Israel's Big Bear Blog

Does Newts Immorality Bother You?

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:35:32 -0800

I was curious where Conservative members of Active Rain stand on this issue. I have read and heard Conservatives railing against the immorality of Bill Clinton at every turn. He is universally reviled by members of the right due to his cheating on his Wife while in office. The main Conservative to lead the charge and demand President Clintons impeachment was Newt Gingrich. He spoke time and agin about how dirty Bill Clinton was and the sanctity of marriage etc. Now we know Newt was doing exactly what Bill Clinton was doing at the same time. Even worse, Newts Wife was stricken with cancer and close to death.

Now Newts ex-wife has been very vocal about what a scumbag he is and how little marriage really means to him. Whether you believe her story entirely or not, the hypocrisy is breath taking. In my mind, Newt is even morally more bankrupt than Bill Clinton.

Herein lies the crux of the matter. Newt is by far the best chance Republicans have of reclaiming the White House. Mitt Romney is a Morman and that makes him very unelectable to the general populace who think Mormons are a little crazy. Santorum comes across as a super rich egalitarian with no grasp on the problems of common people. Newt is by the far the most intelligent and experienced candidate left with a chance of winning. Do you give him a pass on being an immoral man? If he gets a pass, do you then have to give Bill Clinton a pass?

Making Lemonade

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:32:23 -0800

Like most other professions, in real estate, experience makes a world of difference. Lately I have come across several potential deal killing situations that I have been able to turn into windfalls for my clients. If the same situations had occurred at the beginning of my career, the outcomes may have been much different. The experience I have gained over the years has given me the ability to find solutions to problems that would have been insurmountable for an inexperienced Realtor. In the next section, I will provide a few examples.

1. Faulty Construction – Recently I had a property in escrow that had several major issues turn up during the home inspection. The most serious of which was the fireplace in the master bedroom seemed not to be properly supported in the subarea of the home. Due to my suspicions, I went to the building department and viewed the original plans for the house. As I suspected, the plans showed the fireplace was supposed to be built in the north east corner of the room and instead had been built against the far south wall. How this slipped by the County Inspector, I’ll never know, but the floor was not properly engineered to support the weight of the fireplace the way it was situated in the room. With this information I was able to get the seller to come down $100,000.00 off of the agreed purchase price. It cost my client far less to have the work done to properly support the floor. In short, he saved many thousands of dollars because I was able to ascertain there was an issue and then was able to properly negotiate a satisfactory amount off the price to make the deal go through.

2. Low Appraisal – Due to the Home Valuation Code of Conduct we have experienced a rash of bad appraisals up here in Big Bear Lake California due to incompetent appraisers taking assignments in areas they have no business working in. In many cases a low appraisal will destroy a deal faster than anything else. However, in the right situation, a low appraisal can be of great benefit to your client. I remember the first low appraisal I was confronted with back in the day. I and my buyer were both panicked over it and I went to work right away requesting a reappraisal to try to get the value closer to what it was worth. One thing you learn very quickly is appraisal companies almost never admit they got an appraisal wrong. It makes them appear incompetent, especially if it occurs in an area they have no business being in. The last time it happened, I went to work right away finding comps that supported the lower value on the property. Once I found them, I packaged them together along with an addendum lowering the purchase price to the price the appraiser came up with. In many instances a seller will lower the asking price to the appraised value due to the fact that the next buyer will, in all likelihood, run into the exact same appraisal issues as your buyer. The last time this happened, my buyer ended up getting $20,000.00 off the agreed upon purchase price.

3. Short Sale Success – Dealing with short sales is definitely one of the most trying issues facing new agents in the business. They are very tricky and filled with pitfalls for the inexperienced Realtor. I have come to realize that the most important thing for a seller in this situation is to get a warm buyer to start the process. Many times the bank won’t even talk to you unless you have an offer to present. As the Realtor, it is your job to price the property at a price that will bring in a great deal of attention from buyer’s and still have a good chance of being accepted by the bank. Even if the first offer is rejected by the bank, you will have started the process and know exactly what amount it will take to get the deal closed. If you are representing a buyer, the most important thing is to counsel patience and let them know to be prepared for the bank to ask for more money and to reject things like termite work and home warranties.

These are just a few examples of the ways an experienced Realtor can be a great boon to buyers and sellers engaging in real estate transactions. As a consumer, it only takes a little time to google a potential Realtors name and find out what other people have to say about them. Don’t be afraid to ask for references and never use somebody attempting to work outside their area of expertise, especially in an area like Big Bear Lake. If you do decide to use somebody new to business, make sure they have great broker support and work for a reputable firm.

Originally Posted At www.mypropertysolution.com

Beware of Seller

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:29:33 -0700

It is a well-known fact that it is a buyer's market. Due to high inventory and low prices, buyers can usually count on being in the driver's seat. But this is not always the case. There are many situations in which a seller will be difficult to work with or actually be in control of the transaction. If you are a buyer and run into any of the following scenarios, be warned that control may have shifted.

•1. The home you are interested in is new to the market. If a home has only been listed for less than a month and it is priced well, the seller may not be inclined to consider anything that is not close to full price. In many instances, the seller will feel like they need to give their price enough time to see if it works. It can be very frustrating if the home is overpriced but a perfect fit for the buyer. As a buyer you never want to over pay but it can be very stressful waiting for a price reduction, all the while hoping somebody else doesn't come along willing to pay the high price.

•2. The home has been on the market for a long time without any price reductions. This is a sure sign that the seller is convinced his property is priced right and he is willing to sit on it as long as it takes to get it sold. This is common in instances where the seller owns the property outright and is not burdened with monthly mortgage payments. In some cases, the seller is simply delusional and refuses to see what his home is really worth. These sellers are very difficult to deal with for both the buyer and the sellers Realtor.

•3. Your first offer is met with either no counter or a very low counter. If you make a bid on a property and the seller refuses to even respond, chances are they are not ready to come down very much off the price. Of course, if your first offer was ridiculously low, the blame lies with you. I am talking about an offer that is not less than 15% off of the asking price. If you make an offer within 10% of the listing price and they don't respond or only come down a very small amount, you can be sure you are dealing with a seller prepared to drive a hard bargain. It is up to you whether you want to continue or start looking elsewhere.

•4. Bank Owned listings are very difficult to lowball. You would think it would be the opposite, but it's not. In many cases, the banks price the properties to sell and because they are already priced low, they will not come down very much off the price. Even if an REO property is overpriced, the banks would rather just wait a month or two and then lower the price than take anything much below 5% of the asking price. I have had personal experience where I presented the same offer every month, for four months in a row, before the bank finally accepted it. Since Bank Owned properties are usually priced fairly well, you can get a great deal most of the time.

•5. Keep in mind, if you manage to get into escrow in any of these situations, the seller will most likely be very uncooperative when it comes to making repairs. In almost every instance I have been involved in, the seller will not want to make any repairs or help out in any way. They usually feel like they are giving the property away and refuse to pay anything to get the home in better shape. This is not always the case, but it something as a buyer you need to be aware of.

