Still a Buyers Market – HALF MOON BAY through MONTARA,CALIFORNIA with just under half of the listings listed at over 1 Million. The Million plus price range is finally seeing activity.

Active Listings-122 Single Family Homes. 53 listed over 1 Million, 25 listed under $600,000
Pending Sales-30 with 8 listed under $600,000 and 9 listed over $1,000,000.
109 Homes Closed since January 1, 2009 with only 18 that closed over $1,000,000 and 29 under $600,000

PACIFICA, CALIFORNIA
With YTD sales of 214 and active listing at 60, Pacifica continues to be a Seller’s market.

Active Listings-60 Single Family Homes. 11 listed at $900,000 or higher and 27 listed under $600,000.
Pending Sales-34 Single Family Homes with 13 listed under $500,000 and 4 over.  6 Properties went Sale Pending this week with listed prices from $430 to $718,000.
214 Closed Sales since January 1, 2009 with 9 that were listed for over $1,000,000.  82 sales were from homes listed at $500,000 or less. 5 new sales this week betweem $398,000 and $750,000.

ABSORPTION RATE
Absorption Rate is the number of months it takes to sell the current inventory at the present rate of sales.
6 months supply is a balanced market.
Less than 6 months supply is a Sellers market.
More than 6 months supply is a Buyers market

“There’s no question that the government’s first-time homebuyer tax credit has spurred a significant amount of sales this year.  Latest estimates show that some 400,000 additional sales occurred this year due to the first time home buyer tax credit, which is about 8% of all sales this year.

In the latest news, The Senate has reached a compromise on extending and expanding the $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers.  While its passage remains uncertain, this plan would extend the existing credit for first-time homebuyers, worth up to $8,000, while offering a new credit of up to $6,500 for some existing homeowners.  The reduced credit would be available to  homeowners who have been in their current residence for a consecutive five-year period in the past eight years.  Lawmakers in Washington also raised the qualifying income limits to $125,000 for single taxpayers and $250,000 for joint taxpayers, from the current $75,000 and $150,000.  Under the Senate compromise, buyers must have sales agreements in hand by April 30, but they will have until June 30 to go to settlement, said the sources. The measure still faces votes in the full Senate and the House.  The U.S. Senate won’t vote until next week at the earliest. ” 

This week, Business Week reported “The broad improvement in the housing indicators in recent months leaves no doubt that the long-awaited housing recovery is finally under way.”  The article went on to report:  “Policy alone cannot explain the 24% gain in existing home sales since January, nor the 22% increase in new-home purchases, the 40% rise in single-family housing starts, and the recent upturn in home prices. The primary driver is historically high affordability. Fixed 30-year mortgage rates are at 5%, a multi-decade low, and prices have plunged a total of 30% since May 2006, based on the Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller Home Price Index. By that price gauge, homes are well undervalued relative to both rents and aftertax income.”

Here is what is happening in San Mateo County

• Peninsula—Half Moon Bay reported it is sensing a slow down with less inventory. MLS tour sheet reflects all the retours, many with price reductions and few new listings.  Menlo Park El Camino reported a bit of a sea change in the market-not much new inventory, only three new listings on tour this week which is very, very low.  Menlo Park Santa Cruz Avenue reported very slow open house activity this last week.  Many listings are receiving price reductions as new inventory is limited.  Pricing is critical.  52% of the listings on the Menlo Park Atherton Broker tour have price reductions and 82% are retours.  Palo Alto Downtown reported the market is generally slow.  We feel like the holiday season has started early.  The activity is reflective of that.  Sales are down in our area.  San Mateo reported a look at its pending sales (SFR) of its six main communities; here is a breakdown of the total and the percentage of short sales plus REOs.  Belmont 31 pending sales (35% SS/REO), Burlingame 27 pending sales (33% SS/REO), Foster city 12 pending sales (18% SS/REO), Hillsborough 22 pending sales (23% SS/REO), Redwood shores 10 pending sales (10% SS/REO), San Mateo 109 pending sales (52% SS/REO).  Most of San Mateo SS/REO is in entry level areas.

