Gary Cordova, Realtor

10/10/2023

GodAfternoon,
It's been a while since I sent a post on my neglected site. Anyway I am still a licensed Real Estate Broker. I will help all my past clients and their children list and sell property in California. I am currently doing Property Management and can help you with you rental properties.
Feel free to contact me. My new email address is: [email protected].
God Bless you and yours in the current Chapter of your Life.

03/14/2023

GodAfternoon - Grace and Peace be with you.

We are blessed.

In the midst of bad news and hard times, never forget that God loves us, no matter what. By his Spirit he comforts us. He is always in full control of our lives. That joyful reality gives us peace even in the most difficult of times.

“Finding Peace in Calamity”

Habakkuk 3:17-19
Though . . . the fields produce no food . . . yet I will rejoice in the Lord . . . in God my Savior.
— Habakkuk 3:17-18

After watching the daily news, our media listener Natasha shot us a note: “How can I find peace and joy in the midst of what’s going on today?”
Perhaps you find yourself asking the same question as you follow the news or receive a worrisome personal update. How do you respond to bad news and reports of trouble and struggle in so many ­places? What happens to your walk with the Lord?

Today we turn to one of the most powerful affirmations of faith in all of Scripture. Faced with news of an upcoming war, the prophet Habakkuk anticipates food shortages and hunger throughout the land. But in the face of such calamity, he declares that he will still rejoice in God his Savior. External circumstances are not going to stop him from finding personal peace and joy in the Lord.

As Christians, we can rejoice in the midst of the most challenging circumstances because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Even in the toughest of times—such as having to look death in the face—we know that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).

In the midst of bad news and hard times, never forget that God loves us, no matter what. By his Spirit he comforts us. He is always in full control of our lives. That joyful reality gives us peace even in the most difficult of times.

Lord, thank you for being with us always! Give us strength to rejoice in you, no matter what troubles we face. Amen.

by: Sergei Sosedkin

01/29/2023

GodAfternoon- many of us expect the Grace and Peace from our Lord daily….and He gives it!

When we see the unexpected blessing of the Lord, we praise Him even more.

Sunday January 29, 2023

“Presence”

ISAIAH 12:1-6
“Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
— Isaiah 12:6

It was a cold and sunny day in January—perfect for sledding down icy hills. Our church community gathered for a fun afternoon on the slopes and planned to meet afterward at the church for chili and hot chocolate.

Unfortunately, our 11-year-old son decided to go off a ramp with his racer, and he flew off the sled as it proceeded down the hill. He, on the other hand, came to an abrupt stop, face-planted on the hard ground. He lay there longer than he should have, and when others went over to help, they found he had lost feeling below his chest.

After he was brought by ambulance to the hospital with a diagnosis of a broken neck, the mood of the day changed. We spent hours waiting through X-rays and tests and talk of surgery. A prayer chain started up across the city.

After six hours the doctors were baffled and were ready to start the tests over again. At that moment, our son declared that he would play ball again. He was an avid basketball player. When we asked how he knew, he said he could feel God present with him and healing him.

As he walked out of the hospital that night, the doctors could only attribute his recovery to a miracle. We agreed.

Dear God, thank you for the moments when you show your presence to us. May we always look for your hand to care for us, even doing the unexpected. Amen.

By Beth Fellinger

01/04/2021

UPDATE FROM THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS:

As we close out 2020 and reflect back, it is clear that despite losing roughly two months of the spring homebuying season, the housing market was strong in California this year. And, although the housing market has cooled during the final week, there are still many reasons to be optimistic about home sales and prices in 2021. First, ‘cooling’ is relative and the market remains well ahead of 2019 levels. All indications are that rates will remain relatively low and the economy should heal as the public health crisis abates next year. This means that we can expect more demand for homes in 2021, not less. However, this crisis has also exacerbated California’s long-standing structural issues, and it has become absolutely imperative that we find real and immediate solutions to the supply crisis. If we don’t, California’s economic challenges are only just beginning.

