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Rents Are on the Rise: Don’t Get Caught in the Rental Trap!

December 21, 2017 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Rents Are on the Rise: Don’t Get Caught in the Rental Trap! | SellingDanaEstates.com

Dana Estates Real Estate | Rents Are on the Rise: Don’t Get Caught in the Rental Trap!

The Concord real estate market is still very active. Reasonable sellers are receiving offers quickly and buyer confidence remains strong. There are multiple price points and types of houses available in Concord, CA.

Particularly around the Dana Estates neighborhood 94519 zip code, homes are in demand. The neighborhood provides convenient access to Highway 4 and to downtown Concord. It is also about equal distance from both the Concord BART station and the North Concord BART station.

Purchasing a home is one of the largest financial decisions that a family can make. Because of the size of the transaction, there are many complicated decisions that surround the purchase of a home.

Today we are going to talk about: Rising rents and how buying is cheaper than renting.

There are many benefits to homeownership. One of the top benefits is protecting yourself from rising rents, by locking in your housing cost for the life of your mortgage.

Don’t Become Trapped 

A recent article by Apartment List addressed rising rents by stating:

“Rents are up 2.7% year-over-year at the national level. Year-over-year growth continues to fall between the 2.1% rate from this time last year and the 3.4% growth rate from October 2015.”

The article continues explaining that:

“Despite the seasonal slowdown, rents are still up year-over-year in 89 of the 100 Largest cities.

Additionally, the Urban Institute revealed that,

“Over a quarter of renters, or 11.1 million households, are severely cost burdened, spending at least half their income on rental housing.

These households struggle to save for a rainy day and pay other bills, including groceries and healthcare.

It’s Cheaper to Buy Than Rent 

As we have previously mentioned, the results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia shows that homeownership remains cheaper than renting with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage in the 100 largest metro areas in the United States.

The updated numbers show that the range is an average of 6.5% less expensive in San Jose (CA), all the way up to 57% less expensive in Detroit (MI) and 37.4% nationwide!

Know Your Options

Perhaps you have already saved enough to buy your first home. A nationwide survey of about 24,000 renters found that 80% of millennial renters plan to eventually buy a house, but 72% cite affordability as their primary obstacle. Aside from affordability, one in three millennial renters have concerns about their credit scores, and another 53% said that a down payment is an obstacle.

Many first-time homebuyers who believe that they need a large down payment may be holding themselves back from their dream homes. As we have reported before, in many areas of the country, a first-time home buyer can save for a 3% down payment in less than two years. You may have already saved enough!

Bottom Line

Don’t get caught in the trap that so many renters are currently in. If you are ready and willing to buy a home, find out if you are able. Let’s get together to determine if you can qualify for a mortgage now!

Source… KCM Peter Maclennan Blog

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker on your side helps protect your interests and insure you make the best possible decisions. We are dedicated to keeping on top of the real estate market and keeping you informed of changes. You can rest easily knowing you made a well-informed decision based on experience and insight into the Concord California market.

To reach us please call 925.385.8798 or email us at peter@maclennaninvestments.com.

Search for the newest real estate listings in Concord, CA by map (click the map below):

concord california real estate search by map
Concord CA Real Estate Map Search

Filed Under: Buyers Tagged With: Buyers, Dana Estates Real Estate, Renters

Home Buyer Blunders

December 20, 2017 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Are you wanting to buy a home? The infographic below courtesy of the California Association of Realtors provides tips on avoiding common mistakes home buyers make.

Home Buyer blunders infographic.

Looking ahead to the spring buying and selling season, expect a busy market with multiple offers for most homes for sale. With this in mind, avoid common home buyer blunders such as:

  1. shopping outside your price range;
  2. submitting lowball offers in a hot market,
  3. making a big purchase while in escrow, and
  4. forgetting to budget closing costs.

Avoiding these mistakes can help you successfully purchase the home you desire.

Buying a Home in Concord

If you are looking to buy a home or sell a home around Concord, CA, I would be delighted to help you. Please feel free to call me at 925.385.8798 or use the contact form to get in touch.

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Filed Under: Buyers Tagged With: Buyers

Dana Estates Real Estate | Home Prices Up 7% from Last Year

December 8, 2017 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Home Prices Up 7% from Last Year | SellingDanaEstates.com

Dana Estates Real Estate | Home Prices Up 7% from Last Year

The Dana Estates real estate market in Concord, California is still very active. Reasonable sellers are receiving offers quickly and buyer confidence remains strong. There are multiple price points and types of houses available in Concord, CA.

