Happy last Monday of 2008! Another cold morning here in Southern California. I have already learned my lesson this season to definitely dress warmer. With the biggest party of the year this week, the big question is "What are you doing for New Year's Eve?". Here are a few ideas: 10,000 Deep: Giant Maximus  Purportedly the world's largest 21+ New Year's Eve celebration right here in downtown LA, featuring a giant Ferris wheel and Moby headlining music acts across three different stages on seven acres.7p-4a. $75 per person. 8th and Figueroa Sts. (323-464-7373). Westside home Search   Viceroy Santa Monica and Om Records present an unforgettable New Year's Eve Soiree under the stars with drinks and dancing. Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 Starts at 8:00 p.m.   DJs: Jason Bentley, King Britt,... 12/29/2008

We all know that a FSBO is a whole lot better off using the services of a real estate professional. We know statistically a real estate agent will sell the home for more money, faster, and keep the home seller out of legal hot water because of his/her lack of compliance requirements. The problem is how do we get into the FSBO's front door to even discuss our services? One mention of the word broker, or real estate agent and we often hear those famous words: "Thanks but NO THANKS!!". Most FSBO's see a real estate agent commission as a "Loss of Profit", and not an investment. They think all we do is put up a sign in the front lawn and insert a few ads in the local newspaper, which are all things the savy FSBO thinks they can do for a lot less then paying real estate commissions. The FSBO ... 12/28/2008

  SaMo Skating: Ice at Santa MonicaMake like SoCal actually has precipitation, and skate your hearts out two blocks from The Promenade.Daily 10a-10p thru Jan 19. 1324 5th St. $10 including skate rental. Nearby: Cora's Coffee Shoppe; Capo; Anisette Brasserie LA TOFU FESTIVAL Little Tokyo Service Center, 231 E. Third St., Suite G104 90013 Los Angeles, CA (213)473-3030 Hearst the CollectorWhen: November 2008-February 2009Where: Los Angeles County Museum of ArtWhat: LACMA showcases nearly 170 works in the collection of William Randolph Hearst, one of LACMA's most prominent donors. Scoop: Controversial, dominant and generous, Hearst was a complicated figure in regard to his art. This exhibition shines light upon one of the country's most well-known collectors. www.lacma.org. The L.A. Westsid... 12/27/2008

Stage your kitchen with Feng Shui - Start 2009 Right! Welcome prosperity and good health with sound Feng Shui practices. With the New Year approaching, now is the perfect time to invite positive change into your life.There are many schools of Feng Shui with many different schools of thought as to how to achieve goals. Recommendations will vary from school to school and practitioner to practitioner. Often the focus is on compass direction,  which may necessitate moving the kitchen to another part of the house, or rearranging the major elements (stove, sink, refrigerator, etc.) Since most of us cannot afford to move our kitchen or remodel it, here are some tips to get your kitchen in top Feng Shui shape with little or no cash outlay, just an investment of your time. Despite the fact that ... 12/26/2008

  As the year is coming to a close, we need to reflect of what is going on currently in the Real Estate market in Southern California.   Looking at the current state, price of homes are down anywhere from 20% to 45% depending which Micro Market area you are looking at compared to 2007 prices.  As a consumer you should be jumping from joy, that you have the opportunity to step into the Southern California's Real Estate Market.  Interest rates are hovering around 4.5% - 6% depending on the size of the loan and your credit worthiness. Again as a buyer this should make you salivate from joy either you can get more for your money or it will cost less to buy what you want.  Inventory is up so you have a better selection as a buyer. This is fantastic, you can go home, ask your Realtor to do th... 12/26/2008

Happy Hump Day and Chrismas Eve! Tomorrow is the big day, have you finished your shopping yet? I know I have just one gift left to buy. If I run out of time and do not return to my computer to post my Merry Christmas blog, I wish all of my family, friends, associates and readers a very happy holidays. Here are today's weather forecasts for the Los Angeles Westside areas: Santa Monica, CA 49°F Current:Mostly CloudyWind: NE at 0 mphHumidity: 81% Today Beverly Hills, CA 47°F Current:Mostly CloudyWind: E at 0 mphHumidity: 77% Today Pacific Palisades, CA 49°F Current:Mostly CloudyWind: NE at 0 mphHumidity: 81% Today Malibu, CA 42°F Current:Mostly CloudyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 93% Today Los Angeles, CA 51°F Current:ClearWind: E at 5 mphHumidity: 68% Today   12/24/2008

Bel Air, CA - 90077 neighborhood details   Demographics zip 90077 County National Neighborhood type Suburban Population 9,083 10,341,064 281,522,000 Pop. density 1,235.9 8,392.8 79.6 Percent male 48.6% 49.5% 49.1% Percent female 51.4% 49.8% 50.9% Median age 47.5 34.0 37.6 People per household 2.5 2.9 2.6 Percent married 65.0% 45.6% 58.3% Percent single 35.0% 54.4% 41.6% Median household income $160,999 $59,463 $41,994 Avg. income per capita $89,272 $27,702 $21,587 Crime zip 90077 County National Violent crime risk index 7.0 6.3 3.0 Property crime risk index 5.0 5.5 3.2 Housing zip 90077 County National Median home value $2,414,000 $419,500 $185,400 Median age of homes 39.0 29.6 27.8 Home appreciation 22.4% 23.4% 12.3% Percent owning home 83.3% 49.4% 63.4% Percent renting home 11.5% 43.... 12/23/2008

