Commercial Real Estate Appraiser - Appraisal Blog

Monday, September 24, 2007

FREE STATE MONEY FOR A HOME DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COSTS

Last week, I told you about some great federal/national mortgage loan programs available to those of you looking to buy a home. Today, I want to share with you a lot of information about free state aid that is out there – all across the country – to be used by first-time homeowners in need of money for a down payment or closing costs. The following information is adapted from my forthcoming book, Your First Home: The Smart Way to Move From Renter to Owner.

When housing prices are affordable, more people will buy their own homes. The opposite principle also holds true: the more expensive houses are, the less likely it is that renters will become homeowners. That’s why states with high-cost housing, such as California and New York, have the lowest rates of homeownership in the nation. In California, only 58.4% of people are homeowners, compared with the national homeownership rate of 69%. Also, in the Golden State, 19.4% of residents spend 50% or more of their income on housing. Meanwhile, New York has the lowest homeownership rate in the country, at just 52.8%. And residents of New York also face a steep housing burden, with 19.3% of people in the Empire state spending 50% or more of their income on housing.

State officials everywhere are aware of the need for affordable housing. As a result, you can find state-sponsored housing programs not just on the coasts, but all across the country. Most of these first-time homebuyer programs actually serve two purposes: transitioning more renters into property owners, and also promoting the worthwhile goal of affordable home-ownership.

One such program comes from the State of New York Mortgage Association. If you are a first-time homebuyer getting a home in a targeted area, you can obtain a mortgage at an interest rate as low as 4.625% via the state’s “Achieving the Dream Program.” With this program, you also receive a minimum of $5000, or 5% of your mortgage amount, whichever is higher, in order to pay your down payment and closings costs.

When you get state grants designed for first-time home buyers, you normally must meet income guidelines that vary based upon the median household income in your area. Some forms of government aid – from states, counties and cities – are outright grants that you never have to repay. But most of them are actually loans that are known as “silent seconds.” A “silent second” is a no-interest loan, and you make no monthly payments on the loan either. Many times, the loan is completely forgiven, as long as you live in the home for a set period of time (often five to 10 years). With other programs that do require you to repay a “silent second,” you typically are not required to repay the mortgage loan until you sell the house.

Receiving government aid often boils down to three steps. First, you must prove that you are eligible for the money, based on your earnings and the number of people in your household. Second, you must get approved for a mortgage with a lender that allows you to use down payment assistance as part of your loan qualifications. Third, you must meet the definition of a first-time homebuyer: someone who hasn’t owned a home within the past three years. If you meet these three general criteria, you’re practically guaranteed to receive available government funding to buy a home.

Realize, however, that you may not qualify to receive assistance from your state or local government if any of the following circumstances apply to you.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Your income is too high compared with others in your area

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->You owned a home within the past three years

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->You had a bankruptcy discharged less than 24 months ago

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->You have defaulted on a government or student loan

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->You have outstanding tax liens

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->You have past due child support payments

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->You previously had a house that went into foreclosure

If none of these situations apply to you, you have an extremely high probability of getting state aid. If you do fall into one of these categories, your best bet is to first clear up the problem area. Alternatively, you can pursue other down payment assistance programs that won’t disqualify you based on these conditions.

Here is a sample of the type of state aid available to first-time homebuyers available through the country:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->In Texas, you can get grant funds up to 5% of your mortgage amount, along with two type of loans with interest rates that are typically 1% below current market rates via the Texas First Time Homebuyers Program. For more information, call the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs at 512-475-3800 or toll-free at 800-525-0657 or visit: http://www.tdhca.state.ts.us.

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->In Illinois, first-time homebuyers taking place in the Assets Illinois Homeownership Project can receive a dollar for dollar match up to $2,000 to help them save for the purchase of a first home. Funding for these matching contributions in these Individual Development Accounts are provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services. Participants also receive free homeownership counseling and advice on how to avoid predatory lending. For more information, call 312-793-3819 or visit: http://www.dhs.state.illinois.us/assets.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->In South Carolina, the Single Parent Program is open not just to first-time homebuyers, but to any one renting, as long as the person has a child under the age of 18 and the homebuyer is divorced or has been separated for six months. The program offers a forgivable loan up to $5,000, or down payment assistance up to $4,000. For more information, call 803-896-9508 or visit: http://www.schousing.com.

