Woo hoo! We're putting our first REO listing in escrow today! - 03/30/12 08:07 AM
I do a lot of short sales but had made a conscious decision not to go after REO business. It just seemed like too much hassle and I'd heard horror stories about having to pay out of pocket for the repairs & improvements and then wait for months for reiumbursement. No thank you, I said!
But then a couple months ago, I got a call from someone asking if I was interested in an REO assignment. I don't know about you, but I don't like to turn down business when it is presented to me. So I said yes. The caller … (5 comments)

How to Tell the Difference Between a Long Beach Short Sale and a Future Foreclosure - 03/30/12 07:00 AM
Earlier today, I tried again to reach an agent on a short sale listing that’s been on the market for 400 days. I’d left a message yesterday but thought I’d try again. Still no response. Although vacant, there’s no lockbox on the property so I couldn’t show it to my client. She’d hoped to see it because it will be competition for her own property when she puts it on the market.
  
Or, as it turns out, it won’t be competition at all. “That’s not a short sale. It’s a future foreclosure,” my husband said. I realized he’s right. Sometimes you … (4 comments)

If the Ground is Shaking in Long Beach, it May Not be Quaking - 03/29/12 10:47 PM
This morning as I was preparing to leave the house, there was a knock on the door. I was expecting someone to be passing out religious pamphlets. Instead, a young man in an orange vest handled me a pamphlet with information about the Long Beach Geophysical Survey.

“We’re going to be doing a geophysical survey one street over,” he told me. “As a result you may feel the ground shaking.”
 
I had to go to work so I didn’t get to experience the shaking, but I did look through the brochure later.  It explained the convoy of odd looking … (4 comments)

What Are All These Closing Costs We Keep Hearing About? - 03/28/12 06:44 PM
So you want to buy a home and you know there's going to be costs, but you're not quite sure what they are. You know what the down payment is, but how about the "closing costs" people keep mentioning. Colleague Scott Hickinbotham of St. Clair offers a nice breakdown of what you can expect.
Quick tip... your lender may not give you a formal good faith estimate until you find a home and have the actual sales price and loan amount. But many lenders (the good ones especially) will give you a breakdown of what your total out-of-pocket and monthly costs … (0 comments)

Buying a Money Pit--Signs That Could Mean Big Trouble When Buying A Home - 03/28/12 06:40 PM
Most of the housing stock in Long Beach, CA was built between the teens and the 1960s -- which means it's old. Some homes have had systems updated since they were built. And some haven't. Colleague Fred Miller offers some advice for buyers in the Katy, TX area that's just as true for buyers in the Long Beach, CA area. It's far more important to focus on the major systems than the ugly shag carpet!
Via Fred Miller (ReMax Plantation):
Buying A Money Pit! Signs That Could MeanBig Trouble When Buying A Home In The Katy-Richmond Area

  Fred Miller, Re/Max Plantation, FredMiller9@gmail.com , www.RichmondKatyHomes.comOffice … (1 comments)

How To Choose A Lender & Get Pre-Approved in Long Beach, CA - 03/28/12 09:40 AM
Frequently I get calls or emails from Long Beach homebuyers wanting to know if they really need to talk to a lender before they find a house. Absolutely! And you need to talk to a great lender.
Here’s the reasons you need to get pre-approved at the beginning of your home search process:
1)    It helps you determine exactly what price range you should be shopping in
2)    It eliminates the possibility of issues you don’t know about on your credit
3)    It puts you in a strong position once you find a house. Since the inventory is low and demand … (2 comments)

Should I Sell My Long Beach Home or Rent It Out? - 03/27/12 01:30 PM
Frequently I get calls or emails from people wanting to know "How much is my Long Beach home worth?"
Sometimes, they must sell due to a job transfer, a marriage or a death. Other times, they are pondering their options and wondering if it makes sense to sell their Long Beach home or simply rent it out.
There are a number of variables to consider. Certainly price is one of them. What will the home sell for? How much do you owe on it?
 If you sold and you had equity, what would you plan to do with the equity? And … (1 comments)

