Palm Springs California Real Estate Blog

Rob Zwemmer

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Displaying blog entries 241-250 of 266

Local Market update for the Month of October 2007

Here is the local market update for the month of October 2007. According to the most recent released numbers, home sales across the desert  area  fell 16.8% in September compared to the same month last year. That's encouraging compared to many areas of the country where they have seen sales decline in much higher numbers. Also, the valley's median home price rose   6.4% to $377,920 in that same period.

"Even though this market favors buys due to sellers being very motivated and willing to negotiate on price and terms, if you are trying to time the bottom of the market before buying, you may miss it by waiting longer.                                                                                                                                       We are a unique area that is difficult to compare to other areas. Our numbers are showing signs of improvement and interest rates are still historic low It would seem that waiting may prove to be a big mistake - this is the time to buy."

Rob Zwemmer

What is a short sale?

When owners need to move or can no longer afford the mortgage but the value of the mortgage is greater than the value of the property. The owner is said to be financially "upside down."
If the property is sold at a loss, the owner is still responsible for repaying the entire mortgage. But, sometimes owners do not have enough cash to re-pay the loan and so they try to work out a deal with the lender to pay less than is owed -- a short sale.
The lender, of course, wants back every dime loaned to the borrower. That was the deal. And lenders point out,  that if the value of the property rose the borrower would not turn around and be required to offer some of that profit to the mortgage company.
Lenders will sometimes allow a short sale if it is a better alternative than a foreclosure sale in a down market. However, before making such a decision, a lender will want to see how such a deal can be structured. Perhaps the borrower has other assets, or perhaps the short-fall can be made up with a note to the lender.
If the lender takes a loss, that loss may be reported to the IRS as income to the borrower -- money not actually received by the borrower, but money that is taxable.
In the event that a borrower faces a short-sale situation, the best approach is to have an attorney contact the lender on your behalf. It may be possible to work out a different monthly payment, an interest rate lowered to current levels, a long extension, etc.  
See a tax professional and realty attorney for details before making any decisions.

Air Purifiers: It's Time to Clear the Air

So... let's clear the air when thinking about air purifiers and their effectiveness in the home.

Unwanted, and sometimes harmful dust particles and materials invisibly invade and meander through our environments in a free form network of allergens and irritants. The marketplace is inundated with various air purification systems that claim to rid us of all these antagonistic pollutants from the air we breathe. But the question is – how effective are air purifiers? And which ones are the best to introduce into your household? Three types of air cleaners are currently offered on the market:

- Electronic-style cleaners
- Mechanical filters
- Natural ion generators

Air cleaners may be in-duct units that are typically installed in central air conditioning/heating systems. All-inclusive portable systems are used as personal units for bedrooms and where pets may congregate in the home. The effectiveness of various cleaners, of course, depends on size, handling capacity and overall quality. The amount of air a system can handle, and its pollutant-removing capabilities are expressed as the unit’s clean air delivery rate (CADR).


Three strategies may be used to reduce indoor air pollutants:

1. Source Control to eliminate individual sources of pollutants and reduces emissions.

2. Ventilation to bring fresh air inside the room environment by way of open windows, doors and exhaust fans.

3. Utilize air cleaners to control ventilation and eliminate allergens and unwanted particulates, odors and gases. 

So, what do you want to look for in an air purification system?

Before selecting, you will want to consider the potential effectiveness of the device under the conditions in which it will be used.

 

  • The need and frequency of routine maintenance, including cleaning and replacement of filters, and installation requirements.
  • The estimated overall maintenance cost.
  • The ease of use when following the manufacturer's recommended operating procedures.
  • The possible production or re-dispersal of pollutants; such as ozone, particles, formaldehyde and trapped gaseous pollutants.
  • The ability to control gases, food odors and tobacco smoke.
  • Possible health effects from charged particles produced by ion generators.
  • Possible soiling of surrounding surfaces and walls by charged particles produced by ion generators.
  • The noise generated at the typical operating level the product will be used.

