I have some close friends that volunteer for the CP Cairn Rescue group.  They are hard working individuals that go to puppy mills and auctions and take as many of the dogs as they can and place them in safe homes.  This takes alot of money ... especially since almost all of the dogs required alot of medical treatment when they are rescued.

This group is currently involved in a 'contest' for donations.  The group that receives the most number of donations (not the overall dollar amount) will have Yahoo match the donations.  They reeeeeeally need the money in order to continue saving these dogs from a life of cruelty and suffering.  PLEASE - the minimum donation is $10.00 (and is tax deductable) and the contest ends TOMORROW!  Please, please, please give!  They are currently in 2nd place ... but only by a few donations.

Follow this link and donate to CP Cairn Rescue Group:
http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/cybergiving2007/

Hi there. Am hoping to gain some feedback from any California based
rehabbing investors out there (or anyone else that can provide some feedback!). 

I have a client that is wondering ......

Is anyone out there actively rehabbing homes in California and how is
the resale? I know all of the foreclosures and short sales in
California specifically is hurting the value of the homes ... and am
wondering if anyone is having problems unloading their rehabs? I am
particularily interested in feedback on the Los Angeles and San Diego
areas (all of Southern California really). I have heard a myriad of
reasons that the market has slowed in California (buyers waiting for
even lower prices or buyers finding it harder and harder to qualify for
jumbo loans being the two major reasons) ... but am wondering ... is
this actually TRUE? For those that are buying the house right,
rehabbing within budget and selling at a reasonable market value ...
are you having a hard time unloading your inventory?

I am considering moving my rehab operations back to So Cal ... but want
to make sure the market is there for it ...

Thanks everyone & have a prosperous day!

In anticipation of my move to Dallas ... I am researching what I can look forward to the city offering me!  And I am very excited to announce that Dallas beat out Houston and beginning next October .... the Dallas Museum of Art will host King Tut and his treasures!  I did have the privledge of viewing this collection at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto ... but will be there again!  This really is not to be missed.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
Dallas Museum of Art,  October 2008

Hey everyone.

I am beginning some very in-depth research into the world of FHA financing and it all looks so good to me.  Which makes me wonder --> what is the TRUTH?  I would like to hear it from the horse's mouth so-to-speak what really is the general perception of FHA loans?  Are they really as easy to get into and as easy for the buyer to qualify as they appear?  Do lenders put stricter restrictions on loans than FHA requires?  I know there is some legislation coming down that is going to (or already has) restrict where the down-payment funds may now come from (no more grants from non-profits as far as I understand) ... but is there anything else that you have come across that was a "surprise" when you tried to close? 

Thanks everyone.

Deirdre

I know to some Hard Money is a four lettered work.  HOWEVER - I have some investor clients that are looking for the best and most highly recommended Hard Money lenders out there that specialize in financing rehab residential projects (primarily in TX and CA).  If you know of anyone ... please either contact me or drop a comment below.  Thanks everyone.

Deirdre Hamilton

Hi all!  (or should I say y'all?)

I have an investor client that is searching for that ONE awesome buyer's agent in the Dallas area.  My client wants to build a strong working relationship with just one agent that can help him with finding and closing deals on investment properties.  My client is aiming to close a minimum of 40 deals in the next 12 months and is getting his team in place.  He would like to work with someone that has experience working with investment properties and will be able to work within the very specific requirements that he has.  This investor has had much success in other markets and is now expanding to the Dallas area. 

I know that a number of agents are hesitant to work with real estate investors ... but I am hoping to find one here on A/R for him. 

Please message me (or comment) if you are interested (along with your specific experience with the Dallas investment market) or could recommend someone.  Thank you in advance for your help!

Happy Blogging!

Deirdre

Hi all!

I have a client that is attempting to research the BEST mortgage net branch available.  There is just SO many options online that the research is rather daunting.  My client is looking for the following specifics:

- 1099 ONLY in any state (if possible)
- Would prefer to use our own processing (and not have their in-house processing be mandatory)
- Multiple States (at least 30 states)
- Would be great if we did not have to hang a license with them ... but it can be done if required.

If anyone can recommend a great branch they have worked with ... I would love to hear it so that I can pass it on to my client!  Thanks in advance for your assistance!!!

Deirdre Hamilton

Each year downtown Camas plays host to an array of arts & craft vendors at the best price of any festival in the area! With the help of our events and main parade on Saturday Camas Days, the fourth weekend (Fri. & Sat.) of the month in July, draws 10-15,000 people!

Expect to see arts & craft vendors, a gated wine & microbrew street, a food street, concerts in the park, two parades (kids parade on Friday & main parade on Saturday), the ducky derby, the kids activities street, a softball tournament and the famous bathtub races in front of City Hall.

Please don't hesitate to contact the Camas Washougal Chamber of Commerce with any questions at 360-834-2472.  If you are interested in becoming a vendor please email the Chamber, as space is limited.

This is funny (please note the dripping sarcasm).  I moved to the US about a year and a half ago from Canada.  Understanding the importance of a FICO score (I knew I wanted to get into Real Estate and Property Investing) - I had been very active on working on building up a strong credit history and score from day one.
I even signed up for one of those memberships (with Equifax) that "monitors" your report monthly .... and also provides you with access to your score monthly.
I was shocked after just moving here to see that they were already reporting a score of 704 (at that point I only had one credit card - with a whopping credit line of $300.00 - and it had been open for only 3 or 4 months - that is ALL that was on my report).  I was feeling pretty good about myself .... UNTIL .... when applying for a job about a month later .... I found out that Experian was ACTUALLY reporting a score of 590 when a credit report is pulled by a 3rd party!  I am still having a hard time sorting out how the product they were selling me was reporting one number .... and the reality was a completely different number.  HOW DOES THAT HELP THE CONSUMER AT ALL? 

The sole purpose of my purchasing their product was to ensure everything was going right with my FICO score and history .... HOWEVER .... I was not obtaining the true information that I was paying to obtain .... and therefore was not only ignorant of the TRUE situation .... but believed the situation was the exact opposite of what it was (phew!  does that make any sense?) 

*sigh* - I learned the 'Buyer Beware' lesson on this one.  Anyone else out there experience this?