los angeles county: THE IMPOSSIBLE DOUBLE STANDARDS OF SHORT SALE LENDERS: "Warning: Rant Ahead"
- 09/30/10 10:53 AM
Earlier, I read a post by Loreena Yeo titled, Title Companies Expected to Perform in 15 seconds about the unrealistic expectations placed on title companies to close transactions. Loreena went on to discuss two really stressful closings she had this week. Good grief! Could I ever relate to that only for me, it was the result of a Chase/BofA short sale escrow.
Most short sale transactions are extremely challenging to close, at least every short sale that I have worked on has been. Furthermore, depending on how many lenders I had to deal with and which lender(s) they were, my escrows … (11 comments)
|
los angeles county: THE 30 DAY CHALLENGE: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
- 09/27/10 07:31 AM
I just recently completed the 30 day challenge (30 posts in 30 days) and while I'm a little shocked I actually did it (didn't think I would last that long), I wanted to blog about what I learned from the experience. First and foremost, I learned that all those bloggers who practically live on this site and blog about how much their blogging has helped their business are probably right. The more I blogged, the more leads I generated.
THE GOOD: In previous months, when I was only blogging one to two times a week, I was averaging … (29 comments)
|
los angeles county: I'M CALLING MY OWN SHOTS! Plus a Few Others that the AR Gods Missed this Week - #10
- 09/26/10 10:01 AM
Well, it's always interesting reading all the great bloggers and their posts here on AR. This week was no different.
First and foremost, I want to give a big shout out to both Paul Slaybaugh for his post All Stocked Up On Lions, Send More Christians and Tom Bashe for I want PROOF you submitted MY offer to YOUR seller! that were awarded with that highly coveted gold star feature and I was happy to "call the shot" on both of them.
There are a couple of other bloggers and their posts that the AR Gods must have missed this week … (13 comments)
|
los angeles county: Canoga Lakes Condo 2 bedroom 1 bath 7050 Shoup Ave Canoga Park, Ca 91303
- 09/25/10 09:18 AM
I wanted to reblog this for Ken Barker in an effort to bring in more exposure to his listing. Th Canoga Lakes condo complex is truly an oasis in the middle of the city. A phenomenal and desirable west valley location with so much entertainment, shopping and restaurants that are all walking distance from this secure and gated community.
This unit is also priced to sell compared to recent comps too! It's that "deal" that everyone is looking for.
This is such a wonderful location. It is a 2 bedroom 1 bath condo in a fabulous community. It feels like you … (5 comments)
|
los angeles county: APPROVED CONDO LISTS: FHA Isn’t the Only One with a Problem with Their Approved Condo List, Fannie Mae’s Approved Condo List is Even Worse (30DC29)
- 09/24/10 08:44 AM
The other day, I got a call from a prospect who asked about Fannie Mae's HomePath program and wanted to know if I offer it. I answered I did and immediately went into my "HomePath speel" of where I educated the prospect about the benefits and challenges of this particular loan program.
Then he indicated that he saw a property he liked and wanted to buy it. Something about the caller and the things he was saying got my red flag sensors up, which always prompts a barrage series of questions to learn what the prospect's true intentions are.
I come … (7 comments)
|
los angeles county: What You Need To Know About Condo Financing
- 09/23/10 05:24 AM
I liked this post so much I am reblogging it for my clients, prospects and the consumers in my local market here in Los Angeles & Ventura counties.
Rochelle's post reminds me exactly of the speel I have to run through every time one of my clients, prospects or their Realtor or agent has asked me about them buying a condo.
This year, so many previously FHA approved condo complexes lost their FHA status and while some have been able to re-certify, so many others have not been re-certified because they no longer qualify for FHA status.
In researching some of … (3 comments)
|
los angeles county: RENTER MENTALITY: Some People are Just Not Meant to Be Homeowners (30DC27)
- 09/22/10 10:43 AM
Some people are just not meant to be homeowners. It takes a certain kind of person to want to be a homeowner, especially a first time buyer and around here (Los Angeles & Ventura counties), you have to want it really bad in order to get it.
