During a DRE required Risk Management course, the trainer asked the group if we knew which U.S. property was the most highly stigmatized property? The group automatically answered that it was the Amityville home, but to our surprise it was not. Believe it or not it's the Brady Bunch home in San Fernando, CA but we'll leave that for another blog.
The fact that the Amityville was not really even on the list surprised me so I did some research. I was surprised by what I found. What was more surprising to me was...who would want to live there, hoax or not? So in the spirit of Halloween I thought I'd share the facts of the mysterey behind the Amityville home!
Does the home really exist?: Yes, the home built in 1924 still stands and presently has new owners. It exists in Amityville, New York.
History: The DeFeo family, Ronald Sr. and Louise, their two young sons, Mark and John, and two daughters, Dawn and Allison, were sleeping peacefully in their comfortable, three-story, Dutch Colonial home in Amityville. The silence of the house was shattered when Ronald DeFeo, nicknamed "Butch", murdered his parents and his siblings with a high-powered rifle in November 1974. Ronal Jr, during his court trial claimed voices made him do it.
In December 1975 the Lutz's purchased the home for $80,000. The family only lived in the home for 28 days and quickly fled the home leaving all their belongings behind. The demonic spirits, they said, had driven them from their home!
Present: The home has sinced passed through several owners since 1976 but none of the homeowners seem to have experienced the paranormal activity experienced by the Lutz's. Instead, due to the home's notority, have had to deal with crowds of visitors coming to the home. Owners James and Barbara Cromarty, 1976-1987, tried to dispel the Lutz's stories but soon found that any publicity, good or bad, seemed to only draw more curiosity seekers! Although they only purchased the home in 1977 for $55,000 they had done many improvements to the home to try to shed the Amityville Horror image. They did sue the publishers of the Amityville Horror book and received a settlement for an undisclosed amount.
The O'Neil family purchased the home in August 1987 for $325,000 but fortunately did not deal with the same crowds the Cromarty's did. They sold the home in 1997 due to the town's high tax rate. The present owner purchased the home for $310,000 but wishes to remain private and refuses any interviews.
He learned, as had the previous owners not to speak publicly about his home under any circumstance.
The Lutz's? They are now divorced and live in California.
RE/MAX Moved to New Location, 1835 W. Orangewood Ave., Ste. 101, Orange, CA 92868 Knowledge, Experience and Full-Service Amenities Will Be Showcase of RE/MAX Homes & Estates
September 21, 2009 - The RE/MAX California & Hawaii Region is proud to announce the moving to a new location of RE/MAX Homes & Estates in Orange, CA. Broker/Owner Al Villegas has been an Associate with the RE/MAX network for 12 years. RE/MAX Homes & Estates services North, Central & South Orange Counties. Along with residential real estate professionals, RE/MAX Homes & Estates specializes in income properties, Short Sales, REO properties and the luxury home market. RE/MAX Homes & Estates Broker/Owner, Al Villegas, says, "There are many opportunities that exist in today's market, especially for first time homebuyers," said Villegas, "The real estate market fluctuates with time, and right now and a lot of people are going to be kicking themselves for not buying in this market" in Orange County, it's a great business to be in and an excellent way to serve members of our community." In Al Villegas real estate career with RE/MAX, Villegas has been awarded the 100% Club, Platinum and Hall of Fame award.. The new office will be located at 1835 W. Orangewood Ave. Ste 101, Orange, CA 92868. For more information, contact (714) 453-3130 alvillegas@remax.net, www.ochomes-estates.net.
About RE/MAX International RE/MAX was founded in 1973 in Denver, Colorado by Dave and Gail Liniger. It has grown to a global network of nearly 100,000 Sales Associates in more than 70 countries. No one sells more real estate than RE/MAX. Today, all U.S. home listings in thousands of cities and towns can be found at www.remax.com. RE/MAX is proud to help raise millions of dollars and support charitable organizations like, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Children's Miracle Network and The Sentinels of Freedom Foundation.
