Loan modification vs. loss mitigation - 08/31/08 01:04 PM
Although our company has been handling loan modifications for the last few months for our client family through an attorney we've partnered with, I recently decided to switch to another attorney in large part based on the approach he takes. Instead of just doing loan modifications, they practice loss mitigation. Here's … (0 comments)
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Calling all those who woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning - 08/29/08 12:38 PM
Be grateful for what you have now. As you begin to think about all the things in your life you are grateful for, you will be amazed at the never ending thoughts that come back to you of more things to be grateful for. You have to make a start, and … (13 comments)
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What do Michael Phelps and Jack Welch have in common? - 08/26/08 02:54 PM
One is an Olympic record-breaking swimmer; the other led GE from a $14 billion market value to $410 billion in 20 years. But what do these two highly accomplished men have in common?
Like so many great men before and after them, these two men got into the habit of … (6 comments)
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Are sleazy real estate professionals getting their due? - 08/22/08 02:00 PM
If you feel like being sleazy and committing a crime as a real estate professional against your clients, go ahead. Just be prepared to face up to 3 years in jail, and have your license permanently revoked (that is, if you even have one).
That's the basic outcome of California's Bill … (6 comments)
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OC Real Estate - movin' and shakin' - 08/21/08 12:48 PM
I saw some interesting numbers today regarding Orange County real estate. Check this out:
median home price in June, 2007: $645,000 (all-time high in the region)
median home price in July, 2008: $461,000
total drop: $184,000 or 28%
putting it in perspective: homes in Orange County lost an average of $431 … (6 comments)
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A small break for OC homeowners - 08/20/08 01:42 PM
When I'm wrong, I usually don't mind to admit it (well, except when I have to admit it to my significant other).
So, I'll admit it: I was wrong.
With foreclosures soaring and home prices falling, I was sure that rental rates in Orange County would be going through the roof … (2 comments)
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Is a reverse mortgage right for you (or your clients)? - 08/19/08 12:19 PM
You've been hearing a lot about them lately, but do you actually know what a reverse mortgage is?
The reverse mortgage works very similarly to a negative amoritzation loan, where instead of paying down the principal as with a traditional loan, a balance is actually added monthly to the principal. In … (9 comments)
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Gesundheit, America! - 08/18/08 01:06 PM
In John Mauldin's ever-educational newsletter this week, Mauldin delves into that wonderful old adage that when America sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. Taking into consideration GDP, there may be some truth to the saying.
Whether the US is officially in a recession is debatable: it's supposed to … (0 comments)
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Laughing your way into the weekend - 08/15/08 11:54 AM
Bo Hussung today posted about a common thread of positivity in the majority of his posts since joining Active Rain, and it reminded me of a local phenomenon called Laughter Yoga. If you have a couple minutes and need an excuse to laugh, watch this video, and then get laughing! It's … (2 comments)
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Congratulations, Michael Phelps! - 08/15/08 10:22 AM
Michael Phelps won his tenth and eleventh career gold medals last night, making him the most successful Olympian so far. Just one more medal and he'll beat the record for most medals won in one Games. Congratulations, Michael!
I haven't really been following the Olympics or Phelps-mania, besides what pops … (0 comments)
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Uncle Ben and the Inflation Problem - 08/14/08 01:27 PM
There's something very comforting about Ben Bernanke (Federal Reserve Chairman). I don't know what it is, but he seems to have the face of a really nice uncle or grandpa who's always there for you, steady as a rock.
I read today that the year over year CPI (consumer price index, … (4 comments)
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Visiting the Taj Mahal? Leave your dollars at home... - 08/13/08 12:02 PM
We all know that the American dollar is having a bit of a breakdown right now. This time last year, you could buy a euro for about $1.34. To buy that same euro today will cost you $1.49.
One result of this slide, as reported in the BBC today, is that … (0 comments)
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Fannie Mae and the 100-Year Storm - 08/12/08 12:28 PM
According to Fannie Mae CEO Dan Mudd, the company is trekking its way steadily through the "99th year of a 100 year storm." Although housing prices are still declining in many areas of the US, Fannie Mae is forecasting that the cost of weathering the credit crisis will peak within the … (4 comments)
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PSA: August is Eye Exam Month! - 08/11/08 02:27 PM
Another blogger today posted on the various random "holidays" that take place in the next few months. Did you know that last Tuesday was watermelon day? And that there's a national cookie day? And that all of October is dedicated to celebrating vegetarianism?
Since August is Eye Exam Month (?!?), I … (2 comments)
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Time to celebrate - again! - 08/08/08 12:15 PM
There are two great reasons why this is a wonderful Friday for me (Cyara):
1. Last night at 9:02 pm, I walked out of what is officially my last classroom experience in the quest to receive a bachelor's degree in business. What a surreal -- but excellent!!! -- feeling!
I actually … (6 comments)
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Foothill Ranch mountain lion incident: the "real" story - 08/06/08 06:44 PM
There were an unusually high number of helicopters circling my town of Foothill Ranch today. By unusually high, I mean there was at least one compared to the usual zero.
The news services reported that a man had been walking in Whiting Ranch, our local wilderness park, when he came across … (9 comments)
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Now's the time to tear your house down! - 08/06/08 10:36 AM
Turns out real estate professionals aren't the only ones suffering these days.
Unsurprisingly, contractors are also having a hard time in this "is-it-or-isn't-it-a-recession" economy of ours. The OC Register reported today that home remodeling activity in the second quarter of 2007 was up to $147.4 billion in the US. That … (5 comments)
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What is a short sale? - 08/05/08 10:44 AM
In case you've been in a cave for the last year or two, you may not know that the US is in the midst of a housing crisis. One term that's been thrown around with reckless abandon is the term "short sale". But what exactly is a short sale?
We all … (0 comments)
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Today Only -- 25% OFF!! ... on houses? - 08/04/08 12:08 PM
"Smells like a bottom to me..."
That's what one commenter said when they read this story in the OC Register about Anaheim's Stadium Lofts condominiums selling for 24-29% off the listed price. The condos were completed months ago but many were still unsold, so the developer had to do something drastic. … (14 comments)
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There's just something about a Monday morning - 08/04/08 11:45 AM
Imagine you're on vacation at the lake, and it's early morning, before anyone else is awake. You decide to go for a swim, and as you head down to the water you hear the birds waking up and feel a little breeze play with your hair. You slip your toes in, … (6 comments)
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Condominium Unit Owners Need Property Insurance - 08/01/08 01:40 PM
The following article was submitted by Tim Bush, a State Farm insurance agent and strategic partner with January Financial. This article is being reprinted here with his permission.
You finally decided that your residence should be a condominium. Condos can be an appropriate choice for a number of reasons - … (3 comments)
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Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 - 08/01/08 01:36 PM
The following article was written by Laurel Mann, a Waddell & Reed Financial Planner and strategic partner with January Financial. The article is being reprinted here with her permission.
Earlier this year, President Bush signed into law the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, a piece of landmark legislation that will provide … (0 comments)
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