Oc Housing Connection

So, all things being equal, what is the Federal Reserve's "natural rate"? The ideal rate that creates the so-called "three bears economy"...not too hot, not too cold.  Used to be around 5%, but many seem to think it's more around 2-3% today. Why does this matter?  Because it tells a lot whether the Fed wants to raise rates or lower them (long term) and where we might be headed with our home and consumer loans in the near term.  Our hosts Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy then dive into some more "macro economic trends" that factor into those Fed decisions (mainly  the jobs report and "consumer demand") and how perplexed they are that job growth has been slowly but steadily growing since "The Great Recession" (except for THIS week's poor performance) while consumer demand remains stubbornly weak. What's going on? Find out in this week's fascinating look at housing prices and loan rates as they try and peer into the Fed's crystal ball and see where we headed this year.  Only on Orange County's only community radio stati

This week's wide ranging discussion starts off with our weekly look at what the Fed is or isn't going to do with interest rates right now (a topic on everyone's mind) and moves into a deeper discussion about how the Fed is really just there to control American Consumer Demand.  That means it does not really factor in world economies and whatever demand there might be for our products overseas, especially with our dollar being so low relative to other currencies. So are they missing key elements when it comes to deciding whether to pump the economy or slow it down thru their control of the Federal lending rate...the so-called "discount rate" the Federal Reserve charges commercial banks and other depository institutions on loans they receive from their regional Federal Reserve Bank.  You decide.  Then listen to the last part where our hosts Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy discuss using funds from your 401K to purchase your next fund.  You won't want to miss this one! Only on Orange County's only community radio statio

Does the Federal Reserve actually WANT to raise rates regardless of whether they NEED to right now? Is it more than just holding off inflation?  Or do they see some larger crisis looming over the horizon which they feel REQUIRES them to raise rates (regardless of its short term effects on the election or the economy) so they can cut them back again in response to some unforeseen stock market correction, China meltdown or Eurozone explosion? That's the question our hosts Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy debate today (along with yours truly, the "everyman" on the show).  For if (as some speculate) there is surely a stock market correction coming or some Euro/China storm just over the horizon, then what could the Fed do if rates are already at or near zero?  Go into negative territory as some banks in Europe have already done? And how would banks continue to make money if interest rates were BELOW zero? It's a fascinating look at "macro-economics" today on our OC HOUSING CONNECTION show as we argue over not just IF or W

Don't miss this wide ranging discussion about the possible economic impacts of our upcoming national election. How will the stock markets react (or will they?)  What could massive deportation or immigration bans mean for our economy?  And why isn't Wall Street more nervous about the political revolt happening on Main Street America? Our host, Hamid Hamadanchy touches on all those topics, along with several more like potential "negative interest rates".  What are they?  How do they work?  And will this uniquely European phenomenon ever find its way to our shore?  Or what about the steady influx of influential Chinese investments here in Orange County and the continual flood of Chinese money coming into our county.  How it helps prop up an already overheated housing market, with Chinese buyers buying anything and everything in sight for all cash.  And how long will it continue? You won't want to miss this wide ranging view of the some macro economic trends and their impact on our own long term housing mar

After we take our usual quick look at the real estate market and the macro trends affecting it (like lower job reports and worries out of China), our hosts Hamid and Fay Hamidanchy explore when the best times to sell your home nationwide and here in Orange County.  And the results may surprise you.  They also end this week's installment of this week's OC HOUSING CONNECTION with a quick review of "alternative ways to establish credit", particularly for those aging baby boomer (like me) who've paid off their houses and/or ripped up their credit cards and restrained themselves from buying anything big...leaving them with suddenly little or no credit history in this last chapter of their life.  Learn why too much frugalness may work against you and how to work around it if you still want to buy another home someday on credit (and invest the cash from your existing home for needed cash flow after you retire).  Fascinating ideas from Orange County's only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.net.

