Callista's Discussions

I agree, but make it clear you don't want to hear one word of whining when prices decline all around her.Yes I am in the exact same situation. My best friend for life decided to buy and did it while I was away on a three week vacation. SHe is in the process now and also doesn't really want to hear it from me.I will help her move and talk to her about any aspect of it she wants. The fact that I will buy a better house, in a better neighborhood, for less money a year from now will by my " I told you so".

THere is nothing more lovely than Japanese flowering cherries, mature birch, and maple trees. Using these plants is sure to increase the value of your home (assuming they will grow where you live). Can't miss with Ginkgo, or coast redwoods either!

That was a very well educated, detailed description of the "rock and a hard place" that we find ourselves in. Let me see if I can boil it down. The fed cannot risk banks becoming insolvent, so they will sacrifice the dollar to prevent this scenario. Congress and the president will also alter the rules of the GSE's to lower the payments for people whose arms are resetting. You certainly have an excellent understanding of this situation. I have to say it certainly reads INFLATION to me.

Hmmmmm.. When I first noticed that you had advertised on Sf craig's list I was confused about why your house wouldn't sell. I mean 440,000 seemed like a pretty good price for the Bay area..........Then I see you are actually in Stockton. That REALLY changes things. I've never met anyone who wants to move there, and your house looks to be a track home in a large subdivision. It's going to take something VERY significant to pull people into your home,..especially when there are foreclosures happening all around you....and there are. Stockton has made the headlines more than once.It will take someone with a lot more imagination and experience than me to help you. There are such people on this board. Good luck

Here's your problem...http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070913/ts_alt_afp/useconomypropertyand remember I'm just the messenger...then again, you probably knew this already anyways.

I don't care who feels "insulted" by my offers, or if sellers think I am greedy. This is BUSINESS remember? I am not making offers on your home because I want to be your friend. I am looking for a nice place to live *supported by the fundamentals* of the region in which I live. Turning down an offer is still a pretty easy thing to do isn't it? Why get so emotional?Hey Alpine are you going to put in a spa so that whoever buys your home feels "all warm and fuzzy" inside?

I will give everyone the formula I am using to evaluate what I believe is a fair price in my area. Feel free to critique it. I would love the input.I am looking at sales prices around 1999-2000, then I apply an appreciation factor of approximately 6%, which is on the high side of what homes have appreciated for historically. This gives me prices in my area that are around 25% lower than todays asking price. WHen houses hit this price point I plan to buy IMMEDIATELY. I get no personal joy out of renting.

Alpine..your new name is way too long!"No seller gives a %#@& about your explanation".Well guess what? I dont give a %#@& about theirs either. As far as I can tell when prices are back in line with my formula,..that is when they will be supported by the fundamentals of this region, and that is when I will buy.

I'm with Aldreth...stagflation here we come!

A .5 rate cut just isn't going to accomplish much in the "bubble" zones (Ca, Fla,..etc). Houses here are so out of whack that even with this rate drop no-one can afford/qualify with conventional loans (which is what should be required).THUD! Did you hear that? It was the dollar plummeting to an all time low against the Euro....next is falling beneath the Canadian dollar (which by the way we are about 3 cents from doing).