Today, my RE/MAX office had the distinct pleasure of receiving a personal tour of the Children's Hospital of Orange County, an affiliate of the Children's Miracle Network. I am so grateful to our tour guide for having taken us through their beautiful hospital and letting us know how we can become involved community members and help. My previous real estate office was set up as a Miracle Office and each one of the agents made contributions from each of our commission checks. Although I had the pleasure of learning about CMN & CHOC through their websites and the annual RE/MAX conventions, nothing compares to actually seeing CHOC and the beautiful children they serve.
CHOC opened its doors in 1964 and has since provided the highest quality medical care to children. CHOC Children's is the only children's hospital in the state to earn the Silver Level CAPE Award from the California Council for Excellence (CCE). The CAPE Award is the highest recognition in California for performance excellence.
Upon entering the hospitals main lobby, our tour guide showed us Radio Lollipop, a hospital-based radio station that provides a stimulating mix of music and interactive games for patients. The CHOC studio is run by a team of volunteers who involve patients in recreational activities linked to radio programs that are child focused. Radio personality Ryan Seacrest and KIIS FM have assisted in raising awareness and funds for Radio Lollipop at CHOC. KIIS FM engineers and programming staff have been consulting on the project to help ensure it features state-of-the-art broadcast equipment.
We also got to see the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit which offers the highest level of care to critically ill or injured children. This unit has state-of-the art monitoring systems and specially trained nurses to provide special care for these patients.
My favorite was the Anaheim Ducks-themed wing on the oncology floor which includes a new playroom/school room, teen room, which includes a flat screen TV and video games, family lounge and storage space. The teen room is part of the CHOC Children's Cancer Institute Adolescent and Young Adult Program, which is the only program of its kind in the nation.
Our overall experience was wonderful and we were truly touched by how nice everyone at the hospital was. We were all touched by the hospitals focus on family involving each patient and his or her parents or caregivers in all aspects of treatment and recovery. There are rooms and accomodations throughout the hospital for parents to feel comfortable and be near their children while the children receive treatment.
As a non-profit hospital, CHOC relies on community support to provide leading-edge care for infants, children and adolescents close to home. There are many ways to help by going to www.choc.org/giving . You can help my team raise it's goal of $2,000 in The Torch Relay of Childrens Miracle Network. The Torch Relay is a unique multi-day event where participants walk, run and cycle at events throughout the country to raise money for their local Children's Hospital. To help sponsor my team and meet our goal of $2,000 please Follow This Link.
On July 30, 2009, the new Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act requirements will go into effect. Certain provisions of the Act require all mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers to help prevent deceptive lending practices and protect consumers by helping them become more informed. We're proud to say these goals align with the responsible lending practices for which Wells Fargo Home Mortgage - the nation's #1 residential mortgage lender* - has long been recognized.
Most of the changes will be transparent to the consumer and real estate agent. The new changes will impact settlement agents, so it is imperative that they have a strong understanding of the requirements of the Act and how they impact the closing process for consumers. Settlement agents will be required to do the following:
--Ensuring all fees impacting the APR are accurately communicated to the lender as soon as fees are identified. Any increase in the APR of more than .125% will require a re-disclosure of the Truth in Lending (TIL) and could delay closing. The re-disclosure requires the consumer be given an additional three (3)-business-day review period prior to closing, after receipt.
--Providing a preliminary settlement statement with accurate fees to the lender, allowing the lender sufficient time to issue a revised TIL disclosure (if necessary) seven (7) business days prior to the scheduled closing date.
--Scheduling signing/closing dates as accurately as possible in order to best estimate prepaid interest and avoid TIL re-disclosures.
Picture this: a 1400 sf single family residence, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, dried up front lawn, located in Anaheim drew in 63 offers before accepting an all cash offer for $320,000. And that, my friends, was actually $21,000 over asking price. The home actually sold for $608,000 during the peak of the market over 2 years ago.