Particularly around the Dana Estates neighborhood 94519 zip code, homes are in demand. The neighborhood provides convenient access to Highway 4 and to downtown Concord. It is also about equal distance from both the Concord BART station and the North Concord BART station.

Purchasing a home is one of the largest financial decisions that a family can make. Because of the size of the transaction, there are many complicated decisions that surround the purchase of a home.

Today we are going to talk about: Home Prices. They’re up 7% from Last year.

According to CoreLogic’s latest Home Price Index, national home prices have appreciated by 7.0% from October 2016 to October 2017. This marks the second month in a row with a 7.0% year-over-year increase.

A lack of supply of homes for sale has led to upward pressure on home prices across the country, especially in areas where both existing and new home inventory have not kept up with buyer demand.

CoreLogic’s Chief Economist Frank Nothaft elaborated on the significance of such a large year-over-year gain, 

“Single-family residential sales and prices continued to heat up in October. On a year-over-year basis, home prices grew in excess of 6 percent for four consecutive months ending in October, the longest such streak since June 2014.

This escalation in home prices reflects both the acute lack of supply and the strengthening economy.”

This is great news for homeowners who have gained over $13,000 in equity in their home over the last year! Those homeowners who had been on the fence as to whether or not to sell will be pleasantly surprised to find out that they now have an even larger profit to help cover a down payment on their dream home.

CoreLogic’s President & CEO Frank Martell had this to say,

“The acceleration in home prices is good news for both homeowners and the economy because it leads to higher home equity balances that support consumer spending and is a cushion against mortgage risk. However, for entry-level renters and first-time homebuyers, it leads to tougher affordability challenges.”

Any time the price of a home goes up there will likely be concern about the affordability of that home, but there is good news. Mortgage interest rates remain at historic lows, allowing buyers to enter the housing market and lock in a low monthly housing cost.

Rents Are Also Rising

The report went on to mention that over the same 12-month period, median rental prices for a single-family home have also risen by 4.2%.

With rents and home prices rising at the same time, first-time buyers may find the task of saving for a down payment a little daunting. Low down payment programs are available and have been a very popular option for first-time buyers. The median down payment for first-time buyers in 2017 was only 5%! 

Bottom Line

If you are looking to enter the housing market, as either a buyer or a seller, let’s get together to go over exactly what’s going on in our neighborhood and discuss your options!

Source… KCM Peter Maclennan Blog

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker on your side helps protect your interests and insure you make the best possible decisions. We are dedicated to keeping on top of the real estate market and keeping you informed of changes. You can rest easily knowing you made a well-informed decision based on experience and insight into the Concord California market.

To reach us please call 925.385.8798 or email us at peter@maclennaninvestments.com.

Search for the newest real estate listings in Concord, CA by map (click the map below):

concord california real estate search by map
Concord CA Real Estate Map Search

Filed Under: Buyers, Real Estate Market, Sellers Tagged With: Buyers, Concord Real Estate, Dana Estates Real Estate, Renters, Sellers

Bubble Alert! Is it Getting Too Easy to Get a Mortgage? | Concord CA Real Estate

December 2, 2017 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Bubble Alert! Is it Getting Too Easy to Get a Mortgage? | Concord CA Real EstateBubble Alert! Is it Getting Too Easy to Get a Mortgage?

The Concord CA real estate market is still very active. Reasonable sellers are receiving offers quickly and buyer confidence remains strong. There are multiple price points and types of houses available in Concord, CA.

Particularly around the Dana Estates neighborhood 94519 zip code, homes are in demand. The neighborhood provides convenient access to Highway 4 and to downtown Concord. It is also about equal distance from both the Concord BART station and the North Concord BART station.

Purchasing a home is one of the largest financial decisions that a family can make. Because of the size of the transaction, there are many complicated decisions that surround the purchase of a home.

Today we are going to talk about: Is it Getting Too Easy to Get a Mortgage?

There is little doubt that it is easier to get a home mortgage today than it was last year. The Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), published by the Mortgage Bankers Association, shows that mortgage credit has become more available in each of the last several years. In fact, in just the last year:

  • More buyers are putting less than 20% down to purchase a home
  • The average credit score on closed mortgages is lower
  • More low-down-payment programs have been introduced

This has some people worrying that we are returning to the lax lending standards which led to the boom and bust that real estate experienced ten years ago. Let’s alleviate some of that concern.

The graph below shows the MCAI going back to the boom years of 2004-2005. The higher the graph line, the easier it was to get a mortgage.

Bubble Alert! Is it Getting Too Easy to Get a Mortgage? | Simplifying The Market

 

As you can see, lending standards were much more lenient from 2004 to 2007. Though it has gradually become easier to get a mortgage since 2011, we are nowhere near the lenient standards during the boom.

The Urban Institute also publishes a Home Credit Availability Index (HCAI). According to the Institute, the HCAI:

“Measures the percentage of home purchase loans that are likely to default—that is, go unpaid for more than 90 days past their due date. A lower HCAI indicates that lenders are unwilling to tolerate defaults and are imposing tighter lending standards, making it harder to get a loan. A higher HCAI indicates … it is easier to get a loan.”

Here is a graph showing their findings:

Bubble Alert! Is it Getting Too Easy to Get a Mortgage? | Simplifying The Market

Again, today’s lending standards are nowhere near the levels of the boom years. As a matter of fact, they are more stringent than they were even before the boom.

Bottom Line

It is getting easier to gain financing for a home purchase. However, we are not seeing the irresponsible lending that caused the housing crisis.

Source… Peter Maclennan KCM Blog

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker on your side helps protect your interests and insure you make the best possible decisions. We are dedicated to keeping on top of the real estate market and keeping you informed of changes. You can rest easily knowing you made a well-informed decision based on experience and insight into the Concord California market.

To reach us please call 925.385.8798 or email us at peter@maclennaninvestments.com.

Search for the newest real estate listings in Concord, CA by map (click the map below):

concord california real estate search by map
Concord CA Real Estate Map Search

Filed Under: Buyers, Financing Tagged With: Buyers, Renters, Sellers

Feeling ‘Stuck in Place’? You Aren’t Alone… And There’s Hope! | Concord Real Estate

November 16, 2017 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Feeling ‘Stuck in Place’? You Aren’t Alone… | Concord real estate

Feeling ‘Stuck in Place’? You Aren’t Alone… And There’s Hope! | Concord Real Estate

The Concord real estate market is still very active. Reasonable sellers are receiving offers quickly and buyer confidence remains strong. There are multiple price points and types of houses available in Concord, CA.

Particularly around the Dana Estates neighborhood 94519 zip code, homes are in demand. The neighborhood provides convenient access to Highway 4 and to downtown Concord. It is also about equal distance from both the Concord BART station and the North Concord BART station.

Purchasing a home is one of the largest financial decisions that a family can make. Because of the size of the transaction, there are many complicated decisions that surround the purchase of a home.

Today we are going to talk about: Feeling ‘Stuck in Place’?

Whether you are a renter who is searching for your dream home or a homeowner who feels like your only option is to renovate, you have at least one thing in common: feeling stuck in place.

According to data from the National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, the average amount of time that a family stays in their home remained at 10 years in 2017. This mark ties the highest marks set in 2014 and 2016. Back in 1985, when data was first collected on this subject, homeowners stayed in their homes for an average of only 5 years.

There are many reasons why homeowners have decided to stay and not to sell. A recent Wall Street Journal article had this to say,

“Americans aren’t moving in part because inventory levels have fallen near multidecade lows and home prices have risen to records. Many homeowners are choosing to stay and renovate, in turn making it more difficult for renters to enter the market.” 

Sam Khater, Deputy Chief Economist for CoreLogic, equated the lack of inventory to “not having enough oil in your car and your gears slowly [coming] to a grind.”

Historically, a normal market (in which prices increase at the rate of inflation) requires a 6-7 month supply of inventory. There hasn’t been that much supply since August of 2012! Over the course of the last 12 months, inventory has hovered between a 3.5 to 4.4-month supply, meaning that prices have increased and buyers are still out in force!

Challenges in the new-home construction market have “helped create a bottleneck in the market in which owners of starter homes aren’t trading up to newly built homes, which tend to be pricier, in turn creating a squeeze for millennial renters looking to get into the market.”

“Economists said baby boomers also aren’t in a hurry to trade in the dream homes they moved into in middle age for condominiums or senior living communities because many are staying healthy longer or want to remain near their children.”

So, what can you do if you feel stuck & want to move on?

Don’t give up! If you are looking to move-up to an existing luxury home, there are deals to be had in the higher-priced markets. Demand is strong in the starter and trade-up home markets which means that your house will sell quickly. Let’s work together to build in contingencies that allow you more time to find your dream home; the right buyer will wait.

