Short Sale - Representing an Investor - 08/30/07 06:31 PM
In California there are specific requirements when representing a buyer as an investor. The best source of information is CAR's web site. They have a great section of Q & A where you can find answers to most of your questions.
One in particular that is very pertinent when you are representing an investor as a buyer is how you are allowed to represent them. Hopefully this answer from CAR's site will help:
What are the special requirements, if any, when selling an NOD Property to an investor?Answer:
There are special requirements in order to comply with the Home Equity Sales Contracts Act (California Civil Code … (11 comments)

Safety Tips For Realtors - 08/28/07 01:56 PM
We recently had an office meeting where we had a very important discussion on safety for our agents. Whether it be on an open house or dealing with clients we all have to be careful and watch out for each other.
Always let your office know where you are and call in frequently. Devise some kind of call sign so that you colleagues will know you are in trouble when you call in. Do not ever let your client drive you but insist on driving yourself. Dress conservatively and do not wear expensive jewelery.
These and many other tips are covered in a great … (5 comments)

Lenders - When are They Going To Learn? - 08/28/07 01:10 PM
So have lenders learned a lesson? It seems not. A lot of the problems in today's market has been caused by the abuse of Sub Prime loans. So with dozens of sub prime lenders closed or closing that was the end of the scary ads trying to hook gullible home owners into refinancing at low low rates with bad credit.
Not so in the last few days I have seen several, advertising on TV with the same type of ads. When will they learn that stability can only happen with prudent lending to people who can afford to make their payments over … (9 comments)

Who is Right? - A Tale of Two Spins - 08/27/07 03:34 PM
I like many of you read the business news everyday and in recent times there are many gloomy stories of declining homes sales and falling prices. How many of you have stopped to think where and how they get this information and how they put their particular slant on it?
It is blatantly obvious that good news doesn't sell. So when this morning I was reading my daily copy of Realtor MagazineOn Line, I was encouraged by an article quoting lawrence Yun, NAR Senior Economist with a headline "EXISTING HOME SALES STABILIZE IN JULY" in which he goes on to say "the market … (2 comments)

Flaky Buyers - 08/26/07 11:41 PM
Today's market may be tough for a lot of reasons but one of the most frustrating aspects is getting a buyer into escrow only for them to get cold feet and pull out. This has been a growing trend all year and one that must be addressed if you are not to go completely insane.
My suggestion is to qualify them like never before:
Question their motive thoroughly and satisfy all of their concerns.
Confirm the attitude of family and friends and quell any lingering doubts that they present. It is not untypical for the buyer to go home and excitedly tell family and … (9 comments)

Are You Good Enough? - 08/26/07 11:41 AM
I am sure this is a question that has been asked over and over in recent months.
Well the answer is in your own hands. Firstly stop asking the question. Look at all the positive things you have achieved in your career and refocus on what you can do.
Maybe you need support...well form a group in your office and challenge each other. Do it on a regular basis,I suggest daily, and soon you will be feeling stronger and more confident. Do not whatever you do focus on negatives but look for the positive in every aspect of everything you do.
Be Persistent - … (4 comments)

The Last Downturn - What Was it Like? - 08/25/07 12:06 AM

In the early 90's the Real Estate Market experienced it's last serious downturn. At that time I was battling the housing market over in the UK which too was in dire straights.
So what are the main differences then and now and what does it mean.
Well the main and most critical element was that the job market was also in decline caused by world recession. The same woes hit the UK causing a huge amount of foreclosures as borrowers lost their jobs. It was also the time when interest rates were rising dramatically.
Not so now, the economy is strong, jobs are still … (5 comments)

California Drivers - Yikes - 08/24/07 12:03 AM
What is about California drivers that I find infuriating. Well for one they do not know how to DRIVE. They may know how to make a car go from one place to another but they do not have any idea what went on around them, nor do they care.
The majority have absolutely no sense of what is going on around them while they are driving. At first when I arrived in California I thought the drivers were rude because nobody allowed me to merge into traffic, I was frequently cut off changed lane without warning. Then I realized that no it wasn't … (19 comments)

