CHANGES AT FHA - 01/28/10 12:24 AM
Buyers intending to us an FHA loan to purchase property in Los Angeles should familiarize themselves with the changes in FHA policy
Via David H Stevens (United States Dept. of HUD):
I wanted to take a moment to make sure you are familiar with events surrounding a sweeping set of policy changes for FHA announced earlier this week. The announcement details the changes that Secretary Donovan promised to deliver by the end of January when he testified before Congress last month.
 
The new policies are designed to strengthen the FHA's capital reserves so we can continue to fulfill our mission of serving … (14 comments)

A Tip From and For the Math Challenged - 01/26/10 07:28 PM
I heard a theory on the news the other day that women are worse at math than men. I personally cannot argue that fact.  I was a total imbecile in what we called maths in school in the U.K.  I am not going to tell you the scores I got in each of the three subjects, arithmetic, algebra and geometry. emember I said "imbecile".  I can add, subtract and divide and multiply, which is just about all that is needed to function in daily life, but when it comes to complicated percentages and fractions, forget it.  I have no idea how … (39 comments)

Echo Park California Market Report - December '09 - 01/26/10 11:19 AM
Echo Park is one of the top growing areas in the U.S.  It's proximity to down town, spectacular views and still affordable housing by Los Angeles standards, draws a diverse population and a good place for first-time home buyers to investigate.
The statistics below, cover the major Echo Park areas (90026), are taken directly from the MLS and are for single family homes.  They also don't take into consideration condos, income property and private sales.
There were 10 sales in the month of December. The most expensive home sold was $786,000 in the hills and $865,000 in the flats. There were … (7 comments)

A Day in Las Vegas - 01/24/10 10:10 PM
Don't panic, I did not rush back to Paris for the weekend, well, at least not the one in Europe. I went to Las Vegas on Friday night for a wedding on Saturday.  I was interested in seeing the Wynn Hotel and the new City Center. Thanks to John Novak's generosity I got the royal tour of the latter. I met John at the Chinese New Year exhibit at the Bellagio and then he took me around the three main buildings - Crystals, the upscale shopping center, Vdara, the condo-hotel, and Aria the casino and all points between including the Veer … (50 comments)

L.A. Gang Tours - Yes, L.A. Gang Tours! - 01/21/10 08:21 PM
There is a new venture in Los Angeles offering tours through Los Angeles gang turf. These are high end specialty tours of top crime scene areas of South Central Los Angeles.  The first tour on January 16th was sold out!  Passengers received a discount of $35 on the regular $100 per head ticket and signed waivers that they were aware they could become crime victims and agreed to put themselves in the hands of ex-gang members who had negotiated a cease-fire in the most violent gang area in the U.S.The objective of these tours, which are scheduled to run once a … (170 comments)

If You Want to be Heard Try Speaking! - 01/20/10 09:02 PM
A post by Haris Dedic got me to thinking about how much we rely on the written word in our everyday communications.  Want to find out how someone is doing, drop a quick email.Want to tell 10 people the same thing, put a group list together and email them all at once.Want to describe your holiday, upload all the photos from your trip and point people to the site, or email the photos to them.This is the easy way out.  You don't feel like getting involved in a long conversation with someone but you want to show you care; what better … (34 comments)

Someone Find This Guy, I Have a Few Words For Him! - 01/18/10 04:06 PM
I have egg on my face now, and all those who were thinking of rushing out here to visit, hang on!!
I can take snow.  I can heat.  I can take winds.  I can take the odd earthquake or two.
What I can't take is RAIN!  If I wanted rain I would move back to the U.K. 
And I think our MLS got wet.  I haven't seen such little activity as got today for a long time bar Christmas Day. We are due for two more heavy storms and 6" of rain this week. Where is this guy......
… (40 comments)

Beverly Hills California Market Report - December 2009 - 01/17/10 05:59 PM

Beverly Hills homes are among the most expensive in the country, most of them north of Santa Monica Boulevard and up into the hills.  The flats of Beverly Hills, south of Santa Monica is a mix of single family homes, condos and multi-unit properties
 
The statistics below are taken directly from the MLS and are for single family homes.  They also don't take into consideration condos, income property and private sales.
12 Listings sold in December '09 up 100% over December '08. The most expensive was $13,000,000 in the hills, and the least expensive was $1,238,050 in the flats.
… (6 comments)

Wonder Why People Want to Live in Santa Monica? - 01/17/10 10:37 AM
January 16th.  Santa Monica Pier.  With wind chill, in the 60s.  It doesn't get any better than this.
By the way, the Ferris wheel was installed around two years ago and the colors change so many times you have to wait a long time to see the same combination.
I wondered why so many people were around today.  Now I know why!
… (26 comments)

I Can Relate - 01/16/10 09:35 PM
No matter how badly last year treated you, just walk tall with your head high,  This is a brand new year baby!
 

… (34 comments)

Foreclosures - Not Over By a Long Shot - 01/15/10 02:15 PM
This is a tell-it-like-it-is video from the Wall Street Jounal's interview with Rick Sharga from Realty Trac.
Just when we thought it was safe to go in the water!
 
