Whittier CA Real Estate - Whittier Homes and Community News

How Things Have Changed in the Past 3 and a Half Years

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:00:41 -0500

I just came across an old spreadsheet that I had created on October 7, 2008 that compared interest rates and payments for a typical home in Whittier.

The average interest rate at the time was 6.5%.

The average Whittier home price was $470,000.

FHA loans allowed borrowers to have a down payment of only 3% of the purchase price.

Today, the nationwide interest rate for a home loan is 3.88%, according to bankrate.com.

Today, the average Whittier home price is $295,000 (based upon last 3 months of sales).

Today, FHA loans allow borrowers to have a down payment as low as 3.5% of the purchase price.

Using bankrate.com's mortgage calculator, the monthly payment on a $470,000 home loan at 6.5% is $2,970.72.

Using the same bankrate.com calculator, a comparable home loan today of $295,000 at 3.88% interest has a monthly payment of $1,388.04.

Do you think homes are much more affordable today than they were only 3 years ago?

Ten things to remove before listing...

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:51:19 -0500

The article below by Lindsey Hasford is great advice for any home seller. If you have wondered what you need to do to prepare for putting your home on the market, here are "Ten things to remove before listing".

It's important to declutter, clean and remove.

Via Lindsey Hasford (Coldwell Banker Vision):

Everyone has heard rumors of de-cluttering when it's time to sell your home. But, what does that really mean? Before going hog wild and moving out... here's a few of the most important things to consider removing before you list your home for sale.

10. Personal photos. I don't always recommend removing photos of the 'family' but if you have hallways filled with photos or photos on every end table it is probably necessary. Buyers really DO get distracted by them. They will take them all in as they walk down the hall. Not only do they take away from the home, but it's really disturbing when a buyer is excited to 'know' the sellers. And, the buyers do look at them.

9. Bills and personal papers. I understand that you cannot remove these document from the home all together, but please take the time to organize them, box them up and put them out of sight. If you have bills laying out on the counter or kitchen table it's like an invitation for the buyers to 'peek' at them. Believe me - I discourage it - but it still happens. And as a seller you just don't want to leave the temptation behind.

8. Money. I would love to say that every buyer (and Realtor) going through every home is honest, but I really don't want to test those waters. If you have cash, cash boxes or coin jars sitting out in the open... put them away. It's just better for everyone if it's out of sight. As Realtors we do what we can to protect your home, but your help makes a difference!

7. Valuables. Jewelry, watches, valuable antiques.... anything that might be worth a bit of money that you wouldn't want to lose. Out of sight, out of mind. If buyers don't know they are there they won't think about it. I can't tell you how many homes I've been in where the jewelry is left on the dresser.... somehow it's uncomfortable. At least put it away.

6. Guns and ammo. I don't care if they are in a case or out laying around or under a bed. It's better if you just plain old remove them from the home prior to listing. For some reason they make buyers (in my experience) feel really insecure.

5. Shoes! If you have a pile of shoes at the door... ask yourself why. A pile of shoes gives a buyer two impressions. The first? That there isn't enough storage in your home. 2. That there are too many people living in the home. So, in order to avoid wondering on the part of the buyer... just put them away.

4. Medicine. Take it out. Don't store it on the counter. Don't store it in the cabinet. Don't store it in the bathroom. Remove it. There have been many complaints over the years of potential buyers 'stealing' the medicine out of the cabinets. I have never had it happen on my time clock, but to avoid any trouble it's best to simply remove it.

3. All things on your kitchen counter. Everything? Really? Yup. The cleaner you can leave the counter, the more buyers dream of being in there. Have you ever been in a cluttered kitchen? Does it feel inviting? How about a cleaned up kitchen? Does it make you wanna spend time there? Also, if you store things on the counter it gives the appearance that you do not have enough storage space.

2. No more junk drawers. Seriously. Clean 'em out. There is nothing more tacky than a potential buyer opening the cupboards and drawers and having things sticking out everywhere. Box up all the notes, pens, tacks, and odds and ends and put them away. Chances are you don't dig in the drawer often anyways.