Buyer Demand Cools, from Boiling to Just Really Hot: Perhaps due to the holidays, uncertainty about the relief efforts that were ongoing last week, the recent rise in unemployment claims, the newly imposed stay at home orders, or some combination thereof, buyer demand cooled sharply over the past week. Last week, C.A.R. reported that mortgage applications were up by more than 26% on an annual basis and that private showings were running 200% + ahead of 2019 levels. But this week, private showings slowed to only 60% ahead of last year’s pace. In short, California is still seeing much more buyer demand than is typical for a year-end.

Next Round of Relief On Its Way: This week, the President signed into law the latest round of coronavirus economic relief. This package extended critical support programs for workers, small businesses, and households. It will also provide some rental relief, which should help both renters and landlords alike. There is still significant financial distress and work do be done (particularly on rental relief), but this is an important step in providing the bridge to more normalized economic activity once the vaccine has been broadly distributed some time in the second quarter of 2021.

Rates Hit Another New All-Time Low: Interest rates remain the accelerant in the market through year’s end as the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit its 15th all-time low again last week. According to Freddie Mac, the typical rate during the holiday week was just 2.66%. That is down only 1 bps from the week before, but rates have now been below 3% for 22 consecutive weeks providing a tremendous boost to purchasing power for consumers. This is also likely resulting in more competitive offers driving up home prices as well.

Stay At Home Orders Extended as Medical System Strains: The State of California extended its stay at home order until late January this week as the number of new infections, deaths, and critically, hospitalizations, increase dramatically after the holidays. The vaccines have begun to roll out in earnest to front line healthcare workers and vulnerable populations, but we are still several months out from the widespread vaccination that are needed for ‘herd immunity’ to allow for more normal economic interactions.

Sobering California Population Data Released Recently: C.A.R. has long been advocating for more housing supply, arguing that a lack of affordability and persistent homeownership gaps could ultimately lead to problems with housing demand in California. And, while population growth has been slowing dramatically in recent years, 2020 was the first year in more than 100 years where the Census reports that California saw its population decline. Additional estimates from the Department of Finance show that outmigration accelerated this year and outmigration was larger than foreign immigration, so new births were the only net increases we experienced. This creates tremendous economic challenges moving forward and underscores the need for real housing supply solutions right now—particularly as increased flexibility and remote work become, at least partially, a permanent feature of the labor markets

10/25/2020

C.A.R. releases its 2021 California Housing Market Forecast

California housing market recovery hinges on widespread availability and usage of effective coronavirus vaccine in early 2021.

LOS ANGELES (Oct. 13) – Low mortgage interest rates and pent-up demand from a desire for homeownership will bolster California home sales in 2021, but economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic and continued supply shortage will limit sales growth, according to a housing and economic forecast released today by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

The baseline scenario of C.A.R.’s “2021 California Housing Market Forecast” sees a modest increase in existing single-family home sales of 3.3 percent next year to reach 392,510 units, up from the projected 2020 sales figure of 380,060. The 2020 figure is 4.5 percent lower compared with the pace of 397,960 homes sold in 2019.

The California median home price is forecast to edge up 1.3 percent to $648,760 in 2021, following a projected 8.1 percent increase to $640,330 in 2020 from $592,450 in 2019.

“An extremely favorable lending environment and a strong interest in homeownership will continue to motivate financially eligible buyers to enter the market,” said C.A.R. President Jeanne Radsick, a second-generation REALTOR® from Bakersfield, Calif. “While the economy is expected to improve and interest rates will stay near historical lows, housing supply constraints will continue to be an issue next year and may put a cap on sales growth in 2021.”

C.A.R.’s forecast projects growth in the U.S. gross domestic product of 4.2 percent in 2021, after a projected loss of 5.0 percent in 2020. With California’s 2021 nonfarm job growth rate at 0.5 percent, up from a projected loss of 12.7 percent in 2020, the state’s unemployment rate will dip to 9.0 percent in 2021 from 2020’s projected rate of 10.8 percent.

