Richard Wamsat’s Real Estate News & Views

Local market updates, buyer and seller tips, and homeowner resources for Orange County and Irvine.

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Why Is So Much Paperwork Required to Get a Mortgage?

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 18, 2019

When buying a home today, why is there so much paperwork mandated by the lenders for a mortgage loan application? It seems like they need to know everything about you. Furthermore, it requires three separate sources to validate each and every entry on the application form. Many buyers are being told by friends and family that the process […]

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Real estate professional shaking hands with family who just bought new house

5 Reasons to Sell Your House This Summer

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 17, 2019

Here are 5 compelling reasons listing your home for sale this summer makes sense. 1. Demand Is Strong The latest Buyer Traffic Index from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that buyer demand remains strong throughout the vast majority of the country. These buyers are ready, willing, and able to purchase… and are in […]

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Top 4 Renovations for the Greatest Return on Investment! [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 14, 2019

Some Highlights: If you are planning on listing your house for sale this year, these four home improvement projects will net you the most Return on Investment (ROI). Minor renovations can go a long way toward improving the quality of your everyday life and/or impressing potential buyers. Whether you plan to stay in your house for […]

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Time for Your Dream Home, Gen X!

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 13, 2019

During the housing market crash, Gen X homeowners lost more wealth than other generations. However, things are changing now! A strong economy, increasing home prices, and the recovery of the housing market are helping this generation to regain their lost wealth. According to Pew Research Center, “Their fortunes have rebounded more than those of other […]

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3 Things to Know in the Housing Market Today!

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 12, 2019

A lot is happening in the world, and it’s having a direct impact on the housing market. The reality is this: some of it is positive and some of it may be negative. Some we just don’t know yet. The following three areas of the housing market are critical to understand: interest rates, building materials, […]

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Renting or Owning, What Is Better for You?

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 11, 2019

In a real estate market where home prices are rising, many have begun to reexamine the idea of buying a home, choosing instead, to rent for a while. But often, there is a dilemma: should you keep paying rent, knowing that rent is rising too, or should you lock in your housing cost and buy […]

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2 Myths Holding Back Home Buyers

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 10, 2019

Freddie Mac recently released a report entitled, “Perceptions of Down Payment Consumer Research.” Their research revealed that, “For many prospective homebuyers, saving for a down payment is the largest barrier to achieving the goal of homeownership. Part of the challenge for those planning to purchase a home is their perception of how much they will need to save […]

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What is the Cost of Waiting Until Next Year to Buy? [INFOGRAPHIC]

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 7, 2019

Some Highlights: The “cost of waiting to buy” is defined as the additional funds necessary to buy a home if prices & interest rates were to increase over a period of time. Freddie Mac forecasts interest rates to rise to 4.5% by the Q4 2020. CoreLogic predicts home prices to appreciate by 4.8% over the next 12 […]

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What is Important to Boomers when Selling their House?

By Richard Wamsat | Jun 6, 2019

If you are a “baby boomer” (born between 1946 and 1964), you may be thinking about selling your current home. Your children may have finally moved out. Your large, four-bedroom house with three bathrooms no longer fits the bill. Taxes are too high. Utilities are too expensive. Cleaning and repair are too difficult. You may […]

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