Daniel Zia Voted #1 Realtor in Santa Barbara Independent's Best of 2009 Readers' Poll

The ZiaGroup would like to thank all of our clients who have voted Daniel Zia as the #1 Realtor in the Santa Barbara Independent’s BEST OF 2009 Readers’ Poll (Readership: 120,000). As a team, we are honored to have been voted #1 and appreciate your outpouring of support. You have validated the service and market knowledge we strive to provide to our Buyers and Sellers.

If you are just visiting our blog for the first time, make sure to visit our comprehensive Santa Barbara Real Estate website where you can Meet our Team, Search the MLS, see how we Spend Our Commissions, get updates on REOs and Foreclosures, and more. We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and your real estate needs, and our website is our first step in serving you.

We like to keep our blog updated with a mix of new Santa Barbara properties for sale, as well as tips and recommendations for all Buyers and Sellers of real estate. Click on the link at the top of our page to follow our Blog or contact me direct by email (Daniel@ZiaGroup.com) or by phone (805-637-7148) and stay up-to-date with Santa Barbara real estate.

Notes from the Santa Barbara Real Estate and Economic Forecast

This is a summary of the 2009 Santa Barbara Real Estate and Economic Forecast based on the notes of my good friend Mike Neville. Mike works for a great company called Formation Solutions, which provides personalized, local business entity resources. From LLC's and Corporations to Non Profits, he knows each formation has specific needs and is able to tailor those needs to fit your business. The focus of this year’s Forecast was regarding what to expect economically in the coming year(s) and to discuss if the recession is over.

The Forecast stated that the recession is over, as the stock market is up over 50% since March 2009. In real estate, housing prices seemed to have bottomed in March of 2009. The summer of 2008 saw a peak in Santa Barbara foreclosures and, overall, interest rates have leveled out for real estate purchases. Unfortunately, the Tri-Counties lost 6,700 jobs; a number much greater than initially expected. The Forecast finds that unemployment will continue to rise up to a state-wide rate of 12-13% by the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010. Historically, unemployment is one of the last things to flatten.

In the international markets, the Dollar is very weak and gold is constantly reaching new highs. The Forecast predicted that home foreclosures would rise again over the summer of 2009, which they did, but they are expected to decline into 2010. Banks and lending is still very tight throughout the financial world with a highest number of commercial vacancies since 1984. To add to tensions, the War in Iraq and Afghanistan are making daily headlines, as is the current U.S. Administration.

The Forecast expects a V-shaped recover in housing during the second half of the year with labor markets beginning to rebound by mid-2010. During this time, banks and lenders will begin to loosen their actions as signs point in a positive direction and start-up businesses begin hiring out of the large labor pool.

Credits: Dr. Mark Schniepp, The California Economic Forecast; Steve Golis, Paul Gamberdella Radius Group Commercial Real Estate & Investments, James Goldberg, Presenters.

Thank you for visiting the Santa Barbara Real Estate blog. Contact Daniel Zia by phone (805.637.7148) or by email (Daniel@ZiaGroup.com) for all of your Santa Barbara real estate needs. The ZiaGroup website is a great resource for your Santa Barbara real estate search.

Daniel Zia, Broker-Associate & Realtor®
Prudential California Realty
For comprehensive real estate information & to search the MLS, visit:
www.ZiaGroup.com

Cell: 805.637.7148
Lic. #01710544
-Leading Edge Society: Top 7% of Prudential Agents Nationwide

Using Google Street View in your Home Search

Did you know that Google Maps has the ability to provide you with street-level views of a home? Many of my clients use this easy-to-use tool to see what the surrounding homes look like, as well as check out the general feel of the street and potential views. If you have never used Google Street View, it is easy to set up. Once you have the address of the home you’re interested in, complete the following steps:

1. Open http://www.google.com/maps
2. Type in the address
3. Select the correct location (Google Maps may return multiple results0
4. A white box should appear and you should select “street view” or click the image
5. Use your cursor and drag to the left, right, up and down
6. If you want to move up and down the street, click on the small white arrows along the street

You are now on your way to becoming a Google Street View expert. It’s easy and always interesting to explore new areas in town. If you’re interested in a more detailed search with selective criteria, contact me or visit the ZiaGroup website. We have an excellent (and free) Santa Barbara MLS feature that could be valuable to your search. Thanks for visiting our blog.

