Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate

Walkable neighborhoods command price premiums A new study says that homes located in more walkable neighborhoods command a price premium over similar homes in less walkable areas. The study, “Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Home Values in U.S. Cities” was commissioned by CEOs for Cities and conducted by Joe Cortright using data from Walk Score. Key findings include: · In 13 out of 15 metro areas higher levels of walk-ability were directly linked to higher home values. · In the typical metropolitan area, a one point increase in Walk Score was associated with an increase in value ranging from $500 to $3,000. Gains were larger in denser, urban areas and smaller in less dense markets. · In the typical areas studied, the premium commanded for neighborhoods with above-average Walk Scores ranged from $4,000 to $34,000. More info

Getting the Best Tax Break When Selling Your Primary Residence When you sell your primary residence, you may be able to save thousands of dollars by taking advantage of one of the best available tax breaks.  Provided that you have lived in the home as your primary residence and owned it for at least two of the past five years, when you sell your home, you can exclude from income up to $250,000 of gain ($500,000 for married couples filing jointly).  This tax benefit can be used once every two years.  Did you know that a married couple can qualify for the entire $500,000 exclusion even if only one spouse has owned the property for two years?  Or that you don’t need to own the home and use it as your primary residence the same two years?  Read on for a few pointers that may help you take advantage of this tax benefit when you sell your primary residence.  Pointer One - $500,000 Exclusion for Married Couples Available Even if Only One Spouse Owns Home for Two Years If you are married

http://www.scvrealty.com   You're probably used to thinking that patience can be a virtue when you're shopping for a bargain on a large purchase. But when that purchase is real estate, the opposite is true. Today's conditions - attractive home prices and interest rates at historic lows - have combined to make the current housing market one of the most affordable in decades. It simply makes no sense to hold out for a better opportunity that isn't likely to come. Signs are already pointing to higher interest rates and, with home prices stabilizing or increasing in most markets, waiting to buy a home could easily cost you several thousand dollars each year. If buying a home is in your future, you won’t want to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Comparison of cost at sample mortgage amount: $275,000 Mortgage At current low interest rate $1476.26 per month

The City of Santa Clarita is proud to announce the Recovery Zone Facility Bond (RZFB) program. RZFBs are tax-exempt private activity bonds authorized by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) to stimulate the local economy. The program allocated $13,270,000 to the City of Santa Clarita for the purpose of investing in private projects that would benefit the community. “The RZFB presents a great opportunity for local businesses looking to upgrade their infrastructure or expand their existing operations,” commented Mayor Laurene Weste. “This is also another great tool for the City to help attract new businesses to Santa Clarita and create more jobs for our local residents.” The RZFB program provides a wide range of businesses access to tax-exempt bonds typically reserved for governments and a very narrow range of private businesses. RZFBs can be used in place of conventional financing and provide a lower interest rate. For the rest o

Today’s short sale buyer may be at an advantage purchasing a short sale property compared to a foreclosure because if the borrower stills owns the home, he or she is likely to take better care of it. Patience is now required until the approval process is updated and efficiency improves from banks, lenders and investors; who approve the net acceptance price for opening and closing short sale escrows. We have closed new listings in less than 90 days with efficient servicers. Other properties can take over a year with changes in condition, occupancy and legal status. We love helping our sellers, and buyers with shortsales. Our short sale department is tenacious and efficient. And so is our probate, relocation and foreclsure department. David Hoshaw Broker, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Weichert, Realtors - Hoshaw & Associates 28009 Smyth Drive Santa Clarita, CA 91355 661-287-4466 ext. 226 david@scvRealty.com www.scvRealty.com For another take see this article.... Short Sales Spread across Real