The average for 30-year, fixed mortgage interest rates will dip to 3.1 percent in 2021, down negligibly from 3.2 percent in 2020 and down from 3.9 percent in 2019, remaining low by historical standards.

“While home prices rose sharply in 2020, driven by strong sales of higher-priced properties and a limited inventory of homes for sale, the pace of price growth will be more moderate in the coming year,” said C.A.R. Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Leslie Appleton-Young. “The uncertainty about the pandemic, sluggish economic growth, a rise in foreclosures, and the volatility of the stock market are all unknown factors that could keep prices in check and prevent the statewide median price from rising too fast in the upcoming year.

10/16/2020

Hello my Friends, I hope you are staying safe in these uncertain times. Yes things have changed. Stay strong, be patient and keep the Faith. Our Lord will get us through these times.

Here is some current info from my California Association of Realtors:
California home sales and prices to grow slightly next year

Source: CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Low mortgage interest rates and pent-up demand from a desire for homeownership will bolster California home sales in 2021, but economic uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic and continued supply shortage will limit sales growth, according to a housing and economic forecast by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).

The baseline scenario of C.A.R.’s “2021 California Housing Market Forecast” sees a modest increase in existing single-family home sales of 3.3 percent next year to reach 392,510 units, up from the projected 2020 sales figure of 380,060. The 2020 figure is 4.5 percent lower compared with the pace of 397,960 homeriends,
The California median home price is forecast to edge up 1.3 percent to $648,760 in 2021, following a projected 8.1 percent increase to $640,330 in 2020 from $592,450 in 2019.

“An extremely favorable lending environment and a strong interest in homeownership will continue to motivate financially eligible buyers to enter the market,” said C.A.R. President Jeanne Radsick, a second-generation REALTOR® from Bakersfield, Calif. “While the economy is expected to improve and interest rates will stay near historical lows, housing supply constraints will continue to be an issue next year and may put a cap on sales growth in 2021.”

06/25/2020

GOOD CURRENT NEWS ON REAL ESTATE & LIFE.....

The Economy & Your Finances: Updates to PPP loan forgiveness

Last week, the Small Business Administration and the Department of the Treasury unveiled significant updates to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by releasing new application forms for loan forgiveness. Borrowers without employees can now attribute 100% of their loan proceeds as forgivable “owner compensation” if they elect for a 24-week covered period. The SBA also released a new EZ Forgiveness Application form that can be used by borrowers who are self-employed or have no employees as well as by many borrowers who have employees. For more information, see our FAQs on SBA Loans for Agents and SBA Loans for Brokers. C.A.R. Associate Counsel Brian Polinsky is presenting a webinar today from 2-3 pm that will explain how to complete a PPP loan forgiveness application. You can register for the webinar here. If you are not able to attend the webinar live, a recording of the webinar will be made available here.

American workers now receiving unemployment benefits under all programs now total 29.1 million. While that number has dipped slightly from previous weeks, it remains historically high, and concern remains that many jobs won’t return even as the economy reopens. The U.S. jobless rate for May was 13.3 percent, down 1.4 percentage points from April. Comparatively, California’s unemployment rate for May was 16.3 percent, down just 0.1 percentage point from April. This number is far higher than the high of 12.3 percent California hit during the Great Recession. Even though these numbers are high, progress has been made: Recent studies have shown the massive expansion in federal aid has kept nearly 12 million people from being pushed into poverty.

The extra $600 in weekly unemployment benefits is still set to run out at the end of July. The HEROES Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives on May 15, would extend this benefit through January 2021, but it remains to be seen whether the Senate will pass the bill or include that provision. Many have complained that the provision can allow some people to earn more on unemployment than they were while employed; Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia has said this is because the states run antiquated software that cannot crunch the numbers for individuals.

