Long Beach, Ca.  The market is like the wild.  Only the fittest survive to fight and live another day.  Not to take away from the efforts or history of any great company; the fact is, everyday we are vulnerable and responsible for every decision we make whether it is corporate or personal.  The fact that America's biggest Mortgage Lender, Countrywide, just got bought out by Bank of America is further evidence that if a company and its directors do not make the right decisions, they and their apparatus will be gobbled up by the market.The real reason for the fall of the Mortgage giants like Ameriquest, Countrywide, Novastar, and New Century can be summed up in one word:  Greed.  This is the unfortunate human trait that corporations often emulate that demands more and more and is satisfie... 01/13/2008

5th VerseHeaven and earth are impartial;they see 10,000 things as straw dogs.The sage is not sentimental;he treats all his people as straw dogs. The sage is like heaven and earth:To him none are especially dear,nor is there anyone he disfavors.He gives and gives, without condition,offering his treasures to everyone. Between heaven and earth is a space like a bellows;empty and inexhaustible,the more it is used, the more it produces. Hold on to the center.Man was made to sit quietly and findthe truth within.Long Beach, Ca.   Not discriminating against Buyers and Sellers is key to living in sequence and  with the Tao.  We are aware that all of mankind is created equal in value.  All people have the ability to equally contribute to our society.  When the world tells you that you don't have ... 01/12/2008

   After 1.75 inches of rain here in Long Beach, we experienced one of the most beautiful days ever!  It is so rare that the air is so clean and clear in Los Angeles County.  Up at the highest peak in the Long Beach area, Signal Hill was teeming with onlookers and photographers.  You could see all of Los Angeles and Orange County.  A collection of these photos are in my blog's photo album: My Photo Album  Here are a few for your enjoyment!  A view of Long beach, the breakwater and Catalina Island on an exceptionally clear day.   Long Beach Airport and the snow capped mountains. I so love living in Long Beach!!! 01/12/2008

Long Beach Ca.  During a recent read of, "District," Magazine, I came across an article by Dave Wielenga entitled:  The Battle for Armory Park.  The article does a great job dissecting the pull between a local citizen, Brian Ulaszewski, pronounced "oo-la-SHEFF-ski" and Long Beach City's Traffic Manager:  Dave Roseman.  Wherein Mr. Ulaszewski is pushing for the triangular shaped property located on the west side of Alamitos Ave. between 6th St. and 7th St. to be converted into a million dollar open green space right in the middle of downtown Long Beach which would greatly benefit the local neighbourhood aesthetically.  The Old Armory Building would now be flanked by green space which would gracefully tie in The new Museum of Latin American Art building and the historic St. Anthony High; ... 01/12/2008

4th VerseThe Tao is emptybut inexhaustible,bottomless,the ancestor of all. Within it the sharp edges  become smooth;the twisted knots loosen;the sun is softened  by a cloud;the dust settles into place. It is hidden but always present.I do not know who gave birth to it.It seems to be the common ancestor of all, the father of all things. Long Beach, Ca.  It's like during a negotiation on a home.  The seller feels that they are letting the house go for too little, and the buyer feels like they are paying too much...there is a division delineated by the difference in price  being offered by the Buyer and the amount willingly accepted by the Seller.  During the sale of a home, in the process of offering and counter offering it becomes apparent that it is extremely important that both sides a... 01/11/2008

It was tiresome enough dealing with agents who would place their unsold Long Beach properties as sold in the MLS in order to re-list them to appear as new listings.  The sold status would be picked up by other agents as comps when pricing property for both listings and buyers comparables, wreaking havoc all over the place.  Unreliable results - from the MLS, which is supposed to be a reliable source of information.  Information placed by licensed Realtors with standards!  Information that would not be missed by an appraiser!  Information that could totally screw up a deal!   What fun it was to find that the comps you used to price a long beach property weren't really comps at all!  It got so bad for a while I was checking title records for each comp to make certain they actually sold.  ... 01/08/2008

3rd VersePutting a value on statuswill create contentiousness.If you overvalue possessions,people begin to steal.By not displaying what is desirable, you willcause the people's heart to remain undisturbed.The sage governsby emptying minds and hearts,by weakening ambitions and strengthening bones.Practise not doing......When action is pure and selfless,everything settles into its own perfect place. Long Beach, CA.  Status is a loaded word conjuring up a most fascinating part of human nature.  Living in the right neighbourhood may be imperative for you but what really is the right neighbourhood?  Do you not represent everything about yourself at all times anywhere?  Can you have class while wearing blue jeans?  Although we do not choose are parents and economical status when we are born, ... 01/03/2008

