Maralee Grantham's Blog

Californian homeowner's have great tax help- $18,000 Reasons to Purchase a Home

2012-01-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

Stimulus from Sacramento

This government-led, economic injection comes directly from the desk of our governor, targeting not only first-time homebuyers but also anyone who buys a newly built home in the state. This $200 million program provides a tax credit of up to $10,000, spread over three years, with the intention of sustaining the housing recovery, and providing a bridge over slowly improving conditions.

Buyers of existing homes must close escrow between May 1 and December 31. Buyers of new homes can reserve a credit by entering into an enforceable contract between May 1 and Dec. 31, filing the proper paperwork with the tax board, and then closing escrow by August 1, 2011. Either way, buyers must plan to live in the house for two years after closing. The provisions are here.

With rates still hovering around historic lows, and bargains abounding throughout California, the state’s offer of $10,000 should definitely give rise to a short-term run on contracts. But note that, unlike the Federal program, the California tax credit is a first-come, first-served stimulus package—so when the money runs out, the credits run out. And, once again, to take advantage of both the Federal and State tax credit, the savvy first-time buyer will have to act fast.

In the simplest terms:

• Federal – Contract by April 30 and close by June 30
• State – Close between May 1 and the end of the year
• Double Dip – Contract before April 30 and close before June 30

Low prices, great rates and the state income tax credit make now a great time to buy, even if you miss the short window to tap the Federal credit as well. Please give me a call today and let’s get you into a new home.

Sincerely,

Mark Cohen
President

310-777-5401
markcohen@cohenfinancialgroup.com

LA Housing Authority Fraud uncovered by Controller Gruel

2011-12-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

Controller Greuel Releases Housing Authority Audit;
Councilmembers Zine, Cardenas Join Greuel in Calling for Swift Reforms

LOS ANGELES -- City Controller Wendy Greuel released the first phase of her investigation of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and declared that reckless spending and lax travel policies allowed for thousands of dollars to be wasted on lavish meals. Greuel also uncovered instances of double and triple dipping and inappropriate reimbursements and charges for hotel rooms that went unused.

“Los Angeles taxpayers are being duped by Housing Authority officials who claim to serve the poor but instead recklessly waste public money to support their lavish lifestyles,” said Greuel. “Angelenos deserve better. There must be zero tolerance for this type of out-of-control spending and fraudulent activity.”

The first phase of Greuel’s audit uncovered numerous unallowable expenses and excess costs. Examples of thousands of dollars of questionable or unsupported travel expenses include:

Public safety representative Scott Butler was approved to drive an agency vehicle to San Diego but instead paid airfare exceeding gas cost and left the conference early to take a flight to Chicago, unnecessarily charging a night in a hotel that was not used;
HACLA board member M. Del Angel paid costs for other travelers who were not HACLA staff and for whom executive approvals were not provided;
Planning representative John King had meals paid in excess of $1,000, which is above the allowed per diem. The charges did not identify the names of individuals served, what was consumed to rule out the purchase of alcohol, and the business transacted at the group meal;
Planning representative John King had excess meal costs for triple-dipping relative to meals for which subsistence was claimed while meals were also charged to HACLA’s P-card while meals were also provided at the conference. The audit also questioned a “no show” hotel charge in Chicago because King was in Philadelphia for another conference; and
HACLA board member B. Stotzer did not prepare appropriate forms and only provided minimal receipts for hotel and baggage fees. Stotzer seldom provided receipts and instead signed a certification stating expenses were for HACLA business.

Greuel had released preliminary audit findings a few weeks ago which revealed Agency officials spent $300,000 per year on travel in 2009 and 2010. At that time, Greuel highlighted irregular travel expenditures, including staff reimbursements for sight-seeing tours.

Greuel said whistle-blower complaints about questionable spending practices in other parts of HACLA make it clear that the Agency leadership created an environment for wasteful spending and fraudulent activity.

“These findings, combined with the golden parachute for the recently ousted Chief Executive Officer, demonstrate that taxpayer funds have been misappropriated and the Agency has been mismanaged,” said Greuel. “What’s more alarming is that these findings are just the tip of the iceberg.”

Since she initiated her audit last Spring, Greuel said Agency officials created numerous obstacles and a hostile audit environment.

“My concerns continued to grow as HACLA leadership kept delaying, making it extremely difficult for my auditors to obtain information needed for this audit. Many employees expressed fear to come forward with information, exemplifying the culture of the Agency. Employee intimidation tactics cannot and will not be tolerated,” added Greuel.

During the course of Greuel’s audit, many red flags were exposed not just regarding HACLA’s travel policies, but also regarding its P-Card program and its LOMOD program, HACLA’s non-profit corporation thatfunctions as a Contract Administrator for project-based Housing Assistance Payments contracts.

“It is unfathomable that an Agency dedicated to creating and maintaining affordable housing for the poorest families in Los Angeles spent taxpayer money so irresponsibly when funds are insufficient to provide desperately needed housing in the City of Los Angeles,” said Greuel. “I appreciate the City Council and Mayor for supporting my efforts for a comprehensive top-to-bottom financial review of the Agency, which includes both of these programs. Reforms are critically needed and the second phase of my investigation will serve as a roadmap for rehabilitating the beleaguered Agency.”

Greuel’s comments were made just prior to a City Council presentation in which she discussed the problems that have plagued the Agency including news that taxpayers footed a $1.2 million golden parachute to ousted Agency official Rudy Montiel.

“I appreciate Controller Greuel’s efforts to uncover wasteful spending issues at HACLA,” said Councilman Dennis P. Zine, Chair of the Audits & Governmental Efficiency Committee. “I am hopeful that we will get to the bottom of the unconscionable behavior exhibited by the HACLA employees, initiate top to bottom reform, redirect the funds for their rightful purpose, and that we can begin to restore the public’s trust in this Agency.”

“The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles is responsible for serving the needs of our most vulnerable residents – I don’t understand how these questionable expenses fall in line with the core responsibilities of this Agency. As an elected official and steward of the public’s money, I intend to ask the tough questions that will get us answers,” said Councilman Tony Cardenas, referring to the City Council presentation. “Once we’ve gotten our answers though, our work is not done. We also need to make sure that this doesn't happen again, in this Agency or any other, and we must push for serious consequences for everyone involved in wrong doing.”

Controller Greuel’s audit is attached. Controller Greuel has conducted more than 40 audits and uncovered nearly $100 million that the City has lost to waste, fraud, and abuse over the last two years.

New York Fed Sites Recession's Cause NYT

2011-12-14T12:54:00.001-08:00

There’s been much debate over the root causes of the housing meltdown that catapulted the nation into the worst financial crisis in 80 years – from lax lending and subprime loans to over-leveraging in the secondary market.
A new report from researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York focuses on the sharp run-up and subsequent collapse in housing prices during the 2000s.
It concludes that real estate investors who used mortgage credit to purchase multiple residential properties with the intent of flipping, or reselling them within a short period of time, played a larger role in fueling the housing bubble than previously recognized.
These investors, the Fed researchers say, helped push prices up during 2004-2006, but when prices began to head south, they defaulted in large numbers, which served to intensify the housing cycle’s downward leg.
Fed officials point out in their report that investors are more likely than owner-occupants to walk away from an underwater property. As such, lenders typically factor in that higher default risk by requiring larger down payments from buyers who acknowledge that they won’t be living in the house.
The expansion of the nonprime mortgage market during the 2000s, however, provided the perfect opportunity for optimistic investors to get low-down-payment credit, according to the report. “Buy-and-flip” investors, in particular, were able to make higher bids on houses, even if they had relatively little cash.
At the peak of the boom in 2006, the New York Fed’s researchers found that over a third of all U.S. home purchase lending was made to people who already owned at least one house.
In the four states with the most pronounced boom-and-bust cycles – Arizona, California, Florida, and Nevada – the investor share was as high as 45 percent.
Overall, the investor share of mortgage-financed home purchases roughly doubled between 2000 and 2006, with the largest increases seen among those owning three or more properties, according to Fed data.
In 2006, Arizona, California, Florida, and Nevada investors owning three or more properties were responsible for nearly 20 percent of originations, almost triple their share in 2000, Fed officials report.
“Longstanding tradition in the mortgage lending business and the predictions of economic models hold that investors will quickly default if prices begin a persistent fall. This is what happened starting in 2006,” according to the Fed researchers.
From 2007 to 2009, they found that investors were responsible for more than a quarter of seriously delinquent mortgage balances nationwide, and more than a third in Arizona, California, Florida, and Nevada.
“We conclude that investors were much more important in the housing boom and bust during the 2000s than previously thought,” the researchers wrote in a blog post explaining their findings.
They stress that the availability of low- and no-down-payment mortgages in the nonprime sector enabled investors to make highly leveraged bets on house prices, which likely allowed the bubble to inflate further and caused millions of owner-occupants to pay more for their homes.
“In the end, even the value of the 20 percent down-payments made by responsible, prime borrowers was wiped out — leaving the housing market, and the economy, in the vulnerable state we find them in today,” according to the researchers at the New York Federal Reserve.

Home Insurance new help to compare policies

2011-12-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

Home-insurance policies are pretty much the same, and carriers compete on the basis of price and service—right?
Believe those two myths and you might wind up paying dearly.
Homeowner policies have important differences that can affect whether claims are paid, according to a study scheduled to be published early next year in the University of Chicago Law Review. The problem is that those differences are poorly understood.
Home insurers historically relied on standard policy forms drafted by the Insurance Services Office, an industry group. But Daniel Schwarcz, a University of Minnesota Law School associate professor and the study's author, says he found instances where policies now differ "radically with respect to numerous important coverage provisions."
While some of these differences might work to homeowners' advantage, a substantial majority could hurt them, he says. Some policies provide $1,000 per item damaged by a sudden electrical current, and others pay an aggregate of $1,000. Some include mold and lead coverage, while others don't.
Many of the variations involve broader contract language, and it's unclear how they will ultimately affect consumers. Some of the biggest insurers "employ policy language that is systematically less generous than that provided" in the standard ISO policy, Mr. Schwarcz writes.
For example, a standard ISO policy insures against "risk of direct physical loss to property," according to the professor. But some carriers insure against what they call "risk of accidental direct physical loss" instead, and others against "sudden and accidental direct physical loss."
Tips for Buyers
Use a reputable independent agent with access to a range of insurers and coverage options.
Ask about exclusions and wording differences across policies.
Ask about coverage for water damage from sewer or pipe problems, and whether damage to the foundation is covered, limited or excluded.
Ask which items will be paid at "replacement value" versus "actual cash value."
(Source: United Policyholders)
"You have a core provision of a policy and these really important adjectives being added," Mr. Schwarcz says, noting that they "could easily be used to justify expansive claims denials."
He also found policies that allow insurers not to cover loss "to the extent that the policyholder's negligence contributed to the loss."
That is an important provision, says Mr. Schwarcz, because many losses could be tied to alleged negligence. Say a homeowner is advised by a tree trimmer that a backyard tree is dying and needs to be chopped down. If it isn't cut down and eventually falls on the house, is the policyholder negligent?
Among changes that might work in consumers' favor are liability protection for certain claims and coverage for mold more generous than that of the typical ISO policy, says Mr. Schwarcz, who also serves as a consumer representative at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, an organization of state regulators.
In an example of how such wording can hurt consumers, Mr. Schwarcz points to a 2007 ruling by a federal judge in Minneapolis in favor of a unit of Allstate. The insurer had denied a claim for water damage brought by a couple in Eden Prairie, Minn. They were selling their 15-year-old home and a presale inspection revealed moisture behind the home's stucco exterior.
Among other things, Allstate cited policy exclusions for wear and tear, and for losses arising from defective construction. The judge noted that the policy language specified coverage of "sudden and accidental direct physical loss," a phrase he said was "not ambiguous."
While the policyholders "considered their discovery of the water damage to be abrupt and unexpected, they have presented no evidence that the loss was sudden," the judge wrote. "Rather, all the evidence of record indicates that the water damage was caused by a variety of original construction defects present in the home since 1989."
Allstate spokeswoman Stephanie Sheppard says the company "agrees with the court's ruling that the language is clear." Speaking generally, she says the company's coverage is defined "to ensure we help keep costs down for all our customers by covering appropriate losses."
The insurer's contract language, she says, reflects that, "like most homeowner insurers, Allstate provides coverage against losses that occur only on a chance basis," or where the insured cannot control the loss.
Mr. Schwarcz is wrong to interpret such wording differences as efforts to reduce coverage, when some changes are efforts to clarify what the insurers have priced the policies to cover, says Alex Hageli, an official with the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, a trade group with more than 1,000 member companies.
Mr. Hageli says the changes are often reactions by insurers to adverse judicial rulings, with insurers adjusting wording "to what they thought their contracts said before the judge ruled the way he did." He added that he doesn't "see the same kind of deliberate attempt to weaken consumer protection" that Mr. Schwarcz does.
For his study, Mr. Schwarcz collected policies from the top-10-selling insurance groups in six states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California and Nevada. Insurers' forms can vary by state.
Mr. Schwarcz has been pushing state insurance departments to post policies online, so consumer groups and others comfortable with the dense language of contracts can work up comparisons to aid buyers.
At least one state recently took him up on the offer: Nevada, which began posting policy forms in October for its 10 largest home and auto insurers. Gennady Stolyarov, a Nevada insurance regulator, said in an email that officials "hope that this is just the beginning" of an effort to improve consumers' ability to comparison-shop for insurance.
For now, many consumers' best option is to seek out an experienced and reputable insurance agent to cut through all the confusing language, says Amy Bach, who runs United Policyholders, a consumer-advocacy group in San Francisco. The group has long sought to educate consumers on the importance of comparison-shopping "for quality, not just price."

Disressed Property Search the easy way

2011-12-01T08:03:00.000-08:00

Fannie Mae offers new REO platform
Beginning Dec. 7, Fannie Mae will launch the HomePath Online Offers Program to collect offers and manage the offer-submission process on properties listed on HomePath.com. Agents and brokers representing buyers are now required to submit offers exclusively on HomePath.com. All properties listed in California and Florida are eligible on the designated launch date.
The HomePath Online Offers Program is designed to ease and create transparency during the offer submission process with the following features:
• An easy to use, self-service offer submission system that can be assessed through HomePath.com
• A transparent offer process that keeps Selling Agents informed of the status of their clients’ offers on HomePath properties listed on HomePath.com
• Improved communication between the Selling Agent and the Listing Agent regarding offers on HomePath properties listed on HomePath.com

Tax Deductions Expiring in December

2011-11-26T07:54:00.000-08:00

Here are several tax credits and deductions set to expire at the end of the year, and given the federal deficit problem, there's a good chance they won't be extended. If you want to take advantage of them, you need to act before Jan.1, 2012.

1. Mortgage insurance premium deduction
If you itemize deductions, you may deduct the premiums you pay for mortgage insurance, just like you do mortgage interest. However, this deduction is phased out if your income exceeds certain levels. To qualify for the full deduction, a couple or a single taxpayer must have an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less. The deduction is phased out completely if AGI exceeds $109,000.
This deduction, which was first enacted for 2007, is scheduled to expire at the end of 2011. Thus, your payments are deductible only if you pay them during 2011; a payment after 2011 is not deductible.

2. Education expenses deduction
A deduction of up to $4,000 for qualified education expenses is available for 2011. All or part of the amount you pay can be for classes beginning in 2012. But you must make your payments during 2011, because the deduction expires at the end of the year. This deduction is not available if your modified adjusted gross income is more than $80,000 ($160,000 if filing a joint return). Nor is it available if any of education tax credits are claimed.

3.Home energy credit
First, any homeowner may qualify for an energy credit of up to $500. You can qualify for the credit if you purchase during 2011 solar panels to generate electricity or for water heating, or install wind energy equipment, a geothermal heat pump, or certain types of fuel cells to generate electricity. The credit is up to 30 percent of the amount you spend, up to the $500 limit. This credit is not available for purchases in 2012.

4.Sales tax deduction
If you itemize, you can deduct either your state and local taxes or your sales taxes paid during the year. This deduction is a boon for people who live in states with no or low income taxes. However, the deduction for sales and use taxes instead of state income taxes is scheduled to expire at the end of 2011. To maximize this deduction, you should make any large purchases before the end of the year.
Adoption credit

5.A tax credit for adoption expenses (adoption fees, court costs, attorney fees, travel, etc.) has been available for many years. However, an enhanced adoption credit is available for adoptions finalized before 2012. The credit is up to $13,360 of adoption expenses. For 2011, this is a nonrefundable credit, meaning you qualify for it even if it exceeds the amount of your 2011 tax liability. This means that you could qualify for a tax refund even if you did not have federal income tax withheld.
Stephen Fishman is an attorney and author who has published 18 books, including "Working for Yourself: Law & Taxes for Contractors, Freelancers and Consultants," "Deduct It," "Working as an Independent Contractor," and "Working with Independent Contractors."

Have Your Foreclosure Reviewed

2011-10-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

Are you one of the 4.5 million homeowners who were foreclosed between 2009 and 2010?
The Comptroller of the Currency is set to unveil plans.

Watch for more posturing by Bank pof America who in fear of governmen t review of it's many improprieties is threatening the government by saying it will get out of the mortgage business entirely!

High Value Appraisal Tips WSJ Zimmerman Gerot

2011-10-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

The appraiser was due in an hour. The beds were unmade, breakfast dishes in the sink and toys scattered about the playroom. Would she care?

I got moving—and cleaning. At 34 weeks pregnant, that’s not so easy.

After all, I know lowball appraisals can kill deals, something I’ve written about for The Journal.

They can also kill a refinancing application, which we are in the midst of for our 1920s Georgian-style house in Queens. If it comes in too low, it’s not worth refinancing or you might need to put in a whole lot more equity.

We don’t know how ours turned out yet but after talking to a handful of appraisers, I felt great regret at not doing more to plan and prep. Here are some tips based on those conversations.

Caution: Some of the advice—like home valuations themselves these days—might feel contradictory. But what they all agree on is to keep the look, feel and condition of the property as updated and cared for as possible.

Spruce the house up. But appraisers caution that you don’t need to deep clean under couches and that a few dirty dishes won’t hurt your value. Rats, cockroaches and that car you’ve been tinkering on might… “Things like overgrown landscaping, soiled carpeting, marks on walls — those do affect value and are part of the property’s overall condition rating,” said Dean Zibas, the president and chief appraiser for Zibas Appraisal in San Clemente, Calif. In other words, think broom clean, not set design for a home-decorating magazine.
Curb appeal also matters so mow the lawn, hack those weeds and trim those hedges. This can also help offset your house from unfair comparisons with foreclosures nearby. “In today’s climate I can’t stress enough condition, condition, condition,” said Doreen Zimmerman, an appraiser in Paradise, Calif. “An hour or two, for the most part, will set your home apart in the actual picture that the lender gets from the appraiser vs. the actual picture that the appraiser will provide of the (foreclosure) down the street.
Keep a list of all the updates you’ve made and be ready to hand it over; a sketch plan of the house indicating square footage also helps. “Have a list of updating done within the past 15 years. Itemize each update with the approximate date and approximate cost. Also highlight the notable features of the property,” says Matthew George, the chief appraiser of Eagle Appraisals Inc. in Denver, Colo. Remember the items that an appraiser might not notice, like a new roof or insulation. Don’t forget the minor items. For example, I mistakenly told the appraiser we hadn’t updated one bathroom but actually we had installed a new sink and had the tub sealed. That counts, according to the experts.
Have comps on hand. Yes, you say this is the appraiser’s job but every little bit helps, “especially if they are aware of a property that sold without the aid of a Realtor (i.e. for-sale-by-owner),” says Mark T. Smith, the owner and president of Smith Appraisal Services in St. Augustine, Fla. That can mean it wasn’t posted on the Multiple Listing Service, and result in other delays by the time it gets posted through other government data sources.
Be mindful of peeling paint. Government-insured loans such as FHA and veterans’ loans will require peeling paint to be removed in houses built before 1978. But don’t worry too much about a child’s scrawling on his bedroom wall, unless it’s going to require a whole new paint job.
Focus. “Don’t spend money that won’t yield a return on the investment. The best expenditures for most markets are paint, carpet, light and plumbing fixtures,” says Denver’s Mr. George. Prioritize what you do; if you’re the type of homeowner who has upgraded and fixed items as they broke, you should be fine.
Location still matters. If there have been changes to the neighborhood, mention them, from a new playground to a new Whole Foods. If the area’s just been declared a historic or landmark district, let the appraiser know.
Keep the $500 rule in mind. Appraisers often value houses in $500 increments so if there’s a repair over $500 that can or should be made, it will count against the property. Fix leaky faucets, cracked windows, missing hand rails and structural damage.
Also remember the concept of “effective age,” the age the appraiser can assign to a home after taking into consideration updating and condition. “Say you have a cracked window, thread-bare carpet, some tiles falling off the shower surround, vinyl torn in the laundry room, and the dog ate the corner of the fireplace hearth, these items could still add up to an overall average condition rating as the home is still habitable, however your effective age will be higher resulting in comparables being utilized which will have the same effective age and resulting lower value,” says Ms. Zimmerman, who wrote the book “Challenge Your Home Appraisal” and runs a web site by the same name.
Lock up Fido and Fifi. Appraisers say they get annoyed enough by homeowners following them around but a snarling, growling dog is even worse. Along the same lines, try to make the appraiser comfortable — if it’s cold out, put the heat on; hot out, the air conditioning. “If it’s 100 degrees out and you never put the air conditioning on, put it on for the appraiser so they don’t question that your unit is broken,” says Ms. Zimmerman.

With those things in mind, let the appraiser do his or her job. “Questions and banter may make the inspection go slow or make the appraise miss something,” said James R. Gerot, a residential appraiser in Ottumwa, Iowa. “My inspections have a rhythm to them so once I get started interruptions are just that. Save questions until after.”

Appraisal,
Doreen Zimmerman,
Eagle Appraisals Inc.,
James R. Gerot,
Smith Appraisal Services

Short Sale Deficiencies Fact Sheet Legal Dept Calif Assoc of Realtors

2011-09-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

General Rule A mortgage lender is generally prohibited from pursuing a deficiency or deficiency judgment for a short sale involving a one-to-four residential unit property.

Prohibited Acts Where applicable, a mortgage lender involved in a short sale is prohibited from engaging in any of the following acts:
• Collecting a deficiency;
• Having a borrower owe a deficiency;
• Requesting a deficiency judgment;
• Having a court render a deficiency judgment; or
• Requiring the borrower to pay any additional compensation, aside from the proceeds of the sale, in exchange for written consent to a short sale.

Applicability
A borrower is protected under this law if all of the following requirements are met, and no exception applies:
• Mortgage loan is solely secured by a deed of trust;
• Mortgage loan is for a one-to-four residential unit property;
• Borrower sells for less than the outstanding loan balance owed;
• Lender provides a written short sale approval;
• Title voluntarily transfers to a buyer by grant deed or other conveyance document recorded in the county where the property is located; and
• Proceeds of the sale have been tendered to the lender or lender’s agent in accordance with the parties’ agreement.

Exceptions include any of the following :
• Lender seeking damages for fraud or waste;
• Borrower is a corporation, LLC, or limited partnership;
• Cross-collateralized loan (special rules apply);
• Borrower is a political subdivision of the state;
• Bond lien; or
• Public utility lien.

Effective Date July 15, 2011.
The new law protects a borrower who closes escrow after the law came into effect on July 15, 2011. For short sales that closed escrow before July 15, 2011, the borrower may be protected for a first trust deed under the previous law or by asserting other legal arguments.
Practice Tip Regardless of the law, it would be prudent for a borrower to obtain the lender’s written and signed agreement to release the borrower from any and all liability for the mortgage loan, and to report “no deficiency balance” to the credit bureaus.

Legal Authority The full text of Senate Bill 458 (codified as section 580e of the California Code of Civil Procedure) is available at www.leginfo.ca.gov.

Are they telling you to invest in real estate? 6 Investor Mistakes to avoid

2011-09-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

Traditional investments are delivering low returns, and home prices are at bargain levels. Is it time to consider buying some rental housing?
Investing in real estate right now can be profitable, if everything goes well. ( Short Sales and Foreclosures are just now hitting the market in greater numbers on the Westside of Los Angleles.) Last month, the Obama administration asked for proposals on how to convert at least some of Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's bulging inventories of foreclosed homes into affordable rentals.Before you start scouring for deals, keep in mind that owning rental properties is time-consuming, expensive and fraught with challenges, and many investors lose money. You will want to avoid falling into one of these common traps.

• Mistake 1: Confusing a cheap deal for a good deal. It is true that you can buy some homes for ridiculously low prices—but that doesn't mean you can rent them out. Homes in deserted subdivisions aren't any more appealing to renters than they are to buyers. The same is true for less-attractive properties or those in less-desirable school districts. FinestExpert.com, to estimate rents. Other experts suggest canvassing apartments nearby to see not just their rates, but whether they are offering special deals, like a couple of months of free rent.•

Mistake 2: Overlooking key costs. Knowing the potential rent isn't enough. Before you buy a property, you should also factor in closing costs of 3% to 6%, the costs to fix up the place and maintain it, and your holding costs. Then add the profit you expect to make (and more closing costs, if you intend to turn around and sell it). Only then can you figure out what you can afford to pay.

• Mistake 3: Forgetting that time is money. In real estate, time is your biggest enemy (added-time spent doing paperwork, chasing tenants rent checks, evicting tenants etc.)

• Mistake 4: Assuming you will sit back and watch the rent roll in. Just like homeowners who can't pay the mortgage, tenants lose their jobs and stop paying the rent. Evicting them can take several weeks, and some steal appliances or other property.