1. Nothing but magnets.... and maybe not even that. Take a photo of your fridge, take everything off, wash the front (and side), and take another photo. It is really refreshing to walk into a home that has a clean fridge. The kids pictures are beautiful (believe me... my fridge is covered in them) but buyer's can't imagine their own children's drawing on there if it is covered with yours. And, the magnets... If they aren't decorative (and even then) they are generally more of a distraction to the room than a help. Consider it.

There are many more ways to declutter a home for sale... but these are some important things to consider. For more information on selling your home in Minnesota... give me a call.

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                 In the meantime... if you are looking to move into the area... I'll wait for you to call!

Selling Real Estate in Minnesota!

If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you. And, please feel free to share my name with anyone that you know who needs assistance buying or selling a home ~ I love referrals!

                                                   Lindsey Hasford, REALTOR
                                                        Coldwell Banker Vision
                                             231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330
                                          763-241-5488 (office) 763-218-1347 (cell)
                                         lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com
                                                  http://www.hasfordhomes.com

Market Report on Homes for Sale in Whittier, CA – January 2, 2012

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:24:19 -0500

Market Report on Homes for Sale in Whittier, CA – January 2, 2012

This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences
in Whittier, California. It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.

As of today, there are exactly 431 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 374 of them
are Single Family Residences.

113 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of December.
Over the past three months, 310 homes were sold in Whittier.

The average Whittier home sale price in December was
$322,972, at an average cost per square foot of $226.01.

265 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.

Homes are taking an average of 93 days to sell in this market.

It would take 3.3 months, at the current rate of sales, for all the current Whittier homes
on the market to sell. Technically a Sellers’ Market is when there is less than 5 months
of supply. At 3.3 months absorption rate, Whittier is clearly in a Sellers’ Market. Despite these technical statistics, homes that are not in top condition or priced to sell, simply will not sell, and will sit on the market for months.

According to Realtors® Property Resource, median home values declined in 2011 for all Whittier zip codes from December 2010 to December 2011.

It is clear that we are in a declining real estate market. So, if you are thinking of selling for top dollar, the sooner you sell, the better.

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Thank you for reading the above Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Helpful Information for Whittier Home Sellers:

Home Buyers: Search for Whittier Homes Like an Agent

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

Real Estate Forecast for 2012

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:16:36 -0500

It is clear that we are in a declining real estate market. In an interview on On The Edge (discussion starts at 19:40 in the interview), Karl Denninger of Market-ticker.org has predicted that housing prices may fall another 50% or more over the next 2-3 years. “My expectation is that over time, the deflation in housing prices and the deflation in that sector, along with most other sectors, is going to continue. I don’t think that there is any bottom anywhere in sight in the United States. The foreclosure mess is still there. The holding of assets with unrealistic values is still there; and until we see that start to clear out, we’re not going to be able to find out where a bottom actually is. But it would not surprise me, over the next 2 or 3 years, to see another 50% come off house prices in the United States alone.” When asked to clarify if he meant another 50% move down in real estate, Denninger said, “Entirely possible, and possibly more…”

How would a 50% decline in home prices affect an average home in Whittier? According to Realtors® Property Resource, the average home value in Whittier’s zip code 90603 is currently $363,000. If values decline 50% in three years, such an average home would then be worth only $181,500. So, if you are thinking of selling for top dollar, the sooner you sell, the better.

A further decline of 50% in home prices would be disastrous for the economy. Counties and municipalities would have their property tax revenues slashed, which means they would further have to cut jobs. Some may even declare bankruptcy. More businesses would falter and close, leading to more unemployment.

Denninger is not the only one who predicts falling home prices. Over the last year, every zip code in Whittier has seen a decline in home values.

Zip Code	Median Price Chg
90601	-7.8%
90602	-11.0%
90603	-8.5%
90604	-8.5%
90605	-10.1%
90606	-9.7%

It is clear that housing prices need to be in line with what the average wage earner can afford. In the 1950s and 1960s, it only took one wage earner to support a family, and that included the ability to make the payments on a home loan. Today, due to declining wages, it typically takes 2 wage earners to support a family; and often there is not enough money to pay for a mortgage. The only way real estate prices can go up is if wages and salaries increase across the board. Today’s unemployment statistics show that, as more competition for jobs increases, wages are driven lower and lower. CNBC's Diana Olick talks about the high levels of homes that are underwater, including California, which has over 2 million.

