Pool Home in La Quinta Cove!!! 3 Bed 2 Bath 1398sf.

Standard Sale!!! 12 hour turnaround to all offers. This 3 bed, 2 bath, 1398sqft pool home is located within walking distance of hiking trails, grocery stores, elementary school, Old Town La Quinta, community pool and tennis. Home has been completely remodeled and features beautiful new tile flooring in common areas, new carpet in bedrooms, new granite countertops, stainless steel kitchen sink, new cabinets, new interior & exterior paint, new tile roof, new ceiling fans, new double pane windows, new landscaping (with smart timer installed by CVWD), new hardware & fixtures, new stainless steel appliances and more!!! Enjoy completely enclosed back yard with private pool. Take advantage of low utility bill's in Imperial Irrigation District... and best of all, NO HOA DUES!!!


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Unobstructed Views of Mountains!!! Pool home in La Quinta List Price $264,900

Unobstructed view of the mountain!!! STANDARD SALE, 12 hour turnaround to all offers. This 3 bed, 2 full bath home is located within walking distance of hiking trails, grocery stores, elementary school, Old Town La Quinta, community pool and tennis. Home has been completely remodeled and features beautiful resurfaced saltillo tiles, new granite counters, new cabinets, new windows, new sliding doors, new tile roof, new interior & exterior paint, new ceiling fans, new front & back yard desert landscaping, new door hardware, new stainless steel appliances and more!!! Enjoy completely enclosed back yard with private patio. Take advantage of low utility bill's in Imperial Irrigation District...and best of all, NO HOA DUES!!!

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Santa Fe Home In La Quinta!!! Mountain Views. $199,900

Santa Fe Home in La Quinta!!! STANDARD SALE, 12 hour turnaround to all offers. This 3 bed, 2 full bath home is located within walking distance of hiking trails, grocery stores, elementary school, Old Town La Quinta, community pool and tennis. Home has been completely remodeled and features beautiful tile new flooring, new granite counters, new interior & exterior paint, refurbished cabinets, epoxy garage floor, new tile shower/tub surround, new front & back yard desert landscaping, new door hardware, new stainless steel appliances and more!!! Enjoy completely enclosed back yard with private patio. Take advantage of low utility bill's in Imperial Irrigation District and being connected to natural gas... and best of all, NO HOA DUES!!!


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Great opportunity to refinance if you have a Fannie or Freddie loan...

Borrowers who are current on their home loans may be able to refinance for lower interest rates, even if they are seriously upside down.  The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced today that it will broaden the scope of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) by removing the current 125 percent loan-to-value cap for fixed-rate mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Other program enhancements include, among other things, reducing certain fees, eliminating the need for a new property appraisal if the FHFA has a reliable automated valuation model (AVM) estimate, and extending HARP until the end of 2013.  New federal guidelines for the HARP changes should be released to mortgage lenders and servicers by November 15.

The basic eligibility requirements for an enhanced HARP loan are as follows:

• Existing mortgage loan must be owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.  To check whether a borrower has a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan, go to http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/get-assistance/loan-look-up/Pages/default.aspx.
• Existing mortgage loan must have been sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac before June 1, 2009.
• Existing mortgage loan cannot have been refinanced under HARP previously (except for Fannie Mae loans refinanced between March and May 2009).
• Current loan-to-value (LTV) ratio must be more than 80%.
• Existing mortgage loan must be current, with no late payments in the past six months, and no more than one late payment in the past 12 months.

More information is available from FHFA at http://www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/22721/HARP_release_102411_Final.pdf.

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Beautiful Mountain Views!!! 3 bed 2 Bath Home in South La Quinta $164,900

Views, Views Views!!! STANDARD SALE, 12 hour turnaround to all offers. This 3 bed, 2 full bath, 1360sqft home is located within walking distance of hiking trails, grocery stores, elementary school, Old Town La Quinta, community pool and tennis. Home has been completely remodeled and features beautiful tile new flooring, new granite counters, new interior & exterior paint, new ceiling fans, new front & back yard desert landscaping (with smart timer installed by CVWD), new door hardware, new stainless steel appliances and more!!! Enjoy completely enclosed back yard with private patio. Take advantage of low utility bill's in Imperial Irrigation District and being connected to natural gas... and best of all, NO HOA DUES!!!

