Why 2010 Could Be the Year of the ‘Short Sale’ | Valerie Fitzgerald | Beverly Hills & West L.A. Real Estate - 01/29/10 08:53 AM
If 2009 was the year of the foreclosure (and loan modification), then 2010 may be shaping up as the year of the short sale.
In the Phoenix metro area, the number of completed short sales, where lenders allow a home to sell for less than the value of the mortgage, increased by 60% in the last three months of 2009, according to Fidelity National Title Insurance Co. In December and January, sales of bank-owned homes fell by 25% from one year ago, while short sales increased by 16% and traditional sales rose by 9%.
For years, real-estate agents have groaned about … (1 comments)

California mortgage defaults drop 24.3% | Valerie Fizgerald | Beverly Hills & West L.A. Real Estate - 01/28/10 07:03 PM
The Obama administration's $75-billion program to help troubled borrowers hold on to their homes appears to be keeping more California families out of foreclosure, data released Wednesday showed, but the relief may be temporary.The number of homes entering the first stage of foreclosure declined 24.3% during the fourth quarter from the previous three months, according to MDA DataQuick, a San Diego real estate research firm. The decline in the default number is significant because any new wave of foreclosures, which could swamp the housing market's recovery, would be preceded by a surge in defaults.So far, thousands of California borrowers have had … (0 comments)

Change is good! What changes are you making? | Valerie Fitzgerald | Beverly Hills & West L.A. Real Estate - 01/26/10 06:29 PM
What changes can you make to positively move your business forward? Without getting overwhelmed with the idea of restructuring your entire business model, think of simple changes, or additions, you can make that will positively and effectively grow your business. Take a look at your systems, your schedules, your expenses, and your goals. Each of these areas could use a little ‘touch up’, so without getting overwhelmed, take a look at these suggestions and decide to make the positive change.
Systems – Systems are the foundation of which you work from. You can think of systems as the guide or rules … (0 comments)

IRS publishes rules for $6,500 repeat home buyer tax credit | Valerie Fitzgerald | Beverly Hills & West L.A. Real Estate - 01/25/10 10:53 AM
If you've been holding back on the new $6,500 federal tax credit for repeat home purchases, you now have all the official IRS guidance you'll need to buy a house, qualify for the credit and pocket the $6,500.
That's because the Internal Revenue Service finally published the rules for the repeat purchase credit along with key details for taxpayers that had been missing since President Obama signed the legislation creating the program Nov. 6.
The IRS posted its revised Form 5405 on its website ( www.irs.gov) on Jan. 15, six weeks after the agency warned taxpayers not to file claims for … (1 comments)

This tax season, know the available deductions for homeowners | Valerie Fitzgerald | Beverly Hills & West L.A. Real Estate - 01/19/10 10:32 AM
“Tax reform is taking the taxes off things that have been taxed in the past and putting taxes on things that haven’t been taxed before.”
– Art Buchwald
Less than 3 months remain before your federal income tax return must be sent to the Internal Revenue Service.
Now is the time to start preparing so you can take all of the deductions and credits authorized by law.
True, you can file IRS Form 4868 and receive a six-month filing extension, but you still have to pay the full amount of the tax you owe for last year, which means you at … (0 comments)

December Delivers Higher Home, Condo Prices | Valerie Fitzgerald | Beverly Hills & West L.A. Real Estate - 01/13/10 08:44 AM
Home prices in Los Angeles County bounced back in December, the first month since the housing bust that the median price for both homes and condos was higher than the year before.
The median price of a home was $348,000, up from $339,000 in November and $345,000 the year before, according to data supplied to the Business Journal by HomeData of Hicksville, N.Y. The median price of condos was $315,000, up from $305,000 in November and $310,000 in December 2008.
But there are signs that the road to recovery may be a rocky one.
The number of homes sold dropped by … (0 comments)

First-Time Homebuyer Credit Questions and Answers: Basic Information | Valerie Fitzgerald | Beverly Hills Real Estate - 01/11/10 02:41 PM
Updated Nov. 6, 2009, to note new legislation. The new legislation extends and expands the first-time homebuyer credit allowed by previous Acts.
The new law:
Extends deadlines for purchasing and closing on a home Authorizes the credit for long-time homeowners buying a replacement principal residence Raises the income limitations for homeowners claiming the credit Q. What is the credit?
A. The first-time homebuyer credit is a new tax credit included in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. For homes purchased in 2008, the credit operates like an interest-free loan because it must be repaid over a 15-year period. The credit was expanded … (0 comments)

Best Real Estate Agents in Los Angeles | Valerie Fitzgerald | Beverly Hills & West L.A. Real Estate - 01/01/10 09:57 AM
L.A. 10: The Best In Los Angeles...
From luxurious estates in Beverly Hills to fun-filled beach homes in Santa Monica, Los Angeles has distinguished itself as a leader in the US when it comes to real estate. And with miles upon miles of homes cascading the LA hills, you_ will be happy to have an experienced Realtor to assist you in your home buying or selling process. Below are the ten best real estate agents in Los Angeles:1. Valerie Fitzgerald – Coldwell Banker Real EstateWebsite http://thevaleriefitzgeraldgroup.comPhone 310-285-7515Address 301 N Canyon Dr Suite #21 Beverly Hills, CA 902102. Todd Michaud – Keller Williams Realty3. Bob Hurwitz … (2 comments)

 
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Valerie Fitzgerald | Beverly Hills | Westside Los Angeles

Beverly Hills, CA

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Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Address: 301 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA, 90210

Office Phone: (310) 285-7515

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