I don’t know what will happen in the future. I do believe prices will decline further; I just don’t know how far they will decline. The status of the world economy is far too complex to discuss here; and perhaps far too complex for anyone to really know.

What would such a fall mean for someone who wants to buy a home right now? It depends on the reasons for buying. It may still make sense, if it would cost more to rent a home than to buy one; and if you plan to live in the home for the next 10 years or longer.

I have given a lot of thought as to how it would affect my business, and come to the conclusion that no matter what happens, people always need to buy or sell homes; and it is my job to help them during those transactions. I cannot decide for them whether to buy or sell, but I can help them once they make a decision.

Market Report on Homes for Sale in Whittier, CA – December 2, 2011

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:58:09 -0500

This Market Report is for Whittier, California.

This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences
in Whittier, California. It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.

As of today, there are exactly 500 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 433 of them
are Single Family Residences.

92 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of November.
Over the past three months, 302 homes were sold in Whittier.

The average Whittier home sale price in November was
$336,379, at an average cost per square foot of $225.00.

275 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.

Homes are taking an average of 98 days to sell in this market.

It would take 4.7 months, at the current rate of sales, for all the current Whittier homes
on the market to sell.Technically a Sellers’ Market is when there is less than 5 months
of supply.Currently, Sellers have the edge, although Whittier real estate market has been
in a neutral market for the past year.

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Thank you for reading the above Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Helpful Information for Whittier Home Sellers:

Home Buyers: Search for Whittier Homes Like an Agent

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

2011 December Blogging Challenge – Day 2: Video Home Tour of 2 Bargains in Michigan Park, Whittier

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:38:42 -0500

Today I edited and uploaded a video tour of two Whittier homes for sale that are great bargains.

None of these Whittier homes is a Foreclosure, Short Sale, Bank Owned Home, REO, HUD Sale or Auction. They are standard sales of great properties. What makes them the buys of the week? Check out the video to see.

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Thank you for reading the above Video Home Tour of 2 Bargains in Whittier's Michigan Park. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Helpful Information for Whittier Home Sellers:

Whittier Home Searches by Price Range:

· Whittier Single Family Homes $200,000 - $299,999

· Whittier Single Family Homes $300,000 - $399,999

· Whittier Single Family Homes $400,000 - $499,999

· Whittier Single Family Homes $500,000 and up

Whittier Neighborhood Home Searches:

· Whittier Spy Glass Homes for Sale

· Whittier West Hills Homes for Sale

· South Whittier Homes for Sale

· East Whittier Homes for Sale

· Whittier Friendly Hills Homes for Sale

· Whittier Michigan Park Homes for Sale

· Whittier Mar Vista Heights Homes for Sale

· Whittier Palm Park Homes for Sale

· Whittier Uptown Homes for Sale

· Whittier Whittwood Homes for Sale

Helpful Information:

· Free HomeFinder Service Helps Whittier Homebuyers Buy Lovely Homes From $250,000 To $450,000 For a Low Down Payment

· Find Out How Much Your Whittier Home is Worth

More Useful Information:

· Free List of Bank Owned Properties in Greater Whittier

· Whittwood Home Sales - Free Report on Whittwood House Prices

· Friendly Hills Neighborhood

· Whittier Palm Park Home Sales - Free Report on Palm Park House Prices

· Whittier Palm Park Neighborhood

· Whittier Welcomes You

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

Michigan Park Whittier Open House on Saturday and Sunday, December 3 & 4, 2011

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:46:06 -0500

Standard Sale on a Wonderful Home in Whittier’s Michigan Park. A Rare Find in the Highly Sought-After Michigan Park Neighborhood

Open House

Address: 8035 Euclid Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605

Dates: Saturday, December 3, 2011 and Sunday, December 4, 2011

Time: 1 – 4 p.m.

4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms. 1595 Square Feet Year Built: 1951 $425,000

This lovely Whittier home is located in the Michigan Park neighborhood of Whittier. Built in 1951, this home shows “Pride of Ownership”.

Well-suited for all weather: This lovely Whittier home has central air conditioning for the summer and a warm fireplace for the winter.

Address: 8035 Euclid Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605

Directions: From Mar Vista, go south on Euclid. Home is south of La Cuarta.

