Redding Real Estate

DON’T LOSE YOUR FAVORITE REAL ESTATE AGENT TO “TYING”

August 23rd, 2008

By Brad Garbutt

From time to time, I’ve come across an agent or builder that snags one of my past clients using a tying arrangement. Antitrust laws prohibit certain practices where one agent, conditions the purchase of a listed property upon the agent taking a listing on the buyer’s property, known in the real estate business as a [...]

Leave a Comment »

CALIFORNIA HOUSING AFFORDABILITY SKYROCKETS

August 23rd, 2008

By Brad Garbutt

California Association of Realtors (CAR) reported today that housing affordability doubled in the second quarter of 2008 compared to a year ago. 48% of households can afford to purchase an entry-level home in California compared to only 24% a year ago. CAR’s index, the First Time Buyer Housing Affordability Index (FTB-HAI) measures the percentage of [...]

Leave a Comment »

CALIFORNIA HOMEBUYERS ENTITLED TO A NATURAL HAZARD DISCLOSURE

August 20th, 2008

By Brad Garbutt

Ab 6x went into law in 1998  requiring sellers, and their agents, to disclose natural hazard zones the property lies within to potential buyers. The form that was created to make this disclosure is called a Natural Hazard Disclosure (NHD).  Six zone maps must be reviewed and the results disclosed on an appropriate  form. The [...]

Leave a Comment »

WHY USE A REALTOR?

August 20th, 2008

By Brad Garbutt

Fortunately, more than 90% of local real estate practitioners are REALTORS. That is to say the majority of the agents in the Redding/Shasta County area have joined their Local, State and National Associations of REALTORS and agree to abide by a strict Code of Ethics. Whether you are buying or selling, the complex issues surrounding [...]

Leave a Comment »

CALMLS CHOOSES LEADER FOR CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE MLS

August 20th, 2008

By Brad Garbutt

Last week, the California Association of Realtors (CAR) announced that Scott Kucirek will lead the development and implementation of a statewide MLS. “The multiple-listing service is the bedrock of real estate on which so many of the other important services that REALTORS provide rests”,Kucirek said. He went to speak to the diversity of California [...]

Leave a Comment »

LAWYERS SEEK SELLERS THAT SOLD HOMES USING REAL ESTATE AGENTS INVOLVED IN NHD KICKBACK SCHEME

August 15th, 2008

By Brad Garbutt

Lawyers are seeking victims of a illegal kickback scheme involving homeowners who sold homes since 2000 for a class action lawsuit  against Property I.D., affiliates of Property I.D. Corp. and several major real estate brokerage companies including:

Coldwell Banker
Century 21
Re/Max of California and Hawaii
Prudential California Realty
Mason-McDuffie Real Estate
Pickford Real Estate
Homeservices of California
Silvercrest and Silver Oak [...]

Leave a Comment »

DONALD TRUMP ADVISES BUYERS TO BUY NOW ON GMA

August 14th, 2008

By Brad Garbutt

Two days ago, on Good Morning America, “The Donald” gave his opinion on the current state of the real estate market. He emphatically encouraged buyers on the fence to buy now. As for sellers, he said, unless you absolutely have to sell, don’t. “If you want to buy a house there’s probably never been a [...]

Leave a Comment »

I HEARD I CAN CANCEL MY MORTGAGE INSURANCE, CAN I?

August 12th, 2008

By Brad Garbutt

Many homebuyers commonly confuse mortgage insurance with mortgage life insurance. The prior protects the lender from loss if the buyer defaults on their mortgage and is the subject of this blog while the latter pays off the mortgage if the insured dies. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is additional insurance that lenders may require from homebuyers [...]

Leave a Comment »