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Granny Flats in California are Gaining in Popularity

January 10, 2023

California Granny Flat

In order to put a dent in California’s housing shortage, state and local lawmakers have eliminated a substantial amount of red tape to allow homeowners to build second residences on a property.

We are seeing reduced building impact fees, reduced parking and setback requirements and the waiver for owner-occupancy on site. All these changes have been made to encourage ADU construction throughout the state to combat the state’s ever growing housing shortage.

Because we have had home construction lagging population growth, California’s Statewide Housing Plan calls for an acceleration of new home construction over the next eight years with a target of 2.5 million homes. This target is broken down as follows:

  • 643,352 very-low-income homes
  • 384,910 low-income homes
  • 420,814 moderate-income homes
  • 1,051,177 above-moderate-income homes

Some roadblocks that have been experienced include restrictions on drilling a new well (Sonoma County) and making your new build all electric (Marin County).  There are still issues with material shortages that make for slow-going in the building process.

Most builders of an ADU would definitely do it again in spite of all the difficulties they experienced in the build.  Roadblocks encountered differ from county to county. For instance, Sonoma County allows you to go right to the county website and choose preapproved plans. Their permitting process is more streamlined because they want more rentals.  In Napa County supervisors launched a $5 million forgivable loan program for residents who build ADUs and rent them below market value. There are other programs in the North Bay Counties that exist to encourage the ADU build out.

If you are considering an ADU for your property and have sufficient equity in your home, you might want to investigate a refinance with extra cash out or even a 2nd mortgage with Sun Pacific Mortgage.  We are a private lender with 35+ years of experience in California real estate lending. We offer fast, flexible and expert alternative financing. Give us a call at 707-523-2099 or visit our website at www.sunpacificmortgage.com.

Message To California Real Estate Investors

December 6, 2022

Message To California Investors

As professional investors you must be watching the financial news closely, ever in this ever-changing market. Well, so are we as lending professionals here at Sun Pacific Mortgage. There is a cadre of trusted and experienced economists and real estate authorities that have expressed their predictions and analyses regarding the state of the current real estate market. Some of the quotes I have come across in my research, I thought would be helpful in making your investment decisions:

Jeff Schween, Santa Rosa Fine Homes, Coldwell Banker

“Real estate markets are hyper-regional when it comes to market dynamics, which means one has to be cautious at putting much reliance on national news and fear mongers that make general statements about the marketplace. Sure, things are shifting all around and when they do it takes market participants a reasonable period of time to recalibrate their positions and the direction they take, but calamity is not in the data we are harvesting. We do believe that we will see interest rates climb further before they flatten out and whether or not they even return to the levels they are today is all the more reason to not let the cost of money be a deterrent.”

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, National Association of Realtors

In 2023, Yun foresees a slower price appreciation and corresponding increases in sales as the year progresses. “Next year, the annual median home price is expected to rise by only 1.2%. Home sales will pick up in the second half of 2023.”

Dollie Herman, Vice Chair of Douglas Elliman, one of the largest real estate firms in the US

“Obviously, everyone is experiencing a cooling of the market compared to 2021, but that is a bad comparison. Frankly, anything is going to sound horrible after last year, because that was not a normal year. You really have to look at the pre-pandemic numbers”

While acknowledging that rising interest rates are slowing down home sales, Herman noted that they are still well below the national historical average of 7.5%.

“I don’t see prices dropping significantly, and I think builders are holding back right now as well. I do think there will be more room for negotiation, especially as we get into the winter months, when things traditionally slow down.”

Real estate has been, and continues to be, one of the safest investments when considered as a long-term asset.  Yes, it is slowing down, especially with the Holiday season upon us, but values though slightly decreasing are holding in a steady range.

It behooves one to keep abreast of what is truly happening and not listen to bad news.  Also, being more conservative while continuing to invest in Deeds of Trusts by investing in lower LTVs and diversifying more.

Real Estate Trends for 2023 as Predicted by the Experts

November 29, 2022

Real Estate Trends for 2023 as Predicted by the Experts

Experts are starting to make their 2023 home price predictions.  Most agree homes will continue to gain value, just at a slower pace.  Over the past couple of years home prices have risen at an unsustainable rate.

Historically, home values have appreciated at a rate near 4%. For 2023, the average of six major forecasters (Fannie Mae, SPSS, Freddie Mac, MBA, and Zelman) are calling for an increase of 2.5%. The exception is Zelman who is calling for depreciation of almost 3%. Much of the optimism is based on the economics of supply and demand. It is still a seller’s market, and in that scenario, home prices tend to appreciate.

If you are looking for a predictable monthly income with possible double-digit returns, consider becoming a member of our team of private Investors at Sun Pacific Mortgage. Our Trust Deed offerings allow you the opportunity to earn upwards of 13% on your capital. They are ideal for passive investors seeking to add and diversify their income streams. Payments are deposited monthly making it a truly hands-off passive investment opportunity. Check us out on our webpage: www.SunPacificMortgage.com or call us at 707-523-2099.