8035 Euclid Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605

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Thank you for reading the blog post about 8035 Euclid Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Whittier Home Searches by Price Range:

Whittier Neighborhood Home Searches:

Helpful Information:

More Useful Information:

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

Toys for Tots in Whittier California 2011 – The Marines Are Looking for a Few Good Toys

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:58:37 -0500

Prudential California Realty is the Whittier home for collecting Toys for Tots by the U.S. Marines Corps. Every year, the U.S. Marines come by our office to pick up toys as part of their Toys for Tots program.

The Marines will be picking up all of the toys on Wednesday, December 15, 2011 at Noon at the Prudential California Realty office at 16218 East Whittier Blvd., Whittier, CA 90603. Click here for a map and directions.

We will have a large box at the office, just waiting for your Toys for Tots. The Marines are looking for a few, good, unwrapped gifts for boys or girls.

Please make sure to bring your toy to our office before December 15. If you can’t make it to the office, just give me a call, and I will drive to your house to pick up your toy donations.

Market Report on Homes for Sale in Whittier, CA – October 3, 2011

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:50:02 -0400

This Market Report is for Whittier, California.

This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences in Whittier, California. It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.

As of today, there are 543 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 474 of them are Single Family Residences.

103 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of September. Over the past three months, 300 homes were sold in Whittier.

The average Whittier home sale price in September was $339,631, at an average cost per square foot of $225.07.

289 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.

Homes are taking an average of 97 days to sell in this market.

It would take 4.6 months, at the current rate of sales, for all the current Whittier homes on the market to sell. Technically a Sellers’ Market is when there is less than 5 months of supply. Currently, Sellers have the edge, although Whittier real estate market has been in a neutral market for the past year.

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Thank you for reading the above Market Report of Home Sales for Whittier, California. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Whittier Home Searches by Price Range:

· Whittier Single Family Homes $200,000 - $299,999

· Whittier Single Family Homes $300,000 - $399,999

· Whittier Single Family Homes $400,000 - $499,999

· Whittier Single Family Homes $500,000 and up

Whittier Neighborhood Home Searches:

· Whittier Spy Glass Homes for Sale

· Whittier West Hills Homes for Sale

· South Whittier Homes for Sale

· East Whittier Homes for Sale

· Whittier Friendly Hills Homes for Sale

· Whittier Michigan Park Homes for Sale

· Whittier Mar Vista Heights Homes for Sale

· Whittier Palm Park Homes for Sale

· Whittier Uptown Homes for Sale

· Whittier Whittwood Homes for Sale

Helpful Information:

· Free HomeFinder Service Helps Whittier Homebuyers Buy Lovely Homes From $250,000 To $450,000 For a Low Down Payment

· Find Out How Much Your Whittier Home is Worth

More Useful Information:

· Free List of Bank Owned Properties in Greater Whittier

· Whittwood Home Sales - Free Report on Whittwood House Prices

· Friendly Hills Neighborhood

· Whittier Palm Park Home Sales - Free Report on Palm Park House Prices

· Whittier Palm Park Neighborhood

· Whittier Welcomes You

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

Bring Your Home Into Full Alignment to Get it Sold

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:15:05 -0400

Have you thought about what it takes to get a home sold?

Well, it's not just one thing, but a combination of several different aspects of home selling that must come into alignment that will cause your home to sell.

Enjoy the video.

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Thank you for reading the above article asking Bring Your HOme Into Full Alignment to Get it Sold. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Helpful Information for Whittier Home Sellers:

Home Buyers: Search for Whittier Homes Like an Agent

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

How My Focus Sells Your Whittier Home

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:31:18 -0400

Here is my marketing strategy for selling a home: I focus on the two most important places home buyers look when they find the home they are going to buy: other Realtors® and the Internet.

The National Association of Realtors® annual survey in 2010 showed that buyers find the home they buy mainly from real estate agents and the Internet.

One of the first promotions I will make to sell your home is to the other Realtors® in my office. Since there are over 100 Whittier Realtors® in the Whittier office, there is a good chance that one of them is working with a buyer already who is looking for a home like yours. Prudential California Realty, the Mulhearn Group, also has over 20 other offices, with each one of them full of agents with buyers.