• Mistake 5: Underestimating repair costs. As with all homes, you will be making lots of repairs. You may find wood rot or mold when you remove that cracked bathtub. Carpet in rental homes typically must be replaced every five years, and you may have to repaint after every tenant. Tony A. Drost, president of the National Association of Residential Property Managers, or Narpm, suggests setting aside six months of expenses so that you will have funds if a major repair is needed.

• Mistake 6: Assuming that owning a rental is the same as owning a home. You might put up with flaws in a home that a renter wouldn't tolerate. In addition, many states and communities have strict (and complex) laws for landlords, even if you own only one property. A property manager can handle most of the headaches, but you should expect to pay one up to a month of rent for finding and screening tenants—and up to 10% of the monthly rent for management fees.
Taken from WSJ 9 10 11 business section with comments by Maralee

Yes foreclosures have finally hit the Westside

2011-09-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

per M Grantham CNN Money. CNN presents the case for and against foreclosures below with a gathering of good statistics.

for the "Westside", the percentages are up significantly. Be careful of general statements, but Realty Trac, a good source, shows that for areas such as Santa Monica and Culver City, Playa Del Rey and Beverly Hills, the total number of homes approaching short sales and that are in foreclosure are way up. There are various stages also to this process in California. The general time frame in a Trust Deed state such as California is 3 months and 21 days as opposed to a mortgage state such as New York, where the action can take up to 10 years.

T. Lushby writing in CNN Money 8/31 makes a good case for pushing through foreclosures and giving someone else a chance to own the home.

A first step could be to sell off the foreclosed properties owned by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration. Collectively, they own 248,000 homes, about 31% of the foreclosure inventory.

The administration and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are already looking for ways to unload these foreclosed homes. Earlier this month, they put out a request for ideas, including possible bulk sales of inventory. Also, they are interested in turning many of these properties into affordable rentals, which are sorely lacking in many communities. Experts interviewed agree this would be a good move for the market.

To entice investors to purchase these homes, as well as other foreclosed properties owned by banks, the administration could advocate for changes to the tax code, Gaines said. For instance, more favorable capital gains or depreciation rules could attract buyers.

The case against foreclosure
David Min, associate director for financial markets policy at the Center for American Progress, argues that there are many homeowners who can be saved if their payments can be adjusted to affordable levels or if some of their principal is forgiven. This particularly applies to those who are only a few months behind.
Foreclosure is very costly for servicers, homeowners and neighborhoods, he said.

While some of the 2.2 million loans in foreclosure can still be saved, many are too far gone, they say. Some 37% have not made a payment in more than two years, while another 34% have not made a payment in 12 to 23 months, according to Lender Processing Services.
"Loans enter into foreclosure, but never come out," said Thomas Lawler, founder of Lawler Economic & Housing Consulting. "If this keeps going on, you have a continual overhang that never goes away."
Delaying foreclosure increases the percentage of homeowners who'll likely never catch up, Lawler said. In 2009, only 6% of delinquent borrowers were more than two years behind. And it means vacant properties still in limbo could fall even further into disrepair, hurting the value of the surrounding housing market.
Accelerating foreclosures is tricky, however, especially since it is largely the purview of the states. But the administration could work with state officials to speed the process, especially on vacant homes, he said.
The push would come at a time when many mortgage servicers have slowed foreclosure efforts as they resolve shoddy paperwork practices. Foreclosure filings in July dropped to their lowest level since November 2007, due to processing delays and foreclosure prevention measures, according to RealtyTrac.

Mediation, for instance, could help some homeowners avoid foreclosure, he said. Some 23 states and the District of Columbia currently have programs that require mortgage servicers to sit down with borrowers and discuss the homeowners' options, though many began only in the last year. More than 70% of mediations end in a settlement, often restructuring the mortgage to a sustainable level, according to the center.
Helping those still current with their payments can also give the housing market -- and the economy -- a lift, albeit a somewhat marginal one, experts said.
"It would be helpful to some borrowers with high rates," Lawler said.

Happy Household Hints for Summer Fun

2011-05-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

Summer bug bites, put vinegar to take away the itch; zipper stuck, rub candle wax along both sides of zipper teeth; Anger welling up? grab fingers with left palm outward and right inward, squeeze tight and in 30 seconds, you can now forgive your best friend's cancellation at the last minute; Waxing? before you do put baby powder to make a protective barrier; pool damaged hair highlights? before washing run catchup through your hair, it will take out that chlorine

Baeline Hillside Ordinance adopted by City links and interest list

2011-04-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Baseline Hillside Ordinance (CPC-2010-581-CA; Council File No. 10-1001) was adopted by the City Council on Friday, March 18, 2010. The Ordinance received 13 Yes votes and 0 No votes.

For a copy of the adopted Ordinance and other online documents and information, please refer to the online Council File at the following link: http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=10-1001

We are currently working a handout for the new hillside regulations that will include diagrams to illustrate some of the language, some of which can already be seen in the Staff Reports prepared for the Ordinance (use the links provided below). We hope to have that ready in the near future.

Where Will This Apply?
Any property zoned R1, RS, RE(9, 11, 15, 20, & 40), or RA which is designated as Hillside Area pursuant to Section 12.03 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) will be subject to the Baseline Hillside Ordinance when it becomes effective. Please use our Zoning & Information Map Access System, or ZIMAS (http://zimas.ci.la.ca.us/), to find your "Zone" and "Hillside Area (Zoning Code)" designation; please look under the "Planning and Zoning" tab on the left side of your web browser.

What's Next?
According to Section 250 of the City Charter, the Mayor has 10 days to act on it - meaning he can act on it on the same day, or 10 days later. Assuming the Mayor approves it, the City Clerk's Office will then post the adopted Ordinance for a period of 10 days and a 30-day effective date will begin after that. Simply put, the earliest an Ordinance can realistically go into effect is 40 to 50 days after it is adopted by the City Council.

When we have an effective date, we will email the individuals on this interest list.
Projects in Early Design Stages, Submitted for Discretionary Actions, and/or in Plan Check
For those of individuals working on projects which are currently in the early design stages or is waiting for a discretionary action of some sort, please use the information above to gauge whether you will be able to submit for plan check prior to the effective date of the proposed Baseline Hillside Ordinance.

Pursuant to Section 12.26 A.3 of the LAMC, any project which is accepted by the Department of Building and Safety for plan check with a complete set of plans and for which the fees have been paid prior to the effective date of an Ordinance will be considered to be a Vested Development Plan; meaning that the applicable regulations in place prior to this change will continue to apply. However, there are some limitations to this provision that you should be aware of, but the more relevant ones are that you have 18 months after the fee is paid, and that you cannot make changes to those plans which increase or decrease the height, floor area, or occupant load of the proposed structure by more than 5%. Feel free to reference our online Municipal Code for more details ( http://www.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm&vid=amlegal:lamc_ca ); go to Chapter 1, Article 2, Section 12.26, Subsection A, Subdivision 3.

The only way to "vest" a typical single-family development project under the current Code is through the Vested Development Plan provision summarized above. Applications for, or approval of discretionary actions (i.e. Zoning Administration Determinations, Adjustments, Variances, etc.) prior to the effective date does not confer vesting rights to a project. If you are not able to submit for plan check to the Department of Building & Safety prior to the effective date of the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, it is recommended that you consider the proposed hillside provision when making design choices or determining a course of action.

Useful Links
April 22, 2010 City Planning Commission Staff Report: http://planning.lacity.org/StaffRpt/InitialRpts/CPC-2010-581.pdf
May 27, 2010 City Planning Commission Staff Report: http://planning.lacity.org/Code_Studies/BaselineHillsideOrd/CPC-2010-581-CA052710SRpt.pdf
City Planning Commission Determination Letter: http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2010/10-1001_rpt_plan_6-8-10.pdf
City Attorney Report: http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2010/10-1001_RPT_ATTY_02-11-11.pdf
Online Council File: http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=10-1001

Feel free to forward this information to anyone you feel might be interested.

If you received this email via forwarded message from someone other than myself, and you want to obtain updates directly from the Department, please email erick.lopez@lacity.org and ask to be added to the interest list. Please type "Add Me To Hillside Notification List" in the subject line and provide your group/organization/company affiliations and contact information (please include at least your ZIP Code).

Facebook™ Users: Look for the Baseline Hillside Ordinance page; add the page and receive updates in your news feed. You can also view our events calendar and participate in discussion boards.

As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact myself or Jennifer Driver at jennifer.driver@lacity.org or at (818) 374-9916.

--

__________________________________________
Erick Lopez, City Planner
City of Los Angeles - Department of City Planning
Office of Zoning Administration - Code Studies
200 N. Spring St., Room 701
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 978-1323
(213) 978-0597 - fax
erick.lopez@lacity.org

Mortgage Proposals 5% or 7% depending on down and credit history

2011-04-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

NATION’S HOUSING 4/10/2011
Changes in mortgage finance rules could hurt housing recovery
The government is proposing to limit the best interest rates and terms to buyers who can put 20% down, meet stringent debt limits and have sterling credit.

These are "requirements that federal agencies and the Obama administration are proposing...:

•Strict mandatory debt-to-income limits. Under the proposal, to get the best mortgage rates, you would need to spend no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing-related expenses, and you couldn't have total monthly household debt that exceeds 36% of your income.

There would be no flexibility to go beyond these ceilings, unlike in today's marketplace, in which Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac consider debt-to-income ratios along with other factors through their electronic underwriting systems. Freddie Mac, for example, has an overall debt-ratio limit of 45% of an applicant's stable monthly income.

•To refinance your existing mortgage and replace it with one carrying the best interest rate, you'd need no less than a 25% equity stake in your house to qualify. If you sought to take any additional cash out through a refi, you would need 30% equity. Today's typical requirements for a conventional refi are nowhere near as strict.

•Pristine credit standards. For example, if you were 60 days late on any credit account during the previous 24 months, you would be ineligible for a mortgage at the best terms.

These are all core features of what may be the most sweeping and controversial set of changes in decades for the housing and mortgage markets. The so-called "qualified residential mortgage," or QRM, proposals were released at the end of March by banking, securities and housing regulators, along with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The agencies were required by the 2010 financial reform legislation to come up with new standards for low-risk conventional mortgages.

Congress did not specify what a "safe" mortgage should look like but directed the agencies to consider such factors as full documentation of borrower income and assets plus avoidance of toxic features such as negative amortization and balloon payments. Congress was silent on the subject of minimum down payments.

Under the law, loans that do not meet the strict QRM tests will be pushed into a less-favored, higher-cost category: Banks and Wall Street securitizers would need to set aside 5% of loan balances in reserves to cover possible losses from defaults. This extra capital cost inevitably would be passed on to consumers.

Mortgage industry estimates of the interest rate differential between ultra-safe, QRM-qualifying loans and all others range from three-quarters of a percentage point to 3 percentage points. In today's market, this would mean that mortgages that meet the federal agencies' stringent new standards might go for 5%. But all others — the vast majority of today's conventional loans — could cost from just under 6% to 7% and higher.

You can muster only a 10% down payment? Tough. You can't quite fit into the tight confines of the QRM's debt-to-income ratio rule? Pay up.

Where and when will this all start hitting the marketplace? The proposals are out for public comment through June 10 and probably won't be put into effect until mid-2012. The agencies' proposal, though not the legislation, exempts mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from the rule as long as both remain under federal conservatorship — a date uncertain. FHA and VA mortgages would not be subject to QRM either.

Meanwhile, builders, consumer groups, banks, real estate agents and others are readying campaigns to persuade the regulators and the Obama administration to back off some of the provisions. Michael Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending, argues that if adopted in its current form, the proposal would make it much tougher for modest-income and minority consumers to afford a first home.

Jerry Howard, chief executive of the National Assn. of Home Builders, says the agencies and the administration have strayed far beyond Congress' intent, and their proposals threaten to wreck any recovery in housing and force millions of Americans to rent rather than to own.

"I think we're in for a hell of a fight," he says.

Ken Haney,Distributed by Washington Post Writers Group

Homeowner line of credit users can apply for Calif state help

2011-04-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

homeowners who refinanced their properties for cash or took out home equity lines of credit will now be allowed to participate in parts of the state's $2-billion foreclosure relief initiative.

Many people tapped their rising equity during the boom years, using their homes as ATMs to fuel spending. The California Housing Finance Agency had initially excluded people who used their home equity in such a manner from participating in its Keep Your Home initiative, which launched this year with federal funds reserved for the 2008 rescue of the financial system.April 06, 2011|By Alejandro Lazo, Los Angeles TimesCalifornia

The Market in Southern Caifornial Now

2011-02-23T15:56:00.000-08:00

Now in Our Market

-Prices are 30 to 40% off peak levels
-Inventory is at the lowest level in many years so sellers have great opportunities
-Westside distressed properties account for only 13% of totals currently
-Currently highest volume sales are $3mm and above
-$1mm and below uncertain job security, lower equity
-People are selling for good reasons, “Triple D’s” debt, death, divorce
-San Diego which dropped like a rock is now in a stable recovery
-More than 40% are cash transactions
-Santa Monica is the hottest market among other reasons, Metro Line is due

2011 May be the year of the lament, “I wish I had bought in 2011”.

Vendor referrals

2010-07-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

Sotheby’s International Realty Referrals

APPLIANCES
Bay Cities Appliances 310-393-3771
Snyder-Diamond Discount Plumbing 323-870-6667

APPRAISERS
Jeffrey Chandler 818-340-3393
Cole & Associates 714-992-2411
Tom Erickson 310-453-1978
M.W. Forman 818-706-0535
John MacNeil 310-456-3878
Major Appraisal/Jeff Zumbo 310-417-8946
Bill Mcllrath x114
Larry Shenier 310-641-9443
Sommers/Craig Lipsey 310-478-2300
Gene Sorenson 310-645-4006
Bob Walch 818-585-4915
(or) 888-909-8650

ARCHITECTS
Joe Ambrose 310-277-7789
Richard Appel 310-829-7007
Kevin Clark 818-222-5213
Nicholas Budd Dutton (John Dutton) 323-653-0226
Wm. Hablinsk 310-858-8525
Clark & Hedrick 310-472-8119
Dean L. Pratt (Shigetomi/Pratt) 323-692-0897
Jay Reynolds 323-931-1007
Jim Smith 310-559-5192

ARCHEOLOGISTS
Brian Dillon 818-893-3468
Gary Stickel 323-937-6997
Robert Wilodrski 818-340-6676

BATHTUB/SINK/SHOWER REPAIR
Cermaglaze, Inc. 310-275-9580
Porcelain & Fiberglass Maintenance, 818-980-3245
Inc. (Henry Garcia)

BEE CONTROL
Bee Professional 310-201-0898
Mike Cooley’s 800-233-3626
Simon the Bee Man 818-708-0260

CARPET/FLOOR/TILE
Angeles Carpet 310-652-3092
Ephrim Asgahd (tile) 310-289-0262
S & J. Biren Carpets 310-553-0971
Bay Cities Appliances 310-393-3771
Snyder-Diamond Discount Plumbing 323-870-6667
Jeffrey Chandler 818-340-3393
Cole & Associates 714-992-2411
Tom Erickson 310-453-1978
M.W. Forman 818-706-0535
John MacNeil 310-456-3878
Major Appraisal/Jeff Zumbo 310-417-8946
Bill Mcllrath x114
Larry Shenier 310-641-9443
Sommers/Craig Lipsey 310-478-2300
Gene Sorenson 310-645-4006
Bob Walch 818-585-4915 (or) 888-909-8650
Joe Ambrose 310-277-7789
Richard Appel 310-829-7007
Kevin Clark 818-222-5213
Nicholas Budd Dutton (John Dutton) 323-653-0226
Wm. Hablinsk 310-858-8525
Clark & Hedrick 310-472-8119
Dean L. Pratt (Shigetomi/Pratt) 323-692-0897
Jay Reynolds 323-931-1007
Jim Smith 310-559-5192
Brian Dillon 818-893-3468
Gary Stickel 323-937-6997
Robert Wilodrski 818-340-6676
Cermaglaze, Inc. 310-275-9580
Porcelain & Fiberglass Maintenance, 818-980-3245
(Henry Garcia)
Bee Professional 310-201-0898
Mike Cooley’s 800-233-3626
Simon the Bee Man 818-708-0260
Angeles Carpet 310-652-3092
Ephrim Asgahd (tile) 310-289-0262
S & J. Biren Carpets 310-553-0971

CARPET CLEANING
Environmental Carpet by Shen 310-456-7771
Dick Maplesden Custom Carpet Clean 310-451-4728

CHIMNEY INSPECTION/ BUILDERS
Boston Brick & Stone 323-257-4298
Cal Fire 818-341-0338
Certified Chimney (Shane Imburgia) 818-265-0669
(inspections only)
D-Way (inspections only) 805-492-6363
London Chimney 310-478-1033
Lucky Chimney 323-258-0828
Eddie Wigington (builder) 310-293-2196

CLEANING SERVICES
Beverly Hills House Cleaning 323-651-2530
Leo Bradley 323-733-2359
Dave, the Window Washer 310-454-6780
David Fernandez 818-909-4963
Earl Maintenance 213-389-6400
Empire Maintenance 323-283-6123
Hunters Best 310-837-3300
Howard Lieberman 818-348-6881
Dick Maplesden Carpet / Upholstery 310-451-4728
Power House Maintenance (Davell) 310-676-2681
Sam’s Carpet Cleaning 818-769-0749
Sunny Maintenance 310-475-3595
Elba Vasquez 323-661-1480
White Knight 310-278-8420
Bay Cities Appliances 310-393-3771
Snyder-Diamond Discount Plumbing 323-870-6667
Jeffrey Chandler 818-340-3393
Cole & Associates 714-992-2411
Tom Erickson 310-453-1978
M.W. Forman 818-706-0535
John MacNeil 310-456-3878
Major Appraisal/Jeff Zumbo 310-417-8946
Bill Mcllrath x114
Larry Shenier 310-641-9443
Sommers/Craig Lipsey 310-478-2300
Gene Sorenson 310-645-4006
Bob Walch 818-585-4915 (or) 888-909-8650
Joe Ambrose 310-277-7789
Richard Appel 310-829-7007
Kevin Clark 818-222-5213
Nicholas Budd Dutton (John Dutton) 323-653-0226
Wm. Hablinsk 310-858-8525
Clark & Hedrick 310-472-8119
Dean L. Pratt (Shigetomi/Pratt) 323-692-0897
Jay Reynolds 323-931-1007
Jim Smith 310-559-5192
Brian Dillon 818-893-3468
Gary Stickel 323-937-6997
Robert Wilodrski 818-340-6676
Cermaglaze, Inc. 310-275-9580
Porcelain & Fiberglass Maintenance, 818-980-3245
(Henry Garcia)
Bee Professional 310-201-0898
Mike Cooley’s 800-233-3626
Simon the Bee Man 818-708-0260
Angeles Carpet 310-652-3092
Ephrim Asgahd (tile) 310-289-0262
S & J. Biren Carpets 310-553-0971
Environmental Carpet by Shen 310-456-7771
Dick Maplesden Custom Carpet Clean 310-451-4728
Boston Brick & Stone 323-257-4298
Cal Fire 818-341-0338
Certified Chimney (Shane Imburgia) 818-265-0669
(inspections only)
D-Way (inspections only) 805-492-6363
London Chimney 310-478-1033
Lucky Chimney 323-258-0828
Eddie Wigington (builder) 310-293-2196
Beverly Hills House Cleaning 323-651-2530
Leo Bradley 323-733-2359
Dave, the Window Washer 310-454-6780
David Fernandez 818-909-4963
Earl Maintenance 213-389-6400
Empire Maintenance 323-283-6123
Hunters Best 310-837-3300
Howard Lieberman 818-348-6881
Dick Maplesden Carpet / Upholstery 310-451-4728
Power House Maintenance (Davell) 310-676-2681
Sam’s Carpet Cleaning 818-769-0749
Sunny Maintenance 310-475-3595
Elba Vasquez 323-661-1480
White Knight 310-278-8420
Bay Cities Appliances 310-393-3771
Snyder-Diamond Discount Plumbing 323-870-6667
Jeffrey Chandler 818-340-3393
Cole & Associates 714-992-2411
Tom Erickson 310-453-1978
M.W. Forman 818-706-0535
John MacNeil 310-456-3878
Major Appraisal/Jeff Zumbo 310-417-8946
Bill Mcllrath x114
Larry Shenier 310-641-9443
Sommers/Craig Lipsey 310-478-2300
Gene Sorenson 310-645-4006
Bob Walch 818-585-4915 (or) 888-909-8650
Joe Ambrose 310-277-7789
Richard Appel 310-829-7007
Kevin Clark 818-222-5213
Nicholas Budd Dutton (John Dutton) 323-653-0226
Wm. Hablinsk 310-858-8525
Clark & Hedrick 310-472-8119
Dean L. Pratt (Shigetomi/Pratt) 323-692-0897
Jay Reynolds 323-931-1007
Jim Smith 310-559-5192
Brian Dillon 818-893-3468
Gary Stickel 323-937-6997
Robert Wilodrski 818-340-6676
Cermaglaze, Inc. 310-275-9580
Porcelain & Fiberglass Maintenance, 818-980-3245
(Henry Garcia)Bee Professional 310-201-0898
Mike Cooley’s 800-233-3626
Simon the Bee Man 818-708-0260
Angeles Carpet 310-652-3092
Ephrim Asgahd (tile) 310-289-0262
S & J. Biren Carpets 310-553-0971
Environmental Carpet by Shen 310-456-7771
Dick Maplesden Custom Carpet Clean 310-451-4728
Boston Brick & Stone 323-257-4298
Cal Fire 818-341-0338
Certified Chimney (Shane Imburgia) 818-265-0669
(inspections only)
D-Way (inspections only) 805-492-6363
London Chimney 310-478-1033
Lucky Chimney 323-258-0828
Eddie Wigington (builder) 310-293-2196
Beverly Hills House Cleaning 323-651-2530
Leo Bradley 323-733-2359
Dave, the Window Washer 310-454-6780
David Fernandez 818-909-4963
Earl Maintenance 213-389-6400
Empire Maintenance 323-283-6123
Hunters Best 310-837-3300
Howard Lieberman 818-348-6881
Dick Maplesden Carpet / Upholstery 310-451-4728
Power House Maintenance (Davell) 310-676-2681
Sam’s Carpet Cleaning 818-769-0749
Sunny Maintenance 310-475-3595
Elba Vasquez 323-661-1480
White Knight 310-278-8420

CONTRACTORS
Armfield Designs (Mark Armfield) 310-457-4222
Adis Browne 310-284-9330
Carter Fences 818-983-1515
Douglas Carlson 818-845-7693
Tod Crawford (general) 323-663-9825
Scott Halley 310-457-5614
Hilgendorf Corp . (Ken Hilgendorf) 310-476-3764
Hillside Foundations/ R.Moe 818-548-7669
Holst Brothers 310-456-2563
James Horner 310-455-9911
JMW Contractors (concrete) 805-499-4974
Scott Kipper (fence/decks) 310-472-6620
Kitchen Bath 310-390-0344
Tim Marschall TMC 310-459-9964
Charlie MacDonald 310-450-0027
John Molek 310-433-1990
NFC Construction Technologies 310-821-0997
Scott Pritchett 805-494-4878
SOS Enterprises (Gideon Cohen) 310-822-8285
Marcelo Reynoso 310-791-1900
Stuart Seidner 310-457-3062
Les Soltes 310-207-3756
Bart Walker 818-993-4412

DISCLOSURES
J.C.P 800-748-5233
LGS 800-814-5599
Property ID 800-626-0106

DRAINAGE SPECIALISTS
Alpha Structural (Dave Tourje) 323-258-5482
Paul McGrath 800-600-1633
Derrick Toole 818-703-6163

DRAIN CLEANING/ROOTER SERVICE
Patrick Byrd’s Drainology 310-398-2007

ELECTRIC GATES
Rick’s Gate Works, Inc. 310-278-3309
Scotland Entry Systems 818-376-0777

ELECTRICIANS
Arie Izhak 818-509-0000
Wayne Martin 818-347-6051
Malibu Electric Service (Brian) 310-456-2263
Dusty Peak 310-457-9348
Ramco 310-390-6133
Smith & Co. 310-828-4016
Starman 818-363-7563
Viking 323-874-0042

ENGINEERS, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Affordable Inspection Service (Mold) 818-886-2070
Air Quality Management 909-396-2326
Alliance Environmental (air duct clean- 888-314-3300
ing, asbestos, lead paint, hazardous
materials, mold testing / remediation)
Asbestos Detections 714-530-1922
Callan Environmental (mold) 805-583-8093
Environmental Inspections & Solutions 818-879-0900
(Richard Scarborough (inspections)
Murray Herraschom 310-396-6532
Luis de la Cruz (fungus/mold) 818-785-2143
Mold Check Professionals (inspection) 818-951-9120
The Machado Environmental Corp 800-358-3828
(indoor/outdoor air quality/
mold etc, air duct cleaning)
Precision Environmental Inc (mold, 800-375-7786
asbestos, lead, etc) (remediation)
PW Stephens (asbestos) 800-750-7733
Allan Rudison (mold inspections) 310-815-8888
St. George Industries (asbestos) 818-509-2500

EXPEDITERS
Mike Barsocchini 210 456-3625
Marissa Coughlan 310 456-6262
Land & Water Co. (Lynn Heacox) 714 965-1622
Susan McCabe (Lobbyist, Legislative 310-821-1004
and Coastal)
Marney Randall 310 395-2615
Don Schmitz 310 589-0773
Terry Valente 310 456-8990

C and C Fence Co. (Dan) 818-216-6784

FIBERGLASS REPAIR
(see BATHTUB/SINK/SHOWER REPAIR)