Grand Prix Roaring into Long Beach Soon! - 03/27/12 09:27 AM
When I travel, there are usually two things that people know about Long Beach: the Queen Mary is here and we have the Grand Prix.
The Grand Prix is coming up soon so mark your calendar. The 38th Annual Toyota Grand Prix is April 13th through 15th. This is a great event where you can get up close and personal (earplugs please!) to the race as it runs through the streets of downtown Long Beach CA. Want more details. You can check the schedule of events or buy your tickets onlien by going to the official site: http://www.gplb.com/
In addition to the race, … (0 comments)

Foil Your Stress with Fencing Class in Long Beach CA - 03/27/12 09:15 AM
Recently I've been looking for something my bored teen can do that would be active yet fun. In my search, I came across an upcoming fencing class.
My son, like many others, loves watching exciting sword fights in movies. So a "Theatrical Fencing for Fitness" class seems like a natural fit. Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. March 31st through May 5th, you can learn to wield a sword. The classes are $20 per session and are offered at 130 Cherry Avenue, Long Beach CA.
Whether you've fenced before or have never held a sword, this class will cover what you need to … (1 comments)

Pricing Your Home To Sell - Be The Realist not The Optimist - 03/27/12 08:37 AM
Whether you're in Illinois or California or probably even Timbuktu, some pricing advice is always true. If you want to sell your home, you should price it appropriately. If you want to keep your home, then it's fine to be optimistic. But starting higher than market value to "see what happens" is never a good idea, as colleague Corinne Guest from Barrington Illinois points out in her recent blog.
Via Corinne Guest - Barrington & Northwest Suburbs Real Estate & Relocation (Managing Broker-Royal Advocate Realty-Barrington):
In life it serves us well to be optimistic about how things are going to pan out. Whether … (0 comments)

If You Only "Sort of" Want To Work with an Agent, Then I'll Only "Sort of" Call You - 03/25/12 04:01 PM
Over the years, I've had hundreds of Long Beach home buyers who call on properties or stop by open houses. They want information but say they aren't sure they really want an agent to help them.
I can hear the wariness in their voice and I understand it. I don't like to be "sold" myself and have gotten the "No-thank-you-I'm-just-looking" line down pat in my years of retail shopping. But buying a house is a bit different than purchasing a shirt or a pair of shoes and there is benefit to obtaining competent professional assistance.
Particuarly in this market where demand outshadows inventory, having an … (3 comments)

If You Have A Terrible Agent – Maybe It's Not The Agents Fault! - 03/22/12 06:52 PM
I sometimes get calls on our listings from unhappy buyers. They say they're working with an agent, but the agent is unavailable, isn't showing them places they're interested in, or that they've made many offers and never seem to get the house but they don't know why. Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind of Tuscon makes some great points in her blog below.
So to those Long Beach home buyers out there who are unhappy, check out these suggestions. I'd also suggest reading online reviews of an agent you're thinking of working with. Yelp and Zillow have lots of agent reviews and you can check … (0 comments)

17 Offers? That Doesn't Sound Like A Buyer's Market! - 03/22/12 06:10 PM
If you listen to the media, we're in a great buyer's market. In the Long Beach CA area, where I work, that doesn't seem to be true anymore - particularly in entry-level price ranges.
Typically we see more homes for sale in Long Beach as we move into the spring season, but in many neighborhoods, inventory is very low. From Bluff Heights and Rose Park to the Plaza and Lakewood Village neighborhoods, there's just not many homes to pick from.
Currently  there are 530 houses for sale in Long Beach CA. Last month, 183 houses closed escrow. That means we have just under … (73 comments)

Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival This Weekend! - 03/22/12 04:22 PM
Are you a chocoholic? Can't get enough? Then this event is for you! The very popular Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival, usually held in February, is coming up this weekend - Saturday, March 24th at 1 p.m..
This year, the festival also has a new name --The Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival & Spring Sweets!
Belmont Shore Businesses will be offering an array of chocolate and other sweet treats. There is no entry fee for the event, but attendees can buy tickets uto purchase the sweets.  Books of twelve tickets are $10 and will be sold the week of the event at the following … (1 comments)

JUST LISTED! Condo in the Lakes, Long Beach CA - 03/22/12 02:37 PM
We just listed a two-story loft-style condo in The Lakes condo complex in Long Beach -- located at 7890 E. Spring Street.
Located near El Dorado Park, this is a bank-owned condo and features fresh paint, hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings.
It has a private patio and overlooks the community pool.
The complex features ponds & streams, fountains and amenities including a pool and spa, tennis courts, recreation room and gym.
 The condo is being offered at $147,000 and comes with a covered parking space.
For more photos and information, visit our website at www.ShowMeHome.com

 
 
… (2 comments)

Price Reduced on Long Beach Pool Home! 4864 Autry Avenue, Long Beach CA - 03/22/12 12:58 PM
We just reduced the price to $499,000 for 4864 Autry Avenue in Long Beach, CA.
 This is a beautiful 3 bedroom home with a large living room and spacious family room. The family room has french doors leading to an outdoor kitchen and a sparkling pool. The home features hardwood floors, a galley kitchen with tiled counters and tons of cabinets and a big master bedroom with attached bathroom.
With close to 2300 sq. ft. of living space, the home has an oversized two car garage. It's located on the edge of the prestigious Lakewood Village area.
For more photos and a … (0 comments)

Price Reduced! 3475 Marna Avenue, Long Beach CA - 03/21/12 01:25 PM
We just reduced the price to $519,000  on 3475 Marna, a 4 bedroom/2 bathroom home in the El Dorado Park Estates area of Long Beach.
This home has a large living room with a fireplace and sliding glass doors to the patio and private garage. There's a two-car attached garage.
The El Dorado Park Estates neighborhood is known for its award-winning school, Newcomb Academy.
For more photos and a virtual tour of this home, please visit our website, www.ShowMeHome.com.
… (2 comments)

Sleeping On The Job? No Problem If You Have The Right Job! - 03/21/12 10:28 AM
My son and I were recently discussing what kind of career he'd like to have. This is a big focus for us right now as he's a senior in high school. He told me that he wants to be a video game tester.
"You think someone's going to pay you just to sit around and play video games all day?" I asked him incredulously.
"Yes," he said. "Why not? Someone has to do it!"
Turns out he may be right.
There are actually people who get paid to do things that most of us would consider easy, fun or relaxing -- … (5 comments)

Spring Cleaning in Long Beach CA? Roundup for Hazardous Waste & E-Trash Saturday, March 24th - 03/20/12 05:09 PM
Doing some spring cleaning and wondering what do with all the paint, old batteries, or defunct electronics?
This Saturday, March 24th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. you can bring household hazardous waste and e-waste to Long Beach Veteran's Stadium, Clark Avenue and Conant Street in Long Beach, CA.
What you can bring: brake fluid, paint, paint thinner, cleaners, pool chemicals, household and car batteries, pool chemicals and paint. Also household electronic waste including computer monitors & CPUs, televisions, printers, and cell phones.
What you can't bring: hazardous waste or electronic waste from businesses, explosives, tires, or white goods such as … (2 comments)

Long Beach CA In The News - 03/20/12 04:10 PM
I was excited to see two articles about Long Beach CA today. Since moving here in 1996, I've adopted Long Beach as my hometown. I spent much of my life moving from one place to another and never landed anywhere that felt as much like home as Long Beach does!
The first article that made me smile was in This Old House Magazine.
This Old House named Rose Park as one of the best historic neighborhoods - across the entire United States. Rose Park is where my husband and I bought our first home in 1996 - a wonderful 1911 … (1 comments)