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->In California, the High Cost Area Home Purchase Assistance Program (HiCAP) offers up to $7,500 in down payment assistance in the form of a deferred-payment second loan. For more information, call 877-922-5432 or visit: http://www.calhfa.ca.gov.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->In Georgia, the Dream Homeownership Program offers 100% financing via a low interest rates 30 or 35-year mortgage, and a second loan ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 that can be used for a down payment and closing costs. The down payment assistance loan has no interest, no monthly payments, and no payment is due until the house is sold, refinanced or no longer used as the buyer’s primary residence. For more information, call 877-359-4663 or visit: http://www.dca.state.ga.us.

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->In Pennsylvania, the HOMEstead Down payment and Closing Cost Assistance Loan features up to $20,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance in the form of a no-interest second loan. Funds up to $14,999 are forgiven at 20% per year over five years. Funds between $15,000 and $20,000 are forgiven at 10% per year over a decade. For more information, call 800-822-1174 or visit: http://www.phfa.org.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->In Nevada, you can get up to $10,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance, and a below-market interest rate on 30 and 40-year loans with the Nevada Housing Division First Time Homebuyer Program. For more information, call 702-486-7220 or visit: http://www.nvhousing.state.nv.us.

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->As you can see, a broad range of programs exist for all potential homebuyers. So where can you find these state programs? Start by turning to State Housing Financing Agencies (HFAs). These are state-chartered authorities established to help meet the affordable housing needs of the residents of their states. Although they vary from state to state, most HFAs are independent entities that operate under the direction of a board of directors appointed by each state’s governor. Their reason for being is to help homeowners like you, so they can often point you in the direction of incredible housing and development programs you never dreamed existed. There is a National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) active in Washington D.C. to keep the issue of affordable housing high on the government’s list of national priorities. Housing Finance Agencies and NCSHA (http://www.ncsha.org) can help you tap into three federally authorized programs: Mortgage Revenue Bonds, Mortgage Credit Certificates, and the HOME Program. <!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Mortgage Revenue Bonds State and local housing agencies also offer loans to first-time buyers via mortgage revenue bond programs. Mortgages funded with these instruments often feature low down payment options and have interest rates as much as 1.5% to 2% below conventional 30-year fixed rates.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Mortgage Credit Certificates

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Program is another perk available through states to qualified first-time homebuyers. This benefit is in the form of federal income tax credit of between 10% and 20% of the annual interest you pay on your mortgage.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME)

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->Available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the HOME program is the largest federal block grant available to state and local governments. The HOME program allocates roughly $2 billion to local governments each year in an effort to create affordable housing for low-income households. One component of the HOME initiative is the American Dream Down payment Initiative. Through ADDI, you can receive down payment assistance, money for closing costs, and even funds to fix up a home you are buying. The cash comes in the form of a loan equal to 6% of the purchase price or $10,000, whichever is greater. The loan carries a 0% interest rate and a maximum loan term of 10 years. For each year you live in the house, 10% of the loan amount will be slashed. If you stay in the home 10 years, the entire amount will be forgiven. If you sell your home before 10 years – and most first-time buyers do sell their homes after an average of four or five years – the remaining amount of the loan must be repaid. This program is open to all first-time buyers who haven’t owned a home within the past three years. The money provided via ADDI can be used to purchase a one-to-four family house, condo, cooperative unit, or manufactured housing. To qualify, your income must not exceed 80% of your area median income. Get more information about this initiative through your state housing finance agency, or by visiting HUD’s website at: http://www.hud.gov. Also, if you find out about a program like this one that receives federal money, but the money hasn’t come through yet, put your name on the list to be notified about a change in status ASAP. That way you’ll be ahead of lots of other people who are also seeking housing grants or forgivable loans.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Housing Redevelopment Offices

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->n addition to state housing finance agencies, contact the Housing and Redevelopment Office in your state, county or city. Members of The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) (http://www.nahro.org) champion the cause of adequate and affordable housing for all Americans – especially those with low and moderate incomes.

Be mindful that state housing agencies and redevelopment offices across the country can use lots of different names. One might be called a “Housing Finance Agency,” as is the case with the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, while another one is dubbed a “Housing Development Authority,” as is true of the Virginia Housing Development Authority. Any agency with the name “Home” “Housing,” “Community Development,” “Mortgage Finance” – or similar words – is a good place to find homebuyer assistance programs.

