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Thousand Oaks Homes For Sale, Market Update News!

2007-06-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

If you are relocating to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Lake Sherwood,Simi Valley, Wood Ranch, and Conejo Valley surrounding areas. See all the homes listed by every company in all price ranges. Ventura County Free MLS

Kapp and Associates are Relocation Specialists we handle all aspects of your move to Conejo Valley California. Jaira and Don Kapp have over 15 years in Relocations and Moving in Ventura County California. We have helped many families relocate here. Whether you are a first time homebuyer in need of an affordable home or looking for that hard to find horse property or luxury estate we are here to help you. Our loan program is excellent.

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Moving to Thousand Oaks, Thousand Oaks homes for sale, Thousand Oaks Real Estate Agent, Thousand Oaks Schools, City of Thousand Oaks, Relocating to Thousand Oaks, Homes for sale in Thousand Oaks, Thousand Oaks foreclosures, Thousand Oaks affordable homes, Agents in Thousand Oaks, Realtors in Thousand Oaks, NorthRanch,

Moving to Thousand Oaks Ventura County Relocating Homes For Sale in Thousand Oaks

2007-06-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, June 04, 2007 - As the nation’s leading advocate for homeownership, the National Association of Realtors® understands the value and joy of owning a home. This month, as the nation celebrates National Homeownership Month, NAR and state and local Realtor® associations across the county will do their part to help raise awareness of homeownership and encourage more Americans to consider the benefits of owning their own home.President George W. Bush declared June as National Homeownership Month in 2002, with the goal of increasing minority homeownership in America by 5.5 million households by the end of the decade. To help celebrate National Homeownership Month this year, NAR is providing Realtors® with a wealth of resources and tools that support homeownership and strong communities. The information is available at www.realtor.org/homeownership.“Realtors® don’t just sell homes, they build communities, and we are committed to making homeownership a reality for those who strive to achieve it,” said NAR President Pat V. Combs, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and vice president of Coldwell Banker-AJS-Schmidt. “NAR is encouraging local Realtor® associations and their members to work together to plan events and get involved in activities that promote homeownership and help create stronger, more vibrant communities.” Though homeownership has generally increased among most minorities over the past three years, there is still a disparity between ownership levels for different groups. The homeownership rate for African American households during the fourth quarter of 2006 was 48.2 percent, while Hispanic households were at 49.5 percent. The homeownership rate for Asian, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders was 60 percent. By comparison, 76 percent of non-Hispanic whites were homeowners in the same period. NAR advances homeownership and housing opportunities for minority and first-time buyers through a number of programs. In 2002, NAR established a Housing Opportunity Program, with the mission of providing Realtors® with tools, training, grants and the information they need to promote housing opportunities in their community. The program encourages local Realtor® associations to create housing opportunity initiatives aimed directly at helping consumers gain access to affordable housing. Today, nearly 600 state and local associations have programs in place. Through its diversity initiatives, NAR provides its members with a broad range of programs to serve people of all cultures and actively recruits and educates agents to reach out to people from all backgrounds. NAR’s “At Home with Diversity” training educates Realtors® about being sensitive to and aggressive in meeting the homeownership needs of a diverse society. NAR also awards grants up to $5,000 twice a year to state and local Realtor® associations to help fund diversity activities. Homeownership strengthens communities, and NAR’s Smart Growth program helps Realtors® make their communities even better through smart growth initiatives. These initiatives include grants for state and local Realtor® associations as well as information and resources to help these associations and their members make important connections, influence legislation and develop partnerships in the community to encourage smart growth.The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. # # #

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2007-06-06T14:00:00.001-07:00

Buy with Resale in Mind!

Whether you are moving to Thousand Oaks, Agoura or Westlake Village, if you are thinking of relocating to Ventura County consider: What are you thinking about when buying a new home? Are you thinking about the way you can start your new life there? How about the money that you are going to spend? While there are many things that will keep your mind occupied when shopping for real estate, there is one thing that you do not want to forget about. Do you know what that is? Simply put, you will want to buy real estate with the idea or reselling it in the future. Sure, you may end up keeping a home for a long time, but this does not mean that you should forget about the resale opportunities for the future.
When buying any type of real estate you need to remember that you may not be in the same home for your entire life. This means that you will eventually want to take the property and resell it. For most people this is never a problem, but if you do take this into consideration when buying in the first place you may find yourself in deep trouble.

