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Archive for December, 2008

Can you afford it now?

Posted in Worth Reading, tagged , , , , , , , on December 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

What does your money buy in Southern California real estate? Check out this article by Peter Hong from the Los Angeles Times. And call me for the latest on interest rates — the news is incredibly good for buyers and those who are thinking of refinancing.
“Can you afford it now?” by Peter Hong.

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Happy Holidays!

Posted in Worth Reading, tagged , , , , , , , on December 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

Dear Friends, Clients, Colleagues, and Blog Readers:
Happy Holidays!  Thank you for taking the time to read my postings over the last year — I hope you have enjoyed them.  If you have any specific questions you would like addressed in the blog, send them my way.
In the meantime, in lieu of more mortgage or market [...]

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Deal of the Week

Posted in Worth Reading, housing deals, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 18, 2008 | 2 Comments »

273 Waverly Drive, in Pasadena, is this week’s property steal.  It is actually a triplex, with two 2 bedroom, 1 bath units and one 1 bedroom, 1 bath unit.  It is located off of Orange Grove Boulevard in a great neighborhood.  It’s been on the market as a short sale for about a week under [...]

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The Latest Mortgage News from Cherry Creek Mortgage

Posted in Mortgage Rates, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 15, 2008 | 1 Comment »

“Rates Approach Record Lows”
Since the Fed announced a plan to purchase $500 billion of mortgage-backed securities on November 25, mortgage rates have moved progressively lower, and the trend continued this week.  Conforming fixed-rate mortgage rates dropped to levels last seen in 2003.  Weak Retail Sales data and low inflation figures released during the week also [...]

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The End of Wall Street’s Boom

Posted in Worth Reading, community, highlights, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

How did we get into this economic mess, and what part did the subprime mortgage meltdown play in triggering the much larger credit crunch and recession?  For a fascinating analysis, click the link below to read an article by Michael Lewis, author or Liar’s Poker, the book that exposed the inner workings of Wall Street [...]

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Deal of the Week Just Got Better

Posted in housing deals, tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 8, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

A couple of weeks ago I featured 1070 Bella Vista as my “Home of the Week.”  It is an entry-level home on a nice street in Pasadena.  While not perfect (the kitchen and baths could use updating and it needs a copper re-pipe, which the sellers have already agreed to pay for according to the [...]

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Cost vs. Value Report 2008, from Realtor.com

Posted in Worth Reading, tagged , , , , , , , on December 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

My clients and friends frequently ask me whether it makes financial sense to undertake certain home improvement projects, especially if they plan on selling their home in the next few years.  They want to know if the particular project will increase the value of their home and whether they will be able to recoup their [...]

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This Week’s Real Estate News

Posted in Real Estate Explained, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on December 1, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

Here is a great, user-friendly article on obtaining a home mortgage from the San Francisco Chronicle.  This clearly-written, layperson-friendly article reflects exactly what we are experiencing in the real estate industry every day: people with good jobs, decent credit and at least some downpayment are in fact getting loans to buy homes every day, and at really [...]

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