Top 10 Tips For Selecting Exterior Paint Color For Your Home - 03/20/12 11:45 AM
Over the years I've gotten many calls from homeowners wondering what color to paint their home. A colleague in Fort Lauderdale, FLA offers some great advice for factors to consider when choosing a color.
Via Heather Barber:
A successful color scheme is a scheme that is pleasant to live with and reflects the moods and personalities of the people living in it. A few tips can help you find a right palette for your exteriors:
1. When selecting exterior paint colors, take the fixed colors into account (like the roof, brick, stonework or any stained wood), and make sure all the colors … (1 comments)

Mistakes To Avoid When Selling Your Home. - 03/20/12 11:41 AM
Herb Johnson may be located across the country in Kentucky, but this sage advice holds true for home sellers in CA as well. What you want, need or hope your home is worth isn't ever important to home buyers. They are looking at market values when deciding what to offer for a home.
Via Herb Johnson Northern Kentucky Realtor, Remax (NKYRealty/ REMAX Affiliates):
The US real estate market peaked in 2006. Since 2007 prices have declined, yet many sellers are still in denial about the market value of their homes. Some sellers still struggle to accept the reality of today's real estate market, whether they bought at the … (0 comments)

A Different Kind of Upside-Down House - 03/16/12 04:13 PM
We've helped a lot of homeowners who are upside-down on their mortgages over the past few years and we've sold a lot of unusual homes, but never an upside-down home.
Today, I ran across an article on Yahoo  about a home that is literally upside-down. Inside the home, the furnishings are all upside down and outside, there's an upside-down wheelbarrow and even an upside-down parked car.
 Located in Malaysia, the home's owner was trying to make a statement about the potential impact of unbridled development, which has the potential to turn the world upside-down.
Apparently this is not the only upside-down … (5 comments)

Deadline Expiring on Tax Relief for Short Sales - 03/15/12 04:45 PM
If you or someone you know is considering a short sale of your Long Beach home, you should be aware that a rule regarding tax relief is set to expire at the end of this year.
In 2007. the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 was passed, helping many underwater homeowners avoid taxes on the amount of debt that their lender forgives. Even though the homeowner doesn't see any of the money from the short sale, the lender's loss is considered the homeowner's gain and the lender issues a 1099 reporting that amount as income.
That "income" would ordinarily be … (5 comments)

Question About Localism Channel Posts - 03/15/12 01:37 PM
Hi all,
I've checked the FAQs and can't seem to figure out how to get my posts on the Localism Channel. I've selected it as the channel for several recent posts but they don't seem to show up there. They are local events, which are appropriate for that channel. Some of my other similar posts are there, but not these ones.
Is there a trick to putting the posts on Localism? Is there something I'm missing.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
… (2 comments)

Open House - 4864 Autry Avenue, Long Beach CA - 03/15/12 01:31 PM
We will be holding an open house Sunday, March 18th, 1-4 p.m. at 4864 Autry Avenue, Long Beach (weather permitting).
This is a beautiful 3 bedroom, 1.75 bath home with a huge family room, pool and outdoor kitchen/entertaining area. It has almost 2300 sq. ft.
You can also view more photos, details, and a virtual tour at www.4864Autry.com or see all Long Beach homes for sale on our website, www.ShowMeHome.com.
… (4 comments)

Great Italian Food, Wine, & Long Beach Architecture - 03/15/12 11:59 AM
… (4 comments)

Do You Need a Realtor to Buy a Home in Long Beach, CA? - 03/14/12 06:51 PM
Do you need a Realtor to buy a home in Long Beach, CA? The answer is absolutely yes - you need a good one. And even if you're not planning to buy a home for a few months, you should probably go ahead and select a Long Beach real estate agent.
Some home buyers think they don't actually need a Realtor until they find a house. But they're missing out on a great opportunity. A good, experienced Long Beach Realtor can help you with the planning process, can put you in touch with a great loan officer, can help you explore … (0 comments)