Take this situation for example. You may find a great home that suits your every need, including your budget. The only issue is that the home is in a part of town that has been on the decline in recent years. If you really want the home you may end up buying it, and hoping that everything works out. But what happens if the neighborhood continues to rapidly decline? Pretty soon you will be living in your dream home in an area that is not safe. In turn, when you go to resell this real estate you are going to have a very difficult time. This will more than likely lead to you losing money on the deal in the long run. There are plenty of properties that you can buy which will increase in value over time.
Overall, you need to buy real estate with the idea that you may have to sell it sooner or later. Of course this should not be the only thing that you consider, but it is definitely something that you should keep in the back of your mind. Ventura County has many beautiful neighborhoods to choose from. If you are looking to move to the Conejo Valley in any of the following cities. Agoura, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Simi Valley areas.

"Don't settle for the rest, choose the Best"

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Moving to Thousand Oaks Ventura County?

2007-06-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

Home prices up as sales slide

Average cost in Ventura County reaches $691,710; T.O. values down from 2006
VenturaCountyStar.com

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Ventura County's median price for existing single-family homes edged up 1.5 percent in April to $691,710, the first year-over-year increase since September, the California Association of Realtors reported Friday.
It was the best showing since the median hit a record $710,910 in August.
But total sales fell 20.8 percent from April 2006, continuing a sharp pullback from the frenzied buying days that began to cool in 2005. Year-over-year monthly sales have declined in double-digit percentages for the past year, ranging from 16.3 percent to 41.5 percent. April sales were also down 12.4 percent from March.
Last month's median price the point where half the homes sold for more and half for less was up from $681,190 in April 2006 and 2.8 percent from $672,550 in March, the CAR reported.
The statewide median was $597,640, up 6.2 percent from the same month last year, but total sales plummeted 27.8 percent from April 2006.
The area's median price can increase while sales totals fall because it is mostly more expensive properties that are moving, said Mark Schniepp, director of the California Economic Forecast Project in Santa Barbara.

"We're actually seeing that," Schniepp said. "The higher-end market is less affected by the sales slump than the lower-end market right now."
Ventura County's median has ranged from about $670,000 to $710,000 since the summer of 2005, Schniepp said. And that shouldn't change much before next year.
Price forecast flat for '07
"If you look at Ventura County prices over time, they're in kind of a sawtoothed pattern," Schniepp said. "They go up and down, but they've basically been flat since the summer of 2005."
He still is forecasting that area home prices will be essentially flat through 2007, but sales volumes should bottom out and stabilize toward the end of the year and into 2008.
Joe Virnig, president of the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors, said the increase in the median price in April does not mean real estate prices are going up across the board.
The median is as much a factor of the types of properties that are selling as their prices, he said.
And a sales slowdown is to be expected after years of unsustainable price appreciation.
"There are some people in my industry who see things only as wonderful and rosy when things are clearly not that way," said Virnig, a broker with Remax Gold Coast Realty in Ventura. "I think it's better to be realistic about the current situation because you have to know where you are today so you can predict accurately where things are going tomorrow."
Last month's median in the Thousand Oaks area was $796,000, down about 5 percent from $837,000 in April 2006, said Allen Reznick, president of the Conejo Valley Association of Realtors.
A total of 122 Conejo Valley properties changed hands in April, down four from the same month in 2006. "So we were pretty good on units, but our median price was down a little bit," Reznick said.
T.O. condo sales down
Thousand Oaks condominium sales fell sharply, however, with 52 escrows closed in April compared with 81 in April 2006. Reznick blamed the decline on problems in the subprime loan market that have prompted lenders to tighten qualification standards.
That typically affects first-time buyers who are trying to break in to the market at the lower end.
Ventura County has many neighborhoods where homes are selling at somewhat lower prices than a few years ago, Virnig said.
Almost no properties in those areas changed hands for months until sellers began reducing their prices.
"Now you're seeing people with asking prices that reflect the new reality and those homes are selling," Virnig said.
Statewide, closed escrow sales of existing homes totaled 373,280 in April at a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, according to information the CAR collected from about 90 multiple listings services.
"Although the median price of a home in California continues to rise, this reflects the falloff in sales in the lower-priced markets of the state where new home inventories and foreclosures are competing with the existing home market," California Association of Realtors Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young said in a release.

"Fewer sales from these regions coupled with modest gains in some of the stronger coastal markets are pushing the median price for the state up slightly."
CAR reported the 10 California cities with the highest median home prices last month were Manhattan Beach, $1.85 million; Los Altos, $1.71 million; Saratoga, $1.55 million; Burlingame, $1.50 million; Laguna Beach, $1.46 million; Newport Beach, $1.40 million; Los Gatos, $1.20 million; Santa Barbara, $1.20 million; Palos Verdes Estates, $1.18 million; Mill Valley and Rancho Palos Verdes, both at $1.11 million.
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Search for Your Home, Ventura County Moving and Relocations Homes, Listings For Sale. Call the Kapp Team Today your Ventura County Relocation and Moving Experts! We specialize in families moving to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Lake Sherwood, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch and Moorpark areas of the Conejo Valley. 805 551-4622

End of Real Estate Slump Ventura County

2007-06-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Market experts predict end of real estate slump

Friday, June 01, 2007

While part of the real estate downturn is behind us now, the buyer's market will likely continue for at least two more years, foreclosures are likely to surge and "we're heading into a year with some more price declines," a real estate consultant told an audience of building-industry professionals on Thursday.

