murrieta: Coming Up Short - A Brief Intro to the Short Sale - 05/09/08 11:36 AM
short sales The current real estate market is producing a phenomenon we last saw over a decade ago, and hoped we wouldn’t see again, the short sale. If you weren’t around for those fun times, here’s what we’re talking about. Say you didn’t heed my advice over the past few years about avoiding exotic mortgages and you got wired into a 100% mortgage consisting of an 80% 1st mortgage and a 20% 2nd with an adjustable interest rate. Now the rate has adjusted once or twice and your income hasn’t quite kept up, leaving you a tad shy of the monthly … (2 comments)

murrieta: Spring Cleaning? Ventilate the MOLD out. - 05/08/08 11:55 AM
mold 5-8 As we transition from cold, wet winter weather to warm, damp summer weather, lets spend a minute talking about something near and dear to our hearts, or at least to our lungs, which are in the same general neighborhood. MOLD. As consumers, we have demanded ever more energy efficient homes to help reduce heating bills in the winter, cooling costs in the summer. We just honored two local home builders for their efforts in this endeavor. 
But, to improve heating and cooling efficiency, our homes don’t breathe anymore. We create artificial indoor environments that shield us from the outside … (9 comments)

murrieta: La Cresta - A Compilation of Estate Homes - 05/07/08 04:10 PM
La Cresta non reo 5-8-08 La Cresta, located in Southwest California, offers a unique estate lifestyle that is difficult to obtain at this price not just in Southern California, but anywhere in the country. Located in the Coastal Foothills just west of the I-15 Freeway above Murrieta, La Cresta encompasses an area of gently rolling hills suitable for vineyards or groves, expansive meadows ideal for equestrian pursuits, and magnificent hillside properties offering panoramic views from the Pacific Ocean to the snow-capped San Jacinto mountains and the flowering beauty of the San Rosa Plateau.. 
Homes in La Cresta range from modest single … (1 comments)

murrieta: Rental Fraud - Advise Prospective Tenants to Be Wary! - 05/06/08 05:15 PM
rental fraud Our Mortgage Fraud Task Force has continued to meet - and meet with some success. We have now had a meeting with our District Attorney, Rod Pacheco, and have had meetings and conversations with members of his White Collar Crime task force that encompasses Real Estate Fraud. Our initial concerns regarding their apparent lack of involvement have been somewhat assuaged. Although we have yet to see an indictment handed down against any of the perpetrators in our area, we have been assured that they are actively working on it. We are also attempting to provide mls access to the … (6 comments)

murrieta: Prop 8 - Reducing Your Property Tax Burden in Riverside County - 05/06/08 01:03 PM
Prop 8 If you purchased a home in Riverside County between 1998 and 2001 you saw the value of that property shoot up by nearly 155% before the cooling trend started in 2007. That means a home purchased in 2001 for $300,000 may have sold for as much as $765,000 at peak value. That same home today might fetch $475,000. While that’s still a return of better than 50%, it doesn’t do much to dampen the shock experienced by many of you and does nothing to alleviate the pain of those who purchased a home after 2004.
While the Federal … (1 comments)

murrieta: REO Market Update - La Cresta Estate Homes in SoCal - 05/06/08 09:52 AM
La Cresta La Cresta, located in Southwest California, offers a unique estate lifestyle that is difficult to obtain at this price not just in Southern California, but anywhere in the country. Located in the Coastal Foothills just west of the I-15 Freeway above Murrieta, La Cresta encompasses an area of gently rolling hills suitable for vinyards or groves, expansive meadows ideal for equestrian pursuits, and magnificent hillside properties offering panoramic views from the Pacific Ocean to the snow-capped San Jacinto mountains and the flowering beauty of the San Rosa Plateau.. 
Homes in La Cresta range from modest single story homes of … (0 comments)