    The right air purifier can make a difference in providing optimum comfort and health benefits when carefully selected and used wisely. Something to always remember: change central air system filters monthly to maximize the efficiency of your air purifier(s). You'll soon be saying… now that’s a breath of fresh air!

bonds 200-Day Moving average

The 200-day Moving Average has historically acted as a very strong "floor of support" or "ceiling of resistance" for Bonds, meaning that Bonds generally decidedly trade above or below this line. And the current tap-dance that Bonds are doing all over this level shows that there is a bit of uncertainty in the markets - and it will take a series of economic reports that are either very strong or very weak to propel Bonds to move away from the 200-day Moving Average.

And last week's news just didn't provide enough impetus for Bonds to make a decisive move one way or the other. Retail Sales were much better than expected yet Consumer Sentiment was lower than expected, while reads on Producer Price Inflation were a bit mixed. All in all, home loan rates stayed generally flat for most of the week.

Chart: Fannie Mae 6.0% Mortgage Bond (Friday Oct 12, 2007)

California Association Realtors Annual Expo

Just returned from a 3 day convention in Anaheim, California. We visit the 3 day annual convention of C.A.R.   Wow ! what an experience, we attended so many classes and got so much information and feedback regarding the current Real Estate Market and the future of it.

Here are some of the ahas of my 3-day stay in Anaheim,

  • The Baby Boomer's are making a move with buying second homes or relocating.
  • Blogging and Vlogging(Video) are the future tools of communication in Real Estate.
  • Cell phones will be the main tools for receiving messages, video's, property flyer's etc.

We have learned to use new marketing tools, shared ideas with other Realtors and made new contacts and friends.

Looking forward to next year !

Rob Zwemmer

Green Builder Program

The California Green Builder Program focuses on five major areas:
Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, Wood Conservation, Advanced Ventilation and Construction Waste Diversion. A “Green Builder” produces a home that uses less energy, less water and consumes fewer trees in the building process than a similar-sized product.

Green Building benefits homeowners by supplying the comfort of well-insulated, climate-controlled environments with superior air filtration. Minimal heating and cooling is required thanks to stringent construction techniques, the use of advanced building materials and state-of-the-art utilities. Owners of an “environmentally friendly” home experience dramatic utility cost savings and a sense of pride in knowing they are making a difference by contributing to the conservation and future preservation of our environment.

Please join us in saluting the builders who are choosing to embrace the innovative practices of Green Building ? it impacts all of our lives.

You made buying a property a fun experience !

Just got this on my desk:

Dear Rob:

 

This letter is overdue but we want to thank-you for the excellent professional service you gave us during the purchase of our condo in PGA West.  You made buying property a fun experience.  Your motto, you told us, was to provide service above our expectations.   You were always patient when we didn’t see the “right” property for us and ultimately, you did find something that we like very much.

 

Rob, we feel you gave us accurate information re. the Real Estate market, listened to our wants and needs, and really paid attention to us as your clients.  In no way did we ever feel that we were just dollar signs to you—a characteristic we have found in some realtors.  We always felt that you really wanted us to be satisfied and happy and that you steered us in the right direction.  We love the location of our new condo and are happily having a little up-dating work done as I write this.

 

Not only did you successfully complete this sale but you have continued to help us.  We can’t thank-you enough for helping us unload a refrigerator and a couple of other heavy items from our rental truck when we brought some things we’d had in storage to our new condo.  Thank-you, also, for arranging a bid with some potential contractors for work we wanted done.  It is so nice to know that you are there for us and that we can call on you if we need help.

 

We hope our friendship will continue.  Besides being our realtor, you are a very interesting person.  We look forward to showing you the results when we finish having the work done.

 

Sincerely,

 

John and Dorothy Terrill

Can a Comparative Market Analysis Help You?