The latest bank owned properties available for sale. For more information, or to view them please contact me asap. Sincerely, David Hoshaw Broker, CRS, GRI, e-PRO Weichert, Realtors - Hoshaw & Associates 28009 Smyth Drive Santa Clarita, CA 91355 661-287-4466 ext. 226 david@scvRealty.com www.scvRealty.com Address: 22817 22819 14TH STREET, SANTA CLARITA, CA Rooms: 8 Bed: 3 Bath: 2.0 Price: 179,900.00 Address: 20940 JUDAH LANE 17, SANTA CLARITA, CA Rooms: 6 Bed: 3 Bath: 3.0 Price: 199,900.00 Address: 25235 WHEELER ROAD, SANTA CLARITA, CA Rooms: 7 Bed: 3 Bath: 2.0 Price: 326,900.00 Address: 13040 DRONFIELD AVE APT 5, SYLMAR, CA Rooms: 3 Bed: 2 Bath: 1.0 Price: 68,900.00 Address: 14425 FOOTHILL BLVD UNIT 9, SYLMAR, CA Rooms: 5 Bed: 2 Bath: 2.0 Price: 135,900.00 Address: 15122 ROXFORD STREET UNIT 4, SYLMAR, CA Rooms: 6 Bed: 3 Bath: 3.0 Price: 222,900.00 Address: 13265 RAVEN S

Fast Facts Calif. median home price - July 09: $285,480 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region July 09: Santa Barbara So. Coast $885,000 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region July 09: High Desert $110,650 (Source: C.A.R.) Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Second Quarter 2009: 67 percent (Source: C.A.R.) Mortgage rates - week ending 9/3/09 30-yr. fixed: 5.08% Fees/points: 0.7% 15-yr. fixed: 4.54% Fees/points: 0.6% 1-yr. adjustable: 4.62% Fees/points: 0.6% (Source: Freddie Mac) www.scvRealty.com Find Your Next Home Know the Value of your Property? Become our fan on Facebook

Walkable neighborhoods command price premiums A new study says that homes located in more walkable neighborhoods command a price premium over similar homes in less walkable areas. The study, “Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Home Values in U.S. Cities” was commissioned by CEOs for Cities and conducted by Joe Cortright using data from Walk Score. Key findings include: · In 13 out of 15 metro areas higher levels of walk-ability were directly linked to higher home values. · In the typical metropolitan area, a one point increase in Walk Score was associated with an increase in value ranging from $500 to $3,000. Gains were larger in denser, urban areas and smaller in less dense markets. · In the typical areas studied, the premium commanded for neighborhoods with above-average Walk Scores ranged from $4,000 to $34,000. More info

Weichert, Realtors - Hoshaw & Associates Freddie Mac Selling Agent Select Property Report As a Selling agent Select agent for Freddie Mac we can help you negotiate the best possible purchase price for these homes. Don’t see your future home on this week’s list? Just let us know where you want to live and we will help you find and get settled into your next home. Contact me directly or your Weichert, Realtor with any questions 661-287-4466 x 226 or david@scvrealty.com Ask about the special promotions available to buyers of these homes. Address: 22817 22819 14TH STREET, SANTA CLARITA, CA Rooms: 8 Bed: 3 Bath: 2.0 Price: 213,900.00 Address: 13040 DRONFIELD AVE APT 5, SYLMAR, CA Rooms: 3 Bed: 2 Bath: 1.0 Price: 92,900.00 Address: 13100 BROMONT AVE UNIT 13, SYLMAR, CA Rooms: 4 Bed: 2 Bath: 0.0 Price: 105,900.00 Address: 12918 N FOUR PALMS LANE, SYLMAR, CA Rooms: 5 Bed: 3 Bath: 3.0 Price: 251,900.00 Address: 13265 RAVEN STREET, SYLMAR, CA Rooms: 7 Bed: 3 Bath: 2.0 Price: 289,900.00 Addre

The City of Santa Clarita will begin the first of 12 large concrete pours for the Golden Valley Road Bridge, the final link in the Cross Valley Connector, this Friday, August 9. The pour will begin at 4 a.m. and is expected to last until 2 p.m. The Golden Valley Road Bridge is scheduled for completion in March 2010. The 8 ½ mile Cross Valley Connector is the City’s major road project to ease traffic valley-wide through the seamless connection of Newhall Ranch Road and Golden Valley Road. The Connector will also provide a direct connection between the I-5/SR-126 and the SR-14/Golden Valley Interchange. For more information on the Cross Valley Connector, contact the City’s Public Works Department, at (661) 255-4953 or visit http://www.santa-clarita.com/connector . Residents can also sign up for the Cross Valley Connector (CVC) RSS Feed, available at the above provided web address, for up-to-the-minute news on the project.