While Congress continues to debate the issue, we as Realtors, are calling for support for the expansion of the tax credit from first-time buyers to all homebuyers, increasing the maximum amount of the tax credit from $8,000 to $15,000, eliminating the existing income caps for eligibility purposes and extending this homebuyer tax credit for one year from the date of enactment.
We believe that stimulating demand for housing—particularly in the repeat buyer market—is the most effective way for Congress to help lead the U.S. economy into a recovery and back on the path to growth. And we have to remember that it’s not just the entry level that is affected. The move-up buyer begins the process in building more demand in our mid-tier price points and ultimately our higher-end markets. Timing is critical and we hope that Congress is listening.

While the clock ticks and we await the results of the debate on Capitol Hill, let’s take a look at this week in real estate:

• East Bay—Berkeley reports a rather slow start to October, compared to our previous months. Anything priced $400-750k is getting lots of attention. Open houses were competing with a popular local street fair, but still garnered 45 to 30 groups at the newer listings. Castro Valley reports new construction in our area is looking up. Pricing seems to have normalized for new construction. Otherwise, we are still seeing lots of short sales. REOs are trickling through as well. We are starting to see the Castro Valley home median price range pick up somewhat. Fremont reports the market is typical for the Fall months as people prepare for school and holidays. REO properties are still hot, but have slowed a little too. Livermore reported during this past week active listings and total pending sales remained stable in both Livermore and Pleasanton. In Dublin, this past week, there was more than a 20% increase in listings, and a decline of 10% in total pending sales. $500,000 and below still remains very “Hot” with multiple offers. Walnut Creek reports very low inventory with multiple offers on almost every sale. Even with multiple offers, properties in the $600,000 – $1,000,000 range are not selling much over asking. Buyers are still very cautious, some not quite convinced that the market has hit “bottom.” REOs are barely trickling in.
• Monterey County—Things seem to be slowing down just a bit, though we have had some high-end sales of late, as the inventory of REOs is dwindling and the expected onslaught of new REOs has not yet materialized. Great mortgage rates we’re seeing right now may encourage another surge of sales.
• North Bay—The San Rafael office reports the under $300K market in San Rafael has slowed due to lack of inventory. In Novato the $300-600K price point is steady and the under 300K price point holding steady over the past few months. Cash is still king in bidding wars. Southern Marin reports listings are slowing down considerably. Sebastopol reports buyers are kicking tires at open houses. Listing activity is very slow.
• Peninsula—Burlingame reports appraisal problems are becoming more common and buyers demands are becoming excessive. The Agents are working so hard to hold their transactions together. The number of sales have picked up however and hopes are high for a strong Q4 finish. Half Moon Bay reports the price point is the only thing that matters in receiving offers on listings. Over the $1m mark is still very quiet. Menlo Park El Camino reports buyers are absolutely out there but come out of the bushes only when lured by a great house at a great price. We had nine offers, 25 offers, 6 offers – where are the 8 and 24 and 5 buyers that didn’t get the house? They will buy when the right house gets to the current market price. Redwood City/San Carlos reports one of the multiple offers was our listing and it was priced at $775,000—in San Carlos. There were five offers and it went $55,000 over list price. Three out of the five offers were very close. Moods seem positive. Woodside reported buyers are still on the fence for anything over $4 million. Almost nothing will lure them out. Under that level, it is price, price, price.
• San Francisco—Lombard reported truism reinforced this week: “Price it right, right out of the gate.” Buyers are writing right away if they see value and sense competition. But not returning to see the stale listings with the multiple mini reductions. Many sellers are still not getting this. Market Street reported that there was a lot to do around San Francisco over the weekend so open houses were a little less well attended than past weekends. However, those who attended were especially eager to buy before the end of the year. Van Ness reported both large and small deals are moving well. Activity level is picking up again.
• Santa Cruz County—The lower end market below $600K continues to dominate the lion’s share of sales. Agents are working really hard to keep deals moving forward and at times buyers continued interest in the property if escrows drag on. The Agents are still doing a lot of short sales, some taking months and months. The REO market especially south County – Watsonville – is almost completely dried up and those few actives are getting multiple offers – with cash buyers winning the bids.
• Silicon Valley—Cupertino reports we typically have a lot more sales than listings. Last week the numbers were just about even. Open house traffic was insane! Los Altos reports buyers are trying to find an affordable home in most cases and are competing in multiple offers with cash investors. Mid tier buyers have more time to consider and the upper end is slow. San Jose Almaden reports the market is tapering off a bit on the sales now, not by much but a little. Open houses remain very busy still. With rates as good as they are and inventory shrinking and tax credits ending I would expect more sales. Perhaps the upcoming weeks will prove this to be true. All sales made this week were multiple offers. Willow Glen reports multiple offers are still the norm and many of the Agents in this office have clients that are losing out. Inventory is somewhat down as well.
• South County—Morgan Hill reports each local market is unique and comes with its own set of challenges. Here in South County offerings on the MLS range from one-bedroom condos to huge estates on acreage. We have horse properties, PUDs, single-family developments and attached housing and everything in between. The buying public, for the last six months, has zeroed in on entry level housing (those homes listed under $500,000). That segment of the market is thriving.

