Very well kept home with a large master suite that includes a garden tub & a stall shower. Nice family room w/wet bar, living room, dining room & office. There is a laundry room and plenty of storage. Large covered patio/deck out the sliding glass door. There is a large heavy duty metal storage shed at the rear of the car port. Nice garden area at the rear of the home that backs to open space.

Enjoy Country Living in this lovely ranch style home built with a western flare. Set on a knoll with views of Mt. Shasta and the western Mtns. The 6.6 acres is fenced for horses and includes a 36 x 40 BARNMASTER barn,14 1/2 ft door & 16ft ceilings.Great room floor plan, split bedrooms,dual HVAC Units,stamped concrete porches,RV parking with 50 AMP service

Quality built and energy efficient Westside home features a Gourmet Island kitchen, solid granite counters, rich Alder cabinetry, glass door pantry and tile flooring. 2 Fireplaces,separate family room,master bath features jetted tub and separate shower. Split level design offers views of the Western Mtns. Covered patio, 3 car garage.

Well cared for home in a well cared for neighborhood. This home features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, dining room and indoor laundry. Vaulted ceiling in the living room with a nice never used wood stove on a brick hearth. Mature landscaping with a patio & shade in the back yard. A place to add RV parking along the garage. This is a turn key home.

After foreclosure: How long until you can buy again?

By Les Christie, staff writer May 28, 2010: 7:58 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Walking away from a mortgage you can still afford to pay has consequences; everyone knows that. Your credit score is shot and it can be impossible to get credit.

Some homeowners, no doubt, believe that the credit score hit is worth getting out from a deeply underwater mortgage. They may owe, say, $500,000 when their house value is only valued at $350,000. And, they figure, there's no way it will ever be worth what they owe so it's better to get out from underneath the burden.

After default, they reason, they can raise their FICO scores by paying all their bills on time and eventually finance another home purchase.

Don't count on it.

While homeowners who default due to economic hardship, such as a job loss or divorce, normally must wait two to five years before buying a home again, walkaways may face double that time.

"It could be well over seven or eight years before [walkaways] are able to obtain a mortgage to buy a home again," said Jay Brinkmann, chief economist for the Mortgage Bankers Association.

How foreclosure impacts your credit score

"Credit scores are only one component of a complete credit decision," Brinkmann said. "[In these cases] credit scores are not a good indicator of their willingness to continue to pay their mortgage."

But future underwriters will scrutinize their records very closely, and if they find no precipitating factors leading to the defaults -- no job loss, no health issues --the repaired credit score won't overshadow the black mark of a walkaway.

"If you made a strategic decision to default on paying your mortgage, it will work against you," said Bill Merrell of the National Association of Review Appraisers and Mortgage Underwriters.

Merrell, who teaches underwriting, said banks are looking at several factors in determining whether to grant mortgages: the amount of money borrowers have in the bank; employment histories; payment history.  However, banks may be far more lenient if the default resulted from factors somewhat beyond the borrower's control, such as from local economic problems. "They'll give you more consideration if it's job related," he said. But, he added, banks look at strategic defaults "very negatively."

That said, it's not impossible to get a loan. Banks still want to make interest payments, so they might be willing to gamble with a walkaway.

"It might be a little more difficult for them to borrow, but [banks'] drive for market share -- to profit from making loans -- will trump that caution," said Keith Gumbinger, of the mortgage information publisher HSH Associates. "I don't think we'll see a full denial."

It's hard to foresee the state of mortgage lending six or seven months from now, let alone seven or eight years into the future. So lenders may look at applications from one-time strategic defaulters and say, "Yes, they walked away but it's a whole different market now," according to Gumbinger.

Even so, lenders may require more from borrowers who walked away than those who didn't.

"To the extent they could get a mortgage," said Brinkmann, "they can count on needing a heavy down payment."

The lenders may ask for 30% down or more. That would provide enough collateral cushion that the bank could get all or most of its money back in a foreclosure.

Strategic defaulters might also be charged higher interest rates, even above the levels other borrowers with similar credit scores would receive.

Distressed homeowners no longer have to pay California state income tax on debt forgiven in a short sale, foreclosure, or loan modification.  Enacted into law yesterday, Senate Bill 401 generally aligns California's tax treatment of mortgage debt relief income with federal law.  For debt forgiven on a loan secured by a "qualified principal residence," borrowers will now be exempt from both federal and state income tax consequences.  The existing federal exemption is for indebtedness up to $2 million, whereas the new California exemption is for indebtedness up to $800,000 and forgiven debt up to $500,000.

