Prime Valencia Summit Location
This expanded Chelsea Plan 84 boasts four bedrooms, three baths, a bonus room, new hardwood floors and a generous 2,337 square feet (And that's not including the bonus that is permitted, but not reflected on the tax roll!) - all on a 7,385-square-foot private lot. Enjoy the convenience of one downstairs bed/bath, a built-in barbecue, oversized three-car garage with tons of storage above and a large safe. Your new home includes plantation shutters, fresh paint, an updated master bedroom, some new carpet and an updated kitchen with granite, stainless appliances and newer cabinets. HOA includes pools, tennis courts, clubhouse and paseos for only $52 a month.
Paul Atkins of RE/MAX of Santa Clarita 714-0911

What Happened?
If you have recently been qualified for an FHA loan or were in escrow on an FHA loan during the transition between the Obama and Trump administrations, you are well aware of a mortgage insurance-change roller coaster ride. Described as a parting gift from the Obama Administration, the government lowered the MI factor from .85 percent to .60 percent. This .25-percent decrease lowered payments on average close to $100. This decrease was to go into effect January 27, 2017. Professional loan officers made the necessary changes required to take advantage of this decrease so borrowers in escrow could enjoy the lower MI. But within one hour of Trump swearing into office, this benefit was repealed. Higher-risk loans carry mortgage insurance; it is an incentive for lenders to make riskier loans because in the event of a default, these lenders will recover most of the losses. The argument against lowering the Mortgage Insurance premium is that this lower amount would erode the solvency of the program. The risk of the reserves no longer being met could jeopardize this important lending program. This is a perfect example of why it is important to work with a local lender because they are easily accessible and can react or adapt to the constant changes in the lending environment.
Andy Boron of Augusta Financial 291-2242

HOA Amenities & Home Buying
Whether a homebuyer is in the market for a certain number of rooms, or maybe a larger backyard, one thing is for certain: they're drawn to amenities. HOAs provide amenities that please those who are interested in the lifestyle available outside of their home. For example, an HOA may have exercise classes available, swimming, luxury spas and more. Homeowners are excited to purchase a home that includes added benefits and will furthermore sacrifice some living space to get it. A home that includes a tennis court and swimming pool on the grounds may make up for the lack of yard out back. Or, a home located with an HOA that offers exercise and workout classes may be purchased even though room for a gym isn't available.

An HOA brings so much value that most homeowners are willing to pay a higher price for luxury amenities. Sellers are adding this value to the purchase price of the home, bringing in a larger purchase than HOAs without these amenities. There are a lot of factors that can contribute to the overall price of a new home and developers realize the true benefit of higher-end amenities.
National Property Management Group 295-5966


Charming Valencia Find for Less than $500,000
Artfully presented, this charming two-bedroom, two-bath plus den is a real head turner! This upgraded home features terra cotta tile throughout, redone bathrooms, copper plumbing, upgraded light fixtures, upgraded baseboards, crown molding and designer paint color, custom track lighting, semi-vaulted ceilings and more. Enjoy an eat-in kitchen, direct garage access, convenient den off the living room, master with slider to yard, nice-size secondary bedroom and tranquil backyard with nice-sized patio with patio cover, bubbling water fountain and lush landscaping. Garage has finished and painted walls with epoxy covered floor. Listed at $455,000.
Kathy Watterson of RE/MAX of Santa Clarita knows that relationships matter. Put her 27 years of experience to work for you. 510-0321

The Market by the Numbers
To end 2016, there was plenty of evidence that US residential developers and builders are getting very optimistic. Housing Starts shot up 11.3 percent in December, reaching a 1.2-million unit annual rate. Yes, this month's bump mostly came from the multifamily side, but single-family starts remain positive. Get this: single-family building permits are up 10.7 percent over a year ago, at their highest level since 2007, showing a continuing uptrend. Multi-family building permits are down 15.1 percent from a year ago, evidence of the shift to single-family starts after multi-family construction peaked in 2015.

Existing homes sales were above 5.5 million and new homes sales just under 600,000. The GDP-Advanced Q4 reading of the economy is forecast to show the year closing out at a still-slow 2.2-percent growth rate. Looking for quality information on the home financing process? Work with a company that has the skills, knowledge and experience - along with a reputation for quality personal interaction; it can make all the difference.
Wintrust Mortgage - The Renno Team 513-3112