New $8,000* Tax Credit For 2009, Congress has enacted an $8000 credit specifically to help first-time homebuyers. To qualify, you can earn no more than $75,000 as an individual or $150,000 as a married couple that files a joint tax return. If you do qualify, you will be able to deduct the full $8,000 from your federal tax liability. Or, if you owe less than $8,000, the government will subtract the amount you owe from $8,000 and send you a check for the difference. Only first-time homebuyers who purchase their principal residence on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009 are eligible. You will also be considered a first-time buyer if you have not had any ownership interest in such a home in the three years previous to the day of your 2009 purchase.` For detailed information about the tax credit, click on, First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit. For more information about the $8,000 tax credit, please email or call our office now. You will be put in touch with a local Weichert S

MID-YEAR MARKET SUMMARY The California housing market showed more signs of emerging from the worst of the market downturn in June as the median price rose for the fourth straight month and sales registered significant year-to-year and year-to-date gains. At $274,740 in June, the median price rose to its highest level so far this year and stood 4.2 percent higher than the May revised median price of $263,600. The median remained well below levels of a year earlier, however, with a 26.4 percent decrease from the June 2008 median of $373,100. Year-to-year changes have been less severe in recent months and the June decrease was the smallest since February 2008. June sales dipped 6.0 percent from revised May sales of 546,750 homes to a June sales figure of 514,110 homes, but showed a 20.1 percent increase over prior year sales of 427,910 homes. This was the smallest percentage gain in a year, and smaller gains are expected through the rest of the year. Still, sales in the first

Valuable information for buyers and others changing homes. Many people move into new homes in the summer so they can be settled in time for the start of the new school year. If you are moving this summer, or will be moving in the future, take note of these time-saving tips from HGTV that will help take the stress out of your move: Your trash may be somebody else's treasure . Before you start packing, take time to go through your belongings and get rid of things you won't be likely to use in your new home or that just aren't worth the effort to move with you. Hold a garage sale or consider giving away your unwanted items using Freecycle . Remain organized with a packing system . Not only will you want all of your boxes to make it into the right part of your house, but there will also be certain boxes containing necessities that you'll want to open first. Use colors to differentiate which room boxes go to, and provide a color key to the movers.

Today I would like to try to save you and your friends some cash on your next property tax bill. If you currently don't own real estate please feel free to forward this email to your friends and family that may benefit from Prop 8. Proposition 8 – What is it? Will it save you money? In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that allows a temporary reduction in assessed value when a property suffers a “decline-in-value.” A decline-in-value occurs when the current market value of your property is less than the current assessed value as of January 1. If you purchase d your home or investment property during or after 2003 your current assess ed value may qualify for a reduction. Spring is the time to utilize Prop 8 and start saving money on your property taxes! One client I counseled recently will save over $135.00 per month on their property taxes. You can save about 1.25% for each dollar of reduced assessment. For example if your property ass

$8,000 for first-time home buyers.(if you have not owned a home for three years or more) The first time buyer tax credit currently scheduled to end Dec 1, 2009 Home buyers could receive the tax credit from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) only after the tax season or filing an amended return. To provide more incentives for first time home buyers, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has unveiled a policy change which will provide the tax credit up-front. According to the new policy, borrowers who avail mortgages from Federal Housing Administration (FHA) approved lenders can get advances from lenders in order to meet costs associated with home purchase. This will enable borrowers to receive the tax credit in advance, so they don't have to wait to get the money from the IRS. However, the advance from the lender cannot be used for the 3.5% down payment that borrowers have to make for FHA loans. A typical loan has $6,000 to $8,000 in closing costs, title insurance, and oth