CLICK HERE to see more pics.

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What's Triggering Your Home Loan or Refiance Rejection?

Last year, more than two million people were turned down for homes, according to federal data, often because the applicants didn’t meet certain lender requirements or because their applications were incomplete or otherwise problematic.  With lenders’ underwriting criteria becoming more rigorous in recent years, it’s important buyers know the most common triggers for mortgage-loan rejection.

Making sense of the story

• Insufficient income: Lenders want to be sure borrowers can afford to make the mortgage payments.  Lenders typically look for at least a two-year track record of income, which could hurt those who have changed jobs recently.
• Cloudy financial picture: Generally, total debt payments, including the mortgage, cannot exceed 45 to 50 percent of a borrower’s adjusted gross monthly income.  Overtime and bonuses are included only if the borrower has worked for the same employer at least two years, and has a history of receiving them.
• Poor credit: Lenders typically reject applicants with FICO scores below 620.
• Low appraisal: One of the predominant reasons buyers are turned down for home loans is because the appraisal on the property is too low.  A buyer may think he or she is purchasing a house worth $800,000, but if the appraisal comes in less than that, the lender will not loan the borrower the money.
• Property problems: Sometimes issues turn up within a house, like a major repair or safety issue that needs to be addressed, before an application can be approved.
• Information mix-ups: Approximately 12 percent of new mortgage applications were denied because of unverifiable information or incomplete credit applications, according to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

Back on the Market!!! 4 bedroom w/ large back yard in North La Quinta

Standard Sale!!! 12 hour turnaround to all offers. This 3 bed plus den/office, 2 full bath, 1651 square foot home is located within walking distance of Adams Park, La Quinta High School, grocery stores & shopping. Home has been completely remodeled and features beautiful granite counter tops, new dark laminate wood flooring, new paint, new baseboards, new carpet in all bedrooms, new hardware, new stainless steel appliances, refurbished cabinets, vaulted ceiling, walk in master closet and more!!! Take advantage of low utilities bill's in Imperial Irrigation District... and best of all, NO HOA DUES!!!


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Determining a home’s value

Declining property values are preventing some homeowners from taking advantage of today’s historically low interest rates and refinancing.
Making sense of the story

• Many homeowners nationwide have either no equity or are in a negative equity position in their homes.  This leaves them with two options for refinancing, paying extra at the closing or what’s known as a cash-in mortgage.
• Those considering refinancing will need to determine the current valuation, comparing it with the mortgage balance.  If the balance is at least 15 to 20 percent higher than what is owed, a refinance without a second down payment is possible.
• To obtain a good valuation, some homeowners hire an appraiser, at a cost of $300 to $600, or more on a large or expensive property.  While this may be informative, most lenders require an official appraisal anyway, and that will have to be conducted by someone on the lender’s approved list.
• Another, less costly, option a homeowner can use prior to approaching a lender, is to check the comparable sales in the neighborhood and see which homes and for what amounts homes have sold in the last three to six months.
• Homeowners also can go to the county assessor’s office and look up specific homes that have sold recently in the neighborhood.
• When looking at comps, homeowners should consider homes with similar amenities and square footage as the property in question.
• Just before the home is scheduled for its official appraisal, homeowners should spend a few hours touching up and making sure it looks well maintained.  Hiring a cleaning crew, repairing any broken windows, and providing documentation on upgrades also can help the appraiser.

Read the full story

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Beautiful Pool Home in North La Quinta, Perfect for Entertaining. List price $299,000

Standard Sale!!! 12 hour turnaround to all offers. This 3 bed, 2 full bath, 1700sqft home features an amazing back yard with beautiful pebble tec pool, spa and waterfall... Perfect for entertaining!!! Located within walking distance of Amelia Earheart Elementary, La Quinta High School, grocery stores and shopping. Home has been completely remodeled and features beautiful tile flooring throughout, granite counters, resurfaced pebble tec pool, new interior & exterior paint, resurfaced driveway and patio, new front & back yard desert landscaping with a dozen palms trees and lighting, new door hardware, new stainless steel appliances and more!!! Enjoy completely enclosed back yard with private patio. Take advantage of low utility bill's in Imperial Irrigation District and being connected to natural gas... and best of all, NO HOA DUES!!!

CLICK HERE to see all the photos.

