Real Estate Information

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We, meaning the real estate industry, say, “It’s a buyer’s market!”  buyers think that means that deals are available out in the big wide world of Inland Empire Homes for sale.  Although that’s true, it’s not the whole truth. The whole truth is that money pits, bad deals and half-hearted sellers still exist.  Without careful consideration, you may not get the deal you expected. 

If you’re in the market for one of the Inland Empire homes for sale, follow these tips to help you get a great deal: 

1. Go back to school. In other words, do your homework. Yes, due to the buyer’s market, you have an advantage, but you still need to do your research.  Talk with a real estate agent who specializes in the area and look at the prices of homes sold within the past year.  The main point of the research is to find out how much homes are actually selling for in the area in which you want to live, and to determine if you can afford to buy there.
    
2. Line up the home team. Be prepared to jump on a deal as soon as you find it. Get pre-approved for a mortgage.  Gather your real estate agent, home inspector and insurance agent.  By having this team of real estate professionals on hand, the transaction will be smoother and faster.
    
3. Look for motivation. There are motivated sellers and not-so-motivated sellers who just “think” they “might” want to sell if “the right buyer” comes along (quotes are so handy, aren’t they?). You don’t have to guess which is which, however.  Has the price been reduced?  Is the home vacant? These clues lead to a motivated seller, willing to genuinely negotiate to get the home sold.
    
4. Don’t buy angry. One of the worst mistakes a buyer can do is to get into a war with the home seller.  Emotions grab hold and you find yourself in a fierce competition based on who’s going to WIN WIN WIN! If you find yourself in this situation, learn how to negotiate and listen to your real estate agent’s advice.  If you don’t, your great deal can turn into a big mess. 

There are plenty of Inland Empire homes for sale out there and great deals to be had, but being cautious is the best way to get the best deal. 

Are you a motivated seller or a buyer looking for a great deal?  I can help.  Call me now at (909) 938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com to get started!

 Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.

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Inland Empire condos or houses:  that is the question! 

You may be thinking of getting a home but wondering how much space you really need.  If you opt to look at houses, your choices are vast.  Houses, both large and small, are abundant in today’s real estate market. 

Even though Inland Empire condos are typically smaller than most houses, there are large condos available (even condos larger than houses).  And, just like traditional houses, there are a lot of condos available in this buyer’s market. 

So, how do you choose?  Your selection should be based on your current and near-future needs. 

Let’s demystify the differences and clarify your selection: 

• Space: Is your family large?  Are you planning to add many more?  Do you work from home?  Consider your plans for the next 5 to 7 years, and buy the size that fits those needs.
   
• Price: Condos can be more affordable, especially the smaller ones.  But, with condos you have to pay condo association fees.
   
• Location: If you want a condo with a great view, close to work, for example, prepare for a premium.  Conversely, many homes with great yards and neighborhoods are quite affordable.  Not choosy?  Competitive pricing awaits you with either choice!
   
• Luxury: Lavish Inland Empire condos, much like ideally-located ones, are often steeply-priced.  Luxury houses are expensive, too.  The good news is that whichever style of housing you choose, you’ll find luxurious versions.
   
• Availability: There are typically more houses on the market than condos, so, in general, your selection is greater with houses.
   
• Privacy: Houses typically offer more in the way of privacy.   But, the trade off is that you also have more responsibilities and maintenance when you own a house.  Want a care-free, low-maintenance lifestyle?  A condo may be your best bet.
   
• Acreage: If a smaller yard (or no yard) doesn’t bother you, a condo can offer excellent square footage and lower payments.  Looking for land?  A home is your best way to go.
   

Still Unsure? 

I’d love to assist in your juggling act.  Call me at (909) 938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton and together we’ll find the perfect home to fit your budget and lifestyle.

Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.

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Rejection is a hard thing to face in life, whether it’s from a potential client, a potential boss or a potential home seller.  As an Inland Empire home buyer, your stress level might be reduced if you’re aware of some of the reasons a seller may reject your offer.   

Before I give you the list of reasons, I’d like to mention that even if you and your buyer’s agent do everything right, the seller may still reject your offer.  It frequently has nothing to do with you.

