This last week was riddled with questions of "can I do this with an FHA 203k?" 1) I have a house on a lot zoned for a triplex and large enough for a triplex. Can I build two more units on this lot using the 203k? Yes, you can.  2) I have a single family home on a lot zoned for a duplex. Can I add a second unit on top of the first or existing unit? Yes, it is possible. The foundation may not be able to support the weight so, if not, it may be better to lift the existing home and install the second unit on the bottom as you replace the foundation. But to answer your question, yes, it is possible. 3) I found a wonderful property in the Los Gatos hills area but all that is left on the lot is the original foundation. Can I build a home on that foundation? Yes, you likely can. We would have t... 03/01/2014

I love to find the worst house on the block when the block is bringing in sales prices fixed up at twice the value. I may buy this one myself. Contractor's special they quite often say but with the FHA 203k and the FNMA HomeStyle Renovation loans it is buyer's dream home too. Yes it needs work but that is exactly what we do. Problem 1 is that these loans only go to $625,500 at this time, in Hawaii they go to $771,000 but this one is in San Francisco. If the value is $1,500,000 after improved why would you want such a low loan amount? Likely you don't need a loan at all, you can just buy it and fix it up but I have found that people with money typically know how to leverage their money.  Why not put a loan of $625,500 at these low interest rates and put your other money to work as you ca... 02/23/2014

 VA Mortgage Loans in Albany California and 100% financing on VA Loans - the best loan program and loan payment in the country! Designed for both active duty military and honorable discharged Veterans, VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today. Here are some of the main features of this great program: - 100% financing, no down payment required. - No monthly mortgage insurance added to your payment. - Easier credit qualifying compared to other types of mortgage loans. - VA Mortgage Rates are low compared to other types of home loans.   How do you know if you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Albany California? You must first verify your eligibility. This is done by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. An Albany California VA loan lender can ... 02/05/2014

VA Mortgage Loans in Albany California and 100% Alameda County VA Loans - the best loan program in California! Designed for both active duty military and honorable discharged Veterans, VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today. Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program: - Up to 100% financing, with no down required. - Monthly mortgage insurance is not tacked on to your payment. - Easier credit qualifying compared to other types of mortgage loans. - VA Mortgage Rates are low compared to other types of home loans.   Here's how to qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Albany California: First of all, you must verify your eligibility. You can verify eligibility by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. You can work with an approve... 11/26/2013

VA Mortgage Loans in Albany California and 100% Alameda County VA Loans - the best loan program in California! Designed for both active duty military and honorable discharged Veterans, VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today. Here are some of the highlights of this incredible program: - Up to 100% financing, with no down required. - No monthly mortgage insurance. - Easier credit qualifying compared to other types of mortgage loans. - VA Mortgage Rates are low compared to other types of home loans.   So how do you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Albany California? The first step is to verify your eligibility. You can verify eligibility by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. An approved Alameda County VA loan lender can order your COE fo... 11/07/2013

What approval is needed for an FHA 203k contractor? That would be a trick question of course. Maybe like saying in a state like CA that doesn't require a home inspection license, it doesn't mean you shouldn't belong to a home inspection group like CREIA, ASHI, InterNACHI, or NAHI, all of which are top notch organizations and provide much needed education for home inspectors and continuing education.What then would you say to licensing of contractors in CA... yes they need to be licensed by the State of CA. In our TX offices there is no licensing of contractors but home inspectors are licensed. That would be the first step in getting approved to do 203k projects. Then there is a validation process that the lender would put you through to get approved on a particular project. Once you are... 04/05/2013

I can’t believe the number of homes we see that are being trashed by the persons who used to live there and “love” that house… why? Because they never really were the quality of person who should have lived in that home. That is a fact. If you have a nice home and you were over financed and you lost it, take some responsibiliyty for YOUR mistake and leave the home the way you found it or the way you lived in it. It baffels me how someone can vandalize any house but their own We are seeing where they let their kids use color crayons on all the walls, great to teach you kids these values… NOT People stealing the kitchen cabinets, that is still stealing all the same. We had one last week that they stole the cabinet drawers and doors, but not the cabinets. That mentality needs to move back ... 08/21/2011

Albany continues maintain the home values the town is so well know for. Factors atrributing to this include the coveted school district, the walkable neighborhoods, and the casual home town feel of the main shopping district.  See the sales vs. list price for 2008 and 2009 below. The third quarter of 2009 shows a spike in sales activity and price. Overall though, the salesprices over the last two years had a low in the first quarter of 2009, and is slowly inching up towards the 2005 sales prices. 02/02/2010

So you are looking to buy a home in Albany.  In this eddition of Golden Nuggets we will take a look at Down Payment Assistance and First Time Home Buyer programs in the Alameda County, CA City of Albany.  There is $67,000 in Down Payment Assistance available for the purchase of your New Home.  The funds may be in the form of grants, gifts and silent seconds with affordable housing covenants and/or equity share restrictions.  Funds may come from the City, County, State, or other Agencies and Non-Profits.Summary: The City of Albany does not currently have a Down Payment Assistance Program or First Time Home Buyer program available directly through them.  Assistance may be available from County, State and other resources.The State of California offers up to an additional 6% in assistance t... 01/13/2008

We all have our daily rituals and often we keep these habits long after they cease making good sense.  I started thinking about mine and wondering why I have them-- and the best explanation I can come up with is that they attempt to impose some degree of subconscious order and reason onto what might otherwise be a hectic and chaotic conscious life.  Either that, or I'm just a less highly evolved version of my dogs and habits are the only way I know what will come next each day.  I've heard it said that a dog has little ability to discern time passing but they sure can sequence and remember events!  They know that food comes after the sun comes up-- not before.  They might wake from a dream and thus wake me to let them out well before sunrise-- but they don't expect food to be in their b... 03/19/2007