Santa Maria First Time Home Buyer Alert: What Does “Pending” Mean?
First time home buyers driving around Santa Maria or looking on my websites may see a home or condo marked “pending” and wonder what that means.
Santa Maria Real Estate Alert: Beware of Rental Scams on Craig’s’ List
There is a common scam run on websites (Craig’s List in particular, but not exclusively) whereby properties that are listed for sale with an agent are fraudulently advertised for rent. Typically, the person running the rental ad tells potential renters that they are overseas working (in the armed services or as a missionary, etc.) and they advertise very cheap rent. They ask the potential tenant to send a cashier’s check for the first and last month’s rent and/or a prepayment of several months of rent in exchange for them mailing the keys at a later date. Unfortunately, once your money goes out of the country, there is very little you can do to recover it. These people are very clever; they will access property records and create fake email accounts with the real property owner’s name.
Santa Maria Real Estate For Sale
Now that the housing boom has busted the average price for homes within Santa Maria hovers around $200,000, homes in Orcutt average higher around $300,000. Are you searching for real estate in Santa Maria market? Check out the search links before for current listings. Are you looking to sell your Santa Maria or Orcutt home?
List of Cheap Foreclosure Homes in Santa Maria
Wondering what the cheap foreclosure homes sell for in Santa Maria? Last month, the average foreclosure property in Santa Maria sold for $210,630, and for over its list price by nearly 2%. But, how much for the cheap ones you ask? There wer 30 homes that sold, and the cheapest was a 2 bedroom one bath fixer on West Mill which sold for $90,350. After that the cheapest foreclosure sold in Santa Maria was 3 bedroom one bath home on East Las Flores (near Hancock College) which sold for $109,900.*
Orcutt Burgers – One of the Hidden Treasures of the Central Coast
An open secret to locals, Orcutt Burgers has some of the best food in Santa Maria and Orcutt. They regularly place as one of the favorite fast food restaurants in town. But don't let the name fool you -- it's not just burgers. The breakfast menu is outstanding with plenty to offer. Visit any weekend morning and you will see the place packed with locals enjoying flapjacks, super sized omelettes and the homemade salsa.
Santa Maria SuperBowl Parties
Superbowl plans fall through? There are a couple of spots in Santa Maria where you can go catch the game with strangers who will soon become friends depending on who your team is. Since both sides of my family are originally from Louisiana, (although my mom was born and raised in Texas, her family is from Minden, Louisiana), and my Dad was born in New Orleans — it should be obvious who I’m pulling for although I think there is just too much pressure on the Saints! I’m hoping for the best. Quite frankly, just getting there is such a victory for New Orleans. I visited New Orleans just this past December, and you could have heard a pin drop in the French Quarter while the Saints were playing, every place we went people were watching the game or listening to it on the radio. The city of New Orleans is so united behind this team.
2009 Los Alamos CA Real Estate and Foreclosure Market Update
There were 16 sales in Los Alamos, CA in 2009. Compared to last year, sales are down from the 20 homes that were sold in 2008. Overall average prices are also down from 2008, when the average sale price was $417,000. In 2009, the average sales price was $353,000 with 117 days on market at $208 per square foot. Days on market are also up as the 2008 average days on market was 95.
What is the City of Santa Maria California Best Known For?
Let's see, if I had to say three things that Santa Maria was known for it would be strawberries, tri-tip barbeque, and now its wine country. Strawberries are honored at the yearly Strawberry Festival. And although the number of strawberry stands has decreased over the years, you can still get some of the best strawberries in the country from Santa Maria fields.
How Many Houses Are for Sale in Santa Maria CA Right Now?
How many houses are for sale in Santa Maria right now? I get this question all the time. To many buyers, it feels as if there are no houses for sale. When I surveyed the MLS this morning, there were 163 houses listed for sale in the Santa Maria and Orcutt CA area. Of those 163 homes, 29 were foreclosures (REOs) and 45 were short sales.
Can I Buy A Santa Maria CA Short Sale and Still Qualify for the $8000 Tax Credit?
So many of the first time home buyers in the Santa Maria market today are concerned about whether they will qualify for the $8000 tax credit. Short sale purchases can qualify for the credit , so long as the buyer qualifies for the credit in general. (You should check withb your tax professional on this issue). However, because the timelines on short sales are somewhat undetermined, they can fail to close by the deadline for the tax credit. Right now, it is my understanding that in order to qualify a buyer must have a confirmed contract by April 30th. In the case of a short sale purchase, this means the buyer must have a signed contract and bank approval of the short sale in hand in order to qualify for the tax credit. And, the transaction must close by June 30th.