John Burns, a consultant who presented a housing market outlook during the annual Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco, said that a combination of factors, including low interest rates and unconventional mortgage products, dug deep into the pool of future home buyers during the prolonged real estate boom. And the market is still adjusting, he said.
"I know with a very high level of confidence that the number of foreclosures is going to surge," he said, as a high volume of subprime loans and other adjustable-rate loans are headed for a major reset in rates.
"It's really going to occur -- most of it -- next year, so we're going to see some foreclosures and just be prepared for that." The subprime market accounted for 18 percent of all mortgage purchases in 2005 and 25 percent of all home purchases in California, he also noted.
Other economists and building-industry representatives also offered their views on the future of the housing market, and provided statistics on projected housing starts, sales and demographic trends.
Builders have dropped home prices to motivate buyers in the slowing sales environment -- up to 21 percent in some markets -- and "any new home you're selling is a screaming deal compared to any resale deal a consumer is looking at" because the resale market has not been as quick to adjust pricing, Burns said, adding that resale pricing may catch up with new-home pricing.
Meanwhile, National Association of Home Builders president Brian Catalde, who met with reporters at the conference, downplayed the problems in the subprime mortgage market. "Economists generally agree that the downturn in housing will not push the nation into a recession, and the situation in the subprime mortgage (market) is not likely to dramatically affect the economy."
He added, "In fact, we've heard a lot about the subprime mortgages -- there's no reason to push the panic button. The subprime sector is an important but relatively small slice of the overall mortgage market. The market is self-correcting. The investors have pulled back, the underwriting standards have tightened, abuses have been curbed and the bad guys have gone out of business."
He said that the association expects the housing market to begin to climb out of its slump early next year, though "the first stages of the return will be sluggish."

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The association expects a 21 percent drop in total housing starts and 18 percent drop in new-home sales this year compared to 2006 -- the association's projection is 1.45 million housing starts in 2007, including 1.1 million for single-family home starts.
Raphael W. Bostic, associate director of the University of Southern California's Lusk Center for Real Estate, said the word that best characterizes the state of the national economy is "uncertainty," with mixed statistics on job creation and a decline in the growth of U.S. gross domestic product. Energy costs have risen dramatically and food costs have also been on the rise, particularly in the West, he said.
"We're in a very uncertain time and what this has translated to is a tremendous amount of uncertainty and nervousness and anxiety on the part of the American consumer. Nearly 70 percent of the U.S. economy is driven by consumer consumption so if households are not consuming the economy is not going to grow and we are all going to feel a considerable amount of pain," Bostic said.
Also, the nation's economy is increasingly tied to international decisions, he said. "As the world gets more integrated, we face continued and increasing exposure to things that happen overseas," such as investments from China and the Middle East, he said.
Bostic noted that Western states continue to dominate the list of U.S. states with the fastest home-price appreciation, though former leaders such as California, Nevada and Arizona have been bumped out by states such as Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
San Diego and Miami are among the "poster children for wild rides in the market," with significant swings in real estate prices, Bostic said. Some common elements for markets with declining prices are a high degree of speculation and a significant spurt of building, he also said.
Delores A. Conway, director for the Casden Real Estate Economics Forecast produced by the USC Lusk Center, said that economic problems -- such as major job losses in cities like Detroit -- can contribute to home-price declines.
Conway said home-price appreciation has slowed in all major California cities, with home-price appreciation slowing from 23 percent year-over-year at one point to a recent level of about 1 percent year-over-year in the San Bernardino, Calif., area, for example, owing in part to over-building.
Dowell Myers of USC, who presented a report on demographic trends with immigration and baby boomers, said there is a looming "generational housing bubble" in California as home-price affordability becomes a major hurdle for the next generation of buyers.
Myers noted that home prices in California were 150 percent higher than those in Texas in 2000 and have since escalated to 350 percent higher.
Alan Nevin, chief economist for the California Building Industry Association, said during a Thursday conference call that the association has lowered its expectations for building permits this year.
The association expects 90,000 to 100,000 total single-family building permits this year and 45,000 to 55,000 permits for multifamily projects, for a total of 135,000-155,000 permits, which compares with an earlier forecast of 155,000 to 175,000 permits for 2007 in California.