On Monday, Governor Newsom agreed to significantly downscale his proposed budget cuts; his initial budget proposal called for $14 billion in spending cuts. The new deal struck between Newsom and the Legislature protects funding for K-12 schools, which would have faced $8 billion in cuts under the initial proposal.

Sources: CNBC, The San Francisco Chronicle, Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Los Angeles Times, California Employment Development Department, USA Today, The New York Times, REALTOR® Magazine, Department of the Treasury

The Market & Industry: Fewer buyers and sellers withdrawing, fewer borrowers in forbearance

California REALTORS® have continued to see improvements in their businesses in recent weeks, with increases in listing appointments, homes being listed on the MLS, homes entering the escrow process and REALTORS® closing transactions. Last week marked the first week since the pandemic began that the percentage of REALTORS® who had a buyer withdraw an offer and the percentage of REALTORS® who had a seller delist a house both declined.

With significantly fewer homes than normal being added to the MLS, those homes that are available for sale have been selling quickly, particularly as buyer demand has begun to rise. Sellers have also been receiving close to asking price at 99.7 percent.

Last week, for the third straight week, the number of borrowers needing forbearance dropped. Still, the number of loans in forbearance represents over $1 trillion in unpaid principal, which could indicate a future wave of foreclosures. A recent Stanford University study provides fresh insights on the long-term financial impacts of foreclosures.

Meanwhile, with mortgage rates averaging a low 3.13 percent last week, mortgage applications have surged to an 11-year high. Mortgage application rates were 21 percent higher than they were one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. As mortgage applications have increased, so too have applications for home improvement loans.

The coronavirus pandemic has put into staunch relief the disproportionate and deleterious effects California’s housing crisis has had on Black Californians. This piece from CAL Matters examines what that looks like, from Black people over-represented among the homeless to only 33 percent of Black households owning the homes they live in, compared with more than 60 percent of white households.

Sources: C.A.R. Research & Economics, REALTOR® Magazine, Stanford University, CNBC, Inman News, CAL Matters

Around the State: All Californians must wear masks, hospitalizations hit all-time high

Last Thursday, Governor Gavin Newsom ordered all Californians to wear masks in public places, at work and outside if a six-foot distance from others cannot be maintained. This piece from the Los Angeles Times details conditions under which you must wear a mask as well as certain exemptions to the rule. A meta-analysis of over 100 different studies on how masks affect the transmission of diseases like COVID-19, MERS and SARS concluded that mask-wearing does significantly reduce the risk of viral transmission.

Still, disagreement remains over how to handle the issue of masks. Five Sheriff’s Departments in California have said they will not enforce Newsom’s order, and on Monday, protestors in Orange County interrupted a press conference calling on local county supervisors to enforce the mask order. One day prior, Orange County recorded its single-day record of new coronavirus cases to date.

In the past week, California has hit an all-time high of people hospitalized due to COVID-19. California also surpassed New Jersey and now has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, behind New York. As of yesterday at 10:11 p.m., cases numbered 191,416 and deaths had hit 5,627.

Sources: CAL Matters, Los Angeles Times, National Public Radio, KTLA, CBS Local

Health Check-Up: More young adults testing positive

More young adults in the Southwest and West are testing positive for COVID-19, likely attributable to more relaxed social distancing practices. In California, adults between ages 18 and 34 now make up 44 percent of all positive cases statewide. While young people tend to have milder outcomes, they can still infect others who may be at higher risk.

British researchers have found the steroid dexamethasone can increase the rate of survival in COVID-19 patients. When it comes to a vaccine, which could be ready for distribution as early as January, scientists including Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, anticipate a future vaccine won’t offer lifelong protection — its durability is likely to last less than a year.”

In a recent study, more than 60 percent of Americans reported feeling anxiety about the possibility of a loved one getting coronavirus. And as poverty, indebtedness and unemployment are associated with poor mental health, the United States could be approaching a widespread mental health crisis. Studies have shown that only 10 percent of victims of natural disasters like hurricanes or earthquakes go on to have lingering mental health issues, but living through a pandemic is very different: It’s slow and drawn out, a psychological marathon rather than a sprint

05/01/2020

No signs of “panic selling,” a new NAR survey shows.

