Pasadena CA Real Estate

Pasadena Mortgage rates were stable this week.  ARM rates went up and the fixed rate mortgage rates are the same as they were Monday.  I mentioned that traders felt “stuck in the middle” of conflicting data.  Core inflation is rising but oil prices are falling like a rock off a cliff.  I’m as confused as the mortgage bond traders so I’m taking this opportunity to lock rates for loans closing within 30 days.   READ: Why Oil Prices Will Drop BELOW $100/ Barrel in 2009 Why?  I think the rising ARM rates suggest that traders believe, in their hearts, that the Fed will tighten before Thanksgiving.  I’m more about mitigating risk rather than pouncing on opportunity so when I’m confused, I lock mortgage rates.  Maybe the descent in oil prices will continue and mortgage rates decline further but “I ain’t seeing it” from my ivory tower.   Pasadena Mortgage rates  for August 15, 2008.  Loan amounts up to $417,000:

Read more »

http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/0040F1

Pasadena Mortgage rates for August 1, 2008.  Loan amounts up to $417,000:   3/1 ARM              5.500% 5/1 ARM              5.750% 7/1 ARM              5.875% 10/1 ARM            6.250% 30 Yr Fixed          6.375%   All rates offered to the borrower with 1 point cost.  Rate quotes assume a purchase transaction with a 20% down payment, 720 credit score, and full income qualification.  Rates are subject to fluctuation.  Custom rate quotes and rate lock advice are available by calling (858)-777-9751.   PASADENA MORTGAGE RATE TREND:

Read more »

http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/00405B

Over the last couple of days we loooked at a Formula for Selling your Pasadena Home in 30 days or less.   It all comes down to getting your home ready for sale, pricing your Pasadena home correctly and marketing exposure.  

In my second post in the Selling Your Home series, we reviewed how best to showcase your home listing in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and the use of Flash Presentations or Home Tours.

Today, I wanted to take a look at how to create an effective Property Brochure for Pasadena home buyers.  This is especially helpful for our For Sale By Owner Sellers.

What is the purpose of a home property flyer or a brochure?

The main purpose of a home brochure is to ensure that home buyers will easily remember your home and be able to contact the home seller (if you are selling your home by owner) or the real estate agent representing your home.

Other reasons that home buyers pick up a brochure is to:

1. Share information about the home with their friends and family.
2. Easily access important data about the home - home sales price, square footage, HOA (if any), year home built, special features, etc.

3. Compare your home with other homes that they have seen around Pasadena.

Choosing a property brochure design layout:

1. Should this be a one page or a two page brochure?  I always recommend using both sides of your brochure.  Why waste the back of the brochure and leave it blank?  It’s just like thinking of a real estate location - 1st page of the brochure is your prime real estate and the back is secondary real estate location.  I prefer to have a stunning picture on the first page with home address and price.  The second page on my brochures will usually have more beautiful photographs and specific details about the home for sale.
2. Color and Design of the Border of the brochure.  Using too many colors will actually take away from the brochure.  One or Two colors will add to a more striking presentation.

3. Decide on text font and size.  Remember to have lots of white space for easy reading and headers as appropriate.

Describe your home:

1. The first thing I recommend doing is going through your house room by room.  Make notes about what is special about each room.  What are your home’s highlights?  Think about how you entertain.  What do your friends and family like about this house?
2. Have a concise leading paragraph and follow up with bullet points of special items and amenities.

3. Be as clear as possible.  The very last thing you’d want to do is mislead a potential customer.  Do not over-enhance the home’s features.  Stay factual.

READ MORE:  Power Words that SELL

Add Photographs:

1. Decide on the number of photographs that you will use.  I usually prefer to use 5 to 6 photos highlighting some of the rooms, the front of the house and the backyard.

2. Make sure the photos are in order of how a buyer would view your home.  It will make it easier for the potential buyer to remember what it was like walking through your home.

Contact Information:

1. Remember to put your name, phone number and email address so that potential buyers can get a hold of you quickly.

 Printing Property Brochures

1. Good quality paper is an important part of the presentation.  Make sure that you select a good heavy stock paper.
2. Always print in color.  Please, no black & white copies.  These are just a huge NO NO!

3. There are plenty of printers that would be happy to print off 100 to 200 copies for you.  The average charge is about $75 for 100 flyers.  Have plenty on hand for the buyers and the potential agents that might stop by.

Distribution

1. Keep the home sale brochures available at the entry of the home presented in a nice stand.  Dining room table or kitchen bar works nicely as well.
2. I am not a huge advocate of having brochures in front of your home in a brochure holder.  The idea here is to have buyers visit and view your home, not just pick up a brochure.  If you do choose to have some outside, make sure the brochures are of the highest quality so as not to discourage potential buyers.
3. Distribute property brochures to local real estate offices.  Remember that even if you choose to sell your house by yourself, in all likelihood a real estate agent will end up selling it for you.  Get the local real estate community involved by letting them know that your home is for sale.  Most buyers will be represented by a professional real estate agent.

Okay, you are ready to start working on your property brochure.  Don’t forget to check your spelling!

http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/00401F

If you are living in Alhambra or are thinking about relocating to Alhambra, you've come to the right place. 

This post will be updated monthly, around the first week of the month, for the previous month and will give you key real estate market indicators for Alhambra California.  Bookmark this page and visit it each month to see how Ahambra homes and condos are faring in today's real estate market.

If you are already an Alhambra homeowner and would like to get a monthly email sent to you with real estate activity around your Alhambra home, please click here and order your real estate monthly market report.  You will not be contacted by me or anyone on my team and the information will be generated automatically via email based on the criteria that you list.

If you are seriously considering selling your Alhambra home and would like a private consultation, please contact me at     626-627-7107     or Irina@Irina4RealEstate.com.

Alhambra Real Estate Market Report for the month of July 2008:

The number of new homes for sale (SFR) almost doubled in July with the number of home sales remaining the same as in the last couple of months.  Price per square foot is moving down as well.  There is several months of inventory for Alhambra home buyers to choose from.

Single Family Residence	Jul-08
New Listings	21
Total Listings	61
Sales Pending	17
Homes Sold	15
Listings Expired	8
Average Days on the Market	62
Average Price Per Sq. Ft.	$350
Average Selling Price	$505,133
Absorption Rate (# of weeks to sell current inventory at present rate of sales)	20.3
Condos and Townhomes	Jul-08
New Listings	11
Total Listings	39
Sales Pending	11
Homes Sold	12
Listings Expired	7
Average Days on the Market	84
Average Price Per Sq. Ft.	$305
Average Selling Price	$406,708
Absorption Rate (# of weeks to sell current inventory at present rate of sales)	21.1

Alhambra Real Estate Market Report for the month of June 2008:

Read more »

http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/0039C0

Pasadena Real Estate Mortgage rates for August 1, 2008.  Loan amounts up to $417,000:

 

3/1 ARM              5.500%

5/1 ARM              5.625%

7/1 ARM              6.125%

10/1 ARM            6.250%

30 Yr Fixed          6.250%

 

All rates offered to the borrower with 1 point cost.  Rate quotes assume a purchase transaction with a 20% down payment, 720 credit score, and full income qualification.  Rates are subject to fluctuation.  Custom rate quotes and rate lock advice are available by calling  (858)-777-9751 .

 

PASADENA MORTGAGE RATE TREND:

 

Next 7 days:       Slightly Lower

Next 30 days:     Slightly Lower

Next 3 months:   Neutral

 

This mortgage rates report is offered courtesy of Brian Brady.  Contact Brian for more information about a home loan or apply online.

http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/003F8C