With that said, here are 5 common reasons sellers reject offers on their homes:

1. The offer wasn’t enough for them to pay off their mortgage. For most sellers, the bottom line is paying off their mortgage. If your offer won’t cover the mortgage, they cannot accept it.
   
2. They may have just been testing the waters to see what they can get for their home.
   
3. Their plans may have changed.  People put their homes on the market because they need to move, they want to upgrade their home, or they can no longer afford their Inland Empire home.  If the circumstances change, they may not need to sell their home.
   
4. Their deal may have fallen through. Perhaps your seller was buying another house contingent on the sale of their property.  If something went wrong with that deal, they may not be able to sell their Inland Empire home to you.
   
5. You may be asking too much of them. The seller may not have the time or money to make any repairs they think are insignificant.  Perhaps you want to close too soon or would like to move in to the home before closing.

Don’t get depressed when a seller rejects your offer. There may be many reasons for their refusal.  Help your real estate agent develop a counter offer, or move on to a new opportunity.  There are a lot of homes on the market.  You may be pleasantly surprised when you start looking again and find a home that fits your lifestyle even better.

When you’re ready to buy a home, I can help you find a great home and negotiate to a successful “Yes, we’ll accept your offer.” Call me today at (909) 938-9568 or email me at Randy@Teamcharlton.com to get started.

Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.

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Have you ever seen a child right after a huge chewing gum bubble pops on his face?  A mess everywhere, eyes wide, mouth in an “O” – rather reminiscent of the real estate industry when its own bubble popped.  Homeowners panicked and began trying to sell their Inland Empire homes. 

As more pushed to unload the instantly unwanted “step child” of homeownership, the real estate market became glutted, resulting in lower sales prices.  Two years later, some owners are still trying to sell their Inland Empire homes, still panicking, and still worried about what the future will bring.  However, you might be like some homeowners, who are indecisive about selling their homes or who realize they don’t really want to sell. 

Stop. 

Take a deep breath. 

Quit worrying for a moment and ask yourself… Why am I selling? 

There are good reasons to sell:

• Your house has become hard to afford. 
  
• You’re getting older and need to move somewhere that doesn’t take as much maintenance.
  
• You need to relocate for your job.

But there are a lot of not-so-good reasons to sell:

• You’ve read so much about people who have been unable to sell their homes that you became alarmed and put yours on the market “just in case” you want to sell it later.
  
• You’re simply tired of your home.  If that’s the case, all you actually need to do is update or redecorate your home to make it sparkle again.
  
• You’d just like to see what you can get for your home. 

It may seem strange for a real estate agent to speak against selling Inland Empire homes.  However, my first motivation is always doing what’s best for my client, including giving them the best advice I can.  So, I urge you to take a moment and think about it:  do you really need to sell your home now? 

Even if your home has lost some of its value, there are many ways that your home is still very valuable: 

• Building credit - Home ownership is still a good way to build credit. With good credit you can borrow for other major expenses, such as a new car. 
    
• Building equity – The average home equity for the U.S. is approximately $38,000.  When you consider how much your home costs, that may not seem like much.  However, when you are ready to sell, that equity will be there to put toward your next home purchase or your retirement savings.
   
• Saving money on taxes – Owning a home offers several tax benefits.  For most Americans, the biggest benefit is deducting the annual interest paid on a mortgage.
   
• Living well – There’s a reason why homeownership is still called the American Dream.  It simply feels good to live in a home you love.  That you can decorate any way you want.  A home that’s your very own. 

Now think about why you bought your home in the first place.  Do the things still exist that made you value the home enough to buy it?  If yes, maybe you should stay. 

If you do need (or want) to sell your home, I can help. Call me today at (909) 938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton for more information.

Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty. 

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On June 16, the Senate approved a plan to give homebuyers an extra three months to finish qualifying for federal tax incentives.  If the plan passes, it means you’ll have until September 30, 2010, to close on your Inland Empire home and qualify for tax credits of up to $8,000.  (First-time buyers were eligible for a tax credit of up to $8,000. Current owners who bought and moved into another home could qualify for a credit of up to $6,500.)

Who Qualifies?

Originally, you had to sign a contract to purchase a home by April 30, 2010, and close no later than June 30, 2010.  With this extension, anyone who had a signed purchase agreement by April 30 would have until September 30 to close on the sale of that home.