MONDAY MORNING MARKET UPDATE WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK

“The patient is out of intensive care, but still has a very long road ahead to a clean bill of health.” 

by Rick Turley, Bay Area President, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Those were the words last week from Fannie Mae Chief Executive Officer Michael Williams.  The CEO went on to say, “Anyone looking objectively at the economy and the housing market sees hope.”

Another good solid indicator of what I’ve been saying in my weekly updates.  The U.S. housing market still has a long road ahead but we are making some definite moves towards a housing recovery.  So what’s the challenge?  Well for starters, rising unemployment numbers aren’t helping.  The United States Department of Labor reported in its September 4 Economic Situation Summary that the number of unemployed persons increased by 466,000 to 14.9 million and the unemployment rate rose by 0.3 percentage point to 9.7%.  Just to give you an idea, since the recession began in December 2007, the number of unemployed persons has risen by 7.4 million, and the unemployment rate has grown by 4.8 percentage points.

We also need to couple that with the challenges in the mortgage industry.  Bloomberg reported, “The mortgage market is still dependent on government-affiliated programs, with private banks providing just 10 percent of loan liquidity, down from about 60 percent in 2006.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are responsible for about 70 percent of all new mortgages, while the Federal Housing Administration accounts for about 20 percent.”

Before we can be truly reformed, we need to get into a position where there is more of a balance between private bank loans and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.  In all actuality, we probably won’t see that for some time.

Having said that, U.S. mortgage applications surged last week with demanding rising to its highest level since late-May as consumers sought to take advantage of the lowest interest rates in months, according to Reuters.

The Reuters article reported, “While home refinancing loans dominated demand, the appetite for applications to buy a home, a tentative early indicator of sales, hit its highest level since early January.  The overall trend bodes well for the hard-hit U.S. housing market, which has been showing signs of stabilization.”

The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage applications which includes both purchase and refinance loans, for the week ended September 4 increased 17.0 percent to 648.3, the highest level since the week ended May 29.

These are all very positive indicators that showcase that we are on the right track…it’ll probably be a slow track…but we’re on the right one.

Now let’s take a look at this week in real estate:

• East  Bay—Berkeley reported a slow week compared to our brisk start to September.  Castro Valley reported our local micromarket is full of challenges.  Not enough inventory, hungry buyers with lots of cash, Agents who must navigate the challenges of appraisal problems, short sale bank frustrations and stiff competition for limited inventory.  We are seeing more listings out there.  They are selling quick, though, often within a week or so of listing.  Danville reported a spurt of activity the first week of September and then it got quiet.  Inventory and sales activity is down both in our office and in our service area.  Fremont reported it seems that the recent Wall Street financial information has made buyers more comfortable and motivated to purchase now that prices are starting to increase and the first time buyer program is ending in November which is another motivator.  Walnut Creek reported sales activity has really slowed down.  Fewer REOs coming on the market though there is an increase of short sale listings.  Multiple offers on most every sale. Orinda reports lower attendance at recent open houses, but the Buyers who do show up are more serious and ready to make offers.
• Monterey County—REOs and Short Sales are continuing on at steady pace, but we are seeing more “traditional” sales than over summer.  We’re getting lower on inventory in the hot REO market of Seaside; however, we keep hearing that the release of a large number of REOs there is imminent.  With Labor Day holiday last week, our closings were weak, though had one over $1 million and one over $2 million, but had good week for new escrows.
• North Bay—Petaluma reported lots of movement in the $500,000 and above range. Under $300,000 continues to be a frenzy with double digit multiple offers. Cash is king.  Santa Rosa concurred noting, too, that cash was king though the Sonoma County market did also note that open houses weren’t as well attended last week as they have been in recent weeks.  Sebastopol reported lots of folks out despite the weather.  Good attendance in all price ranges but most offers remain in the low end.  San Rafael reported the market has slowed in the past few weeks.  Inventory is still low.  78 people came through a new listing held open for the first time in Novato in the mid $700s.  An offer came in the next day.  Greenbrae reported (San Rafael & Corte Madera) had two $1 mil properties come on for the first time last week and had multiple offers by Monday.  Activity not as robust as we hoped but lots of new properties coming on the market so perhaps buyers need a chance to digest the new investors.
• Peninsula—Menlo Park El Camino reports Agents are busy.  The job of being a real estate Agent right now is very hard but the Agents see some deals are being made.  Big loans are still like apparitions.  Menlo Park Santa Cruz Avenue reported good activity following the Labor Day Holiday.  One Hillsborough listing ($6,500,000) was ratified after one week on the market!  Redwood City-San Carlos reported open house activity has definitely picked up.  Buyers seem more ready to make offers.  Woodside reported Woodside and Portola Valley are extremely difficult markets (especially Woodside).  The price point is so high that buyers will not buy and those who are selling are only selling because they have to.  EX: just closed a house at $5.6 mil that the owners paid $13 million for in yr. 2000.  Very few homes on the market representative of the usual Woodside market.
• San Francisco—Lombard reported the number of houses going pending look OK but mostly entry level prices. Labor Day listing surge is happening in the City: 165 new listings entered. The lower the price the more offers. One REO we got in Hayward yielded 33 offers.  The Market Street office reported open house activity was brisk last weekend with 60 groups going through a listing in District 5.  2/3 of the ratified offers were for new construction where good deals are still to be had.  This week the only multiple offers came in on a short sale.  Prices varied from $300K to $940K.  The Noriega office reported Agent activities are high but it’s tough to get deals ratified.  Even after deals are ratified, it takes a lot of work and negotiations afterward to keep the deal alive.
• Santa Cruz—August was slower than 2008 in terms of number of sales and overall prices have dropped within the office about $100K since last year at this time.  Open house activity is still good and there continues to be a pent up demand for properties as the inventory levels remain low.
• Silicon Valley—Cupertino reported it’s busy and an ever increasing challenge getting those deals closed.   Los Altos reported activity is picking up as we head into the normal fall home buying season.   San Jose Willow Glen reported things are slowing up a bit. Open houses still draw a lot of crowds. A couple of the sales that have been turned in, have sold over the asking and it appears that the listing prices were set low to attract buyers.  Saratoga reported  a steady increase in average sales prices over the last six months. Instead of the sales consisting of REOs and Short Sales we’re seeing brisk sales activity up to two million.
• South County—Hollister reported we are seeing great opportunities in establishing client relationships with office floor calls and walk ins this past week.  Inventory is still low and first time homebuyers are struggling trying to secure a contract.  Some REO Listings have received up to 20 offers.  Morgan Hill reported the South County market continues its same scenario–lots of potential buyers and very low inventory.  This week the number of total listings in all of Morgan Hill fell to 125 units–an all time low.  Employing simple “supply and demand” economics, this situation should result in prices beginning to rise–though none of us has witnessed this phenomenon yet.

This week Realogy (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s parent company) President Richard Smith met with legislators regarding the need for policy initiatives concerning the real estate industry and the economy as a whole.  Specifically, the Business Roundtable (an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. corporations)— of which Richard is the chair—issued a set of recommendations for the White House and Congress that are aimed at jump starting the housing market in order to stimulate a broader economic recovery.