 
… (16 comments)

Brentwood Area of Los Angeles Market Report - December 2009 - 01/15/10 11:37 AM

Brentwood is one of the upscale neighborhoods in Los Angeles.  It is a mix of some of the most expensive homes in the Los Angeles area down to apartment living.
The statistics below are taken directly from the MLS and are for single family homes.  They also don't take into consideration condos, income property and private sales.
There were 24 sales in the month of December. The most expensive home sold was $5,600,000 in the hills and the least expensive was $865,000 in the flats. There were only 9 sales in December '08.
The median sales price was $1,767,500 approximately … (7 comments)

Westwood - Century City, California Market Report - December 2009 - 01/13/10 11:54 AM

Westwood, the home of UCLA, which encompasses the area close to Century City, is a mix of some of the most expensive homes in the city down to apartment living.
The statistics below are taken directly from the MLS and are for single family homes.  They also don't take into consideration condos, income property and private sales.
There were 16 sales in the month of December, the highest priced south of Santa Monica Boulevard, at $2,050,000 (high for that particular area), and the lowest was $856,000 in the same neighborhood.
Sales price received versus the listing prices was 97.1%.
Average … (16 comments)

Santa Monica Real Estate - Housing Market Report for December 2009 - 01/12/10 10:28 AM

Santa Monica, Calfornia has not suffered as much as the rest of the California market.  It is one of the more affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles County.
The statistics below are taken directly from the MLS and are for single family homes.  They also don't take into consideration condos, income property and private sales.
There were 18 sales in the month of December with a median price of $1,190,752.  The highest priced home sold for $3,950 in "The Canyon" and the least expensive for $560,000 just east of "Ocean Park".
Sales price received versus the listing price was 93%.
Average … (13 comments)

OK, Now This is Freaky - 01/10/10 08:31 PM
I just posted about getting a robo call about a lost dog in my neighborhood from Find Toto.
I just went out shopping and was in a local Walgreen pharmacy and I see a girl asking where she can post a flyer about her lost dog.  So I decided to tell her about my robo call and Find Toto. Are you ready for this....... She is the person they were calling me about!!!! This is a city of what, 3.8 million people.  What are the chances.
By the way, the site is not free.  The sign-up site is findtoto.com.  .org just … (54 comments)

Do You Know Where Your Dog Is? - 01/10/10 05:20 PM
For the first time I didn't hang up on a robo call.I just got an out-of-state calll with the caller ID saying "Find Toto". How can you hang up on a call with that ID.  I figured I was going to be interviewed for a remake of the "Wizard of Oz."The computer message was simple.  So-and-so has lost their black "something" dog, name of "something."  They gave a full description of the dog and said to call such-and-such a local number if you found it.I thought that was a unique idea.  It looks like the site is completely free.  Check it … (23 comments)

Federal Tax Credit Extended - What You as a Buyer Need to Know - 01/10/10 03:04 PM
 
If you are confused about the Federal Tax Credit and how it applies to you, this is an excellent overview.
Also, there is the possibilty of a California State Tax Credit bill being passed which will offer a credit of $3,333 per year for three years to subsidize homebuyers.
 
Via Debe Maxwell - Search Charlotte Homes for Sale - Charlotte NC Neighborhoods (Helen Adams Realty):
Federal Tax Credit Extended - What You as a Buyer Need to Know Tax Credits are available for both first time home buyers as well as those purchasing primary residences who have owned a home … (2 comments)

Speechless Saturday and Sunday - 01/09/10 07:21 PM
And you thought you had problems:

… (40 comments)

Los Angeles County 2009 Sales Statistics - 01/05/10 12:22 AM
While the median price of Los Angeles County single family residences and condominiums have decreased 18.75% and 11.7% respectively in 2009, the number of sales  increased by 7,404 for single family and 2,045 for condominiums in November.
For single family homes the median sales price in November increased by .03% over September.  Condominium prices decreased by .01%. In both cases the number of units sold has increased.
Overall November was a much stronger month than September when compared to 2008.
With interest rates low and rumored to be on the way up, home prices more or less stable, and a tax … (9 comments)

An Ode to Los Angeles - 01/03/10 09:49 PM
I am back in Los Angeles after two weeks in Europe. Paris is such and incredible city, and London was my home.  But there is nothing like living in Los Angeles. London is incredibly expensive.  I rode two stops on a bus for $3.70.  A cup of coffee in Paris is around $5.  Traffic in both cities is gridlocked.  I don't care what they say about L.A. traffic, it has nothing on London and Paris. I left London with snow on the ground and 32 degrees and arrived in Los Angeles with 82 degree weather - on January 3rd. I needed … (42 comments)

New California Loan Available for Healthcare Workers - 01/02/10 12:16 PM
I was recently introduced to Broadview Mortgage, a lender in California who specialize in CalPERS loans, public employees and CalSTRS loans, employees of public schools and community colleges. They have recently added a new loan to their portfolio, healthcare workers.
This is an exciting new opportunity for almost anyone in the healthcare field to obtain an affordable loan.  The category is broad - medical receptionist, physicians aid, ambulance driver, physical therapist etc.
If you have any questions, especially if you would like to know if you qualify, please let me know. I would be happy to put you in touch with … (18 comments)

Goodbye to Paris - 01/01/10 07:08 AM
Today I leave Paris for London for one day and then back to the U.S. on Sunday and ready to hunker down and make things happen in 2010.
To put things in perspective, or maybe to motivate me, the bottles of wine below are worth $3000.
One day!


… (35 comments)

 
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Jane Peters - Los Angeles Real Estate DRE# 01439865

Los Angeles, CA

More about me…

Power Brokers Int'l

Address: Beverly Hills, CA, 90210

Office Phone: (310) 473-6919

Cell Phone: (310) 473-6919

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A Los Angeles Realtor® specializing in absentee owners, out-of-town buyers and those needing extra assistance with one of the most important transactions of their lives. Just sit back and relax! You are in capable hands.

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