Western Real Estate News

A lot of people talk about buying foreclosures when they consider the investment opportunities in the current market, but there is another largely unnoticed investment option that sometimes goes under the radar. It is the rental market.

What do foreclosures have to do with rentals? A lot, according to one San Jose property management company, but I’ll narrow it down to two major points here: Purchase price and rental price.

First, foreclosures affect the price of homes, which affects those homes’ investment potential. Second, foreclosures put former homeowners out into the rental market, which creates demand for rentals. These factors combined are bringing savvy investors out of the woodwork to participate in the investment opportunities that abound.

Few rental markets in the country are suffering, and that’s because more people than ever are needing to rent because they couldn’t afford the home they bought in 2005 at the peak of the last real estate boom. As a result, longtime San Jose property management company First Statewide Realty, in business since 1988, is saying that vacancy rates have decreased since 2010. This would appear to be good news for investors as the market seeks to correct itself from the bubble days.

Editor California California, Property Management, Real Estate, San Jose

There are some great deals on Omaha real estate right now, but don’t expect them to last forever. With the redeployment of military personal from the various conflicts around the world, it seems safe to say that families will be setting up shop to raise their families and start civilian life.

With Offutt Air Force Base so close to Omaha, this is bound to have a significant impact on the local economy, bringing a new generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and home owners into the mix for a vibrant community. How will that affect home prices? It’s hard to say, exactly.

Many real estate market watchers are looking for big growth around military installations nationwide. That seems like a logical outcome. If that indeed happens, right now could be the best time to make an offer on that piece of Omaha real estate you’ve been considering. The market’s had a tough hit since 2005, but buyers are starting to come back to the table. Let’s see if the pace picks up in Omaha as redeployments take places in the various branches of service.

Editor Nebraska Military Housing, Nebraska, Offutt AFB, Real Estate

While the Portland downtown provides a unique fast-paced lifestyle for urban professionals, Portland also has some great outlying suburban neighborhoods that are perfect for families that aren’t keen on living in the heart of the city center. Living in the outlying cities around Portland still allows easy access to downtown employers and entertainment, but in communities are more in line with comfortable American suburbia–i.e., gated communities, four car garages, and a Walmart within a few miles.

Some of the more popular places to live around Portland are Lake Oswego, West Linn, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Tigard. All of these locations offer great Portland real estate home values and comfortable living for the family interested in moving to the Portland area.

Lake Oswego

Lake Oswego sits just west of the river, and was the site of a booming iron industry in the 1800s. Now it is a an upscale community just south of Portland. The commute is only about twenty minutes or less from the Portland downtown, and Lake Oswego boasts a country club lifestyle.

West Linn

About 20 minutes due south of Portland, West Linn is a small town of about 25,000 residents. It is a picturesque town, and sits adjacent to Oregon City. West Linn merged with several other cities over the years, including Willamette, Bolton, Multnomah City, Sunset City, and West Oregon.

Beaverton

Beaverton, OR is a town just 20 minutes west of Portland near the intersection of State Highways 217 and 8 (Southwest Canyon Rd). The quiet bedroom community site in the picturesque Tualatin River Valley, and has a population of over 86,000, making it the sixth largest in the state.

Hillsboro

For those wanting to live on the edge of town, Hillsboro may be the best choice of places to live. It sits about half an hour west of Portland, but is conveniently located off of Highway 26. The location provides Hillsboro residents easy access to the outdoors right outside its doorsteps as well as the benefits of proximity to Portland.

Tigard

The city of Tigard, Oregon is about 15 minutes from Portland to the southwest. Tigard is a great place to live, with plenty of family-friendly affordable neighborhoods to choose from. The town has about 45,000 residents and boasts a quaint downtown district that is a popular place to grab a coffee and chat with friends and neighbors.

Editor Oregon Portland Homes, Portland Real Estate, Real Estate

A new site covering the new home market of San Antonio, Texas has launched with a directory of San Antonio home builders and information about available builder incentives. Many home buyers aren’t aware that builders are offering discounts and incentives for purchasing new San Antonio homes from their communities.

Kurt Hudspeth, a San Antonio real estate agent specializing in San Antonio’s vibrant new home market, makes a career out of following the local and national home builders with communities in the area. The niche specialty allows him to gather a great deal of information about San Antonio builder incentives and give his clients the advantage of choosing from available deals being offered.

As a buyer’s agent, Hudspeth vigorously represents the interests of his clients, often negotiating deals that would be unavailable through normal sales channels. As a results, his clients enjoy access to a greater variety of potential homes to meet their family’s needs than they might find elsewhere, and they are more likely to find new homes that fit their budget.