FIRE SYSTEMS
California State Fire Protection (Steve 310-397-7553
Hoppers)
Interior Sprinklers (Jim Beard) 714 524-9118

FLOORING
Low Downey 626-445-2327
Bill Henley, Inc. (Frank Henley- 310-671-4278
hardwood)
Reinhart Peters 818-909-4652
Ultimate Flooring/ Brad de Antonio 818-505-1500
Wolfgarg 310-657-9536

FOUNDATIONS
Gordon Polon 310-998-5611
Weinstein Foundation Retrofitting 800-862-6582

FUNG SHUI
Milan 310 394-9164 310 277-7776
Joyce Chow Waddell 310 568-8333

FURNACES/AIR CONDITIONING
A&H Heating 310-837-7491
Brody Heating & Air 310-836-0606
Cal Heat & Air 323-469-6207
Crown Air 818-886-3152
EAC Service 310-704-6052
E.L. Payne 800-227-2963
Mediterranean 818-884-1414
Nu Air 818-773-1177
Robinson 818-387-0001
Santa Monica Duct Cleaning 310-451-3749

FURNITURE DESIGN
Quattrocento Design (Leonard Temes) 310-358-0758

GEOLOGISTS
Alexander Bell 818-884-8211
J.Byer Group 818-549-9959
Coastline Geotechnical Consultants 818-217-1504
(Richard Martin)
Leroy Crandall 310-578-7475
Geo-Concepts (Bob Sousa) 818-994-8895
Geo Plan (John Merrill) 818-881-2063
Geo Systems/ Vince Carnegie 818-500-9533
Dale Glenn 818-886-2766
Grover Hollingworth 818-889-0844
Donald Kowalewaky 310-457-2456
MacIntosh & MacIntosh 323-662-1184
Mountain Geology (Jeff Holt) 805-522-5174
Larry Parmalee 818-905-5337
RJR Engineering (James O’Tousa) 805-650-5125
Robertson Geotechnical 818-991-6367
(Hugh Robertson) 805-373-0057
Brian Robinson 818-782-8282
Harley Tucker 818-703-0908

GEOLOGY
Certification (special studies zones) 800-626-0106
ext 282

HANDYMEN
Roy Babich 310-306-4524
Dan Bowen 310-828-5730
Jim Collins 310-641-8083
Cooley’s Handyman Service 213-350-1310
Handy Harry 310-556-5737
Handy Mac 310-454-5561
Dick Minium Construction 310-454-5740
Pioneer & Lucerne Hardware 310-276-7316
Don Ridgeway 310-820-7856
Les Soltes 310-207-3756
Scott Winner 310-457-8301
Roy Wolters 310-641-1068

HOME WARRANTY PROGRAMS
American Home Shield 800-827-4636
Buyer’s Home Warranty 800-443-5599
Fidelity-Chicago 800-308-1422
First American 800-698-0422
Old Republic 800-445-6999
Sierra National 800-464-4692

HORSE CARE
Big Baby Ranch (Steve Brackley) 805-933-3306

IMPACT HAZARD GLAZING
LGS 800-771-5971
Metro Retrofitting 800-450-3660

INSPECTORS
Gary Abrams 818-593-1590
Accurate/Jim Melnarik 310-559-4070
Advanced Group 818-247-7771
AmeriSpec (franchise) 818-543-1366
AmeriSpec (franchise Rick White) 805-644-3623
Boatwright 310-390-8282
Les Di Francesco 818-865-0490
Eagle/Dan Fish 800-303-2453
Environmental Inspection Services 310-396-6532
(Murray)
Federal Home/Mike Koptcha 310-860-1934
Gordon/Mark Enomoto 310-274-4444
Hillside Home Insp / Bill Merzbach 323-851-5316
Robert Holmes 310-701-9012
Home Specs (Neal Ray) 310-457-3887
Inspecteck/Tom Clark 800-706-1950
Martin Kaplan 310-475-0644
John La Rocca 323-469-5466
Lugar 310-798-2411
Morrissey, Bushway & Assocs (Pat 310-248-5450
Morrisey)
National Leak Detection 800-444-9421
Pacific 800-537-7404
Pro-Tech (Jerry Kessler) 818-246-9105
Reliance/ George Baral 818-845-4273
Mike Ross 310-915-0301
Peter Sanderson 310-207-8068

INSURANCE
Ares (John Rodway) 818-986-4207
Auto Club of Southern California 310-914-8500
Cedric Scott (John Hanna) 818-795-7248
Farmers (Mark Ball) 310-317-4433
Farmers (Bart Baker) 310-457-5092
Fireman’s Fund (wood pilings – Gary 310-457-1485
Warner)
Gelfand Newman (John Speare) 310-473-2522
State Farm 310-456-1629
Gary Steffans (wood pilings) 310-459-1555
Sussman Insurance 310-820-2939

INTERIOR DESIGN
Dacoda Interiors 310-713-8488
Michael Foxworthy Interiors 323-822-9932

INVENTORY SERVICES
Gentry Productions
(video & written inventory) 323-660-7455

LANDSCAPE DESIGN/BRUSH CLEARANCE
Artscape 818-994-7181
Nancy Bloch 310-625-6853
Garett Carlson 310-858-7355
Andrea Gardner (Lic Lndscp Arch) 310-202-6767
Daniel Perez 818-244-7101
Simply Green 310-858-7355
Albert Thorne (brush/tractor) 805-486-1913

LEAK DETECTION
American Leak Detection (Pools) 310-274-0403
Pinpoint Leak Detection (slab, 818-700-2505
Sewer video/locate, gas)
Taylor Engineering (Brent Taylor) 800-252-0070
Betrand Trottier 310-375-0729

LOCKSMITHS
Beverly Hills Lock & Key 310-276-4022
Bundy Lock & Key 310-438-8951
Kennedy Lock 310-271-9760
Koonz Hardware 310-652-0123
Village Lockshop 310-471-5625

MOLD REMEDIATION
Alliance Environmental 888-314-3300
Bye Bye Mold (George Hatcher) 800-686-1992
California Restoration 800-822-7847
Precision Environmental Inc (mold, 800-375-7786
asbestos, lead, etc)
Precision Works 800-375-7786
Serv Pro (Howard) 818-993-9339
Sky Blue Env (Kathy Blodget) 818-373-4966
V&M Restoration (Craig Huss) 818-349-3473

NOTARY
Malibu Mobile (24 Hrs – Joyce St.Claire 310-457-8833
Cell 310-463-3988
Rosalind Thompson 310-457-5890
Cell 310-701-0210
Ardi Youngster 310-454-0113

PAINTING
Paul DeFalco 949-279-9618
PEST CONTROL (see also TERMITE SERVICES)
Strategic Pest Management (Rich) 310-322-5001

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Mark McCoy 310-392-5220
Mike McCreary 323-931-1983
Nick Springet 310-392-5166

PLUMBERS
A & B 310-456-2542
Bender Plumbers 310-394-6435
Beverly Hills Plumbing 310-653-2528
Burt Plumbing 323-876-1300
Cardoza’s Plumbing 310-839-9892
Clark Plumbers 310-478-5011
Tim Davies 310-450-4256
Alex Ducworth 310-451-3331
Edgar 818-402-1143
Gordon Plumbers 310-451-4212
Jim Houston 310-287-5596
Kendall Plumbing (Curtis) 310-390-9029
McDermott 310-456-2286
Mosser 800-559-7586
Palisades Plumbers 310-454-5548
Pete the Plumber 323-654-5404
Val Ramos 310-450-7271
Joe Rincon 818-377-9705
Stewart Plumbers 323-469-5851
3-D (Durand) 805-497-9717

POOLS & SPAS
Addison Pools 818-981-5861
American Leak Detection 805-965-1000
805-374-0403
Apollo Pools 310-477-3061
Aqua Sheen 310-275-4128
Culver Pools (Bob Culver – inspections) 661-285-2251
John Crystal 818-885-0004
Al Martinez (decks) 310-390-7098
Southwest Pool Service 310-640-7189
Taylor Engineering (Brent Taylor – leak 800-252-0070
detection)
Mark Voll (service) 310-457-0474

POWER WASHING
Paul’s Professional 818-249-7917
Low Downey 626-445-2327
Bill Henley, Inc. (Frank Henley- 310-671-4278 hardwood)
Reinhart Peters 818-909-4652
Ultimate Flooring/ Brad de Antonio 818-505-1500
Wolfgarg 310-657-9536
Gordon Polon 310-998-5611
Weinstein Foundation Retrofitting 800-862-6582
Milan 310 394-9164
310 277-7776
Joyce Chow Waddell 310 568-8333
A&H Heating 310-837-7491
Brody Heating & Air 310-836-0606
Cal Heat & Air 323-469-6207
Crown Air 818-886-3152
EAC Service 310-704-6052
E.L. Payne 800-227-2963
Mediterranean 818-884-1414
Nu Air 818-773-1177
Robinson 818-387-0001
Santa Monica Duct Cleaning 310-451-3749
Quattrocento Design (Leonard Temes) 310-358-0758
Alexander Bell 818-884-8211
J.Byer Group 818-549-9959
Coastline Geotechnical Consultants 818-217-1504
(Richard Martin)Leroy Crandall 310-578-7475
Geo-Concepts (Bob Sousa) 818-994-8895
Geo Plan (John Merrill) 818-881-2063
Geo Systems/ Vince Carnegie 818-500-9533Dale Glenn 818-886-2766
Grover Hollingworth 818-889-0844
Donald Kowalewaky 310-457-2456
MacIntosh & MacIntosh 323-662-1184
Mountain Geology (Jeff Holt) 805-522-5174
Larry Parmalee 818-905-5337
RJR Engineering (James O’Tousa) 805-650-5125
Robertson Geotechnical 818-991-6367
(Hugh Robertson) 805-373-0057
Brian Robinson 818-782-8282
Harley Tucker 818-703-0908
Certification (special studies zones) 800-626-0106
ext 282
Roy Babich 310-306-4524
Dan Bowen 310-828-5730
Jim Collins 310-641-8083
Cooley’s Handyman Service 213-350-1310
Handy Harry 310-556-5737
Handy Mac 310-454-5561
Dick Minium Construction 310-454-5740
Pioneer & Lucerne Hardware 310-276-7316
Don Ridgeway 310-820-7856
Les Soltes 310-207-3756
Scott Winner 310-457-8301
Roy Wolters 310-641-1068
American Home Shield 800-827-4636
Buyer’s Home Warranty 800-443-5599
Fidelity-Chicago 800-308-1422
First American 800-698-0422
Old Republic 800-445-6999
Sierra National 800-464-4692
Big Baby Ranch (Steve Brackley) 805-933-3306
LGS 800-771-5971
Metro Retrofitting 800-450-3660
Gary Abrams 818-593-1590
Accurate/Jim Melnarik 310-559-4070
Advanced Group 818-247-7771
AmeriSpec (franchise) 818-543-1366
AmeriSpec (franchise Rick White) 805-644-3623
Boatwright 310-390-8282
Les Di Francesco 818-865-0490
Eagle/Dan Fish 800-303-2453
Environmental Inspection Services 310-396-6532
(Murray)Federal Home/Mike Koptcha 310-860-1934
Gordon/Mark Enomoto 310-274-4444
Hillside Home Insp / Bill Merzbach 323-851-5316
Robert Holmes 310-701-9012
Home Specs (Neal Ray) 310-457-3887
Inspecteck/Tom Clark 800-706-1950
Martin Kaplan 310-475-0644
John La Rocca 323-469-5466
Lugar 310-798-2411
Morrissey, Bushway & Assocs (Pat 310-248-5450
Morrisey)National Leak Detection 800-444-9421
Pacific 800-537-7404
Pro-Tech (Jerry Kessler) 818-246-9105
Reliance/ George Baral 818-845-4273
Mike Ross 310-915-0301
Peter Sanderson 310-207-8068
Ares (John Rodway) 818-986-4207
Auto Club of Southern California 310-914-8500
Cedric Scott (John Hanna) 818-795-7248
Farmers (Mark Ball) 310-317-4433
Farmers (Bart Baker) 310-457-5092
Fireman’s Fund (wood pilings – Gary 310-457-1485
Warner)Gelfand Newman (John Speare) 310-473-2522
State Farm 310-456-1629
Gary Steffans (wood pilings) 310-459-1555
Sussman Insurance 310-820-2939
Dacoda Interiors 310-713-8488
Michael Foxworthy Interiors 323-822-9932
Gentry Productions (video & written inventory) 323-660-7455
Artscape 818-994-7181
Nancy Bloch 310-625-6853
Garett Carlson 310-858-7355
Andrea Gardner (Lic Lndscp Arch) 310-202-6767
Daniel Perez 818-244-7101
Simply Green 310-858-7355
Albert Thorne (brush/tractor) 805-486-1913
American Leak Detection (Pools) 310-274-0403
Pinpoint Leak Detection (slab, 818-700-2505
Sewer video/locate, gas)
Taylor Engineering (Brent Taylor) 800-252-0070
Betrand Trottier 310-375-0729
Beverly Hills Lock & Key 310-276-4022
Bundy Lock & Key 310-438-8951
Kennedy Lock 310-271-9760
Koonz Hardware 310-652-0123
Village Lockshop 310-471-5625
Alliance Environmental 888-314-3300
Bye Bye Mold (George Hatcher) 800-686-1992
California Restoration 800-822-7847
Precision Environmental Inc (mold, 800-375-7786
asbestos, lead, etc) Precision Works 800-375-7786
Serv Pro (Howard) 818-993-9339
Sky Blue Env (Kathy Blodget) 818-373-4966
V&M Restoration (Craig Huss) 818-349-3473
Malibu Mobile (24 Hrs – Joyce St.Claire 310-457-8833
Cell 310-463-3988
Rosalind Thompson 310-457-5890
Cell 310-701-0210
Ardi Youngster 310-454-0113
Paul DeFalco 949-279-9618
Strategic Pest Management (Rich) 310-322-5001
Mark McCoy 310-392-5220
Mike McCreary 323-931-1983
Nick Springet 310-392-5166
A & B 310-456-2542
Bender Plumbers 310-394-6435
Beverly Hills Plumbing 310-653-2528
Burt Plumbing 323-876-1300
Cardoza’s Plumbing 310-839-9892
Clark Plumbers 310-478-5011
Tim Davies 310-450-4256
Alex Ducworth 310-451-3331
Edgar 818-402-1143
Gordon Plumbers 310-451-4212
Jim Houston 310-287-5596
Kendall Plumbing (Curtis) 310-390-9029
McDermott 310-456-2286
Mosser 800-559-7586
Palisades Plumbers 310-454-5548
Pete the Plumber 323-654-5404
Val Ramos 310-450-7271
Joe Rincon 818-377-9705
Stewart Plumbers 323-469-5851
3-D (Durand) 805-497-9717
Addison Pools 818-981-5861
American Leak Detection 805-965-1000
805-374-0403
Apollo Pools 310-477-3061
Aqua Sheen 310-275-4128
Culver Pools (Bob Culver – inspections) 661-285-2251
John Crystal 818-885-0004
Al Martinez (decks) 310-390-7098
Southwest Pool Service 310-640-7189
Taylor Engineering (Brent Taylor – leak 800-252-0070
detection)
Mark Voll (service) 310-457-0474
Paul’s Professional 818-249-7917

RAT AND RODENT CONTROL / REMOVAL
Acrobat Pest Control 888-306-7378
Mike Cooley’s 800-233-3626

RETROFIT
LGS 800-771-5971
Metro Retrofitters 800-450-3660
PRC Mechanical 888-245-9939
(gas shut off valves)
Retrofitters 800-452-4253
Solutions For Property 818-908-8945

RENTALS (short term)
The Bermuda 310-271-7181
Citrus Suites 310-943-7200
Hillcrest Apartments 310-785-0955
Oakwood Apartments 310-751-4585
Hotel Oceana 310-393-0486
The Palazzo at Park LaBrea 888-218-0583
Venice Beach Suites 310-396-4559
Wilshire Westwood 310-470-4474

ROOFERS
Aspen Roofers 310-338-1507
Butler Roofing 310-320-7333
Bond Roofing 323-936-0534
Steve Chambless 818-343-2997
Coastal Roofing (Steve Harper) 310-455-2827
Cell 310-614-3480
Culver City Roofers 310-313-1592
Dunham & Myers 323-678-7825
Four Seasons (Thomas Roofing) 310-317-9595
J&J Roofers 818-255-1935
John & Ken’s Roofing 818-506-0969
Frank Lopez 323-734-0441
McCormick Roofers 818-709-2650
Olympic Roofers 818-993-0029
Penny Roofers 323-731-5424
Santa Monica Roofers 310-829-4439
Silverman Roofing 310-399-0888

SCREEN REPAIR & REPLACEMENT
Paul’s Professional 818-249-7917

SEPTIC SYSTEMS
C&S Septic (Ely Simental) 805-488-2632
City Design (Bob Selah) 805-522-0474
Ensitu Engineering 805-772-0150
Escobar Contracting, Inc. 310-828-0129
Goldek / Sewer Location 818-240-2666
Andy Gump (cleaning) 800-992-7755
JS Construction (Jim or Chuck0 818-888-2556
Microseptec 949-522-0474
Roy Bros 310-457-4935
(or) 310-456-8405
Daryl Roy 805-389-1860
Richard Sherman 310-455-2189
Barton Slutsky 805-499-6620
Larry Young 818-883-8585

SEWER LOCATION AND VIDEO
Patrick Byrd’s Drainology 310-398-2007
Pinpoint Leak Detection (slab, 818-700-2505
Sewer video/locate, gas)
John White 310-261-2514

STAGING
Interior Design/Dacoda 310-713-8488
Richard Kaleh/ASID 310-289-9746
Meredith Baer & Associates 310-573-7761
Pamela Massa 310-207-2834
Provenance/Aimee Miller 310-274-5878

STONE CLEANING & SEALING
Stone Pros 323-883-0805

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
Brian Cochran 310-477-4517
Mark Gregorian 818-500-9081
MacIntosh & MacIntosh 323-662-1184
Gordon Polon 310-998-5611
T.A. Purkiss 818-952-2972
Robert Reiss 323-937-8696
Bryce Richmond 818-347-5948
David Weiss 818-224-3973
Richard White 818-955-6687

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
(Drainage, Pilings, Seawalls)
Edwardo Jarquin 310-644-4134
Stuart Kregstein 805-658-9172
Bob Newlen 310-456-8750
Pacific Engineering 818-227-8090
(Reg Browne - beach)
Servtech 310-826-5347
(Ken Watanabe/Ken Molder)
Dimitry Vergun 310-457-4222
Kelly Wong 310-394-9775
(Structural, foundations)

SURVEYORS
A-Lana 323-937-8696
Victor Beck 818-346-6962
Becker/Miamoto 323-661-9009
David Grimes 323-223-1011
Hennon & Associates 818-566-9844
Tom Iacobellis 818-366-9222
Land & Air (Mark Sandstrom) 310-456-9381
Cell 805-338-4427
M&M 818-885-1100
Paul Marfield 310-398-1447
John Macneil 310-455-2013
Mollenhaur Group 213-624-2661
John Murphy 323-294-3601
Peak Survey (Dave Widmer) 805-497-0102
George Psomas 310-450-1217
Mario Quiros 310-456-8022
Robert Reiss 323-937-8696
Lawrence Schmahl 323-773-1675
Larry Vadaz 818-763-8074
Louis Zehfuss 818-368-8616

TENNIS COURTS
Malibu Pacific 818-707-3797
N.J.P. (Courts wind screens) 818-247-3914

TERMITE SERVICES
A-Advance 323-931-5858
Angeles Termite 213-383-3193
Boddie 310-839-9270
Bottom Line 800-750-5758
Darby 323-666-1661
Dewey 323-661-1361
John Charles Evans 323-655-7606
Home Savings 310-391-0682
McKernan 818 781-4410
Morgan 818-968-9371
Paramount 323-664-1921
Pioneer (Pat Harrington) 323-292-0591
Tallon 310-636-0249
Top 213-365-8900
Yamaguchi 323-663-1161

THRIFT DONATION
June Benson 323-565-3984
Goodwill 323-221-5231
National Council Jewish Women 323-655-3111
St. Joseph’s Center 310-396-6468
St. Vincent De Paul 800-974-3571

TREES
J & J Service 310-471-4200
Kelly Tree 800-873-3123
Bernard Segala 310-559-3628

TREE TRIMMING
Cruz 310-419-4262
Harper 310-472-4550
Johnson 310-393-5700
Lamas 323-461-7138
Alfredo Mireles 310-837-3689

VALET PARKING
Crystal Valet 323-663-7275
Chuck’s Parking 818-788-4300

WALLS
Eddie Wigington 310-293-2196

WATER PROOFING
Paul Meadows 818-843-6533

WELLS
Coast Pumps (Bill or Ron – well checks) 805-484-0340
FGL Environmental 805-659-0910
Ike's Pump Service 805-485-3912
Jensen Water Trucks (Gary) 310-455-2463
Midwest Water Well (Miles Erickson) 310-457-1432
Purification (John Perry – Water 800-300-3420
Treatment depot)
Purification (Mark Voll – iron sulfur 310-457-0474

WINDOW CLEANING
Dave, the Window Washer 310-454-6780
Paul’s Professional 818-249-7917

Web sites for Fun Events Westside Los Angeles Cities Santa Monica Marina Del Rey Venice Pacific Palisades Brentwood

2010-06-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

Websites Fun Events on the Los Angeles Westside

Brought to you by your Neighborhood Realtor® Maralee Grantham

Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

FILMS:
Los Angeles County Mus of Art Bing Theatre: http://www.lacma.org/programs/FilmListing.aspx#1271359658276
Getty films: http://www.getty.edu/museum/programs/performances/index.html
UCLA Films: Calendar | UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television tft.ucla.edu

MUSEUMS:
Autry Museum of the American West and Southwest Museum http://theautry.org/calendar/events
LA Cty Mus of Art-LACMA, starting Wilshire east from Fairfax--five museums on the Miracle Mile row: LACMA, Page, Petersen, Architecture+Design,
and Craft & Folk Art. Plus, check out the more than 20 galleries open along the Miracle Mile.
Getty http://www.getty.edu/museum/exhibitions/
Getty and Villa: http://www.getty.edu/visit/calendar/days/06142010.html
Huntington (Pasadena): http://www.huntington.org/huntingtonlibrary_calendar.aspx
Hammer (Westwood) http://hammer.ucla.edu/calendar lunch tiem lectures 12;30 ;
Fowler: UCLA http://www.fowler.ucla.edu/incEngine/?content=cm&cm=exhibitions
Norton Simon: http://www.nortonsimon.org/events/index.php

THEATRE Plays:
Autry Museum of the American West: Native American company: http://nativevoices.blogspot.com/
new play from the museum's, "Tales of an Urban Indian", opens March Fri 8pm and Sat 2pm and 8 pm and Sun 2 pm

LA Summer Theatre Festivals: http://golosangeles.about.com/od/losangelescalendar/a/TheatreFestival.htm
Miles Sta. Monica's Park at Lincoln north of Wilshire, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., SM,$15 for 1 show, $25 for 2 shows on the same night, or $40
for any 4 shows. 800) 838-3006
Getty events Villa and Main museum: http://www.getty.edu/visit/calendar/events/Lectures.html
Getty Villa: http://www.getty.edu/museum/programs/performances/outdoor_theater.html
Getty Villa play readings http://www.getty.edu/museum/programs/performances/playreading_series.html#next
Getty main and Villa tours: http://www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/programs.html
Center Theatre Group; Ahmanson, Mark Taper ( both downtown) Kirk Douglas (Culver City) http://www.centertheatregroup.org/

ARTS: portraiture of kids people animals Laraine Mestman: www.mestmanart.com

ENVIRONMENT:
Friends of the Los Angeles River: http://folar.org/
Santa Monica office f sustainability and the environment http://calendar.smgov.net/library/eventsignup.asp?ID=2179
Green Living Classes conducted by the City of Santa Monica open to all, classes held locally are on Water, Energy, Waste, Chemicals, Transportation,
and Shopping & Food, sustainableworks.org
West La Surf Rider Foundation 2629 Main St. http://calendar.smgov.net/library/eventsignup.asp?ID=2179
Green Drinks: Those interested in discussing environmental issues: join www.lagreendrinks.org

CONCERTS:
Hollywood Bowl June through September, 2301 Highland (323) 850-2000, www.hollywoodbowl.com
SM Pier Concerts Twilight Dance Series: http://santamonicapier.org/twilight/

Culver City: http://www.culvercity.org/Culture/ConcertsEvents/musicfestival.aspx

G2 Gallery, 1503 Abbot Kinney, Venice, CA 90291 (310) 452-2842, 1503 Abbot Kinney BoulevardVenice, CA 90291-3742, (310) 452-2842

Downtown La California Plaza
http://golosangeles.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=golosangeles&cdn=travel&tm=13&gps=294_367_1020_563&f=00&tt=13&bt=0&bts=0&zu=
http%3A//www.grandperformances.org/10http://golosangeles.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=golosangeles&cdn=travel&tm=40&gps=295_384_
1020_563&f=00&su=p284.9.336.ip_p531.51.336.ip_&tt=3&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A

Autry (Griffith Park: Sizzling Summer Nights 6-9 pm Thurs. July-Aug

Long Beach:
6/26-27,Annual summer Mardi Gras Festival $25 tkts in adv. Or $30 at gate http://longbeachfestival.com/201053110/HTML/LBBMF_New_Home.html

Greek: http://www.greektheatrela.com/events/index.asp

Ford: The John Anson Ford Theatres 2580 E. Cahuenga Blvd. LA, CA 68, http://www.fordamphitheater.org/en/events/list

Wadsworth Veteran's Admin: 11301 Wilshire Blvd.