In a world of low, fixed rate mortgages, you wouldn't think the old adjustable rate mortgages (ARMS) so popular in the 90s would still be around.  But you'd be wrong!  Today our hosts Hamid and Fay Hamidanchy discuss their past experience with these popular products, how, why and where they can still be found and who might benefit from using one.  For example, most of us refinanced our homes somewhere before or after the "Great Recession" to take advantage of incredibly low, fixed rate loans.  We did this to take the risk out of potential rises in our loan costs (particularly those of us that had risky "high cap" loans that could soar someday into double digits).  But did we actually come out ahead?  We removed the risk but may (in fact) may have paid MORE over the last few years for these fixed rate loans, particularly since the indexes on which they were based (like LIBOR) also remained so low. ARM yourself with some amazing facts about adjustable rate mortgages on this week's installment of OC HOUSING CONN

To a certain degree, Millennials and their Baby Boomer parents are two halves of the same housing problem which includes high prices, short supplies and few first time homebuyers. For 20 somethings, it's all about getting them INTO a home.  And for Boomers, it's all about getting them to move OUT of their home, or at least get the equity out of their homes (particularly when they need the money to supplement their sparse social security income).  So today, our host Hamid Hamidanchy spends this week's show examining each half of this interrelated housing problem. Millennials are certainly deferring "family formation" much later than previous generations.  And when they do finally start having children, will they still want the American dream of their own home w/a backyard for their kids and safe suburban neighborhoods to play in?  For now, it's anyone's guess.  That's because they are NOT buying homes or even showing any interest in the process.  Instead, they seem to prefer renting in more urbanized areas

Even those who've served in the military don't always understand the great loans available to buy their home thru the Veteran's Administration.  Who qualifies?  What are the advantages and benefits?  And does it take any extra time to process? All these questions and more are answered this week by our hosts, Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy as they look at one of the least understood Federally guaranteed loan programs available to all our veterans on this week's installment of the OC HOUSING CONNECTION, right here on Orange County's only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.net.

This week, we take a deep look at The Fed including it's history, structure and purpose. Who owns the Fed?  What's is it's relationship to the 12 Federal Reserve Banks and what do they do?  And (most importantly) what powers does the Fed have to increase or decrease money supply and affect the overall Monetary Policy of the United States.  Join our hosts Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy as they pick up from last week and dive deeper into this mysterious, quasi-governmental body (after first reviewing this week's economic indicators and likely Fed action).  Only on the OC HOUSING CONNECTION here on Orange County's only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.net.

For the first half of our program today, our hosts, Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy, explore the inner workings of the Federal Reserve (known to most of us as just "the Fed").  What comes out of this lively discussion is just how little most of really know about this mysterious entity despite it's crucial connection to our economy and housing markets. Do you know how many Federal Reserve banks there are in this country?  Where they are located and who runs the one in your area?  Or how they control inflation and affect our housing prices? From there we talk about the OC Housing market as it continues to head towards record heights and how this may be the norm for some time to come, regardless of what happens in other parts of the country.  Will we become one big "Leisure World" with a largely older population of graying seniors unable to move up (as higher end homes move further out of reach) and unwilling to move out to traditional retirement communities (as their parents did)?  And will this further exacerba

It's tax season, which means figuring out how to use your home to its maximum tax advantage.  So our experts, Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy, spend this episode of the OC HOUSING CONNECTION discussing tax considerations to home ownership with some tangible tips on how to maximize your home deductions (or at least not overlook the obvious!) What are the different rules for deducting closing costs or the different rules concerning home improvement loans or energy saving programs?  They even talk about different ways to structure your PMII (private mortgage insurance) so it may become deductible or exotic things like deducting your land lease costs (if there are any...something we typically only see in places like Irvine, Monarch Beach and Costa Mesa).  Think of this show as a "tax tuneup"with tips, ideas and information you'll want to review with your CPA or certified tax planner.  Only on Orange County's only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.net.

This week our hosts, Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy, discuss two powerful but perhaps not well understood Federal programs put in place after the "great recession" to help people either modify or refinance their home loans, even those "under water".  As with all programs, there are some qualifications...the main one being that Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac have to own your loan as of May 31, 2009. Loans not owned by them or loans acquired after that time do not qualify for the program. But it's simple to find out.  Just go to www.FannieMae.com, click on the Homeowners and Communities tab at the top and "see if Fanniie Mae owns your loan".  If it does, listen here to all the benefits of a Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) and how to apply.  Same for Freddie Mac.  Or check out the other Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).  You'll be surprised at all they offer. As heard here on Orange County' s only community radio station, www.OCTalkRadio.net.