Moving to Thousand Oaks Ventura County, Moving Relocating to Westlake Village Agoura or any of the towns in the Conejo Valley

Call the Kapp Team for all your Moving and Relocation needs. 805 551-4622. Visit our Website. ThousandOaksBestRealEstate.com
Search for Your Home, Ventura County Moving and Relocations Homes, Listings For Sale. Call the Kapp Team Today your Ventura County Relocation and Moving Experts! We specialize in families moving to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Lake Sherwood, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch and Moorpark areas of the Conejo Valley. 805 551-4622

Thousand Oaks Ventura County Parks.

2007-06-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

Thousand Oaks
Ventura County Conejo Valley Parks!

Many families choosing to move to the Thousand Oaks Ventura County Area are interested in our local parks. Thousand Oaks Moving and Relocations Specialists, have compiled this list below for interested home buyers wanting local parks information.
Moving or Relocating to Thousand Oaks Agoura Oak Park Westlake Village?
Try our free MLS Search all local Ventura County Homes Live Realtor MLS Service.

Park Listings Parks & Planning Lang Ranch Community Park

Alex Fiore Playfield Route 23 and ArbolesThousand Oaks

Banyan Park 3605 Erinlea AvenueNewbury Park

Beyer Park 280 Conejo School RoadThousand Oaks

Borchard Community Park 190 Reino RoadNewbury Park CA 91320

Canada Park 1619 Calle ZocaloThousand Oaks

Conejo Community Park 1175 Hendrix Ave.Thousand Oaks

Conejo Creek Dog Park 1350 Avenida de las Flores (northwest quadrant of Conejo Creek).Thousand Oaks CA 91362

Conejo Creek North - Creekside 1379 E. Janss RoadThousand Oaks CA 91362

Conejo Creek North - Lakeside 1379 E. Janss RoadThousand Oaks CA 91362

Conejo Creek North - Willow Bend 1379 E. Janss RoadThousand Oaks CA 91362

Conejo Creek Northwest Equestrian Area West of 23-Freeway at Avenida de las FloresThousand Oaks

Conejo Creek South Playfield 1300 E. Janss RoadThousand Oaks

Cypress Park 459 Havenside Ave.Newbury Park

Dos Vientos Community Park 4801 Borchard RoadNewbury Park

Dos Vientos Neighborhood Park 4850 Lynn RoadNewbury Park

El Parque de la Paz 100 N. Oakview DriveThousand Oaks

Estella Park 300 Erbes RoadThousand Oaks

Evenstar Park 1021 Evenstar Ave.Westlake Village

Glenwood Park 1291 Windsor DriveThousand Oaks

Hickory Park 3877 South CamphorNewbury Park

Kimber Park 3295 Bear Creek Dr.Newbury Park

Lang Ranch Neighborhood 3287 Lang Ranch ParkwayThousand Oaks

Lynn Oaks Park 350 Capitan StreetNewbury Park

Newbury Gateway Park 2250 Michael Dr.Newbury Park

North Ranch Neighorhood Park 1901 Upper Ranch RoadThousand Oaks

North Ranch Playfield 952 RockfieldThousand Oaks

Oakbrook Neighborhood 2787 Erbes RoadThousand Oaks

Old Meadows 1600 Marview DriveThousand Oaks

Peppertree Playfield 3720 Old Conejo RoadNewbury Park

Rancho Conejo Playfields 950 N. Ventu Park Rd.Newbury Park

Russell Park 3199 North Medicine Bow CourtWestlake Village

Southshore Hills Park 2025 Tanbark (Glastonbury)Westlake Village

Spring Meadow Park 3282 Spring MeadowThousand Oaks

Stagecoach Inn Park 51 South Ventu Park RoadNewbury Park

Suburbia Park 2600 Tennyson StreetThousand Oaks

Sunset Hills Park 3350 Monte Carlo DriveThousand Oaks

Thousand Oaks Community Park 2525 N. Moorpark RoadThousand Oaks

Triunfo Community Park 980 AranmoorWestlake Village

Walnut Grove Equestrian Center 401 Ronel Crt.Newbury Park

Walnut Grove Neighborhood Park 400 Windtree Ave.Newbury Park

Waverly Park 1300 Avenida de las FloresThousand Oaks

Wendy Park 813 American Oaks Ave.Newbury Park

Wildflower Playfields 635 Avenida de los ArbolesThousand Oaks

Wildwood Neighborhood Park 650 W. Avenida de los ArbolesThousand Oaks

Wildwood Park West terminus of Avenida de los Arboles.Thousand Oaks

Search for Your Home, Ventura County Moving and Relocations Homes, Listings For Sale. Call the Kapp Team Today your Ventura County Relocation and Moving Experts! We specialize in families moving to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Lake Sherwood, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch and Moorpark areas of the Conejo Valley. 805 551-4622