The Business Roundtable’s recommendations are as follows:

•         Keep mortgage interest rates at historically low levels (below 5 percent) for at least one year;
•         Expand the current First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit incentive from the lesser of 10 percent of the purchase price of the home or $8,000 to a higher limit of either 10 percent or $15,000 for all homebuyers, remove the income restrictions and include all primary residence purchases for one full year;
•         Conduct a thorough review of current foreclosure mitigation and loan-modification programs in light of rising loan-modification re-default rates;
•         Make permanent the current temporary conforming loan limits; and
•         Continue to review and strengthen government efforts already underway to review and refine mortgage lending practices.

We believe targeted, demand-side solutions—such as the ones Business Roundtable is recommending—will provide a critical next step for a housing recovery that will help create jobs and boost the economy as a whole. To obtain a copy of the Business Roundtable press release and its Housing Working Group’s detailed recommendations, click here. To read an article that appeared in today’s online edition of The Wall Street Journal containing an interview about the Business Roundtable’s recommendations and why they are crucial to jumpstarting the housing market, click here.  We will communicate with you as any legislative opportunities occur for you to contact members of Congress and voice your support—but for now, just know that we appreciate your support and are proud to be part of this initiative.

Active Listings-80 Single Family Homes
8 New Listing this week.
Pending Sales-36 Single Family Homes
4 Properties went Sale Pending this week.
29 Closed Sales since January 1, 2009
2 Homes Closed this week.
These 29 homes closed between $179,000 and $700,000

HALF MOON BAY through MONTARA, CALIFORNIA

Active Listings-150 Single Family Homes
7 New Listings this week.
Pending Sales-9 Single Family Homes
1 Property went Sale Pending this week
11 Closed Sales since January 1, 2009
1 Homes Closed this week.
These 11 homes closed between $155,000 and $999,999.

One, YOU DO NOT NEED TO HIRE A LOAN MODIFICATION COMPANY (3rd Party) TO DO THIS. 

Two, BE THOROUGH FILLING OUT THE INFORMATION SUBMITTING A COMPLETE PACKET THE FIRST TIME.

Revised March 4, 2009

by Susan O’Driscoll, Princeton Capital
 
The Obama Administration unveiled the final details of its “Making Home Affordable Program,” which is designed to help up to 9 million American families refinance or modify their loans to a payment that is affordable now and into the future.
One of the initiatives in this program is aimed at helping struggling homeowners “modify” their loans to avoid foreclosure. Here are some common Questions and Answers about the Modification Initiative in the program.
MODIFICATION INITIATIVE
Who is eligible?
To apply for a Home Affordable Modification, you must:
• Own and currently occupy a one- to four-unit home.
• Have an unpaid principal balance that is equal to or less than $729,750 (for one unit properties).
• Have a loan that was originated before January 1, 2009.
• Have a mortgage payment (including taxes, insurance, and home owners association dues) that is more than 31% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income.
• And, have a mortgage payment that is no longer affordable, perhaps because of a significant change in income or expenses.
If you answered YES to all of these questions, you may be eligible for the Modification Initiative.
Am I eligible if I missed some mortgage payments?
Yes. If you missed two or more mortgage payments and answered “yes” to the Modification Initiative requirements above, you may be eligible for a loan modification.
Do I need to be behind on my mortgage payments to be eligible for a Home Affordable Modification?
No. Responsible borrowers who are struggling to remain current on their mortgage payments are eligible if they are at risk of imminent default. Examples of being “at risk” include facing a significant increase in your mortgage payment or a reduction in your income. Contact me to discuss your specific situation.
I have a second mortgage. Am I still eligible?
Yes, but only the first mortgage is eligible for a modification.
I have an FHA loan. Can it be modified under this program? Are all loans eligible?
Most conventional loans including prime, subprime, and adjustable loans; loans owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as well as private lenders; and loans in mortgage backed securities are eligible for a modification. Contact me to discuss your specific situation.
I have a mortgage on a duplex. I live in one unit and rent the other. Will I still be eligible?
Yes. Mortgages on two, three and four unit properties are eligible as long as you live in one unit as your primary residence.
What does the Modification Initiative do?
If you are eligible for this plan and are approved, you will be put on a trial modification for three months at a new interest rate and payment.
If you successfully make the payments and are current at the end of the three-month trial period, your servicer will execute a permanent modification agreement that will lower your interest rate to a fixed rate for five years.
What happens after five years?