Hear about all the different ways you can hold title to your home here in California and sample some of the ways in which this critical decision will affect things like inheritance and your ability to sell later.  Hear real life horror stories of people who got this wrong and the consequences they suffered.  And learn about the difference between things like "joint tenants" or "tenants in common" along with all the other ways you can be listed (or not listed) on the title to some property you or your spouse purchase.

As housing hovers around it's all time high here in Orange County, Real Estate Fraud is back in the news as crooks move in to capture these valuable assets.  So much so that the District Attorney's office has a special real estate unit (as part of its major fraud section).  Hear Deputy District Attorney Megan Wagner discuss her work in that unit including prosecuting some high profile "Ponzi schemes", refinancing fraud and the increasing occurrences of crooks forging false "quit claim deeds" and other documents which they use to claim your house from right under your nose and sell or rent it to someone else or even secure a new loan on your property....often targeting seniors with paid off houses or homes the lenders have taken back and are sitting empty.Learn how to fight these crimes and report them quickly to the DA's office thru their online site.  Along with the work the Deputy DA and her husband, Assemblyman Don Wagner, have done to pass new laws that make it easier to get your title back.  All that and

Explore the ever growing world of online sales with the folks from AUCTION.COM ("where real estate is moving") as our hosts, Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy unlock the secrets of this rapidly growing part of the market.   AUCTION.com is the largest online real estate marketplace in the world, selling over $37 billion worth of commercial and residential properties, over 200,000 properties in all. They started off exclusively as a platform to sell distressed properties for the big financial institutions, but they've been moving away from that model with other traditional, high quality properties in their mix, including the largest online transaction ever (a $96 million dollar commercial office complex in Manhattan Beach), to the point where 60% of their offerings are no longer "distressed properties".. Which is why they are rebranding the site to become "10x" ("because they want everyone to have a 10 times better buying experience") and moving into all sorts of online residential and commercial sales. So is this just

Learn about the many facts and fictions regarding HOME INSPECTIONS as our hosts Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy, interview Steve Garcia (from Inspections by Steve), past President of the California Real Estate Inspection Association. Hear about some of the biggest misconceptions about this critical party of any home purchase and the biggest issues to look for here in Southern California, from mold damage to other issues common in our communities.  Only on Orange County's only community radio station, OC Talk Radio.net.

This week, Hamid and Fay Hammadanchy discuss the pros and cons of buying a home in December (traditionally, the slowest month of the year).  And how it can actually be a good idea to consider. Plus, they also take a closer look at two powerful government programs that often get overlooked: FHA and VA home buying programs.  Find out why so many people overlook these options and why its foolish not to at least consider using one of these to buy your next home...particularly for first time home buyers or anyone struggling to come up with the traditional 20% down payment.

This week, Hamid and Fay Hammadanchy discuss the possible effects of a monster El Nino on OC Housing, along with their weekly analysis of the Fed's interest rate and even the long term reasons why owning a house is such a big investment in the long run.  All that and more on this week's installment of OC HOUSING CONNECTION, only on OC Talk Radio.

OC HOUSING TALKS again about first time home buyers...who are they, what is the average loan amount, what are they looking for and why aren't they buying even with historic low interest rates.  And they also speculate on the Fed's possible rate increase and what should be expected out of their December meeting.

Join Hamid and Fay Hamadanchy as they update everyone on the latest Federal Reserve moves (or lack thereof) and their potential impact on interest rates and the housing market. Then they take a close look at the subject of HOME INSPECTIONS and why so many buyers fail to understand their true value. From uncovering past builder lawsuits and/or problems to be aware of in the area to specific issues like mold, water leaks and the like, nothing can replace a good home inspection (even if you have a good Home Warranty).  Learn what to look for and what gets overlooked in this deep dive into HOME INSPECTIONS.  Plus some tips on how to improve your "curbside appeal" and saleability to any home. All that and more in this week's OC HOUSING CONNECTION.