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Remodelled 3 Bed 2 Bath 1230sf Home w/ Mountain Views $144,900

Standard Sale!!! 12 hour turnaround to all offers. This 3 bed, 2 full bath, 1230 square foot home is located within walking distance of hiking trails, grocery stores, elementary school, Old Town La Quinta, community pool and tennis. Home has been completely remodeled and features beautiful new flooring, new granite counters, new interior & exterior paint, new tile roof w/ 5 year warranty, new ceiling fans, new double pane windows, new driveway, new front & back yard desert landscaping (with smart timer installed by CVWD), new door hardware, new stainless steel appliances and more!!! Enjoy completely enclosed back yard with private patio. Take advantage of low utility bill's in Imperial Irrigation District and being connected to natural gas... and best of all, NO HOA DUES!!! Listed at $144,900.

CLICK HERE for more pictures. Call or email Joey 760.619.7611 jarsanto@gmail.com for more details.

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New Listing in North La Quinta $219,900

Standard Sale!!! $219,000.12 hour turnaround to all offers. This 3 bed plus den/office, 2 full bath, 1651square foot home is located within walking distance of Adams Park, La Quinta High School, grocery stores & shopping. Home has been completely remodeled and features beautiful granite counter tops, new dark laminate wood flooring, new paint, new baseboards,new carpet in all bedrooms, new hardware, new stainless steel appliances, refurbished cabinets, vaulted ceiling, walk in master closet and more!!! Take advantage of low utilities bill's in Imperial Irrigation District... and best of all, NO HOA DUES!!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICS

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New law gives added protection to short-sale hopefuls

On Friday, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 458 (Corbett) into law.  The new law, which contained an urgency clause and became effective upon signing, protects homeowners pursuing short sales by barring first and secondary lien holders from going after sellers for money owed after the short sales close.

Making sense of the story

• A short sale – a transaction in which the homeowner sells the property for less than is owed on the mortgage – must be approved by the lien holder or lien holders, if there is more than one.
• Under previous law (SB 931 of 2010), a first mortgage holder could accept an agreed-upon short-sale payment as full payment for the outstanding balance of the loan, but the rule did not apply to junior lien holders. SB 458 extends the protections of SB 931 to junior liens.
• The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) sponsored the bill and urged lawmakers to pass this much-needed legislation.
• “The signing of this bill is a victory for California homeowners who have been forced to short sell their home, only to find that the lender will pursue them after the short sale closes and demand an additional payment to subsidize the difference,” said C.A.R. President Beth L. Peerce.  “SB 458 brings closure and certainty to the short-sale process and ensures that once a lender has agreed to accept a short-sale payment on a property, all lienholders – those in first position and in junior positions – will consider the outstanding balance as paid in full, and the homeowner will not be held responsible for any additional payments on the property.” 

Foreclosure myths, debunked

Although there are a number of programs available to help homeowners who have defaulted on their mortgages keep their home, the large amount of misinformation tends to result in troubled homeowners failing to contact their lender until it is too late.

Making sense of the story

• Some homeowners believe, incorrectly, that contacting their lender early in the process will draw attention to their situation and result in a quicker foreclosure.  In reality, contacting the lender or servicer is an important first step, and the sooner, the better.  Contacting the lender provides the homeowner with an opportunity to explain their situation and the steps necessary to deal with it.
• It is a common misconception that missing one mortgage payment will lead to foreclosure.  However, the foreclosure process doesn’t begin until payments are 90 days delinquent.  Lenders generally have a financial interest in keeping homeowners in their homes, so making contact as early as possible could help lenders modify terms of the mortgage or devise a repayment plan.
• Once homeowners are behind on their mortgage payments, it becomes challenging to dig out of the hole.  Some homeowners try to solve this by depleting their savings or dipping into their retirement accounts to become current on the loan.  Most financial experts advise against this.
• Delinquent homeowners may think they should stop making mortgage payments to get their lender’s attention, which often isn’t the case.  When possible, homeowners should stay current on their mortgage payments and continue to contact their lender on a regular basis.
• Homeowners who have applied for assistance or loan modification programs in the past and were turned down are advised to reapply.  Program parameters are constantly changing, so the rules might have been liberalized since the last time the borrower sought help.
• A number of free, government-sponsored housing services are available through the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  A list of HUD-approved agencies can be found at http://www.hud.gov.