Ventura County Secrets to Buying the Best Home

2007-06-03T14:21:00.000-07:00

5 Secrets to Buying the Best House for Your Money

1. Get "Pre-Approved" - Not "Pre-Qualified!"
Do you want to get the best property you can for the least amount of money? Then make sure you are in the strongest negotiating position possible. Price is only one element in the negotiations, and not necessarily the most important one. Often other terms, such as the strength of the buyer or the length of escrow, are critical to a seller.
In years past, I always recommended that buyers get "pre-qualified" by a lender. This means that you spend a few minutes on the phone with a lender who asks you a few questions. Based on the answers, the lender pronounces you "pre-qualified" and issues a certificate that you can show to a seller. Sellers are aware that such certificates are WORTHLESS, and here's why! None of the information has been verified!
Many times unknown problems can come to the surface! Some of the problems I've seen include recorded judgments, alimony payments due, glitches on the credit report due to any number of reasons both accurately and inaccurately, down payments that have not been in the clients' bank account long enough, etc.
So the way to make the strongest offer today is to get "pre-approved". This happens AFTER all information has been checked and verified. You are actually APPROVED for the loan and the only loose end is the appraisal on the property. This process takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending on your situation. It's VERY POWERFUL and a weapon I recommend all my clients have in their negotiating arsenal.

2. Sell Your Property First, Then Buy the House
If you have a house to sell, sell it before selecting a house to buy! Contingency sales aren't nearly as strong as one that comes in with a ready, willing and able buyer. Consider this scenario: You've found the perfect house - now you have to go make an offer to the seller. You want the seller to reduce the price and wait until you sell your house. The seller figures that this is a risky deal, since he might pass up a buyer who DOESN'T have to sell a house while he's waiting for you. So he says OK, he'll do the contingency but it has to be a full price offer! You have now paid more for the house than you could have because of the contingency, and you have to sell your existing house in a hurry! Otherwise you lose the house! So to sell quickly you might take an offer that's lower than if you had more time. The bottom line is that buying before selling might cost you THOUSANDS of dollars.

If you're concerned that there is not a house on the market for you, then go on a window-shopping trip. You can identify possible houses and locations without falling in love with a specific house. If you feel confident after that then put your house on the market.
Another tactic is to make the sale ''subject to seller finding suitable housing''. Adding this phrase to the listing means that WHEN YOU DO FIND A BUYER, you will have some time to find the new place. If you don't find anything to your liking, you don't have to sell your present home.

3. Play the Game of Nines
Before house hunting, make a list of things you want in the new place. Then make a list of the things you don't want. You can use this list as a guide to rate each property that you see. The one with the biggest score wins! This helps avoid confusion and keeps things in perspective when you're comparing dozens of homes.
When house hunting, keep in mind the difference between ''STYLE AND SUBSTANCE''. The SUBSTANCE are things that cannot be changed such as the location, view, size of lot, noise in the area, school district, and floor plan. The STYLE represents easily changed surface finishes like carpet, wallpaper, color, and window coverings. Buy the house with good SUBSTANCE, because the STYLE can always be changed to match your tastes. I always recommend that you imagine each house as if it were vacant.
Consider each house on its underlying merits, not the seller's decorating skills.

4. Don't Be Pushed Into Any House
Your agent should show you everything available that meets your requirements. Don't make a decision on a house until you feel that you've seen enough to pick the best one.
A decade ago, homes were selling quickly, usually a few days after listing. In that kind of market, agents advised their clients to make an offer ON THE SPOT if they liked the house. That was good advice at the time. Today there isn't always this urgency, unless a home is drastically underpriced, and you'll know if it is.
Don't forget to check into the SCHOOL DISTRICTS of the area you're considering. Information is available on every school; such as class sizes, % of students that go on to college, SAT scores, etc. You can get this information from this web site.

5. Stop Calling Ads!
Please note - ads are sometimes created to make the phone ring! Many of the homes have some drawback that's not mentioned in the ad, such as traffic noise, power lines, or litigation in the community. What's not mentioned in the ad is usually more important than what is.
For this reason, I want you to be very careful when reading ads. Remember that the person writing the ad is representing the seller and not you! The most important thing you can do is have someone on your side looking out for your best interests. Your own agent will critique the property with an eye towards how well it meets your needs and will point out any drawbacks you should know about. So whether you decide to work with me or not, pick an agent you feel comfortable with and enlist the services of that agent as a buyer's broker. Then you become a client with all the rights, benefits, and privileges created by this agency relationship, and you're no longer just a shopper. Did you know that many homes are sold WITHOUT A SIGN ever going up or an AD EVER BEING PUT IN THE PAPER? These "great deals" go to those people who are committed to working with one agent. When an agent hears of a great buy, who do you think he's going to call? His client, who he has a legal obligation to work hard for you, or someone who just called on the phone and said "keep your eyes open"? So to get the best buy on a property, I always recommend that you hire your own agent and stick with him or her.