The Ever-Changing California Real Estate Market

October 4, 2022

California Real Estate Remains Best Long Term Investment 1

The changes in the real estate markets, throughout California, have been one of the biggest news stories in recent months.  The news reports slowing sales and rising inventory, but prices still rising year over year.  Home prices are indeed higher than a year ago but peaked in May and have softened since then.

What the experts are not predicting however, is a crash.  They all agree that this slow down will not be a repeat of 2008.  Homeowners in Northern California as well as Southern California have lots of equity and have legitimately qualified for their home loans.  We don’t have any of the crazy lending we had leading up to the 2008 mortgage crash.  Because most Homeowners refinanced at great rates, they have lower monthly payments too.

What we are seeing is an increase in inventory with homes staying on the market longer and asking prices adjusting from the aspirational prices that Homeowners hoped to achieve in the past couple of years.

Homebuyers are seeing new opportunities with more homes to choose from, and Sellers are willing to make more repairs.

The best advice to Buyers who are hoping to purchase a home in some of the hottest California Markets, such as the Bay Area Peninsula counties, Sonoma County, Orange County and others, is to assess how long they plan to live in their new home. With an historical 8% inflation rate, we see home values moving up over time. If a Buyer finds a home that fits their needs and they are comfortable with the payment, they shouldn’t be concerned if home prices dip a little as long as they are higher when they go to sell.

If you or your client, have been turned down for a conventional or traditional loan, you may want to give us a call here at Sun Pacific Mortgage & Real Estate – also known as The Guys in the White Hats: 707-523-2099 or visit our website at www.sunpacificmortgage.com. We are family owned & operated and have been providing fast, cash-like mortgages for over 34 years in California. We specialize in owner-occupied mortgages which have become more difficult to obtain recently.

Your Asking Price Matters More Now Than Ever

September 27, 2022

Why Cash Out Refinances

We are aware of the housing market slowdown from the frenzy we saw over the past two years. But what does that mean if you’re thinking about selling your home?

Because real estate prices are still appreciating although at a slower pace and mortgage rates are rising, there are more homes on the market. This new market requires sellers to be incredibly careful about how they price their home.

During the pandemic, sellers could price their home higher because demand was so high, and supply was so low. This year, things are shifting, and that means sellers need to rethink their strategy. The price set for homes sends a message to potential Buyers. If you price it too high, you run the risk of deterring Buyers.

If you need to lower your price later to attract more Buyers after it has sat on the market for a while, it can be seen as a red flag. Some Buyers will wonder what that means, and it can be a serious “turn-off.”  Your Real Estate Agent is the best able to give you a true picture of what the market looks like in your area to help you set a suitable selling price.

Real estate experts have a saying: “If it’s sitting there, there are three reasons: price, price, price.”  That may not have been the case a few months ago, but today’s Buyer is savvy enough to know that the market is not what it was for the past couple of years. Buyers will not be as quick to jump without negotiating.

So, if you are a Buyer in today’s market but are finding it difficult to obtain a loan or want to make a stronger offer with a quicker close, consider a short term private loan from Sun Pacific Mortgage (707-523-2099) or visit our website at www.sunpacificmortgage.com. We have helped thousands of Buyers like you for over 34 years in California. We can help get you into a mortgage fast and with far fewer hurdles to jump over – our average days to close is just 2 weeks!

The Housing Market in California Today

September 20, 2022

california neighborhood

A summary of the real estate market in California might read, “mixed bag”.  While home prices increased year-over-year in July, the number of homes sold fell by a whopping 31.1% and the number of homes for sale rose as compared to last year. According to the California Association of Realtors 30 counties recorded sales declined more than 30% from last year.

The Central Coast experienced the largest decline among major regions, with sales decreasing 37.3% from the previous year.  However, the good news for sellers is, median sales price continued to grow in nearly 80% of the California counties!  The final median home prices decreased by only 3.5% to $833,910 (meaning homes are selling for less than asking price) – but this median home price was 2.8% higher than last year at this time.

The report for August reads as follows:

  • Closed sales per day: 513
  • Pending sales per day: 306
  • New listings per day: 260
  • % Of active listings with reduced price: 41.6%
  • % Of homes closed above list price: 35%
  • Median days of the market for closed sales: 22

Currently, we see some markets cooling down.  It is good to keep in mind that all real estate is local and the national news headlines don’t necessarily apply to every market around the country. It would appear that in most of California it has gone from an extreme seller’s market to a more balanced one. One thing remains constant: real estate is now and always has been a sound investment.

If you are looking for a profitable place to invest your portfolio, give Sun Pacific Mortgage a call at 707-523-2099 or visit our website at www.sunpacificmortgage.com and become one of our many private investors in Deeds of Trusts.  Earn upwards of 13% return on your investments in stronger real estate Notes.

Big, Fast, and Direct – Recently Helped Borrowers!

August 25, 2022

Wild Ride getting FinancingBIG And FAST With Our Private Money Loans!

End the wild ride and get real estate financing with one of our Direct Private Money Programs.

