Thursday, February 18, 2016

Understanding Mello-Roos and how it affects you

We get many questions about Mello-Roos

This information should help you understand!

When purchasing a new home, your future monthly payments will be made up of principal, interest, real property taxes and insurance. In certain areas there may also be a tax for the Community Facilities District, otherwise known as a Mello-Roos District.

Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982
The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 became law in January of 1983. This act allows local governments to establish a Mello-Roos special tax assessment district in a developing area to finance specific public facilities and services needed. This district has chosen to seek public financing through the sale of bonds for the purpose of financing certain public improvements and services. The tax you pay is used to make the payments of principal and interest on the bonds.

What are your Mello-Roos taxes paying for?
Your taxes may be paying for both services and facilities. The services may be financed only to the extent of new growth. Facilities and services include police and fire protection, ambulance and paramedic services, recreational facilities and program services, libraries and library services, the operation and maintenance of parks, parkways and open space facilities, museums, cultural facilities, flood and storm protection, removal of any threatening hazardous substance, elementary and secondary school structures, child care facilities, natural gas pipeline facilities, telephone lines, facilities to transmit and distribute electrical energy, cable television lines, and others.

What this means for you
Disclosure requirements (California Civil Code Section 1102.6b.) require that an owner who is selling a property in a Mello-Roos District, make a "good faith effort" to obtain a Notice of Special Tax from the local agency that levies the Special Tax, and provide it to the buyer. Buyers in the market to buy a home in California can proactively research whether the home they are interested in falls within a Mello-Roos District by contacting the local county assessor's office or by reviewing the Preliminary Title Report or the Natural Hazard Disclosure Report.
Source: California Land Title Association (www.clta.org/for-consumers/consumer-melloroos.html)
The information provided is for informational purposes and is subject to change without notice. Seek legal, tax or other professional advice before relying upon this information.



Monday, February 15, 2016

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY

"When you come to the edge of all the light you have known, and are about to step out into darkness, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen - there will be something to stand on, or you will be taught how to fly."
 
~ "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach
 
 
LEARNING TO FLY!
 
In the 1930's and 1940's, there were numerous women's magazines. Ladies' Home Journal and Good Housekeeping were two of them. They showed women in the role of the day - housekeeping. They suggested the number of times per week the home should be dusted, scrubbed, organized, and otherwise kept spotless. They suggested ways to look good when the "man of the house" arrived home from a tough day at the office. In short, those magazines and their publishers set up an impossible regimen of expectations for their readers.
 
SMany of us know women who have spent much of their lives trying to live up to the model housewife role prescribed by those magazines. The trouble is, many of them have (or had) dreams of their own, like wanting to write, or to travel, or to participate in the freedoms only men then enjoyed.
 
Today, any of us can achieve our dreams. All too often, however, we are still denied our destiny by the expectations set by others. We are bombarded by radio, TV, CD, DVD, and WWW messages that insist we follow their example, their guidelines, or their models. We allow our dreams to wither and die - waiting in line for their turn to blossom - never receiving the water of encouragement needed to grow and bloom.
 
What about your dreams? Need some encouragement to help you "think outside the box?" Begin by spending time with others who have already achieved their dreams. Leave your nay-sayer acquaintances behind. Read inspiring biographies. Pick up a copy of "Think & Grow Rich" or "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." If you haven't yet learned to "fly," pick up "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" or "Illusions" by Richard Bach.
 
As Jonathan says in the book, "Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Local Market Trends

Market Trends For Tracy and Mountain House

The following information is from the local MLS database, as of February 11, 2016 and is compared to (Jan. 11, 2016). The amount of listings are slowly increasing in the new year but demand is still strong and good homes do not last long on the market. Prices are increasing as well.  Buyers are still eager to buy and they are watching the new listings as they hit the market. And with fewer choices buyers are compeating to get their offers accepted.   Interest rates are staying down with 30 yr fixed at 4.35% and FHA/VA at 3.75%. 15 yr is 3.375. Still the lowest rates! New home construction projects are popping up more in the area and even though the prices are a little higher, there are still good deals out there in the new communities.  Don't forget...We can represent you with the new home builders too!  Don't go with out being represented!
   If you have been on the Fence about selling your home then NOW is still the time to sell. There will be more homes coming on the market in the spring and the buyers that are looking now are SERIOUS buyers!   If you are curious to see how much equity you have in your house, give us a call for a market analysis! Or go to our new service for instantvaluation of your home on the internet at www.tracyhomevalue.com.  or  Just call or e-mail for an hassle free appointment or to just talk about the market anytime. 1-800-894-7282 or sales@tracyhomes.com.
Tracy, CA
ACTIVE STATUS
Total # of residential properties for sale in the city of Tracy: 91 (88)
# of REO (foreclosures): 2 (0)
# of Short Sales: 3 (5)
Average # of days on market: 17 (53)
#New Construction:  9
The median price of all homes for sale in Tracy: $459,950 ($439,500)
PENDING STATUS
Number of properties currently under agreement: 129 (121)
# of REO: 5 (2)
# of Pending Short Lender Approval: 11 (12)
Median pending price: $389,888 ($389,000)

SOLD STATUS
Residential property sold over previous 30 days: 62 homes (79)
REO's sold in the last month: 2 (3)
Short sales sold in the last month: 6 (3)
Median sale price: $389,500 ($385,000)
Median # of days on the market:  25 (22)