"Qualified principal residence" indebtedness is defined as debt incurred in acquiring, constructing, or substantially improving a principal residence.  It includes both first and second trust deeds.  It also includes a refinance loan to the extent the funds were used to payoff a previous loan that would have qualified.

The tax breaks apply to debts discharged from 2009 through 2012.  Californians who have already filed their 2009 tax returns may claim the exemption by filing a Form 540X amendment.
 
Taxpayers who do not qualify for the above exemptions (e.g., second home or rental property) may nevertheless be exempt under other provisions.  Most notably, taxpayers who are bankrupt are exempt from debt relief income tax.  Also, taxpayers who are insolvent are exempt from debt relief income tax to the extent their current liabilities exceed current assets.

For more information about mortgage forgiveness tax consequences, go to California Franchise Tax Board's Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Extended webpage and the Internal Revenue Service's Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation webpage.  The full text of Senate Bill 401 is available at www.leginfo.ca.gov. 

Freddie Mac reports a jump in 30-year fixed mortgage interest to 5.21 percent for the week of April 8 from 5.08 percent the prior week. Rates are climbing now that the Federal Reserve has ended its campaign to lower borrowing costs and the economy is starting to pick up.

Here’s how other rates fared:

• The 15-year fixed rate climbed to 4.52 percent from 4.39 percent.
• The five-year adjustable rate rose to 4.25 percent from 4.1 percent.
• The one-year ARM edged up to 4.14 percent from 4.05 percent.

Source: Buffalo News, Alan Zibel (04/09/10)

• Northeast: the index rose 9.0 percent to 77.7 in February and is 18.9 percent higher than February 2009.

• Midwest: jumped 21.8 percent to 97.9 and is 18.7 percent above a year ago.

• South: increased 9.2 percent to an index of 107.0, and the index is 17.5 percent higher than February 2009.

• West: the index fell 4.8 percent to 98.0 but is 14.6 percent above a year ago.

Source: NAR

To read the full story, please click here:   

Beautiful stream that runs through your back yard is a sight to be savored. Nice view of the stream from all the rear windows. Remodeled kitchen and newer windows make this home a joy to be in. The rock fireplace rounds out the cabin feel of this home. Grab your fishing pole & walk along the stream to catch dinner. RV parking w/septic hook-up. Out building or shop for your hobbies. Turn key ready!

"Shasta County home values have hit the bottom, economist David Gallo told a gathering of community leaders Wednesday in Redding - an opinion borne out by median sales prices, which were up for the third straight month.

"Don't you already see some signs of that in Redding?" Gallo said of a housing recovery during a two-hour presentation at the McConnell Foundation. "I think if mortgage rates and points remain at current levels, we can expect to see rising home values within a year."

Gallo's forecast is based in part on the trend line of inflation-adjusted home values in Shasta County that he's tracked since 1999. The actual median value of homes in Shasta County has never dipped below the trend line - until recently.

"I've concluded housing prices have bottomed out," Gallo said.

Gallo's prediction came as statistics released this week by DataQuick Information Systems show the median sales price of a home in Shasta County in August rose for the third month in a row. The median is the price where half the homes sold for more and the other half for less.

DataQuick reported that the median sales price in August was $201,250, up from $190,000 in July. The median sales price in August 2008 was $225,000.

Home values in Shasta County bottomed out for the year in March when the median sales price plunged to $177,000.

The median sales price in Shasta County peaked in March 2006, when it reached $300,000.

But while values are up, home sales in Shasta County in August dipped to 148, down from 180 in July, and were at their lowest level since April, when there were 131 closed escrows.

It's a sign that the area's housing market is still somewhat volatile.

Told of Gallo's forecast, two north state real estate agents said values have stabilized in some price ranges, namely for homes priced below $250,000, where multiple offers aren't uncommon."

This is bare land South of Pattymocus Look Out. Great recreational property. There is an road to the property via Ball Rd. This is a great area for deer and other wildlife. Pictures to follow. Google earth location is approximate!

Freddie Mac reported the following for other rates for the week:

• 15-year mortgage rates: averaged 4.68 percent, down from last week's 4.81 percent. Last year at this time: 5.64 percent.
• 5-year hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages: averaged 5.04 percent this week, a drop from last week's 5.23 percent. Last year at this time: 5.37 percent
• 1-year ARMs: averaged 4.8 percent, down from last week's 4.94 percent. Last year at this time: 4.98 percent

"Mortgage rates followed bond yields lower this week as recent economic reports suggest the economy is still slowing, which reduces the future threat of inflation," says Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist.