One strategy I have seen be fairly successful in these situations is to make a good offer and then walk away if the seller is not willing to bend. In many cases I have had the listing agent call after a week or so to see if my buyers were still interested. Oftentimes, the seller will not get another offer right away and will start to second guess themselves and start to think that maybe they should have not been so hasty in rejecting the offer. In many cases, the first offer is the best offer and the longer a home remains on the market, the staler it becomes. The most important thing for a buyer looking for a good deal is to be able to walk away from something that does not benefit them. If you are too eager, you will play right into the seller's hands.

Originally published at www.mypropertysolution.com

How To Be A Champion For Your Client

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:36:03 -0700

Early this week I had the pleasure of meeting a great couple who were looking for a new buyer's agent in my area. They had been working with a different Realtor for almost a year and had not had any success in purchasing a vacation home in Big Bear. As I listened to their story, it became more and more evident that they had been using somebody who was not versed in the art of being a superior agent for their client's. Many realtors seem to think that all there is to representing a buyer is getting them in the car and opening the front door of the listing for them. They don't do the things that they need to do to insure their client is represented in a quality manner. In order to clarify my statements, I am going to list what I feel are the five most important traits of a fantastic buyer's agent.

•1. Listen carefully to what your client's have to say to you. You are the expert and they are depending on you to find them the home that best fits their needs. If you don't take everything they say into account, you will waste hours of their time, showing them properties they are never going to buy. When I took the couple out I mentioned above, the Wife said to me " Wow, Izzy, we have seen more good properties in one day with you than we did in a year with the other guy!" All because I stopped talking and listened to what was being said to me.

•2. Know your inventory. This is the most important part of your job. Every buyer in the world is online and looking at all the listings every day. Many times, they will see a property before you do. Mainly because you are playing with your kids after work while they are scanning the web looking at everything for sale. Redfin, Zillow, Trulia, etc are able to pull the listings off of the MLS where home buyers can see them. In order to have better knowledge than your clients, you need to get off your butt and actually go out and look at the properties in person. The pictures usually don't tell the whole story, and if you can fill in the blanks, you have gone a long way in proving your worth. If you know the five best deals in each price range, you are on your way to being a major asset to your client's.

•3. Understand your market. Are home values in a particular neighborhood going up or down? Have any homes nearby sold recently? If so, what did they sell for? Are there more or less homes for sale than other areas? If so, why? Are there any issues with noise or the road being busy? In short, you need to know your market to the utmost of your ability. How can you tell a buyer a house is a good deal or not if you don't know what is going on in that market? You can't.

•4. Be proactive. Study all applicable MLS's every day. Make sure you are aware of anything that could interest your client and get them that information ASAP. If something looks especially good, jump in your car and drive out to see it. Take your camera or video camera with you. Get your buyer the information so they can move quickly if they need too. The great deals don't last long and an hour delay can be the difference between your client getting a solid buy or being left out in the cold.

•5. Sharpen your negotiating skills. Once you have found your clients a home they want to buy, it is up to you to get them the best price possible. This doesn't mean you just take 20% off the price and go from there. In many cases, you need to have enough market savvy to properly advise your clients what to do. If a home is already priced to sell and is garnering a great deal of interest, coming in low could be the worst thing you could possibly do. You need to be able to tell your clients the truth of the situation and help them the write the best offer possible to get them the home. If you are not good at the rest of the list, you will not be good at this.

The world of real estate is filled with agent's who have cars and electronic key boxes that can open doors. They often have lots of little letters next to their names and pictures of themselves holding dogs. Many of them have been in business for years and can manufacture cheerful banter. They can write an offer and fax it over to another office. Anybody can do these simple tasks. It is the Realtor who takes the time to perfect his craft and put in the work to be excellent that you should pursue. Don't be pulled in by the glamour shot taken at the mall or the fancy business card. Ask some questions and make sure you feel confident the person you are talking to can do a great job representing you. It's important.

Originally posted at www.mypropertysolution.com

Have Your Ducks in a Row

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:29:19 -0800

Believe it or not, the real estate market in Big Bear is very competitive at this time. Like every market, there are good deals and there are bad deals. If you are in the majority of buyers who are looking for a great deal, you need to have all your ducks in a row before you will have any chance of success. If you take the time to make sure you have everything in order you will have an excellent chance of beating out anybody else who has not done the same.

•1. Make sure you are preapproved before you start seriously looking. When you make an offer, having a preapproval letter gives you instant credibility and a definite advantage over a buyer who doesn't have one. Most banks won't even look at an offer on a bank owned listing if the buyer is not preapproved. Most importantly, it lets you know exactly how much you can spend and what that credit will cost you.

•2. Find a good local Realtor you trust. This one is right up there with the preapproval letter. A local Realtor who knows and watches the market is an invaluable asset in your search for the right property. There are many out of area agents who will try to tell you that they can do just as good of a job as a local Realtor. If anybody tells you that, turn around and walk away because they are not being truthful. I study this market every day, all day long and it is all I can do to keep on top of things. There is no possible way somebody who does not service this area can even do half of good as a job as somebody who is a local expert. A local Realtor watches the market and can let you know the second a property that matches your needs becomes available.

•3. Time is of the essence. When a great deal hits the market, it is imperative that you are ready to snatch it up ASAP. Sun Tsu said "The acme of skill is to win a battle without fighting." This is especially true in real estate. If you can make a great offer and get it accepted before another buyer has a chance, you have just saved yourself a great deal of money. Nobody wins in a price war.

•4. Do your homework! 90% of buyers start their search on the internet, and you should too. Going on line and studying the listings in the area you want to buy is a great idea. It not only gives you an idea of what is available, it also allows the ability to get a good grasp of the local market. Once you see what things are selling for and what is actually selling, you will become an informed buyer and better able to make a good decision.

There are always stories about how somebody, somewhere, got lucky and landed the deal of the century. I am a big believer in making your own luck. By being prepared and doing your homework, you will be amazed at how lucky you can get. I would love the opportunity to earn your business and put my local knowledge to work for you. I can be reached at izzy.barden@gmail.com or 909-273-8980.

First Offer, Best Offer

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:25:30 -0800

When it comes time to negotiate, most folks are conditioned to believe that there are immutable rules that must be followed. What immediately comes to mind is a merchant's stall in Morocco where the buyer and seller smoke a hookah together and banter back and forth until an agreement is made. The seller always starts high and the buyer always counters low. Then the seller comes down a little and the buyer comes up a little until they reach an amiable agreement that benefits both sides. The buyer leaves with his new rug feeling like he got the deal of the century, while the seller chuckles to himself about the rube that overspent on a rug he bought at wholesale. In today's real estate market, it is not that simple.

