The Bani Group, Inc. with KW VIP Properties

Quite the unique home. Worth it?

$2.8M Private Island on New York's St. Lawrence River Is the Week's Most Popular Home A tiny island on the St. Lawrence River recently hit the market and quickly captured the most clicks on Realtor.com® this week.

This year's two largest Concerts in the Park venues (Santa Clarita and Warner Center) continue offering free shows to the public. Santa Clarita on Saturdays at 7 in Central Park and Woodland Hills/Warner Center on Sundays. Santa Clarita's line-up features almost all-new acts vs. years past:
SANTA CLARITA:
July 6 – Super Soul Groove: Disco, Funk, Soul and R&B
July 13 – In The End: Tribute to Linkin Park
July 20 – Buffet Beach: Tribute to Jimmy Buffet
July 27 – The Boy Band Project: Tribute to ’90s & ’00s Boy Bands
August 3 – The Travelin’ Band: Tribute to Credence Clearwater Revival John Fogerty
August 10 – Fast Times: 80’s Concert Experience
August 17 – Rebel Heart: Tribute to Modern Country Music
August 24 – Adelaide Pilar’s Latin Divas Show: Tribute to Selena, Shakira, Gloria Estefan, Celia Cruz

WARNER CENTER:
June 16, 2024 Linda & Friends - Linda Rondstadt tribute
June 23, 2024 The Soul Juice Band
June 30, 2024 Strange Days - The Doors tribute
July 14, 2024 Foreigner Unauthorized - Foreigner tribute
July 21, 2024 Twisted Gypsy - Fleetwood Mac tribute
July 28, 2024 Red Corvette - Prince tribute
August 4, 2024 Wanted - Bon Jovi tribute
August 11, 2024 The FABBA Show - ABBA tribute
August 25, 2024 Aeromyth - Aerosmith tribute

This is a huge law that passed and it’s not in favor of multi family property owners or condo owners.
Cost to inspect in $3,000 per balcony, if there’s an HOA, HOA will likely pay and pass along the cost as assessment to owners.
Inspectors need to be Architects or Structural Engineers not just regular property inspectors.

Just another way California wants to take away properties from investment owners.

When it comes to selling a home in California, timing can significantly impact your sale. Let’s break down the key factors and steps to help you choose the right time:

Average Time to Sell in California:
In 2024, the average time it takes to sell a home in California is approximately 79 days from listing to closing.
This includes 44 days to get an offer and an additional 35 days for the closing process.
Keep in mind that these are annual averages, and the numbers may vary by month or season.
Best Time to Sell:
March: According to Zillow, March is optimal for selling a house.
July: If you want a larger profit, consider listing in July.
May and June: During peak real estate season, homes in California sell about 15% faster than off-peak months.
Factors to Consider:
Local Market Conditions: Evaluate buyer demand, job market trends, and rising home values.
Property Type and Condition: Assess your home’s appeal and maintenance.
Listing Strategy: Work with an agent on pricing, marketing, and networking.
Buyer Financing: Consider the time needed for loan approval.
Have a question for me? Ask below.

California’s homeownership rate hit a 13-year high last year, minus questionable pandemic data from 2020, according to business journalist Jonathan Lansner. In 2023, 55.8 percent of Californians lived in a home they owned, up from 55.3 percent in 2022.

A new report published by Fitch Ratings found that homes were overvalued by 11.1% at the end of 2023, a trend occurring in about 90% of U.S. metro areas. What is the ACCURACY on your home? That’s where I come in.

HUD Launches New Program to Invest in Manufactured Home Communities

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), last week announced the launch of its new Manufactured Home Community loan product, which will provide an FHA-insured financing option for the purchase, refinance, and revitalization of manufactured home communities.