UCLA Live UCLA events http://www.uclalive.org/calendar.asp non UCLA events: http://www.uclalive.org/calendar.asp?Non_UCLALive=True

EATING: understand your eating habits subscribe to Nutrition Nibbles, subscribe to newsletter of highly regarded nutritionist: Eve
Lahijani, she won't tell you what to eat as much as she will tell you how when and how to reconnect with your intuition vitamineve@gmail.com

FUN/CULTURAL/Historical:
Santa Monica Conservancy: smconservancy.org
Annenberg Beach House http://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com
Juneteenth: juneteenth1865@roadrunner.com

DANCE: Flamenco see El Cid Hollywood: 4212 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 323-668-0318
http://www.elcidla.com/calendar.

GOLF LA City Courses: https://golfreservation.lacity.org/golferla72/
GARDENS: Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011. (818) 949 4200
http://www.descansogardens.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=48&Itemid=73

CITY EVENT WEB SITES:
Culver City Calendar: http://www.culvercity.org/calendar.aspx
Culver City Ivy Station: 9070 Venice Blvd. ,99-seat theatre facility located in the heart of Culver City's historic downtown. “Tim Robbins’ The Actors’
Gang is the resident company 310.838.4264, www.theactorsgang.com
Venice chamber events calendar http://venicechamber.chambermaster.com/directory/events.jsp?ccid=108&aname=1
Beyond Baroque city arts center: http://www.beyondbaroque.org/
Malibu: City attractions http://www.ci.malibu.ca.us/index.cfm/fuseaction/nav/navid/12/; see famous Malibu tiles, Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon
Museum 23200 PCH, 310 456 8482 also Malibu Lagoon Museum: http://www.adamsonhouse.org/
Santa Monica: Events Calendar- http://www.santamonica.com/events-calendar/ ; City planning- shapethefuture2025.net;
Pasadena Tournament of Roses events: http://www.tournamentofroses.com/events/; Seacape community newsletter: http://www.smgov.net/seascape/
Marina Del Rey: City events- http://www.visitmarinadelrey.com/events/all-events.html; Ballona Wetlands tours
http://www.ballonafriends.org/visit_programs.html
Mar Vista: Chamber forming see Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56236233990
Pacific Palisades: Chamber- http://www.palisadeschamber.com/; Rec. Center http://www.laparks.org/dos/reccenter/facility/palisadesRC.htm

LA WEB SITES:I Spy LA:
http://www.eyespyla.com/www/thebuzz.nsf/6d70423f8dab5d0e88256e3c0051b8c4/444aef436666f4b88525771100153f9d!OpenDocument

BIKE:
1st Fridays Sta. Monica Critical Mass Ride-Arc
2nd Friday: Midnight Ridazz Themed Ride
3rd Friday: NE LA Critical Mass
Last Fridays: Long Beach LA and Venice Critical Mass
Ride calendar and forum midnightridazz.com
LA and Orange County rides Bikebooom.org
Urban Exploration and Discovery: Ridearc.org
Central LA Bicyclekitchen.com
East LA Bikeoven.com
West LA Bikerowave.org
LA County Cycling Advocacy:LA-Bike.org
Cyclists Inciting Change Through Live Exchange: cicle.org
Culture Community and the Ride that Takes you There: IlluminateLA.com

TICKETS: Canyon Club: http://tickets.canyonclub.net/
Goldstar: check frequently as availability changes- http://tickets.canyonclub.net

June 2010 Fun Events Fun Things Los Angeles West Side cities

2010-06-02T01:23:00.000-07:00

June Fun Things to Do on the Westside
Brought to you by your neighborhood realtor Maralee Grantham
Happy summer, and Happy Juneteeth, ah Texas, The Emancipation Proclamation was Jan. 1 1863, Texas Slaves were informed June 10th
THEATRE: Topanga open air TheatricumBotannicum.com seasons open 6/5 with Hamlet; Midsummer Night's Dream 6/6, 3 Musketeers 6/12, through
Sept or Oct., Tickets $20 or 32 buy 4 tickets $120 call 310 455 3723. TICKETS: try Goldstar web site for discount tickets Ahmanson downtown has South
Pacific, Culver City's Kirk Douglas has 1 man show Palomino, carriage driver in Central Park involved with his passengers or go to Centre Theatre Group
http://www.centertheatregroup.org/calendar/index.aspx. Miles Theatre in Santa Monica 1130 Lincoln Blvd. through June Women's Shakespeare $15 for 1
ticket and $25 for 2.through June 26 Wilde Shakespeare by Women's Shakespeare Company- (800) 838-3006
CONCERTS: LAC Art Museum free concerts Sat 5 pm to 7 pm in Amphitheatre on 6th St. side June/ July is Latin Sounds. Culver City has summer concerts,
so does Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades Hollywood Bowl June through September, 2301 Highland (323) 850-2000, www.hollywoodbowl.com; LA
Sumer Theatre such as Shakespeare by the Sea in San Pedro go to http://golosangeles.about.com/od/losangelescalendar/a/TheatreFestival.htm; G@
Gallery on Abbott Kinney offers free concerts Thurs.Mardi Gras New Orleans Festival Long Beach 6/26-7
FILM June has 3 film Festivals in Los Angeles Greek 6/ 10-13; American Black 6/ 23-26 and Los Angeles Film Festival 6/ 17-27 see google
Festival, the Enchantresses, at the main Getty, beginning with the 1923 Salome, Sat 6/26 at 3 pm and Cleopatra, 1934 at 7pm, Sun 11 am is 1949 Samson
and Delilah and 3 pm Mata Hari, Greta Garbo, Claudette Colbert, Hedy Lamarr; LA Cty Art Museum "Wild Grass", Thurs. 6/10 7:30 pm straight from
CANNES World premiere- space and time mystery .see all films at http://www.lacma.org/programs/FilmListing.aspx#1271359658276
JUNETEENTH in Santa Monica Sat 6 19 noon to 5 Virginia Park contact: :juneteenth1865@roadrunner.com;
MUSEUMS: Getty reservations call 310 440 7300 Main Getty opens 6-1 Old Testament in Medieval Manuscripts, still showing, works by Leonardo Da Vinci
hard to get in on a weekend, ends 6 20 web site for regular tours is: http://www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/programs.html
Getty Villa: to 7-5 Aztec Pantheon and the Art of Empire; Hammer, Carl Jung's Red Book on display through June 6 all events go to
http://hammer.ucla.edu/programs/programs; Fowler at UCLA: events Batik from Java and a 40 year of ethnic studies retrospective
http://www.fowler.ucla.edu/incEngine/?content=cm&cm=exhibitions.
.SM Conservancy: June 13--Kick Off Summer with a Santa Monica Palisades Park Walking Tour Sun 3- 6 pm, docents will be stationed along the
Palisade Park on Ocean Av. in Santa Monica, join for $10 or @0 to join and take tour approx.. LA Conservancy has 16 free walking tours of downtown,
such as LA' s evolving Skyline
Annenberg Comm. Beach House, Santa Monica at bottom of Ca. Incline, nation's only free beach and clubhouse: Summer's just around the corner, and
we have lots planned. Splash into summer starting Saturday, June 19. Save the dates! This summer, Beach=Culture returns to Tuesday nights starting June
22 with the supergroup trio of country/rock/folk singers and songwriters that is The Refugees. On June 29, back by popular demand, it’s a concert reading of
"WR & Daisy," a musical about the lives of Marion Davies and W.R. Hearst featuring delightful melodies and witty characterizations to draw you into the wild
history of the Beach House.
ART Portraits: 6/12 4 to 7 pm Santa Monica Bay Women's Club 1210 4th st. continues after opening on display to 6/18-see new twist on portraits. Show
called Family.
EATING: understand your eating habits subscribe to Nutrition Nibbles, subscribe to newsletter of highly regarded nutritionist: Eve
Lahijani, she won't tell you what to eat as much as she will tell you how when and how to reconnect with your intuition vitamineve@gmail.com
SPORTS: sign up for a class at UCLA rec. in Marina Del Rey sculling starts 6/12 and 13 and 6/19-20 Sats. and Sundays 7 am to 10 am $120 for Alum or go
as guest of Alum or take sailing, , any boating sport call Nora Lee at 310-305-1576 or e mail :nlee@recreation.ucla.edu; SURF: Learn this summer various
offerings surf lessons in Santa Monica/ Redondo look for someone licensed lessons Try the city web site to find licensed instructors:
http://www01.smgov.net/comm_progs/Beach_permits/surfinstructionpermit.htm; also LearntoSurfLA.com 310 663 2479 group of 3 $75 per lesson or 2
people $100 each; Surf Lessons with Katie in Redondo, Manhattan Beach, 808 636 7873: 3 lessons $267 each if you and a friend sign up,
http://www.surflessonswithkatie.com/surf-lessons.php. Kayaking: La Jolla's 7 cave 2 hours$ 40 individual or $75, 2 person, if you ask for the discount.
858 454 1010, http://www.sandiegobikeandkayaktours.com; also, La Jolla Kayak 858 459 1114; Kayak Channel Islands: Channel Islands Kayak Ctr. is
one of several cikayak.com 2 hrs for 80 or 1 full day for 180;Sea Kayaking Ch Islands Natl. Pk. ( 2) day trip $290 includes kayaking camping and hiking
kayak 7.9 miles over a 2 day period- http://www.islandkayaking.com/Page_14x.html, $355 for 3 days. 800.773.2309.
PARADES: 4th of July: sign up now to volunteer or participate in either the Santa Monica Ocean Park Parade, contact mailto:sponsors@opa-sm.org; or
Pacific Palisades: http://www.livinginthepalisades.com/pacific_palisades_parade.
SKATE: Join the Friday Night Skating FNS group, which skates Fri. nights from SM Pier, many Fridays –June 6th-10th Annual LA River Ride – 5 rides
ranging from 100 Mile century to 15 mile Fun ride, http://www.active.com/cycling/los-angeles-ca/10th-annual-los-angeles-river-ride-2010, for info contact
dan@fidaynightskate.org
JEWELRY: Santa Monica Civics' Gem and Jewelry Show go on www.goldstar.com to get a free ticket (normally $8. 6/18 Fri 12-6, Sat10 to 6 Sun 11 to 5,
make your own jewelry or repair update.
ENVIRONMENT: Santa Monica office of sustainability and the environment Green living workshops continue in June on Wed.'s at the Main Library 7 pm to
8:30, 6 weeks total through July. pmhttp://calendar.smgov.net/library/eventsignup.asp?ID=2179; West La Malibu Surfrider Foundation 2629 Main St.
dedicated t keeping our beaches clean, sign up volunteer, http://surfriderwlam.org/ June 5 beach clean up in Malibu, June 20 Int. Surfing Day.
DANCE: See Amazing Flamenco Star Assieh La Mora at El Cid's in Silver Lake 4212 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 323-668-
0318http://www.elcidla.com/calendar.
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

Homeowner's may have to pay for sidewalk repairs

2010-05-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

City may need to repeal 1974 ordinance making itself responsible for the broken/ uneven/ "tree trunked" sidewalks, but also back away from the many law suits that are filed every year against the city by people who fall on those sidewalks.
City has been spending it's money elsewhere.

Be Informed Homeowner's Investor's without the fluff

2010-05-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here are some good places to recieve RSS feeds without so much fluff.
Wall Street Journal
@WSJ
The Wall Street Journal Twitter feed usually contains links and headlines to the most popular and/or relevant articles at the WSJ's online blog. For more focused information about the housing and lending markets, follow @WSJRealEstate.

CNBC
@CNBC
CNBC's Twitter feed is a good place to find general financial news. Here, you'll see tweets that range from rough predictions of national GDP figures to in-depth reports of local financial trends.

Foreclosure Data
@ForeclosureData
Foreclosure Data is a helpful feed for those interested in viewing our current housing recover y through the lens of foreclosure data. Follow Foreclosure Data to s ubscribe to real-time updates of the most recent foreclosure statistics.

N.A.R.
@infocentralnar
The National Association of Realtors Twitter account caters primarily to N.A.R. members (Realtors), but many of the tweets are of value to anyone working in the real estate industry.

American Banking
@AmericanBanking
American Banking tweets exclusively about news pertaining to the American banking industry. Here, you'll find everything from updates about banking job opportunities to detailed financial trends for the big U.S. banks.

Politiconomic
@Politiconomic
Politiconomic is a Twitter feed (and website) devoted to reporting news at the intersection of politics and economic policy. If you're curious about the conflicting political arguments for raising and dropping Fed rates, this is the place to go.

Stock Tweets
@Stock_Tweets
For those who feel the stock market is the most reliable indicator of consumer confidence, Stock Tweets is a nice find. Here, you'll find daily updates about the U.S. stock market and information about specific stocks that indicate larger trends.

Bank of America
@BofA_Help
Bank of America is among the many banks that offer a Twitter customer support option. If you are feeling frustrated with your local branch, consider appealing to the B of A Twitter feed, where you will likely receive an immediate reply from a customer service representative interested in solving your problem.
.

Currency News
@currencynews

Fun Events May 2010 Westside of Los Angeles

2010-05-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

May 2010 Things to Do on the Westside

Happy Mother's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day from your neighborhood realtor Maralee Grantham

MUSEUMS: Getty Sat 5/27 all day Family Festival to enjoy the rich culture of Aztec Mexico; Sun. 5/30, lecture on the rivalry between Da Vinci and
Michelangelo, 3 pm. Getty "Sat Night's off the 405" concerts starting in May, 7:30 in the main plaza; Getty Villa celebrates the Empire of the Aztecs at the
main Getty with their offering of the Theater Lab's Proyecto Azteca from the Cal. Institute of the Arts showing the first encounter between Europeans and
the Aztecs, begins Fri 8 pm, Sat 3 and 8 and Sun 3 pm, tickets' $7. Cinco de Mayo, of course Olvera Street downtown but also Museum of the
American West, The Autry in Griffith Park, begins May with a free day Sun May 2 and the same day, celebrates El Cinco with a museum celebration. Los
Ang. County Mus. Of Art (LACMA) Secret Stairs Book Signing Charles Fleming, author of the brand new book Secret Stairs: Walking Guide to the
Historic Staircases of Los Angeles will be on the Plaza for a special book signing event. Annenberg Comm. Beach House, at bottom of Ca. Incline. 5/9
Mon 6:30 to 8 pm showing, Marion Davies silent film free make reservations; Pool opens 5/3, $10 adults, open 8:30am to 8 pm,
www.annenbergbeachhouse.com.
FUN: Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest and Folk Festival: 5/16 Sun. at Paramount Ranch (where some of the great Westerns' were filmed) in Agoura
( take 101 Freeway near Westlake take Kanan Rd. s .to Cornell way Blue Grass fans experience a night of fiddling hoe downs , line dancing, great food.
Flamenco Guitar and Dancing, with celebrated dancer Assieh LaMora and Turkish Saz player and Flamenco Guitarist Fri. 5/15 7:30 1503 Abbott Kinney,
Venice 310 452 2842 G2 Gallery,
FOOD Make it Fun: understand your eating habits—enter the subliminal Nutrition Nibbles, subscribe to newsletter of highly regarded nutritionist: Eve
Lahijani: vitamineve@gmail.com
NEIGHORHOOD Assoc.'s Live in Santa Monica/ Westside-join one of our local assoc.'s, annual dues are $10 to $15, such as Wilshire Montana or Ocean
Park or Sunset Park RENTERS: Seminar on SM Tenant rights 5/11, 6:30 to 9 pm, at SM public library put on by the SM Rent Control Board. VOTING: Want
to find out the issues and skip the personalities- receive information from the League of Women Voter's, their newsletter provides pros and cons on issues
then you decide. League is for men and women and celebrating its 90th year-the same number of year's women can vote in the USA. Try Santa M. League
for example: http://www.lwvsantamonica.org/
LECTURES: Decoding Dating: A Face-off Between the Sexes Tues5/4 4 6:00p at UCLA Fowler Museum, Los Angeles, CA Decoding Dating: A Face-off
Between the Sexes Moderated by Relationship Expert and Author of Menu Dating: Taste Test Your Way to the Main Course, Tristan CoopersmithSanta
Monica Public Library Thurs., May 20 Thursday evenings with the LA Opera, the sixth of a free series of presentations about five upcoming operas
(before heading out to see them) is Specialty Ring Talk, 7 p.m. at the Main, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 458-8600 or www.smpl.org/.5/20
BIKE: Watts Happening Ride – To Watts Towers and back with various stops at a couple dramatic shootout spots, a Nobel Peace Prize winner’s childhood
home, and the Central Avenue Jazz District. Lunch King Taco. 30 miles, total or go halfway option available via Blue Line return. Leaves at 10 am Sat. 5/8.
The Frank Lloyd Wright ride – A tour involving the famed architect’s four Hollywood Hill's residences: Ennis, Hollyhock, Freeman and Storer. There will be
climbing. Probably a stop on the way for nun-baked pumpkin bread from The Monastery of the Angels, with Musso & Frank’s after for flannel cakes, , 20
miles. Leaves at 10 am Sat.5/15, http://la.metblogs.com/category/transportation/biking-in-la/
dan@fridaynightskate.org. HORSE SHOW: Fiesta of the Spanish Horse for charity –starts after lunch official how at 8 pm. 5/8 Saturday at the LA Equestrian
Center, near the 134 Freeway, exit at Freeway 134 or 5, at Zoo/Autry exit follow signs- 818 842 8444 tickets $20 www.fiestaspanishhorse.org POW WOW:
25th Annual UCLA Pow Wow N. Athletic Field, Sat/Sun 5/1-2 noon to 10 pm ww.uscpowwow.com; Bear Springs Northern Drum Also, Pow Wow at the
LA State Historic Park, 5/7-9, Fri., 6 pm, Sat and Sun 10 pm, call 323 252 8070, 1245 N. Spring St., n. of the 101 and Union Station, free. CONCERTS:
Hollywood Bowl 5/2 Tickets go on sale 323 850 2000. UCLA Student talent Spring Sing in its 40th year, 5/14, Fri. 8 pm, celebrity judges, $18-44,
uclaalumni.net; USC events see visionsandvoices@usc.edu; FESTIVALS: 5/8 Sat 11 to 6pm annual Sta. Monica Clover Park festival (26th and Ocean
Pk.), concert games, booths, for festival schedule-www.smgov.net/events; PARADE: Hollywood 5/1 Doo Dah-http://www.pasadenadoodahparade.info/ 11
am to 2 on Colorado
ENVIRONMENT: Green Building expo, at Santa Monica Civic Aud. 5/7-8, Fri. and Sat. then Fri. 5:30-7:30 go to World Café, cocktails in support of
Altbuild, 2028 Main St. eco gift bag, all free. MARKETS: Sta. Monica Antique and Collectible sale in parking lot near Bundy, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. each 4th
Sunday; Farmer's Markets-2 in Sta. Monica on Sat earliest 8 a.m. Pico and Cloverfield and 9:30 on 3rd and Arizona; Sun. on Main St. and Brentwood at 9
am on San Vicente and in Hollywood the big one at 8a.m. on Sunday, south of Hollywood and Vine, at Ivar and Selma.
;
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

Fed and State homeowner tax credits $8,000 and $10,000!!

2010-04-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

Some home buyers in California could get a federal tax credit worth up to $8,000 plus a new state credit worth up to $10,000 if they time their purchase just right over the next three months. But double-dipping will be tricky and won't come without risks.

One couple who lucked out are Sibel Demirmen and Scott Henry of San Francisco, who are purchasing a home, their first, in San Rafael's Terra Linda neighborhood.

They were planning to close escrow on April 30, and knew they qualified for an $8,000 federal home-buyer tax credit.

To get the federal credit, buyers must - among other things - close before May 1 or enter into a binding contract before May 1 and close before July 1.

Last weekend, they learned that if they could delay their close until after April 30, they could also qualify for the new California home-buyer tax credit, which was signed into law last week. The state credit is worth up to $10,000, spread over three years.

The seller agreed, and on Monday they signed an addendum to their contract postponing the closing until May 4.

"I was elated. I was ecstatic. I was thrilled," says Demirmen, a singer, music teacher and mother of two.

Although the prospect of double-dipping will excite many house hunters, "I don't think a ton of buyers will get both and benefit from both credits," says Renee Rodda, editor of Spidell's California Taxletter.

To get both, buyers must meet two sets of strict criteria. Timing it right will be tricky, especially in foreclosure or short sales, which can involve long lead times and many parties.

People who have already locked in a rate on a mortgage could lose the rate, or have to pay an additional fee to keep it, if they postpone their closing.

Matt Duffy is buying a home with his wife in Santa Rosa in a short sale, in which the purchase price is less than the debt on the home.

The seller accepted their offer in January. Last week, they heard that both lenders agreed to the deal as long as it closes by April 26.

"We said, 'Cool, we can do that.' We have our mortgage and the federal tax credit," he says.

After reading my Sunday column on the state credit, Duffy realized he could get that too if he delayed his close.

"As it turns out, we are not going to be able to do that. The second lender is demanding we close by April 26 or somebody has to pay an additional $20,000," he says.

"I am of course upset we can't move the date. But we don't want to lose the house. We will still get the federal credit, which is the better of the two credits."

The federal credit: The federal credit is 10 percent of the purchase price, up to a maximum credit of $8,000 for first-time home buyers or $6,500 for longtime homeowners who buy a replacement home. Either type of buyer can purchase a new or existing home.

Buyers claim the federal credit when they file their tax return (or amend the prior year's return). This credit is refundable: The full amount will be paid out, even if you have zero federal tax liability or the credit is bigger than your federal tax.

You cannot get the federal credit if your income is too high or the home was purchased after Nov. 6, 2009, and cost more than $800,000.

The state credit: The California credit is the lesser of 5 percent of the purchase price or $10,000. First-time buyers can purchase a new or existing home but repeat buyers can only purchase a new home that has never been occupied.

The California credit is spread over three years, up to $3,333 per year. It is not refundable: If you owe less than $3,333 in one (or more) of those years, you lose the difference that year. Even if you owed $3,333 before you owned a house, you might owe less after because of all the new tax deductions.

The state credit has no income or purchase-price limits. But here's the rub: Some buyers who fall below the income limits for the federal credit might not owe enough California tax to get the full benefit of the state credit.

To get the California credit, you must close escrow between May 1 and either Dec. 31 or whenever the money set aside for the program runs out, whichever comes first. The money is likely to run out long before Dec. 31.

Alternatively, you can reserve a state credit for new construction by entering into a binding contract between May 1 and Dec. 31 and closing before Aug. 1, 2011. People who do this won't get the federal credit because they entered a contract after April 30.

Getting both: Both credits require you to buy the home as your primary residence. Both define a first-time buyer as someone who has not owned a home in the three years prior to purchase.

In short, to get both credits you must be in contract on or before April 30 and close between May 1 and June 30 - and meet all other requirements.

Buyers who are already in contract and want to postpone their closing need to get the seller and lender to agree.

"Sellers might be flexible because it's still a buyer's market, but they may want something in return," says Richard Redmond, a mortgage broker in Larkspur.

"If you have a loan locked in with a close date in April and you want to extend it, you may have to pay a fee or get a higher interest rate," Redmond adds.

Buyers should consult a well-informed tax person and make sure they understand both credits.

For more on the state credit, see links.sfgate.com/ZJLF.

For the federal credit, try links.sfgate.com/ZJLG or links.sfgate.com/ZJLH.

