Certified Military Housing Specialist Military Relocation Professional

Vandenberg AFB Homes

This author has written 677 articles

What is a “contingent” listing on the Central Coast market?

Approximately 25% of the 500 active single family listings in the Santa Maria California market are "contingent." Buyers run up against this time and time again, and often wonder, "what exactly is a contingent listing?" Before the housing bust, "contingent" was primarily used when a seller accepted a contract that was contingent upon another home selling. For example, if I offered to buy your home but I needed to sell my own home to make that happen, I could make an offer contingent upon my home sale.
Read More

Pacific Crest Quarterly Market Update – 12/08 – 2/09

Pacific Crest Homes
Pacific Crest Homes
Pacific Crest is located in southwest Santa Maria, near the area referred to as Westgate Ranch. Liberty Elementary School is nestled in the community along with a nearby park and greenbelt. Building is still ongoing in the area with the addition of the gated Lavigna townhome community, and more upcoming development planned. Since Battles Road was built out to reach this area, Pacific Crest residents can shoot straight into downtown Santa Maria's shopping and restaurants. The development offers low HOA fees of about $150 per month and many truly deluxe floorplans and amenities.
Read More

REO Contracts — What to Expect When Buying a Foreclosure in Santa Maria & Lompoc CA

The majority of foreclosure activity in Santa Barbara county centers in the Santa Maria and Lompoc markets. Most of the time, banks demand that their own contracts be used when selling foreclosures. In a typical real estate transaction, the parties use the forms produced by the California Association of Realtors. However, bank sellers have special issues they want to address in their contracts and they use their own team of lawyers to draft their contracts.
Read More

2008 Year End Tepusquet Canyon Market Update

Looking for a home off the beaten path? The small rural communities of Sisquoc, Garey, and the Tespusquet Canyon area are nestled in what has become known as Santa Maria valley wine country. Last year, a total of 8 properties were reported sold on the MLS in those areas. The lowest resale was a 2 bedroom 1 bath bank owned cottage on a 6500 square foot lot in Sisquoc which sold for $115,000 in February 2008. Also in Sisquoc, a charming and well kept 2 bedroom 1 bath cottage on an acre of land on Foxen Canyon Road sold for $360,000 in November 2008.
Read More

Buying Central Coast Foreclosures: Pre-Qualification Blues

Home buyers focusing on central coast foreclosure properties are running up against lender pre-qualification requirements when bidding for bank owned properties. Many of the bank owned (REO) property listings require that potential buyers get pre-qualified with their company in order to place a bid on the property. Countrywide, Wells Fargo and Fannie Mae (Express Path) listings frequently have this requirement.
Read More

Taste for Justice — Wine, Beer & Food Tasting Fundraiser, March 7, 2009

On March 7, 2009, Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County will host its 5th annual "Taste for Justice" fundraiser at the Discovery Museum (705 S. McClelland Street) in Santa Maria. This event will features many local winieries who will pour, including Lucas & Lewellen, Cambria Wineries, Fess Parker Winery, & McKeon-Phillips Winery. There will also be a beer tasting featuring Telegraph Brewery and Santa Barbara Downtown Brewing Company. A chef's competition will feature contributions by Allan Hancock College's Culinary Arts students.
Read More

Buying An Approved Short Sale in the Central Coast Market

What is an approved short sale? Let's start with what a short sale is -- a short sale is where the owner owes more on their loan than their home is worth but they still must sell the home. So, the home is placed on the market and offers are accepted -- subject to lender approval. Lender approval can take months to obtain. An approved short sale is a short sale where the seller has already received approval from the bank. So, usually they list the property at a price that the bank has already indicated that they will accept, and they typically indicate how much closing costs credit and any repair credits the bank will allow.
Read More

Santa Barbara County Property Tax Informal Assessment Review Requests Due March 15, 2009

For those who wish to request an informal property tax review from the Santa Barbara County Assessors office, the deadline to apply is March 15, 2009. It appears that the dealine for an informal review has moved up two months, as the previous year's form had May 15th as the deadline to apply for informal review. By applying, you can submit comparative sales to help the Assessor's office come up with a reasonable value for your property for tax assessment purposes.
Read More

Avila Beach MLS Home Search & 2008 Market Update

There were 18 sales reported on the local MLS in Avila Beach in 2008. The lowest re-sale was a $300,000 manufactured home in Indian Hills, an age restricted park in San Luis Bay Estates. The monthly association dues on that 38 year old unit is about $285. The most expensive home sold during that time period was a 2 bedroom, 3 bath, 2800 square foot home in San Luis Bay Estates which sold for $2.3 million. The average price was $763,500, with an average days on market of about 4 months, and selling for abut 97.4% of list price, for about $07 per square foot.
Read More
Back To Top
Call Now ButtonTouch to Call