C.A.R. blog

We're excited to announce the roll out of our very first Facebook App, “Stories of Home,” in conjunction with the 2011 consumer ad campaign! Stories of Home is a video contest on Facebook where California home buyers and sellers can record a video to sing the praises of YOU, their REALTOR® and how you made a difference in their home buying or selling experience. It's easy for your clients to participate - all they need to do is:

1. “Like” the C.A.R. Facebook page.
2. Go to the “Stories of Home” tab.
3. Start recording a video.

The contest runs through Nov. 30^th and four winners will be selected to win a $500 Lowe’s gift card! (more...)

There are two questions on everyone’s minds surrounding the new HARP or HARP Phase II:

1. Will it work this time?
2. Do I qualify???

To the first question, it's widely known the original Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) rolled out in 2009 to help struggling homeowners refinance their home wasn’t a huge success. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) estimates it helped 894,000 homeowners refinance in the almost three years since its inception.

However, the game changers for HARP Phase II are the elimination of the 125 percent LTV cap requirement in the original HARP and FHFA waiving some stringent requirements (a.k.a. warranties and representations) (more...)

Looking back at 2011 so far…

2011 was supposed to ratchet up steady, if not, robust growth in the US Economy. Instead, we were tripped up by several economic and geo political events that have left many speechless and if there was one word to describe it, it would be “WOW!” To quote C.A.R. Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young in her Forecast presentation at the California REALTOR® EXPO 2011:

“Wow what a year it’s been – and in fact, it’s been full of wild cards: (more...)

Listen to Leslie Appleton-Young break down the 2012 Housing Market Forecast at #CAREXPO. What questions do you have about the 2012 housing market?

For your chance to win an EXPO luncheon ticket …Let us know your answer (you just may able to listen to Leslie’ s forecast for free!)

Comment on this post and tell us what questions you have about the 2012 housing market.

The winner gets a free ticket to one of our special event luncheons at the upcoming EXPO in San Jose from September 20-22, 2011!

We're giving you a chance to listen to Jason Dorsey talk about working with Gen-Y clients, see what's in the housing forecast for 2012 with Leslie Appleton-Young, or hear from the Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg with his take on society's relationship with technology -- all the while chowing down on a delicious meal -- on us! (more...)