both protecting your home from the elements, and to giving it its curb appeal. The nicer weather of the summer makes this the ideal time of year to take care of this important project. Replacing your siding can recoup you as much as 76.4% at time of resale. Replacing your siding can also help you take care of other issues such as rotting fascia, and can improve the appearance of your home at the same time.

Cost: The average cost of replacing your siding is around $7,510 for vinyl siding.

Money Saving Tips: If your siding is in decent condition, consider making repairs to those areas that require it, and painting the entire exterior to give it a fresh look for less.

8. Universal Bathroom Design

Universal design is one of the newest trends that’s recouping costs in a big way. In many cases, universal design costs less than a complete bathroom remodel, but can make your home easier to sell because it appeals to a wider group of people. Take on the project this summer when plumbers aren’t as busy to get the job done faster. This type of project also recoups about 68.4% at time of resale.

Cost: The average cost of universal bathroom design is around $9,000.

Money Saving Tips: Many things in a universal bathroom can be installed DIY for less, including lever handles on faucets and a universal height toilet.

To find out more about projects you can tackle around your home, be sure to visit the Cost Guides.

I read this article at: http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2017/08/07/8-home-projects-with-high-roi/?tp=i-H43-Bb-cg-bixC-1p-EHi7-1c-biVU-1ODR8u&om_rid=8990942%20&Om_ntype=RMOdaily&om_mid=2398

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCatonTeam

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

Co-borrowing on the rise: What makes for a smooth deal?

With so much talk about “Equity Share” and helping buyer get into homes – it’s time to talk about how it works. Thought I would share this article BY LEW SICHELMAN

Co-borrowing on the rise: What makes for a smooth deal?

The most important consideration isn’t getting into a co-borrowing deal, but how all parties plan to get out of it.

Ever since Ugh married Meg and they could barely afford their first cave, there have been co-signers named Mom and Pop making mortgages possible.

But co-signers can come in many forms. Another relative, friend, employer, roommate, significant other or even an investor can agree to be on a mortgage that someone can’t qualify for on his or her own.

Nowadays, slightly more than one in every five houses purchased with financing in the first quarter — 22 percent — involved co-borrowers, according to Attom Data Solutions. That’s up from 20 percent for the same period last year and in 2015, when the real estate information company first began tracking the phenomenon.

The incidence of co-borrowers is even higher in 11 of the country’s largest cities. In Miami, a whopping four out of every 10 single-family dwellings purchased in January, February and March were bought with an unmarried co-borrower. In Seattle, the share of co-borrower purchases was 37 percent; in San Diego and Los Angeles, 28 percent.

The main reason homebuyers need co-borrowers is because they can’t qualify to purchase the house they want, says Attom Chief Economist Daren Bloomquist, who co-signed for his wife’s sister and her husband so they could afford to buy in pricey Southern California.

Housing prices are so expensive in some locations that without help, many buyers might be relegated to the rental market forever.

And some buyers don’t have the credit scores, credit histories or the debt-to-income ratios to buy, even at a reasonable price. On top of that, many buyers are looking at houses beyond their means.

Blomquist is seeing a rise in companies offering to help young buyers in exchange for a piece of the action in the form of shared appreciation. Outfits such as unison.com “are institutionalizing the idea of co-borrowing and shared equity,” he explained.

All of this begs the question: How should you approach a co-borrowing situation, both as a buyer and as a co-signer?

When co-borrowing gets complicated

The most important consideration isn’t getting into a co-borrowing deal, but how all parties plan to get out of it.

While clear heads prevail — when both sides are excited about the deal and there have been no disagreements yet — you should sit down together and decide how and when it will end.

It might make sense for the agreement to last long enough for the buyer to build up credit, income and cash reserves to eventually buy out the co-signer. But what if interest rates rise, and it’s unwise for the buyer to seek a new loan? In that scenario, the deal might include some kind of buffer, either a period of time or a certain mortgage rate.

The main point to parse is what share of the profits the co-borrower will be entitled to, if there are, indeed, any profits to split. A relative may not want anything in return — thanks, Mom and Dad! — but a less partial signer might want a healthy chunk.

It’s easy to identify profit if a buyer agrees to sell and move on. But if there is no sale, the parties will need to know the home’s value at the time the deal is to be dissolved.

An appraisal, the cost of which should be borne equally, is in order in this case. But if one side or the other disagrees with the valuation, it might be a good idea for each party to pay for their own appraisal. If there is any difference between the two, one option could be to split the difference down the middle.

The parties should also have a plan for if the value of the property goes down: Will the co-signer share in the loss, and to what extent?

