Author Archive
Efforts To Streamline Short Sale Process Underway
March 12th, 2010
By Brad Garbutt
Lenders, loan servicing companies and homeowners have been fighting over how to deal with mortgages that are underwater. According to a recent article in the New York Times “more than 5 million households are behind in their mortgages and risk foreclosure”. The Obama administration has targeted billions for loan modification programs that have helped very few.
A new [...]
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Confusion Surrounds Curbside Recycling Program
March 11th, 2010
By Brad Garbutt
Since 2001, Redding residents have been provided blue carts to replace the bins previously used to separate glass, paper and plastic. The “single stream” method allows residents to throw everything in one bin for sorting at the city’s transfer station. However, despite the many years this program has been in place, between a third and [...]
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Redding/Shasta County Real Estate Market Update
March 10th, 2010
By Brad Garbutt
Distress sales continue to represent a significant number of homes selling in today’s market. The second week of March was marked with 465 homes pending. Of these, 133 are bank-owned homes and 157 are short sales or 41% of all homes under contract. These same two segments of the market only account for 31% of the [...]
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Energy Efficient Mortgage Program Discussed
March 9th, 2010
By Brad Garbutt
Jonathon Bell, mortgage banker with US Lending in Redding, briefed Realtors on a loan program that allows home buyers to secure a loan to buy and upgrade a home simultaneously using an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM). The investor for the loan allows the borrower to add funds into the loan to complete energy efficient retrofits. [...]
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Nigerian Scams Target Redding Renters
March 8th, 2010
By Brad Garbutt
I walked into the office this morning to a note from our receptionist from a woman who wanted more information about the home for rent in Stanford Hills. The woman was told the owner had to leave in a hurry for South Africa and wanted to rent the luxury home at a bargain rate. The [...]
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Inability To Make Mortgage Payments Tops Reasons To Sell
March 8th, 2010
By Brad Garbutt
A recent survey of California home sellers found that the biggest reason cited for putting their home up for sale was difficulty meeting the monthly mortgage obligations. Two thirds of sellers surveyed sold their home due to financial challenges caused by job loss or increases in their mortgage payment.
Complicating factors included an inability to refinance [...]
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HUD Website Allows Consumers To Report Mortgage Scams
March 5th, 2010
By Brad Garbutt
The California Association of Realtors announced a new HUD website where consumers can turn in loan modification scam artists. Numerous scams have become prevalent as more and more Americans find themselves facing foreclosure. Laws have been enacted making the collection of advance fees for promised loan modification services illegal. The latest twist is companies promising [...]
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Why Is SoCal Wasting Our Water?
March 3rd, 2010
By Brad Garbutt
According to a recent AP article, the City of Orange in Southern California is pursuing legal action against a city resident for replacing his lawn with drought-tolerant plants. City code requires 40% of the yard be covered with live plants.
Quan Ha replaced his grass with wood chips in 2008. He and his wife contend they [...]
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