Fannie Mae rolled-back one of its least popular mortgage guidelines updates of the last 12 months. Effective March 1, 2009, real estate investors can once again own and finance up to 10 individual properties. The restriction reversal does come with new minimum requirements, however. Homeowners buying a 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th home must meet the following standards, as set forth by Fannie Mae: 720 credit score 25% downpayment for a 1-unit (30% for a 2-4 unit) No mortgage delinquencies in the last 12 months 6 months of reserves for each investment property In other words, Fannie Mae is re-opening the lending spigot for real estate investors with good credit , a sizeable downpayment and ample reserves. According to Fannie Mae, the change rationale is that experienced investors can "play a key role in the housing recovery". Until now, foreclosure auctions have gone at less than full speed because investors unable to pay cash have been halted by the existing 4-property Fan

The following press releases were posted between 01/20/2009 and 01/30/2009: MAJOR CRIME DECREASES 14.6% IN CITY - Burglary and Larceny Theft Show Double Digit Reductions for 2008 SANTA CLARITA POOL OPENS NEW LAP SWIM PROGRAM CITY’S GRAFFITI REMOVAL TASK FORCE SEES SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN 2008 FINAL TEAMS ANNOUNCED FOR 2009 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA - Santa Clarita to host Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer Fabian Cancellara and Oscar Freire Among the World’s Best Teams February 2, 2009 NAMES BEING ACCEPTED FOR CENTRAL PARK'S YOUTH GROVE MEMORIAL COUNCIL MEMBER MARSHA MCLEAN RE-ELECTED TO COUNTY LIBRARY COMMISSION Visit www.santa-clarita.com/press to view all press releases.

Today the Federal Housing Finance Agency the regulator of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) strongly supports the Enterprises’ leadership role in setting industry standards for assisting "at risk" borrowers who could lose their homes to foreclosure. Federal Housing Finance Agency announced a major program designed to greatly reduce preventable foreclosures with a simplified, streamlined loan modification program to get struggling homeowners into mortgages that they can afford. It is an achievable goal if homeowners, banks, mortgage servicers, investors, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac all work together. This streamlined modification program with uniform eligibility requirements will be supported by a consistent, efficient process approved by key industry participants. This program resulted from a unified effort among the Enterprises, Hope Now and its twenty-seven servicer partners, the Department of the Tr

Wichert, Realtors, a national real estate brokerage with over 40,000 for-sale listings nationwide, announced a partnership enabling it to automatically feed all of its listings to http://www.zillow.com/ on a regular basis. Weichert, Realtors has a 500-plus company-owned and franchised sale offices in key U.S markets, including several offices throughout California, joined the Zillow Listings Feed program to “maximize marketing exposure” to allow for more qualified buyers and to enhance exposure of their sellers listings, given “Zillow’s 5.5 million visitors each month,” according to Michael Montsko, president of Weichert Lead Network. Each listing Weichert feeds to Zillow includes a description of the property with multiple photos and contact information for the listing agent, including links back to the Weichert Web site where Zillow where users can find more information and connect with a Weichert sales associate to guide them through the home buying and selling process. You can sea

The real estate market is always changing and just 2 days after the Nov. 4th 2008 election our inquires from the web, signs and referrals have more than doubled. Real estate is a long term investment, don't panic, the market is turning around,over the next few years it will come back. Now is the time to ride the wave if you can. Sales activity through September 2008 were up 85.7% from last year for the same time in 2007. Pending home sales through September 2008 were UP 148.4% from same time last year 2007. Active listings through September were DOWN 2008 36.3% from same time last year 2007. Information supplied from Santa Clarita Valley Multiple Listing Service