You have to want it so bad, that you are ready, willing and able to sacrifice certain wants and needs in order to even get into escrow. Furthermore, you have to have a certain kind of mindset in order to even begin thinking like a prospective homeowner. In other words, you have to completely … (23 comments)
|
los angeles county: AR VENDOR DIRECTORY: AR is More Than Just a Place Where Realtors Gather (30DC26)
- 09/21/10 11:19 AM
One of the best things I have enjoyed about working with my clients over the years, is getting to know them and hearing and talking to them about their plans and dreams (long & short term) as well as their likes, dislikes and preferences about pretty much everything and anything. One of the things I have always enjoyed hearing about are their plans for what they want to do to their homes after the close of escrow (COE). Even better than that, is being invited over after the work is done and seeing the changes. LOVE THAT!!!
With the saturation of … (11 comments)
|
los angeles county: Buyer Broker Agreements You Can Choose From in California
- 09/20/10 12:47 PM
I liked this post so much that I re-blogged it. It kind of goes along with the post by Courtney Poulos that I re-blogged earlier about buyers getting their own buyers agent (BA).
Here, Ken Barker, a local Conejo valley Realtor, outlines the various types of Buyer Broker Agreements (BBA) that are available to buyers here in CA.
Buyer Broker Agreements You Can Choose From in California
Part 1
Over the past couple years my office and all of my Company has not demanded but they have recommended using the Buyer Broker Agreements with our clients. It … (3 comments)
|
los angeles county: INSPECTION REPORTS THAT CAN BE DEAL BREAKERS: Some Deal Breakers Can Actually Prevent You From Buying a Money Pit (30DC25)
- 09/20/10 12:43 PM
As a mortgage gal, I have seen and heard about so many escrows that fall-out or get cancelled in the past two years, than I have in the previous years. Up until a couple of years ago, escrow fall-out for me was rare but these days, sometimes, the most routine matters can make or break an escrow.
Here in Los Angeles & Ventura counties, all of the down payment assistance programs that I work with require that the properties that their applicants are purchasing must meet minimum property code standards. Furthermore, lenders also require that properties purchased with an FHA loan … (9 comments)
|
los angeles county: The Buyer Who "Doesn't Want" An Agent: A Surefire Way to Wreak Havoc
- 09/20/10 05:20 AM
I liked this post so much, I decided to reblog it because it is a very important message to buyers, especially here in Los Angeles & Ventura counties. Having worked with so many buyers over the years who simply refused to work with a buyers agent (BA) because they thought they would save money going with the listing agent (LA), I can tell you first hand, these have been some of the most difficult transactions.
Furthermore, I have never seen these buyers save any money. Quite the contrary, more times than not, they actually end up spending more than they should … (5 comments)
|
los angeles county: I'M CALLING MY OWN SHOTS! Plus a Few Others that the AR Gods Missed this Week (30DC24) - #9
- 09/19/10 08:03 AM
Well, it's been an interesting week with just so many great posts to read. This week, I have a couple of double shots, which was kind of interesting.
First and foremost, I want to give a big shout out to Cynthia Larson for her double shot features Asking for Highest and Best is NOT a RULE in Real Estate! and EXTRA! EXTRA! Rubber Stamp SHATTERS Crystal Ball! that were awarded with that highly coveted gold star feature and I was happy to "call the shot" on both of them.
There are a couple of other bloggers and their posts that … (56 comments)
|
los angeles county: ATTENTION LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRST TIME BUYERS: Two New Homes in the South Bay Available for Down-Payment Assistance (30DC23)
- 09/18/10 12:29 PM
In this quiet, family-friendly, neighborhood is a two-unit home located just east of the Pacific Square area in Gardenia. Built in 2007, this building has two townhomes and each unit has 4bd/4ba and nearly 2,300 sq. ft. of living space. There are also no HOA's or mello roos for these units.
Don't worry about having to fix up either one of these homes after the close of escrow because these aren't just two other run-down and dilapidated dumpy REO's like all the rest of the properties you've probably been seeing.
Both units have new kitchens and granite countertops and new cabinets … (6 comments)
|
los angeles county: BLOG TEAMS: Are You On One & Why You Should Be (30DC22)
- 09/17/10 01:01 PM
I was invited to join another blog team today, which is something that I have found to be rather exciting as well as flattering. After two years of blogging, I still get shocked and amazed sometimes that anyone bothers to take time out their day to read my blog and even like it enough to tell me so.