Daniel Zia, Broker-Associate & Realtor®
Prudential California Realty

For comprehensive real estate information & to search the MLS, visit:
www.ZiaGroup.com

Cell: 805.637.7148
Fax: 805.563.0053
3868 State St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Lic. #01710544
-Leading Edge Society: Top 7% of Prudential Agents Nationwide

Recent Client Review for the ZiaGroup

I just received a review from the out of state client who purchased the home discussed in my last blog post. Thank you Aileen!

"My wife and I met Daniel a few years ago when I was looking for a summer rental in Santa Barbara. I thought he was so kind and generous with his time-for just a rental. We fell in love with Santa Barbara and always toyed with the idea of purchasing a summer home there.

An unexpected opportunity fell into my lap in September 2009. I am now officially the owner of a property purchased through Daniel, with the transaction taking place while I was in the comforts of New York, in less than 30 days. As luck would have, Daniel sent an e-mail to us and we pretty much took his word on the condition of the property. He emailed us photos immediately and followed through exceptionally well. Whatever we didn't know, Daniel did. His no pressure attitude, in conjunction with his confidence in himself and the property he had found for us, was undeniable. He was forthcoming with even the smallest details about the property. His honesty and his attention to detail were apparent from the beginning. We put great faith in him, as this was a long distance purchase on a property that we had not seen. I really could go and on about his professionalism. There was not one question that stumped him during this very untraditional purchase. He did his research and kept us abreast to all progress. His professionalism and knowledge were paramount.

Let me say that finding Daniel Zia was an absolute gift to us! He facilitated me purchasing my dream summer home in a matter of 30 days and he has continued to offer his services post transaction. He has checked in on the house since we are not there. Knowing he is still available to me really puts my mind at ease. He puts his heart and soul into his work and you would be very fortunate to have him on any side of your real estate transaction!" -Aileen Zemel

The ZiaGroup is positioned to provide exceptional service to our clients who are in town or out of the Santa Barbara area. Our website is our first step in serving you as you begin (or continue) your Santa Barbara real estate search.

Daniel Zia, Broker-Associate & Realtor®
Prudential California Realty
For comprehensive real estate information & to search the MLS, visit:
www.ZiaGroup.com

Cell: 805.637.7148
Lic. #01710544
-Leading Edge Society: Top 7% of Prudential Agents Nationwide

SOLD - 3800 SF House

The ZiaGroup team located this home for an out of state client close to Butterfly beach. This beautiful beach remodel was updated throughout with exceptional attention to detail including granite counter tops, custom cabinets, stainless steel appliances, a large pantry, wood plank floors throughout the downstairs, an outdoor living area with a patio, water/pond features, BBQ, a built-in spa and fireplace. It is truly a phenomenal property.

The property had an exceptional amount of interest from buyers and is an example of how much activity has picked up over the past three months. If you are currently searching for residential real estate in Santa Barbara, know that properties priced well are frequently selling for 5-20% above the asking price as seller’s are motivated and they know they will attract the attention with a “low” ask price. REO properties are priced well and are favoring cash buyers over buyers with higher bids that require financing. If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities in Santa Barbara real estate, contact me at 805-637-7148 or by email at Daniel@ZiaGroup.com. Our website (www.ziagroup.com) is an excellent resource to anyone researching a purchase or just interested searching the Santa Barbara MLS.


Daniel Zia, Broker-Associate & Realtor®
Prudential California Realty
Cell: 805.637.7148
Fax: 805.563.0053
3868 State St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Lic. #01710544
-Leading Edge Society: Top 7% of Prudential Agents Nationwide

Home Repair: Who Do You Call?

My washer broke down this week and I want to share a very pleasant experience I had with Tri-County Appliance.

Our washer broke down, and we were quoted a ridiculous amount by another repair company. A friend recommended Tri-County Appliance, and they were able to tell me what the problem was over the phone and quote me an estimate that was very fair, and almost 1/3 of what the other company was going to charge. They came to our home within a day and worked very quickly and efficiently and the total ended up being less than what was originally quoted. The technician showed me the problem, and told me that some of the other “repairs” that the other company was going to charge me for, didn’t even exist. I would highly recommend Tri-County Appliance Repair. There number is 805-683-4762.

I’m always grateful for friends and family who provide recommendations for reliable repair services. Do you have any stories of excellent service or recommendations? Post them on comments below. It’s reassuring to know that there are quality businesses in town that provide value added service, rather than inflated prices.