Why the Extension?

Mortgage lenders have been swamped with borrowers trying to get their Inland Empire home purchases approved by June 30.  Many potential borrowers are having difficulty meeting that deadline. 

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) estimates that 180,000 buyers are likely to miss the June 30 deadline "because of delays in the process." That's particularly true of short sales, the NAR noted.

Is it Approved?

Unfortunately, an extension of the deadline for the federal homebuyer tax credit remains tied to Senate legislation that would extend unemployment benefits, complicating efforts to get the deadline extended before the expiration date of June 30. 

But don’t give up hope.  If lawmakers extend the deadline after June 30, the language in both the House and Senate bills will apply retroactively.

Have questions about the federal tax credits?  Or any other questions about Inland Empire homes?  Give me a call today at (909) 938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com.  I’ll respond promptly and personally.

Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.

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When most of us think of Fourth of July festivities, we think of fireworks and food, especially barbeque.  In fact, the Fourth of July is one of the most popular days of the year for barbequing. Many invite family and friends to their Inland Empire home and throw burgers, hot dogs or ribs on the grill. 

Unfortunately, some barbequers unknowingly give their family and friends a healthy dose of bacteria along with the food.  To keep your family and friends healthy over the holiday, while still enjoying this summer activity, follow these meat safety tips at your Inland Empire home:

 Avoid cross contamination

When you go to the grocery store to buy meat and other foods, keep the raw meat separated from the rest of the food to lessen the chance of cross contamination. Make sure the raw meat is wrapped in plastic bags, again, separated from other meat and foods. Even packaged raw meat can leak, and you want to keep the juices from seeping onto other food.

 Head Home

The summer is hot for most areas of the country.  Even if you have air conditioning in your car, you want to go straight home from the grocery store. The longer food is exposed to heat, the more chance it has of gaining a nice bacterial growth. Make sure the grocery store is your only, or last, stop before heading home.

 Refrigerate

When it’s hotter than 90 degrees, food needs to be refrigerated within the first hour of leaving the store. If it’s less than 90 degrees, you have two hours. Freeze any meat or poultry you won’t be using in a day or two, but make sure everything is refrigerated as quickly as possible.

 Thaw Carefully

If you’re going immediately from thawing to the grill, you can use a microwave to defrost.  However, for the safest methods, either slowly thaw in the refrigerator over a period of a day or two, or use cold water and sealed packages.

 Transport Cold

If you aren’t barbequing at your home and need to transport the meat, transfer the meat immediately to an insulated cooler (40 degrees or below) right before leaving home. As well, make sure you keep the cooler out of direct sun, which can reduce its efficiency at keeping food cold.

 Serve Hot

Keep the food hot (140 degrees or warmer) until it’s served.  You can set the meat at the side of the grill rack or on a warming tray.  Use a clean serving platter rather than the same plate that held the raw meat.

By following the above tips, you’ll help your family and friends have a happy, healthy Fourth of July.

Looking for an Inland Empire home of your own to celebrate next year’s Fourth of July?  I can help.  Call me at (909) 938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com for more information. 

Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.

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If you’ve ever been to a block party, you know it is a great way to gather your neighborhood friends together for some fun. You can easily throw a block party everyone who lives near your Inland Empire home will love. Here’s how:

1. Enlist the help of your neighbors. Throwing a block party at your Inland Empire home is a major undertaking, so you will need all the help you can get. Ask others in your community to help you plan, decorate, prepare food, and clean.
   
2. Get permission. You don’t want your party broken up by the police or fined by the homeowner’s association. Find out from your municipal government if you are required to get a permit for a block party. Follow up with your homeowner’s association and make sure they will allow the block party.
   
3. Select a theme. Themed parties are easier to plan and more fun for the guests. For example, if you choose a Fourth Of July theme, you know what colors and accessories to use in the decorations: anything blue or red, flags, stars, and fireworks of course. You also know to serve bar-b-que and foods like hamburgers and hotdogs.
   
4. Plan a menu and decorate. Keep the menu and decorations simple to prepare and easy to clean. Choose food that can be eaten without utensils, like finger foods and sandwiches. Don’t use elaborate decorations.
   