 
Mountain House, CA

ACTIVE STATUS

Total # of residential properties for sale in the city of Mountain House: 39 (38)
# of REO (foreclosures): 0 (0)
# of Short Sales: 1 (0)
# of New Construction: 6 (6)
Average # of days on market: 66 (51)
The median price of all homes for sale in Mountain House: $565,000 ($555,458)

PENDING STATUS

Number of properties currently under agreement: 48 (35)
# of REO: 1 (1)
# of Pending Short Lender Approval: 3 (4)
# New Construction: 10
Median pending price: $512,970 ($509,000)

SOLD STATUS

Residential property sold over previous 30 days: 19 homes (22 homes)
REO's sold in the last month: 1 (0)
Short sales sold in the last month: 1 (0)
New Construction sold: 2
Median sale price: $510,000 ($477,475)
Median # of days on the Market: 27  (20)
*************************

HOMES SOLD IN TRACY IN JANUARY
Take a look at this chart to see the SOLDS in Tracy for January.  Call us for a free Market Analysis on your home!  209-833-7777.
  Address  BedsBath    Sq Ft       List        SellDOM 
911 TaftAve21 (1 0)1049249000242000188 
1590 EastlakeCir44 (3 1)3054515000500000215 
580 HotchkissSt43 (3 0)195036995034000051 
1773NLloyd C GaryDr53 (3 0)2864410000410000110 
1010 EastlakeCir53 (3 0)3779595000575000142 
350 Portico Court 4 (5)3 (2 1)2355429999405000104 
11505WValpicoRd31 (1 0)142435400035400028 
1770 MelloCt42 (2 0)152732300031750080 
151 Club HouseWay3 (4)3 (2 1)170935900035500076 
8105WDepot MasterCt43 (2 1)34125650005750006 
2285 RedingtonDr43 (3 0)2490444950432000110 
1961WKavanaghAve43 (3 0)207737000037500032 
290 adobe 43 (3 0)213538800038800062 
134E21stSt31 (1 0)93628890028890068 
1130 ProvidenceCt43 (2 1)18313750003800009 
591 Wagtail 32 (2 0)115429500026617555 
332 Golden LeafCt53 (3 0)265244495044000041 
1340 HaleyCt4 (5)3 (3 0)244342100041900032 
1529 CINDYWay53 (3 0)248744000043500016 
3431 LondonDr22 (2 0)10072590002600007 
1253 CardinalSt43 (3 0)291743700043850051 
523 Quail RunCir53 (3 0)294451500051000059 
308 DerechoWay32 (2 0)134332990033000041 
4163 LindseyLn43 (3 0)244742900043600017 
1678 SpringhillCt43 (3 0)22044300004300009 
310 BaldwinLn3 (4)3 (2 1)197338500038500012 
1155 YorkshireLoop43 (2 1)227242000041700027 
2134 DevinCt43 (3 0)195442900043000049 
2070 Tracey JeanDr4 (6)3 (3 0)259044500044000060 
1670 Brandon DeweyLn43 (3 0)224049500049500027 
2691 Mocking BirdLn44 (3 1)348562500061500035 
27849 SharonCt43 (3 0)302089500084250049 
493 CharlemagneLn32 (2 0)11543150002965009 
1975 FoxwoodCt33 (2 1)183539900039900029 
1890 Spring ValleyWay43 (3 0)232845900046000069 
1751 HudsonWay53 (3 0)236041000040000066 
2380 Lotus Way 54 (3 1)401367990067000034 
196 James W SmithDr32 (2 0)159937490037500032 
1406 LincolnBlvd4 (5)2 (2 0)167733999932500034 
1595 Meadow LarkLn43 (3 0)226141888841500041 
1680 Horse ShoeLoop4 (5)3 (3 0)259843900042000045 
1960 tahoeCir33 (2 1)157736995037000013 
2843 HerfordLn4 (5)3 (2 1)239041999041000018 
701WMount DiabloAve32 (2 0)137234000033500027 
565 PeerlessWay22 (2 0)105922500020800048 
224 BerverdorAve42 (2 0)17503390003350006 
2148 WellingtonDr34 (3 1)170335900035000040 
2077 De BordDr32 (2 0)166038500038250020 
2800 RhettCt32 (2 0)156634000034000011 
28332SMacarthurDr32 (2 0)140234995035500026 
872 ChestnutAve32 (2 0)116829988831000011 
1900 EastSt31 (1 0)95625950025000024 
140 AdobeLn43 (3 0)213539590039750012 
2469 AlmanorDr43 (2 1)19023999904070004 
2518 GainesLn4 (5)3 (3 0)22644190004200009 
1231 SchleigerDr43 (2 1)19453890003890003 
731 RockportCt2 (3)2 (2 0)13353350003350008 
484 FisherCt4 (5)4 (3 1)29195199505175006 
974 christyCt33 (2 1)16643699503699502 
2862 CampbellLn53 (2 1)21304090004100006 
2660 ShofieldCt43 (3 0)23314300004300003 
1249 MarlinPl32 (2 0)11823100003150007 
221ELowellAve32 (2 0)155732500032000011 
1801 RiverviewAve53 (3 0)282746900046434016 
1155 NicholasCt43 (3 0)244346000045600019 
1180 DominiqueDr33 (2 1)191839995041000011 
1408 GreenwoodCt32 (2 0)11272999503150005 
164WHighlandAve11 (1 0)9521850001850002 
446 MarieAve32 (2 0)110428000028500017 
2449 Carol AnnDr32 (2 0)15063680003750007