As a matter of fact, this kind of thinking can have very negative consequences in today's market. It seems like almost every buyer I work with starts out with this mentality and it is very hard to get them to change their way of thinking. Even when a property is priced perfectly, most clients have this idea that they need to start low or they won't be giving themselves the opportunity to make the best deal. They don't want to beak the sacred laws governing the whole process of coming to an agreement. In many cases, this is the wrong approach entirely. You have to take into account the consequences of not acting quickly to wrap up a property you really want to buy. By coming in too low, you will actually cost yourself money. By not putting your best foot forward, you are giving another buyer the opportunity to put in an offer and force a best and final situation. Even worse, if your initial offer was weak and your competitors offer is strong, they may just discount your offer entirely and choose to deal directly with the other buyer. Even though you are willing to go higher, you might not get another shot.

In order to be sure you will get a fighting chance, you need to write an offer knowing that your first offer may be your only shot at buying the property. I always tell my clients to make sure their first offer is something that has a chance of being accepted. If the house you want to buy is priced correctly and is a good deal, a full price offer is always a great way to go. You can wrap the house up right away and take any other buyers out of the equation. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have had buyer's try to cut a couple of grand off a house they really wanted to buy, only to end up having to spend thousands of dollars over the list price because they didn't listen to me. It is even worse when they lose the house entirely to another buyer because the other buyer came in strong and didn't try to nickel and dime the seller. If you want to buy a house that nobody else is remotely interested in, forget everything you have just read. If you want to buy a property that is well priced and will probably garner a great deal of interest, remember that, sometimes, your first offer should be your best offer.

Homepath Lending Rocks

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:40:24 -0700

I just wanted to take a minute to tell everybody out there about how great Homepath lending really is. I have sold six properties this year with the Homepath program, and they have all been very easy transactions. For those of you who have never heard of it, Homepath lending is a program offered by Fannie Mae on select bank owned homes in their portfolio. With the utter lack of programs designed to help buyers get into homes with a low down payment, this can be a godsend to buyers.

One of the main benefits of the program is a low down payment. Qualified first time or primary home buyers can get in with as little as 3% down. Second home buyers can get in for only 10% down. Another huge advantage is the fact that Homepath does not require an appraisal on the subject property. With the huge amount of incompetent appraisers blowing deals in our area, this is fantastic. Since appraisals can range anywhere from $300 to $600 dollars, this is a big savings right off the bat.

Homepath borrowers also are not required to pay PMI insurance. If you don't know what that is, it's a monthly insurance premium that mortgage holders force homeowners to pay if they put less than 20% down at the time of purchase. This also is a big savings. Which is usually around $100.00 a month. Homepath also will usually contribute towards the buyers closing costs. If the offer is written correctly, that is.

To find out what properties in your area qualify, go to www. homepath.com and type in your information. A list of all the Fannie Mae properties will appear, as well as information as to which ones qualify for the program. For help with Big Bear properties I recommend Martha McKinley at Guild Mortgage (909) 866-6856 to get you preapproved with a homepath loan. After that, contact Joe or me to get an experienced Realtor in your corner. We both have a great deal of experience with these properties and would love the opportunity to use it for you.

Be Prepared, Be Pre-Approved

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:54:36 -0700

I just wanted to take this opportunity to reiterate a point I have brought up time and time again. If you are planning on buying a home, bank owned or not, your first order of business is to get preapproved. If you do not take the time to complete this essential step, you are setting yourself up for failure. Why go to all the trouble of finding a property, writing it up and getting your offer accepted, only to have your hopes dashed before your eyes? I know I have addressed this before, several times, but I think it is worthwhile to revisit the subject.

Being preapproved gives you instant credibility with a seller. When you present your offer to the seller, accompanied by a preapproval letter, it automatically lets the seller know that you are a buyer to be taken seriously. It also lets the seller know that you have taken the time to make sure you can actually purchase the property. I would never counsel a seller to accept an offer from someone who was not preapproved.

Being preapproved gives you the ability to move quickly when a property you want to buy comes on the market. Currently, in the Big Bear market, there are a great many buyers looking for a great buy. When one comes on the market, there can be many buyers making on offer on it. If you are preapproved and ready to buy, many times you can get in before the property gets noticed and buy it before anybody else has a chance to make a move. If you need to wait a few days to get preapproved, you have lost your advantage and will most likely have to get into a bidding war.

Being preapproved lets you know exactly how much of a house you can purchase. This can save you from wasting time looking at homes you can't buy. I can't tell you how many times I have been told by a buyer " Don't worry, my credit is excellent and I can buy this house with no problem", only to find out they actually cannot buy the home because it is out of their price range or they have too high of a debt to income ratio. Knowing your limits is a very valuable thing in looking for a home that is going to be a good fit for you.

Lastly, being preapproved is required to purchase a bank owned property. That's right. If you are not preapproved, a bank will not even consider your offer. If an offer is not accompanied by the preapproval letter, the asset manager won't even open it. Since most of the best buys on the market are bank owned homes, it only makes sense to position yourself to be able to purchase one. It takes a little effort, but it will make your home buying experience a much happier one.

Big Bear Lake REO Blog

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:43:16 -0700

Today I am speaking about Fannie Mae bank owned homes and how they differ from other REO"s in Big Bear Lake Ca. If you have any questions on Big Bear real estate, please contact me at izzy@thetimwoodgroup.com .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVUyDym03OQ

Short Sale Reevaluation

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:12:36 -0700

-Israel Barden

I have always been taught that it takes a real man to admit when he is wrong. Or, in the case of short sales, at least partly wrong. Anyone who has been reading my blog for any length of time knows that I have never been much of a fan of short sales. In fact I have written on many occasions that the only thing a short sale does is cost you your clients. Recent events have led me to reevaluate my position.

The market in Big Bear is red hot at the moment. Just about every bank owned home that comes on the market is receiving multiple offers and selling for substantially over the list price. The competition is fierce and if a buyer is not very aggressive, their chance of getting the deal is not very high. In the current climate, if you are not ready to go at least ten percent over list price, it may not even be worth the effort to put in an offer. After losing out on several deals, I was forced to look at my strategy for buyers who are not interested in getting into a price war, but are still serious buyers. In short, I started to take short sales more seriously. Believe it or not, I have been having success.

In many cases, short sales are just as good of deals as bank owned homes. They just take longer to get done, up to three times as long in many cases. The question is, would you rather be patient and get a great buy or be impatient and end up with nothing? For buyers who can wait, short sales can be a very good deal. For one, because they are notoriously difficult, there usually is not even close to the amount of interest that a bank owned home generates. If you make a good offer, chances are you will get it with no competition. Then the waiting begins.

There are a few things short sale buyers need to keep in mind. Short sale sellers are able to sell their homes for less than they owe because they can prove a financial hardship. This means they have proven to the bank that they cannot afford to pay their mortgage. This means that there probably is not going to be any money to pay for any sort of repairs. If you decide to buy a short sale home, be prepared to buy it "as is ", with no repairs of any kind being done. Also, in many cases, the seller will not agree to pay for the section 1 termite repairs. Don't expect a home warranty either. Basically, be happy with the great price you are getting.