Editor Texas New Homes, Real Estate, San Antonio, Texas

Searching for Canadian real estate is a different experience than searching for real estate in the United States. If you are looking for Winnipeg real estate, for instance, you will find that up-to-date Winnipeg real estate listings are hard to find on the Internet. The best way to get the most accurate and current listings is to contact a Winnipeg real estate agent, because they have access to the most recent data.

Many agents do not like to link to live MLS listings, because broker reciprocity agreements in Canada place the listing broker’s contact information on the listing. This increases the likelihood that the listing agent would get the phone call from a potential buyer rather than the agent who linked to the MLS in the first place. The system is stacked in favor of listing agents, which just tends to discourage buyers’ agents from promoting listing agents’ properties.

The data available to the public on the official “Realtor.ca” site are not 100% up-to-date as well, meaning most searchers are better off simply contacting a real estate agent from the start. By doing that, you’ll ensure that you are looking at current listings.

About the Winnipeg area

Winnipeg is located in Manitoba, Canada. It is the largest city in the province, with more than half the Manitoba population living in the municipality. There are over 700,000 residents in the city, which is located near “The Forks” – appropriately named for its proximity to the convergence of the Red River and Assiniboine River.

Winnipeg weather

Before buying real estate in Winnipeg, most people want to know what the weather is like in the region. While Winnipegers jokingly refer to the city as Winterpeg because of its low temperatures, it is also the sixth sunniest city in Canada year-round. Although the winter lows can get down to -9 in January (not counting wind chill), they return to a comfortable 78 in summer.

Winnipeg neighborhoods

While there are over 200 neighborhoods in Winnipeg, the most popular are:

• The Waterfront District
• The Forks
• Central Park
• Broadway-Assiniboine
• Exchange District
• Chinatown

For more information on Winnipeg homes or searching for up-to-the-minute Winnipeg real estate listings, please see a Winnipeg real estate agent who is an expert in all the region has to offer.

Editor Canada, Manitoba Canada, Manitoba, Real Estate, winnipeg

Vacaville, California is a great little town with about 88,000 residents, located on the outskirts of the capitol of California, Sacramento. The town is about forty minutes from Sacramento, just twenty minutes southwest of Davis, California, where UC Davis is located. Vacaville is only about forty minutes from Sacramento, about 20 minutes west of Davis where the University of California at Davis is located.

Vacaville real estate is considered a great investment, whether it is for family homes or for investment real estate such as short sales and foreclosures. Because of the town’s proximity to the big city, it has good access to jobs, education, and services. Vacaville still manages to retain is smalltown charm, though, with its unique blend of rural and suburban influences.

Vacaville is situated in Solano County in California, close enough to the Bay Area to be affected somewhat by its coastal weather patterns. The weather is moderate year-round, making it a perfect home town for those who like the outdoors. There are many kinds of recreational activities within and near Vacaville, including mountain biking, bicycling, fishing, swimming, and water sports within an easy drive.

Vacaville is only about an hour from world famous San Francisco, and all of its historical places of interest. Its closeness to the San Franciso means that the City by the Bay has somewhat of an influence on the Vacaville economy in addition to Sacramento.

The city of Vacaville is said to have been founded in about 1852 by a man named William McDaniel. The town was named after Juan Vaca, a man who had received a very large land grant from Don Vallejo.

Vacaville has a long history of agribusiness, but that has been affected by the closing of the onion processing plant. Today, it is known for its shopping centers and yearly Fiesta Days, when residents open up their Vacaville homes to enjoy citywide celebrations and barbeques with friends.

Cities near Vacaville

• Dixon
• Fairfield
• Napa
• Suisun City
• Allendale (unincorporated)
• Elmira (unincorporated)

Counties near Vacaville

• Napa County
• Colusa County
• Sacramento County
• Yolo County

Editor California Real Estate, Vacaville homes, Vacaville real estate

Oak Run is a beautiful resort community on Spoon Lake in Illinois. It is only half an hour from Galesburg in Knoxville County, nestled in the hills between Galesburg and Peoria. With easy access to I-74, the location is perfect if you want to commute to your job in Galesburg or Peoria, but live in a quiet natural environment. It is also perfect if you are wanting a vacation home with plenty of fun-filled recreation opportunities nearby.

Recreation at Oak Run

There are plenty of things to do for people of all ages and interests at Oak Run and Spoon Lake.

