Ventura County Real Estate

Some Highlights: Whether you are selling your home, just purchased your first home or are a homeowner planning to stay put for a while, there is value in knowing which   home improvement projects   will net you the most Return On Investment (ROI). Minor bathroom renovations can go a long way toward improving the quality of your everyday life and/or impressing potential buyers. Upgrading your landscaping or curb appeal helps get buyers in the door. These upgrades rank as the 2 nd   and 4 th   renovations for returns on investment. http://www.mcqueenandassociates.com

With home values appreciating at record rates, some are concerned that we may be heading for another housing bubble like the one we experienced a decade ago. One of the major culprits of that housing boom and bust was the loosening of standards for mortgage credit. In a study done at the University of North Carolina immediately after the crisis, it was revealed that: “Lenders began originating large numbers of high risk mortgages from around 2004 to 2007, and loans from those vintage years exhibited higher default rates than loans made either before or after.” A study by John V Duca, John Muellbauer, and Anthony Murphy concluded that those risky mortgages caused the housing crisis: “Our findings indicate that swings in credit standards played a major, if not the major, role in driving the recent boom and bust in US house prices.” How do today’s mortgage standards compare to those from 2004 to 2007? The   Mortgage Bankers’ Association   tracts mortgage stand...

A recent   survey   conducted by   Harris Poll   and released by   SunTrust Mortgage   found that   “55% of homeowners with a child under the age of 18 at the time when they purchased their home said that the opinion of their offspring played a major role in their home buying decision.” When the results were broken down by the parent’s age, millennials (those 18-36) led the way with 74% of homeowners saying that their child’s opinion was a factor in choosing which home to buy. Eighty-three percent of renters believe that their child’s opinion would be a deciding factor when looking to purchase a home. So what features in a home are most important to kids? Coming in at 57%, it should come as no surprise that gaining their own bedrooms was the top most-desirable feature of any home for kids, followed by a large back yard to play in at 34%. Todd Chamberlain,   Head of Mortgage Banking   at   SunTrust   explained the reason...

People often ask if now is a good time to buy a home, but nobody ever asks whether or not it’s a good time to rent. Regardless, we want to make certain that everyone understands that now is NOT a good time to rent. The  Census Bureau  recently  released  their 2018 first quarter median rent numbers. According to their report, here is a graph showing rent increases from 1988 until today: As you can see, rents have steadily increased and are showing no signs of slowing down. If you are faced with making the decision of whether or not you should renew your lease, you might be pleasantly surprised at your ability to  buy a home  of your own instead. Bottom Line One way to protect yourself from rising rents is to  lock in  your housing expense by buying a home. If you are ready and willing to buy, meet with a local real estate professional who can help determine if you are able to today! http://www.mcqueenandassociates.com  ...

428 Calle Veracruz, Dos Vientos, Newbury Park Beautiful Traditions Home with 4 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 Baths Plus Bonus Room with Views! Cathedral Ceiling at Entry, Gorgeous Wood Floors and Designer Paint, Plush Carpet. Formal Dining and Living Room with Fireplace. Gourmet Kitchen with island adjoins Family Room with Fireplace. Spacious Master Bedroom with His & Hers Closets. Spa Quality Bath with Dual Vanities, Shower & Tub. 3 Additional Bedrooms, Large Bonus Room, Upstairs Laundry. Private Yard with Amazing Mountain Views, Above Ground Spa, Covered Patio, Lush Landscaping with Big Grassy Area. 3 Car Garage with Built-in Cabinets. Prime Location, Walk to Sycamore Canyon K-8 School, Parks, The Village. Fabulous Home! https://www.flexmls.com/share/1Xak3/428CalleVeracruzNewburyParkCA91320 http://www.McQueenandAssociates.com

According to recently released  data  from the  National Association of Realtors  (NAR), the median number of days that a home spent on the market hit a new low of 26 days in April, as 57% of homes were on the market for under a month. NAR’s   Chief Economist,   Lawrence Yun, had this to say, “What is available for sale is going under contract at a rapid pace. Since NAR began tracking this data in May 2011, the median days a listing was on the market was at an all-time low in April, and the share of homes sold in less than a month was at an all-time high.” Strong buyer demand, a good economy, and a low inventory of new and existing homes for sale created the perfect storm to accelerate the time between listing and signing a contract. The chart below shows the median days on the market from April 2017 to April 2018: Bottom Line If you are a homeowner who is debating whether or not to list your home for sale, know that national market co...