My next marketing target group is the Whittier Realtors® from other local brokerages. I hold an open house, just for other Realtors® in the area, in order to show off your property to them. I also personally know many of the other Whittier Realtors®, and am able to promote Whittier homes for sale directly to them.

My second important focus for marketing your property is on the Internet.

You may already be aware of the vast exposure my marketing provides on the Internet. It starts right here on Active Rain.

Blog Posts about your property for sale results in #1 page on Google.

Craigslist ads featuring your property are posted and updated regularly.

I feature the home on Listingbook, where it can be seen by thousands of Southern California home buyers.

Other Websites:

And, of course, you get the benefit of being with THE ROCK, Prudential California Realty:

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Thank you for reading the above article asking How My Focus Sells Your Home. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great Realtor® in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Helpful Information for Whittier Home Sellers:

Home Buyers: Search for Whittier Homes Like an Agent

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

Whittier Open House on Saturday, August 20, 2011

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:29:33 -0400

Standard Sale of a Wonderful Home located between Whittier’s Michigan Park and Friendly Hills neighborhoods. A Rare Find in the Highly Sought-After Whittier Neighborhood.

Open House

Address: 8439 Catalina Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605

Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011

Time: 1 – 4 p.m.

3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms. 1,583 Square Feet Year Built: 1951 $519,000

If you are someone who would love to live in the Michigan Park or Friendly Hills neighborhoods, now is your chance to buy a wonderful home on the border of these wonderful Whittier locations.

This lovely Whittier home for sale is a turnkey home, that has just undergone a complete remodeling.

Well-suited for all weather, this beautiful Whittier home has central air conditioning for the summer and a warm fireplace for the winter.

The back yard is wonderful for entertaining, and a great place for kids to play in the back yard or swim in the pool.

If you have been hoping for a home in Michigan Park or Friendly Hills, then this could be your Whittier dream home.

Address: 8439 Catalina Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605

Directions: From Mar Vista, go south on Catalina. Home is south of La Cuarta.

From Whittier Blvd., go north on Catalina.

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Thank you for reading the above article about this wonderful East Whittier Home for Sale. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Whittier Home Searches by Price Range:

Whittier Neighborhood Home Searches:

Helpful Information:

More Useful Information:

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

ForSaleBYOwner.com Founder Sells Home- Using a Broker

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 15:58:28 -0400

Just like most For Sale By Owner home sellers, the CEO of forsalebyowner.com tried to sell his home himself until he finally gave up and turned it over to a professional real estate broker.

Via J. Philip Faranda (J. Philip R.E. LLC) Westchester County NY:

The Wall Street Journal has reported that ForSaleBYOwner.com founder Colby Sambrotto has sold his Manhattan condo with a broker after failing for 6 months as a For Sale by Owner.

Here's the best part: The broker got him $150,000 more than he was asking when he was selling on his own. So much for saving on commission- he netted more even after the commission!

The story is that Sambrotto went for 6 months selling "By owner" on the Internet, online ads, and the rest of the FSBO gig at an asking price of $2 million for his Chelsea condominium. He then gave up (as 90% of FSBOs will) and listed with Jesse Buckler of Bond New York, who took the unusual strategy of advising Sambrotto to raise his price by $150,000. Clearly, this is a move that only works if you know your market. The home is now closed for $2.15 million after going under contract in May.

Some have said that the brokers control the market in Manhattan so much that buyers seldom look online, and that is why FSBO failed and the broker succeeded.

Bull.

Manhattan buyers are as savvy as they get, and sites like StreetEasy, Trulia and ResidentialNYC get huge traffic for Manhattan. The truth is that a good broker knows how to sell real estate better, faster, for more money and with fewer headaches than a website developer.

It all goes to the old story about the plumber who is called in to fix a furnace and after tapping a few times on a specific pipe and getting the thing humming again, mails the owner a bill for $1000. Aghast, the owner objects, saying that he only tapped a pipe. He then got an itemized bill, $1 for tapping the pipe, $999 for knowing what pipe to tap. We are paid for what we know- not just what we do.

If you want a do it yourself project, build a go cart. For the largest transaction of your life, hire a good professional broker.