The importance of state programs can’t be emphasized enough. I think so highly of these initiatives, that I’ve provided you with a list below of housing and development agencies for every single state in the country. Here are their names and websites for more information. A few states have multiple listings. In the Appendix of this book, you can find an extended version of this list, complete with addresses and phone numbers.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->State Housing Finance & Development Agencies

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->Alabama Housing Finance Authority http://www.ahfa.com

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation http://www.ahfc.state.ak.us

Arizona Department of Housing/Arizona Housing Finance Authority http://www.housingaz.com

Arkansas Development Finance Authority http://www.state.ar.us/adfa

California Housing Finance Agency http://www.calhfa.ca.gov

California Tax Credit Allocation Committee http://www.treasurer.ca.gov/ctcac

Colorado Housing and Finance Authority http://www.colohfa.org

Connecticut Housing Finance Authority http://www.chfa.org

Delaware State Housing Authority http://www.destatehousing.com

District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development http://www.dhcd.dc.gov

District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency http://www.dchfa.org

Florida Housing Finance Corporation http://www.floridahousing.org

Georgia Department of Community Affairs/ Georgia Housing and Finance Authority http://www.dca.state.ga.us Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation

 

http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/hhfdc

 

 

Idaho Housing and Finance Association

 

http://www.ihfa.org

 

 

Illinois Housing Development Authority

 

http://www.ihda.org

 

 

Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority

 

http://www.in.gov/ihfa

 

 

Iowa Finance Authority

 

http://www.ifahome.com

 

 

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation

 

http://www.kshousingcorp.org

 

 

Kentucky Housing Corporation

 

http://www.kyhousing.org

 

 

Louisiana Housing Finance Agency

 

http://www.lhfa.state.la.us

 

 

 

Maine Housing

 

http://www.mainehousing.org

 

 

Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development

 

http://www.dhcd.state.md.us

 

 

Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development

 

http://www.state.ma.us/dhcd

 

 

Mass Housing

 

http://www.masshousing.com

 

 

Michigan State Housing Development Authority

 

http://www.michigan.gov/mshda

 

 

Minnesota Housing

 

http://www.mhfa.state.mn.us

 

 

Mississippi Home Corporation

 

http://www.mshomecorp.com

 

 

Missouri Housing Development Commission

 

http://www.mhdc.com

 

 

Montana Board of Housing/Housing Division

 

http://www.housing.mt.gov

 

 

Nebraska Investment Finance Authority

 

http://www.nifa.org

 

 

Nevada Housing Division

 

http://www.nvhousing.state.nv.us

 

 

New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority

 

http://www.nhhfa.org

 

 

New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency

 

http://www.nj-hmfa.com

 

 

New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority

 

http://www.housingnm.org

 

 

New York City Housing Development Corporation

 

http://www.nychdc.com

 

 

New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal

 

http://www.dhcr.state.ny.us

 

 

New York State Housing Finance Agency/

 

State of New York Mortgage Agency

 

http://www.nyhomes.org

 

 

North Carolina Housing Finance Agency

 

http://www.nchfa.com

 

 

North Dakota Housing Finance Agency

 

http://www.ndhfa.org

 

 

Ohio Housing Finance Agency

 

http://www.ohiohome.org

 

 

Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency

 

http://www.ohfa.org

 

 

Oregon Housing and Community Services

 

http://www.ohcs.oregon.gov

 

 

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

 

http://www.phfa.org

 

 

Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority

 

http://www.gdp-pur.com

 

 

Rhode Island Housing

 

http://www.rihousing.com

 

 

 

South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority

 

http://www.schousing.com

 

 

South Dakota Housing Development Authority

 

http://www.sdhda.org

 

 

Tennessee Housing Development Agency

 

http://www.tennessee.gov/thda

 

 

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs

 

http://www.tdhca.state.tx.us

 

 

Utah Housing Corporation

 

http://www.utahhousingcorp.org

 

 

Vermont Housing Finance Agency

 

http://www.vhfa.org

 

 

Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority

 

http://www.vihfa.gov

 

 

Virginia Housing Development Authority

 

http://www.vhda.com

 

 

Washington State Housing Finance Commission

 

http://www.wshfc.org

 

 

West Virginia Housing Development Fund

 

http://www.wvhdf.com

 

 

Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority

 

http://www.wheda.com

 

 

Wyoming Community Development Authority

 

http://www.wyomingcda.com

 

 

These state initiatives comprise just some of the financial assistance out there for first-time homebuyers. Stay tuned for more information, because tomorrow I’ll tell you about county and city programs for would-be homeowners throughout the country. After all, aren’t you ready to fire your landlord? Copyright 2007, 2008 Lynnette Khalfani-Cox

ishing you all the prosperity you deserve!