5. Have fun. The most important part of your block party is the party itself. Give yourself permission to enjoy the party and the company of your neighbors. Talk to people. Laugh with your neighbors. Participate in any games you play. This is your night to shine.
   
6. Clean up. If you planned properly and have enough help, clean up shouldn’t be too overwhelming. Make sure the area where you held the party is completely litter-free and looks better than it did before the party. Don’t give your homeowner’s association any reason to prohibit future block parties.

Getting to know neighbors makes life more enjoyable.  Throwing a block party is a great way to accomplish that while also having fun.

Let me help you find an Inland Empire home in a great neighborhood. Call me today at (909) 938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com.

Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.

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Current Mortgage Rates As Of Today: 30 Year Fixed Rate Is 4.52%. 

Brought To You By Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.

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Like most industries, the Inland Empire real estate industry changes with the times. We still have the same mind-set, but the strategies we use differ from, say, before the internet. As the Inland Empire real estate industry improves with the use of online and mobile tools, “change” translates to a better result on the sale of your home. 

Changes to the Real Estate Industry

Due to uncertain lending practices and unregulated appraisal services, the real estate game needed to change.  The National Association of Realtors® pushed for change, appraisers pushed for change,  the government pushed for change and, of course (it’s the government, after all), change happened. 

The government mandated new regulations for lending practices. They poured tax incentives into the economy and, simply by chain of reaction, changed the real estate industry. 

What This Means to You

This isn’t bad news.  In fact, it’s rather good news. The emphasis on education, a new code of ethics and advanced technology is a boon to today’s Inland Empire real estate market and you, as the home seller. Why? Because you have a broader reach than ever before. As well, we, the successful agents, must keep our competitive edge on any lending, marketing and technical advantages and turn that edge into advantages for you. 

The focus of the new-age real estate agent is on - not just one or two things - but on everything and anything that can bring buyers to your home. 

Today’s Inland Empire real estate agents evaluate, market, create strategies, work with technology and are in constant contact with hundreds of potential buyers. We know you need expert representation to sell your home.   You expect it, and we provide it. 

When you’re ready to sell your home, call me at (909) 938-9568 or contact me at Randy@TeamCharlton.com for expert representation you can rely on.

Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty. 

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If you’ve been looking at your finances to see if you can afford an Inland Empire home for sale, or a home in any area for that matter, a new report from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo says, “Yes, you can!” 

According to this report, the prices for over 72% of the homes purchased in the first quarter of 2010 were affordable for families making an annual income of $63,800 (the median national income). One of the main reasons for this is because of the national median price: just $175,000. Adding to that is the still historically low interest and mortgage rates, as well as companies once again beginning to hire new employees. These “affordability” numbers are based on 28% or less of a family’s take-home pay. 

Many new homeowners agree. The National Association of REALTORS® released the statistics for existing home sales on May 24.  April saw a 7% increase in sales from March, and Freddie Mac reports that 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage commitment rates rose to 5.10% in the same month. 

What Does This Mean for buyers and Sellers?

While this still means slow going for those with an Inland Empire home for sale, this means an incredibly hot market for buyers.   With over 4 million homes available for sale, sellers are definitely competing with each other.  In many places across the country, homeowners have dropped their prices 10% to 50%, in an effort to attract attention. 

Can You Afford a Home?

If you’re looking at the real estate market and wondering if you can finally afford the home of your dreams, it’s time to quit wondering. Start doing your research. 

Before you begin shopping for a home, shop around for a lender. Finding a good lender with reasonable rates is one of the best first steps of buying a home. 

Next, get pre-approved for a mortgage.  Pre-approval lets you know how much you really can afford and whether your credit is acceptable for a mortgage. As well, if you do find the home you’ve always wanted, being pre-approved gives you a strong standing in negotiations, because the seller knows you’re seriously looking for a home. 

Finally, if you can afford an Inland Empire home for sale and have been waiting for the best time, you’ve reached it. There’s never been a better, more affordable time for buyers in the last 50 years. 

If you’re looking for your dream home, I can help. Call me at (909) 938-9568 or email me at Randy@TeamCharlton for more information.

 Brought to you by Randy Charlton of Keller Williams Realty.