05/01/2020

HERE IS A TIMELY ARTICLE IF YOU WANT TO BUY/SELL

You may be able to buy or sell a home during the coronavirus outbreak, but be prepared to navigate some new obstacles. Here's what to expect.

03/22/2020

HELLO MY FRIENDS. HERE IS SOME CURRENT INFORMATION ON THE BATTLE WITH THE SILENT ENEMY. PLEASE READ AND LET ME KNOW IF I CAN HELP.

A weekly digest to keep you up to speed on the California Coronavirus outbreak.
Welcome to the first issue of our new weekly newsletter covering California’s experience with COVID-19, the novel strand of coronavirus currently sweeping the globe. This is a special edition of the newsletter; all subsequent issues will be sent on Tuesday mornings.

To help you manage the impact of the coronavirus on your business, this Thursday C.A.R. will be releasing a microsite with FAQs, talking points and best practices. Stay tuned for more information.

Because there are many different scientific terms associated with this public health crisis, we are taking a moment in this first issue to make sure we are all on the same page with respect to terminology. Here is a brief glossary of terms we will be using:
• Pandemic: The worldwide spread of a disease that affects large numbers of people. Note that upgrading from an “epidemic” to a “pandemic” doesn’t necessarily mean the disease is more dangerous, just that it is no longer confined to one region. • Social Distancing: Measures taken to remain out of public spaces, avoid mass gatherings and maintain distance (approximately 6 feet) from others when possible. • Quarantine: Separation from others of a person reasonably believed to have been exposed to a communicable disease, but who is not yet exhibiting symptoms.
• Isolation: Separation from others of a person reasonably believed to have been infected with a communicable disease. • Incubation Period: The time it takes for symptoms to appear in an infected person. • Community Transmission: When a virus spreads from person to person outside healthcare settings, meaning people who do not believe they are infected could be passing on the virus to others. • Containment: Sets of actions (like isolation and quarantine) that public health officials use to stop the spread of a disease. • Mitigation: Sets of actions (like social distancing) that persons and communities can take to slow the spread of respiratory virus infections. Sources: The New York Times, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Society for Microbiology
In This Issue: • The Market: California housing market in flux • Around the State: Community transmission on the rise • Containment Efforts: Persons age 65+ to self-isolate, schools and businesses close • Health Check-Up: New travel guidelines and when to seek emergency medical attention
The Market: California housing market in flux

With the stock market experiencing its worst day since 1987 last Thursday and the Trump administration declaring a national emergency last Friday, the impact COVID-19 will have on the housing market is still unfolding. C.A.R. expects to revise its 2020 California housing forecast downward, despite the fact that low interest rates (the Fed slashed rates to near zero yesterday) are expected to help offset the effects of a slower economy.
Some signs point to this already starting to play out, with refinance and mortgage applications jumping 79 and 55.4 percent respectively two weeks ago after the average rate of a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to just 3.13 percent.

That said, the situation is still uncertain and changing rapidly right now. Joel Singer, CEO of C.A.R., notes that: "From a purely real estate perspective, the current situation will ultimately lower mortgage rates and should fuel demand once the crisis phase is behind us. More broadly, it is a logical reaction to this reality that the global economy will be slowing in historically unprecedented ways for some period of time."

Last week, a C.A.R. flash survey found that around half of California REALTORS® think the virus will have a negative impact on home sales. More than one in four said they had clients who put their home purchase or sale on hold due to the virus’ impact.

Many REALTORS® are wondering what to do about open houses, which by nature go against the tenets of social distancing. Some agents are reporting success with increased virtual showings, while others (about 25 percent of those surveyed by NAR this past week) are requiring buyers to use hand sanitizerbefore entering the home. Some sellers are asking to cancel open housesaltogether, not wanting potentially infected strangers to touch objects in their homes. If you are planning to continue holding open houses, there are basic safety precautions you can take, like regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (like doorknobs) and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.