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach http://www.themoneycoach.net

Posted by Lynnette Khalfani - The Money Coach at Monday, September 24, 2007 1 comments    

 

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->

Posted by Cochise at 09:45 AM | Permalink

Admin26 Pamphlets   Lenders Handbook Pamphlet 26-7 - Guaranty or Insurance of Loans to Veterans...GI Loan Programs   Index Table of Content Current Issues   Transmittal Chapter 1 - The Lender Chapter 2 - Veterans Eligibility and Entitlement Chapter 3 - The VA Loan and Guaranty Chapter 4 - Credit Underwriting Chapter 5 - How to Process VA Loans Chapter 6 - Refinancing Loans Chapter 7 - Loans Requiring Special Underwriting, Guaranty and Other Considerations Chapter 8 - Borrower Fees and Charges and the VA Funding Fee Chapter 9 - Legal Instruments, Liens, Escrows and Related Issues Chapter 10 - Property Eligibility and Appraisal Requests Chapter 11 - Appraiser Requirements Chapter 12 - Minimum Property Requirements Chapter 13 - Value Notices Chapter 14 - Construction Inspections Chapter 15 - Lender Appraisal Processing Program Chapter 16 - Common Interest Communities, Condominiums and Planned Unit Development Chapter 17 - VA Sanctions Against Program Participants Appendix Appendix A - Listing of VA Offices Return to WARMS Home page  You are Admin26 Pamphlets Visitor Number Last Updated (TH):02/16/2005 09:26:00

Posted by Cochise at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Daily Real Estate News  |  September 18, 2007Healthy Outlook Continues for Commercial Real Estate
Most commercial real estate markets are enjoying relatively low vacancy rates and healthy rent growth from a fundamentally sound economy, according to the latest Commercial Real Estate Outlook of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®.

“Commercial real estate responds to economic growth and job creation, which have been fairly strong over the past two years and have created the need for additional commercial space,” says NAR Senior Economist Lawrence Yun. “These fundamentals will continue to support commercial real estate markets in 2008. There has not been much overbuilding in the commercial sectors, and investors are more diverse.”

Commercial Sector Hits Record Highs

Yun says pricing for some commercial real estate has been at a record high, and capitalization rates have been at historic lows. “Normalization of prices may be occurring, but it isn’t clear what the definition of normal might be in the current market given the repricing of risk in the capital market,” he notes. “In short, the difference between the cash flow on a typical property and its price is close to a maximum, indicating prices may even out.”

A record $257 billion was invested in commercial real estate in the first seven months of 2007, up from $146.7 billion in same period in 2006 — that total does not include transactions valued at less than $5 million, or of investments in the hospitality sector.

NAR Forecast

Cindy Chandler of Charlotte, N.C., chair of the REALTORS^® Commercial Alliance, says there have been some problems recently regarding the availability of capital.

“Overreaction to credit concerns in the financial markets could limit the availability of capital needed by private investors, but overall the situation does not appear to have significantly impacted institutional-grade commercial properties,” she says. “We're returning to the fundamentals and deal structuring of the mid '90s, and may see some dampening in investment activity, but there is a lot of momentum in commercial real estate.

Chandler predicts the commercial sectors to hold at a healthy level of activity in most of the nation. “Although there could be some slowing as a result of postponed transactions and delays in decision making,” she says.

The following is NAR's forecast for the four major commercial sectors, based on analyses of quarterly data for various tracked metro areas provided by Torto Wheaton Research and Real Capital Analytics.

Office Market

The office sector is the most favored by investors, with strong rent growth this year. The cost of steel and other factors have helped minimize speculative construction in most markets. The demand for space is expected to remain strong into 2008, and areas with strong job growth are benefiting the most. Older vacated space is lagging on the market in some cities.