Net Worth runs Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. E-mail Kathleen Pender at kpender@sfchronicle.com.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/01/BU9G1CNTVN.DTL&tsp=1#ixzz0mBJxNVEM

Latest California Homeowner News summary

2010-04-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

April 22, 2010 Page 1 of 4
Daily News
Should you buy or rent a home? Cost gap narrows
Affordable home prices and low interest rates have created an ideal time for many buyers to purchase homes, and now a new week-long look at homeownership confirms it. The national study, conducted for The Associated Press, shows that the difference between monthly rents and mortgage payments is at its lowest level in nearly 20 years.
KEEP THIS IN MIND
• The analysis of 45 metro areas found the difference between the monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home and the median rent has declined to $256. In some areas, the difference is as low as $100, according to the study. The last time the price gap was that close was in 1993, when it decreased to $264.
• The study, conducted by Marcus & Milichap Real Estate Investment Services, used median prices for the last three months of 2009 and calculated mortgage payments by assuming a 10-percent down payment and a 30-year fixed loan at 5.07 percent. It also assumed borrowers paid for private mortgage insurance and didn’t include repair costs and tax benefits.
• Although the difference between monthly rent and monthly mortgage payments is at its lowest level in nearly 20 years, more stringent lending standards have made the home-buying process more challenging. Home buyers can prepare by ensuring their credit reports are up to date and saving for a down payment of at least 20 percent. Borrowers putting down less than 20 percent likely will have to purchase private mortgage insurance.
• Owning a home has significant tax benefits, including deductions for property taxes and loan interest. Homeowners also can enjoy building equity and creating a means of forced savings as they pay down the principal on the home.
• Although home buyers should not focus solely on future home price appreciation, according to data collected by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) over the last 40 years, homeowners who purchase a median-priced house, live in it for at least five years, and sell it at the then-current median price, have averaged an annual rate of return of more than 11 percent.
To read the full story, please click here:
http://www.dailynews.com/business/ci_14916092
April 22, 2010 Page 2 of 4
In Other News…
San Francisco Chronicle
Good timing could reap double tax credits Some home buyers in California could get a federal tax credit worth up to $8,000 plus a new state credit worth up to $10,000 if they time their purchase just right. To read the full story, please click here:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/01/BU9G1CNTVN.DTL&tsp=1
The Wall Street Journal
Why it may be time to refinance your loan With the Federal Reserve out of the mortgage market and the economy gaining strength, some economists are warning that mortgage rates, still near historic lows, will soon start to rise.
To read the full story, please click here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304830104575172032313214888.html?KEYWORDS=refinance
Los Angeles Times
Consumer loan delinquencies decline again in fourth quarter
In a positive sign for the economy, a bankers group said that delinquencies on consumer loans declined in the last three months of 2009, marking the second consecutive quarter or improvement, and a sampling of data suggests the trend has continued this year.
To read the full story, please click here:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-delinquent-loans8-2010apr08,0,1397148.story
The Wall Street Journal
Reverse mortgages now look cheaper
Reverse mortgages have long been considered one of the most expensive ways to extract cash from your house. But that is changing as some of the country’s biggest reverse-mortgage lenders are slicing closing costs—helping even some affluent homeowners who want to generate additional income.
To read the full story, please click here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304628704575186211956006190.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_personalfinance
April 22, 2010 Page 3 of 4
The Wall Street Journal
econd mortgages vex borrowers
litical pressure to write off or at last write down second-lien
m
o read the full story, please click here:
702304846504575177720824287204.html?mod=WSJ
S
Banks are coming under increasing po
and other junior mortgages as a way to help borrowers keep their homes or extract themselves froheavy debt.
T
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052_Real+Estate_LeftTopNews
CNN Money
10 foreclosures for every home saved
The Obama administration’s mortgage-modification program is not keeping pace with the deluge of
foreclosures hitting the market, a government watchdog found.
To read the full story, please click here:
state/COP_foreclosure_mitigation_report/index.htm
http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/14/real_e
North County Times
cono edit won't last through May
no later than May 20, according to
b8a-7e42-500f-ad3d-bc3851850f15.htm
E
mist says California tax cr
New home buyers will burn through the California state tax credit the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.). o read the full story, please click here:
T
http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_5fb80
April 22, 2010 Page 4 of 4
hat you should know about the market
• Home buyers waiting for a mortgage loan to fund are advised to be conservative when it
It
• any homes currently on the market are distressed properies—foreclosures and short
n
lation,
W
comes to buying new furniture, appliances, or the like for the house they are purchasing. has become standard practice for lenders to check borrowers’ credit scores in the weeks leading up to the closing, sometimes even the day prior to closing. Large purchases can use up a considerable proportion of a borrower’s total credit limit, which can lead to a dropin the borrower’s FICO score and possibly change the terms of the loan. M
sales—which increases the importance of home inspections. According to the AmericaSociety of Home Inspectors, the owners of distressed properties usually didn’t have the money to maintain their homes and often deferred property maintenance. A home inspection can find problems with the foundation, electrical, plumbing, roof, attic insuand heating and air conditioning. Although home inspections can be costly, in the long run, home buyers will be better situated when they know what, if anything, needs repairing on the home.

April 2010 Fun Things on the Westside

2010-03-31T09:45:00.000-07:00

April 2010 Fun Things to Do on the Westside
Happy Easter and Happy Passover from your neighborhood realtor Maralee Grantham
Hooray they coincide this year! EASTER -- Passion Sunday, 3/28, Good Friday 4/2 and Easter is Sun 4/4. Sunrise service Hollywood
Bowl (also, bowl tickets for this summer go on sale 5/2 ) PASSOVER begins Monday night March 29 and ends 7 days later on the 5th.
ENVIRONMENT: Just a heads up for those interested in sustainable gardens, yes we missed the potluck, which was 2/1 , but the planting
event is 4/17-18, join a crew, sponsor a crew or be crew guru-100's of gardens are planted that weekend, www.gardensofgratitude.com also
to learn more you can go to the internet site westsidepermies.ning.com; UCLA Institute of the Environment lectures , 4-5:30 each Wed. in
April, oceans, to climate to fuels to business. Mar Vista 4/26 Sun see 79 home gardens, free, self guided - marvistagreengardenshowcase
Theodore Payne's 7th Annual Garden Tours include many on the Westside, April 13/14. There are 50 Native Gardens on display, tickets for
self guided tour available at www.Theodorepayne.org.$20tickets. Santa Monica environmental workshops, 6 classes free to residents,
suggested donation for non-residents. Starting on 2409 Main St. 4/12 Mon. and 4/21, Wed. at the SM Library, both 7-8:30 pm, contact
NancyBarba@sustainableworks.org to sign up. Earn an eco product filled goody bag; classes include water, energy waste, chemicals,
transportation, shopping and food. Beach clean up: West LA Surfrider beach club-Sat 4/3 9-11 am at Tower 26, near the Ocean Park
parking lot, go to coffee after on Main St. or end of month mixer, contact them at Surfrider WLAM [info@surfriderwlam.org]
NEIGHBORHOODS: Join your neighborhood assoc., there are 5 in Santa Monica; between Montana and Wilshire is Wilmont, to join $10
annual dues. Learn what is going on, bus fares are going up, city parking fees also. Learn about why Sears auto repair closed and about the
July 4th Parade by the Ocean Park Assoc. I am also a member of the large LA assoc. called Historical West Adams
VOLUNTEER: Save the coast with surfriderf.org, the Surfrider Foundation; help the homeless into a new life with Chrysalis, go to
changelives.org, help in Santa Monica; Share your pet, help give pet therapy in schools and hospitals, loveon4paws.org, or
horsesinthehood.org; Mentor students with after school writing or other help 826la.org and help high school students into college and beyond
with fulfillmentfund.org; Friends of the LA river, help return the paved river to a more natural state, folar.org; Red Cross continues to
donate to Haiti, or join a Disaster Action Team like me, or become certified for CPR, call Jennifer 310 394 3773, or West LA call Jerry 800
548 8226.
FUN: Don't forget first Friday evenings on Abbot Kinney, (crowded) Venice, CA. and last Fri. evenings on Main St. in Sta. Monica. Join
Santa Monica Junior Chamber, become a member or just go to their annual Peter Rabbit Day, Sat 4/3, at Douglas Park at 25th and Wilshire
Blvd., Easter party for children .smjaycees.clubexpress.com; Blessing of the Animals 4/3 held downtown at Olvera St. 213 485 8238, see
calleolvera.org; Farmwalk visit the 225 acre working Pierce College Farm, Woodland Hills 818 710 4253, www.piercecollege.edu. Festival of
Books LA Times held at UCLA 4/24-25, 213 237 3144, latimes/fob.; Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival, Santa Clarita, Ca, 4/22-25,1
admission ticket $20 for a 1 day pass or $30 for 2 days, to see all shows, cowboyfestival.org, 661 286 4021. This is your once a year chance
to enter the Melody Ranch where all famous westerns were filmed from "High Noon" to "Bonanza".Glow 2010, Santa Monica is up for a
$250,000 artist grant from Pepsi for 20 projects for the 9/26 Sat art and music project on the beach last done in 2008.
Sta. Monica FUN: Antique and Collectible sale in parking lot near Bundy, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.each 4th Sunday Farmer's Markets-2 in Sta.
Monica on Sat earliest 8 a.m. Pico and Cloverfield and 9:30 at 3rd near Arizona. Sun. on Main St. and in Hollywood 8a.m. on Sunday south of
Hollywood and Vine, at Ivar and Selma.
SM Conservancy $10 for a 2 hour walking tour 10 am Saturdays, meet at 1436 2nd .St, rain or shine 310 496 3146
FILM: all April LACMA offers the films of Jean Renoir, (son of the famous painter), he escaped Nazi Germany to come to Hollywood, go to
lacma.org, tickets $10 each weekend and Tues. matinees; also check out films at the UCLA film school
ART: Skateboarding history, art California Heritage Museum (on Main St. in Santa Monica) 310 392 8537, californiaheritagemuseum.org
through May 30; Venice, Home Tour Sun 4/11 $75 self guided.
Museums': LA County Museum of Art "LACMA" continues with Pierre Auguste Renoir in the 20th century and his son in the theatre with
the films of Jean Renoir, also art retrospective of American history with "American Stories", all month also;4/18 Getty lecture Leonardo Da
Vinci's Science, Technology and Art 3pm Sunday; Sat night Concert at the Getty, 4/17 at 7:30 with Micachu and the Shapes, (In May and
June they will be every Sat night). Getty Villa celebrates the empire of the Aztecs with the Grammy Award winning group Sones de Mexico,
Sat 4/10, 8 pm and Sun; Autry Museum of the American West in Griffith Park Sat and Sun 4/3 and 4/4 free day from Bk. of America; 4/10
Sat and 4/11 Sun. 1 pm hear a talk on Native American Basketry in the Wells Fargo Theatre; Thurs. 4/15 member preview 6 pm of Also at the
Autry :"Homelands How Women Made the West," opens to the public Friday 4/16 also at the Autry, Sun 4/18 talk by famous author Lisa
See, whose ancestor immigrated to Cal. To build the railroad, married an American girl (against the law) and had 5 children, divorced her on a
visit to Canton and currently both sides of the family have exquisite antique shops in Los Angeles area.
WESTERN Music Jam, at the Autry in Griffith Park noon, each 3rd Sunday 4/18 of the month.
Griffith OBSERVATORY: first Fri free show "All Space Considered", discussing latest events in astronomy 7:30 pm; also SM College
Drescher aud. Planetarium shows 7 pm and 8 pm, 2 shows for $9 or one for $5, park free, enter from Pico at front of school.
Westside Subway meeting- SM Public Libr. 4/20 Tues 6- 8 pm.;
LA Bicycle Race, ending in Santa Monica- help Dodger owner Frank McCourt plan the route , scheduled for Sept., 2010, see on Google.
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

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2010-03-16T21:12:00.001-07:00

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Ca. Assoc of Realtors State of Housing 2009

2010-03-16T13:00:00.000-07:00

California Assoc. of Realtors statistics on the State of Housing 2009 show that the average time homes are owned has declined from 10 years in 1999 to 5 years for all home sellers, but the portion that are second home and investment sellers declined to 3.5 years.

Sales volume for existing homes in Ca. and the US bottomed out at the same time in 2007 and only showed improvement in mid-2009. Sales had risen 28% over 2008 by the 3rd quarter of 2009. The median price hit a low in Feb 2009 to $245,170, then began to rise to $271,000 currently and projected to be $280,000 by 2010 ( to $597,000 in May 2007).
Homes break out at 77% below $500,000, 3% above $1,000,000 and 20% between $500 and $1,000,000. Inventory supply is 9 mo. for the above $1mmm category, 3 months for those below $$500,000 and 4 months between $500 and $1mm.

The really great news is that 1st time home buyer as a % of total buyers rose to 47%, mostly because of the tax credit of $8,000, which could be requested in the same year as the purchase. (This level had been reached only in the 1993 and 1995 years).

Distressed homes, at the state level, REO/foreclosures and short sales made up almost half (46.5 percent) of all annual sales in 2009, an increase from 35.6 percent in 2008. Median price of distressed properties was $250,000 vs. $485,000 non-distressed. was $250,000 vs. $485,000 non-distressed. The top reason for selling in S. Cal was short sales and foreclosures, 28% and in N. Cal., 19%, and 43% in the rest of Cal.
The profile of the 2009 1st time home buyer was that most had an income above $80,000, were 32 years old, received an interest rate of 5.5%, and made up 53% of total buyers. Those able to buy homes made up
80% and condos 16.8%, the median home price was $365,000 with an average square footage of 1900 up from 1600 in 2005, 34% were able to get FHA loans; 35% were single and 31% were married.

How Clients Found Agents in 2009

Recommendations of friends 27.7%
Client was friend/relative/neighbor 19.4%
Represented in previous transaction 17.0%
Listing agent for home purchased 1.0%
Yard signs 3.1%
Newspaper/Internet/Magazine Ad 5.2%
Direct mail/telephone marketing 1.2%
Other 25.3%

Short Sale imminent? Gov. assures FHA loan on next home

2010-03-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

Anyone who is facing a short sale, if possible, keep your mortgage payments current and you are assured of receiving an FHA insured loan on your next home. There are more details, such as your home's sale must pay off your present mortgage...

Here is link to find out more detail about the government insured loan program: http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/hudclips/letters/mortgagee/files/09-52ml.pdf

LA Westside Fun March 2010

2010-03-02T15:10:00.000-08:00

March Fun Things to Do on the Westside
Brought to you by your neighborhood realtor Maralee Grantham
Happy St. Patrick's Day, Don't forget to run or volunteer to help in the 1st LA Marathon to end at the SM Pier!
2010 LA MARATHON 3/21, Learn how you can get involved in the big event by submitting your marathon special offers, display downloadable
LA Marathon placards or by volunteering to welcome runners and fans. Read More; Academy Awards 3/7
NATION'S BEACH HOUSE: Annenberg/Marion Davies Beach House: 415 PCH ,sign up classes such as yoga, soccer, dance start 4/15,
see http://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com
OPERA Thursday Evenings with the LA Opera 2/18 — The fifth of a free series of presentations about five upcoming operas (before heading
out to see them) is Introduction to the Ring Cycle & Gotterdammerung, 7 p.m. at the Main Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica
Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 458-8600 or www.smpl.org/
THEATRE/CONCERTS: Getty Saturday night music at the 7:30-3/27 see gettycenter.edu or call 310 440 7300 ( Note parking at Villa and
Center is $15,free after 5 pm; Getty has new play Alkestis -modern version with a modern dance company-- where Herakles wrestles death,
sat 3 and 8 pm and Fri 8 and Sun 3; UCLA Royce Hall Randy Newman of "I love LA" fame 8 p m tickets $65, 50, 40.
HOME BUYERS: The So.California Home Buyer’s Fair, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 13, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, March
14, features more than 50 educational “how-to” seminars designed to help home buyers navigate today’s real estate market with confidence
and peace of mind. Seminar topics range from understanding home prices and monitoring and fixing credit to applying for a mortgage and the
importance of the home inspection. Several of the sessions also will be offered in Spanish. The event is free to the public. In addition, the first
200 attendees each day will receive a free movie ticket (one ticket per person). See a consumer fact sheet about the event. Please visit
http://www.homebuyersfair.com/ for more information. Buying Income Property in Santa Monica seminar 3/2 SM Public Library 9:30-12
noon put on by Rent Control Board.
MUSEUMS/ART: LACMA: Renoir in the 20th Century February 14, 2010–May 9, 2010 American Stories:Paintings of Everyday Life, 1765–
1915, many icons of American art on display, February 28, 2010–May 23, 2010; Getty 3-25 to 7-5 Aztec Pantheon and the Art of Empire; SM
Airport Art Walk 3/20 Sat 1-5 pm-see amazing portrait painter, give a workshop to paint children 1:30. 3300 #G airpt av. enter from 23rd.st
LECTURE: :Getty Villa free lecture 3/4, Thurs. 7:30 pm (park $15 or free after 5) 2000 year old Greek Cosmos tracking device-Antoikythera
discovered ,now we know it 's purpose. Santa Monica, Winter Lectures at Memorial Park, 3/13, "The True Story of Marion Davies", put on by
the SM Conservancy and in honor of the donor of the Annenberg Community Beach House.14th and Olympic tickets $10, ,smconservancy.org,
3/27 lecture on the rebirth of the Beach House site the architecture, both 2-5 pm
FILM: USC, French new wave cinema of Kourtrajmé Productions, a Paris-based collective of emerging visual artists, filmmakers, actors and
musicians short films, music videos and documentaries. Directors share their work.
ARCHITECTURE: LA Conservancy has 16 free walking tours of downtown, such as LA' s evolving Skyline.
FESTIVALS: 3/6-7 Pomona Fair grounds Irish festival weekend.
MUSEUM/THEATRE: new play from the museum's Native American company, "Tales of an Urban Indian", opens March Fri 8pm and Sat
2pm and 8 pm and Sun 2 pm
ENVIRONMENT: Native Plants? Sunland, Ca has the definitive Native Plants Foundation, Theodore Payne, don't want to drive to Sunlandnorth
on the 5 Freeway? Go to see them at the Hollywood Farmer's Market, just n. of Sunset and w. of Vine, 8 am to 1 pm, Sundays, one of
LA's best, see farmernet.com; Tree Hugging Day 3/20 Sat. go to Palisades Park SM noon; SM city offers to anyone these 6 session Green
Living Workshops. Sessions start 3/1 Mon., another 6 sessions start Tues 3/2 and Wed. 3/3 another. Topics include:, one per week: Water,
Energy, Waste, Chemicals, Transportation, and Shopping & Food. Workshop meets for six sessions at the same location and time. All evening
7:00 pm to 8:30, Sustainable Works [nancy.barba@sustainableworks.org], or www.SustainableWorks.eventbrite.com, open to all, suggested
donation for lare workbook is $25.West LA Surfrider Foundation offers core training course 3/6 Sat. 11-12 am, Santa Monica Youth Hostel,
2nd St., this is a beginner intro course to help people learn basic water quality, plastics, ocean friendly gardens, beach clean-up…RSVP
www.surfriderwlam.comDANCE: don't forget to see what Staci and Conroe have planned for the Michael Jackson dancing classes and
subsequent performances- www.flashmobamerica.comTOURISTS: Friends visiting? Send them off to see 3 major areas: Santa M Bev Hills W
est LA, Hollywd Universal on the Star Line, they can ride all over, get on and off as they like $30 for 1 day $40 for 2, Go online or visit any
hotel.. YEAR OF THE TIGER: listen to what an expert says- what is in store for the Tiger metal year:
http://www.raymondlo.com/ver2/aboutmasterlo/articles.asp?id=15
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

Did you remeber all your Real Estate tax deductions?

2010-03-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

Selling Your Home, Sweet Home:
Have you thought of all deductions?

deductions on points paid when you bought the home
deductions on mortgage interest
property taxes while you lived in it.

Sellers
deduct the fees you incur to unload your home.
deduct a portion of the property taxes
agent commission lowers the sales price (reducing capital gains tax
fees you paid at closing.

NAR finally helps the Homeowner

2010-02-16T15:14:00.000-08:00

National Assoc. of Realtors' HouseLogic site offers the homeowner a web site for neighborhood issues, homeimprovement and first lok at political issues that will affect them--no listings or home selling informaiton.
Instead, the site offers a collection of tools, information and advice that's geared to helping consumers "maintain, protect and increase the value of their homes

The site also "empowers homeowners who want to get more actively engaged in shaping community life and advocate neighborhood and homeownership issues that matter most to them," NAR said.

To get access to all of the site's tools and obtain "customized recommendations," HouseLogic users must create an account for themselves, and provide the site with an e-mail address.

Users can opt to receive e-mails on specific topics, including HouseLogic newsletters, alerts about national issues related to housing," and "alerts regarding state and local political issues that are relevant.
To Create an acount in NAR's HouseLogic, click on the link:

Fannie Mae 3.5% assistance if home listed on homepath.com

2010-02-14T12:05:00.000-08:00

Fannie Mae recently announced that people purchasing a Fannie Mae-owned HomePath® property will receive up to 3.5 percent of the final sales price to be used toward closing cost assistance or their choice of appliances. The offer is available to any owner-occupant who closes on the purchase of a property listed on HomePath.com before May 1.

Properties eligible for this incentive are listed on HomePath.com and most listings include detailed property descriptions; photographs; community and school information; and more. In addition, many Fannie Mae-owned properties are eligible for special HomePath Mortgage and HomePath Renovation Mortgage financing, which offers home buyers an opportunity to purchase with as little as 3 percent down.(CAR)

Home Buer Fair 3 13/14 Freddie Mac Biggest buy down

2010-02-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

Southern California Home Buyer’s Fair: March 13-14
Los Angeles Convention Center for the FREE third annual Southern California Home Buyer’s Fair.
The Southern California Home Buyer’s Fair, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 13, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 14, features more than 50 educational “how-to” seminars designed to help home buyers navigate today’s real estate market with confidence and peace of mind. Seminar topics range from understanding home prices and monitoring and fixing credit to applying for a mortgage and the importance of the home inspection. Several of the sessions also will be offered in Spanish.

Freddie Mac
Record share of borrowers reduced principal balance
In the fourth quarter of 2009, 33 percent of borrowers who refinanced their loan lowered their principal balance, resulting in the highest “cash-in” share since Freddie Mac began tracking the characteristics of refinance transactions in 1985, according to the company’s refinance report.

Consistent with the cash-in share, the report showed that the share of borrowers who increased their loan balance by 5 percent or more during the fourth quarter was at a record low of 27 percent.

“Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages set a new record low during the first week in December at 4.71 percent

Haiti Red Cross update

2010-02-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

February 2, 2010
On January 12, a series of earthquakes ranging from magnitude 6.5 to 7.3 struck Haiti. Approximately 57 signiﬁcant aftershocks have occurred. This is already the largest, single-country, relief operation in global Red Cross history in terms of number of Red Cross emergency relief teams deployed. While the relief operation continues to focus on meeting the immediate needs of survivors, the AmeTHE RED CROSS RESPONSE
More than 500 Red Cross Red Crescent workers from at least 30 countries have been deployed, including two ERUs from the American Red Cross as well as additional disaster specialists in logistics, communications, shelter and recovery. The American Red Cross has already spent or committed more than $67 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors.

The growing Red Cross response is being guided by lessons learned during the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which affected 14 countries. Recovery planning is beginning now, with a Red Cross cross-functional team that includes an American Red Cross recovery specialist. Recovery planning will occur with collaboration of the Government of Haiti and key development partners including the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and the UN. Because of the generosity of donors, people in Haiti will receive more than immediate relief—they will receive resources, support and training from the Red Cross that will help them recover and rebuild for years to come.

SUPPORT OF DONORS
The American Red Cross can accept gifts designated to the ongoing response to the earthquakes in Haiti,
but asks that donors consider making a gift to the International Response Fund. Donors can help the victims
of countless crises around the world each year by making a ﬁnancial gift to the American Red Cross
International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies,
technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund
can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at
1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online contribution
by visiting redcross.org.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS
• The Red Cross response is expanding into areas outside of Port-au-Prince to the heavily damaged cities of Jacmel and Leogane as three Relief Emergency Response Units (ERUs) distribute relief supplies in those communities.
• According to the UN, the port of Port-au-Prince has been declared unsafe for incoming ships following an in-depth assessment. Landing crafts are being used to ofﬂoad boats, but these are operating with very limited capacity.

CURRENT SITUATION
Health – Approximately 1,200 patients are being seen per day at Red Cross health facilities, with around 4,000 patients seen to date. Epidemiological surveillance has begun as well as psychological support and hygiene promotion.
Water and Sanitation – The water and sanitation team is working to identify sewage pumping capacity within Port-au-Prince and in the Dominican Republic while investigating the purchase of additional trucks from the private sector.
Food – The World Food Programme reports that since January 12, it has delivered food aid to more than 580,000 people through the distribution of nearly 16 million meals. A gradual transition from general food distributions to food- and cash-for-work activities is planned, as relief gives way to recovery. The agricultural team is monitoring prices in areas receiving displaced urban populations, and there are indications of signiﬁcant price increases for the main food items.
Shelter and Relief Items – The main challenges for addressing the needs for shelter are: scarcity of open space in Port-au-Prince; uncertainty regarding the security of remaining buildings; density of the population; difﬁculties with host families; and the approaching rainy season. The combination of immediate shelter assistance with more durable settlement solutions also remains a challenge. A 3,000 person planned settlement site at Tabarre in Port-au-Prince is almost completed and the ﬁrst families are expected to arrive in the coming days.