Stop The Music - 08/23/07 05:41 PM
Hey come on stop the music. Why on earth have some of our bloggers started adding music, well music may be a little strong. It is usually some kind of elevator music which is insulting to my ears.
Without wanting to sound like my parents "turn your music down" I really don't see the point of adding sounds to your blogs. Most of the time I read, blog and comment in the office and the last thing I want is to have music blaring from my laptop when I click on the latest blog.
Why Why Why did you have to spoil … (7 comments)

Customer Service - NOT - 08/23/07 04:09 PM
Are Lenders providing good service to their clients, I think not!!!
When are they going to realize that by working with their clients to find a way to keep their homes that everyone wins. Unfortunately they don't seem to care. I am sure many of you have had the experience of working with a "Short Sale" and the mind numbing experience of trying to talk to somebody, anybody who appears to be able to get the job done. Well can you imagine what it is like for the property owner, who is probably already scared to death about losing their home. They … (4 comments)

Good News - Bad News - 08/21/07 01:37 PM
With all the bad news relating to Sub Prime Loans and foreclosures we must not lose track of the underlying good news in the economy.
The recent June figures show a national economy that is still doing very well - thank you. If the economy remains bouyant, as predicted, then once we see the back of the sub prime mess we should see a fairly quick turnaround in the housing market. What we need at that point is a period of low to moderate growth fueled by restrained lending. With the market doing well and controlled lending we should see less of … (3 comments)

New Found Energy - 08/20/07 03:42 PM
There are so many different Energy Drinks on the market it has got to the point where you are confused as to the benefits of any of them. Red Bull was one of the first and most successful. To many the flavor takes a lot of getting used to but now I have found my personal solution. Monster Energy's new Java range.
 My favorite is the new Loca Moca flavor. None of the ultra sweet taste but in my opinion a really great Moca tasting drink.
… (7 comments)

Mortgage Lenders Should Be Licensed - 08/18/07 05:20 PM
What is certain about todays lending woes is that there has been a lot of loans given to people who probably shouldn't have had them. This is not a knock at those reputable Loan Officers of which I know several, but there seems to be no control over rogue lenders who are really not serving the best interests of their clients. Yes all the loan products being sold were good if used in the correct way but not all Loan Officers offered products that were not in the best interest of the client.
As a Realtor we are heavily regulated and work … (3 comments)

Weapon of Mass Destruction from your Computer!!! - 08/17/07 12:54 PM
It is what we all need as we sit defending ourselves day after day from unprovoked attacks from hostile areas of our office. While they attack using outdated "Cold War" tactics, lobbing scrunched paper balls or firing rubber bands from hidden corners. Now you can answer with "Shock & Awe" The USB Missile Launcher.
                                                           
"This launcher can pivot 180 degrees horizontally, and 45 degrees up. Controlled by the included PC software, point the missiles at your foe, and press the big red shiny delicious button on screen. FOOM."
I couldn't believe it when I accidentally came across this on a web … (2 comments)

Fed Cuts Rates - What Does it Mean? - 08/17/07 11:56 AM
The Federal Reserve has cut its primary discount rate, which is the rate at which it lends money to banks, from 6.25% to 5.75%
While this is obviously good news for the Stock Market it is not quite all it seems.The rate cut is its primary discount rate, which is the rate at which it lends money to banks and is intended to help with the liquidity problems facing many banks following the US housing slump. It is a different rate to the federal funds rate, which remains at 5.25%. The Federal Funds rate determines the level of interest rates for consumers. The … (2 comments)

We Are Saved ?? - 08/16/07 02:29 PM
The Real Estate Market is rescued, buyers will be buying, lenders will be lending, the economy is going to grow tremendously, world peace is assured....why?? Because President Bush's daughter is engaged to be married.
                                                                                                           
While I may be cynical and way wide of the mark, good news stories like this have been used time and time again when a political or economic crisis approaches. Britain's ex Prime Minister Tony Blair even had a baby, well actually it was his wife that had the baby, when his popularity was at an all time low. And behold all of a sudden he … (3 comments)

Today's Joke - 08/16/07 01:46 PM
When a man's printer type began to grow faint, he called a local repair shop where a friendly man informed him that the printer probably needed only to be cleaned. Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he told him he might be better off reading the printer's manual and trying the job himself.
Pleasantly surprised by his candor, he asked, "Does your boss know that you discourage business?"
"Actually, it's my boss's idea," the employee replied sheepishly. "We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first."
… (5 comments)

