Summer time! In our July – August newsletter, read all about the 4th of July at the Hollywood Bowl, record breaking interest rates, and charts to quickly see at a glance the housing market trends and foreclosure stats . On the 2nd page see pics of Don showing a bunch of kids on a field trip at the Camarillo airport how a plane is built. They loved sqeezing the numerous clamps and were surprised at how light the aileron is!

The number of homes in Default (the first stage of foreclosure) has been on the decline since previous highs with a few exceptions, while the number of  Notice of Trustee Sales and Trustee Deeds have been on the rise. This is partly due to banks unloading their shadow properties.  See for yourself this trend on the Quarterly chart of Ventura County Foreclosure Statistics since 2005.

There are several factors in play – there are more fixed rate loans than the subprime loans of yesteryear; home prices have stabilized and are on the rise in Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo; and the HAFA program is available with a $3,000 relocation incentive for the home owner to do a preapproved, streamlined short sale.

If you’re interested in the HAFA program (Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative) – give us a call or comment on this site!

Lenders are looking for ways to way to minimize risk and fraud and ordering that pizza might make the difference in getting that loan!

Data mining companies are used by lenders to gather different types of information on the borrower. One type of data collected is address verification to compare where you have your pizza delivered to see that it matches the address on your loan application!

These companies gather the available information from different sources and avenues to glean snap shots of a borrowers credit-worthiness. A lender once told me that he looks for 2 things when considering lending to a borrower – not only their ability to pay, but their willingness to pay.

Read more detail in the LA Times…

A new feature we now provide, along with all the housing stats, are foreclosure stats for Ventura County in two time categories:

1. The last 12 months
2. Per quarter since 2005

The trends are covered for the three foreclosure reports – Notice of Default (NOD), Notice of Trustee Sales (NTS) and Trustee Deeds (REO).

You’ll be amazed to see on the year to end and quarterly charts the dramatic changes and sometimes violent activity!

Data is used with permission from Foreclosure List Service.

Interest rates are at an all time low of 4.57% for a 30 year, fixed rate loan according to a recent survey by Freddie Mac.

But now there is much speculation if this fabulous interest rate will keep the housing market at the fever pitch it was prior to the April 30th deadline for first time homebuyers to enter into escrow to receive the $8,000 federal tax credit.

Check out for yourself the chart that Don Nelson Team compiled for the  number of homes sold in the past 12 months for Ventura, Oxnard and Camarillo. Which city do you think hiccuped but has now rebounded to fever pitch?