The chance of a short sale succeeding depends a great deal upon the listing agent and how competent they are in dealing with these transactions. If the listing agent is a full time professional Realtor with a ton of experience, the odds are in your favor. If the listing agent is a full time housewife who dabbles in real estate on the weekends, the odds are very poor. This is where my expertise comes into play. I can tell you whether a short sale has any kind of chance of being successful and I know how to structure an offer to make sure you are in a good position entering the deal.

In conclusion, bank owned homes and short sales are both great options for getting a good buy on a home in Big Bear. It is really just a matter of preference and what kind of buyer you are. No matter what the case, I can get the job done for you. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or to schedule a time to view property. Izzy@thetimwoodgroup.com or 909-273-8980.

Lowballing An REO Property

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:21:01 -0700

Let's get one thing straight. In most instances, the days of being able to lowball a bank owned property are over. There, I said it and I mean it. You used to be able to attempt it a few years back when there was a glut of properties and no buyers. Things have changed. Inventory is down by 50% and sales are up by 35%. This means there are much fewer houses to choose from and a much larger number of buyers to compete for what is available.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen buyers lose a property because they refuse to understand this fundamental change in our market. If you see a house that you think is a great deal, I guarantee there are at least one or two other people who feel the same way. These people are also going to be putting in bids on the home in question. If you put in a low bid, you just took yourself out of the equation. In many cases, the bank will only respond to the offers they feel are the best. Odds are, you will not be given a chance to up your bid. In many instances, your first offer is your best offer. Many listing agents don't even want to get into all the drama of dealing with multiple offers. If a clean, all cash offer comes in, they will just advise the bank to take it as it is a " sure thing ."

In many cases, banks are pricing REO's below value to start a " price war." This strategy is very successful. The bank puts a home on the market substantially below value and watches the offers roll in. They then issue a best and final counter to all parties and take the highest offer. Recently, I had an opportunity to see this first hand. A nice home next to open acreage came on the market at $204,000. My clients loved the house, but I knew it was going to garner a large amount of attention. I advised them not to write an offer unless they were willing to go up to at least $230,000 or so. Since they did not want to spend that much on a vacation home, we didn't write an offer. I saw it closed last week at $255,000. That is just one example of how this system works.

There are a few instances where a lowball strategy can be successful. The most obvious case is where a home is overpriced and sitting on the market. These sellers may be getting tired of waiting and be willing to bend on price. However, you must take into account the fact that the house is overpriced to begin with. Even if you do manage to get a significant price decrease, you are probably only doing a little better than market value. If a home is in really bad shape, and you are handy, you may have a good opportunity to get a deal. Most people are not interested in a home that needs a ton of work and that may present a good chance for you to get a deal.

Keep in mind the fact that these homes are good deals to start with. In most cases, even if you have to go over list price, you are getting a great buy. When you are buying a house for 50% of what was paid for it a few years ago, you have no cause to complain. If you take the time to really put things into perspective, only then can really go about getting a good buy on a bank owned home.

Big Bear Lake Market Snapshot

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:40:05 -0800

-Israel Barden

Hello everybody. Thank you very much for taking the time to read The Big Bear REO blog. March is finally here and winter is on it's last legs. Thank goodness. I like snow as much as the next guy but, this year was ridiculous. I am a lifetime resident and I can never recall getting five feet of snow in a single storm. It looks like we may still get a couple of snow storms before it is all over, but hopefully they will not be as prodigious as the last few. I was looking at the numbers for the year so far, and thought it might be something our readers would be interested in.

Currently we only have 658 properties listed on The Big Bear MLS. I say " only " because I have seen the number up around 1200 within the last couple of years. This means there are only half as many properties for sale as there were in 2007. While this is still a buyers market, it is also good news for sellers. If you are astute enough to price your property to sell, the odd's are in your favor that you will attract quite a few motivated buyers. If you insist on ignoring reality and pricing your home at an inflated price, I'm afraid it will be the same old story. Yes, your home will sit and sit while prices decline.

Of the 658 homes listed for sale, 60 of them are bank owned properties, with another 60 listed as short sales. This means short sales and bank owned properties make us less than 25% of the homes for sale in our market. For folks in the market for a distressed property, this is a telling statistic. Because so many buyers are looking for REO's, the competition is fierce. Don't be surprised if there are four or five offers on the house you want to buy.

Year to date, so far, we have had 130 properties close escrow. Since most escrows are taking around 45 days, this number is actually better than it sounds. Of this number, 63 were bank owned properties and 12 were short sales. Even though bank owned homes make up less than 25% percent of the listings, they are accounting for over half of the sales. Can you say " Driving the market?"

Currently we have 167 properties listed as pending, contingent, or active contingent. Basically, these properties have accepted contracts and have a good chance to close. Of the 167 properties under contract, 67 of them are short sales and 53 of them are bank owned. This is a huge percentage. This statistic really shows you just how much bank owned homes and short sales are affecting what is happening. Because short sales take an average of three months to close, this skews the stats a little bit. Most of the pending short sales have most likely been pending since before the first of the year.

Hopefully this has helped to clarify what is going on at the current time. According to everything I have been reading, foreclosures are going to be driving the market for the foreseeable future. If you are in the market for a property in Big Bear, it is essential that you find somebody who understands the market and is experienced in bank owned and short sale purchases. I would only be too happy to offer my services. If you would like to discuss real estate in Big Bear or have any question, please do not hesitate to contact me at 909-273-8980 or izzy.barden@gmail.com

Obama Soft On Terror?

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:55:46 -0800

If you believe everything you read in this group, you might think so. I have read many posts on here decrying the President for being soft on terror and canonizing George Bush as some sort of saint who protected us from harm. I happen to believe that Bush went around with a sledgehammer stirring up hornets nests. Obama, in my opinion, is doing a much better job of fighting Al-Queda. Instead of killing people and invading countries that had nothing to do with 9/11, he is actually killing members of The Taliban and Al-Queda. During Bushs' term we knew where the terrorists reall were. Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, and most of all Saudi Arabia. Instead of concentrating all of our resources on killing the terrorists, we went into Iraq to settle old scores. This article I am about to print, shows a little bit about we can be successful in the War on Terror without being Imperialistic d#$%s.

Evolving U.S. strategy widens assault on terrorists

By MATT APUZZO

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON -

In the early months of his presidency, President Barack Obama's national security team singled out one man from its list of most-wanted terrorists, Baitullah Mehsud, the ruthless leader of the Pakistani Taliban. He was to be eliminated.

Mehsud was Pakistan's public enemy No. 1 and its most feared militant, responsible for a string of bombings and assassination attempts. But while Mehsud carried out strikes against U.S. forces overseas and had a $5 million bounty on his head, he had never been the top priority for U.S. airstrikes, something that at times rankled Pakistan.

