Doug Buenz
Real Estate Broker
Alain Pinel Realtors
(925) 463-2000
Email me!
I am a local Real Estate Broker with Alain Pinel Realtors serving the Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley area. I am an avid watcher of the local real estate market, as well as cultural and political events. But that is what I do, not who I am... » read more
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Seeing the words “as-is” is can conjure up some scary images. The thought of renovation and getting the money to pay for it can be daunting. Did you know that there has been an FHA program in place since 1978 that allows buyers to include renovation costs into their mortgage? It’s the …
There are several contingencies in a standard Real Estate Purchase Agreement. One of the main contingencies is the loan contingency. Basically, the buyer will specify the terms of the purchase on the first page of the purchase agreement, including the loan amount, as well as the terms of the financing the buyer is …
The real estate market in Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, and Danville continues to sizzle, especially in the lower price ranges. While this is good news for the local economy and home sellers, it has created difficult conditions for many buyers who have smaller down payments. Indeed, buyers who are looking to put 3.5% …
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced new rules on Wednesday that will make it harder and more expensive for first time homebuyers to get an FHA backed loan. Some potential buyers will be priced out of the market altogether.
The new rules are designed to help the agency reduce the number of foreclosures …
New federal regulations went into place on January 1 requiring lenders to issue new Good Faith Estimates (GFE) regarding loan fees and closing costs. The lender is now required to provide estimates on lender related charges that are the same as or nearly the same as the actual fees charged at closing. There …
Is it a good time to buy real estate in Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, and the Tri-valley? For many people the answer is definitely yes.
Smoking hot. A bank-owned listing on Atheana Ct in Gale Ranch just went pending. No big thing there. However, the seller received over 50 offers on the property! Now that is a property in demand! It was 3021 sq ft, 4 Bedrooms, 4 1/2 Baths on a 10,000 sq ft …
A $24 Billion stimulus bill that includes an extended and expanded tax credit for home buyers has been sent to the President for signature. The President is expected to sign it
The tax credits, added by the Senate, center on extending the popular $8,000 credit for first-time homebuyers that was included in the stimulus package. …
After the Senate passed a plan to extend and expand the credit for the first time buyer’s tax credit, it looks like the House is moving towards approving the measure as early as next week. The current tax credit for first time buyers is set to expire at the end of November.
The …
Home prices nationally actually increased by 2.9% in the second quarter of 2009 as compared with the first quarter of 2009. Yes, you read that right. Increased 2.9%. This is the first quarter over quarter increase in the S&P/Case-Shiller report in three years, and offers the strongest signal yet that the market …
So here you are. A first time buyer, with a small but hard-earned down payment, a good job, and a strong desire to buy your first home now that prices are down and the market looks like it might be stabilizing. Oh sure, you were tempted to buy late last year and early …
This is a question as old as the real estate business itself. Who controls property values? We all know that sellers do not control property values. Sure they can set the asking price, and control the condition of the property, but not the value of a given piece of property. Yes, …
Now that the real estate market in Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, and the Tri-Valley has seen a dramatic uptick in activity, especially in the lower price segments, it’s time to examine two of the most important factors in the health of the local housing market… affordability and liquidity. As is usually the case …
Okay, I get it. Everyone wants a deal. It is a natural part of our economy. When buyers hear the words “short sale” or “foreclosure” or “REO”, their eyes often light up like those crazy shoppers who get up at 4:00 AM to shop the day after Thanksgiving. And short sales, …
My how things have changed in the real estate market. And perhaps nowhere has the change been more pronounced than for move-up buyers. During the height of the market in 2002 - 2005, move-up buyers accounted for a significant percentage of real estate transactions, perhaps as much as 60% or more.
The …
