Yucaipa Real Estate Blog

Home Prices on the Way Up

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:13:27 +0000

Nothing beats a little good news; no doubt we have enough bad news to go around. As soon as I heard that the CAR (California Association of Realtors) economists announced that home prices would likely climb 3.3% in 2010, I wanted to share the good news with you. In the past, CAR economists have been reasonably accurate so this information comes with credibility.

The Press Enterprise has a nice summary of the 2010 market forecast at:
http://www.pe.com/business/local/stories/webhousing08.1f3b159c5.html

Let me know your thoughts!

Economic Recovery Act of 2009 – Homebuyers Tax Credit

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Fri, 01 May 2009 23:55:32 +0000

The National Association of Realtors recently released an in-depth reference guide to the economic recovery act of 2009. This guide provides information and guidelines about the first-time home buyer tax credit that is available in 2009. If you have been considering home ownership or purchased a home recently, you may find this guide helpful. If you have a friend or family member who may benefit from this information, click on the ‘Forward email’ link below.

To read an electronic version of this guide, point your web browser to:
www.yucaipa-real-estate.com/reference/2009_TaxCreditGuide.pdf

For specific questions about the tax implications of the credit, please consult a tax professional.

If you or anyone you know is in need of real estate advice or assistance, I am just an e-mail away.

Roger Flowers, Realtor enters agreement with Evergreen Realty and Associates Inc.

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:18:02 +0000

Over the years Realtor Roger L Flowers has been dedicated to providing top-notch customer service and improving the overall home buying and selling process for his clients. Roger Flowers announced today that he has entered into an agreement to be an agent for Evergreen Realty and Associates Inc. With this change of brokerage, Roger Flowers will be able to meet current client expectations, provide additional services and go beyond the realm of traditional real estate.

With Evergreen Realty and Associates as his broker, Roger Flowers’s clients will have access to convenient office locations throughout Southern California including offices in Irvine, Murrieta, Upland, Brea, San Clemente in addition to his existing home office in Yucaipa (view office locations at http://www.yucaipa-real-estate.com/contact_me.asp). He will be part of a team of over 900 agents; so if you are looking in an area he is not familiar with, he can find you an agent who is.

News of additional online tools being added to his website is expected over the next several months. Roger Flowers’s website (http://www.rogerflowers.com) is already visited by over 800 people on average per week which provides added exposure for clients selling property. Realtor Roger Flowers plans to expand his website to include listings in near-by San Diego County which will extend the reach and the amount traffic to his website. This expansion would result in clients being able to view listings in San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego Counties all at one website with no pressure to buy.

Roger Flowers is excited about the opportunities that changing his broker to Evergreen Realty and Associates will bring to his clients, his business and himself. If you have any questions or know anyone interested in buying or selling a home in Southern California, contact Roger Flowers at 909-266-2662.

2008 Real Estate Sales in Yucaipa, Calimesa, Redlands, and Beaumont

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:34:55 +0000

We hear something about the ‘real estate crisis’ or the ‘financial crisis’ almost every day in the news. What is the real estate situation like here in the Inland Empire, and what does it mean for you? I can’t see in to the future nor do I have a secret time machine, but I am willing to share some insight based on recent local statistics and my years of real estate experience.

First off, the bad news. In 2008, the Inland Empire experienced record foreclosures and California’s largest home builder (KB Homes) reported a 53% revenue drop from 2007. According to Default Research Inc., there were 64,144 foreclosures in San Bernardino County and 82,072 in Riverside County. San Bernardino County’s median home prices fell to $185,000 in November and Riverside County’s fell to $220,000. This is bad news if you are a homeowner, and great news if you are a first-time buyer.

The (somewhat) good news: here in our area, homes are still selling, but at a slow pace. In 2008 our local MLS (Multi-Regional MLS) reported 512 home sales in Yucaipa, 53 in Calimesa, 519 in Redlands and 704 in Beaumont. Keep in mind that the MLS data does not include for-sale-by-owners, builder sales and a few other unique sales situations. Houses must be priced appropriately and marketed aggressively, and sellers need to be realistic about today’s market conditions.

So, what does this all mean? No one can predict the future but 2009 should hold hope for those still wanting to buy homes. While buyers are finding great deals on homes, they are not finding lenders who are eagerly waiting to lend money. Most buyers are finding that if they do not have near-perfect credit, at least 3% down, and a reliable source of income that they may struggle to get financing. It isn’t the end of the world for everyone as there are still loan products for buyers who do not fit the ‘perfect borrower’ scenario. In this day and age, it is ever-more important for buyers to get pre-approved (not just pre-qualified) for a mortgage BEFORE they begin shopping for homes.

For current homeowners, the news is scary. Many have watched their home equity shrink while others face foreclosure and the possibility of going back to renting. Some homeowners who have depended on their home equity line of credit as an emergency cash fund have found their equity lines frozen by cautious banks due to loss of equity. For those who have been homeowners a long time, they know we are just amidst a downward trend. Home prices go up, and then they go down. Our local market definitely will face a long-term correction from the rapidly increasing prices earlier this decade, but when history repeats itself, prices will be back on the rise.

