San Clemente Real Estate and Lifestyle Blog

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Mortgage Rate Lock May Be Worth The Extra Cost

Lower interest rate equals a lower monthly payment on your San Clemente property

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Matt.

A couple of days ago, we posted a blog ("Would You Like a Lower Monthly Mortgage Payment?") highlighting the recent uptick in mortgage interest rates. While the majority of the blog centered on San Clemente homeowners who may want to refinance their current loan now rather than waiting, our arguments for not waiting too long apply to buyers interested in purchasing San Clemente properties. A simple quarter-percent increase in the interest rate can cost you over $25,000 over the life of a $500,000 30-year fixed rate loan, so buyers thinking of purchasing a new San Clemente condo or ... Read More »
Low Home Appraisal May Cost You A New San Clemente House

Lenders tend to go by home appraisal price when considering loan amount

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Matt.

When a buyer falls in love with a San Clemente home or San Clemente condo, many things need to happen in order to make the dream of owning that home a reality. Negotiations on a sales price and contract terms occur, a compromise is made, and escrow is opened. More often than not, a buyer will be financing part of the new home purchase, so the lender will review all of the buyer's financial documents and credit report to determine if the potential borrower is fit to receive the home loan. During this time, inspections are conducted on the home and requests for repairs (if nece... Read More »
Would You Like A Lower Monthly Mortgage Payment?

Now is a great time to refinance your San Clemente home loan

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Matt.

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, "It's a Good Time To Refinance," highlights the notion that now may be the perfect time to refinance the loan on your San Clemente home or San Clemente condo. As has been well documented on this site over the past few months, mortgage interest rates have reached historic levels; over the past couple of months, the 30-year fixed rate has fallen below the 4% level, which is unheard of since Freddie Mac began national averages 40 years ago. If you have some equity in your home and the necessary funds to complete a refinance (you will pay or... Read More »
Settle Your Credit Disputes Before Buying San Clemente Real Estate

Potential FHA borrowers with credit disputes may not qualify for loan

Posted on April 09, 2012 by Matt.

Out of the 213 current active listings on the San Clemente real estate market, 93 fall under the ceiling that would qualify a buyer for an FHA-backed loan. FHA-backed loans are a great option for homebuyers because they are backed by a federal agency and come with a low down payment (typically around 3.5% of the sale's price versus a standard 20% down payment required by most lenders). Over the past few years, many homeowners have gone underwater on their loans, so lending institutions are doing all they can to curb the risk they take on when granting loans, and the FHA is beginnin... Read More »
Does A Lower Homeowner's Insurance Premium Sound Good To You?

Lowering your premium costs takes a little work but can reap nice savings

Posted on April 03, 2012 by Matt.

When people are thinking of purchasing a San Clemente home, they tend to budget for the big ticket items (mortgage payment, property taxes, HOA dues) and fail to think about the smaller yet equally important costs of homeownership. One of the more important items that a new homeowner needs to purchase is homeowner's insurance, and this cost can be high if you don't do the proper research. So let's say you compare different homeowner's insurance options through shopping around and you find the most affordable...are you confident that your rate will stay the same? If you make a... Read More »
Courtney's SandCastle Honored By Parks and Rec Association

Universal-Access Playground Part of New Vista Hermosa Sports Park

Posted on April 02, 2012 by Matt.

When San Clemente's Vista Hermosa Sports Park and Aquatics Center opened on February 25th near the Talega and Rancho San Clemente neighborhoods, it was a momentous occasion for the many people who had spent the past few years raising the necessary funds to make this state-of-the-art San Clemente park a reality. For the people involved with a small portion of the park, the event was even longer in the making. For the past 11 years, a group of adults rallied around Courtney Smith, a young girl diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at the age of 4, to build a universal-access playgro... Read More »
San Clemente Home Sales Up Last Month Versus 2011

February 2012 shows more housing sales compared to February 2011

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Matt.

Last month, based on sales information obtained from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), it appears that San Clemente houses are beginning to move a little quicker when compared to year-ago numbers. In February 2012, there were 42 single family homes sold in San Clemente, a 10% increase over the number of San Clemente homes sold in February 2011 (38). Even better news for San Clemente homebuyers during February 2012 is that the average sales price was over $7,000 below the averages sales price from February 2011: $779,646 in 2012 versus $786,974 in 2011. Buyers who decided to... Read More »
Energy Efficiency In Your San Clemente Home May Save You A Lot Of Money

Lower utility costs and tax savings make these home improvements a worthwhile investment

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Matt.

Over the past few years, there has been a big push for businesses and homeowners to ramp up the installation and usage of energy efficient appliances and improvements in order to cut costs and protect the environment. The federal government has made energy efficiency an attractive option by offering tax breaks to people who install energy efficient appliances and features in their home, which should make this an attractive option for any San Clemente home or condo owner.Installing energy efficient improvements in your home, such as new doors and windows, new insulation, energy efficient ... Read More »
Owning A San Clemente Home Can Lower Your Taxes

A variety of tax deductions are available to San Clemente homeowners

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Matt.

Low housing prices and historic mortgage rates have made purchasing San Clemente real estate an attractive option. To own a home is part of the quintessential “American Dream;” anyone can own a home if they have the money. In a tough economy, potential homebuyers may be nervous about adding mortgage and property tax payments to their current debt, which is why the San Clemente real estate market is still experiencing high inventory and low prices. However, what many potential homebuyers, particularly first time buyers, don’t fully realize is that these new c... Read More »
How Can You Qualify For A Home Loan?

Tips on securing a mortgage for your San Clemente real estate purchase

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Matt.

With mortgage rates at historic lows and fantastic home prices, the San Clemente real estate market is ripe for the taking. Homebuyers have rarely seen a better time to purchase a San Clemente home or San Clemente condo, yet inventory remains high her along with throughout the country. One of the problems potential buyers face is that, due to the amount of bad loans and underwater homeowners, lenders have become very strict about giving out mortgages. While having a sizable down payment and maintaining good credit are two of the key factors to loan qualifications, there are o... Read More »