Under this new program, which is now available, certain mission-focused entities such as resident-owned manufactured home communities, cooperatives, non-profit entities and consortia, state and local governments, community development financing institutions, and Indian Tribes, will be eligible to use this program to finance the acquisition of or to improve existing communities, including making updates to common area resources and helping to maintain rent affordability

Mello Roos is often maligned, but these pretty vistas would not exist around the US if not for the money generated by Mello Roos...

Since termites are a home's biggest nemesis, this is great news. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2024/05/31/greener-more-effective-way-kill-termites?

A greener, more effective way to kill termites UC Riverside scientists have discovered a highly effective, nontoxic, and less expensive way to lure hungry termites to their doom.

Whatever your reasons for selling may be, I'm sure that home buyers out there are grateful you might be ready to sell. Choosing not to fix some things will help keep prices down.

What Not to Fix When Selling a House: 10 Tips Pros Want You to Know Knowing what not to fix when selling a house is as important as knowing what to fix. Large appliances are too expensive to fix or replace, while other items, like window treatments or smart home technology, will probably get replaced by the homebuyer anyway. Exclude key items from your list of thing...

Still waiting for home prices to "moderate" or drop? Not gonna happen. This year's prediction of 3.5% rise is spot-on, and look at what awaits us for the next 3.

ADU: Accessory Dwelling Unit. = More Space... Income? You decide. If you aren't part of a homeowner's association, it is simpler to add one on your property. Contact me for more info.

Let's Talk About Home Upgrades for a change.

DIY Pond Box: How to Create a Mini Water Garden for Your Home This mini ecosystem brings the pleasure of a water garden to your deck.

Home Alone and Friends are 2 of the most iconic pieces of Millennial media... they're also increasingly how the generation is thinking about homeownership. Indeed, 42% of the age group report purchasing a house by themselves, and some 14% have buddied up to buy a place, according to a new survey from financial services company Bankrate.

There are fixers, and then there are FIXERS! I dare anyone to take a shower at that house. Is this what it has come to, for finding affordable housing, America? Thankfully, the answer is no. Ask me for a list of affordable homes in your area.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/12/fewer-homeowners-are-remodeling-but-demand-is-still-solid.html

www.cnbc.com

Consumers are putting down less money to buy a home than you might expect. The average down payment was 13.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024, according to a new report by Realtor.com. On a median priced SoCal home, that's no small sum. $102,000. DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE is in order here. Take a look at these resources. https://www.calhfa.ca.gov/homebuyer/programs/index.htm #:~:text=CalHFA%20Government%20Loans%20(FHA)%3A,payment%20and%2For%20closing%20costs.

For much of the past year, the Southern California housing market has seen an extreme shortage of homes for sale, due largely to a long-term lack of building compounded by homeowners choosing not to sell and give up low mortgage rates. However, in April, the number of homes listed for sale in most SoCal counties rose from the same month a year earlier, according to data from Zillow. Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties turned positive for the first time since the first half of 2023, each recording an increase of at least 5 percent.

In this market, it pays to be the fastest. Want a list of homes recently listed for sale? Just ask.

How close are you?

Living close to mom is a major consideration for Americans buying a home A new study from real estate economists at Realtor.com underscores how many U.S. homebuyers are making decisions based off of where their mom lives. It can help them cut costs.

Sold Home prices in the north San Fernando Valley vs. Valencia in Santa Clarita.
What is YOUR home worth? Can you afford to upsize? Downsize? Let's talk.

Rates are staying put. If this is the year, THIS is the time.

The ultra-low mortgage rates of 2020 and 2021 set off a homebuying frenzy in California, and many also took the opportunity to refinance. Just 77 percent of existing mortgages in the state are below 4.2 percent, according to new research from the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Meanwhile, the average mortgage rate recently climbed to 7.17 percent.
For those with low rates in a world where rates are rising, a mortgage turns from a liability to an asset. Low rates enable many homeowners to save more for their goals, adding to the personal balance sheet of many California homeowners. However, some with low mortgage rates are choosing to stay in their homes instead of selling them, perhaps buying a larger or smaller home, and acquiring a higher mortgage rate