Here is an alternative to a condo or a single family home - a mobile home. This unit is a fixer for $75,000. It is located in Oxnard Pacific Mobile Home Park off of Pleasent Valley and Rice Roads. The space rent is $650. per month. It needs carpet, paint and upgrading, if you so choose.

You have to have at least a 20% downpayment on an older mobile home like this (this one was manufactured in 1976). The interest rates are also higher on mobile homes running an average of 10% for the loan. So mobile home appear to be "cheeper" but with a loan and space rent the payments are $1300 per month plus $17,000 initially for the down and escrow.

Over the long run, mobile homes do not appreciate the same as condos and single family homes. They are only going up slightly (bought one 2 years ago for $110,000; sold it this year for $137,000).

Call me at (805) 901-8805 if you would like more information on this or other mobile homes.

Lorraine

Just Listed!

1092 Stillwater
Ventura, CA 93004
2 bedrooms, 2 baths w/ Fireplace, courtyard entry, large yard area, and 2 car garage. $469,900

NAR Expects Strong Market to Continue

The National Association of Realtors recently released a statement, "U.S. home sales are anticipated to reach record levels by the end of 2005, despite a modest cool-down in the remaining half of the year, according to NAR's recent forecast. Existing home sales in the U.S. are expected to rise 2.9 percent to 6.98 million units, while new home sales should reach 1.26 million units, a 4.8 percent increase from 2004. With the tight supply of homes for sale, NAR also is projecting the national median existing-home price to increase 10.5 percent in 2005."

Setting The Price of Your Home

Three Factors to consider in selling your home are location, condition and price.....and they are related.

Location- Your home's location definitely influences its value. Is your home in a quiet location or on a busy street? Are you closer to the Ocean? Are you within easy access to a freeway for an easy commute? Views, trees, landscape can enhance the value. You obviously have no control over location, but please do consider this when comparing your home to others that have sold in your neighborhood.

Condition - New homes have a marketing edge over older homes, because they are clean, shiny and come with no dirt created by someone else! But you would also be amazed at how much less a home can sell for that has a messy yard, interior, clutter etc. My goal is to give you pointers for marketing your home for top dollar with a minimum of expenditure for you! Please remember that you can increase value and decrease marketing time by making sure your home is in great shape.

Pricing - Your home must be priced in an appropriate range. A buyer comparison shops. While being subjective about it, you can still be guaranteed they are comparing amenities, likeability, location etc. to other homes in the same price range. You also have to consider that not only does a buyer have to be willing to pay the price you want, but an appraiser must also be able to substantiate it for the loan. This has become increasingly important especially for 100% financing offers.

Remember, the longer a home stays on the market, the more the buyers perception of its value diminishes. Try to get all you can for your home...."top dollar", but use practical valuation methods and thinking to keep your marketing time to a minimum.

Janis Calkins
www.JanisCalkins.com