Beginning in year six, the rate may increase no more than one percentage point per year until it reaches the “rate cap” in your modification agreement, which is basically the market interest rate on the date the modification is finalized.
That means your rate can never be higher than the market rate on the day your loan is modified. This is great news because rates are currently at historic lows… and you can lock in now.
How low can my interest rate go?
Treasury is providing incentives to your investor to write the interest down as low as 2%, if necessary to get to a payment that you can afford based on your income.
What happens if that is not enough to get to an affordable payment?
If a 2% interest rate is not enough to bring your payment down to 31% of your gross monthly income, your servicer can extend your payment term–for example, give you a 40-year loan rather than a 30-year.
If that is still not sufficient your servicer will defer repayment on a portion of the amount you owe until a later time. This is called a principal forbearance. A portion of the debt could also be forgiven. This is optional on the part of the investor. There is no requirement for principal forgiveness.
Are there any other benefits to this program?
Yes. For every month you make a payment on time, Treasury will pay an incentive that reduces the principal balance on your loan. Over five years the total principal reduction could add up to $5,000.
How much will a modification cost me?
There is no cost to borrowers for a Home Affordable Modification. You will not be asked for any money.
If there are costs associated with the modification–such as payment of back taxes–your servicer will add those costs on to the amount you owe. Your servicer will also forgive any late fees.
Is housing counseling required under this program?
Borrowers are strongly encouraged to contact a HUD-approved housing counselor to help them understand all of their financial options and to create a workable budget plan.
However, housing counseling is only required for borrowers whose total monthly debts are very high in relation to their incomes (55% of your gross monthly income).
If you would like to speak to a housing counselor, call 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).
How do I apply for the Modification Initiative?
If you meet the general eligibility criteria for the program, you should gather the following information:
• Recent pay stubs to help determine your gross (before tax) household income.
• Your most recent income tax return.
• Information about your assets.
• Information about any second mortgage on your house.
• Account balances and minimum monthly payments due on all of your credit cards.
• Account balances and monthly payments on all other debts, such as student loans and car loans.
• A letter describing the circumstances that caused your income to be reduced or expenses to be increased (for example: job loss, divorce, illness, etc.).
Once you have this information, call your mortgage servicer and ask to be considered for a Home Affordable Modification. The number is on your monthly mortgage bill or coupon book.
My loan is scheduled for foreclosure soon. What should I do?
If your mortgage has been scheduled for foreclosure or if you have missed one or more mortgage payments, should contact your servicer immediately.
You may also want contact a HUD-approved housing counselor by calling 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).

Friday, February 13, 2009 – Brought to you by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Dear C.A.R. Member:
Late this evening, the U.S. Senate passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 by a 60 to 38 vote. Earlier today, the stimulus package passed the U.S. House of Representatives in a 246 to 183 vote. Today’s votes followed several days of negotiations by the House, Senate, and White House, with the final tab for the stimulus bill coming in at $787.2 billion.

On the housing front, the good news is that the legislation resets the conforming loan limit cap at $729,750, up from $625,500. Numerous counties in California experienced a marked decrease in their conforming loan and FHA limits on Jan. 1, and the stimulus bill reinstates 2008 loan limits through Dec. 31, 2009.

The bill also increases the first-time home buyer credit from $7,500 to $8,000, and removes the requirement that the credit be paid back if the buyer stays in the home for at least three years. It also extends the expiration date for the credit from July 1 to Dec. 1, 2009.  Homebuyers must have purchased a home after Jan. 1, 2009, and before Dec. 1, 2009, to be eligible for the $8,000 credit.

C.A.R. and NAR have long advocated for higher conforming loan limits. The conforming loan limit provisions and other housing elements in the stimulus package are a step in the right direction for our industry and all Californians.