If you decide Kapp and Associates are the realtors for your moving and relocation needs in Ventura County, than we would be more than happy to work with you.

Visit us online at:

"Don't settle for the rest, choose the Best"
Call the Kapp Team
Jaira Kapp 805- 551-4622 or
Visit Our Website and see all the available homes for Sale!

Search the Ventura County Moving and Relocations

Free MLS of Homes For Sale!

Thousand Oaks Home Buying and Relocations Online!
Search for Your Home, Ventura County Moving and Relocations Homes, Listings For Sale. Call the Kapp Team Today your Ventura County Relocation and Moving Experts! We specialize in families moving to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Lake Sherwood, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch and Moorpark areas of the Conejo Valley. 805 551-4622

Thousand Oaks Ventura Home Buying Mortgage Mistakes to Avoid!

2007-06-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Nine Most Common Mistakes
to Avoid When Obtaining a Home Mortgage!

You are about to make what will most likely be the largest transaction of your life: your home mortgage. Unfortunately, many homebuyers do not take the time to research some of the little but weighty intricacies of mortgages. Researching the mortgage process takes little time compared to the tens of thousands of dollars it could save you. Doesn’t it make sense to become as completely informed as possible before you buy your next home? This special report is designed to help you avoid nine common mistakes. Remember that the right lender can help you make good, sound business decisions based on your personal financial situation.
Find a Reputable Lender - This is the most important choice you can make when starting the mortgage process. If you don’t trust your lender, you are in for a long and stressful home-buying experience.

Pricing - Don’t be lured into a mortgage company strictly by promises of low rates. Find out how long the advertised rate is guaranteed for. Make sure there is enough time to close on your loan. Some companies may make these "promises" but will try changing the rate prior to closing. They may claim that your "lock-in" rate has expired so make sure you have the expiration date in writing. In some cases, the lender may even try to delay your closing to break the "lock-in" rate. In other cases the delay may be beyond the lender’s control. Make sure to allow yourself plenty of time for closing. Delays in the process are common and everyone (builders, title companies, even yourself) is responsible.

Programs - You will see several programs that offer special low-interest rates. Keep in mind that they may not be the best program for your situation. Make your lender explain what programs they feel best serve your needs and more importantly, why.

Fixed or Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) - Conventional thinking is that fixed is always better and while this is sometimes true, it is not always the case. The key here is to ask, "How long am I going to live at this property?" An ARM can actually be a better choice if you are going to be in the home for a short time. The average for how long a first time homebuyer keeps their mortgage is less than four years. In general, the longer you plan on staying in your home, the better a fixed rate mortgage will suit your needs.

Don’t try to bottom out the market - Deciding when to lock in to a mortgage rate can be difficult. Many people will float, trying to guess when rates have hit bottom. Unfortunately, a lot of times they will wait too long and end up with a much higher interest rate. There is nothing wrong with floating but keep a close eye on economic indicators. Your daily newspaper or even the nightly news can be an excellent source of information on the latest interest rate activity. As closing nears, it might be worth locking in.

Negotiate problems prior to closing – Its common for a problem to arise before closing. Waiting until closing will rarely be in your best interest. For instance, if you accept $400 at closing in lieu of the seller making a repair and after closing you find that the repair will actually cost $600, you’ve obviously made a poor decision. Whether the builder agreed to add an item and has not or the seller has made a repair that is not acceptable to you, discussing a solution prior to closing will give both parties time to analyze and determine options.
Be prepared for closing costs – In addition to the down payment, you will be required to pay fees and other closing costs at the time of the final transaction. Closing costs typically range from 2 percent to 6 percent but will be dependent upon your situation. Lenders must provide you with a "Good Faith Estimate." The "Good Faith Estimate" will breakdown all costs so that you may know what to expect at closing.

Close at the end of the month – When making a mortgage payment, you will be paying interest that has accrued from the previous month. Upon closing however, your lender will charge you prepaid interest for the date the loan is recorded through the end of that month. Therefore, one way to lower your closing costs is to close in the latter part of the month. This will lower the amount of prepaid interest that you must pay.

Look out for hidden fees -- Check for certain miscellaneous fees such as inspection, notary, and document preparation. These types of fees can mean hundreds of dollars in closing costs. Remember that this is your money at stake. Never should you be afraid to ask for explanations of fees you are being charged.