Closing Costs & Realtor Fees - 08/15/07 05:11 PM
The debate in the press regarding the fees Realtors charge for their services rumbles on in the press. What most of the articles fail to address is the added value a Realtor gives through negotiation. While an online service may give you access to the MLS it does not and cannot replace local knowledge and negotiation skills of a Realtor. The bold claims that these organisations make about saving large sums of money for their clients never take into account the fact that they would have almost certainly sold for more, or bought for less with a Realtor representing them. When the … (6 comments)

Taxing 'McMansions' - 08/14/07 04:26 PM
So The chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, John D. Dingell (D-MI) is proposing that houses larger than 3,000 square feet would no longer be eligible for the mortgage interest tax deduction. His intention is well founded in trying to reduce carbon emissions and I guess he is trying to encourage people to either buy smaller houses or pay higher taxes for the privilege. This is misguided as it should be obvious that it is not the size that matters (where have I heard that before) but the energy efficiency of each home. My new home is substantially larger than … (6 comments)

In House Services - How Does a Client Benefit? - 08/11/07 12:20 PM
I have long held the opinion that "In House" services do not serve the clients best interest but merely put money back into the brokers pocket. Time and time again I have had agents counter offers purely for services and on occasions when challenged the response has been not this is what my client wants but I have to counter or I will be in trouble with my broker. Surely a clients interests are best served where they can get best value and an impartial service. In my opinion it is all too easy for in house services to be influenced … (3 comments)

Networking and Your Success Team - 08/09/07 05:48 PM
We all know or at least should know the importance of two things; 1. Having a great Success Team 2. Networking.
Your success team should be comprise your Loan Officer, Escrow, Appraiser etc and each should form an integral part of your team. Networking is one of the most important elements for gaining leads.
Well I feel compelled to tell you about one element of my Success Team. He is Joey Aszterbaum Now Joey is not only the best loan officer I have ever met, he is also a good friend. More importantly he also runs a Networking group REAL AGENT HELP which … (0 comments)

When We Will See an Upturn in the Market? - 08/08/07 06:00 PM
That is the big question. I have been saying for sometime now that, particularly in our part of Southern California, that there is huge pent up demand driven by job availability, migration at record levels to the region, interest rates still at historic lows and a strong economy. This is now being supported byLawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, who said "Existing-home sales should be relatively stable over the next few months, holding in a modest range, with some pent-up demand growing from buyers who've been on the sidelines," he said. "Mortgage disruptions will hold back sales over the short term, but … (2 comments)

Foreclosure Bargains Hard to Find - 08/08/07 05:23 PM
With all the hype about foreclosures in the press and on TV I would have expected a lot more bargain hunters to be out there looking for a deal. Maybe they have fast discovered the truth that those bargains are hard to come by. The significant difference this time round is that most of the homes going into foreclosure have already had the equity drained out of them by the current owner leaving very little room for the lender to agree to a deal without writing off vast amounts of debt. Instead a lot of these homes are becoming Bank Owned … (4 comments)