Here are some additional projections for the office market:

• Vacancy rate: expected to edge up to an average of 12.9 percent in the fourth quarter from 12.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006, and then dip to 12.4 percent by the end of 2008. Projections for the third quarter show areas with the lowest office vacancies include New York City; Ventura County, Calif.; Seattle; Los Angeles; Honolulu; and Long Island, N.Y., all with vacancy rates of 9.4 percent or less.

• Annual rent growth: forecast at 6.1 percent in 2007 and 3.1 percent next year, after rising 5.2 percent in 2006.

• Net absorption of office space: 53.8 million square feet this year and 65.1 million in 2008, compared with 78 million last year. This projection is based on 57 markets and includes the leasing of new space coming on the market as well as space in existing properties.

• Office building transaction volume in the first seven months of 2007: $147 billion, a record for the period, which is 53 percent higher than the same period in 2006. Equity funds accounted for 43 percent of office building purchases, followed by private investors at 21 percent.

Industrial Market

Although the main driver for the industrial market continues to be the need for warehouse and distribution space, particularly in ports and distribution hubs, the rebirth of the technology sector is fueling demand for flex space. A marked increase has occurred in markets such as San Jose, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; and Phoenix.

Much of the new industrial supply has been on a build-to-suit basis, and building obsolescence remains a factor for distribution facilities. With tightening availability in many primary markets, users are starting to show greater interest in secondary markets. Here are some more forecasts for the industrial market in the coming year:

• Vacancy rates: likely to average 9.6 percent in the fourth quarter and 9.4 percent by the end of 2008, compared with 9.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2006. The areas with the lowest industrial vacancies include Los Angeles; Albuquerque; Tucson; Orange County, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; and San Francisco, all with vacancy rates of 5.4 percent or less.

• Annual rent growth: expected to more than double to 3.9 percent by the end of this year, and is estimated at 3.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 — up from a 1.4 percent annual rise at the end of last year.

• Net absorption of industrial space: (based on 58 markets tracked) will probably total 125 million square feet in 2007 and 165.6 million next year, down from 202.8 million in 2006.

• Industrial transaction volume in the first seven months of 2007: $26.8 billion, up 13 percent from the same period in 2006. Private investors accounted for 36 percent of industrial purchases, followed by equity funds at 25 percent.

Retail Market

Recovery in the retail market has been held back by high levels of new supply, but developers appear to have gotten the message. The majority of new space on the market today is in nonregional malls, but new available space should see marked declines in 2008. Credit problems have not yet impacted retail sales, but will be watched closely.

NAR also made the following predictions for the retail market:

• Vacancy rates: projected to rise to 9.3 percent in the fourth quarter from 8.1 percent at the end of 2006; vacancies are forecast at 8.9 percent by the end of next year. Retail markets with the lowest vacancies include San Francisco; Orange County, Calif.; San Jose, Calif.; Ventura County, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; and Las Vegas, all with vacancy rates of 5.1 percent or less.

• Average retail rent: expected to rise 2.9 percent in 2007 and 1 percent next year, following a 3.9 percent increase in 2006.

• Net absorption of retail space: (based on 53 tracked markets) 12.1 million square feet this year and 19 million in 2008, up from 10.7 million last year.

• Retail transaction volume in the first seven months of 2007: $37.4 billion, up from $22.3 billion in same period in 2006. Private investors accounted for 35 percent of transaction volume, followed by institutional investors at 22 percent and foreign investors, 18 percent.

Multifamily Market

The apartment rental market — multifamily housing — anecdotally appears to be impacted by an influx of single-family homes being offered for rent, cutting into the demand for apartment rentals. In addition, condos are being converted into rental units, particularly in markets such as Washington, D.C., and several areas of Florida.

At the same time, potential first-time home buyers are hesitant and staying in the rental market, supporting multifamily fundamentals until the lure of homeownership returns, the housing cycle changes, and more buyers enter the housing market. Other projections for the multifamily market include:

• Vacancy rates: expected to average 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter, the same as the fourth quarter of 2006, and then ease to 5.6 percent by the end of next year. The areas with the lowest apartment vacancies include Northern New Jersey, Salt Lake City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Nashville, all with vacancy rates of 2.7 percent or less.

• Average rent: projected to increase 2.9 percent this year and 3.8 percent in 2008, after a 4.1 percent rise last year.

• Multifamily net absorption: expected to total 209,200 units in 59 tracked metro areas this year, down from 229,400 in 2006, but increase to 234,400 in 2008.