"The decision was made to find him, to get him and to kill him," a senior U.S. intelligence official said, recalling weeks and months of "very tedious, painstaking focus" before an unmanned CIA aircraft killed Mehsud in August at his father-in-law's house near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

It was not the first airstrike on Obama's watch, but it marked the first major victory in his war on terrorism, a campaign the administration believes can be waged even more aggressively than its predecessor's. Long before he went on the defensive in Washington for his handling of the failed Christmas Day airline bombing, Obama had widened the list of U.S. targets abroad and stepped up the pace of airstrikes.

Advances in spy plane technology have made that easier, as has an ever-improving spy network that helped locate Mehsud and other terrorists. These would have been available to any new president. But Obama's counterterrorism campaign also relies on two sharp reversals from his predecessor, both of which were political gambles at home.

Obama's national security team believed that the president's campaign promise to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq would have a side benefit: freeing up manpower and resources to hunt terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Intelligence officials, lawmakers and analysts say that approach is showing signs of success.

Obama also has sought to reach out to Islamic allies and tone down U.S. rhetoric, a language shift that critics have argued revealed a weakness, in an effort to win more cooperation from countries like Yemen and Pakistan.

For example, though Pakistan officially objects to U.S. airstrikes within its border, following the Mehsud strike, the U.S. has seen an increase in information sharing from Pakistani officials, which has helped lead to other strikes, according to the senior law enforcement official. He and other current and former officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.

Pakistan's cooperation is key to U.S. counterterrorism efforts because much of the best intelligence still comes from Pakistan's intelligence agency. Ensuring that cooperation has been a struggle for years, in part because Pakistan wants greater control over the drone strikes and its own fleet of aircraft, two things the U.S. has not allowed.

"The efforts overseas are bearing fruit," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a strident critic of Obama's domestic counterterrorism policies who said Obama has at times shown himself even more aggressive than Bush in his use of force overseas. "I give them generally high marks for their efforts to capture and kill terrorists in Pakistan, and they're pushing the envelope in Yemen."

CIA drones, the remote-controlled spy planes that can hunt terrorists from miles overhead, are responsible for many of the deaths. Drone strikes began increasing in the final months of the Bush administration, thanks in part to expanded use of the Reaper, a newer generation aircraft with better targeting systems and greater, more accurate firepower.

Obama has increased their use even further. A month after Mehsud's death, drone strikes in Pakistan killed Najmiddin Jalolov, whose Islamic Jihad Union claimed responsibility for bombings in 2004 at U.S. and Israeli embassies in Uzbekistan. Senior al-Qaida operatives Saleh al-Somali and Abdallah Sa'id were killed in airstrikes in December. And Mehsud's successor at the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud, died following an attack last month.

Intelligence officials and analysts say the drawdown of troops in an increasingly stable Iraq is part of the reason for the increase in drone strikes. The military once relied on drones for around-the-clock surveillance to flush out insurgents, support troops in battle and help avoid roadside bombs.

With fewer of those missions required, the U.S. has moved many of those planes to Afghanistan, roughly doubling the size of the military and CIA fleet that can patrol the lawless border with Pakistan, officials said.

"These tools were not Obama creations, but he's increased their use and he has shifted the U.S. attention full front to Afghanistan," said Thomas Sanderson, a defense analyst and national security fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Obama administration has also benefited from stepped-up cooperation with officials in Osama bin Laden's ancestral homeland of Yemen. Authorities there killed 30 suspected militants in airstrikes in December closely coordinated with U.S. intelligence agencies.

Yemen has had a sometimes rocky relationship with the U.S. and was perceived to have an on-again-off-again approach to fighting terrorism, but officials in Washington are cautiously optimistic about a newly strengthened relationship.

Abdullah al-Saidi, Yemen's ambassador to the United Nations, said his country has always been committed to fighting terrorism. But in a fragmented country beset by a growing al-Qaida presence, a rebellion in the north and a secessionist movement in the south, it wasn't always easy for the government to openly align with the United States.

Washington is trying to make it easier with the promise of more money. But perhaps more important, al-Saidi said, were overtures such as Obama's June 2009 speech in Cairo, where he sought a "new beginning" with the Muslim world.

Obama has also abandoned terms like "radical Islam" and "Islamo-fascism," rhetoric that was seen as anti-Muslim by many in the Arab world and which al-Saidi said made it harder for governments to openly cooperate with Washington.

"Just the notion of not equating Islam with terrorism, there is a lot of good will toward him," al-Saidi said. "For the public, it's easier to say, 'Well, it's no longer a hostile power as it used to be.'"

Such international successes have largely been drowned out by the controversy that followed the failed bombing of a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas. When the FBI read suspected bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab his rights and charged him in federal court, Republicans accused Obama of not understanding the country is at war.

"They're trying to be tougher than Bush overseas but different from Bush at home," Graham said. "It doesn't make a lot of sense. They really got the right model for Pakistan and Yemen, but they're really tone deaf at home."

After Obama missed his own deadline to close the prison for terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and backtracked on a plan to prosecute 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a New York courthouse, Republicans saw the Detroit case as an opportunity to renew questions about Obama's national security credentials, Republican strategist Kevin Madden said.

Madden said that Obama's stepped-up strategy overseas doesn't resonate with voters, and Republicans gain little in an election year by acknowledging where they agree with the White House strategy.

"National security politics is driven by events more than it's driven by long-term trends," he said.

Or, as Graham put it: "What resonates with people is what happens in Detroit, more than what happens on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border."

The White House says it see no conflict between broadening the attacks overseas and sticking with the U.S. judicial system at home, where hundreds of people have been convicted on terrorism charges since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

"The president believes that we need to use all elements of American power to defeat al-Qaida, including the strength of our military, intelligence, diplomacy and American justice," said Ben Rhodes, White House deputy national security adviser. "We only weaken ourselves when we fail to use our full arsenal."

Bank Owned Dogfight

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:12:46 -0800

I have always been told that the key to success is practice. If you are planning on buying a property in Big Bear, you need to practice saying " Yes, I realize I may need to pay 10% over list price." Believe it or not, if you are planning on purchasing a well priced bank owned property, that is most likely what you will have to be prepared to do. With low prices and low interest rates, qualified buyers are coming out of the woodwork. In large numbers.

Every single home, that was a good buy, that I have written up in the last six months has had multiple offers on it. Every single one. Even traditional listings that are priced well are getting swarms of activity. The only way to combat this is too be bold. This is no place for timid buyers who want to " see what happens." There is no reason to make a low offer and see, because I can tell you exactly what will happen. You will waste a great deal of your time and end up on the losing end.

On Thursday a really good deal popped up on Hillendale in Big Bear City. I had clients that the house would be perfect for. I went out and took numerous photos for them and made sure the house was as good a deal as it looked. It was better than it looked. My clients drove up early Saturday morning and loved the place. When we got back to the office I called the listing agent. The home already had three offers, one of which was the listing agent's, and she was expecting more. The house was listed at $204,900 and probably worth around $235,000 or so. We discussed the situation and I told my clients if they were not prepared to go to at least $220,000, not to waste their time. Due to the fact that two other Realtors showed up to show the house while we were there, they had little difficulty believing me. They decided to pass and write up a traditional listing we found in Sugarloaf that was priced at only $149,900. Guess what? The next day the listing agent emailed me to inform me that another offer was on the way in. Arrrgh.

