Thank you for attending my Real Estate Buyer Presentation!

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Our first Real Estate Buyer presentation held at our brand new office on Sunset Blvd at the Directors Guild building was a great success!! Dorain Williams of Prospect Mortgage did a fantastic job at explain the current state  of the lending market and many guest said they were happily surprise to learn that there are so many other options to obtain a loan, besides a 20% minimum down payment! The dozen guest who attended also learned a lot of very valuable information about the entire … [Read more...]

the 411 about the 405 closure….

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The Mulholland Dr Bridge will be the third bridge demolished and reconstructed to accommodate the widening of the I-405 freeway and to add a northbound high-occupancy vehicle lane through the Sepulveda Pass. The Mulholland Dr Bridge is scheduled to be demolished and reconstructed after the Skirball Center Dr Bridge. When completed, the expanded, Mulholland Center Dr Bridge will be widened by approximately 10 feet and will be designed to the latest seismic standards. Demolition activities will … [Read more...]

Tips to prepare a house for selling…

cute front garden

Buyers' first impressions are set as they approach the house. Therefore, suggest to your clients that making their home more attractive and purchase-worthy starts in the front yard. To spruce up the yard: Make sure plants are of varied heights and sizes; add color, particularly pink, purple, blue and white flowers; thin out bushes; trim trees; and seed and fertilize the lawn. Put gravel in any thin strip of property between homes. This will make the space look cleaner and less neglected. … [Read more...]

Do you know a First Time Home Buyer?

First time home buyer

The global financial turmoil of the last several years has slowed many aspects of American society, but not the need to own a home. Despite a tough economy, Americans continue to graduate from college, get married, have kids, relocate to pursue job opportunities and experience many other life events that trigger the need to become a homeowner. Right now is actually an excellent time for first-time buyers to buy a home. The reason is that several market conditions — … [Read more...]

Proposed Santa Monica anti-circumcision law dropped!

The woman behind the proposed Santa Monica circumcision ban will most likely drop the initiative, according to the Los Angeles times . Sorry boyshiks! … [Read more...]

Proposed ballot to make circumcision illegal in Santa Monica is gaining ground…

Santa Monica anti-circumcision activist

A group of activist has been pushing for a new law to be passed in Santa Monica (and in San Francisco) to outlaw the circumcision of newborn babies. The proposal is viewed by many as an antisemitic (and anti-Islamic) proposal, although 30-50% of newborn boys are circumcised at birth in the US, making it a much wider preferred practice than just for the jews or muslims. The practice has become very popular beyond religious practices because of its recognized health benefits. The activists are … [Read more...]

Will Jumbo High balance loan limit stay at $729,750 after Sept 30, 2011?

One of my buyer client who is in the market to buy a house in the $1.5M range asked me this weekend about the possible lowering of the High Balance Jumbo loan limit, so here is them answer: Steven, I just wanted to get back to you about the issue of the high balance jumbo loans we spoke about yesterday. So indeed, the High Balance Jumbo limit which is currently at $729,750 in Los Angeles (FHFA, the Federal Housing Finance Agency rates certain areas as "High Cost Loa Limits areas, such as Los … [Read more...]

A new Seafood restaurant opening in Santa Monica!

hungry cat santa monica outside

Santa Monica may be located as close as you can be from the beach and the Pacific Ocean, it really doesn't have many great choices when it comes to seafood eateries. So I couldn't have been happier when I found out about the the opening of  The Hungry Cat in Santa Monica, located in the old location of the Brass Cap, which closed their doors a while back. I haven't had a chance to go try their menu yet it looks promising and I will definitely report once I've been there! … [Read more...]

New Homes Sales up 11% for March!

New home sales

According to the US Dept of Commerce, new homes sales were up by 11% for the month of March 2011! We're obviously nowhere near the record sales number of 2006, 2007 or 2008 but considering the recent very sluggish real estate market, this is definitely a very encouraging sign! Sales of new homes were up or remained unchanged in virtually every region of the US but sales are still comparable to the levels of the second half of 2010. David Crowe of the National Association of Home Builders … [Read more...]

President Obama’s visit to Los Angeles will cause major street closures, again….

Los Angeles traffic jam

If you were in Los Angeles last August 2010, you certainly remember President Obama's visit to Los Angeles and the major traffic jams that it caused! Angelinos were furious! Well heee's baaaaack! I guess the Presidential campaign has already started and Fund Raiser Season has begun...And the program is as follows: 2:45pm: "The Eagle" Lands at LAX 4:30pm: Appearance at the Culver City Sony Studio back lot fund raiser party in Culver City. Capacity is 3,000 people with ticket prices … [Read more...]