Source: Freddie Mac(02/19/09)

The use of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration is soaring in the Capital Region, growth that comes as many home buyers are struggling to qualify for more traditional loans. Many lenders, skittish as foreclosure and default rates rise, have discontinued mortgages for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit or little saved for a down payment.

Credit standards for FHA loans, by contrast, are more relaxed. And while many loans now require that borrowers put 20% down, FHA loans mandate just 3.5%.

“Most of the programs with minimal down payments have all gone away,” said Lisa Fortin, a senior mortgage consultant at First Priority Mortgage, a RealtyUSA subsidiary in Clifton Park. “FHA is pretty much the only product still available.”

First Priority says FHA loans grew from about 8% of mortgages it originated in 2007 to about 40% today. Other brokers and lenders in the Capital Region report similar upticks.

And national numbers show the same trend: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says FHA loans accounted for just 3.7% of all home loans in its 2006 fiscal year, when subprime and other mortgage products for lower-income buyers were widely available.

But by September, with the credit crunch taking hold, the percentage of home loans backed by the FHA was 21.1%, according to HUD. (September is the most recent month for which the agency has data.)

In raw numbers, the FHA backed 141,000 mortgages in September, about three time the number of a year earlier.

Observers say FHA loans have largely shed the stigma they once had as a loan of last resort for those with lower incomes or shaky credit.

Also, said Sandra Nardoci, president of the Greater Capital Association of Realtors Inc. and an agent at Prudential manor Homes in Latham, the FHA program “used to be a lot more cumbersome than it is today.”

In a sense, the rising popularity of FHA loans during a widespread economic crisis is apt, because the program was created during the Great Depression in an attempt to boost stagnant real estate markets.

Today, the loans are available for as much as $292,100 in most of the Capital Region, or $373,950 for a two-unit property. Borrowers must also take out mortgage insurance-money that helps fund the program.

The FHA does not originate the loans. Instead, it insures them against default, making them a safer bet for lenders.

The loans, which are also available for refinancing, are widely used by first-time borrowers, including many who are now eager to take advantage of the drop in real estate prices in recent months.

“People who get into these mortgages are thrilled to death,” said First Priority’s Fortin. “It’s a great way to get into a home.”

FHA loans do have drawbacks, including the mortgage insurance requirement and interest rates that are generally higher than those available for other loans.

“It’s not the cheapest product out there,” said Therese Raco, an Albany-based administrative vice president at M&T Bank, where FHA loans now account for about 35% of Capital Region mortgages.

“But it’s an option if you’re not qualifying for other loans,” Raco added. “It’s an avenue for home ownership.”

On the rise

Loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration are growing in popularity because of the credit crunch. Use of the loans grew rapidly as other types of mortgage credit became more difficult to obtain.

Time period FHA loan market share

Fiscal year 2006 3.7%
Oct. 2007 6.4%
Jan. 2008 7.9%
April 2008 13%
July 2008 17.1%
Sept. 2008 21.1%

Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Copyright © 2009, Albany Times Union, N.Y.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

I5 frontage with a new set of office buildings adjacent to the south of the property. Plenty of mature trees make a nice setting. Zoned General Commercial but could be a mix of commercial and office buildings. Utilities are immediately available including city water and sewer services. There are some old homes that need to be removed but most of the cleanup on the property is complete. There is 490ft of frontage on Ventura and the I5 freeway and 487ft on Ventura St with an average depth of 180ft. This is priced to sell.

RISMEDIA, January 16, 2009-(MCT)-Every day, more people slip into the foreclosure whirlpool and spiral downward toward the day they may have to leave their home. What should you do if you are on the verge of getting a foreclosure notice?

First and foremost, industry specialists say, you should resist the natural human tendency to freeze up. Face the issue head on and prepare for days and weeks of making phone calls and corresponding with people who may be able to help.
“Don’t assume it’s too late to act,” said Ralph Roberts, a consumer advocate in Michigan and co-author of Foreclosure Self-Defense for Dummies. “As long as you are residing in the home, you probably have some opportunity to keep your home.”

Roberts, a Realtor who lost his home to foreclosure back in the 1970s, said people facing foreclosure have more avenues to pursue than they might realize-certainly more than the typical “pay up or move out” that many people think is their only choice.