The other day, I was with a Realtor referral partner in their office meeting with two of his buyers for the first time. During the application process, one of the buyers mentioned my blog to the other buyer and commented on several of … (26 comments)
|
los angeles county: IT’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE DID SOMETHING ABOUT THESE PIECES OF $#^!: Los Angeles County Finally Cracks Down on Banks & Their REO's (30DC21)
- 09/16/10 07:52 AM
It's about time someone started cracking down on these banks and their run-down, dilapidated, dumpy REO's that are dragging down neighborhood values and ruining communities all over Los Angeles county.
Recently, the Los Angeles city council passed the Foreclosure Registry Program in an effort to protect residential neighborhoods from blight because of banks run-down, dilapidated, dumpy REO's.
Any lender or trustee who has a property in foreclosure must register that property with the Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) within 30 days of issuing the Notice of Default (NOD). If the lienholder, lender, property manager or listing agent is "Out of … (15 comments)
|
los angeles county: LOOKING FOR A HOME TO BUY CAN BE A FULL-TIME JOB (30DC20)
- 09/15/10 05:38 AM
For some prospective homebuyers, looking for a home is about checking out a few open houses on the weekend and after a couple of weeks, they find something they like, make an offer, sellers accept it and they open escrow. Sound familiar to anyone?
To some this may sound just like how they bought their home. However, for so many prospective buyers here in Los Angeles & Ventura counties, this is certainly not a familiar scenario that many of these prospective homebuyers can relate to, at least not many of my clients.
For many prospective homebuyers, looking for a home has … (7 comments)
|
los angeles county: Lost Pet Recovery - Fido Finder and Tabby Tracker
- 09/13/10 06:48 PM
As a long time pet mama, I can't imagine the heartache of losing a pet. Unfortunately though, it happens all the time, probably every day. There is help though, agencies and organizations that help families to find their beloved fur babies.
Lyn blogs about Fido Finder and Tabby Tracker, which are websites that helps pet owners look for their missing pets. Check it out and pass the message on.
FidoFinder.comGreat database where they recently had found a dog that was missing for 7 years and returned them to the original owners. You can also post rewards for your lost pet … (5 comments)
|
los angeles county: ATTENTION LOS ANGELES COUNTY HOMEBUYERS: Market Report for North San Fernando Valley (30DC19)
- 09/13/10 05:05 PM
As a follow-up to a my market report post last week (ATTENTION LOS ANGELES COUNTY HOMEBUYERS: Market Report for North San Fernando Valley (30DC15) on an area in the San Fernando valley, I wanted to provide some additional info that may be useful to buyers looking to purchase in this area.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I work with a lot of first time buyers who are looking to purchase in an area in the northern part of the San Fernando valley. There are many reasons why so many of my first time buyers like this area and one of … (3 comments)
|
los angeles county: ATTENTION LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRST TIME BUYERS: NSP Receives More Than 27M in Additional Funds (30DC18)
- 09/13/10 05:18 AM
I subscribe to the daily webcasts of Think Big, Work Small (TBWS), which is hosted by these two guys, Brian Stevens & Frank Garay. TBWS was founded a couple of years ago by a bunch of real estate and mortgage people who wanted to teach others in the business how to work smarter to grow their business.
This morning's video was especially interesting because there was a segment on the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) receiving their new allotment of funds. For those who don't know what NSP is, the NSP was developed to stabilize communities that have suffered from foreclosures and … (4 comments)
|
los angeles county: I'M CALLING MY OWN SHOTS! Plus a Few Others that the AR Gods Missed this Week
- 09/12/10 11:08 AM
Well, it's been an interesting week with just so many great posts to read. Once again, I want to highlight some of my fave bloggers who made it to the feature board as well as some other fave bloggers that the AR Gods seem to have missed when handing out their little featured gold stars.
First and foremost, I want to give a big shout out to Paul Slaybaugh for Is That Home Really For Sale? and Amy Jones with I liked you...but then I met you. who were awarded with that highly coveted gold star feature and … (15 comments)
|
|
|
|
Earlier, I read a post by Loreena Yeo titled, Title Companies Expected to Perform in 15 seconds about the unrealistic expectations placed on title companies to close transactions. Loreena went on to discuss two really stressful closings she had this week. Good grief! Could I ever relate to that only for me, it was the result of a Chase/BofA short sale escrow. 
;)
;)
;)