Mortgage questions, we are here to help,

"Don't settle for the rest, choose the Best"
Call the Kapp Team
Jaira Kapp 805- 551-4622 or
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Click Link Below to find out your monthly payments!
Mortgage Caculator How much can I afford?
Search for Your Home, Ventura County Moving and Relocations Homes, Listings For Sale. Call the Kapp Team Today your Ventura County Relocation and Moving Experts! We specialize in families moving to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Lake Sherwood, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch and Moorpark areas of the Conejo Valley. 805 551-4622

Thousand Oaks Moving Tips!

2007-06-03T13:57:00.000-07:00

Moving Tips!

Use the right boxes, and pack them carefully
Professional moving companies use only sturdy, reinforced cartons. The boxes you can get at your neighborhood supermarket or liquor store might be free, but they are not nearly as strong or padded, and so can't shield your valuables as well from harm in transit.
Use sheets, blankets, pillows and towels to separate pictures and other fragile objects from each other and the sides of the carton. Pack plates and glass objects vertically, rather than flat and stacked.

Be sure to point out to your mover the boxes in which you've packed fragile items, especially if those items are exceptionally valuable. The mover will advise you whether those valuables need to be repacked in sturdier, more appropriate boxes.
The heavier the item, the smaller the box it should occupy. A good rule of thumb is if you can't lift the carton easily, it's too heavy. Label your boxes, especially the one containing sheets and towels, so you can find everything you need the first night in your new home.
For your family's safety and comfort
Teach your children your new address. Let them practice writing it on packed cartons. You can lighten your load and reduce any storage space you need to rent by hosting a garage or yard sale.

Fill two "OPEN ME FIRST" cartons containing snacks, instant coffee or tea bags, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste and brushes, medicine and toiletry items (make sure caps are tightly secured), flashlight, screwdriver, pliers, can opener, paper plates, cups and utensils, a pan or two, paper towels, and any other items your family can't do without. Ask your van foreman to load one of these boxes, so that it will be unloaded at your new home first. Why the second box? In case the movers are delayed getting to your house on the day of the move.
Keep your pets out of packing boxes and away from all the activity on moving day.
Let all your electrical gadgets return to room temperature before plugging them in.
Since you may need to call old neighbors or businesses from your new home, pack your phone book.

Work hand in hand with your mover
Give the mover's foreman your reach numbers and email addresses so you can stay in contact.
Read the inventory form carefully, and ask the mover to explain anything you don't understand. Make a note of your shipment's registration number, and keep your Bill of Lading handy.
If you're moving long distance, be aware that your property might share a truck with that of several other households. For this reason, your mover might have to warehouse your furniture and belongings for several days. Therefore, ask your mover whether your goods will remain on the truck until delivered. If they have to be stored, ask whether you can check the warehouse for security, organization and cleanliness.

Happy Moving.
If you are thinking of Moving to the Thousand Oaks Area. Ventura County Homes. Look no further. Kapp and Associates are your moving and relocations specialists.

"Don't settle for the rest, choose the Best"
Call the Kapp Team
Jaira Kapp 805- 551-4622 or
Visit Our Website and see all the available homes for Sale!

Search the Ventura County Moving and Relocations

Free MLS of Homes For Sale!
Search for Your Home, Ventura County Moving and Relocations Homes, Listings For Sale. Call the Kapp Team Today your Ventura County Relocation and Moving Experts! We specialize in families moving to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Lake Sherwood, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch and Moorpark areas of the Conejo Valley. 805 551-4622

Thousand Oaks Buyers Market For Two More Years!

