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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What will the financial reform bill just signed into law by President Obama do for you as a home buyer or seller and when will it do it? Good questions! There are likely to be many as-for-now unforeseen consequences of this law since much of it states that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau …
I used to get excited about record low mortgage rates. Generally speaking, low interest rates help fuel the economy in general and prompt people to buy real estate in particular. But we have been bouncing along the historical low for mortgage rates for over a year now, and the general reaction seems to …
Back in the good old days when mortgage underwriting consisted largely of checking for a pulse, seller incentives were a common way for sellers to enhance their home’s marketing without lowering the price. Sellers sometimes offered cash, a TV, exotic vacations, or even cars as an inducement for buyers to purchase their home. Ultimately …
With interest rates at historical lows, many people are refinancing their mortgages. Perhaps you’re considering it. If you refinanced your home before, you may think it is an easy process. And if you have a huge salary, no debt, high credit scores, and lots of equity, you might be right. But …
Are you thinking about refinancing your 30 year mortgage but don’t really want to extend it out a full 30 years? Are the monthly payments associated with a 15 year mortgage more than you want to take on? Maybe a 20 year fixed rate mortgage is the answer.
You get the benefit of saving …
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 …
If you’re like me, you may not read those statements your credit card companies send you telling you how they revised the terms of your credit cards. That’s probably not a good idea generally. But with a new law going into effect today, you may want to go back and check recent changes …
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 …
It used to be easy. Walk into a bank and ask for a home equity loan. The banker would give you a one page form to fill out, and hold a mirror up to your face. If you fogged it, you would walk out with a loan up to 100% of the …
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 …
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 …
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 …
An interesting strategy is making the rounds affecting homeowners who are in the process of having their home foreclosed on. Apparently using just three words can make a huge difference. No, the three words are not “this really sucks”. They are “produce the note”. Some homeowners have apparently had success stalling …