Learn the Ancient Art of Basket Weaving in Long Beach, CA - 03/13/12 02:24 PM
Looking for a fun and different way to spend a Saturday? Want to learn a new skill.
Abe Sanchez, a prominent weaver of Southern California Native American basketry, will demonstrate the ancient art of basket weaving and display hand-crafted native basketry at an upcoming workshop at Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens.
He will also discuss and demonstrate food preparation in the style of the Tongva, the native people of the Long Beach area and the Los Angeles Basin.
Price $10.00 Location 6400 Bixby Hill Road When Saturday, March 24, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. For information and reservations, please … (1 comments)

Looking for a Way to Celebrate St. Patty's Day in Long Beach, CA? - 03/13/12 02:11 PM

Looking for a different way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Want to do some drinking without driving? Check out the Irish Breakfast and Pub Crawl on the Big Red Bus.
Pub Crawl Time: 10:00am-1:00pm (LOADING AT 9:45am) Breakfast Time: 8:00am-9:45am (Guinness + Harp + Irish Coffee available at breakfast!) Pick up: Seaport Marina Hotel LOBBY(6400 East PCH LB, CA 90803)
Cost: $35 
 Ticket Includes:•  3 Irish Pubs w/ no lines or cover charge + drink specials•  Big Irish Breakfast includes eggs, grilled tomatoes, potatoes, mushrooms, Bangers, Rashers of Irish bacon, Irish brown bread, and Black pudding of blood sausage!•  Choice of a … (0 comments)

How to Rev Up Your Home Sale - 03/10/12 03:23 PM
Colleague Barbara Altieri in Connecticut provides some great information for home sellers here. This information is true whether you're in Connecticut or Long Beach, California!
Via Barbara Altieri, REALTOR® Fairfield County CT Real Estate (RealtyQuest, CT Homes for Sale and Real Estate):
How to Rev Up Your Home SaleWe see it frequently…. Houses with accepted offers shortly after listing and others in multiple offer situations.  How are some houses selling quickly and others are just idling among all the other house traffic?Anyone who is selling has likely been advised of these steps to get their home sold quickly by their listing agent; but … (0 comments)

Why Do We Use Daylight Savings Time Anyway? (March 11, 2012) - 03/09/12 08:32 AM
Don't forget that this weekend it's time to "Spring Forward" and change your clicks. Here's some information from a colleague about why we have Daylight Savings Time. And while I don't share her enthusiasm for early mornings (I'm a night owl myself), I do appreciate her explanation and research.
Via CATHY BUREAU, MBA, GREEN, EcoBroker, SFR San Antonio, TX - Real Estate Broker (www.GreenHomeRealtySA.com):
Daylight Saving Time (United States) begins Sunday, March 11, 2012, 2:00am, and ends Sunday, November 4, 2012, 2:00am. Except Arizona and Hawaii. Move your clocks ahead 1 hour in spring and back 1 hour in fall ("Spring forward, fall back)
… (1 comments)

Rocky Horror Picture Show! Still Every Saturday Night in Long Beach CA - 03/08/12 07:29 AM
When was the last time you saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show? Did you know that it is still playing?
  Its time to get out the corset and garters because IT's back every Saturday night at the Art Theater on 4th Street in Long Beach. So is the original shadowcast w/goody bags for your sweet transvestite lovin' audience-participation pleasure! 
The Art Theatre of Long Beach is a return to the Golden Age of Cinema. Originally built in 1924, the interiors and exterior have been restored and updated to current state of the art in comfort, convenience and entertainment technology. For tickets … (4 comments)

Free Yoga Outdoors in Long Beach, California - 03/07/12 03:08 PM
Have you ever wanted to take up yoga but couldn't find the time or the money? We can't help you solve the time issue, but here's a chance to try yoga for free and enjoy beautiful Southern California weather by the beach as well.
Feel the wind, hear the birds, and commune with nature near the bay -- all for a price that won't set you back at all.
Free yoga classes are being offered Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Marine Park at Mother's Beach - East Appian Way and Ravenna Drive. For more information and a map, go … (3 comments)