Subscribe to J. Philip's Real Estate Blog by Email

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We Are Westchester County & Metro New York Real Estate. Reach Phil at (914) 723-8900.

J. Philip Faranda, Broker-owner, J. Philip Real Estate, LLC. Vice President, Empire Access Multiple Listing Service.

I am one of New York's premier short sale REALTORS, serving Westchester, the Hudson Valley & Metropolitan New York.

Free MLS Search! Register for a Free Listingbook account and search the MLS like an agent.

I am hiring agents. We offer outstanding support, marketing resources, and pasta.

All content/images, unless noted, are the property of J. Philip Faranda & may not be used without permission

Market Report on Homes for Sale in Whittier, CA – August 2, 2011

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:55:31 -0400

This Market Report is for Whittier, California.

This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences in Whittier, California. It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.

As of today, there are 502 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 441 of them are Single Family Residences.

96 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of July. Over the past three months, 320 homes were sold in Whittier.

The average Whittier home sale price in July was $355,377, at an average cost per square foot of $223.65.

302 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.

Homes are taking an average of 76 days to sell in this market.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading the above Market Report of Home Sales for Whittier, California. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Whittier Home Searches by Price Range:

Whittier Neighborhood Home Searches:

Helpful Information:

More Useful Information:

I help people sell and buy homes in Whittier, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Covina and West Covina.

10 Reasons Real Estate Buyers Want to Low Ball, Steal the House, and Stick It to the Seller

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:54:09 -0400

Janet Guilbault provides some common sense in her post about making low ball offers, and why it might not be such a good idea. In a Southern California market where homes are selling at or near 100% of list price, it makes no sense to try to lowball an offer on an already discounted price.

Via Janet Guilbault California Mortgage Banker ( RPM Mortgage):

What is the biggest misconception in the mind of the guy about to make an offer on a house?

This seller must be absolutely desperate to sell this house.

I will ignore the asking price, because all houses are priced with plenty of negotiating room.

Sellers expect low ball offers in this market.

Any seller would be lucky to have me buy their house.

It can't be a good buy unless I am able to steal the house.

If this offer doesn't go through, I'll just keep on low balling until I get another house.

I am a brilliant negotiator.

If the seller won't take this offer, I will walk away for a few weeks and let them stew until they do.

No one else would want this house, anyway.

No one pays full price in this market unless they are stupid.

The sorry state of our economy and the desperation of the retail world have combined to brainwash our clients about buying real estate. Somewhere along the way, "stealing the house" and "winning the negotiations" became more important than landing the best house in the best location at a price you can afford.

Extreme bargain hunting has become a national addiction, and it is spilling over into the real estate industry.

When EVERYTHING we buy from automobiles to clothes is marked down 50% or more, has a coupon attached for a further discount, and comes along with freebies on the side, is it any wonder buyers of real estate have developed an attitude of EXTREME superiority, believing sellers are mere beggars?

Can you see how they have been conditioned to believe that as a buyer, they can call all the shots, no matter how ridiculous?

Many think those beggar sellers must be thinking this:. "Please, buy my house. I am desperate, you know, and expecting your ridiculous offer".

And you know what they say, beggars can't be choosers. And so the stuggle to convince buyers that a house, ANY house, is priced "right" continues.

Here's a news flash: beggars may not be able to be choosers, but losers can sure be snoozers.

Buyers should ask themselves this: Am I willing to risk losing the house I love because I am addicted to scoring an extreme bargain?

Isn't getting the BEST HOUSE in your LOCATION OF CHOICE at a hugely deflated price enough of a high?

Or has extreme bargain shopping become like a drug addiction? You will sacrifice your long term well-being and logical thinking for that 10 minute high of feeling ever so smart because you "stole" the house?

Before you smile just thinking about how to make the seller squirm, remember this:

There is just that one piece of real estate in the whole world. That is what makes a house different from buying a car or a sweater.

Remember these things too: You cannot return it. You can sell it, but the cost of doing so will probably be far more than any savings from your extreme bargain.

Then get your priorities straight. It is about getting the house. Not getting the extreme bargain you can brag about at your next party. That feeling of superiority will last what? For a few days?

Getting the right house can give you a lifetime of pleasure and satisfaction. Even if you pay full price, you will look back and be amazed at the EXTREME BARGAIN these economic times served you up on a silver platter.