The days of low balling bank owned homes is over. The good ones anyway. I am sure if you find a tear down or a home in a very bad location, you could still negotiate a good percentage off the price. On anything halfway decent, you are in for a fight. The one thing in your favor is most people are willing to step over a dollar to save a dime. However, there always seems to be at least one dog in the fight who is willing to do what it takes to win the battle. You have to be prepared to be bold and make your move at the right time to beat them out. If you know there are other offers, make your first offer full price with no fat. That way they will feel compelled to, at least, give you the option of going higher. If you come in too low, chances are they will counter the best offer and not even respond to you. When you get a best and final counter, give your real best and final. Don't play games like you are negotiating for a persian rug in Morocco. Go in strong and leave them no choice but to accept your offer. If you make a commitment to being aggressive and follow through on it, you have a great chance of being successful in purchasing a great home you really want.

Only Fools Rush In

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:35:29 -0800

Have you heard the old saying "Only fools rush in? " In real estate, this can be doubly true. In today's society, we are used to instant gratification. When we want something we don't even have to leave the comfort of our homes. We just go to the website advertising the thing we want, click on the item, provide our credit card information and it arrives on our doorstep a few days later. With this mentality, it is no surprise that some home buyers in today's market expect the same kind of results. They expect to look at a few house's, find the perfect one, put in an offer and have it accepted all in the same day. Unfortunately, it rarely happens that smoothly. Many different scenarios often come into play that can derail even the most carefully laid plans. And even if it is possible, I wouldn't recommend it. Let me tell you why.

First off, it is impossible to get a really solid grasp of the market with only a few hours of viewing time under your belt. To truly understand property values in the area you desire, I feel you need to look around at least a couple of times. Impulse buys seldom turn out well. In fact, if I were to look closely at all my deals that failed to come together, I strongly suspect that most of them were homes I wrote up with clients who were buying on the spur of the moment. If you aren't completely sure of the market and what is available, doubt will probably creep in and make you second guess your decision. I am not saying it is impossible, I have many clients who bought after one day, but it heightens the possibility of failure.

Impulse buys also encounter difficulties because the buyer many times has not taken all the steps to insure that they actually are able to buy a home. I can't tell you how many times I have heard "Oh, this won't be any problem. I have excellent credit and make plenty of money "only to find out the buyer in question actually does not qualify for a loan. Or, if they do qualify, it is not at terms they find acceptable. There are a myriad of fees and taxes that many buyers do not take into account before they decide to make a purchase, especially if they require financing. It can be a very expensive proposition to procure a loan. When you add mortgage insurance, tax impounds , title fees and insurance, etc into the mix, it can be quite a bit more than an unprepared buyer expects to pay.

Lastly, a buyer who is patient has a much better chance of actually finding and buying a home they will truly love. An educated buyer will know the perfect house when they finally find it. They will know it is a great deal and they will know what they have to do in order to buy it. An educated buyer will know when it is a bad idea to try to lowball a home. They will be smart enough to offer an amount the seller will take. Because they have been patient, they will be pre-approved and have all their financing in place to be able to write a strong offer. Also, they will have had time to build a good relationship with their Realtor, and will trust and listen to his advice. There is nothing worse than losing a deal because a buyer who has no clue about the market, refuses to listen to reason and makes bad choices that torpedo their chances to buy a home that they really love. If you are in the market for a property, take some time to learn the market. Look at some of the various internet sites that allow you to see the listings in the area. Talk to a lender and find out what you can afford. Take the time to research local Realtors and contact one you feel comfortable with. Do not use an out of area Realtor unless you want to deal with the frustrations of working with somebody who knows very little about the area and won't know a good buy from a bad buy. Nothing beats local knowledge. Listen to the Realtor you have entrusted with your purchase. Looking at the internet for a few days will not make you more savvy than somebody who deals with the market every day for a living. If you listen to this advice, you will know with a certainty when you find the place you really want to buy. Then, buy it and enjoy the feeling of a job well done.

Originally Posted At www.bigbearreo.com

Al Gore Parody Video

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:12:09 -0800

This clip is hilarious. Al Gore speaking at the public schools about a danger that threatens the entire planet. Global Warming? Nope. None other than ManBearPig!

http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155237

My Government Healthcare Story

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:41:40 -0800

Everybody is going on and on about socialized government healthcare and what the consequences of enacting it may be. I had a rare opportunity to see government healthcare in action two years ago. Back in 2007, my brother announced to the family that his wife was pregnant and they were going to have a baby. Needless to say, we were all excited about the prospect of a new family member. In fact, my wife and I were in the process of trying to have a baby ourselves. Just two weeks after my brother's announcement, we had one of our own. My wife also became pregnant. It was a really cool time for my family.

My brother is a very hard working man. He is a concrete worker and makes a pretty good living when times are good. Times are not good now, and were worse then. My brother went from working 40 hour weeks, to barely making it. With a baby on the way, he was reduced to taking any odd job he could to supplement his income. To his shame, he could not afford the baby on his own and was forced to apply for government aid. He was accepted into the medi-cal program, to help with his hospital expenses. I, on the other hand, am lucky enough to work for a company that provides health benefits to it's agents. Our experiences were very different.

My wife and I were afforded the luxury of being able to pick our own doctors. We went to the The Beaver Clinic in Highland and received excellent care throughout the pregnancy. My brother and his wife had to go to a doctor they did not like and were forced to wait for hours at a time in a waiting room filled with illegal aliens and drug addicts. We were allowed to choose which hospital we were going to have our child at. My brothers family was forced to go the hospital they were told to use.

When my wife went into labor, we were given a private room with a nice, clean bathroom just for us. The television was a nice flat panel and there was even a cushioned bench along the wall were I could sleep in comfort. When my daughter was born, she was never removed from our presence. We were all taken to a private recovery room where we stayed for three days. Nobody was allowed in we did not want in. When they thought my little Keely might have jaundice, they wheeled in a portable light chamber for the room. She never left us and it was a great experience.

When my brother and his wife went into the hospital, it was a very different experience. They were forced to go to Arrowhead Hospital, which is an enormous edifice in the bad part of town. When I went to visit, I had to stand in a huge line to get through a metal detector manned by armed guards. The lobby was filled with illegals, gang members, and low lifes. I felt in danger even though everyone was searched for weapons. My brother and his wife were forced to share a room with an illegal alien family. There were six of them separated from us by only a curtain. I am sure it sucked as bad for them as it did for us. There was no place for my brother to rest. There were only two plastic chairs. The television was old and blurry. Because the father of the other child had to go to work at night, my brother was not allowed to spend the night with his family. He had to make the hour and a half drive home at 8:00pm and then drive back down in the morning when the hospital allowed visitors. After a birth, the mother is in a lot of pain and discomfort and needs to be in a clean, quiet environment. Being forced to share a single bathroom with a group of strangers is not in anyones best interests. As a matter of fact, they took my nephew away from his family all the time. He had to be a communal nursery for long periods of time. When they thought he had jaundice, they took him away from his parents and put him in a light box in a seperate room. The only way you could see him was through a glass wall.

