For release:
September 1, 2011
Governor Brown Signs Bill Preventing Gouging of Condominium/Townhome Buyers
LOS ANGELES (Sept. 1) – The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) applauds Gov. Jerry Brown for signing AB 771, a bill that prevents home buyers in a common interest development (CID), such as a condominium or townhome, from being charged excess document fees. Continued…
Posted in Purchase.
Tagged with association, association of realtors, governor.
By Jerry Bice
– September 1, 2011
For release:
August 23, 2011
Fewer distressed property sales in July; California pending home sales decline, C.A.R. reports
LOS ANGELES (Aug. 23) – California pending home sales dipped in July, as did the share of sales of distressed properties, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.
Pending home sales:
Pending home sales in California fell 1.7 percent in July, according to C.A.R.’s Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI)*. The index was 117.0 in July, down from June’s index of 119.0, based on contracts signed in July. The index was up 4.9 percent from July 2010. Pending home sales are forward-looking indicators of future home sales activity, providing information on the future direction of the market. Continued…
Posted in Sellers.
Tagged with association of realtors, home sales.
By Jerry Bice
– August 23, 2011
For release:
August 15, 2011
LOS ANGELES (Aug. 15) – California home sales fell in July but were up from the previous year, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) reported today.
Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California dropped 4.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted 458,440 units in July, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR® associations and MLSs statewide. July home sales were up 4.5 percent from the 438,850 units sold in July 2010. The statewide sales figure represents what would be the total number of homes sold during 2011 if sales maintained the July pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales. Continued…
Posted in Sellers.
Tagged with association of realtors, sales.
By Jerry Bice
– August 15, 2011
HAFA Pays Sellers $3,000 to do a Short Sale
By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide

The HAFA short sale program, effective from April 5, 2010, through December 31, 2012, has been touted as the answer to every short sale agent’s nightmare. HAFA promises
short sale approval within 10 days and gives the seller up to $3,000 in cash at closing. But because HAFA is a government-sponsored program, it’s a lot more complicated than that.HAFA is an acronym for Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives, and it’s part of President Obama’s
Making Home Affordable Program. The first step is for a borrower to apply to HAMP, Home Affordable Modification Program. Here are the rules to be eligible for the HAMP program:
Continued…
Posted in Lenders, Sellers.
Tagged with HAFA, Short Sale.
By Jerry Bice
– July 29, 2011
July 11, 2011
AB 278 (Hill) DRE Citation and Fine Authority – Currently, real estate licensees subject to discipline for any violation must go through the Department of Real Estate’s (DRE) administrative hearing process. Notice of discipline, no matter how minor the infraction, is published in the DRE bulletin, widely circulated among real estate agents. AB 278 would allow the DRE to issue a “civil citation” with a maximum fine of $1,000 for minor infractions. Licensees would be permitted to contest the citation through the current hearing process if they wish. The action would not be published in the DRE bulletin, unless there is a contested hearing and judgment, although it could still be discovered in the public record. Continued…
Posted in Misc..
Tagged with CAR.
By Jerry Bice
– July 24, 2011
On Friday of last week the Governor signed C.A.R.-sponsored SB 458 (Corbett) into law! This measure, for any short sale transaction closing escrow after July 15, 2011, will prohibit deficiency judgments from being imposed after a short sale on sellers of one-to-four unit homes. Because the bill was “urgency” legislation, it took effect immediately upon signature.
Continued…
Posted in Sellers.
Tagged with Short Sale.
By Jerry Bice
– July 22, 2011
For release:
July 21, 2011
Short-sale process broken, pushing Central Valley families into foreclosure,
REALTOR® survey shows
Latest lender satisfaction survey highlights glaring issues in short-sale process
FRESNO, CALIF. (July 21) – More than half of Central Valley REALTORS® characterized closing short-sale transactions as “difficult” or “extremely difficult,” according to a Lender Satisfaction Survey conducted by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.). The survey gauges REALTORS®’ experience working with lenders in their most recent transaction. The majority of those surveyed dealt with short-sale transactions – transactions in which the lender or lenders agree to accept less than the mortgage amount owed by the current homeowner. Continued…
Posted in Purchase, Sellers.
Tagged with Realtor, Short Sale.
By Jerry Bice
– July 21, 2011
My property search page has been completely redesigned to make searching properties available for sale just a bit easier. Browse through and take a look! You have the option to register which will allow you to receive updates as new properties hit the market. Also, click on “Schedule Showing” to alert me and we can set something up to take a look. If you’re REALLY interested, click “Place an Offer” and type in your details:
http://www.JerryBice.com/search.html

Posted in Purchase.
By Jerry Bice
– July 20, 2011
For release:
July 15, 2011
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® applauds Gov. Brown on signing SB 458 into law
LOS ANGELES (July 15) – The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) applauds Gov. Jerry Brown on signing SB 458 (Corbett) into law. SB 458 extends the protections of SB 931 (2010), to ensure that any lender that agrees to a short sale must accept the agreed upon short sale payment as payment in full of the outstanding balance of all loans.
Continued…
Posted in Sellers.
Tagged with Short Sale.
By Jerry Bice
– July 15, 2011
Please view the HomePath website here to learn more about the current buyer incentives - http://www.homepath.com/incentive/index.html
HomePath® Buyer Incentive: June 14 – October 31
Fannie Mae is currently offering buyers up to 3.5% in closing cost assistance through October 31, 2011. A $1,200 selling agent bonus is also available to selling agents who close on an owner occupant property and meet all eligibility requirements and terms and conditions. Continued…
Posted in Purchase.
Tagged with Buyers, Closing Costs, Fannie Mae, Incentive.
By Jerry Bice
– June 17, 2011