Another aspect of the deal that people tend to forget is improvements made to the property during the co-owner period. Usually, the buyer foots the bill for things such as landscaping and an addition. But will he or she have to share in the value these and other features that add to the home’s worth?

Co-signers on the mortgage are not on the title and have no ownership interest in the place. Yet their own debt-to-income ratio could take a hit because they have incurred debt by co-signing. Consequently, their ability to obtain their own mortgage, home equity loan or even a credit card could be limited.

Remember, too, that if a buyer doesn’t make the house payments as promised, the lender will come to the co-signer, who will be responsible not just for the payments but also late fees and, if it comes to that, collection fees and lawyer’s fees. Late payments are likely to take a heavy toll, as is a co-signer’s personal relationship with the buyer.

To protect themselves and keep tabs on “tardy alerts,” co-borrowers should insist that both they and the buyer be billed separately by the mortgage company.

Lew Sichelman’s weekly column, “The Housing Scene,” is syndicated to newspapers throughout the country.

I read this article at: https://www.inman.com/2017/08/30/co-borrowing-on-the-rise-what-makes-for-a-smooth-deal/

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCatonTeam

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

What is Shaping the Housing Market of the Future?

I had to share this articled after watching The Orville last night and thinking about the future!

3 Trends Shaping The Housing Market of Today and Tomorrow

Inventory needs a miracle, buyer interest may be dwindling and real estate is thinking seriously about driverless cars

BY LEW SICHELMAN

It’s time to clear a few things that have been lingering around my desk, bits and pieces of market news that together explain some of what’s happening with today’s housing market and how it may change in the near and distant future.

More would-be buyers opting out of homeownership

The most popular theory about why more houses aren’t being sold: There simply aren’t enough properties on the market to go around. But according to a new study from Experian, one of the big three credit repositories, a big chunk of what would ordinarily be potential buyers have opted out of homeownership.

More than a quarter of the 1,000 people queried in a telephone survey in late June — 27 percent — told Experian that they have no interest in owning, not now and not five or 10 years from now. That’s up from 19 percent when pollsters asked the same question a year ago.

Another big reason: Folks want to remain mobile. Nearly two in five — 37 percent — want more flexibility to relocate than owning a house allows.

And then there are the two issues of cost and maintenance. One in four — 26 percent — have little desire to carry as much debt as is required to purchase a house, and the same percentage are happy that their landlords pay for upkeep.

Surprisingly, perhaps, 11 percent don’t think owning real estate is as valuable as it used to be, and 22 percent want to invest in something other than a home of their own.

Credit also is a concern. Some 43 percent told pollsters that they have applied for a mortgage in the past but were rejected. More than half cited their poor or limited credit histories, insufficient incomes and outstanding debt as the main reasons why they were turned down.

A small number also said their spouse’s poor credit histories and the lender’s inability to verify their incomes also played a part in their rejections.

Anticipating a future with driverless cars

The year 2037 is still far off. But looking out 20 years from now, researchers at the John Burns Real Estate Consulting Co. in California boldly predict that when fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) become commonplace, the housing sector will change significantly.

Eventually, AVs, aka driverless cars, will put more money in consumers’ pocketbooks as autos switch from a consumer good to an on-demand service, freeing up some extra dough that would have been spent on monthly car payments and maintenance, Director of Research Rick Palacios surmises.

This, in turn, will bring about major shifts in the housing sector. According to Palacios:

•Prime but outmoded real estate — parking lots, auto dealerships, gas stations — will be replaced by small new home projects, adding supply to historically supply constrained locations.

•That will put a damper on drive-until-you-qualify markets beyond suburbia, but only for awhile. Once the majority of infill sites are repurposed, these locations will re-emerge. A long commute, yes, but by then AVs will allow people to sleep or work while the vehicle drives itself.

•Urban employment will be back in vogue as repurposed real estate will allow folks to live closer to city centers.

•Density will rise because streets won’t need to be as wide. There won’t be a need for massive driveways or two, three or four-car garages, either. As a result, people will be buying homes in which 100 percent of the space is truly livable.

•Construction costs will decline as transportation expenses for moving building products from plants and warehouses to construction sites dwindle. Also, construction time should fall as moving products becomes a 24/7 operation.

•The elderly will remain in their homes longer while aging in place because they will remain independent even after they lose their right to drive. And as a result, the remodeling market should flourish as seniors and retirees upgrade to make their places more livable in old age.

•How this all shakes out “is based on what we know today,” says the Burns chief researcher. Everything is subject to change, he adds, depending on government policies, which are difficult to predict.

But “all in all,” Palacios says, “we expect the advent of AVs to benefit the overall housing market and greater economy.”