The stimulus package also contains $308.3 billion in appropriations spending, including $120 billion on infrastructure and science and more than $30 billion on energy-related infrastructure projects. It also allocated an additional $267 billion for direct spending, including increased unemployment benefits and food stamps; and provides $212 billion in tax breaks for individuals and businesses.

Now that the stimulus package is approved and is on its way to President Obama for signature, it is our hope that Congress will turn its attention toward helping homeowners remain in their homes and will take immediate steps directed specifically at stemming the ongoing foreclosure crisis.

We’ll keep you updated on today’s news as more detailed information becomes available.

Sincerely,

James Liptak
2009 President
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

For more on the changes in conforming loan limits, check out the following from Inman News:

Highlight: The loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA loan guarantee programs, which were bumped back down to $625,500 in high-cost areas on Jan. 1, were restored to the temporary $729,750 approved by Congress a year ago in the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008.

Fannie and Freddie’s conforming loan limits — which began 2008 at $417,000 — were allowed to stretch to 125 percent of the median home price in high-priced housing markets for much of last year. That was intended to be a temporary measure to address the high cost of non-conforming “jumbo” loans after the collapse of the private-label secondary mortgage market in August 2007.

The $729,750 limit expired on Jan. 1, and Fannie, Freddie and FHA are currently permitted to guarantee loans of up to 115 percent of the median home price in high-cost markets, with a cap of $625,500 (that’s 150 percent of the $417,000 conforming loan limit). HR 1 will restore the limit to 125 percent of median home price in high cost markets, up to $729,750, for the remainder of 2009.

FHA began 2008 with a $200,160 “floor” loan limit in normal markets and a maximum loan limit of $362,790 in high-cost markets. As part of the Economic Stimulus Act, Congress increased FHA’s floor limit to $271,050 in normal markets and the upper limit in high cost areas to $729,750. That move helped increase the Federal Housing Administration’s share of purchase mortgage originations from less than 4 percent in 2006 to 21 percent in September.

Click here for complete story.

Effective with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) release in November 2008, there are two sets of conforming limits provided for first mortgages: 1) general conforming loan limits, and 2) high balance conforming loan limits. General conforming loan limits remain at $417,000. The new high balance conforming limit (max limits are county specific) is $625,500. You can review Loan to Value (LTV) lending limits and county specific limits here.

Recently there have been reports that the U.S. Treasury will lower mortgage rates for purchases to 4.5% for conforming loan limits. Whether that will happen or not remains to be seen. To get a similar result for jumbo loans, sellers can buy down the rate. This can be more advantageous to sellers than a price reduction, it gives them a competitive advantage and it increases the pool of qualified buyers. You can see an example of this benefit here.

While speculation of the Treasury’s actions continue, we have seen great rates. If buyers can afford the home and can also afford to pay for the things that matter to them going forward, now is the time to buy.

Please contact me with any questions you may have or to discuss a specific client’s financial or mortgage strategy.

Regards,
Andy

Watching the recent financial turmoil of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, Lehman Brothers and a few others has been unsettling, to say the least. On Friday President Bush proposed a comprehensive approach to stabilize the credit markets, including $700B for the purchase of existing mortgages from banks and other financial institutions, in an effort to shore up the economy. Additionally, the Federal Reserve and central banks worldwide have rapidly and radically expanded liquidity of the money supply. These actions are sending a powerful signal to investors in our financial markets that liquidity is not a problem!

There are now approximately 5 million homeowners delinquent on their mortgages or in foreclosure. With the government takeover of the largest holder of home mortgages, we (the U.S. taxpayers) now own Fannie and Freddie. In order to reach a stable housing market, lending at reasonable rates will most likely continue through 2009.

Is this the end of the crisis? No. But it is likely the beginning of the end.

The stock, bond and credit markets will remain volatile as the implementation of the government bailout is specified, agreed to by congress and acted upon. These actions are necessary to resolve the current financial crisis and begin building toward a stable and prosperous financial future.

It’s always interesting to learn the views of other real estate and mortgage professionals that are in the trenches of this challenging market. Learn more about Andy Block here.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121865515167837815.html?mod=djemWMP