murrieta: Temecula Valley Wine Country Homes 5/5/08 - 05/05/08 01:23 PM
win country homes 5-5-08 As of May 1, 2008, there are approximately 83 homes listed for sale in, and adjacent to, the Temecula Valley Wine Country. All homes are a minimum of 2 acres with prices ranging from $359,900 to $2,699,000. While that represents a remarkable price spread, please keep in mind that the Wine Country still includes some areas that allow manufactured homes. Some of these homes offer the opportunity to purchase acreage, including productive vineyards, for the same price as a tract home. Address                Price     BR/BA Age     SqF  Lot Sz   Date Listed 35509 Schuber LN,  … (5 comments)

murrieta: That Magic 100,000. - 05/03/08 08:01 AM
100,000 population The Southwest California cities of Temecula and Murrieta were recognized for reaching a significant milestone in their shared histories this past week when the California Department of Finance acknowledged that both had exceeded 100,000 population for the first time in their long and colorful histories. For those of you who don't know,  Temecula and Murrieta are cities in Southern California about 30 miles inland from the ocean just across the coastal ridge and north of the San Diego County line. The cities sit right next door to each other, sharing a long city limit. In reality the area probably … (2 comments)

murrieta: New 10 year Report On Southwest California Demographcs Available - 04/29/08 11:41 AM
Public Policy Paper   By far the most comprehensive study of the Inland Empire region of Southern California in recent years has just been published by the Public Policy Institute of California. Compiled by Hans Johnson, Deborah Reed and Joseph M. Hayes, the report examines the economic and demographic trends of our region out through 2015. The analysis is summarized in a 141 page report replete with charts, graphs and analysis of population growth, migration, job growth, ethnic make-up, educational challenges and political activism. Among the more interesting points from a real estate perspective: The fastest growing region of a fast … (0 comments)

murrieta: Southwest California Homes Sales - 4/08. No Irrational Exuberance Required - 04/23/08 02:30 PM
March Housing Numbers Here's the March update of housing figures for Southwest California, including Temecula, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore. (Whoop-de-Freakin' Doo) (Please remember that month to month numbers can be relatively meaningless. A single month snapshot may include anomalies, drops or surges that are not necessarily indicative of a trend & may or may not be reason to become irratioanlly exuberant or despondent. Sales data source: Chicago Title.)      While it appears that our market is still headed South, the numbers don't really tell the whole story. Our office, among others, has seen a noticeable increase in Buyer activity during the … (2 comments)

murrieta: 'Winning Championships' - The Temecula State of the City Address - 04/18/08 06:02 AM
Winning Championships – The Temecula State of the City On April 17, Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar presented the 19th Annual State of the City Address at the Pechanga Resort & Casino. For his theme this year Mayor Naggar chose the sports metaphor “Winning Championships”. He reminded the gathering of business, community and civic leaders of the many championships Temecula has won in the past and how that positions our community to continue to win championships even in difficult situations. Mayor Naggar introduced the championship team by discussing partnerships, including the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, area schools and other government entities … (3 comments)

murrieta: I'm So Confused. Which article to believe? - 04/16/08 12:32 PM
I'm So Confused This news really hit home. The following articles graced the front pages of our 2 local daily newspapers this morning. Both articles were written in response to the latest release of Southern California housing statistics released Tuesday by DataQuick Information Systems. Though both rely on the same data and quote some of the same sources, one provided a decidedly negative slant from the headline on down while the other emphasized a more positive read on the numbers, including a sidebar feature and front page photo of a recent homebuyer. It's no wonder our clients are perplexed and grumpy when … (9 comments)

murrieta: In Home Concert Series - A Temecula Valley Treasure - 04/10/08 02:28 PM
musicians workshop 2 Last post I told you a little about The Musicians Workshop in Temecula, founded by my good friends Jon & Jane Laskin. These folks do a world of good for young people in our area b y exposing kids to a variety of musical expressions from instrumental to vocal to dance. It's a 501-C3 organization which means they rely on grants and contributions to fund their acquisition of instruments, music and sound equipment, maintenance of the 10,000 piece Chuck Niles Jazz Collections, and pay rent on a facility to teach, record and play. We are in the midst … (0 comments)