Fun Events Westside Los Angeles February 2010

2010-02-02T22:20:00.000-08:00

Fun Things on the Westside in February
Happy Valentine's Day, Year of Tiger, Mardi Gras
brought to you by Your Neighborhood Realtor, Maralee Grantham

MUSEUMS: Museum of the American West, (also part of Autry in Griffith Park.). Western Art Show in" Masters of the American West". 323
667 2000, 2/6-3/7, then on 2/21 Sunday Western Music Jam, third Sunday of every month! 1-3 pm , also 2/21, Native Women in also, Autry
film series, "Edge of America 2- 5 pm film and discussion; LA County Mus. of Art, LACMA Renoir in the 20th Century: 2/ 11–13 members,
and 14th general public; American Stories: Paintings of Everyday Life, 1765–1915 2/ 25–27,members, public 2/28,call 877 522-6225. Also see
African American exhibit Ca. Science Center.
FILM: UCLA Dept. of Film –see calendar fro many free films: http://www.tft.ucla.edu/calendar/ example-- presenting director Melnitz movies,
free 2/2 "Red Riding" 1983, 2/4 is "The Most Dangerous Man in America", James Bridges Theatre, 2/9 "The Housekeeper 8:00 PM at Little
Theater, Macgowan Hall.(Trilogy of Yorkshire 70's and 80's) also UCLA Film School shows "Fire Island", free Feb 23-27, 8 pm + al a 2 pm on
Saturday.; Don't forget free preview club at Laemmle Theatres http://www.laemmle.com/mailinglists.php, also at Laemmle’s Royal Theatre,
West L.A, see LA Connection Comics, redub "The Blob", starring Steve McQueen 2/11Thurs. 10 p.m., , 310-477-5581, $10
laconnectioncomedy.com, see above in MUSEUMS-the Autry "Native Women in Film" series-films monthly. AAA offers discounted movie
tickets to members.
ENVIRONMENT: Celebrate Valentine's Day at the SM Pier-Aquarium they have a program to help you learn about and watch the
Gray Whales as they migrate from the Arctic to Baja, Ca-they are passing us! Just a heads up for those interested in sustainable
gardens, yes we missed the potluck, which was 2/1 , but the planting event is 4/17-18, join a crew, sponsor a crew or be crew
guru-100's of gardens are planted that weekend, www.gardensofgratitude.com; 2/6 , you have 2 choices: clean up Topanga
St.Bch, https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=16651; or restore Stone Canyon Creek, join the Santa Monica
Baykeeper/ Institute of the Environ, UCLA Sat. 10 am to 1 pm, meet at lot 4 s. of Sunset enter on Hilgard campus north entrance.
UCLA provides tool, training, and http://www.ioe.ucla.edu/calendar/showevent.asp?eventid=229
Green networking events: 2/4 www.lagreendrinks.org, check site 7-10 pm; also, 2/9 is meeting of interested environmentalists, Ambrose Hotel
on 20th St. SM, 6-9 pm, $10; Farmer's Market growers discuss the art of growing the fruit tree, SM Public Library 2/11 Wed. 7-9 pm. Autry
Museum of American West has" Ca. Native plants Workshop" 2/28 from 1-3.
DANCE: Salsa Wed. Weekly Dance Lessons, Salsa Rumba etc. at SM Bay Women's Club 1210 4th St. 310 487 0911 $10 lesson 7 pm to
7:40 pm; Great free dance lessons Michael Jackson style go to Flashmobusa, also put in Conroe on YouTube. Join Staci and Conroe to learn
the Thrill the World dance Thriller and now Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation etc. flashmobamerica@gmail.com. , Meringue etc. Joslyn Park
Aud. Wed. 1/13-3/3, 8:30-9:30 pm $48 reservations;
Events and Festivals: MARDI GRAS BEGINS 2/16, See LA version downtown at Olvera St.'s LA Historical Monument.
YEAR OF THE TIGER parade, in Chinatown on Broadway and Hill 2/13-14, lagoldendragonparade.com. MARATHON: see March
21finally finishing on Westside!! Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica. African American Art Festival, Culver City, 2/6, see
ecostation.org. Also check out the African American contribution to world at Ca. Science Center, downtown now.
LECTURES: 2/18 main Santa Monica Public Library Thursday Evenings with the LA Opera— The fifth of a free series of
presentations about five upcoming operas (before heading out to see them) is Introduction to the Ring Cycle & Gotterdammerung,
7 p.m. at the Main, (310) 458-8600 or www.smpl.org/
GOLFers: Riviera Country Club, Northern Trust Open, open to the public, Tuesday 2/2 to 2/7, 6 am, tickets $20 on line,
http://www.northerntrustopen.com/tournament/spectators_tickets.html, or $30 at gate, up for final rounds to $35 SKATING: Venice, 2/7,
Skate Clinic / Social skate, the first Sunday of the month; meet at the Venice Beach Pavilion, at the Skate Dancer’s circle at
11:00AM. That’s that lima bean shaped patch of cement just east of the new skate bowls. Friday Night Skate
[dan@fridaynightskate.org]DOG Training: SM Memorial Pk. $65 res.,$72 non-residents, Sessions start for 2/20, Sat 9-10:00 am for 5 wks.
. NETWORKING: Santa M. Chamber, has Red Cross fundraiser and mixer, 2/10 5:30 and Business Exposition 2/17, 5 pm at
Sheraton Delfina Hotel, Speed Networking, 2/23, 5 pm at the SM chamber offices.
THEATRE/CONCERTS: UCLA Royce Hall Randy Newman of "I love LA" fame 8 p m tickets $65, 50, and 40. Malibu Stage Co Feb 12-
March 7 new play "Three Tall Women" older woman looks back on life 310 589 1998, 29243 PCH. Malibu at Pepperdine has Play "Harry the
Dirty Dog 2/13 at Smother's Theatre, 310 506 4522
VOLUNTEER: Red Cross: join the WEST LA Chapter—call 866 548 8226, meetings are the 3rd Th. 6:30 each month-just go-it is on the
Ohio entrance to the Veteran's admin in West La, or join me on a Disaster Action Team call the Santa Monica office, Phone Number:
(310) 394-3773 PACT (positive alternative choices today) mentor young people 310 313 4119, www.pactla.org
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

1/1/2010 new rules allow less room for changes to loan net charges when escrow closes , also FHA loan changes

2010-02-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and HUD-1 disclosures are intended to give borrowers sufficient information to permit shopping for the best possible loan terms and closing costs. The Good Faith Estimate has been in for years, but it left too much wiggle room, now revised there are well defined tolerance limits.
The base of all this is what is your net loan cost when you close the loan, not when you begin escrow!!
Web site for facts: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/ramh/res/resparulefaqs.pdf
Also the FHA has revised rules on charges:

11. Elimination of FHA origination fee limitation

Effective Jan. 1, 2010, FHA-approved mortgagees may collect any fee to compensate them for expenses incurred in originating and closing a loan--not merely the 1 percent of the loan amount they were previously limited to. Of course, their fee is still subject to the overall RESPA rule against receiving unreasonable or unearned compensation
information from the Cal Asoc of Realtors legal dept.

March 13, 14 Homebuyer Fair L A Conv. Ctr.

2010-01-29T08:10:00.000-08:00

The Southern California Home Buyer’s Fair, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 13, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 14, features more than 50 educational “how-to” seminars designed to help home buyers navigate today’s real estate market with confidence and peace of mind. Seminar topics range from understanding home prices and monitoring and fixing credit to applying for a mortgage and the importance of the home inspection. Several of the sessions also will be offered in Spanish.

The event is free to the public. In addition, the first 200 attendees each day will receive a free movie ticket (one ticket per person).

C.A.R. also has created a consumer fact sheet about the event. Please visit http://www.homebuyersfair.com/ for more information.

Is Your Lender following Home Afford Guidelines?

2010-01-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

Visit the loan look up center to see if the loan is owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. If the loan is a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan, call (800)-7Fannie (732-6643) or (800) Freddie (373-3343), as appropriate, describing the specific inconsistency.

FHA 90 day anti fliipping out for 1 year

2010-01-23T15:06:00.000-08:00

The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Friday it will eliminate for one year the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 90-day anti-flipping rule.

FHA’s anti-flipping rule generally prohibits insuring a mortgage on a home owned by the seller for less than 90 days. That rule already has been waived for certain transactions, including REOs. Beginning Feb. 1, buyers may use FHA-insured financing to purchase properties resold through private developers and investors. This one-year waiver will give FHA buyers access to a broader array of recently foreclosed properties.

Under the temporary waiver, all transactions must be made at arm’s-length and may require additional documentation of improvements and justification of certain price increases. Additional documentation may include a second appraisal and a property inspection ordered by the lender.

FHA Tightens up loan costs--even though $8000 tax credit still in place

2010-01-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

Yes the $8,000 tax credit is still in place but look closely at the details.
KEEP THIS IN MIND
• The FHA is federally mandated to maintain reserve funds at 2 percent or greater. As of November,
the agency reported that its fund had declined to .53 percent. The funding is used to cover losses on
mortgages insured by the FHA that go into default.
• Loans insured by the FHA generally are less expensive to borrowers because of the lower down
payment requirements. However, these loans also have fees, such as up-front mortgage insurance.
To help the agency raise its cash reserves, the FHA is increasing the up-front mortgage insurance
premium from its current 1.75 percent to 2.25 percent. HUD released a Mortgagee Letter today
making the premium increase effective in the spring.
• The agency also is raising the minimum credit score requirements. Currently, borrowers with FICO
scores as low as 500 have been approved for FHA-insured loans. Under the policy changes, new
borrowers will be required to have a minimum FICO score of 580 to qualify for the FHA’s 3.5 percent
down payment program. New borrowers with less than a 580 FICO score will be required to put down
at least 10 percent. FHA expects this to take effect in early summer once it passes the normal
regulatory process.
• The new policy also will reduce the amount of money sellers can provide to home buyers at closing to
3 percent, down from its current 6 percent, of the home’s price. The change brings the agency in line
with industry standards and removes the incentive to inflate appraisals. The FHA expects this to take
effect in early summer after it passes the normal regulatory process source cnn money and fha web site.

January Fun Things to do in Santa Monica and the Westside

2010-01-05T09:35:00.000-08:00

Have Fun and Everything Else will Fall into Place

Brought to you by Your Neighborhood Realtor, Maralee Grantham see also on blog maraleegrantham.com

THEATRE/ CONCERTS: LA Theatre Works 1/21-23 University of Notre Dame visiting company presents RFK: A Journey to Justice 7:30
except Sat 7 pm $36.;UCLA Royce Hall Los Lobos 1/30 8 pm $40, 28;: Thurs., Jan 21 THURSDAY EVENINGS WITH L.A. OPERA — The
fourth of a free series of presentations about five upcoming operas (before heading out to see them) is Behind the Scenes in Opera, 7 p.m. at
the Main Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, (310) 458-8600 or www.smpl.org/.; Miles Theatre: 1/ 8 to 2/ 6,
Santa Monica’s landmark theater hosts an eclectic line-up of music every Friday and readings of Pulitzer Prize-winning
American dramas every Saturday night beginning at 8pm. Come as early as 7pm to warm up and get a snack-1/9 hear Thornton
Wilder's "The Skin of Our Teeth", local singers song writers 1/22 and Guitar 1/15.)located at Wilshire and Lincoln
FUN ,FUN: Voice Your Opinion a la London's Hyde Park, stand on an especially provided soap box every Sunday in Palisades Park
(intersection of Ocean Av. and SM Blvd)., Santa Monica 10 am to noon; SM Outdoor Antique Market, 1/24 this month held on 4th Sunday, 6
am to 3 pm at Airport in the lot at Bundy and Airport Ave. Ph 323 933 2511, admission $7 early in from 6 to 8 then $5; Support the SM Malibu
School system attend the John Muir school Ocean Park Blvd. and Lincoln, high end flea market. 1st and 3rd Sat. of Month 8 am to 3 pm
contact Diana Rogers 310 570 6483, $1 admission; Read Your Poetry or Prose weekly on Thurs. at the Novel Café 212 Pier, SM, 310 396
8566. Griffith Park Observatory new First Fri each month 1/8, free programs, info 213 473 0800;; UCLA Live Los Lobos Sat 8 pm 1/30
$40.213-473-0800
ENVIRONMENT: Green Garden Academy SM Public library Sats. 10-1; City of Santa Monica Green Living Workshop begins Mon. 1/11 at
SM Yoga 7:15-8:45pm 1640 Ocean Park; Beach clean up Sat.'s 9 am-11, to find the schedule and sign up e mail: WLAM Surfrider
[webmaster@surfriderwlam.org]; SM Library Green Living Workshop 7 to 8:30 pm, Wed. 1/13; Green Garden Workshop SM Public Library
Sat.'s 10 am to 1 pm www.sustainablesm.org/landscape..
VOLUNTEER: PACT (positive alternative choices today) teach work ethics or mentor young people 310 313 4119, www.pactla.org, M-Fri.
1pm-6 pm, located in Mar Vista.
SERENITY: Jan 1/5-1/17 Women's in Retreat at Serra Malibu, 3401 Serra rd. 310 456 6631 If you have not driven past the gate, do it- see
the neighborhood, beautiful Retreat Center, great view!; Martin Luther King Day 1/18 join Santa Monica College for a multi ethnic
inspirational program at SGI, 525 Wilshire Mon. begins 9 am.
DANCE: Salsa, Meringue etc. Joslyn Park Aud. Wed. 1/13-3/3, 8:30-9:30 pm $48 res.; Wed. Weekly Dance Lessons, Salsa Rumba etc. at
SM Bay Women's Club 1210 4th St. 310 487 0911 $10 lesson 7 pm to 7:40 pm
ACTING: Promenade Playhouse, go to a Friday stand-up comedy open mike 9:30pm, take acting classes, evenings learn Meisner,
Strasberg from accredited coaches who bring casting directors promenadeplayhouse.com,(310) 656 – 8070 ext. 17 Promenade Playhouse
continues with stand up comedy Sat.'.s $12, 9 pm
Santa Monica: ICE skating ends 1/31, only $10 skate all day.
DOG Training: Memorial Park $65 res. $72 non-r. Sessions start Sat 9- 10:00 a.m., 1/16 for 5 weeks. Do not bring dog first session.
MUSEUMS: Skirball: 310 440 4500,; Autry and Southwest Museums: SW has Secrets of Braun Research Library Sat., 1/23, 2pm-3, "100
years of collecting", Autry has "Native Women in Film" Sun. 1/24 2 pm; Sun.1/30 "Women n Hard Times lecture continues with Families in the
west".2-4 pm. Continuing is the most amazing collection of Indian baskets and the Yosemite photographic expo comparing landscapes of 100
years ago to the erosion of today; LACMA Jean Paul Belmondo Film Festival 1/15 and 1/16, Fri. 7:30 Mississippi Mermaids and Sat, one at
7:30 and 9:40, 1/22-/23 the epic films of Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky; Getty Thurs 7 pm 1/14 Rembrandt: Draftsman documentary brings
his studio to life; Hammer, Westwood Rembrandt prints Sun 3 pm 1/10.
NETWORKING: Santa Monica Chamber: Wed. 1/13 is Business at Sunset mixer at Studio 1452 on 1452 2nd St. 1/21 State of the City hear
LA county economic Dev Corp speaker and Frank McCourt 1/26 is Speed Networking-well worth attending Networking for Professionalsscratch
them off your list they need to work on their delivery here in Santa Monica; Mar Vista is starting a new chamber. Look for new Mar
Vista Chamber to stimulate business-where is downtown Mar Vista, see Venice Blvd. near Inglewood Blvd. ;Pacific Palisades Chamber
mixer Tues1/12 Pearl Dragon 15229 Sunset Blvd. ;West LA Chamber 1/6 7 am First Wed always a breakfast, Women's Network meeting Tues
1/26 5:30 $25 non-members.
HOMEBUYING: my clients, men and women are finding the "Trilllion Dollar Woman's guide to Make Buying and Remodeling Decisions",
helpful when going through that stressful time.
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

Before you go to foreclosure user friendly web site

2010-01-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

Hard as it is to believe so many homeowners who are behind in their mortgage payments have not even sought help. Another percentage have tried to contact their bank and have been unable to get help.
One great avenue is the government program Hope for Homeowners hopenow.com.
This is a user friendly web site where one can find a self assessment and free counseling help.

Homeowners 15 day headstart on foreclosures

2009-12-30T13:20:00.000-08:00

Fannie Mae introduces neighborhood stabilization programs
Fannie Mae last week announced its First Look initiative, which provides owner occupants and public entities an advantage in purchasing Fannie-Mae owned foreclosed properties. With First Look, only offers from owner occupants and buyers using public funds are considered during the first 15 days a property is on the market. Offers from investors will be considered only after the first 15 days have passed.

In addition to First Look, buyers using Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds from HUD, local housing trust funds, or charitable foundation funds also may qualify for additional benefits, including:

Deposit waivers
A reserved contract period, and
Extra time for closing
For more information about Fannie Mae's First Look initiative or the company's programs for public entities, contact publicentity_reosales@fanniemae.com. For more information about Fannie Mae-owned properties for sale, please visit www.HomePath.com.

California Housing Facts

2009-12-22T16:20:00.000-08:00

Calif. median home price - October 09: $297,500 (Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. highest median home price by C.A.R. region October 09: Santa Barbara So. Coast $970,000 (Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. lowest median home price by C.A.R. region October 09: High Desert $118,580 (Source: C.A.R.)
Calif. First-time Buyer Affordability Index - Third Quarter 2009: 64 percent (Source: C.A.R.)
Home Prices and volume up in November on the Westside!

Banks have 10 days to respond to Short sale offer

2009-12-16T14:50:00.000-08:00

HAFA (Home Affordable Loan Program) helps standardize the short sale and deed-in-lieu process by creating an alternative to foreclosures for homeowners unable to successfully modify their troubled mortgage under HAMP.

It also makes clear the timeframes by which servicers must respond to an offer on a short sale. The bank must respond to an offer in 10 days not 3-4 months!

The HAFA program will permit pre-approved short sale terms before a property is listed; prevent servicers from attempting to reduce real estate commissions established in the listing agreement as a condition for short sale approval; release borrowers from future liability for the debt; and provide financial incentives to borrowers, servicers, and investors. Note these are California guidelines, for non Freddie and Fannie loans up to $729,500, hopefully Fannie and Freddie will adopt their own guidlines soon.
per C Assoc of Realtors

Short Sales Streamlined Sumary

2009-12-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

Finally the Treasury is about to roll out some real homeowner help. Going to Foreclosure is not the solution. Finaly a program that can benefit all parties-homeowenr, bank and second lien holders-if deftly handled.

If that pivotal first lient holder, the bank can be convinced they will net more dollars by a short sale, your credit will suffer far less damage. Is your bank stalling on renegotiating your mortgage, get some help with someone who can present the facts to the bank. Hiding from the bank notices seems to be the route so many distressed homeowners take. Even if you have an equity line of credit on top of the mortgage, both can be negotiated. Armed with the facts on realistic neighborhood prices, details on comparalble homes reently sold and local price trends, a really good real estate agent can present a homeowner's case to the reo division of your bank.

Yes we are in the holiday season, but there is so much pent up investment money looking for "good deals"
I have people answer my notice on the Realtor.com web site all the time from different countries, different states.

For a deal to work it has to benefit all parties. Look for a realtor with the new National Association of Realtors official designation, "Resource in Foreclosure and Short Sales". Very few realtors have this designation because it is new.

Here is a summary of the new Short Sale streamlining plan to roll out in 2010:

• Requires lenders and servicers to use uniform documentation, pre-approved short-sale terms and accelerated turnaround times
• Financial incentives for key players:
Homeowners who successfully complete a short sale under the program receive $1,500 to defray relocation costs.
Mortgage servicers can receive $1,000 per case.
Investors get $1,000.
Second-lien holders receive up to $3,000 from the sale proceeds.

Always your best investment Westside properties

2009-12-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

I receive so many calls from people in Chicago and Philadelphia and e mails from people in Hong Kong wanting to buy foreclosures in California.
They want to be on the Ocean and or have a direct Ocean view.
Recently I did a study through the new Martket Metrics analysis: For all west side of Los Angeles cities the decrease in price for homes was down 16%.
This is more of a reflection of the frenzied run up in late 2005 -2006 rather than any recession.
It wtill holds true no matter where you go in the United States. No area holds it price like this area.
Even in the 1974 downturn, prices in the Westside communities bounced back.

Volume of New Home Sales Positive 1st time since 2006

2009-12-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

California's new-home sales turn positive
Median base price of homes down 4% from last year
By Inman News, Friday, December 11, 2009.

Inman News

For the first time since December 2006, there was a year-over-year rise in the monthly count of new-home sales in California, according to the California Building Industry Association.

The association's monthly CBIA/Hanley Wood Market Intelligence (HWMI) New-Home Sales and Pricing Report showed sales in new-home communities of 10 units or more were 25 percent above October 2008. New-home and condominium sales rose to 2,294 this year from 1,838 last year.

Condominium sales were up a whopping 94 percent, townhomes and "-plexes" -- duplexes, triplexes, etc. -- were up 36 percent, and sales of single-family homes were up 4 percent. The San Francisco Bay Area led the change with a more than 100 percent increase in new-homes sales in the San Francisco, Peninsula and Silicon Valley areas.

The rise represents the first notable increase since the start of the housing downturn. HWMI's director of published research, Jonathan Dienhart, said in a statement that the numbers must be viewed in the proper context.

"While this month's figures are encouraging, we must keep in mind that we're comparing the figures to October of 2008, which was the second-lowest month of nominal sales we've seen during the downturn," Dienhart said in a statement.

Deinhart also said the first-time homebuyer tax credit, orginially set to expire in November, could be distorting the market due to buyers rushing to meet the deadline.

The median base price of homes sold was down 4 percent year-over-year, according to the report.

Non-seasonally adjusted total new-home sales were 1 percent below levels seen in September, but were an improvement from the 29 percent decrease seen last year for the same month-to-month period.

Fun Things to do in Santa Monica Westside December 2009

2009-12-03T13:13:00.000-08:00

Have Fun and Everything Else will Fall into Place

Brought to you by Your Neighborhood Realtor, Maralee Grantham
see also on blog maraleegrantham.com

CHRISTMAS/ CHANUKAH/HOLIDAYS: Children's concert, St. Monica's, 12/4 7pm; The Wave radio presents a holiday concert Santa
Monica 3rd St. Promenade 12/5 5 PM, and tree lighting event ; Every evening 12/11-18 Menorah lighting event 3rd St. Promenade 1300
block; Santa Claus at the Farmer's market 12/13-19 10 am to 1 pm; Montana annual Holiday Walk 12/4 5-9 pm; Main street Holiday tree
lighting and concert12/5 6-9 pm Edgemar Courtyard (2415 Main St.) concert 6:30 pm Fairmont Miramar 101 Wilshire Fig Tree lighting
charity event silent auction benefitting Chrysalis working for the homeless 3-7 pm Sat 12/6 gingerbread house expo; .St.. Monica's Christmas
Boutique 12/5-6 Sat 4-7 and Sun 8 am to 8 pm handmade gifts;; Roosevelt Elem. Fundraiser 12/6 11 am Radio Disney's Jordan Johnson
performs; Grant Elem. School Boutique 8 am to 2 pm, 12/11; Marina Del Rey Boat Parade fireworks start 5:55 parade 6 to 8 pm; Culver
City lights Veteran's Memorial Tower 12/4, 6:30 at 4117 Overland visit with Santa Claus, refreshments served; SM Conservancy Holiday
party, become a member or come as a guest of a member 12/6 3-5 pm 310 496 3146; Griffith Park. Festival of Lights best way, go to the
LA Zoo Parking lot park and take the beautiful walk 12/3-30 put on by the dept of Water and Power
Annenberg Community Beach House, the nation’s only free public beach house. Offers a private beach, parking expensive can walk across
the bridge and down. Look for free poetry sessions In honor of Marion Davies" support of artists. SM city will have a poet in residence. Majid
Naficy, from Iran will do evening readings on Santa Monica: http://beachhouse.smgov.net/plan-your-day/events-and-happenings.aspx: 12/14:
"This, and My Heart", Actress Linda Kelsey, soprano Anne Marie Ketchum and pianist Victoria Kirsch combine their talents to celebrate the
genius of Emily Dickinson through words and music.
12/21: Second Reading by Poet Majid Naficy, Beach House Artist in Residence: The Homeless In the spirit of the holidays, Beach House Artist
in Residence will read a selection of his poems her theme is homelessness.
THEATRE: LA Theatre Works at Skirball see live performance of a radio show "Crumbs from the Table of Joy" author Lynn Nottage stars
Deidre Henry, Russell Hornsby and Charlayne Woodward ,shown Dec 9-13 310 827 0889 8 pm.;
SM Broad Stage Jane Austen improv. shows on 11th St. Dec 11-20 tickets $35 and high tea $15.; 12/7, 7:30 Twyla Tharp the great
choreographer offers a lecture and book signing310 434 3400 $25-$50, say you received an e mail and call to get 50%discount
Promenade Playhouse, 1323 A 3rd st. Promenade 310 451 0850 improv. comedy, 3rd St. Promenade, Santa Monica, shows $10, take a class
also or go to open mike sing up 6 pm Sat. go on 6:30! Planetarium, Drescher Hall Santa Monica College: excellent on Pico parking free
shows 7 and 8 pm $5 or $9 for both, Dec 4, 11, 18; UCLA Royce Hall, 12/12 Sat 8 pm Carlos Fuentes, famous Mexican author tickets $24
plus.
MUSEUMS: Autry Griffith Park, learn about LA's Founders by a Chandler see Dreamers in Dream City ends 1/3/2010; Rancho Los
Alamitos amazing ranch house and gardens Have a taste of a Californio Christmas 6400 Bixby Rd. Long Beach. 562 431 3541 12/16-
12/20 tours for Christmas 3-5 or 1-5pm call. Just down the 405, in Long Beach Christmas shows www.rancholosalamitos.com. LA County
Art Museum: S. 12/5 2 pm Oxford U. professor lecture on the rarely seen Persian carpet the " Ardabil "carpet from Iran A.D. 1539-40; Getty:
12/8 Rembrandt and his pupils, their drawings. Harold Williams aud. Lecture on Rembrandt Sun 12/13 3 pm free need reserv..
NETWORKING/ NEIGHBORHOODS: Ocean Park Assoc. OPA annual holiday party Edgemar , pizza appetizers, cash bar 2435 Main Sat
12/5 4-6 then lighting of lights at Heritage Square, members will receive ballots for elections www.opa-sm.org Santa Monica Chamber
mixer, Sat 12/5, 4-6 pm, at Anisette's wonderful French restaurant 225 Santa Monica Blvd. then at dusk go to the 3rd St. Promenade, and,
see Bayside Tree lighting ceremony. Back by popular demand, Speed networking at SM Chamber office Tu. 12/15 5-6:30; also join the So
Cal Speed networking network: e mail Dawn Langford dawn@socalspeednetworking.com, meetings in Santa Monica and Culver City
High Speed Networking for Prof. 12/8 at the Yard, 119 Broadway, 6:30 to 8:30, Santa Monica $10 members $15 non, free
membershiphttp://www.networkingforprofessionals.com/eventlistings.php?event=HSNLA
ENVIRONMENT: Saturday, 12/5, 3pm eco home tour in Echo Park 323.717.9636, or email Julie: contactgbf@gmail.com RSVP for address;
Save gas share a ride-rideamigos.com; Find meetings, activities? Gotogreen.com; Network, have a drink and discuss the environment, try
lagreendrinks.com. Sustainable Works http://www.sustainableworks.org/ Nancy Barba with the city of Santa Monica, come for 6 weeks and
change your life to help you and the planet free or suggested donation of $25.
NETWORKING:.
FUN: Friday Night Skate around Santa Monica at the cannon by the Pier many Fridays Friday Night Skate dan@fridaynightskate.org
Learn about the city, become a volunteer SM city ambassador, take the 2 hour course. Classes for I am Santa Monica class Tuesday, Dec.
1, 2009 / 6-9 pm, go to Iamsantamonica.com.
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

Fannie Mae en Espanol Por Fin!!