When my brother and his wife finally got the baby home, their joy was short lived. The baby started having trouble breathing and had to be flown in a helicopter to the hospital. It turned out he somehow got a staph infection through his belly button. My brother is convinced that he contracted it through the poor conditions in the hospital. My baby's birth was a much better experience. Being able to pick doctor's I trusted and being in a private, clean environment made all the difference in the world. I am really bummed that my brother had to live through that. Hopefully, he will not have to use government assistance next time.

REO Urban Legends

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:07:54 -0800

It seems like everybody has a story about a cousin or brother in law or long lost Uncle who offered half of the asking price on a foreclosure and got it. It has almost reached urban legend status in this market. I have bad news for people that believe this story. There are no giant alligators in the sewer. If you say Bloody Mary three times in front of a mirror, she will not appear. Even more terrifying, there are no bank owned properties in Big Bear that you can buy for half of the list price.

As a matter of fact, writing lowball offers is a sure way of losing out on a property you might really like. When an asset manager sees an offer that is over 10-15% low, they automatically put that offer into the crank file. Usually, they don't even bother countering an offer that low. When they do counter, it is usually for $100.00 off of the listing price. The only thing that happens when you write a really low offer is you lose all your credibility. Instead of coming off as a serious, viable buyer who is looking for a good deal, you come off as a shyster trying pick the bones of an unfortunate soul.

When a bank prices an REO property, they don't just pick a random number. They don't price it off of what the remaining loan is. They actually have Realtors give them price opinions on current market value. Then, they price the home at a fair market price. Usually, this a very good deal. Just because there is only $50,000 owed on $200,000 property, does not mean the bank will take $100,000 for it. They will sell you the property for a good, fair price. If you come in at $125,000, they will not even acknowledge you. If you come in at $150,000, they will counter at $199,000. If you come in at $175,000, they will probably give you a real counter to work with.

I am not saying that it is impossible to get a great deal. It is highly possible. You just have to reevaluate what a great deal is. If a home last sold for $350,000, and you buy it for $250,000, you are getting a great deal. You just need to be realistic. Plus, while you are dickering around with lowball offers, the odds are very good that someone who understands what is going on will come in with a respectable offer, and you will lose out. If you think it is a good deal, it is certain that somebody else will too. I feel the best strategy is too give the bank the opportunity to say " Yes."

Is This Racist

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:56 -0800

Almost from the inception of Activerain, I have seen numerous instances of members calling each other names and accusing each other of horrible things. It is not unusual to see someone called a homophobe or a liberal, American hating terrorist in the same blog. This has led me to question whether things I think are funny could be construed as rascist or Non-Pc. In order to ascertain whether I am twisted or not, please watch this video and tell me what you think. I, personally, find it hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5hy2fCASyw

Cool Anti-Communism Cartoon From The 30's

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:47:45 -0700

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVh75ylAUXY&feature=player_embedded

I really liked this cartoon. It is refreshing to go back to a time when everything wasn't so PC. These days you would have a Supreme Court case from some sort of Communist/ Fascist/ Socialist group crying about how this cartoon is misrepresenting their interests. Because we all know how much better everything is when your government controls every facet of your lives.

Yes, this harkens back to a simpler time when our enemies were in plain sight and we were all on the same page. A time when the Constitution still meant something. I hope that one time, somebody like Ron Paul can get elected and help get us all back to where we need to be.

Bank Owned Furnishings

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:24:02 -0700

When it comes to agents that list bank owned properties, they seem to fall into two distinct categories. The first group takes their time and makes sure the house is completely ready to be sold. These agents make sure that the house and yard are clean and presentable. They also post the 18 day notice for the foreclosed owner to remove their belongings. Then, after the 18 days are up, they have everything removed to storage, leaving the house in great shape to be sold.

The other group of agents don't bother with all those steps. They don't wait for the home to be cleaned or, sometimes, even for the tenants to be evicted. They just throw their sign up and put it on the MLS. Because of this, the home is often still fully furnished when it is being shown to prospective clients. This leads to nothing but problems.

Because people have a tendency to covet what they see, furnishings left in REO listings lead to nothing but trouble. You can tell your buyer 100 times that none of the furnishings are going to be included with the sale, and they will still dwell on it and bring it up. Often. Questions about what happens to the furnishings and why they just won't leave them. " Maybe you can call the listing agent and tell him not to do the clean out" is something you will probably hear at least once. Some buyers will go crazy for the mirror over the mantle and insist it must be a fixture. When you tell them it is not, they will insist that you call the listing agent and offer money to buy it. It is not the listing agents property to sell. It is not the banks property to sell.

For all agents out there, be very firm from the start regarding the furnishings in a bank owned home. If you don't, it will cause nothing but problems. You need to quench the desire for that nice couch from minute one or your buyer may start obsessing over ways they can acquire it. Buyers, you need to realize that there is no way you are going to be able to get the furnishings. The bank may be taking the furnishings and throwing them on an enormous bonfire, as you suspect. They still won't give them to you. They may languish in a dust filled storage bin for 20 years until they deteriorate. You still can't have them. Be happy with the great deal you got on the house and let the rest go. Believe me, it's not worth the mental anguish.

Short Sale? Be Careful.

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:03:09 -0700

I just wanted to give out a word of warning to anybody considering buying a short sale property. The house is a short sale because the owner is in financial straits. People in this situation can be a little unpredictable and do things you wouldn't normally have to be that concerned about. Things like stripping the house to the bone for instance.

A few days ago I wrote an offer on a short sale with some clients. It was a good deal on a really clean home in a nice area. Luckily, as I always do, I wrote into the offer that all appliances and fixtures were to be included in the purchase price. Our offer was accepted and I was getting ready to open escrow. Then, the listing agent called me and told me that the seller was going to take all the appliances and fixtures with him but we could purchase them outside of escrow for $2,500.00 . When I told her that we considered the appliances fixtures and would not purchase the house without them, she said she understood and would try to get the seller to come around. He didn't. It soon became apparent that he was probably going to strip everything he could take out of the house and then try to " Sell " it back to my clients outside of escrow in an effort to defraud the bank.

Needless to say, we refused and backed out of the deal. The seller basically bought the house, mortgaged it to the hilt, defaulted on his commitment to the lender, and then wanted to steal even more money from them. I don't know about you, but I found this unacceptable. I can only hope that the bank catches wind of this and puts a stop to it. I wouldn't be surprised if the window coverings, lighting, and bathroom vanities all end up in the sellers garage. Anybody who deals with somebody like this really needs to be on their toes and write everything they expect to come with the house into the contract. Also, make sure you do your walkthrough at the last possible moment. Don't give a guy like this the opportunity to take advantage of you.