 2nd VerseUnder heaven all can see beauty as beauty,only because there is ugliness.All can know good as good only because there is evil. Being and non-being produce each other.The difficult is born in the easy.Long is defined by short, the high by the low. Before and after go along with each other.  So the sage lives openly with apparent dualityand paradoxical unity.The Sage can act without effortand teach without words.Nurturing things without possessing them,he works, but not for rewards;he competes, but not for results. When the work is done, it is forgotten.That is why it lasts forever.Long Beach, Ca. To find your heaven on earth you will have to experience hell first.  How do you expect to know your true and final home purchase before you have compared enough homes to know for sure... 01/02/2008

 1st VerseThe Tao that can be toldis not the eternal Tao,The name that can be namedis not the eternal name. The Tao is both named and nameless.As nameless it is the origin of all things;as named it is the Mother of 10,000 things. Ever desire-less, one can see the mystery;ever desiring, one sees only the manifestations.And the mystery itself is the doorwayto all understanding.Long Beach, Ca.  It is impossible to describe infinity in written words; nevertheless, we are both spiritual and physical beings.  Real Estate relates to the "physical" plain of this world.  Most people want a place to call home.  But real estate is also expansive and spiritual.  Have you ever visited a happy home?  Have you ever visited a sad one?  These houses represent the energy of their owners and the reason th... 01/01/2008

Long Beach, Ca.  Recently on Dec 21, 2007 President Bush signed into law, HR 3648, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act.  Basically, the law gives a temporary tax break for home owners who convince their lender to take less then what is owed on their home through the short sale process for the next three years.  That is, the IRS will not tax you if you lose your home in next three years due to a short sale.  For example, you would not have to pay income tax on the $100,000.00 dollars in income if you sold your home for $300,000.00 that had previously $400,000.00 in loans to a bank on it.  Note, you had to sell this home because you no longer could afford the high interest rates charged through your loan.  In addition, the law allows families that that make less then $109,000.00 to r... 12/31/2007

Long Beach, Ca.  Today I read a very interesting article from Kelly Greene about reverse mortgages:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119862780200649751.html  please check out this article in that it really shows the type of progress borrowers have been making with banks as far as discounting the principle loan amounts that have been made on their homes through the shoddy and questionable lending practises of the last four years.  It is another observations and acceptance of Americans taking reverse mortgages out just to survive...As a practising mortgage broker in Long Beach, I have realized recently that the current financial system in the United States via the Social Security System for retired folks is completely inadequate for the sustenance of the Baby Boomers currently retiring on... 12/27/2007

  Divorce often necessitates the sale of family homes. Selling your Long Beach Homes does not have to become a damaging event in your lives. Couples coming to terms with the loss of love, past memories, dealing with the present and trying to plan for the future, need to maintain a level head throughout this process; not always an easy task. Well intentioned friends and relatives are offering you advice on your divorce, your children, your careers, the sale of your home, your future; all adding to the overwhelming stress you are already experiencing. It has been my experience that this is best handled when realistic boundaries are set at the beginning of the process.   Over the years many of my clients have become cherished friends. In a divorce situation it is difficult, when you like b... 12/22/2007

Should You Leverage Your Home orPay It Down Rapidly?  Long Beach, California - There is a great debate within the inner-mortgage circles these days. Should we, as loan professionals, encourage clients to borrow as much money as possible? Or would consumers benefit more if we helped them to understand the advantages of 15-year amortization schedules and pre-paying principal? Let's examine the pros and cons of both strategies.Leveraging Your Property. In order to understand why you'd want to borrow as much as possible for your home purchase, you must first grasp the concept that equity has a zero rate of return. Here's an example: If Consumer "A" buys a home for $300,000, and puts 20% down, then they have $60,000 in equity. Over the next 5 years, the property appreciates $100,000 in value... 12/22/2007

