Blog Posts By Date: April 2021
This year, mortgage rates have started slowly climbing above recent record-breaking lows. Many homeowners planning to move may feel like they’ve missed the chance to score a great rate on their next mortgage. In reality, there’s still time to secure a rate far below the historical norm. Here’s why: After creeping up for seven consecutive weeks, average mortgage rates have dropped more recently (See graph below).
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Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
The number of mortgage refinancing applications is dropping as mortgage rates have been rising in recent weeks. That may scare off some homeowners who could still greatly benefit from refinancing to lock in lower interest rates. more...
The recently enacted COVID-19 relief legislation, the American Rescue Plan Act, included $9.9 billion in relief for homeowners to be administered through a new Homeowner Assistance Fund. These funds, which will soon be made available to eligible homeowners through their states, may be used for assistance with mortgage payments, homeowner’s insurance, utility payments, and other specified purposes.
The creation of the Homeowner Assistance Fund was to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020. The law prioritizes funds for homeowners who have experienced challenging difficulties, limits eligibility based on need, and only used for certain qualified expenses, outlined in more detail below. more...
Nationally respected local business recommendation website, Three Best Rated, has acknowledged Advent Properties, Inc. as one of their 3 Best Property Management Companies in Oakland!
As the New Years’ saying goes, 2021 is our year! We recently received similar awards from Expertise.com as the Best Property Management Company in San Francisco and Concord. Our Lead Realtor and Broker-Associate, Darryl Glass, is one of the few agents to receive the honors of Homesnap’s 2020 Excellence in Client Services award. Now Three Best Rated has confirmed us at one of their Top 3 Property Management Companies in Oakland, California. more...
04/08/2021
Why Do New Homes Cost So Much Money?
Ricky Singh on Unsplash
With mortgage rates trending upwards and a lack of housing inventory in California, prospective home buyers are beginning to consider an alternative solution to their housing needs. more...
04/07/2021
How to Lower Your Property Taxes
Property taxes provide funds for schools, roads, and many other vital aspects of our community. However, that doesn't mean you should be paying more than you have to. If you're a veteran, disabled, over 65, or under certain income thresholds, you may qualify for a property tax exemption. Here are some other ways to lower your taxes:
Homestead Exemption
Your primary residence may qualify for a homestead exemption, which will lower your home's assessed value for tax purposes. Which will reduce how much you owe in property taxes. more...
Staging your home in the best way possible is proven to increase the value of your home. Walking into a house with basic furniture and decorations gives potential buyers an idea of what life will be like there. And removing personal items helps you disconnect from the home.
In a recent report by the National Association of Realtors, 83% of buyer's agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home. The most commonly-staged rooms include the living room (93%), kitchen (84%), master bedroom (78%), and dining room (72%). more...