The reality is that for months, all agents have been experiencing multiple offers on bank owned properties for quite some time now. And with the current moratorium in place, it looks as if it's going to continue. In fact, properties in Orange County priced below $300,000 commonly receive 10-20 offers. And condos under $200,000 are enjoying the all cash offers.
Last year my husband had a fantastic listing on a corner lot in the Mesa Verde area of Costa Mesa. That property drew in 33 offers in less than a week. That home had some nice upgrades (loved the river rock in the bathroom), large corner lot, and the highly sought after school district. That was the first listing we received in which we literally had to cut off offers after a specific date because they all started to look the same after a while. All buyers had FICO scores over 730 with 30% down, most offering asking or slightly above asking price.
The low asking prices on homes is drawing back former Orange County residents that had moved to cities in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in search of affordable housing during the peak housing market. Unfortunately, many of these well qualified buyers are making several offers before they actually get one accepted.
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (CAR) launches mortgage protection programfor First Time Buyers!
Through the C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund's Mortgage Protection Program, first-time home buyers who lose their jobs due to layoffs may be eligible to receive up to $1,500 per month, for six months, to help make their mortgage payments. A qualified co-buyer also can participate in the program, and receive a monthly benefit of $750 per month for up to six months. Program benefits also include coverage for accidental disability and a $10,000 death benefit.
For more information including eligibility requirements please visit
New to Orange? Zulma's Favorite Spots in the OC- Salon Gabriel Anthony
If you're new to Orange and in need of a great new salon then Salon Gabriel Anthony is your best bet. Although I've lived in Orange County for three years now, I still hadn't found a stylist or salon that I absolutely loved. That is of course, until I found Salon Gabriel Anthony which I absolutely love!
I actually found Salon Gabriel Anthony by accident while having lunch in Old Town Orange in December 2008. I was looking for a former builder that was now gone and in it's place was this hip new salon. I walked in and was greeted by the owner, Gabriel Anthony, who was kind enough to let me know where the previous tenant had gone. Unhappy with my current cut I looked around this gorgeous salon and scheduled an appointment with Gabriel.
I walked out of that salon a week later with an absolutely perfect bob and a salon I love. The salon itself is hip and trendy and a welcome addition to historic Old Town Orange. The owner, Gabriel, is absolutely fantastic. He strives for perfection in everything he does and is committed to giving his clients the best possible style, service and atmosphere.
Salon Gabriel Anthony is located in historic Old Town Orange, on the corner of Glassell and Almond. For more information call (714) 532-1332
Technology is definately changing the way we work, socialize, shop and even date. And for those of us that don't catch on to all the new technology we can get left behind. No other industry in the world is more impacted by all this new technology than real estate. It impacts the way we enter and market our listings in the MLS to the way we receive potential leads. Agents in their 20 somethings have no problem catching on to all the new websites, MLS changes, supra keys or cell phones. But for those of us that are part of Generation X (like me) or the Baby Boomers (think your grandparents), some of the new technology can be somewhat frustrating. But many agents are still struggling to maintain a successful real estate career in today's market.
The reality is, in order to keep up with todays' generation of buyers and sellers, Generation X & Y, you definitely need to keep up with technology in order to effectively do business with them. Afterall, Gen Y numbers nearly over 70 million and they are completely tech savvy. They're all armed with Blackberrys, laptops, iPhones, among many other gadgets. And trust me, they're plugged in 24/7.
Yet early in my real estate career, I had taken a course from a very successful real estate mentor that said, "Text messaging and email are for losers. Rain makers use the telephone." So that message stuck and I vowed never to use those two mediums to communicate with clients, after all I wanted to be a rain maker.