Seek a Qualified Mortgage Consultant to Ensure the Best ResultsUnderstanding Credit Scoring &Credit Repair  Long Beach, California - Credit remediation is a subject consumers often face with fear and trepidation, and for good reason. With the exception of recognizing that the best score wins, the average home shopper knows very little about the whole credit scoring process. Sub-prime borrowers who are eager to move into A-Paper territory often find themselves at a loss when trying to find ways to upgrade their credit history. The good news is there are ways to improve less-than-perfect credit scores and obtain a loan for the home you really want.The first step in the process is making sure that you have a current copy of your credit report. Congress recently amended the Fair Credit Repo... 12/21/2007

Seek a Qualified Mortgage Consultant to Ensure the Best ResultsReverse Mortgages:Financing the Golden YearsLong Beach, California - Until recently, seniors 62 years of age and older have not had the best choices when it came to getting cash from their homes. Traditional home loans only offered the option of either selling one's house or borrowing against its equity. With reverse mortgages coming on the scene, seniors now have some additional cash-flow alternatives. This type of loan allows mature borrowers to convert their home equity into tax-free income without leaving their current home or making mortgage payments - and they do not need an existing income to qualify.  How a Reverse Mortgage WorksReverse mortgages are probably best understood when compared side-by-side with traditiona... 12/21/2007

Refinance Your Mortgage for Rate and Payment ReductionLong Beach, California - One of the biggest reasons homeowners refinance their mortgage is to obtain a lower interest rate and lower monthly payments. By refinancing, the borrower pays off their existing mortgage and replaces it with a new one. This can often be accomplished with a no-points no-fees loan program, which essentially means at "no cost" to the borrower.In the no-points no-fees scenario, the mortgage consultant uses rebate monies paid by the lender to pay off non-recurring closing costs for the borrower. These are "one time" fees such as escrow or attorney fees, title insurance, document preparation, tax service, flood certification, processing and underwriting fees, etc. The borrower is still responsible for recurring fe... 12/21/2007

Many Loan Options AvailableHome Improvements Turn Average Homes into Dreams Come TrueLong Beach, California - If you're thinking about taking out a home improvement loan, there are several options to consider. First and foremost, your mortgage consultant needs to know why you want a home improvement loan. Here are some factors to take into consideration.•·  How long have you been in the home?•·  Will the improvements increase the property value? •·  Are you making improvements to increase energy efficiency?•·  Will improvements be made in one fell swoop, or in stages?•·  What is the current outstanding balance on your mortgage?•·  What is the appraised value of the home?•·  How much will the improvements cost?•·  What improvements will be tax deductible?•·  Do you have other revolving d... 12/21/2007

Long Beach, Ca. - Since June of 2004, the Federal Reserve has systematically increased the federal funds rate, causing short-term interest rates to follow suit. As a result, consumers with Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) tied to volatile short-term rate indices, such as the LIBOR, are finding themselves at the mercy of the Federal Reserve's war on inflation.  Only recently has the increase in rates been tempered by the Fed's last two rate decreases."Higher interest rates function as a tax on people who hold variable debt," says Daniel Gross, reporter for The New York Times, a "truism that is particularly apparent to homeowners holding adjustable rate mortgages." In his article, Gross cites Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, who estimates that nearly $2 trillion in ARMs... 12/21/2007

Short-Term Interest Rates on the RiseLong Beach, California - In 2004, the Federal Reserve made it clear that short-term interest rates would be increased at a "measured pace" because of a fluctuating US Dollar, unstable oil prices and an evaluation of other economic indicators. In an effort to curb inflation, the Federal Reserve has kept its word and continued to raise rates, including one incredible streak of 17 consecutive hike announcements following meetings of the FOMC.  As a result of these interest rate increases, millions of homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages will feel the sting of corresponding increases in their annual adjustments. Consumers with revolving debt accounts tied to the prime rate have already felt the impact, as the prime rate always rides 3% above the cur... 12/21/2007

A Qualified Mortgage Consultant Can Help Boost Credit Scores Long Beach, California - Consumers interested in purchasing or refinancing a home will pay an interest rate based on current market conditions and their ability to pay back the loan. The borrower's income and debt ratios are taken into consideration by the lender, as well as the predictability factor provided by credit scoring. It's important to have a mortgage professional in your corner that has a keen eye for solutions to improving credit scores in an effort to get the best interest rate possible. Interest rates associated with various loan programs are broken down into schedules based on credit score ratings. While each lender has its own guidelines, it's safe to assume that as the consumer's credit score goes down, intere... 12/21/2007