Mastermind Of 9/11 Attacks Says He Lied Under Torture

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:19:45 -0700

There are quite a few of us who think that torture is an acceptable way of getting information out of suspected terrorists. The ends justify the means and us stooping to such a level of barbarism is right and good. Even though we become what we hate, we need to get the info at any cost. But what about future costs? Like when the time comes to put these men on trial and it comes out that everything they confessed to was admitted to under torture. Will a jury find the evidence admissable when it was extracted after 181 waterboarding sessions? When you read the statements of the terrorism suspects below, we have made it possible for some people to actually feel sorry for these scumbags. The one terrorist even goes on the claim that he almost died four times due to our interrogation methods. True, or not, we have left the door open for these claims against us. The question remains, is this all worth it? Does making us look as savage as those we fight, work in our favor?

Detainee claims to have lied under CIA torture

AFP/File - File photo of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged organizer of the September 11, 2001, attacks, shortly after ...

Slideshow:9/11 Terror Attacks

Play Video Video:Liz Cheney Defends Her Dad on Torture ABC News

Tue Jun 16, 10:03 am ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, an accused top Al-Qaeda operative and self-confessed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, claimed to have lied under torture by the CIA, according to government transcripts released Monday.

"I just make up stories," he said in broken English, telling a 2007 military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay of an interrogation session during which he was asked about the location of Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

"Where is he? I don't know. Then he torture me," said Mohammed, the self-confessed mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.

"Then I said: 'Yes, he is in this area or this is Al-Qaeda...' I said no, they torture me."

Although he said he made false confessions, in the same hearing, Mohammed had a personal representative read a statement in which he admitted to having taken part in 31 separate terror plots and responsibilities.

Another "high value" detainee, Abu Zubaydah, said he almost died under interrogation.

"After months of suffering and torture, physically and mentally, they did not care about my injuries that they inflicted to my eye, to my stomach, to my bladder, and my left thigh and my reproductive organs... Doctors told me that I nearly died four times," Zubaydah said.

"They say, 'this in your diary.' They say, 'see you want to make operation against America.' I say no, the idea is different. They say no, torturing, torturing. I say 'okay, I do. I was decide to make operation.'"

Zubaydah was the first "high-value" detainee to be subjected to enhanced interrogation approved by the George W. Bush administration, including waterboarding, a simulated drowning method critics say amounts to torture.

A CIA spokesman, George Little, said, "The CIA plainly has a very different take on its past interrogation practices, what they were and what they weren't, and on the need to protect properly classified national security information."

The partially redacted documents were released as part of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to obtain uncensored transcripts of military tribunals held to determine whether detainees were "enemy combatants," a designation that has been dropped by President Barack Obama's administration.

The hearings were closed to both lawyers and the public. Previously released versions of the documents had blacked out most references to prisoner abuse under CIA custody.

Majid Khan, the only US national among "high value" detainees held at Guantanamo, the US naval base in southern Cuba where some 230 prisoners remain, also claimed he had been tortured.

"In the end, any classified information you have is through... agencies who physically and mentally tortured me," he said.

ACLU staff attorney Ben Wizner called on the Obama administration to release more documents related to the CIA's detention program and said the rights group would return to the court to seek a full declassification of the documents.

"The documents released today provide further evidence of brutal torture and abuse in the CIA's interrogation program and demonstrate beyond doubt that this information has been suppressed solely to avoid embarrassment and growing demands for accountability," said Wizner.

Bank Owned Checklist

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:02:32 -0700

Recently, it seems like every time a good bank owned property comes on the market, it is like blood in the water with four, five or more offers coming in. If you want to have a chance at snagging one of these good deals away from the other sharks, you need to come prepared. I have prepared a sort list of things you need to have ready in order to write the best offer possible.

1. Make sure you are preapproved and have your letter with you. This will let you know what you can afford and also let's the selling bank know that you are already approved and can buy the property in question.

2. Have current bank statements and your check book. You will need to write a deposit check and many banks are asking for proof of funds up-front with the offer.

3. Be prepared to go over asking price. If a home is worth $200,000, but only priced at $135,000, you can be sure that somebody else will offer full price for it. If you really want it, you will have to come in even higher. Most banks will give everybody the chance to come in with a " Best and Final " offer, but not always. Sometimes, your first offer is your only shot. Be prepared for this eventuality.

4. If your Realtor is an experienced agent who has dealt with REO properties, listen to their advice. Odds are they have been in a similar situation and they know what to expect.

5. If there are multiple offers, don't ask for a home warranty, termite work, or anything that is not absolutely necessary. The more you ask for, the less chance you have of getting your offer accepted.

While there are many variables that can occur, keeping these five things in mind will help you get the property you want.

My Rant

Israel Barden (RE/MAX Big Bear Village) — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:00:37 -0700

As I see it, one of the big problems the Republican party is facing is the fact that the party has been hijacked by The Religious Right. Instead of a platform of small government and financial responsibility, the right focuses on issues those of us without a religious bent, can't really get behind. I , personally, don't think our government should stick their noses into our personal lives. I don't want to be bombarded by anti-gay propaganda and cries over stem cell research. I don't want to be preached at about family values by hypocrites whose values are no better than anybody Else's.

I don't want to be forced to live under a regime who takes away my rights to privacy and personal choice. I don't want to be governed by religious laws. I want to know that my leader will make choices based on common sense and what is best for the population. Not prophecy or dogma. I don't want to fight any " Holy Wars " or engage in disputes based on 2,000 year old ideas. The best thing for people of faith is too have the government leave them alone to worship as they please.

This really leaves people like me in a serious bind. I don't want to be governed by far left Liberals either. I don't like the idea of taxing the rich into oblivion to prop up the non productive among us. I don't mind giving a hand up, but at some point you have got to start doing something for yourself. Corporate welfare is even worse. Both the left and the right are saving these cretins who robbed us blind. We give them billions of dollars with no restrictions as to how they spend it. It was their criminal spending habits that got us where we are today.

I have no choice but to vote for third party candidates who have no chance of winning. At least it sends a message. How about a party that stands for fiscal responsibility and small government without the " Big Brother " mentality. Keep out of folks private lives as much as possible. A party that is smart enough to realize that overtaxing the money makers in our country is not the best way to do things. A party that will reform the IRS and do away with The Federal Reserve System. A fair tax for everybody. A party that will go the extra mile to strengthen state's rights and allow them more freedom to create their own laws and govern themselves. A party that will realize The War On Drugs has turned into a War On The Poor and will embrace treatment as opposed to imprisonment as the answers to the problem.

Until voters start thinking outside of the box, we are going to be stuck with the same old, same old. They will keep on doing what they have been doing for the last 100 years. The wealthy corporations and special interest groups will keep buying politicians that forward their agenda no matter if it is good for the country or not. They will tell the same lies over and over again. The Democrats will pretend that they are champions of the poor and downtrodden. The Republicans will pretend like they are the party of small government, fiscal responsibility and family values. We have nearly four years to think about it. Use it well.