• Golfing on the 18 hole Oak Run Public Golf Course
• Fishing on Spoon Lake
• Boating on Spoon Lake
• Fishing in Spoon Lake or the community pool
• Tennis at Brentwood Park
• Camping, hiking, and picnicking

Homes in Oak Run

One of the greatest features about Oak Run is the ability to have a home right on the water. Homes on Spoon Lake in Oak Run are very desirable, and you can build your own or buy one that has already been built. There are still Oak Run waterfront lots available where you can dock your boat or just step outside to fish.

Fishing at Oak Run

The Oak Run Homeowner’s Association regularly stocks Spoon Lake for panfish as well as bass, northern, and walleye. The fishing is excellent, and bass tournaments are held twice yearly in the Spring and Fall. In addition, the kids can participate in an annual panfish tournament for some great family fun.

Golfing at Oak Run

The Oak Run Public Golf Course is a challenging course where you will enjoy 18 holes of golf in a beautiful natural environment. Get some new gear at the pro shop, and stay for dinner and refreshments at The Watering Hole, the clubhouse’s excellent restaurant.

Oak Run Vacation Homes

Learn more about the Oak Run resort community and search for Oak Run vacation homes and lots for sale at www.stevecramerrealtor.com.

Editor Illinois Galesburg, Illinois, oak run, Real Estate, vacation homes

FeedProp.com announced a new service to get big online exposure for your real estate listings through syndication of your real estate feed. Designed by an experience search engine optimization consultant specializing in real estate SEO, the system is designed to get your listings crawled and indexed by search engines fast.

How it works

1. Submit your RSS or Atom real estate listing feed.
2. FeedProp will will syndicate your feed on its site, carefully organized for search engines to find it.
3. FeedProp will announce your new feed syndication on the front page of the site.
4. FeedProp will then ping Google, Yahoo, and dozens of other search engines and blogs that your new real estate feed exists.
5. You’ll have automatic backlinks to your site, giving you extra search engine optimization (SEO) benefits.

FeedProp.com has answered some Frequently Asked Questions about its real estate feed syndication service. The services costs only $1 for a trial membership.

Editor Services property feeds, Real Estate, syndication

If you own real estate in Agoura Hills, California, and you are considering putting it on the market, now may be the perfect opportunity to benefit from a modest surge in buyer interest. Low interest rates and artificially low prices due to the high number of short sales and foreclosures is bringing out some buyers again.

Agoura Hills homes have retained their values fairly well compared to some other areas of the country because it is such a desirable location. The family-friendly community is within half an hour of Malibu and Downtown Los Angeles, meaning that buyers will be increasingly looking here as the end of the school year approaches and the traditional summer buying season warms up.

Pricing is extremely important if you want to sell your home in Agoura Hills. It is well-documented that overpricing your home for sale will end up with a lower sale price than if it were priced accurately from the beginning. An overpriced home will not get foot-traffic from buyers and it will sit on the market until the price is lowered to be reasonable. Invariably, owners will wait too long to lower their price, and when they do, they will be forced to lower it drastically just to make the sale. That is not the recommended approach.
We suggest doing some preliminary research on Agoura Hills homes by checking out current Agoura Hills listings. You can pan and zoom on the real estate map search easily to get an idea of home prices in your immediate vicinity. Then we recommend talking to an experienced Realtor who knows Agoura Hills neighborhoods, schools, and property values inside and out. We suggest Carol Lee at Coldwell Banker in Westlake Village. When you’re ready, just fill out this quick form to find out your Agoura hills property values here.

Editor California Agoura Hills, California, Real Estate, Selling

There are some great deals available on Blue and Gold Realty’s Vacaville homes for sale site, including land, short sales, and foreclosures. The site includes both residential homes within easy commuting distance of Sacramento, California, as well as farm land and development land. You can do a complete Vacaville, CA real estate search, including nearby counties:

• Vavaville County Homes for Sale
• Sacramento County Homes for Sale
  
• Colusa County Homes for Sale
  
• Yolo Count Homes for Sale
  
• Napa County Homes for Sale
  

The map search feature is one of the best. It allows you to pan and zoom in real-time, and the map will refresh with local listings that match your search criteria. In this way, you can get a great visual feel for where the property is located.

You can also save your listings for easy reference later. In fact, if you save your search, you can get automatic email updates of new real estate listings in Vacaville (or whatever city you choose) whenever new properties come on the market! Questions? Contact Ken Kramer.

Editor California California, Colusa County, Napa County, Real Estate, Sacramento County, Solano County, Vacaville homes, Vacaville homes for sale, Vacaville real estate, Yolo County