• Multifamily transactions in the first seven months of 2007: $46.3 billion, compared with $41.5 billion in the same period in 2006. Half of the purchases were by private investors, while condo converters accounted for only three percent of acquisitions.

— REALTOR® Magazine Online

For more economic news and research reports, visit NAR's Research division at REALTOR.org.

Posted by Cochise at 02:17 PM | Permalink

Search engine details  [Edit this search engine]

Get In The "LOOP," a Real Estate Custom Search Engine  Real Estate and Appraisal - Appraiser Information, Research and Services, for the Novice and Expert Alike. Built by Real Estate Experts: The Harris Company REA/C 5780 West Centinela Avenue, 1-408 Los Angeles, CA. 90045 310.337.1973 The "LOOP" search engine: http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=000747579154309164948%3Annakvu69iqy website: http://www.harriscompanyrec.com email: curtis_harris@harriscompanyrec.com appraisal blog http://www.harriscompanyrec.com/blog/ Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. The objective of our website/search engine is to organize the world's real estate information and make it universally accessible and useful. Sometimes it pays to play "Follow the Leader." (Keywords: "Real Estate Search Engine" "Real Estate Custom Search Engine" "Real Estate CSE" "CSE" "Appraiser") "Instead of fighting the explosive growth of the Internet, the Open Directory (and the Harris Company REA/C-CSE) provides the means for the Internet to organize itself.  As the Internet grows, so do the number of net-citizens.  These citizens can each organize a small portion of the web and present it to the rest of the population, culling out the bad and useless and keeping only the best content."  From: DMOZ-Open Directory Project. We have some big shoes to fill, but it can be done with your help.  To get listed or to contribute please contact Curtis D. Harris, BS, CGREA, REB @ harris_curtis@sbcglobal.net, If you are already "In the Loop" please remember to add the CSE code to your website (Add this search engine to your blog or webpage ») IT'S FREE! Appraisers, Attorneys, Brokers, Consultants, Contractors, and Lenders are All Welcome.  If you are a small firm, and do not have a website, don't feel left out, for a small fee ($25.00 per mo.) we can create a "Someone You Should Know Page" on our Harris Company REA/C website, which can be just as effective as a full blown website.  Our website is currently ranked #4 on Google and #2 on Yahoo for Keywords: "Commercial Appraiser," and "Commercial Appraisal."  We are also ranked high for "Real Estate Consultant, CA," "Forensic Appraiser," and many others.  The last time I checked we were the highest ranked Real Estate Appraisal and Consulting Firm on the web.  In the very near future we will be the highest ranked Real Estate Custom Search Engine on the web.  Don't wait, Business happens when you're in the "LOOP." The Harris Company, Real Estate Appraisers and Consultants Real Estate Custom Search Engine, CSE, 310.337.1973 searches 101 sites, including: http://www.dca.ca.gov/, http://www.aicpa.org/, http://www.ccim.com/about/ccim.html, http://www.martinappraisals.com/index.html, http://harriscompanyrec.com/blog/ Last updated: 2 days ago

Add this search engine to your Google homepage:  Add this search engine to your blog or webpage »

 

 

Posted by Cochise at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

• Research local housing market activity, price trends, and local schools.
• Ask questions and get advice from local residents & real estate professionals.
• Find homes for sale, get notified when homes are listed or sold.

http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Los_Angeles-California/

 

Posted by Cochise at 08:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Spring-Summer 2007  (access to certain stories requires a subscription) AVM Tango! Man or Machine? - David Brauner, Editor AVMs are under fire from states, consumer groups and individual appraisers. There are many issues and many points of view. Are AVMs “appraisals”? Should AVMs be regulated like appraisals? Who decides? Why has the state of Arizona put the AVM Zillow on notice to “cease and desist”? Read the latest including a newsmaker interview with Greg Accetta, Chair of the Appraisal Standards Board.  Also: Copyright Appraiser Takes on AVMs;  Fidelity National Information Solutions, Inc. v. George D Sinclair (PDF);  Vining summary of Fidelity case, Vining AVM Complaint, AZ Board Cease and Desist Orders v. Zillow (PDF); NCRC complaint v. Zillow (PDF); 32 "Mandatory" states and AO-18  Published by OREP (low-cost E&O Insurance), WRE is an award-winning publication for appraisers, inspectors and other real estate professionals. Subscribe Now    Readers Say

Posted by Cochise at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)