Cynthia Alfred's Blog » 2010 » January

Contra Costa Country Tax Collector’s Website

Cynthia Alfred — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:28:21 +0000

Great news, the property tax bills are now out and available online at the Contra Costa Country Tax Collector’s website. If you are interested in checking out your new tax bill or if you need to check on a particular property to see if there is Mello Roos or special assessments, this is a wonderful way to do so. Just follow these 7 easy steps below to view a property tax bill:

Go to www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/
Click on Department (A drop down menu will appear, click H-Z)
Click on Treasurer-Tax Collector
Click Online Tax Review and Payment
Click on Secured Property Tax Bill
Enter property address or parcel number
Click View Bill (The whole tax bill will then appear)

Good luck and call me if you have questions on this or any other real estate topic at (925) 216-0860. To search the MLS for free and view homes for sale, go to www.CynthiaAlfred.com

Health Resolution for 2010

Cynthia Alfred — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:17:55 +0000

This time of the year we establish goals or resolutions to improve our lives, business, personalities, etc. I am sharing 10 health related resolution you may want to include in your resolutions. They are as follows:

Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a begger.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
Play more games.
Read more books than you did in 2008.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Sleep for 7 hours.
Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Have a blessed 2010. Should you have questions on this or any other real estate topic, call me at (925) 216-0860. To search the MLS for free and view homes for sale, go to: www.CynthiaAlfred.com.

FHA Flipping Rule Update

Cynthia Alfred — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:22:39 +0000

GREAT News! As of February 1, 2010, there will no longer be a 90 Day Flip rule for FHA. This means investors will now accept more FHA offers and allow more buyers to qualify for properties. It’s only good for 1 year and can be terminated at anytime by HUD if they find out it leads to increases in defaults. It’s going to be important to move these properties quickly and it will be important that buyers are pre-approved with a lender that can close FHA deals in a timely manner. For more information regarding this rule, please give me a call at (925) 216-0860. To search the MLS for free and to view homes for sale, go to: www.CynthiaAlfred.com

What Are The Benefits Of An FHA Mortgage?

Cynthia Alfred — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:15:06 +0000

FHA offers low down payment options, eligibility with less than perfect credit, a loan at a reasonable cost, and help if there is ever trouble making the mortgage payment. Because an FHA mortgage insures the lender against loss, an FHA mortgage typically has an interest rate that is competitive with the best in your market and lower than the rates charged for subprime and other non-prime mortgages.
FHA not only helps people buy a home, but helps them keep it as well. In return for protecting lenders against loss, FHA requires financial institutions to offer assistance to borrowers experiencing difficulty making mortgage payments.

If you have questions on this or any other real estate topic, call me at (925) 216-0860. To search the MLS for free and view homes for sale, go to: www.CynthiaAlfred.com.

Yes, your credit can bounce back!

Cynthia Alfred — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:33:55 +0000

Getting your financial footing after a foreclosure takes time and requires responsible behavior, but you won’t have to wear the scarlet “F” forever. A foreclosure will remain on your credit report for seven years, but you can start to improve your credit score now.

Learn good habits. “Most lenders want to see two years of positive credit behavior,” says Gail Cunningham of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. So don’t fall for quick-fix credit repair schemes. Follow tried-and-true strategies. Keep your card balances low (no more than 10% of your overall limit), and never miss a payment.

Apply for new credit. The easiest card to get is often a secured credit card. These cards require that a deposit be made to establish a credit line, which typically will be equal to the amount of your deposit. Just make sure account activity is reported to credit bureaus every month to rebuild your credit.

If you have questions on this or any other real estate topic, call me at (925) 216-0860. To search the MLS for free and view homes for sale, go to www.CynthiaAlfred.com

Sharon Epperson USA Weekend

FEATURES WORTH KNOWING ABOUT AN FHA LOAN

Cynthia Alfred — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:15:33 +0000

FHA adopted the industry appraisal standards permitting the use of the Fannie Mae appraisal forms with no additional specialized documentation, no Valuation Conditions form or Homebuyer Summary.
FHA has eliminated unnecessary requirements to make minor repairs
The homebuyer and the seller, individually or jointly, can pay closing costs as agreed to in the sales contract. FHA no longer limits what closing costs the homebuyer is permitted to pay.
Caps on payment and debt-to-income ratios are more generous than most standard conforming mortgage products. The payment-to-income ratio may not exceed 31% and the debt-to-income ratio may not exceed 43%.
A minimum credit score is not required. In fact, one may not be turned down for an FHA mortgage solely for lack of credit history.
The buyer’s entire cash investment–as little as three and one-half percent–can be a gift from a family member, employer, charitable organization or local government entity.
The seller can contribute up to six percent of the home’s price toward closing costs through a seller’s concession.
There are no prepayment penalties on FHA-insured mortgages.
U.S. citizenship is not required but, for those who are not citizens, they must be lawful permanent or non-permanent resident aliens with a valid Social Security Number.

Since FHA was created in 1934, it has helped more than 34 million families become homeowners, many by working with their REALTOR to achieve their dream of homeownership. Backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal government, FHA-insured mortgages are one of the safest and most affordable types of mortgages available to homebuyers.

If you have questions on this or any other real estate topic, call me at (925) 216-0860. To search the MLS for free and view homes for sale, go to www.CynthiaAlfred.com

National Association of Realtors