Now, I myself am from Gen X but didn't initially utilize technology in my initial contact management system. As my database grew, I started helping a lot of young families or singles in their mid twenties and thirties and came into a rude awakening. Although my initial contact with them was always either face to face (from an open house) or on the phone, I eventually started receiving emails and text messages by them from the handful. And when dealing with Gen Y, believe me they expect instant communication. They all have Blackberry's and iPhones and expect their Realtors and lenders to have the same. If I didn't respond to them within 10-15 minutes they started calling. So I did what my clients did. If they text, I text...if they email I email...if they IM, I IM....if they add me as a Friend on Facebook..I accept. OH and on occassion I Tweet. And you know what? That type of communiaction is not for losers...it's for those of us that want to keep up with todays generation of consumers. Think about it. Look at the facts:
97% own a computer
69% have a Facebook account and typically logon twice a day
76% use instant messaging
92% of those reported multitasking while IMing.
94% own a cell phone
56% own an MP3 player
So trust me, baby boomers, jump on the band wagon, talk to your grandkids, take classes or do whatever it takes to learn today's technology. If you don't, you leave, you'll be left in the dust.
Borrowers can expect to see a Truth-In-Lending Disclosure (or TIL) shortly after they apply for a mortgage. The TIL provides information about the loan and it is required by federal law. It provides information on the cost of your credit so that you may compare those costs with several different lenders.
Why is my Annual Percentage Rate (APR) different from the rate I'm locked at?
The annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of the loan in percentage terms and includes private mortgage insurance, and prepaid finance charges (loan discount, origination fees, prepaid interest, and other credit costs). The APR is calculated by spreading these charges over the life of the loan, thus resulting in a higher rate that the interest rate shown on the 'Note'.
Other items you can expect to see on the TIL are:
·Finance charges
·Amount financed
·Total Payments
·Payment Schedule
·Prepayment penalties
·Assumption Opton, if allowed
Why is the Amount Financed less than my actual loan amount?
The amount financed is your loan amount minus any prepaid finance charges (closing costs, that include origination fees, discount points, mortgage insurance (MI), and interest).
On November 12, 2008 the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development issued long-anticpated mortgage reforms that will help consumers shop for the lowest cost mortgage and avoid costly and potential harmful loan offers. This reform will require, for the first time ever, that lenders and mortgage brokers provide consumers with a standardized Good Faith Estimate (GFE) that clearly discloses key loan terms and closing costs. It is estimated that this new regulation will save consumers nearly $700 at the closing table.
Very little has changed about the process Americans endure when they buy and refinance their homes since 1974. The new HUD reform will improve disclosure of key loan terms and closing costs consumers pay when they buy or refinance a home.
Fact Sheet on HUD's Final RESPA Rule:
For the first time ever, HUD will require mortgage lenders and broker to provide borrowers with an easy-to-read standard Good Faith Estimate (GFE)that will clearly answer the key questions consumers have when applying for a loan: What's the term of the loan?; Is the interest rate fixed or can it be changed?; is there a pre-payment penalty should the borrower choose to refinance at a later date?; is there a balloon payment? What are total closing costs?
Loan originators will be required to provide borrowers their Good Faith Estimate three days after the loan originator's receipt of all necessary information. To facilitate shopping, loan originator's could not require verification of GFE information (tax returns, etc.) until after the applicant makes the decision to proceed.
HUD will allow lenders and settlement sevice providers to correct ptential violations of RESPA's new disclosure and tolerance requirements. Lenders and settlement providers will now have 30 days from the date of closing to correct errors or violations and repay consumers for overcharges.
HUD will require payments to mortgage brokers (often called Yield Spread Premiums) to be disclosed in a more meaningful way. These payments are directly dependent on the interest rates consumers agree to. To ensure that HUD's new requirement will not create a consumer bias against brokers, the Department did rigorous consumer testing and found the new Good Faith Estimate helped consumers to select the lowest cost loan nine out of ten times, regardless of whether the loan was originated by a lender or broker.
To help borrowers compare their Good Faith Estimate with their HUD-1 Settlement Statement, each designated line on the final HUD-1 will now include a reference to the relevant line from the GFE. Borrowers will now be able to easily compare their estimated and actual costs in the same manner many commenter's suggested.
To read more on all the changes and to read HUD Secreatry Steve Preston's comments visit www.hud.gov.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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