Source… KCM Peter Maclennan Blog

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker on your side helps protect your interests and insure you make the best possible decisions. We are dedicated to keeping on top of the real estate market and keeping you informed of changes. You can rest easily knowing you made a well-informed decision based on experience and insight into the Concord California market.

To reach us please call 925.385.8798 or email us at peter@maclennaninvestments.com.

Search for the newest real estate listings in Concord, CA by map (click the map below):

concord california real estate search by map
Concord CA Real Estate Map Search

Filed Under: Buyers, Dana Estates News, Sellers Tagged With: Buyers, Concord Real Estate, Dana Estates Real Estate, Sellers

Dana Estates Real Estate | Renting or Buying…Either Way, You’re Paying Someone’s Mortgage

November 2, 2017 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Renting or Buying…Either Way, You're Paying Someone's Mortgage | Dana Estates Real Estate

Dana Estates Real Estate | Renting or Buying…Either Way, You’re Paying Someone’s Mortgage

The real estate market in Concord, California is still very active. Reasonable sellers are receiving offers quickly and buyer confidence remains strong. There are multiple price points and types of houses available in Concord, CA.

Particularly around the Dana Estates neighborhood 94519 zip code, homes are in demand. The neighborhood provides convenient access to Highway 4 and to downtown Concord. It is also about equal distance from both the Concord BART station and the North Concord BART station.

Purchasing a home is one of the largest financial decisions that a family can make. Because of the size of the transaction, there are many complicated decisions that surround the purchase of a home.

Today we are going to talk about: Renting or Buying…Either Way, You’re Paying Someone’s Mortgage.

There are some people who have not purchased homes yet because they are uncomfortable taking on the obligation of a mortgage. Everyone should realize that, unless you are living with your parents rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s.

As Entrepreneur Magazine, a premier source for small business, explained in their article, “12 Practical Steps to Getting Rich,”

“While renting on a temporary basis isn’t terrible, you should most certainly own the roof over your head if you’re serious about your finances. It won’t make you rich overnight, but by renting, you’re paying someone else’s mortgage. In effect, you’re making someone else rich.”

Christina Boyle, Senior Vice President and head of the Single-Family Sales & Relationship Management organization at Freddie Mac, explains another benefit of securing a mortgage vs. paying rent:

“With a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, you’ll have the certainty & stability of knowing what your mortgage payment will be for the next 30 years – unlike rents which will continue to rise over the next three decades.”

As an owner, your mortgage payment is a form of ‘forced savings’ which allows you to build equity in your home that you can tap into later in life. As a renter, you guarantee the landlord is the person with that equity.

Interest rates are still at historic lows, making it one of the best times to secure a mortgage and make a move into your dream home. Freddie Mac’s latest report shows that rates across the country were at 3.94% last week.

Bottom Line

Whether you are looking for a primary residence for the first time or are considering a vacation home on the shore, now may be the time to buy.

Source… KCM Peter Maclennan Blog

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker on your side helps protect your interests and insure you make the best possible decisions. We are dedicated to keeping on top of the real estate market and keeping you informed of changes. You can rest easily knowing you made a well-informed decision based on experience and insight into the Concord California market.

To reach us please call 925.385.8798 or email us at peter@maclennaninvestments.com.

Search for the newest real estate listings in Concord, CA by map (click the map below):

concord california map
Concord CA Real Estate Map Search

Filed Under: Buyers, Financing, Real Estate Market Tagged With: Concord Real Estate, Dana Estates Real Estate, Renters

Where do Millennials Prefer to Live? The Suburbs.

March 9, 2016 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Would you be surprised to know that millennials prefer suburban living to city living? According to a recent study by the National Association of Home Builders millennials prefer living in the suburbs.

Millenials Home Owner Preference

Where do millennials prefer to live?

  • 66% of millennials prefer the suburbs
  • 24% of millennials prefer to live in rural areas
  • 10% of millennials prefer to live in a city center

Why do millennials prefer the suburbs?

When asked why they prefer the suburbs, 81% of the respondents indicated that they were looking for a home with three bedrooms or more. Homes of this size are difficult to find in the urban core.

P.S. If you liked this post, you may want to join our newsletter.

Filed Under: Buyers, First Time Buyers, Real Estate Market Tagged With: Millennials

Are Bay Area Rents Headed Up?