Want to know another secret? Sellers are not nearly as desperate as you think.

Written by Janet Guilbault, Mortgage Lending Expert Based Out of the San Francisco Bay Area

Market Report on Homes for Sale in Whittier, CA – July 3, 2011

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:08:38 -0400

This Market Report is for Whittier, California.

This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences in Whittier, California. It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.

As of today, there are 544 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 459 of them are Single Family Residences.

108 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of June. Over the past three months, 311 homes were sold in Whittier.

The average Whittier home sale price in June was $346,523, at an average cost per square foot of $234.11.

299 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.

Homes are taking an average of 94 days to sell in this market.

It would take 4.3 months, at the current rate of sales, for all the current Whittier homes on the market to sell. Technically a Sellers' Market is when there is less than 5 months of supply. Currently, Sellers have the edge, although Whittier real estate market has been in a neutral market for the past year.

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It Just SEEMS Like Every Home For Sale is a Short Sale

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:42:38 -0400

I had been hearing some people say that it seems like all the properties for sale these days are Short Sales. So, I checked to see how many homes sold during the last 4 months, and what type of transactions they were.

Here is the breakdown of the 330 homes that sold in Whittier from April 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011:

Flip	4	1.21%
In Foreclosure Process	1	0.30%
NOD	5	1.52%
HUD Owned	3	0.91%
Probate	6	1.82%
REO	87	26.36%
Short Sale	70	21.21%
Standard	154	46.67%
	330	100.00%

Standard sales were the largest of any sale type, with nearly 47 percent of all sales.

However, REO and Short Sales combined to make up the distressed property category at almost 48%.

Get Your Free Report on Whittier Home Prices

East Whittier Open House on Saturday, June 4, 2011

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:50:41 -0400

Standard Sale of a Wonderful Home in East Whittier.

Open House

Address: 11527 Groveside Avenue, Whittier, CA 90604
Date: Saturday, June 4, 2011
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.

3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms. 1,878 Square Feet Year Built: 1960 $439,500

This lovely Whittier home for sale is a turnkey home. It has been completely remodeled, with gorgeous new hardwood flooring in the living room and family room, beautiful tile flooring in the dining room, kitchen and bathrooms, and quality carpet in the bedrooms.

You will love the fully updated master bathroom and hall bathroom.

The brand new kitchen has beautiful granite counter tops over quality wood cabinets.

This beautiful Whittier home has central air conditioning for the summer and a warm fireplace for the winter.

If you have been hoping for a home in East Whittier, then this could be your Whittier dream home.

Address: 11527 Groveside Avenue, Whittier, CA 90604

Directions:

From Whittier Blvd., go south on First Avenue. Turn right on Richvale, then left on Groveside. Home is on the right.
From Imperial Highway, go north on First Avenue. Turn left on Richvale, then left on Groveside. Home is on the right.

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Day 29 of 365 Things to do in Whittier CA: Summer Concerts in the Park

Mon, 30 May 2011 13:02:00 -0400

Every year, Whittier holds free concerts during summer evenings at Central Park and at Parnell Park. Each event starts at 7 p.m. The City of Whittier has announced the schedule for 2011 Whittier Summer Concerts in the Park.

Mondays at Central Park

July 11: Proud Mary, a Tina Turner Tribute
July 18: Born Blue, Blues Music
July25: Gregory Wolfe, a Rod Stewart Tribute
August 1: The Trip, Classic Rock
August 15: Upstream, Reggae Music

Thursdays at Parnell Park

July 14: Stone Soul, Motown Music
July 21: Funk-O-Matics, Disco
July 28: I See Hawks in L.A., Country Music
August 4: Abbey Road, Beatles Tribute
August 11: The Deloreans, 80s Music
August 18: Chico, Variety/Salsa

Contact the City of Whittier for more information at (562) 567-9430.

365 Things to do in Whittier, California

Michigan Park Whittier Open House on Saturday April 23 2011

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:48:54 -0400

Open House

Address: 8458 Ocean View Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605
Date: Saturday, April 23, 2010
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.