Here’s some advice for 2009. Anyone who is renting should take the steps towards the path of home ownership. Prices are favorable and interest rates are low. If you already own a home, stick with it. If you can’t make your payments, talk to your lender and come up with a solution. In my opinion, if you do not absolutely have to sell you should stay put. Keep in mind many corporations have relocation programs where they will buy your house if you agree to relocate; don’t forget to negotiate this with your employer if you are offered a new job elsewhere.

While times may be tough, the American Dream of homeownership is not a myth, but a reality for millions. Americans are still building long term financial security and wealth through home ownership.

Let me know what you are thinking. Let me know your questions. Submit a comment on this blog entry below.

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:00:14 +0000

The new year brings two new real estate videos to my website. To view the new videos, visit the following two pages:

Homepage
Buyer Information Page

If you didn’t see the videos from last year, take a look at:

Seller Information Page

About Me Page

Sincerely,

CENTURY 21 Lois Lauer Realty

Roger Flowers, Realtor
33699 Yucaipa Blvd.

Yucaipa, CA 92399

909.266.2662
877.283.7624

Online Marketing

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:01:52 +0000

I have had many people who own small businesses ask how to begin online marketing such as what I do for yucaipa-real-estate.com. I have tried to answer this questions many times but never seem to be able to spontaneously answer the question. So, I wrote a guide about how to market online called, Online Marketing 101. Take a look at it and let me know what you think by commenting on this blog.

My Phone System is VoIP

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:02:44 +0000

Have you called me lately? My phone system went through a minor overhaul. I have had Voice-Over-IP phone services through GagaPhone.com for a while now, but call queuing and call hunt have been added. Now if you call and I am on the phone you will have the option of waiting for me to get off the phone or leave a message. If I am away from my desk and you are calling during normal business hours, you can have the phone system try to locate me and call my mobile phone.

Pretty cool hu? Let me know what you think by commenting on this blog!

Bluetooth Headset – Finally a Solution

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:44:58 +0000

I found the best Bluetooth headset out there. As a Realtor, I find myself occasionally needing to communicate with clients while driving. Since California passed a law prohibiting a person from holding a phone up to their ear while driving (well overdue in my opinion), it was necessary to find a Bluetooth headset. I had had an ear piece unit that was uncomfortable, and was a pain to put on my ear whenever I needed to talk on the phone. Personally, I do not like the look of wearing one constantly so I only had one on my ear when I was using it. EMFs have always been a concern to me and having a device that close to my head for a long period of time just didn’t sound like a good idea

Then my friend Bill showed me his Motorola T305. This is a Bluetooth device that mounts on your sun visor just like a garage door opener. You turn it on when you get in the car and presto, you have a Bluetooth speaker phone in your car. I immediately went to Amazon and bought three, one for each of our cars. The battery life is great, and the one-button operation is easy for anyone to figure out.

Post a comment to this bog entry and let me know what you think if you have one!

Short-Sales Are Not Always the Answer

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:55:21 +0000

Many sellers and agents do not understand what short-sales are and how they work. That is why so many attempts at short-sales fail – roughly only 1 in 3 actually sell. Many sellers and inexperienced agents think a short-sale is an easy way to get out of a house that has a mortgage larger than the current market value. Banks are not in the business of absorbing losses due to people’s poor investment decisions. There are strict financial criteria set by each bank that the seller must meet to to qualify for a short-sale. Even if the financial criteria is met, most banks are only willing to forgive a portion of the mortgage. For many buyers, the time it takes for a bank to respond to a short-sale request (upwards of 90 days) makes the process very undesirable.

A short-sale can be a great solution to a home owner in financial duress. However, more often than not, a homeowner attempts to use the short-sale as a tool to shift the impending loss on their investment to the bank. The short-sale process is not an avenue to protect the homeowner from a financial loss; it is in place to give the banks an easier more productive process instead of foreclosure. Unfortunately many home owners and agents are desperate to pass the loss off to the bank and lack the knowledge of the short-sale process. This results in an influx of homes on the market for sale as short-sales that have little to no hope of ever selling via the short-sale process.

Great day at 66ers Arrowhead Credit Union

Roger Flowers, Realtor — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:03:12 +0000

What a great day it was hanging out with my clients and their guests at Arrowhead Credit Union Park this past Saturday. We had a fabulous buffet style dinner served to us while relaxing on our private terrace. The weather was unfortunately hot, but the Zooperstarts performing in-between innings and the fireworks made for a fantastic evening. Bernie came to visit and posed with some of the kids (and some of the big kids) for a few photos. I am looking forward to yet another client appreciation dinner and game for 2009. Special thanks to all of my clients, friends and family for your support and business.