San Jacinto City Information - 08/07/07 06:31 PM
SAN JACINTO CITY INFO
City Facts:
Population (2006)                            33,253
Square Miles                                    26
Taxable Sales                                 $135 Million
Median Household Income                $43,626
Local Attractions:
Mt San Jacinto State Park
San Jacinto City's planners have been responsible through progressive planning for thousands of new residents relocating to San Jacinto. Communities are linked by greenbelts, mutli-use trails and parks. This has also spurred the development of new commercial centers including a new Wal-Mart Supercenter. With its affordable housing and surrounding amenities San Jacinto is a very attractive place to live.
Property Information
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Hemet City Information - 08/07/07 06:03 PM
HEMET CITY INFO
City Facts:
Population (2006)                            69,544
Square Miles                                    26
Taxable Sales                                 $1.02 billion
Median Household Income                $30,084
Local Attractions:
Diamond Valley Lake
Western Center for Archaeology & Palentology
Ramona Bowl Ampitheater
Kidzone Youth Museum
With many recreational opportunities including Diamond Valley Lake and surounding natural attractions of Mount San Jacinto, Hemet's location is second to none. Hemet's affordable homes has brought a surge of new residents in recent years. This in turn has brought many retail and service businesses to the city. These include a new Wal-Mart Supercenter, Applebee's, Chilli's, Mimi's Cafe and a new Hampton Inn & Suites.
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Yucaipa City Info - 08/07/07 05:29 PM
YUCAIPA CITY INFO
City Facts:
Population (2006)                            50,553
Square Miles                                    27
Taxable Sales                                 $230 million
Median Household Income                $45,044
Local Attractions:
Yucaipa Regional Park
Wildwood Canyon State Park
With its cleaner air and cooler temperatures due to its higher elevation Yucaipa provides a wonderful environment for people of all ages. It has one of the lowest crime rates of any comparable sized community anywhere in the state. The Yucaipa-Calimesa School District with its outstanding reputation ranks at or near the top in every category of educational achievement.
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Should I Stay or Should I Go? - 08/07/07 02:13 PM
With all the gloom and doom in the press at the moment are those with Option ARM and interest only loans looking for an excuse to get out of their situation rather than tough it out?
There are obviously a lot of home owners with genuine hardship, but I am witnessing a growing number who it seems have the means to keep making their payments yet choose to bail out. They see the opportunity of stripping a load of debt in exchange for renting for a few years and having cash in their pockets so their lifestyles aren't affected. Rather than hunker … (0 comments)

Bank Owned Property in Beaumont - 1267 Sunburst Drive - 08/07/07 01:20 PM
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Bank Owned Property in Menifee - 29662 Cool Meadow Drive - 08/07/07 01:06 PM
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Lenders Get Creative With Delinquent Borrowers!!!!! - 08/03/07 08:57 PM
I read today about one lender who plans to mail out 100 prepaid cell phones at no cost to delinquent borrowers, although they will have to first make contact with the company in order to activate the phones for personal use.
From personal experience while trying to contact loss mitigation for Short Sale clients, surely it would be better if they employed more staff to answer the phones, were sympathetic and had some kind of work out plans to help their customers to get out of trouble and save their homes. Instead they typically have a log wait to get through … (5 comments)

Broker Model in Today's Market - 08/02/07 11:51 PM
Two different Broker Models exist: The first relies heavily for it's existence by charging its agents for desk fees, phones, printing and everything else they can find an excuse to charge you for. They typically drive new agents to their office with enticements like a Free Real Estate School. Once committed you pay through the nose for the privilege of being there. The other model typically charges little or nothing for a place in the office and focus on your development so you become a producer and give back via your split. While commission splits are usually slightly less, unless you are … (2 comments)

Doom Mongers - 08/02/07 07:28 PM
I recently posted a blog with some very positive news for our industry showing Consumer Confidence rising, interest rates falling and still at historic lows, pending sales increasing etc. While I do not profess to be an economist I do follow trends closely and yes I don't believe we are out of the woods yet but we are seeing positive signs which cannot be disputed.
However I did receive one extremely negative comment form someone who clearly has in my opinion a dislike of the Real Estate industry. His comments:
"House prices will fall for many years and will not recover this … (1 comments)

Interest Rates Fall - Mortgages Cheaper - 08/01/07 01:18 PM
Buy Now - Well that is the only possible conclusion after the latest Real Estate news. With home sales starting to rise again and mortgage rates falling back it will not be long before we see a full blown market recovery. If you are sitting on the fence, in my opinion now is the time to get off and look for a home before prices rise again.
The average interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 6.5 percent from 6.59 percent. The average interest rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 6.2 from 6.24 percent, and the average interest rate for … (1 comments)

More Good News - Real Estate Market Bouncing Back? - 08/01/07 12:55 PM
According to a report this morning by the National Association of Realtors we may be seeing the market stabilizing in the next few months. Based on the forward looking indicator of home sales, The Pending Homes Sales Index was 5% higher in June than the May index of 97.5, but still 8.6% down on June 2006 when it was 112.
The good news is that this 5% gain is the biggest in 3 years. What is even more encouraging is that the increase was countrywide across all four major regions. It maybe too early to tell if it is the start … (2 comments)

 

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