The ominous inventory problem

The latest report on pending home sales from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) contained this ominous quote from NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun:

“Buyer traffic continues to be higher than a year ago, the typical listing has gone under contract within a month since April, and inventory at the end of July was 9.0 percent lower than last July. The reality, therefore, is that sales in coming months will not break out unless supply miraculously improves. This seems unlikely given the inadequate pace of housing starts in recent months and the lack of interest from real estate investors looking to sell.”

Toward that end, it is somewhat heartening to know that homebuilders around the country report that acquisition, development and construction financing continues to loosen.

“Though some concerns lurk, lending standards remain broadly supportive of continued loan growth,” said Michael Neal, an economist at the National Association of Home Builders.

Lew Sichelman’s weekly column, “The Housing Scene,” is syndicated to newspapers throughout the country.

I read this article at: https://www.inman.com/2017/09/06/3-trends-shaping-the-housing-market-of-today-and-tomorrow/?utm_source=weeklyheadlines&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sundaysend&utm_content=20170908_hero

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCatonTeam

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

5 Little Tips That Will Save You So Much Money

Saving money for a downpayment on a house is a huge task. I know – I’m doing it. So when I saw this article – I had to share it!

5 Little Tips That Will Save You So Much Money

By Beth

Saving money is the key to a successful life. You need to have money stashed away for a rainy day, just in case you want to take a trip, plan the wedding of a lifetime, buy a car or something unexpected happens. When you’re looking for the best way to save money quickly, it’s easy to try too hard or put too much of your income away. Like all things in life, the best way to save money fast is to do it little by little. Don’t forget the 50/20/30 rule and do the rest as you go…

1. Have a no spend weekend

You’re less likely to spend money at work, besides lunch and travel expenses. It’s during the weekend when most of us go shopping crazy. From eating out to buying new shoes, it feels good, but it’s better to have a no spend weekend once in a while. Don’t order food, don’t eat out, and plan your meals beforehand. Go out and do something that doesn’t involve spending money, and put aside what you were planning to spend on new clothes once the weekend is over!

2. Automate it

If you’re truly terrible with money, set up a direct debit from one account to another. Start small and build it up. The less you feel it coming out of your account, the easier it will be to build-up large amounts in savings. If you add up the automated payments you make to subscription services you’ll probably be surprised how much you’re spending a year.

3. Waste less food

Plan your meals on a Sunday, eat your leftovers for lunch and keep track of your food waste bin. It might not feel like you’re saving money by eating yesterday’s dinner over your desk but it’s estimated that you’ll save around $500 a year. It doesn’t feel like much but it goes a long way.

4. Learn delayed gratification

It’s something that we forget as we get older, but when you see something you really want, part of the reward of adulthood (and working hard) is that you can actually get it. But if you delay that gratification, save the money for it first and buy it at the very end of the month (before your next paycheck), you get to feel like you’ve earned it, which makes the treat much sweeter.

5. Get a financial advisor on your phone

My must have when I’m keeping track of my incomings and outgoings is Daily Budget. Career Girl Daily’s co-founder Ellen introduced me to it a while ago and I haven’t looked back. It’s come in handy when buying my first ever house, paying bills, and saving money to buy expensive coffee tables. It tells you how much you should spend a day, and how much you should save in order to reach your savings goal. Genius.

I read this article at: http://frame.bloglovin.com/?post=5817666551&blog=13517561&frame_type=none

Remember to follow our Blog for the local real estate beat, a pulse on the San Francisco Peninsula at: https://therealestatebeat.wordpress.com

Got Questions? – The Caton Team is here to help.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: http://thecatonteam.com/mobileapp

HomeSnap: http://www.homesnap.com/Sabrina-Caton

Visit our Website at: http://thecatonteam.com/

Visit our INSTAGRAM page: http://instagram.com/thecatonteam

PINTREST: https://www.pinterest.com/thecatonteam/

Visit us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sabrina-Susan-The-Caton-Team-Realtors/294970377834

YELP us at: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-caton-team-realtors-sabrina-caton-and-susan-caton-redwood-city

Or YELP me: http://www.yelp.com/user_details_thanx?userid=gpbsls-_RLpPiE9bv3Zygw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCatonTeam

Connect with us professionally at LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinawendtcaton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancatonrealtor

Please enjoy my personal journey through homeownership at:

http://ajourneythroughhomeownership.wordpress.com

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina – A Family of Realtors

Effective. Efficient. Responsive. What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina BRE# 01413526 / Susan BRE #01238225 / Team BRE# 70000218/ Office BRE #01499008

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