Long Beach Art Walk Coming Up! - 03/07/12 02:57 PM
With our recent spring-like weather in Long Beach, this is a great time to plan on checking out the upcoming Art Walk. The Art Walk is held in the East Village Arts District on the 2nd Saturday of each month.
For details on participants and the hours they will be open, go to: http://www.artwalklb.com/perform.htm.
The East Village Arts District has a number of great shops and galleries as well as cafes and coffee shops. You can easily make an afternoon or evening of it. Here's a map of the area and places you can check out:

 
… (2 comments)

Just Listed - Long Beach Pool Home - 03/07/12 10:39 AM
We just listed a beautiful Long Beach pool home with nearly 2300 sq. ft. of living space. Located at 4864 Autry Avenue, this home is on the edge of the prestigious Lakewood Village area.
Offered at $519,000, this home features an open floor plan with formal living and dining spaces plus a huge family room with french doors leading to the pool and outdoor entertaining area. Both the family room and the outdoor kitchen area have surround sound speakers. The home has an oversized two car garage, central heat and air conditioning.
For more photos and details, please visit our website … (2 comments)

Just Listed - San Pedro Townhome Short Sale - 03/07/12 10:32 AM
We just listed a 2 bedroom townhome in the Gardens of San Pedro, a lovely condo community near Rancho Palos Verdes.
This beautiful unit features laminate floors, an open floor plan and overlooks a lush greenbelt with mature eucalyptus trees. It has a private patio, a two car garage and central heat and air conditioning. Offered at just $315,000, this is a short sale and is subject to lender approval.
For more information on this condo, please visit our website at www.ShowMeHome.com or call us at 562-896-2456.
… (0 comments)

Short Sale Approval in Long Beach, CA! - 03/06/12 07:55 PM
As many Long Beach short sales as I've done, I still feel like celebrating each time we get an approval. Today was another one!
Just seven weeks ago, I got a call from Long Beach homeowners who'd received a notice of trustee sale. They were facing foreclosure on their home. I met with them on a Thursday, listed their home the next day, put into place a marketing blitz, held two well publicized and well attended open houses and on Monday reviewed offers. By the following Tuesday, we'd negotiated a contract, submitted the entire short sale package to the bank and requested … (1 comments)

Experience Matters When Choosing A Realtor to Help Buy A Short Sale! - 03/02/12 06:48 PM
Over the past several years, I've successfully handled a lot of Long Beach short sales on the listing side, helping our clients negotiate with the bank to sell their homes and avoid foreclosure.
As a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and Pre-Foreclosure Specialist (PSC), I know the ins and outs of working with a number of different banks. When I talk to Long Beach homeowners considering short sale, many of them understand the benefit of working with an experienced Long Beach short sale real estate agent.
Buyers, on the other hand, don't always understand how that experience can benefit them. When … (0 comments)

 
Shannons_new_photos_004 Rainmaker_large

Shannon Jones - Long Beach CA Real Estate

Long Beach, CA

More about me…

The Shannon Jones Team

Address: California Dept. of RE License #01247705

Office Phone: (562) 896-2456

Cell Phone: (562) 335-1965

Email Me

The Shannon Jones Team is a successful, customer-focused real estate sales team serving Long Beach and surrounding Los Angeles and Orange County Communities. This is their blog.
Long Beach Real Estate

Testimonials
135331
' Luckily, we had Shannon to help us buy our first home in Long Beach. She is a real pro to say the least and helped us navigate through the process ... more '
5.0/5.0
by Elise M
135285
' Shannon Jones help me find my first home. I went through 4 realtors before finding her and I'm so grateful that I found her. When it comes to sales, ... more '
5.0/5.0
by Swirl_y


Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog