Latest Posts from My Blog
PowerSaver energy improvements to your house
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
If you’ve been looking for a way to pay for energy improvements to your house, two little-publicized new mortgage programs could provide the cash you need. Both the Federal Housing Administration and mortgage investor Fannie Mae recently have launched options in the energy conservation arena. Here’s a quick overview, with some pros and cons: The [...]
SANTA MONICA-MALIBU SCHOOL DISTRICT (SMMUSD) Santa Monica/Malibu Gets New Superintendent
Monday, May 16, 2011
After months of searching, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has found its new superintendent. Beginning July 1, Sandra L. Lyon will take office keys from current superintendent Tim Cuneo. An e-mail to local media was sent out Monday afternoon, following the decision made by the Board of Education at a special May 9 meeting. [...]
Foreclosure rate slows as repossession timeline lengthens
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Big banks are taking longer to push borrowers into foreclosure and through each stage of the process amid increased scrutiny. Increased scrutiny of how lenders foreclose on Americans has dragged the repossession process out to unprecedented lengths, driving down the pace at which banks are taking back homes. Big banks are taking longer not only [...]
Santa Monica Voted #7 Beach City By National Geographic
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Photo by Sundogg via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Our friends at LA Snark tipped us off to the fact that Santa Monica was ranked #7 in a list of the world’s top ten beach cities by National Geographic. Woot! Our local city-by-the-beach joins the ranks of Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and, coming in at [...]
BofA to add centers for distressed homeowners
Friday, May 6, 2011
Bank of America plans to triple the number of its assistance offices for homeowners in trouble on their mortgages, including adding seven of the new outreach centers in California. The Charlotte, N.C.-based bank has been clobbered by losses on high-risk home loans inherited when it acquired Countrywide Financial Corp. in 2008. It planned to announce [...]
Top Chef Masters Party with Mary Sue at Border Grill
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Join Mary Sue Miliken – Bravo’s Top Chef Master Wednesday, May 4th, 6 p.m to 8 p.m in the Cantina at Border Grill Santa Monica for FOOD, FUN, and DRAMA as she vies for the title of Bravo’s Top Chef. Enjoy passed appetizers + a Border Margarita! Special surprise tastes of one of Mary Sue’s [...]
New-home sales rise in March from February
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sales of new homes rose 11.1% in March from February, the Commerce Department said Monday, marking a mild improvement from the worst-ever showing as the effect of winter storms and an expiring California tax credit wore off. The still-bleak reading of a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 300,000 sales represented a 21.9% nose dive from [...]
FHA mortgages may still beat rivals’ loans
Monday, April 25, 2011
Although it has raised fees, the FHA continues to offer much higher and more flexible maximum debt-to-income ratios, far more generous underwriting and lower down payments than conventional lenders. Reporting from Washington— Is the Federal Housing Administration losing some of its post-boom, post-bust oomph? Is the Obama administration’s plan to gradually throttle back the FHA’s [...]
Mortgage rules change might rule out buyers
Monday, April 18, 2011
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. You may have seen reports that the federal government is proposing new mortgage finance rules under which only home purchasers who can afford a minimum 20% down payment [...]
Don’t bank on mortgage mods or debt aid that isn’t guaranteed
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Like a lot of homeowners, Mar Vista residents Faith and Gary Hunt found money a little tight during the recession and hoped they could work out some more accommodating terms with their lender, Chase bank. To improve their odds, they said they turned to a law firm that said it could possibly cut their mortgage [...]
What People are Saying
Liz, Dave, James and Heather Hutchinson
Dear Diane,
We want to thank you so much for all the support, ideas, and professionalism you shared with us along the way to selling our home. We couldn’t have asked for a better agent. Our children also really enjoyed meeting you and working with your team- you always made them feel special and included.
We look forward to working with you again.
Thank you for going down this road with us and for helping us as much as you did.