2009-11-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

Fannie Mae launches new Spanish Web site
Fannie Mae last week launched a Spanish version of its HomePath.com Web site designed to help more potential homeowners who speak Spanish purchase Fannie Mae-owned properties.
The new Spanish Web site mirrors the English version of HomePath.com, featuring an interactive search tool of Fannie Mae-owned properties nationwide, details about HomePath® financing, a mortgage payment calculator, property alerts, and information on foreclosure prevention and the Making Home Affordable program.
For more information about HomePath, visit www.HomePath.com and click "En Español", or for direct access to the Web site in Spanish, visit www.es.HomePath.com.

November Fun Things To Do Santa Monica Westside

2009-11-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

Fun Things in Santa Monica and the Westside in November
Brought to you by Your Neighborhood Realtor, Maralee Grantham
Have Fun and Everything else will Fall into Place

THANKSGIVING: Volunteer at the Santa Monica Civic Center (310 394 3153) work a shift or cook a turkey and bring it. They also need clothes etc. and help on day before, Wed.; St. Monica’s Church serves dinner on Wed. 25th sign up at Parish hall in person only. Downtown Los Angeles Mission (hosted by Kirk Douglas serving) meal is Wed come early Volunteer sign up is 213 629 1227, 303 E. 5th St. at Wall.THEATRE: LA Theatre Works offers the "Gross Indecency, the Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, at the Skirball. 2701 N.
Sepulveda Blvd. 11/18 to 22, W,, Th. Fr 8 pm. Sat 2:30 Sun 4 pm, hope to see you there Fri 11/18, mention Sotheby’s and receive 10% discount tickets $36 and $48.
Cirque de Soleil’s KOOZA next to the Santa Monica Pier now through 11/29 $60 to $125 and above, shows 4 and 8 pm on weekends, Broad Stage Shakespeare’s "Love’s Labor Lost "in Santa Monica starts 11/19-29th thehttp://thebroadstage.com/index.php/219, Tickets .
Autry American Indian Theatre Company in Griffith Park' offers their new play “Carbon Black”. Weekends starting
11/4 Tickets members $12, non $20; Malibu Stage Co (non profit). “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change”, The, 29243 Pacific Coast Hwy 700 yds. past Kanen Dune tickets Fri Sat 8 pm Sun 5 pm $35, 310 589 1998; Geffen in Westwood has modern comedy "Shakespeare Helps with Guy Fakes day", tickets $55 Saturdays 3 and 8 pm Nov 10 through Dec 20.Promenade Playhouse Comedy 1404 3rd St. 310 308 0947 Tickets $20 show 11/8 Sun. 3 pm, Amy Stone's "Cheerios in my Underwear". Take a class there or do the open mike every Sat sign up 6 pm go on 6:30pm
FUN: Ice Skating at ICE in Santa Monica now open, at 5th and Arizona $10 includes skates 10 are to midnight on weekends Remember we have our own Pacific Park Amusement park at the end of the SM Pier; you can ride one of very few solar powered Ferris Wheels. Enter for free, single rides $3 or $5, all day for $21, start or end your date there, Fri 6 to midnight, Sat 11 to midnight. American Film Market 11/4 to 11/11 Loews and Le Margot Hotels; Classic movies at LACMA's Bing Theatre see 2 films on 1 night through previews of first run movies, 11/10 see the "Fantastic Mr. Fox, animated with George Clooney.7:30 pm; Also this month, Audrey Hepburn films 7:30 and 9:35, see 11/13; Also at Bing a lecture Cultural origins of Persian carpets 11/24 Tues. 7 pm. free tickets required. ((323 857-6010)7:30 Fri and Sat $7members $10 non-members. $2 Tues. 1 pm Matinees, Sun;
NETWORKING: SM Chamber monthly mixer Wed. 11/18, 5:30pm-7:30pm La Grande Orange 2000 Main Street-great
fun good food $10 members and $20 non; Networking for Professionals or Santa Monica Shakers and
Stirrers, in Santa Monica Tues 11/17 Wilshire Restaurant at 24th, $15 at 6:30; West LA Chamber offers fist
Wed. Breakfast 11301 W. Olympic at Sawtelle, go to West LA Chamber.org to sign up, $15 members or $30 non
Networking begins at 7 am. ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION: Santa Monica College: Eco water restoration projects updated. Lecture by Channel Islands professor " After the Rivers Run from the Anatolian Steppes to California salt marshes Tue, November 3 • 11:15am • Free • Science 140. Santa Monica Conservancy city walking tour Sat 10 am meet at 1453 2nd St, $5 members $10 non, 2 hrs..smconservancy.org, 310 496 3146.
MUSEUMS: Getty Villa lecture The Poison King: Mithradates the Great Nov 4 7:30 pm; Villa also has great garden tours,11:30 to 3:30; Lysistrata film festival 111/14 and 11/21 Sat Sun afternoon at the Villa 310 440 7300
Getty: see Irving Penn's amazing photos "Small Trades" all month, or leave work early and take the 3:30 architecture and garden tour at the main Getty; their classic film festival, "4 Angry Young Men" :, Nov 14, 4 pm Look Back in Anger and at 7pm Sat Night and Sun. Morning, and 21st, at 4 pm, The Sporting Life and at 7, The Loneliness off the Long Distance Runner, films are free, need reservations, (Continued on other side).
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100
LACMA (County Mus. of Art): after 5:30 free or pay what you wish. Open 'til 8 9 on Fri; LA County Museum of Art: Nov, watch Audrey Hepburn films at Bing 7:30 Fri pm and Sat 7:30 tickets $7 members 10 non; 11/14 will display 2 magnificent Persian carpets rarely seen.
UCLA's Fowler has 11/14, 2 and 3 pm see Japanese tea ceremony demonstrated free.
Autry Museum of the American West offers special Intertribal Art Market Basket Show 11/7-8, 10 am to 5 pm; Sat 10 am Native Basketry exhibit opens at the Autry in Griffith Park and Intertribal Arts marketplace-huge Indian art show. http://www.autrynationalcenter.org/event_calendar/all/2009/11;
NON-PROFIT: Palisades Schools Sunday 11/8 Holiday Home Tour 11 to 4 pm benefiting local schools...Fri., Sat through Nov. Join the West LA Surfrider Foundation, keep our ocean and beaches clean healthyhttp://surfriderwlam.org/volunteer/
Santa Monica College Planetarium shows Nov 6 and 20 7 and 8 pm $5 or $9 for both. Parking free, Second floor Drescher Hall, or park on Pico, Hall is near front entrance, go to 2nd floor, east side of building. Griffith Park Planetarium free shows, weekends 11:45 to 8:45; First Fridays of the month attend curator talks to hear most talked about subjects in astronomy etc. 11/6 7:30 to 9pm. Tickets $7 can only purchase there.
VOLUNTEER: American Red Cross 310 393 3774, join a Disaster Action Team and help people locally or around the world. They provide the training, all free and non-government monies. Santa Monica 310 394 3773, 11th and Broadway or. West LA Red Cross, 800 548 8226 at the Veteran's Hospital, Ohio entrance.
FLU Shot Clinic: 11/9 for H1N1 in Santa Monica at Red Cross 1450 11th at Broadway 9 am to noon. 11/4.
California Incline undergoing renovation all fall long expects delays.
Parking is FREE all across campus, even in staff
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams

Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

Pre foreclsosure homeowner helpful web sites

2009-11-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

Homeowner's it is a struggle to get hold of the bank loan servicers, but well worth it. The government is really behind you and bank's always lose money on a foreclosure, always.
Also, here are some helpful web sites:

Learn about the options ahead of time by going to your servicer's website. Then check other sources online, including HUD.gov, Hope Now, MakingHomeAffordable.gov, HomeLoanLearningCenter.com and BetterBorrowers.

National Home prices up after 3 years

2009-10-03T12:49:00.000-07:00

Data from the S&P Case Schiller Index show home prices in July (latest data) rose1.6% and in June 1.4%, making 3 straight months. This index gathers data from 20 metro areas and had shown prices in decline for the last 3 years. The Reuters poll also showed increases of 1.7% in July and 1.4% in June in their 10 city index.

Fun Things To Do In Santa Monica and the Westside

2009-10-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

Fun Things to do in Santa Monica and the Westside in October Be happy then everything will fall into place Become a volunteer SM city ambassador. Classes this month are what they call the "I am Santa Monica" class Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 / 6pm-9pm Broad Stage 11th St.Getty, Hammer, Museum of the American West (Autry), all free Oct 3-4. Hammer 10/21 free movie "Yes Men Fix the World", also see archive film program, lunch art talks all free. .Autry Museum of American West, Griffith Park has Dreamers of Los Angeles exhibit showing founders and stars who made LA; Southwest Museum (first exit off the n. Pasadena Freeway) offers lecture on the Mayan End of the World supposedly Oct 12 2012; Getty Villa, 10/ 24, 2 pm. lecture on Herculaneum, also take the Garden tour 10:30 am Sat. plus weekend art talks, always free. Main Getty 10/10 concert free 6 pm Dent May (Brazil and 50's?), and LA's DJ Nobody; LACMA offers great films, at their Bing Theatre Fri Sat night 7:30 and 9:30 tickets 10 $7 for members. Comedy 1404 3rd St. Promenade SM Fridays 9 pm, Sat 8 and 10pm shows $12. Pumpkins get out of town, drive to Santa Clarita 29527 Bouquet; Canyon Road 661 296 8697, after 10/8.Calabasas Pumpkin Festival , 10/17-18 on Lost Hills Rd. 818 222 5680. Also, Pumpkins at the Wed Oct 28. Farmer's Market all you can carry for $5 all you can carry regular Wed. am. Farmer's Market October 28 Painting on the SM Pier Sat Oct 11 8:30-1:30 all levels welcome, bring your own materials and learn. Cirque du Soleil opens with KOOZA in the SM Pier parking lot October 16SM Conservancy Landmarks of Santa Monica bus tour Oct 4, 2pm, $35;Weekly SM walking tours Sat 10 am, starting at 1436 2nd St. Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival: 10/3 Chinatown LA Central Plaza. Pico Art Walk and Car Show Oct. 16 10 am to 5 pm; Antique market 4th Sunday each month from 6 am to 3 pm at SM Airport enter from Bundy $5.Alt Car Expo Santa Monica Civic Center October 2 and 3, Fri Sat. 10 am to 5 pm, you can drive those cars Speak Your Mind Sun Ocean at SM Blvd soap box offered anyone who cares to speak.The Annenberg Community Beach House, just n. of Calif. Incline 415 Pacific Coast Hwy Look for Tuesday 6:30 pm programs: http://beachhouse.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/2009sep.pdf (hopefully they will update their web site soon). Great casual restaurant open 8 am to dark.Plays: Edgemar Ctr. 2437 Main St. SM for $25 after Oct 3 see "45 Minutes From Broadway"; SM Miles Theatre on 7th St. Lincoln Park offers Asian Pacific Islander Performing Artists 10/22 8 pm and 10/25 Sun 2 and 7 pm; Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., 310 455 3723. Plays this summer include Julius Caesar, Cymbaline, The Cherry Orchard, The Miser and Midsummer Night's Dream, tickets start at $20Yoga on the Pier free 8:30 am Saturdays; Animals Blessed, Oct 4 at 3 pm Reed Park, Santa MonicaSkate at ICE in Santa Monica begins Oct 30 $10 includes skates 10 am to midnight on weekends. Grand Opening of the Venice Beach Skate Plaza October 3 @ 11 AM –go to Windward and the beach. See local art movies Laemmle Theatre see sneak previews for free http://www.laemmle.com/sneak.php One of Santa Monica's neighborhood org.'s is Wilmont for Wilshire Montana: Join for $10 annual dues and vote on parking and construction projects for this area. The non-profit corporation was organized more than 17 years ago; it represents the 25,000 residents who live between the Ocean and 21st. and Wilshire and Montana. Telephone is 310 840 2257, meetings are 3rd Mondays each month 7 pm at the Ken Edwards Cr. At 1527 4th St., parking is free. Learn to be self sustaining free 6 session classes by city: 6 Tuesday MeetingsStarting Tues 10/6, 6:30pm -8:00pm 1454 Euclid; Wed 10/7. 7-8:30 pm Library-for more see sustainableworks.org.Protect our Oceans and Beaches get involved with the WLA Malibu Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.See the web site: Surfrider WLAM www.surfriderwlam.org Santa Monica Chamber has their great mixer Wed. Oct. 21 at 5:30 at the Yard 119 Broadway and Speed not dating but networking is October 27 at 5 pm. Cars in garage broken into; put Community Police Officer Mike Boyd on speed dial; call him at 310 458 2201x 4134 cell 424 200 0684 Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams Sotheby's INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

REO Buyers Finally can choose their own Escrow

2009-09-25T09:20:00.001-07:00

Our California Governor will be signing into law a bill to allow home buyers of REO properties to choose their own escrow services.Having an impartial escrow company, mutually agreed upon ensures smooth transactions for the buyer and seller. It is already a law that the Title company cannot be imposed on the buyer.This law was approved finally by both houses of the California legislature and will be signed soon!.

Let's conserve water and enjoy native gardens

2009-09-20T08:59:00.000-07:00

Water managers in 36 states anticipate shortages by 2013, according to a report by the U.S. General Accounting Office. Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled, but public demand for water more than tripled, according to the EPA. Native and natural gardens look great.
For some households up to 70% of the water we use is on our gardens. Anyone can start a grey water recycling program. Ask Brenden with the City of Santa Monica: brenden.mceneaney@smgov.net

Mortgage Calculator New from Federal Reserve

2009-09-19T09:04:00.001-07:00

https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/mortcalc/
Simple and it works

2009-09-16T12:21:00.000-07:00

Did a workman come to your home and you are unhappywith their work, but not sure what to do about it?

Just off the presses, the 30th edition of the Consumer Action Handbook from the General Service Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Communication is chock-full of goodies for aggravated citizens who don't know how or where to complain.
The free guide, available at www.consumeraction.gov or by calling (888) 878-3256, has a section with tips on how to be a savvy consumer, another section with a list of public resources and contact information, and a third that contains an expanded list of information for corporate offices, consumer groups, trade groups and government agencies.

Feel free to call me for a referral of someone used by one of our clients or a Sotheby's agent anytime.!

Update on Fun in Santa Monica and the Westside

2009-09-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

Join me Wed 9 9 2009 for 7 am kick off. Rousing start at 6 pm for the recreation of the 1909 ceremony, and we all need a taste of that 100 foot cake so we can watch the fireworks!

Santa Monica is offering a September 19 2009 Sat. Green Building Walking Tour
When: Saturday, September 19th, 10 AMWhere: Meet on the South side of the Carousel building on the Santa Monica PierDuration: approximately 2-3 hours Come join a walking tour of some of Santa Monica's green gems led by Brenden McEneaney, the City's Green Building Program Advisor. The tour will start at the historic Santa Monica Pier and follow a course around the downtown Santa Monica area, with several stops along the way that highlight some of the City's progressive and historic highlights in sustainability. The tour will focus on sustainable buildings, but as all things are connected in the local environment, it will touch on other related efforts too.

Westside Of Los Angeles Fun in September 2009

2009-09-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

Fun Things to do in Santa Monica and the Westside in September

Brought to you by your neighborhood realtor®, Maralee Grantham

Don’t believe it, summer is not over, it really just began with warm weather finally coming to Santa Monica!
SM Pier celebrates 100 years Wed. 9/9, 2009: the celebration starts early with a grand re-opening ceremony, see the pomp and pageantry of the official rededication celebration, complete with musical performances and celebrity participants, along with a few centenarians who will cut the Pier's 100-foot birthday cake. At dusk see the first large-scaled fireworks spectacular in 18 years, launched from the Bay. Put your name on a plaque on the pier for $200!
Last Pier concert Sept. 3: punk rock founder Patti Smith and her band, starts at Sunset.
Annenberg Community Beach House 310 458-4904; Free and still open 9am to sunset, and besides daily pool passes you can now eat all day long! Web site shows classes from Yoga to Soccer. Tours at 11, 1 and 3 on the weekends tell you about the glamorous, kind donor who gave us this jewel. Ask the city and you will continue to have the free Tuesday night classes and concerts: 6:30 to 8:30 pm 9/1 Verdi Chorus sold out; 9/ 8 poetry and music; 9/15 a reading of the Long Embrace Raymond Chandler; 9/22, also sold out.

SM Chamber Mixer Wednesday, 9/16 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at FIG RestaurantSM Chamber’s Taste of Santa Monica Sunday, September 13th from 1:00pm-5:00pm

Drive-in at the Pier returns on Friday, September 11th through October 2nd at 7pm

Big Blue Bus Grand Opening/Open House Wednesday, September 23 from 11am-12:30

Amazing plays continue at theTheatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., 310 455 3723. This summer includes Julius Caesar, Cymbaline, The Cherry Orchard, The Miser and Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Planetarium at Santa Monica College 9/ 7, 18, 25 shows at 7 pm, free parking Drescher Hall; Griffith Park Planetarium shows $7 starting 11:45 am to last 8:45 pm weekends. You must go there to buy- beware park in red zone and you will get a $78 .ticket.

Santa Monica Ambassadors in pink shirts and straw hats help day to late night from 10 am to 12:30 am.You can become a volunteer ambassador by taking the “I am Santa Monica” course: Thurs, 9 24, 2pm-5pm. Receive a badge and be eligible for prizes such as tickets to the Cirque de Soleil.
Our Getty Villa annual play opens Sept.3 with a modernized Aristophanes' 'Peace', performed by Latino group Culture Clash. Previews at $20 are sold out, regular tickets are $42.50.
Medea opens 9/18 at UCLA’s Freud Theatre www.UCLAlive.org, a modern and tragic love affair between Jason and the Greek goddess.

Be Sustainable: In 1996 the city launched a plan to become self sustaining and there are many programs that we can join to learn and help the city & ourselves to be more environmentally self sufficient. Take 6 weeks of almost free classes ($25 materials fee) Tuesdays 1744 Pearl, Wed. at the Library 7-8:30 pm and Sept 20 and 21 start 6 weeks at 1-2:30 pm.
Included in the programs is the Car and Transportation Expo on September 26th & 27th. Help design the Big Blue Bus of 2050, go to www.busofthefuture.com. Also look for a week of programs following 9/18; to learn more contact Traci Reitz at.sustainablesantamonica.org Recycle: local stores agreed to help the city—Drop your used batteries at Walgreens or Whole Foods parking; Drop old electronics at our local Staples and Apple; Old cell phones go to our local ATT store.
The Santa Monica Conservancy offers walking tours of the city every Saturday at 10 am starting from 1436 2nd Street; Cost is $10 for non members and $5 for members. www.smconservancy.com
Westwood Farmer's market on Broxton Sundays 10 to 3 pm.

Saanta Monica Fun Things to do September 2009

2009-09-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

Fun Things to do in Santa Monica and the Westside in September 2009

Brought to you by your neighborhood realtor®, Maralee Grantham

Don’t believe it, summer is not over, it really just began with warm weather finally coming to Santa Monica!
SM Pier celebrates 100 years Wed. 9/9, 2009: the celebration starts early with a grand re-opening ceremony, see the pomp and pageantry of the official rededication celebration, complete with musical performances and celebrity participants, along with a few centenarians who will cut the Pier's 100-foot birthday cake. At dusk see the first large-scaled fireworks spectacular in 18 years, launched from the Bay. Put your name on a plaque on the pier for $200!
Last Pier concert Sept. 3: punk rock founder Patti Smith and her band, starts at Sunset.
Annenberg Community Beach House 310 458-4904; Free and still open 9am to sunset, and besides daily pool passes you can now eat all day long! Web site shows classes from Yoga to Soccer. Tours at 11, 1 and 3 on the weekends tell you about the glamorous, kind donor who gave us this jewel. Ask the city and you will continue to have the free Tuesday night classes and concerts: 6:30 to 8:30 pm 9/1 Verdi Chorus sold out; 9/ 8 poetry and music; 9/15 a reading of the Long Embrace Raymond Chandler; 9/22, also sold out. SM Chamber Mixer Wednesday, 9/16 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at FIG RestaurantSM Chamber’s Taste of Santa Monica Sunday, September 13th from 1:00pm-5:00pmDrive-in at the Pier returns on Friday, September 11th through October 2nd at 7pmBig Blue Bus Grand Opening/Open House Wednesday, September 23 from 11am-12:30
Amazing plays continue at theTheatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., 310 455 3723. This summer includes Julius Caesar, Cymbaline, The Cherry Orchard, The Miser and Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Planetarium at Santa Monica College 9/ 7, 18, 25 shows at 7 pm, free parking Drescher Hall; Griffith Park Planetarium shows $7 starting 11:45 am to last 8:45 pm weekends. You must go there to buy- beware park in red zone and you will get a $78 .ticket.
Santa Monica Ambassadors in pink shirts and straw hats help day to late night from 10 am to 12:30 am.You can become a volunteer ambassador by taking the “I am Santa Monica” course: Thurs, 9 24, 2pm-5pm. Receive a badge and be eligible for prizes such as tickets to the Cirque de Soleil.
Our Getty Villa annual play opens Sept.3 with a modernized Aristophanes' 'Peace', performed by Latino group Culture Clash. Previews at $20 are sold out, regular tickets are $42.50.
Medea opens 9/18 at UCLA’s Freud Theatre www.UCLAlive.org, a modern and tragic love affair between Jason and the Greek goddess.
Be Sustainable: In 1996 the city launched a plan to become self sustaining and there are many programs that we can join to learn and help the city & ourselves to be more environmentally self sufficient. Take 6 weeks of almost free classes ($25 materials fee) Tuesdays 1744 Pearl, Wed. at the Library 7-8:30 pm and Sept 20 and 21 start 6 weeks at 1-2:30 pm.
Included in the programs is the Car and Transportation Expo on September 26th & 27th. Help design the Big Blue Bus of 2050, go to www.busofthefuture.com. Also look for a week of programs following 9/18; to learn more contact Traci Reitz at.sustainablesantamonica.org Recycle: local stores agreed to help the city—Drop your used batteries at Walgreens or Whole Foods parking; Drop old electronics at our local Staples and Apple; Old cell phones go to our local ATT store.The Santa Monica Conservancy offers walking tours of the city every Saturday at 10 am starting from 1436 2nd Street; Cost is $10 for non members and $5 for members. www.smconservancy.com
Find out what is going on in our neighborhood. Join our local org., Wilmont for Wilshire Montana: Join for $10 annual dues and vote on parking and construction projects for this area. The non-profit corporation was organized more than 17 years ago; it represents the 25,000 residents who live between the Ocean and 21st. and Wilshire and Montana. Telephone is 310 840 2257; meetings are 3rd Mondays each month 7 pm at the Ken Edwards Cr. At 1527 4th St., parking is free.

Easy to find home loans now

2009-08-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Funds have really loosened up in the last few months. There are even stated income loans for those with lower income tax returns.

