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Alicia Kay Lanier REALTOR® (DRE License Number 01318807)
Coldwell Banker
1045 Willow Street
San Jose,  CA  95125
408.491.1634
972.998.8751 
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FHA program funds fixers
Investors have been taking advantage of low interest rates and discounted prices to buy run-down foreclosure properties, sometimes 10 or so at a time. They fix up the properties enough to be rented until the market turns, which could take years. When the time is right, the investor puts the finishing touches on the improvements and hopefully sells for a profit.
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Paying rent during a short sale
DEAR BENNY: I live in a duplex that has recently been listed as a short sale. Since it appears that my landlord has not been making the mortgage payments, what should I do with my rent payments? I have not been contacted by the landlord or the listing agent, so I'm not sure what I should do. Any suggestions? --Chris
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Freeze-proof your pipes
As winter temperatures go down, the risk of a frozen pipe goes up. Pipes can freeze in homes of any age and condition, and no matter what type of material your pipes are made from. So don't make the mistake of thinking that because your house is new it's safe, or because your house is older the materials are somehow stronger. The only way to prevent a frozen pipe is to keep it warm, and luckily that's not too hard to do.
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Alicia Kay Lanier
REALTOR®
Coldwell Banker
1045 Willow Street
San Jose,  CA  95125
408.491.1634
972.998.8751 
Contact Me
Visit My Web Site
Equal Housing Opportunity   
  
Personally Speaking ...
In the market for a new home? Here are the top 10 things the IRS wants you to know about the expanded Homebuyer Tax Credit and the qualifications you must meet in order to qualify for it. ...more
 
December Home Sales Strongest in 3 Years
The Bay Area housing market last month continued its step-by-step climb up from the bottom with upticks in sales as well as prices. Many of the underlying trends are shifting slowly, if at all, indicating sluggish change in market fundamentals, a real estate information service reported. ...more
 
2010: year of the turnaround?
A spurt in home sales in 2009, aided by low interest rates and the first-time homebuyer tax credit, has led some economists to forecast a turnaround in the housing market this year. Other forecasters feel this is too optimistic a projection. ...more
 
No capital gains tax on home exchange?
DEAR BENNY: My husband and I built a townhouse in 1983 for $33,000. We lived there for a few years and then rented it out for 17 years, taking all the tax advantages such as depreciation, etc. ...more
 
Solution for icy gutters
With winter's storms comes the problem of ice buildup on the roof. No one relishes the thought of dragging out a ladder and trying to get all that ice out of the gutter. But if you allow it to build up in there, you are essentially forming the foundation that an ice dam will start building on, and once the ice dam takes hold it's a lot harder to get rid of. ...more
 
Rate-lock dos and don'ts
Interest rates dropped at the end of last year after creeping up over the summer, with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with interest rates below 5 percent readily available. ...more
 
CFLs today
General Electric introduced the first compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) to the market in 1992. In that same year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the ENERGY STAR label as a “voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce green house gas emissions.” CFLs were one of these newly regulated products. The energy-saving bulb wouldn’t find popularity, however, until the new millennium when mainstream America became more conscious of energy conservation and the environment. Today, the CFL is still growing in popularity; consumers like that it saves energy -- and money. According to the EPA, in 2007, Americans saved $1.5 billion by switching to ENERGY STAR-qualified CFLs. The CFL light bulb has also improved greatly in the past 30 years with more lighting choices, regulation of its mercury output, and easier disposal. ...more
 
Top 10 Reasons To Choose Coldwell Banker To Represent You
Coldwell Banker, now celebrating over 100 years in business, sells more homes nationwide than any other real estate company. Here are the "Top 10" reasons you should list your home for sale with us: ...more
 
Buying? Ask for my free
Considering a move? Then, ask for my email alerts about all homes newly for sale in your area that fit your criteria. ...more
 
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