Potential solutions include:

- Negotiating a modification of the loan.
- Refinancing the loan.
- Listing the home through an agent for a possible “short sale.”
- Selling the home to an investor on your own.
- Declaring bankruptcy.

Short sales-in which the lender agrees to take less than is owed on the home, writing off some or all of the loss to avoid the expense of a foreclosure-typically are handled by real estate agents, which at least takes some of the pressure off of a harried homeowner. Many professional real estate agents are working more short sales these days and have buyers lined up looking for bargains, though the process can be slow and frustrating.

“The banks are just not moving fast enough. They are sitting on these, and it’s outrageous. Something’s got to be done about that” at the national level, said Ernst Urbainczyk, a veteran agent with Keller Williams Heritage Realty in Lake Mary, Fla. Lenders may also reject short-sale offers, sometimes leaving the seller with little or no time to prevent the foreclosure.

Matthew Englett of Kaufman Englett & Lynd, an Altamonte Springs, Fla., law firm that specializes in foreclosure defense, real estate litigation and bankruptcy, said there are usually several different defenses a borrower can take to dispute a foreclosure, including “wrongful or misleading conduct on behalf of the lender or its agents.”

As the case moves forward, the law firm negotiates with the lender to try to get it to modify the mortgage with a lower interest rate and loan amount.

“In many cases, that would mean the principal would have to be reduced,” Englett said. The law firm charges a flat fee ranging from $1,750 to $2,500 for its foreclosure-defense cases.

© 2009, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

Pending home sales eased against a deteriorating economic backdrop but remain in a stable range, according to the National Association of Realtors^®.

The Pending Home Sales Index,¹ a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in October, slipped 0.7 percent to 88.9 from an upwardly revised reading of 89.5 in September, and is 1.0 percent below October 2007 when it was 89.8.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said a review of the past year is instructive. “Despite the turmoil in the economy, the overall level of pending home sales has been remarkably stable over the past year, holding in a generally narrow range,” he said. “We did see a spike in August when mortgage conditions temporarily improved, which underscores two things – there is a pent-up demand, and access to safe, affordable mortgages will bring more buyers into the market.”

Conditions remain uneven around the country, but some areas that are showing healthy gains in pending home sales from a year ago include many Florida and California markets, Providence, R.I.; Lansing, Mich.; Oklahoma City; and Las Vegas. ²

The PHSI in the South jumped 7.8 percent to 95.9 in October but remains 2.9 percent below a year ago. In the Northeast the index rose 0.6 percent to 68.1 but is 14.1 percent below October 2007. The index in the Midwest declined 4.3 percent to 79.7 in October and is 6.8 percent below a year ago. In the West, the index fell 8.7 percent to 103.7 but is 17.4 percent higher than October 2007.

NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth, said he’s hopeful about considerations by the U.S. Treasury. “Efforts to bring down mortgage interest rates demonstrate a clear understanding of the role housing plays in stabilizing the economy,” McMillan said. “We’re very encouraged by all of the proposals getting serious consideration in Washington to help home buyers. More sales will stabilize home prices by bringing down inventory, and would lessen foreclosure pressure.”

Yun expects growth in the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) to contract through the first half of 2009, then stabilize and expand in latter part of the year – lifted by a home sales recovery. “Given the critical role of housing in an economic recovery, we’re confident sufficient stimulus will be offered to bring more buyers to the market,” he said.

Looking at middle-ground assumptions, existing-home sales are forecast to total 4.96 million this year, and then increase to 5.19 million in 2009 and 5.55 million in 2010.

New-home sales for 2008 should total 486,000 this year, decline to 393,000 in 2009 and then grow to 446,000 in 2010. Housing starts, including multifamily units, are projected at 934,000 units in 2008 and 731,000 next year before rising to 772,000 in 2010.

“Price projections are challenging in an environment with so many variables and divergent local conditions,” Yun said. “The home price correction to date has brought prices in line with fundamentals, but buyer pessimism could cause prices to overshoot downward, resulting in further economic deterioration.”

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage will probably decline to 5.6 percent in the first quarter, rise slowly to 6.0 percent by the end of 2009, and average 6.2 percent in 2010. NAR’s housing affordability index is likely to remain quite favorable, averaging 138 in 2009.

The unemployment rate is estimated at 7.2 percent in the first quarter, rising to 8.3 percent by the end of 2009. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is seen at 0.7 percent in 2009. Inflation-adjusted disposable personal income is expected to grow 1.5 percent in 2009.