Archive by Author

About Brian Ripp

Broker, CRS, GRI Fremont, CA

Connect

Brian Ripp's WebsiteWebsite Brian Ripp's ProfileProfile Brian Ripp's FeedFeed

Location


2698 Mowry Ave.,
Fremont, CA 94538

Posts

Finding a Fixer Upper

There are many homes on the market today – which is ideal for people who are looking to buy. With more to choose from, there’s more opportunity to find a good deal. Fixer-uppers can be found in most communities, even wealthier neighborhoods. Fixer-uppers can be a great deal for someone who doesn’t mind investing a [...]

Read full story Comments { 1 }

Shadow Inventory Continues to Shrink

Shadow inventory of residential homes fell to 1.7 million in April, down from 1.9 million the previous month, according to CoreLogic. This represents a five months’ supply of shadow inventory and accounts for 29 percent of total housing supply. Of the 1.7 million units, 790,000 are seriously delinquent, 440,000 are in some stage of foreclosure [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Home Ownership Sentiment Remains Positive

Despite the ups and downs of the housing market and the decline in housing values, most homeowners, including those who are under water on their mortgages, don’t regret owning a home. In a new survey by the National Association of Home Builders, three out of four Americans believe that owning a home is the best [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

It’s All in the Location

How important is property location? Very.  When considering a house purchase, it’s always wise to weigh how property values may rise – or fall – before making an investment.  Generally speaking, property values tend to rise in neighborhoods where there is a transit route that cuts commute time.  What’s more, houses located within the jurisdiction [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

The Happy Homeowner

You’ve always known that owning a home meant more than putting a roof over your head, but now there’s proof. The positive Karma that comes from owning a home results in higher life satisfaction and happiness, says Robert Dietz, author of a study on the social benefits of homeownership. What’s more, those benefits extend to [...]

Read full story Comments { 2 }

A note about Lead from the U.S. EPA

At present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children.  Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing.  Alameda County Water District is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in [...]

Read full story Comments { 1 }

U.S. Properties Are Luring More Foreign Investors

Residential sales by foreign buyers totaled $82 billion for the year ending March 2011, up from $66 billion a year ago, according to the 2011 Profile of International Home Buying Activity released by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. The $16 billion increase is one of the largest in recent years. The average price of a [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Smart Security

Installing a home security system can ease a lot of homeowner worries, and many systems now offer even greater peace of mind with samrtphone-ready features.  With your mobile device, you can stay connected to your home and monitor it whether you’re near or far. ADT’s Pulse, an add-on to its standard security system, allows homeowners [...]

Read full story Comments { 1 }

Most Landlords Would Rent to People who Lost their Home to Foreclosure

More than four out of five (82 percent) independent landlords say they would rent to someone who lost a home to foreclosure, assuming the applicant had a history of good credit, according to a survey by the National Association of Independent Landlords (NAIL). Despite their recent financial problems, applicants who have lost a home to [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Curb Appeal Starts at the Curb

Getting you house in top shape is important when welcoming potential buyers inside.   But you don’t want to forget about enticing buyers from the outside as well.  Your yard is definitely part of the first impression and having it in tip-top condition can help set the tone of any visit.  Unfortunately, summer’s scorching sun can [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Gen X will lead housing recovery

When the housing market does begin to recover, Generation X adults (ages 31 to 45) will likely lead the way, according to a panel of real estate experts who delivered an educational webinar presented by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). While Generation X is not the largest generation, it makes up roughly one-third [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Make the Most of Your Tax Return

Are you expecting a tax refund this year? If so, you probably already have plans for how you’re going to spend it – new clothes, a weekend trip, that big screen TV you’ve been waiting to buy.  This year, instead of going on a shopping spree, why not put that money to work for you? [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Most Americans Are Upbeat About Housing Prices

A large majority of Americans believe home prices will stabilize over the next 12 months, according to the latest national housing survey from Fannie Mae. Nearly four out of five Americans (78 percent) believe housing prices will hold steady or increase over the next 12 months, up from 73 percent a year ago. But nearly [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Safety First

More than 4,000 Americans die and approximately 25,000 are injured each year in fires.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an overwhelming number of fire occur in the home.  Yours doesn’t have to be one of them- are safe with these simple tips: Have at least one working smoke alarm. Test it monthly, keep it [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Americans Remain Upbeat About Homeownership

Even as many homeowners struggle to make mortgage payments and foreclosures weigh down the housing market, 70 percent of Americans still view homeownership as part of the American Dream, according to a recent Trulia survey. More than three out of four homeowners (78 percent) say their homes are the best investment they ever made. Only [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Housing Starts Rise, Builder Confidence Remains Stable

Housing starts rose 14.6 percent in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 596,000 from December when housing starts were an estimated 520,000, but they were 2.6 percent below the January 2010 rate of 612,000, according to the latest figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department. However, permits for new construction fell 10.4 percent [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Survey Reveals Consumer Confusion about Mortgage Process

More than two-thirds of Americans (70.6 percent) believe access to affordable mortgages is a serious problem, according to a new survey by MortgageMatch.com. Respondents also say that the most challenging aspect of getting a mortgage is understanding the mortgage process and dealing with the lenders’ requirements, ranking it more challenging (32.3 percent) than getting the [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

First-Time Buyers prefer “move-in” Ready Homes

A new survey by Coldwell Banker finds that 87 percent of first-time homebuyers who purchased their home within the past year preferred a move-in ready home to one that would require some work. A home’s location to area amenities was also important to first-time buyers. Nearly four out of five buyers (78 percent) say it [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Property Values

For many home buyers, understanding what makes one home more valuable than another seems a bit arbitrary.  But the reality is that various features can add thousands of dollars to the value of a home.  Some of these include:             Square footage:  How big is the house?             Design:  Is it a colonial, contemporary, or ranch?             [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }

Americans Remain Positive about Homeownership

U.S. homeowners and renters have positive views about homeownership and the financial and non-financial benefits it provides, according to a new NAR survey conducted by Harris Interactive. A large majority of homeowners (87 percent) and 64 percent of renters agree or strongly agree that owning a home provides a healthy and stable environment for raising [...]

Read full story Comments { 0 }