2007-06-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

Market Experts Predict End of Real Estate Slump

Friday, June 01, 2007By Inman News

While part of the real estate downturn is behind us now, the buyer's market will likely continue for at least two more years, foreclosures are likely to surge and "we're heading into a year with some more price declines," a real estate consultant told an audience of building-industry professionals on Thursday.
John Burns, a consultant who presented a housing market outlook during the annual Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco, said that a combination of factors, including low interest rates and unconventional mortgage products, dug deep into the pool of future home buyers during the prolonged real estate boom. And the market is still adjusting, he said.
"I know with a very high level of confidence that the number of foreclosures is going to surge," he said, as a high volume of subprime loans and other adjustable-rate loans are headed for a major reset in rates.
"It's really going to occur -- most of it -- next year, so we're going to see some foreclosures and just be prepared for that." The subprime market accounted for 18 percent of all mortgage purchases in 2005 and 25 percent of all home purchases in California, he also noted.
Other economists and building-industry representatives also offered their views on the future of the housing market, and provided statistics on projected housing starts, sales and demographic trends.
Builders have dropped home prices to motivate buyers in the slowing sales environment -- up to 21 percent in some markets -- and "any new home you're selling is a screaming deal compared to any resale deal a consumer is looking at" because the resale market has not been as quick to adjust pricing, Burns said, adding that resale pricing may catch up with new-home pricing.
Meanwhile, National Association of Home Builders president Brian Catalde, who met with reporters at the conference, downplayed the problems in the subprime mortgage market. "Economists generally agree that the downturn in housing will not push the nation into a recession, and the situation in the subprime mortgage (market) is not likely to dramatically affect the economy."
He added, "In fact, we've heard a lot about the subprime mortgages -- there's no reason to push the panic button. The subprime sector is an important but relatively small slice of the overall mortgage market. The market is self-correcting. The investors have pulled back, the underwriting standards have tightened, abuses have been curbed and the bad guys have gone out of business."
He said that the association expects the housing market to begin to climb out of its slump early next year, though "the first stages of the return will be sluggish."
The association expects a 21 percent drop in total housing starts and 18 percent drop in new-home sales this year compared to 2006 -- the association's projection is 1.45 million housing starts in 2007, including 1.1 million for single-family home starts.
Raphael W. Bostic, associate director of the University of Southern California's Lusk Center for Real Estate, said the word that best characterizes the state of the national economy is "uncertainty," with mixed statistics on job creation and a decline in the growth of U.S. gross domestic product. Energy costs have risen dramatically and food costs have also been on the rise, particularly in the West, he said.
"We're in a very uncertain time and what this has translated to is a tremendous amount of uncertainty and nervousness and anxiety on the part of the American consumer. Nearly 70 percent of the U.S. economy is driven by consumer consumption so if households are not consuming the economy is not going to grow and we are all going to feel a considerable amount of pain," Bostic said.
Also, the nation's economy is increasingly tied to international decisions, he said. "As the world gets more integrated, we face continued and increasing exposure to things that happen overseas," such as investments from China and the Middle East, he said.
Bostic noted that Western states continue to dominate the list of U.S. states with the fastest home-price appreciation, though former leaders such as California, Nevada and Arizona have been bumped out by states such as Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.
San Diego and Miami are among the "poster children for wild rides in the market," with significant swings in real estate prices, Bostic said. Some common elements for markets with declining prices are a high degree of speculation and a significant spurt of building, he also said.
Delores A. Conway, director for the Casden Real Estate Economics Forecast produced by the USC Lusk Center, said that economic problems -- such as major job losses in cities like Detroit -- can contribute to home-price declines.
Conway said home-price appreciation has slowed in all major California cities, with home-price appreciation slowing from 23 percent year-over-year at one point to a recent level of about 1 percent year-over-year in the San Bernardino, Calif., area, for example, owing in part to over-building.
Dowell Myers of USC, who presented a report on demographic trends with immigration and baby boomers, said there is a looming "generational housing bubble" in California as home-price affordability becomes a major hurdle for the next generation of buyers.
Myers noted that home prices in California were 150 percent higher than those in Texas in 2000 and have since escalated to 350 percent higher.
Alan Nevin, chief economist for the California Building Industry Association, said during a Thursday conference call that the association has lowered its expectations for building permits this year.
The association expects 90,000 to 100,000 total single-family building permits this year and 45,000 to 55,000 permits for multifamily projects, for a total of 135,000-155,000 permits, which compares with an earlier forecast of 155,000 to 175,000 permits for 2007 in California.
***
Copyright 2007 Inman News

Buyers Relocating to Ventura County this is good news, home prices are at an all time low and this is a great time to buy here in Ventura County. Ventura County has never been more affordable. Sellers are motivated and accepting many low offers with various incentives being offered. If you are relocating to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Lake Sherwood,Simi Valley, Wood Ranch, and Conejo Valley surrounding areas. See all the homes listed by every company in all price ranges. http://ThousandOaksBestRealEstate.com

Kapp and Associates are Relocation Specialists we handle all aspects of your move to Conejo Valley California. Jaira and Don Kapp have over 15 years in Relocations and Moving in Ventura County California. We have helped many families relocate here. Whether you are a first time homebuyer in need of an affordable home or looking for that hard to find horse property or luxury estate we are here to help you. Our loan program is excellent.

"Don't settle for the rest, choose the Best"
Call the Kapp Team
Jaira Kapp 805- 551-4622 or
Visit Our Website and see all the available homes for Sale!

Search the Ventura County Moving and Relocations

Free MLS of Homes For Sale!

Give us a call today! 805 551-4622 or 805 796-1109

Search for Your Home, Ventura County Moving and Relocations Homes, Listings For Sale. Call the Kapp Team Today your Ventura County Relocation and Moving Experts! We specialize in families moving to Thousand Oaks, Agoura, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Lake Sherwood, Simi Valley, Wood Ranch and Moorpark areas of the Conejo Valley. 805 551-4622