Westside especially demand is up for home loans

2009-08-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

Southern California home sales and prices rise in JulyDemand for entry- and mid-level houses has led to bidding wars. But many foreclosures are still off the market.By Peter Y. HongAugust 19, 2009Southern Californians are shopping for homes again, optimistic that values have been beaten down about as low as they will go and triggering the highest sales levels in more than two years.A report released Tuesday shows a sharp rise in home purchases and an increase in median prices for a third straight month -- suggesting that the two-year decline in home values may finally be over.In Los Angeles County, the median home price hit $321,000 last month, after lingering at $300,000 for most of the year. Orange County median home values rose to $420,000, up from a low of $370,000 in January.Lower-priced homes are getting most of the action, with bidding wars for homes listed at $500,000 or less. The median Southland home sales price stood at $268,000, far below the 2007 peak of $505,000.But the low prices are driving sales, which were up 19% last month over July 2008, according to figures released by MDA DataQuick.Demand is heaviest for entry-level and mid-market homes because buyers such as David Soldinger, 27, think those prices won't go any lower.Soldinger, an assistant to a film director, said he bid on 12 houses from Silver Lake to Sherman Oaks over the last eight months, losing every time -- often to people making all-cash offers. He said eight of the 12 houses had been foreclosed upon, and all were listed below $500,000.The first house Soldinger went after, in Hollywood, got 26 offers in four days, he said."There was such a small inventory," said Soldinger, who rents a loft in downtown Los Angeles. "Any time something decent would come on [the market], you'd go to see it and there would be 12 people there in five minutes."Soldinger said his offer -- under $450,000 -- was finally accepted this month for a three-bedroom house in Van Nuys.Gerd-Ulf Krueger, principal economist for HousingEcon .com, a real estate consulting firm, said such fast and furious action is common for homes that won't require a "jumbo" loan of $417,000 or more."The big action is now in the low to mid-scale," Krueger said.Listings of homes for sale "at least at the low and mid-level are pretty much empty. There's not a lot of supply," Krueger said. "The question is, to what degree the low supply has an artificial character."Krueger was referring to a backlog in the foreclosure process that has reduced the inventory of homes for sale. Thousands of homes are in default but haven't been repossessed because of foreclosure moratoriums. Even homes that have been repossessed by lenders have been slow to be put on the market.According to DataQuick, foreclosure sales are on the decline -- falling in July to 43% of home sales, down from a peak of 57% in February. But DataQuick analysts said that trend could reverse itself if the foreclosure logjam was broken and if unemployment worsened.Because of that, DataQuick President John Walsh cautioned that declaring a housing market bottom "remains an especially risky call to make, given the uncertainty over the magnitude of future job losses and foreclosures.""Even if we are at or near the bottom," Walsh said, "history suggests we could bounce along that bottom for quite a while."Despite its recent rise, the median price remains at 2002 levels and is 47% below its peak set during several months in 2007. The median is the point at which half the homes sold for more and half for less.Analysts say the recent increase in the median price also reflects the fact that more expensive homes are selling again after a long drought. In many affluent neighborhoods, real estate agents say, owners are finally accepting the diminished value of their properties and pricing their homes to sell.That is beginning to attract more buyers. Malibu, Beverly Hills, Brentwood and Del Mar all posted July sales increases over the prior year.The number of homes in the foreclosure process remains high. In July, nearly 125,000 homes in California were scheduled for foreclosure auctions, nearly double the number during the same month the previous year, according to ForeclosureRadar, an online seller of default data. The company said the increase in pending foreclosures was the result of lenders postponing repossessions.That "shadow inventory" of homes is likely to be sold this year and next, which could again give mid-range buyers the upper hand in home purchases.In Burbank, for instance, about 130 single-family homes are listed for sale below $1 million, but more than 350 such properties are in some stage of foreclosure, according to ForeclosureRadar. That may be why the number of Burbank single-family homes sold in July this year -- 58 -- was identical to last July, even though the median sales price fell 4%, to $519,000, according to DataQuick.Prices could fall further when more foreclosed properties are put on the market, especially if lenders dump a large number of homes at once, Krueger said. More likely, he said, they will release homes for sale at a measured pace.Despite strong demand in the mid- to low end of the market, another housing boom is unlikely, said Richard Green, director of USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate.He said homes priced close to $500,000 aren't likely to move much higher in price because the buyers interested in those properties would not be able to obtain or afford larger mortgages. Those home shoppers would also be more likely to rent rather than buy if prices got too high because rents remain relatively low, Green said."I'm not expecting any big increase in house prices" in the mid-market, Green said. "We'll just get to where they'll stop falling, and maybe go up a little bit."The DataQuick numbers include single-family houses and condominiums in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego counties. The number of homes sold in the region last month increased 3.6% from June.The median price paid in Southern California for July, $268,000, was still down 23% from July 2008, DataQuick reported. But prices have been rising for the last three months, gaining 6% in June to $265,000 and 1% in July.Condos and houses priced below $500,000 constituted 80% of sales in July, down from 85% in March, DataQuick reported.Overall, the nation's housing market remains wobbly. Economists cheered last month when the Census Bureau reported that groundbreaking on new homes went up from May to June.But Tuesday, the Census Bureau said housing starts declined 1% in July from June's level.peter.hong@latimes.com

Fun Things to do on the Westside in August

2009-08-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

Things to do in Santa Monica and the Westside in August
Brought to you by your neighborhood realtor®, Maralee Grantham

See what is new in Santa Monica at the cities latest web site: www.santamonica.com
Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance –Concert series continues Thursdays at 7:30 -10:30 pm with:
August 6, Dave Alvin & the Guilty Women, amazing musicians play Texas and country rock blues, then Paul Thorn with solid rock.; August 13, The Idan Raichel Project gives us Israeli pop next Elijah Emanuel, bilingual reggae from Panamá; August 20, Venice, the folk pop group sings surf music;, then Lukas Nelson and The Promise of the Real plays classic rock; August 27, Lila Downs of Oaxaca, Mexico sings in her native Mixtec and with Very Be Careful you can boogie to Columbian popular Vallenato music combining earthy soul and rock.
Sky overcast? See stars at the Santa M. College $4 7pm Aug 7 and 14 smc.edu/planetarium Drescher Hall; or $7 at Griffith Park Planetarium, must go there to buy, 3 shows rotate starting at 11:45 am weekends ,last show 8:45 pm.
Free classes on Ecological living: 8/15 10 to 1 pm Montana br. Library Then sign up for 6 classes either Sun Tues Wed 7-8:30 pm Join me Wednesdays at the main library beginning 8/26; sign up quickly at www.smpl.org/liibraryevents.htm.
Skaters come to Friday Night Skates, Meet at the Cannon near the Pier skate in Santa Monica 9-11 pm then dinner and a dance http://www.fridaynightskate.org/events.shtml
Have Friends Visiting? Ask local hotels for the 3rd night free deal with a free carousel ride, bike ride, and Big Blue Pass.
Farmer’s Market Quarterly panel series: 8/27, Library 7-9 pm. LA Times food editor moderates panel. Hear about their life and the future of farming; goodies served from Sassan.
Happy Hours in Santa Monica also go to www.santamonica.com to see specials like the Shutters Tapas Tuesday nights 5pm to 10 pm, with live Spanish music and tapas; Viceroy hotel offers pool side half off cocktails after all the Thursday concerts at the Pier. Tuesday $4.95 all you can eat Taco night at La Cantina 3rd St. Promenade near Wilshire.
Jazz on the Lawn in front of City Hall 5-7 pm in August.
Annenberg Community Beach House, the nation’s only free beach club; park $4 per hour! $8 per day, ride your bike; docent tours of the guest house of Marion Davies and Wm Randolph Hearst, which you can rent and still have parties or be married (the main house was torn down and was where the new modern beach house now stands. Swim for $10 daily or $1 Monday special pass, rent umbrellas, play volleyball, courts cost $5; eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the “Back at the Beach” restaurant, moderate prices 8 am to 8 pm. Tuesdays at the Annenberg: Aug 4 chamber music improv group; Aug 11 at 11 am Brant Chandler tells of city’s history; Aug 18 6:30 pm Red Hen Poetry explores current poetry with Jenny Factor and David St. John; Aug. 25 6:30 pm hear classical trio La Mer and their soprano Elissa Johnston www.annenbergbeachhouse.org
Museums 2 new ones set to open Santa Monica Historical Society Museum opening late 2009 at 1539 Euclid Street (310) 395-2290; Museum of Flying reopening at the airport, south side near the DC-3 monument.
Art Scene From the Angel’s Attic to the Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica is home to 90 art galleries 40 works of public art; Painters go to 2912 Main Street a walk in paint studio, ned canvas only. Paint Wine and Cheese Fridays $25 5 to 7 pm http://www.paintlab.net/?p=224
Theatre in Santa Monica City Garage 1340 1/2 4th Street Alley Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-319-9939 http://www.citygarage.org/ their new play is Eugene Ionesco’s The Chairs, a fable of love, loss, and frustrated ambition Friday and Saturday 8 pm $25 and Sunday 5:30 Pay what you can.
Theatricum Botanicum continues in Topanga Canyon with 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., 310 455 3723. Plays this summer include Julius Caesar, Cymbaline, The Cherry Orchard, The Miser and Midsummer Night’s Dream; tickets start at $20; The Miser will have you rolling, Mid summer night is everyone’s favorite and Cymbaline is a gem.Free Movies Laemmle Theatre, join the mailing list web site is: www.laemmle.com/mailinglists.php
Our neighborhood organization is Wilmont for Wilshire Montana: Join for $10 annual dues. The non-profit mainly volunteer corporation was organized more than 17 years ago representing the 25,000 residents between the Ocean and 21st. and Wilshire and Montana. 310 840 2257, meetings are 3rd Mondays each month 7 pm at the Ken Edwards Cr. At 1527 4th St., parking is free. Learn what is going on; city events like the National Night Out party 8/4 free food fire/police rescue demonstrations 6-8 police dept. Discuss city issues bring up your own, they are amazing volunteers
Restaurants by area: go to http://www.santamonica.com/where-to-eat/.
Downtown Ambassadors in pink shirts and straw hats help day to late night from 10 am to 12:30 am. Community Police Officer who handles Wilshire Montana Mike Boyd; call him at 310 458 2201x 4134 cell 424 200 0684
Maralee Grantham and Associates In Pursuit of Your Dreams
Sotheby’s INTERNATIONAL REALTY maralee@maraleegrantham.com cell 310 570 6100

What to do if you need to sell now

2009-08-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

How to Sell a House, When You Have to Sell It NowSeven tips for homeowners who can't wait until the market turns around
Sellers believe their home's value is higher than the market and buyers think it is much lower-but this is still not the worst selling market:The homes that have what most people want are selling at or near market and in a relatively short time.Do everything you can to make your home into what most buyers want:(If you've been waiting for a good offer to come through, this probably isn't exactly big news to you).
In much of the country, prices are already way down and probably heading even further south. Poorly priced homes are sitting on the market for months longer than sellers expected.
THE JOURNAL REPORT So what's a home seller to do? What does it take to sell a house today?If your job or life circumstances leave you no alternative other than to sell in this market, you must be prepared to go well beyond the usual feints and gimmicks if you want to get potential buyers in the front door and, ultimately, to the closing table. By all means, feng shui the living room, bury a statue of St. Joseph in the front yard and bake brownies before the open house.
But if you really want to sell the place, you need to think and act like a salesperson. Most important, you must separate your emotional attachment to your family home from your financial interest in your family's largest asset. Selling a house is business, and you must approach the sale in a businesslike manner.
Here are seven points to keep in mind:
1. DON'T WAIT AROUND.Even in the better housing areas, it's taking a long time to sell houses; and in the hardest-hit metro areas, inventories of unsold homes are stretching well past 180 days.
So, don't try to sit out the market. That's what hundreds of other timid sellers are doing, each of them hoping -- somehow, some way -- that hanging on the sidelines will improve prices and, ultimately improve his or her chances for selling success. It won't. Not if you expect to sell anytime soon. If you want your place sold, the best way to make sure that happens is to put it up for sale.
Obviously, you should take advantage of your local market cycles -- early spring is usually better for selling in much of the country -- but otherwise don't try timing the market. You won't have any better luck than a stock trader who's always holding out for the market highs or lows.
2. FIX IT UP AND CLEAN IT UP.Buyers are taking your house out on a date. It has to make a good impression. Don't spend a lot of money -- absolutely no big-ticket renovations -- but do see that everything is in good repair. And give the place a new paint job and a general sprucing up. (Caution: This won't necessarily give you any pricing advantage over less fixed-up places, but it will attract buyers and keep them interested.)
As the date that the house actually goes up for sale approaches, start moving out by de-cluttering the place. No buyer wants to see a house filled to the rafters with other people's things. They want to imagine their stuff filling the place. "Stage" the place with only enough furniture to make it look livable; put the rest in storage.
3. PRICE IT CHEAPLY.Don't fight the market by trying to price your house at bubble-era levels or by factoring in all those improvements you made. It won't fly.
Set a realistic, salable price on day one. Don't let the house hang around on the market as you gradually lower the price. Forget what you think the house should be worth or what it was worth three years ago. That's not what it's worth today.
Smart buyers will be looking for bargains. So you must set your price below comparable nearby properties. Look at the asking prices of neighboring houses, and set your price to beat them. If prices in your area are generally down 20% from where they were at the bubble peak in 2005, then price your house 25% to 30% below its peak bubble value. Is your area down by 40%? Be prepared to take just half of what the house was worth three years ago. Yes, it's painful. But if you want to sell, you don't have much choice. And remember: In much of the country, renting is still a better deal right now than buying. As you try to settle on a price, look at rents on comparable properties. Buyers are not likely to be counting on huge price appreciation, as they did during the bubble, so they may be less willing to take on the higher monthly costs of home buying and owning. You must set a price that makes someone's prospective mortgage and home-owning costs look like a better deal than a month's rent.
4. HIRE A TOP REAL-ESTATE AGENT.Get the best, most aggressive selling (listing) agent you can find.When everything was selling before it even hit the market, of course, you didn't need the best. You just needed the cheapest; but not these days.
Fortunately, in this market, real-estate brokers are even more anxious than you. They're eager to get whatever work they can, so don't rely on your cousin with the real-estate license or your best friend's wife.
Ask, instead, for the local real-estate office's top salesperson. All offices have one or two sellers who greatly outperform their colleagues. That's who you want.
Interview various agents and insist that they present you with a well-conceived marketing plan that goes way beyond the usual Internet page, one or two open houses and a yard sign. (Think about using a professional photographer for multiple shots on the primary Web listing, your house as the featured "home of the week" in the local newspaper, a decorating segment on a morning chat show, a stop on the local garden club's spring tour.) Sellers of higher-end properties should be able to negotiate a lower commission percentage, but this is no time to quibble over a couple of percentage points. Also, offer the agent a big bonus if he or she sells the house in 30 days or at your asking price. Offer other agents bonuses if they bring in the ultimate buyer.
5. PROMOTE. PROMOTE. PROMOTE.Don't rely on the agent to do all the work. The agent should pay the usual marketing costs, but you should be prepared to pony up for extras, especially if you insist on more expensive or untraditional promotions.
You want the house listed regularly in local newspaper classifieds and, if it's a special, high-end property in a desirable location, in national publications, too.Make sure your house is on the leading real-estate Web sites; Trulia, Zillow, Cyberhomes, Eppraisal and Realtor.com are some of the top ones.
Beyond that, get really creative. Advertise in corporate newsletters and intranet listings. Check in with local relocation firms that help transferring corporate executives find new homes. List the house on eBay. Put it on Craigslist. Put it in your church bulletin.
Trophy house in an upscale neighborhood? Hire a string quartet for the open house. Something a bit more midmarket in a family-friendly subdivision? Put a clown on the corner handing out brochures.
6. PLAY THE BANKER.As bad as things are, there's one big factor in your favor: the tight credit market. If you have no mortgage you have to pay off, your strongest selling point might be your ability to finance all or a substantial part of a buyer's purchase.
You're a lot more flexible than a bank that has the Federal Reserve looking over its shoulders, so you might even be able to charge a higher interest rate than a commercial lender as well as command a higher sale price. (You'll need a real-estate lawyer to make sure everything is done to protect you and an accountant to set up a payment system. Peer-to-peer lenders such as virginmoneyus.com have systems to handle mortgage payments.)Worst case? Your borrower defaults and you take the property back. And sell it again.
7. TAKE THE OFFER.If any qualified buyer comes in with a reasonable offer, be prepared to accept it.You don't want to lose the deal by digging in your heels over a few dollars. Every real-estate office keeps records that show the percentage difference between asking and selling prices, so it's easy to figure what's an appropriate offer and what's not.
Negotiate, of course, but recognize that the buyer has a lot more clout than you do. Your house, as wonderful as you think it is, is worth only as much as someone is willing to pay for it.And that, unfortunately, will probably be a lot less than you think.
--Mr. Crook is editor of The Wall Street Journal Sunday and author of "The Wall Street Journal Complete Real-Estate Investing Guidebook."
Editor's Note July 14, 2008; The last time David Crook wrote about housing for the Journal Reports was in March 2007.Back then, he was the bearer of an unwelcome but hard-to-deny truth: Your home is often not a great investment, even in pretty good times.Now, David returns with another unwelcome truth: If you want to sell your house now, you're going to have to get real. No wishful thinking that if you just wait a little longer, the market will turn around. No fantasizing that your house is special and that buyers will inevitably see it for the unique property that it is. They won't.Still, David -- who wrote "The Wall Street Journal Complete Real-Estate Investing Guidebook" -- carries more than just bad tidings. He also provides seven useful tips for home sellers who don't have the time to sit back and dream about better times to come.Yes, some of the tips are painful (especially the one about pricing). But they're also smart, clear and practical. And they, at last, point to a bit of welcome truth: If you have to sell now, you can. You just have to understand what you're up against.

Housing starts up and mortgage rates may be too

2009-07-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

The minutes revealed an upward revision to the Fed's forecast for economic growth and inflation in 2009 and 2010. In addition, Fed officials expressed a strong reluctance to increase the program to purchase mortgage-backed securities (MBS) any further. Mortgage rates are largely determined by MBS prices. When the Fed initially announced its MBS purchase program in November, mortgage rates immediately dropped, and they dropped again significantly when the Fed announced an increase in the program in March. The Fed has a substantial involvement in MBS markets, and any change in this program would have a major impact on mortgage rates.The housing sector data released during the week showed improvement. June Housing Starts rose 4% to the highest level in seven months. Building Permits, a leading indicator, jumped 9%. The national Association of Home Builders (NAHB) sentiment index increased to the highest level since September 2008. According to the NAHB, the first-time homebuyer tax credit, low mortgage rates, and "attractive" home prices are helping home sales. Per information from Federal Reserve and Marc Cohen Financial.

Refinance your home up to 125% of it's value

2009-07-14T03:37:00.000-07:00

You can refianance up to 125% of your home's value if you have a loan made under Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac guidelines. This is according to the expanded Home Affordable plan of the government.

How You Hold to Your Property is so Important

2009-07-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

Homeowners should be careful about how they hold title to properties This important decision is often an afterthought during a sale but it has significant legal ramifications.By Lew Sichelman
June 21, 2009Reporting from Washington -- The manner in which homeowners hold title to their properties has significant legal ramifications. Consequently, it's not wise to leave this important decision to chance.
Escrow agents will ask how you would prefer the title to read. But often the question isn't posed until you near the close of the sale, and by then it may be too late to give any real thought to your options.
With that in mind, here's an overview of some of the more common forms of ownership:
* Tenancy by the entirety. In most cases, this is the correct way for married couples to hold title. In fact, it is available only to married couples.
Tenancy by the entirety creates an estate in which each spouse has an undivided interest in the property, or the equal right of possession and enjoyment during their joint lives. It also vests each spouse with the right of survivorship so if one dies, his or her interest transfers to the survivor.
Since probate is unnecessary on the death of the first spouse, the property won't be tied up in court. Instead, it can be sold right away if that's necessary. Also, the survivor takes title to the share of the property attributable to the deceased at its "stepped-up basis," or its fair-market value as of the date of the spouse's death.
Equally important, the individual creditors of either spouse cannot attach a lien on a property held as tenancy by the entirety. If a judgment is against both of you, the creditor can put a lien on the house, but not if the judgment is against one of you.
* Tenancy in common. Under this alternative, each person owns a set but not necessarily equal percentage. And there is no right of survivorship. Thus, the decedent's share vests with whoever is named in the will. And unless the deceased holds his share in trust, it goes through probate just like the rest of his estate.
Furthermore, the share that transfers to the survivor counts against the federal estate tax credit. So if the husband is very ill and may not survive, it might be a good idea to retitle the house as tenants in common with him holding a 99% share. That way, when he dies, his share will pass at the date-of-death value to his wife. And then, if she must sell shortly thereafter, there may be less capital-gains tax to pay, if any.
This is often the preferred method of ownership for unrelated co-owners and for remarried couples who want to leave their share to children from previous marriages.
Co-owners may have unequal shares, and each can convey his portion without the consent of the other. When a tenant in common dies, his share is passed on according to his will or, if there is no will, by state law as it applies to intestate succession. But there is no protection from creditors.
* Joint tenancy with right of survivorship. This is similar to tenancy by the entirety, except that the property is not protected from the individual creditors of each owner. Another potential drawback is that regardless of what the deceased's will says, his share will pass to the joint tenant.
Because of the right of survivorship, joint tenancy may be the best way to hold title for parent-and-child owners. Since it is more likely that the parent will die sooner, the child will receive the parent's share at its current value.
But under this form of ownership, all joint tenants are presumed to have an equal share, a situation that may leave the co-owner parent a bit uneasy. Also, in many states, one co-owner can dissolve the joint tenancy without the other's approval, which might not make any of the owners comfortable.
* Sole ownership. For the most part, a single, unmarried buyer will take title as the sole owner in his or her name alone. It is sometimes known as "ownership in severalty."
Holding property in this manner gives you complete control. If you marry later, your spouse does not automatically acquire ownership in that property. And if you divorce, your ex may still have no claim to the property.
However, you won't have the benefits that come with other forms of ownership. You won't be able to avoid creditors or the probate process, and the property will be considered part of your estate for federal estate tax purposes.
Married persons also can take title as sole owners. But in some states, the spouse not on the title must sign a quitclaim deed, giving up any claim to ownership in that property.
* Trusts. There are many types of trusts, but the revocable living trust is probably the most common and useful for holding title to real estate. You convey title to a trustee -- who can be anyone, including yourself -- who manages the property on your behalf.
Sometimes known as an inter vivos trust, this is a tax-neutral device, meaning that all the tax benefits and burdens of ownership continue to accrue to the grantor even though he or she no longer owns the property directly.
Holding property in this manner is useful if one of the co-owners becomes incapacitated or incompetent. Then, his or her trustee can make whatever property decisions are necessary without petitioning the court for permission. Also, property held in trust passes without probate. But creditors cannot be avoided.

lsichelman@aol.com

Los Angeles Westside Sales Activity for the Last 3 Months

2009-07-06T08:08:00.001-07:00

Sales on the Westside for all areas according to the Multiple Listing Service rose well above 600,000 in the last 3 months; 15% ranged above $2mm, 30% were in the $900,000 to $1,999,000; 40% were in the $500,000-$899000, and the rest below $499,000. Here are some sales and properties in escrow for selected areas:

Santa Monica currently has 102 in escrow; in the last 3 months 116 leases sold, and 163 homes and condos sold, approximately half were above $900,000.

Pacific Palisades has 53 in escrow and 55 sales in the last 3 months; Marina Del Rey 61 sales, 55 in escrow; Playa Vista has 39 in escrow and had 19 sales; Venice 50 sales and 49 in escrow; Mar Vista had95 sales and 168 in escrow; Playa Del Rey had 31 sold and 35 in escrow. (Feel free to e mail me if you want any specific information).

Per the California Assoc. of Realtors economics group, consumer confidence in California rose in May and part of June to its highest level this year. Housing starts were up compared with the previous month by 17 %. They are predicting stabilization in the housing market. Something to consider--here on the Westside is that the predictions of further declines in home prices as a result of those difficult mortgages-the option arm and Alt A’s, “resetting” has little impact here as the majority of those mortgages were in the less than $417,000 “conforming” loans-these were not prevalent on the Westside.

Everyday people say-so there are great buys-well no one can get a loan anyway, isn’t that right? Wrong. Loans are being made every day Fannie Mae is buying loans up to $729,500 meaning the loan is “conforming”; there are great banks offering 20% down loans up to $2mm and some at 10% down.
Every day I hear buyers who have a fixed idea of what a property is worth, but play the waiting game with the seller. They say we will not make an offer because it would “insult” the seller. However if one approaches armed with an analysis, not just of recent sales, but with detailed knowledge of those homes sales-meaning-did they redo the kitchen, the baths, what about the roof, plumbing-there are reasons why homes command a certain price in any market. It takes work, to make these cases to the seller, but it is worth the effort to achieve a just price. The buyer does not have to wait to live in their dream home if they take this approach.

Per hard data from the Cal. Assoc of Realtors, in the last 40 years the annual price increase for the average homeowner who stays about 5 years in a home is 12% per year. Timing the market and waiting for prices to begin rising consistently is not as viable as one may think as statistics lag the market.

Loans are easily available!

2009-06-26T14:24:00.000-07:00

So often people say they want to buy something but cannot get financing, yet that is not the case.If you can prove income you can find loans yes; if you have a low income tax return you can still find a "stated income" ( I say I am earning such and such) loan at 2 different places.3.5% down loans from the Federal Housing Administration are easily available to anyone for loans up to $729,500.There are also good banks offering loans up to $2 million dollars with 20% down payments.

Auctions and Foreclosures

2009-05-19T12:11:00.001-07:00

Have you ever been to a property auction?

It can be very exciting. Opportunities also abound for short sale purchases and for foreclosures.

The foreclosure process means you are dealing with the bank. Following is a summary of the steps before foreclosure where there are opportunities to help a homeowner and buy a property for yourself.

Foreclosure process:
The lender decides when to start:
1. NOD---Lender files 30 day Notice of Default on a property (note a new senate bill gives an additional 30 day respite to you if you bought your home between 2003 and 2007).

2. Lender needs to wait 3 months -- giving this time to homeowner

3. NTS Notice of Trustees Sale - -posted for 20-31 days(IRS rules keep it at 31 days mostly).

It adds up to about 3 months.

4. Owner can pay off entire loan up to 5 days before that final Trustee sale!!

On the Westside many areas start the month with NODs. Few end up that way.

Procedures are also in place to help buyers jump in and keep a homeowner from ruining their credit rating.

I am happy to help anyone who needs a hand!

Mortgage Relief for Homeowner's April 2

2009-04-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

New program designed to provide peace of mind to first-time buyers who are hesitant to enter the housing market due to concerns about potential job loss, and subsequently being unable to meet their monthly mortgage obligations.

Through the C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program (C.A.R.H.A.F. MPP), first-time home buyers who lose their jobs due to layoffs may be eligible to receive up to $1,500 per month for up to six months to help make their mortgage payments. A qualified co-buyer also can participate in the program, for a reduced monthly benefit of $750 per month for up to six months in the event of a job loss. Program benefits also include coverage for accidental disability and a $10,000 death benefit. C.A.R.'s Housing Affordability Fund is dedicating $1 million to the program this year, and estimates that as many as 3,000 families will benefit from the program throughout 2009.

To qualify for the Mortgage Protection Program, applicants must:

. Be a first-time home buyer – someone who has not owned a home in the last three years

. Open escrow April 2, 2009, or later, and close on or before Dec. 31, 2009

. Use a California REALTOR® in the transaction

. Purchase the property in California

. Be a W-2 employee (cannot be self-employed or military personnel)

First-time home buyers must request an application for the H.A.F. Mortgage Protection Program from their REALTOR®

Welcome to Maralee's Blog: Investor's Eye on the Westside

2008-05-29T02:18:00.000-07:00

Maralee is a Broker Associate with Sotheby's International Realty in Brentwood.
She has an MBA and MA from UCLA and has had a career in investment counseling and financial management. She was in the international division of Bank of America managing a portfolio of more than $300 million in financial assets for 11 years. She speaks Spanish and has traveled and lived in many parts of the globe.