The Santa Barbara Real Estate Blog is provided by the Daniel Zia and the Zia Group team. For comprehensive real estate information and to search the MLS, visit www.ZiaGroup.com. To contact Daniel Zia directly please email Daniel@ZiaGroup.com or call 805-637-7148.

New Santa Barbara & Carpinteria REO Listings this morning

These two Bank-owned REO listings just came on the market.
1) San Roque 2/1.5 Condo in Santa Barbara for $330k: This is a beautifully remodeled condo unit with amenities and quality construction unlike anything else at this price in SB. Fully remodeled with granite counter tops, high-end appliances, in-unit laundry, bull-nosed corners, etc. This unit has a private and fenced patio and the complex has easy access to 5-points shopping center, La Cumbre Mall, and all that upper-state street offers.

2) 4/3 house or 2-units for $459k in Carpinteria: This property sold for this price in 1999, which by that simple equation (given that we are at 2003 prices) will make it one of the best values of the year. From my knowledge it is currently set up as a 3/1 unit downstairs and a separate, large 1/1 unit upstairs. You are within 1 mile to downtown Carpinteria and probably close to that for beach access as well. The home does have close proximity to the freeway, but you can't beat the price. Would make an excellent rental, owner-user situation, or multi-family investment property.

If you have any questions, or want to schedule an appointment to view either property, please contact me ASAP on my cell: 805-637-7148 or via email at Daniel@ZiaGroup.com. I'd be happy to provide all available info including property address, map location, pictures, square footage figures, etc.

I expect the Carpinteria property to sell quickly. The market continues to move at a very rapid pace. In the past two weeks, I had clients negotiating on 6 properties, five of which had multiple offers, and one of which had 20 offers. Hopefully, that gives you some frame of reference as far as what type of market activity we are seeing.

Home Buyers: What Factors Impact Your Credit Score?

There currently exists a large market for credit reporting and monitoring, as evidenced by the popular (and catchy) FreeCreditReport.com melodies. Your credit score is important, especially to potential buyers seeking to obtain the excellent financing options available today. An excellent credit score is a score in the high 700s, but a score in the high 600s or low 700s is very good, as well. A higher credit score can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in savings over the course of a typical mortgage. But what are the factors that impact the credit score and how you can control them to improve your credit score? The following are the five major categories the corresponding percentage of weight:

PAYMENT HISTORY (35%) – Pay your bills every month by the due date and you will be well on your way to a quality credit score. If you have not paid on time, how late are you? How often are you late on payments? This includes everything from your electric bill to your personal credit card.

AMOUNTS OWED (30%) – There are two major items in this category. The first is the actual amount you owe on each bill or credit line. Obviously, keep this number at zero or as close to zero as possible. The second is the amount of your credit limit that you have used, which should always be below 50%. For example, if you have a $1,000 credit limit on your VISA credit card then you should never charge more than $500 (and even less if possible) to keep this portion of your credit score in good standing.

CREDIT HISTORY (15%) – This portion asks the question of how long you have had each account. If you don’t have a credit history, start one today. Most people will end up having many “credit histories”, as each credit card, cable bill, mortgage payment, etc. counts toward your history. Maintain each history over time and you will see a boost to your overall credit score.

TYPES OF CREDIT (10%) – Do you have a mortgage? Do you have a credit card? Do you have a business line of credit? The total amount of outstanding credit you have relative to your ability to pay off those balances has an impact on your credit score. Generally, you will do well in this category as long as you keep current on all your monthly payments. A mortgage with 10 years of on-time payments will boost your credit score.

NEW CREDIT (10%) – New Credit is defined as when someone, such as a car dealer or banker, checks your credit score with one of the three companies (Equifax.com, TransUnion.com, Experian.com), even if you do not actually receive new credit from them. Someone checking your credit has a relatively low impact on your credit score, but it is best to keep the checking of the score to a minimum.

Regardless of whether or not you’re currently looking into purchasing a home, it is important to take the necessary steps today to develop your credit score. It will pay huge dividends in the future. If you are currently interested in purchasing or selling property in the Santa Barbara area, the ZiaGroup can provide you with local knowledge and excellent service. Contact Daniel by phone (805-679-7593) or email (Daniel@ZiaGroup.com) and allow the ZiaGroup to assist you with your search today.