Marin Real Estate Pulse

“Understanding Credit Scores”

The only authorized online source for a free credit report is www.annualcreditreport.com under federal law, you can get a free report from each of the three national credit reporting companies every 12 months. While the credit report is free they charge a nominal fee (usually $5 to $10) to get the credit score number. Without the number all you see is open and closed accounts, balances, and limits. This is all good information to know.

This link takes you to a government web site that has tips on how to improve your credit score. http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/creditscore/

It is important to know that just having your credit checked multiple times can hurt your credit score. This often occurs when using multiple brokers or banks for home or auto loans. This is not the case when you access your own report via the source cited above.

Today’s tip on Marin housing:

For single family homes $500,000 and under it is a sellers’ market in Marin. As of May 5^th, 2009 62% of those home listed in BARIES Marin MLS are in escrow.

If you hear of anyone interested in homes please remember my tagline.

“Homes you love. Advice you trust.”

Regards,

Warren Carreiro, Broker

www.RealtyOfMarin.com

warren@realtyofmarin.com

Frank Howard Allen Realtors

San Rafael, CA

415-846-7286

The Wall Street Journal reported on new housing market trust that will be publicly traded soon. One trust bets on house prices going up and the other on downward prices. This is one way to get into the housing market without actually purchasing a home, and of course you will not own any real estate, just a stock.

This is one way for the Bulls or Bears to put their money where their mouth is. And, while it might be use for that purpose it seems more likely that banks or pension funds with large exposure to the housing market might use this as a way to hedge excess exposure to the housing market.

For details of the article follow this link.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124148254611085425.html

Warren Carreiro, Broker