Standard Sale of a Wonderful Home in Whittier's Michigan Park. A Rare Find in the Highly Sought-After Michigan Park Neighborhood

4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms. 2,400 Square Feet Year Built: 1951 $599,000

If you are someone who would love to live in the Michigan Park neighborhood, now is your chance to buy a wonderful home in the area. People dream of living in Michigan Park, but the problem is that people who live there just don't want to move.

This lovely Whittier home for sale is a turnkey home, and shows "Pride of Ownership".

Well-suited for all weather, this beautiful Whittier home has central air conditioning for the summer and a warm fireplace for the winter.

The back yard is wonderful for entertaining, or a great place for kids to play on the jungle gym or swim in the pool.

If you have been hoping for a home in Michigan Park, then this could be your Whittier dream home.

Address: 8458 Ocean View Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605
Directions: From Mar Vista, go south on Ocean View. Home is south of La Cuarta.
From Whittier Blvd., go north on Ocean View.

This home is located across the street from prestigious Ocean View Elementary School.

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Market Report on Homes for Sale in Whittier, CA – April 21, 2011

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:56:47 -0400

This Market Report is for Whittier, California.

This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences in Whittier, California. It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.

As of today, there are 544 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 492 of them are Single Family Residences.

94 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of March. During the first three months of this year, 258 homes were sold in Whittier.

The average Whittier home sale price in March was $339,116, at an average cost per square foot of $243.03.

310 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.

Homes are taking an average of 94 days to sell in this market.

It would take 5.2 months, at the current rate of sales, for all the current Whittier homes on the market to sell. Technically a Sellers' Market is when there is less than 5 months of supply. Whittier is currently neither a Sellers' Market nor a Buyers' Market. The Whittier real estate market has been in a neutral market for the past six months.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading the above Market Report of Home Sales for Whittier, California. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

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A Lovely Picture of Springtime in Whittier

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:00:12 -0400

I was driving through a Whittwood neighborhood the other day, and the gorgeous blue sky backdrop for these blooming trees made me stop and snap a picture. What a beautiful spring day it was in Whittier, California!

Does anyone know what type of trees they are?

Whittier Open House Sunday April 3 2011

Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:39:31 -0400

Whittier Open House Sunday April 3 2011

Come see this wonderful open house in Whittier on Sunday, April 3.

Any time from 1 - 4 p.m.

Whittier Michigan Park Home

8458 Ocean View Avenue, Whittier, CA

Gorgeous Whittier Pool Home, with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
The 4th bedroom has been converted to an office. All new
laminated wood floors throughout. Amazing gourmet kitchen
with 6 burner stove, stainless steel appliances, center island bar
with quartz counter tops and cherry wood cabinets. This kitchen
also includes a breakfast nook!! Home has crown molding,
scraped ceilings, recessed lighting throughout. Vaulted ceilings
in living room.

Hope to see you there! Bob

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I am looking forward to meeting you at the open house in Whittier on Sunday. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.

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Highest Number of Whittier Homes for Sale in Over 2 Years

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:02:21 -0400

There are currently more homes for sale in Whittier than there have been in any month since March 2009.

Today, April 1, 2011, there are 542 homes listed for sale in the Multiple Listing Service.

I have been tracking these numbers personally, and putting them into a funnel representation since May 2008, when there were 888 homes for sale in Whittier. The lowest inventory point was October 2009, at 262 Whittier homes for sale.

I do my survey usually once a month, between the 20th and end of the month, so it is only a snapshot picture of one particular day on any given month.

Here is what today's funnel looks like for a typical Whittier home for sale.

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Whittier Open House - Saturday March 26, 2011

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:30:33 -0400

I'd love to see you at my open house in Whittier on

Saturday, March 26.

I'll be there from 1 - 4 p.m.

Home With a Hearth

11226 La Serna Drive, Whittier, CA

· 3 Bedrooms

· 1.5 Bathrooms

· 1,653 Sq. Ft. Home

· 6,000 Sq. Ft. Lot

· Move-in Condition

· Standard Sale!

· La Serna H. S. District

· 2 Car Garage

· Fireplace

· Gleaming Hardwood Floors

· Quality Built in 1955

· Open Living/Dining Room

Hope to see you there!

Bob

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are looking for a great real estate agent in Whittier, Let me Google one for you.

Whittier Home Searches by Price Range:

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