murrieta: Texas Loosey's - A Temecula Tradition - 04/10/08 01:56 PM
texas looseys A recent evening found companion and I headed for a local theatrical opening and in need of a some fortification. For a little something different, we stopped by Texas Loosey’s, cousin to legendary Temecula steakhouse Texas Lil’s, for a little down home cookin’. Loosey shares parentage with Lil, some menu items are the same and the servers are equally comely – all good things.
Texas Loosey’s menu is pretty extensive and includes some Country Salads, Tex-Mex Specialties, Fishy Things and of course Ribs & Steaks and Trail Boss Favorites. For a little lighter fare there’s also some hefty burgers, … (0 comments)

murrieta: The Musicians Workshop - A Temecula Valley Treasure - 04/09/08 01:27 PM
Musicians Workshop Every community can be defined, in part, by the variety of fine arts and entertainment its residents enjoy. In the Temecula Valley one of those defining factors is The Musicians Workshop. Founded in 1998 by my good friends Jon & Jane Laskin, the Musicians Workshop was started not just to provide music to the community, but as a means to encourage talent within the community, by nurturing and training our young people. The center has evolved from a simple music education facility to a full-on contemporary Children’s After School Performing Arts and Music Education Center providing programs and events … (2 comments)

murrieta: Southern California's Premier Wine Country - Temecula Valley - 04/04/08 01:24 PM
The name Temecula comes from an old Luiseno Indian word commonly translated as 'Where The Sun Breaks Through The Mist.' It conjures up images of sun drenched rolling hills, snow capped mountain peaks and fresh ocean breezes - in short, an area that might lend itself to the cultivation of vineyards and the production of fine varietal wines.
 
Less than 60 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles lies Southwest Califiornia and the Temecula Valley Wine Country. Rolling hills covered with vineyards, expansive views reaching to 11,000 foot high mountains, air swept by ocean breezes, and a … (5 comments)

murrieta: Crappers I Have Known & Loved - 03/28/08 06:30 PM
Sharon Tara got me started the other day with her great post on 'Bad MLS Pictures'. We all know there's a ton of them out there as we page through our local mls. Some agents just shouldn't be trusted with a camera and some homeowners shouldn't be allowed to decorate their own homes.
So the past few days as I've been previewing homes for a couple buyers, I've been noticing some pretty bad photos and I'll probably post a few of them one of these days. But something that reached out and grabbed me like a cold hairy hand in the … (35 comments)

murrieta: February Housing Sales Dip Again For Inland Empire - 03/25/08 11:37 AM
Well the numbers are out and once again it's not  great news for the Inland Empire. While numbers were cautiously positive across the country, including most areas of California, the Inland Empire lagged in both sales volume and median price. It's clear why our median prices continue to slide - the number of bank-owned properties coming on the market has continued at a strong pace and rumor has it we'll see another bubble of these homes hit us in May-June as the next wave of rate resets take their toll.
What's less clear is why our sales continue to lag even … (4 comments)

murrieta: Giving away $10,000 - always a party. - 03/22/08 09:32 AM
For the past eight years our Chamber of Commerce has held a $10,000 reverse drawing. At the end of the evening, some lucky stiff walks out with $10 grand. Nice!
We only sell 225 tickets at $225 each. Each ticket comes with 2 dinners and 1 chance at the cash.
I have MC'd these for the past 8 years and my daughter, Tara, does sound effects, rude noises & music.This year I was joined onstage by one of our local newspaper columnists, John Hunneman. and three good looking ladies to help pull numbers and provide a little eye candy to off-set John & … (5 comments)

murrieta: Attorney General Brown Shuts Down Mortgage Scam Artists - 03/19/08 12:40 PM
For a copy of the indictment and to read the lengthy release detailing the mechanics of this scam and interviews with victims, please follow the source link. This scam has been going on for some time now and involves THOUSANDS of victims in LA and San Bernardino county. The scam involved high pressure sales tactics, bait-and-switch loan documents and multiple other predatory practices.
Another one bites the dust - but too late to save thousands of people from being victimized and many lost homes.
Source: http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/release.php?id=1533&
08-019FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE(916) 324-5500
LOS ANGELES-California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today shut down Lifetime Financial, Nations Mortgage, … (3 comments)