April 23, 2015 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Being a tenant can be great. Each month you pay rent, but don’t have to take care of the little things around a property. Your toilet leaks, call the landlord. The sprinklers aren’t working, call the landlord. The hot water heater quits, call the landlord. You get the idea.

The downside of being a tenant comes when your lease expires and your landlord determines market rent. Are they going to raise the rent? If so, how much? Where will we move?

Historical Rents

Rents have historically risen over time. Look at this chart tracking rents from 1986.

Chart indicating rent growth
Median Asking Rent Growth from 1986

Where Are Bay Area Rents Headed?

Which way are San Francisco Bay Area Rents Headed? All indications are that rents will continue to rise in the Bay Area.

Bloomberg.com recently reported that one of the largest single-family landlord is planning on raising rents across the nation. The article indicates that these publicly traded REITs are planning to raise rates 4% on renewals and as much as 5.7% for new tenants.

According to an Associated Press report, rents in San Francisco have jumped almost 15% in the past year. Some rents in downtown Walnut Creek are rising by as much as 35% for longer-term tenants that haven’t seen a renewal in a while.

Equivalent Mortgage

What can the equivalent of $2,000 per month in rent get you? For high quality borrowers with a 20% down payment, the principal and interest on a loan of $417,000 is approximately $1,960 at 3.875% (excludes taxes and insurance costs).

Are you tired of paying rent and ready to start building equity? Call me at 925.385.8798 to discuss getting your own home.

Filed Under: Buyers

January Real Estate Market Infographic

March 3, 2015 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

January 2015 Housing Market Sales

The California Associaiton of Realtors® provided the latest infographic on what the market experienced in January of 2015. The San Francisco Bay Area led the state with a median single family home price of $669,590 for the month of January. Meanwhile the number of sales in the San Francisco Area fell by 14.2% year over year.

Right now the market is tight as inventory is low. Home buyers are coming off of the fence because of low interest rates. As well, lower oil and gas prices in January and February provided a bit of breathing room in many budgets. This is inspiring renters to move towards home ownership.

In a survey conducted by Freddie Mac on Home Ownership and Rental Perceptions renters held a very high view of home ownership. In fact, 91% of those surveyed said that owning a home was something to be proud of.Renters' View on Home Ownership

Buyers are coming off of the sidelines and inventory is down.

December 2014 Inventory

All this means that for the foreseeable future, Sellers are in the driver’s seat.

 

Filed Under: Buyers, Real Estate Market, Sellers

How To Get Power At Your New Home in Contra Costa County

December 19, 2014 by Peter Maclennan Leave a Comment

Once you buy your new home, you will need to get the services transferred over to your name. Many buyers ask how to get power at their new home. PG&E provides most of the power throughout Northern California. A few cities have their own municipal utility providers (for a list click here).

PG&E has provided a helpful page for its customers that are establishing or transferring service.

PG&E Help Me Move Capture

Establishing New Service

In order to start service with PG&E, you need to call their toll free number 1-800-743-5000. You will then be directed through their automated phone system to establish new service. If you have an account number or phone number established, they will ask for it.

Transfer Service

If you transfer service moving from one home to another, you will need login to your PG&E account or to complete the form located here on PG&E’s website. A transfer of service indicates that you will be stopping service at your original location.

Add a Residence

If you are buying a second home or vacation home, you want to add a residence to your account. This option does not stop service at your original location.

Pilot Light Services

Gas appliances such as water heaters, stoves, and furnaces often have a pilot light that stays lit at all times.

PG&E will inspect, adjust, turn off and relight your gas appliance at no charge. Log in or register for My Energy to schedule or change a pilot relight or turn off appointment.

This service is highly useful if the gas at your new home has been turned off for a period of time.

If you have questions about real estate, please feel free to reach out to us at (925) 385-8798. Or complete the contact form below.

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Disclaimer: This information is in no way endorsed by PG&E. Please contact them for details and problems with service. Information is deemed reliable but should be verified before using it.


 

Filed Under: Buyers, First Time Buyers

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I moved to Dana Estates with my family in 2012. We love the neighborhood. We love that it is relatively quiet, the neighbors are friendly, and the trees that line the street.
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Disclaimer: Information on this site is deemed reliable, but is not verified nor is it guaranteed. Peter Maclennan is a licensed real estate broker in the State of California serving the Dana Estates neighborhood in Concord through Maclennan Investment Group, Inc.. CA DRE # 01801793