Another Opinion: The Real Estate Market

What do you think about Solar for Your Home?

Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value?

Would you pay more for a home with solar panels?

Many people already are, according to two recent economic studies that found homes with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems sell for a premium over homes without solar panels. Read the full article.

The DONT'S of the Home Loan Process

10 Things to Avoid When Applying For A Loan

If you are going through the home buying process you’ve probably heard a lot about what you should do. But, if you are planning to get a loan to help you buy the house, there are also things you should not do.  Read all 10 of them.

Local Week-End Events

Potential Impacts of the Debt Ceiling Law on Real Estate

This video is published by the National Association of Realtors. The speakers talk about the details of the law that raised the debt ceiling, and kept the government in business. They also talk about what's next, with an emphasis on the real estate industry.

Get the Score Lenders Use to Evaluate Your Home Refinance Loan

After you’ve determined that you’re ready to refinance, you need to understand how lenders see you. Lenders will determine your credit-worthiness based on your three FICO® scores. By getting your scores, you can be sure that you know the kind of loan offers you should be receiving before lenders present you with numbers. Read more...

Congratulations Intero Gilroy - Best of Winner

Intero Gilroy awarded the Best of Gilroy 2011 Dispatch readers' poll!

Intero and Western Bancorp voted the Best Real Estate and Mortgage Company in the Silicon Valley

The results are in and Intero Real Estate Services, Inc. and Western Bancorp were voted the Best Real Estate Company and Best Mortgage Company in Silicon Valley in the 2011 San Jose Mercury News Reader’s Choice Awards. For Intero this marks our second time we’ve been honored with this award. Thank you we appreciate your votes!

Law Against Short Sale Deficiencies Expanded

Brought to you by the California Association of Realtors.

In a major victory for REALTORS®, Governor Brown signed into law this week a C.A.R.-sponsored bill, Senate Bill 458, prohibiting a deficiency after a short sale for one-to-four residential units, regardless of whether the lender is a senior or junior lienholder. Effective immediately for transactions closing escrow from this day forward, both senior and junior lienholders cannot require a borrower to owe or pay for a deficiency in a short sale. This law also prohibits any deficiency judgment to be requested or rendered for senior or junior liens after a short sale of one-to-four residential units. Any purported waiver of this rule shall be void and against public policy.

Although a lender cannot require a borrower to pay any additional compensation in exchange for a short sale approval, the new law does not prohibit a borrower from voluntarily offering a monetary contribution to a lender in hopes of obtaining a short sale. A lender is also permitted under the new law to negotiate for a contribution from someone other than the borrower, such as other lenders, agents, relatives, and the like.

Exceptions to the new law include a lender seeking damages for a borrower’s fraud or waste; a borrower that is a corporation, LLC, limited partnership, or political subdivision of the state; a lien secured by a bond as specified; a public utility lien; and additional rules apply if a note is cross-collateralized by more than one property.

This law is fully set forth as Senate Bill 458 (Corbett) at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/.

Are Falling Home Prices Saving Marriages?

By Gino Blefari
President & CEO
Intero Real Estate Services, Inc.

You'll often hear people in the real estate business talk about how most home sales are triggered by life events: marriage, divorce, babies, job relocation. These are the standard igniters. But how do situations change when the housing market is slow? Read the whole story...