Purchase or Refinance mortgage taking too long?  Or being turned down at the last minute?  Let us help you or someone you know fulfill the need for BIG Speed Lending, just like we did below:

Recently Helped Borrowers

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We look forward to helping you or someone you know with our BIG and Fast Private Money programs.  Call us at 707-523-2099 or visit our website at www.sunpacificmortgage.com with your scenario and we will get back to you with how we can help!

North Bay Real Estate Trends for June 2022

August 23, 2022

Home Real EstateFor purposes of this report, we are including the counties of Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma.

Inventory at end of June: 2,429 homes and condos (30% over last year; 19% over last month)

Nationally, listings are up 31% over the past year.

There were 1,310 sales in June, which was 30% below last year’s total sales and 12% below last month’s sales.

The ratio of listings whose price was lowered for each county reads as follows:  Sonoma 16%, Mendocino 22%, Napa 23%.

Those counties whose sales were more than the original listing price were as follows: Mendocino 26%, Napa 45%, Sonoma 61%.

Average sales price = $955,270 (+8% YTY)

Median Days on Market = 31 (-26% YTY)

Sales vs. List price = 102% (0% YTY)

What conclusions are we to take from this report? We are not in a free-fall, but real estate has cooled slightly off the frenetic pace we were on for the past couple of years. We are certainly not looking at another 2008, and for good reason. There is plenty of equity in existing homes and inventory is just not plentiful enough to satisfy the demand.

If you need help with your mortgage search, give Sun Pacific Mortgage a call at 707-523-2099 or visit our website at www.sunpacificmortgage.com. We do fast, private loans considering loan-to-value rather than credit scores.

North Bay Real Estate Statistics for May 2022

June 21, 2022

Sonoma County Coming Out on Top in Move North

With interest rates rising and inventory falling, it is no surprise that we found this May very different from last May.  Here’s a snapshot of what happened in three of the North Bay counties last month in single-family residence sales:

Sonoma County: 

  • 492 Sold (22% fewer than 2021)
  • 416 New Listings (40% fewer than 2021)
  • 396 Closed Escrow (30% fewer than 2021)
  • 504 Homes left at end of May

Marin County:

  • 231 Sold
  • 185 New Listings (37% fewer than 2021)
  • 230 Closed Escrow
  • 174 Homes left at end of May (16% fewer than 2021)

Napa County:

  • 103 Sold
  • 87 New Listings
  • 117 Closed Escrow
  • 195 Homes left at end of May (17% fewer than 2021)

Marin County remained the hottest of all 7 North Bay counties.  The experts expect more inventory to appear from now until the end of August, which might improve the picture to a degree in spite of expected increases in interest rates.

If you are looking to purchase or refinance in these tight markets and have been turned down for a mortgage at a bank or lending institution, give Sun Pacific Mortgage a call at 707-523-2099 or visit our website at www.sunpacificmortgage.com.  We offer privately funded loans based on equity, not credit scores.  As an added bonus, we are FAST!  Most loans fund in less than a month.  Buying and refinancing can be a torturous process, or it can be smooth sailing with Sun.

The Six C’s of Private Money Lending

February 15, 2022

private lenderPrivate money, also known as “hard money,” has become a popular alternative to conventional loans, especially during these stressful sellers’ market days which we have been experiencing for the past several years.

Why is that? Because FAST is the name of the game in this dog-eat-dog market and private money can be available in as little as a week through some hard money lenders, such as Sun Pacific Mortgage. Unlike conventional lenders where the loan process can take months to get approved, Sun Pacific Mortgage has much less red tape and requirements for these private money loan programs.  Our 33+ years in business has allowed us the experience to become truly expert in the loan approval process, solving any bumps that come up along the way. Service all of California Home Buyers, Borrowers, Realtors, Conventional Lenders, Mortgage Brokers and Investors alike; Anyone who need a quick close or who has been turned down for a conventional loan.

Let’s examine six factors that influence a private money lender before entering a contract with a borrower:

  1. Collateral:  Lenders are in the equity business, not the real estate business. They will consider all aspects of the property (physical condition, its marketability, and its profit potential), but the loan-to-value (LTV) is of primary importance.
  2. Conditions:  To minimize risk, Lenders look at other property inventory and at the resale or rental value of the given home/land.
  3. Capacity:  Lenders must consider the ability of the Borrower to carry out the terms of the loan and their existing obligations.
  4. Capital:  Lenders expect the Borrower to have significant “skin-in-the-game” at the closing table.
  5. Character:  Many Lenders look at the character of the potential Borrower. They look for liens and judgments which could affect the property under consideration.
  6. Credit:  With asset-based hard money lending, credit isn’t the most principal factor, but it may affect the interest rate the borrower pays.

Using a reliable, experienced company like Sun Pacific Mortgage to either invest or borrow money through, has been a wise choice for thousands over the past 3 decades. Give us a call at 707-523-2099 to see what we can do for you. You can also find us at www.SunPacificMortgage.com.

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