Sources: Tech Crunch, The New York Times, CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, REALTOR® Magazine, Curbed, Realtor.com, Centers for Disease Prevention Control and Prevention


Around the State: Community transmission on the rise

As of this morning at 9:18 a.m., there were a total of 335 positive cases of and six deaths due to COVID-19 in the state of California. Of these cases, at least 82 acquired the disease from community transmission, meaning healthcare providers cannot identify
where they contracted the virus. Right now, community transmission is occurring in the following California counties: Yolo, Solano, Sacramento, San Francisco, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Riverside.

As of last Friday, California now has 18 public health laboratories with COVID-19 testing capabilities. Patients must be referred by a medical provider to be tested, and their provider must receive prior approval from the local public health department.

Currently California’s outbreak is the third largest in the United States, behind New York (732 cases) and Washington (643 cases). It should be noted that many scientists are saying the actual number of coronavirus cases in California and country-wide could be much higher than what’s currently being reported.

Governor Newsom issued an executive order last Thursday that, among other things, extended the tax-filing deadline for California state taxes by 60 days; individual filers may now file and pay by June 15. The order also grants the state the right to commandeer hotels to use for the quarantine and treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Sources: The New York Times, California Department of Public Health, Los Angeles Times, Office of the Governor of California, Sacramento Bee


Containment Efforts: Persons age 65+ to self-isolate, schools and businesses close

Yesterday, Governor Newsom asked Californians over the age of 65 to isolatethemselves from others and told neighborhood bars and pubs to close. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued new guidancesaying gatherings of over 50 people should not take place over the next eight weeks.

On Thursday, San Francisco public schools shut down for three weeks; on Friday, the Los Angeles United School District closed for two. San Diego Unified, Fresno Unified and Sacramento City Unified also added to the growing list of school closures, all
in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. If you’ve found yourself suddenly with children at home who would usually be at school, there are several resources available to help. The CDC also has a helpful guide for how to talk to your children about the disease.

Also, the NBA and NHL suspended their seasons, Disneyland and Disney World both shut down for two weeks, and many businesses — including Amazon and Google — are encouraging or requiring their employees to work from home. Even AMC Theatres are reducing seating capacity.

These measures are all tools for “social distancing”: a practice recommended by public health officials to slow the spread of contagious diseases. Anticipating that these social distancing measures will have widespread economic consequences, the House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan legislation package (the Families First Coronavirus Response Act) that includes provisions for paid medical leave, free COVID19 testing and temporary expanded federal funding for Medicaid. The Senate is slated to vote on the bill tonight.

Sources: Sacramento Bee, KCBS Radio, Los Angeles Times, San Diego Tribune, ABC 30, KCRA News, Vox, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The New York Times, ESPN, CNN


Health Check-Up: New travel guidelines and when to seek emergency medical attention

Now that the World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared coronavirus a pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has updated its travel notices. All older adults and persons with serious chronic medical conditions are now encouraged to postpone all nonessential travel, even if traveling domestically. On Friday, President Trump banned travel from Europe to the United States (and extended the ban to the U.K. and Ireland on Saturday). U.S. citizens are allowed to come home and are being screened upon entry, which is causing significant traffic jams at many U.S. airports.

Kaiser Permanente hospitals in San Francisco and Northern California have begun drive
thru tents for coronavirus testing. Patients who meet the CDC criteria for a test will receive a doctor’s order and an appointment to arrive for testing at one of the testing sites.

Also, while you most likely already know to watch out for fever, cough and shortness of breath as symptoms of COVID-19, take note of these emergency warning signs that indicate you need to seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, persistent pain in the chest, new confusion, bluish lips or face.

If you feel sick and think you may have COVID-19, but you aren’t experiencing any of the extreme warning signs, you should call your medical practitioner before visiting an urgent care center, doctor’s office or emergency room.