There has been a tremendous jump in default notices sent to homeowners in Monterey County, California compared to last year. The number increased by a whopping 260 percent this year. Even more disturbingly, recent reports reveal that foreclosures in Monterey County, CA went up 1011.8 percent in the last quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. There were 378 foreclosures in 2007 and only 34 in 2006. California is ranked as the fifth highest state in foreclosure filings and hit a 20 percent high in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Experts said that the enormous jump in both default notices and foreclosures was due to the risky loans made by lenders during the recent economic boom times without adequate financial information. Add to that the now falling prices of homes and we are seeing double digit increases in foreclosures per month. Additionally, ARM (adjustable rate mortgages) mortgages coming due and falling property values have contributed significantly to the foreclosure crisis in Monterey County, CA. To say that Monterey County’s foreclosure problem is severe is no exaggeration.

The majority of foreclosures in Monterey are taking place in working class neighborhoods. The crisis began in June of 2007 and is predicted to only get worse in 2008.

Unfortunately the government of California is not currently providing any assistance to Monterey homeowners facing foreclosure. Other states have set-up some assistance for these homeowners but to date, California has not. As the foreclosure crisis continues to worsen, it is likely however that California will provide some relief to its homeowners. The Federal government is also working to put into place some solutions for both homeowners facing foreclosure and banks with real estate owned (REO) properties on their books.

Many Monterey County residences are either using refinancing or listing with real estate agents and selling their homes as other options to prevent foreclosure. Some homeowners are even just walking away from their homes because they are upside down with their mortgage and there is no equity present. Some Monterey homeowners facing foreclosure have no option but to accept a foreclosure on their credit and others have to file for bankruptcy.

Monterey homeowners facing foreclosure should educate themselves on what other options they may have to stopping foreclosure. They should also find a reputable foreclosure expert in their community to assist them in finding the best solution. The most important thing for homeowners who find themselves behind on their mortgage to do is contact someone immediately about assistance in stopping foreclosure on their home.

Jamaica Real Estate is a Solid Investment despite World Economic Crisis

“Uncertainty in global financial markets has created a surge for more solid investments” says Edwin Wint, President of the Realtors Association of Jamaica. Mr. Wint goes on to say in a recent press release that, “real estate is a stable and concrete investment, and the global economic fallout is increasing demand for property in Jamaica.” The Association recently staged its First Annual Expo under the theme, “Secure Your Future with Real Estate”. The publishers of the Jamaica Real Estate Guide were there providing their valuable resource for all homebuyers and investors of Jamaican Real Estate.

Over on the North Coast of the Island, developments are abound with Solis The Palmyra Resort & Spa offering 277 apartments and 11 villas at prices ranging from US$500,000 for a studio to US$3.5 million for a beachfront villa. There is also the Colony at Half Moon with plans for development of 30 private villas. Richmond Development in St. Ann offers a World Class Residential Community with units starting at US$195,000. These developments have been marketing heavily to overseas clients who are looking for a tropical getaway that is in close proximity to the U.S. There are more than 300 International flights coming into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay weekly and there are no restrictions to foreign ownership of Real Estate in Jamaica. In addition to easier access to beachfront property in Jamaica than in the U.S., Jamaica Real Estate is quite an attractive investment.

On the financial side of things, latest numbers from the Planning Institute of Jamaica in their report of Mortgages issued in Jamaica from NHT, NHDC, Building Societies, Life Insurance Companies and Credit Unions indicate that the volume and value of mortgages disbursed declined.  The total number of mortgages disbursed fell by 8.2% to 8,553 during January –September 2008 compared with January – September 2007.  This is a turnaround compared with the continued annual increases recorded in volume and value of mortgages disbursed.  The number of mortgages disbursed went from 10, 556 year ending December 2006 to 12, 469 year ending December 2007 according to the report.   The value of disbursed mortgages amounted to $31,595 million for the year ending December 2007, this compared with the $25,563.9 million disbursed for the year ending December 2006.

INFORMATION, INFORMATION, INFORMATION

In order to make an educated decision when investing in any commodity, you need information. It is no different for Jamaica Real Estate. The Jamaica Real Estate Guide aims to be a friendly and informative partner for prospective homebuyers and investors. The latest issue which was featured at the Realtors Association Expo 2008 at the Hilton Kingston Hotel on November 23rd has an article about Mortgage basics, a handy mortgage worksheet and a checklist of items for a loan application. Additionally, readers will find the usual delivery of full colour listings by Real Estate brokers and developers who promote their listings actively in this handy resource guide.

The Jamaica Real Estate Guide which was first published in 2006 started with the mandate of being a partner to the Jamaican Homebuyer, arming them with information about local real estate trends and the home buying process. With the demand increasing for Jamaica Real Estate from the local population and the Diaspora, so has the readership of the guide. The publishers of the Jamaica Real Estate Guide responded to demand by increasing the distribution of the magazine from 3,000 to 20,000 copies in print per issue. In addition, the website was redesigned to allow for free online viewing of the magazine. Response to the new website feature has been great with downloads coming from Countries like Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Denmark and of course the USA, Canada, our very own Jamaica and other neighbouring islands.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed— it’s certainly hard to miss— but the landscape around Austin is changing. As is the skyline. As is the… well, the feel of the city. The flavor.

Some Austinites are not excited about the changes going on. The corporations moving in, the family-owned and operated businesses go down while the thirty-six story condos go up. People who have lived here all their lives (or even just more than ten years) say that this is a different city than the one they remember. Back when they might not even have called Austin a “city.”

There was a time when Motorola was just a type of phone people had, not a place where they worked. When video games were a thing people played, not designed. Where Dell was a thing from a song about a farmer, not a computer company. In short, there was a time when Austin was a big, friendly village where everyone seemed to know everyone.

Now, it’s hard to see the sky without noticing the foreboding skeleton of an incoming condominium projects or a crane in your periphery. Developers are buying up land and displacing local businesses in order to get the best spot downtown for a high rise that will dwarf all the others, that will sell for more money, that will be nicer and closer to all the downtown Austin attractions.

But what are those attractions?

There will always be a Congress Bridge, and so there will always be bats. But will people want to walk from the Sheraton to see them, then get a drink at the Coyote Ugly Saloon franchise? Will they want to eat at the Baby Acapulco’s? What will make the town special when Las Manitas is gone, when all the little businesses that got us to this point are gone, and the only choices for restaurants are in the lobbies of the newest hotels?

What will make Austin Austin? It’s a good question.

It’s easy to see that the city has lost some its appeal. Its uniqueness, its originality. Big business has a way of doing that. But is it so bad? Is it really true that there will be nothing left?

Those small, local places brought people here, it’s true. And they certainly gave Austin its flavor. But millions more people are here now. The city has grown by leaps and bounds. People still need places to live. And the more people there are, the more money is being spent. There is much to be thankful for when we think about this new “bigger” Austin. The Austin real estate market values go up. Many businesses prosper. The city has more money to improve infrastructure and city services like parks. Its hard to allow it to change some of what we love, and some of the changes I’m not happy with. But overall I think it will be okay.

The key is that the people are still here. The same people that made Austin the coolest city in the… well, in my opinion in the entire country —are still here. They’re still waving at you from their yard, still smiling at you on the street. The buildings aren’t the personality in the city —the people in them are. So let’s make sure those people don’t go anywhere, and we’re all gonna be just fine. Yes, we may have to part with a couple businesses and landmarks dear to our hearts, but as long as Austinites keep true to what we love about this city, we will retain the part of our identity that is the most important.