To get the most accurate estimate of how much you should list your property for, your Real Estate agent can provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). A CMA is an informal estimate of market value, based on sales of comparable properties in your area. It generally takes into account various aspects of your home, including size, features and annual costs. Reviewing comparable homes that have sold within the past year, along with the listing or asking price on current homes for sale, should help you determine a fair sale price for your property.
CMAs can include homes that are currently for sale and those which have recently sold. They can cover areas as narrow as one or two streets surrounding your home, or as broad as an entire subdivision.
Most Real Estate agents will give you a CMA for free, hoping you'll list your home with them. Each CMA contains valuable information on several recent sales, including:
  • How long each property stayed on the market
  • How close the sale price was to the asking price
  • Notes comparing each home to yours, i.e.; number of bedrooms and baths, approximate square footage, sizes of major rooms, amenities such as fireplaces and pools, age of the home, property taxes and more.
The CMA is an informative selling tool, but like any tool, it doesn't work by itself. For this reason, the CMA will always need to be interpreted by a professional or with complete objectivity by the seller or buyer.
Remember, too, that the CMA is also a buying tool; it is considered just as seriously by the buyer and his or her agent. As you and your agent are going to use the CMA to ask the highest possible price for your home, the buyer is going to use it to find reasons to either choose or eliminate your home, and to arrive at the lowest price possible.

Marching Aztecs going to Hawaii

The Palm Desert High School award winning Marching Band will be going to Hawaii to compete early 2008. The Zwemmer Group has committed to donating 25% of our net commissions for all referrals mentioning the band. Going to Hawaii and competing against bands from all over the United States is a great opportunity for them and the Zwemmer Group wants to help them raise their funds. If you want to help the band, please visit www.marchingaztecs.com.  You can donate through the site, see photos, get competition results, etc.   Good Luck Marching Aztecs……!!!!

Protecting Your Home

One of the crimes most frequently reported to the police is residential burglary. It's also the most preventable. It doesn't take much or cost much to out-smart most burglars. They're usually not professionals, but rather people taking advantage of an easy target. Burglars may do more than steal things. If they're surprised by someone coming home or if they choose a home that's occupied, someone may get hurt.
Tips on Safeguarding Your Home
  • Make sure all exterior doors have good locks-at least dead-bolt locks with a 1" throw.
  • Always lock up when you go out, even if only for a few minutes.
  • Secure sliding glass doors with bars or locks, or put a broom handle in the door track.
  • Make sure your windows have good locks, especially those at ground level.
  • Make sure all porches, entrances, and outside areas are well lit.
  • Trim any bushes or trees that hide doors or windows.
  • Maintain your yard and keep ladders and tools inside when you're not using them.
  • Don't hide your keys under the doormat or in a flowerpot. That's the first place burglars look! It's much better to give an extra key to a trusted neighbor.
  • Mark your valuable property like TVs, VCRs, computers, cameras and stereos with your driver's license number.
  • Keep a record of your property in a safe place.
  • Install an alarm system for summoning emergency help.
  • If you park your car outside, never leave a garage door opener in the car.
When you go away
  • Ask a neighbor to collect your mail and newspapers, and offer to return the favor.
  • Put an automatic timer on at least two lights and a radio. Consider photoelectric sensors to turn outside lights on and off automatically.
Tell a trusted neighbor when you're leaving and when you'll return. Include an itinerary and phone numbers where you can be reached in an emergency.

Displaying blog entries 241-250 of 266

Contact Information

Photo of Rob Zwemmer  Real Estate
Rob Zwemmer
Keller Williams Realty
50981 Washington Street
La Quinta CA 92253
Toll Free: 800-880-9590
760-541-7000
Fax: 760-544-9996

"Highest Overall Satisfaction For Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms"

Keller Williams Realty received the highest numerical score among full service real estate firms for home buyers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM. Study based on 3,138 total evaluations measuring 7 firms and measures opinions of individuals who bought a home between March 2008 and April 2009.

CA. Dept. Real Estate License No. 01702475