Mustard Festival

The best thing about wild mustard is its yellow sheen glowing like sunshine just when winter seems it will never end. The best thing about the Napa Valley Mustard Festival is that it treats the winter-weary to not only the pungent plant but also its close compatriots, wine, olives and other local savories. The grand opener, Mustard Magic, is a sumptuous, costumed fantasy affair in the castle-like former Christian Brothers winery. But if you can't make that, two months of tastings, culinary competitions, exhibitions and dances are still to come, winding up as usual with the Marketplace, March 13-14.  Information from the SF Chronicle. www.mustardfestival.org

2009 Statistics

I’m excited to announce that I was ranked the #1 Realtor of all Napa County Realtor’s for closed transactions in Napa County in 2009. I’m very fortunate to have friends, family and clients who continually refer prospective buyers and sellers to me. I want to again thank you all of you for your contribution to my success in 2009. I couldn’t have done it without you.

House Flipping Restriction Waived - Great News for FHA Buyers

To help provide for sales of foreclosed homes, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on January 15, 2010 a one-year waiver of a resale restriction under rules applicable to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured loans. The waiver becomes effective on February 1, 2010.

Under an FHA rule designed to prevent the use of FHA insured mortgages to support property flipping, in general no FHA loan may be used to finance the purchase of a home from a seller who acquired the home within the prior 90 days. There are various exceptions to this restriction, including exceptions for HUD or other government agency real estate owned, and for property owned by a state or federally chartered financial institution. There is no general, permanent exception for the sale of a foreclosed home. However, a temporary exception to the restriction exists for sales agreements entered into by May 10, 2010 with respect to real estate acquired by FHA mortgagees.

Dining Pick of the month! 

Click here to see where I have been eating this month. Delightful Portuguese cuisine, and yes they do have cuisine.

Helpful Information 

Click here for National Association of Realtors FAQ regarding Homeowner Tax Credit changes.

Links

Help for America's Homeowners

Napa Valley Arts and Culture Event Calendar

Fringe Benefit from all of the Recent Rain

Water fall on Dry Creek Road in Napa.

Regards,

Joe Brasil, Realtor

GRI, SRES, e-PRO

Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley

mobile 707.319.1887    fax 707.265.0587

www.OwnNapa.com    DRE #01470511