 I was reading, recently in one of my internet browsing, that the GSE's are considering allowing some borrower to refinance without the use of an updated appraisal. WOW, that has scared the daylights out of me.  So if you do not know what a GSE is let me explain. They are a hybrid form of a Corporation, designed to take privately provided capital to develop public missions. That means they do not use any tax payer money, nor do they have government guarantees to their securities. They surfaced in 2003 and 2004 on the radar screen, for being in the news for various financial irregularities such as how they raise private capital and how they do their accounting. (I could write a book vs. a post about that).Fannie Mae(FNMA) and Freddie Mac(FHLMC) own upwards of 70% of  all the residential ... 12/21/2008

I can not wait to hear and read from all of you ActiveRain members.  I came across the network in the most recent Commercial Investment Real Estate magazine.  Hopefully posting a "new member" post is not a bad first step in getting to know everyone.  These testing times are where we can all benefit from networks like this and the kowledge passed through it. Hope all is well and happy Friday! Brad Giles 12/19/2008

With the current challenges that people are facing with the credit issues, getting an auto loan would seem as an unachievable task. Most likely when you are getting denial from everywhere you applied. Even if you get approved you are expected to bring in a larger down payment and pay a higher interest rate. Sometimes borrowers already owning a car are forced to use their vehicles as collateral for short-term loans. This leaves the borrowers in a situation that ultimately they default on the loan with further ruining their credit. Here at autoloan123.net we offer you bad credit auto loan, which can help you get back to track and re-establish your credit with either new or used car loan. Auto loans for bad credit provide an opportunity to fulfill your dreams while restoring your car credi... 12/18/2008

My Company, LaRocca Inspections, had a team of walkers and runners at the annual Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic 5K/10K Race. I wanted to share the info with Active Rain about the cause www.Saynotodrugsrace.org Here are some photos of "TEAM LAROCCA" this past Sunday after the race! GROUP SHOT (Not pictured: Stan Tabor, Pam Glazier, Sara Ambrose) Me & our Marketing Director (and race coordinator) April Kass What a great looking family! (Left to right: Amy Richeson & boyfried Rory Foley, Chris Richeson & girlfriend Cheryl Kinnard, Amy and Chris's parents Sue & Mark Phillips) We had a great time at the race, it happens every December at Griffith Park in Hollywood, CA Maybe we'll see some more Active Rainer's there next year! John LaRocca - President LaRocca Inspections www.LaRoccaInspect.c... 12/18/2008

12/17/2008

Did you know that in the United States, over 75% of carbon dioxide emissions result from gasoline consumption for personal cars? Join go green environment being a part to help save the environment by purchasing a new or used fuel-efficient hybrid car or any car that is considered environmentally friendly rating by the Environmental Protection Agency and get rewarded on green auto loan!"AutoLoan123.net is pleased to announce a new offer called Go Green Auto Loan for new and used auto loans to help you do your part in preserving the environment." Go green auto loan rewards citizens who drive Eco Friendly and environmentally friendly vehicles by reducing their auto loan interest rates up to 0.50% APR. Interest rates on green auto loans are determined according to how green your vehicle is.... 12/16/2008

Another cold day in the Los Angeles area. Fortunately, not a cloud in sight. Here are the forecasts for today: Santa Monica, CA 41°F Current:CloudyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 95% Today56° | 43° Wed54° | 41° Thu56° | 43° Fri58° | 45° Beverly Hills, CA 43°F Current:CloudyWind: N at 1 mphHumidity: 84% Today56° | 43° Wed54° | 40° Thu56° | 43° Fri58° | 43° Los Angeles, CA 41°F Current:CloudyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 95% Today56° | 43° Wed54° | 40° Thu56° | 43° Fri58° | 43° Malibu, CA 43°F Current:CloudyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 83% Today50° | 40° Wed47° | 36° Thu52° | 41° Fri61° | 43° Los Angeles, CA 45°F Current:Mostly CloudyWind: N at 0 mphHumidity: 82% Today58° | 43° Wed58° | 40° Thu59° | 43° Fri61° | 43° Hotsheet New Listing Updates: Playa Del Rey - 1 condominium Westchester - 2 houses Pac... 12/16/2008

As the land buying and selling community knows, I am one of the Top Land Listing & Selling Realtors in the greater Los Angeles area. Not trying brag, just stating facts. I have sold more vacant land from Mt. Washington to Malibu then any other Realtor in the past twelve year's period.  Selling Land in today's Real Estate Market has its own challenges. There are fewer buyers and there are fewer lenders willing to lend on vacant land and the inventory is confusing. Too many agents are not familiar with how to properly price land, and then add to that, they know even less on how to price land in a Soft Real Estate market.  With that said, I would like to let Sellers of vacant lots know:  If you receive an offer, (in California that consists of approximately thirty pages including disclosur... 12/14/2008

Loans that you get for buying a car are called auto loans. There are two parties involved in auto loans usually, those being the lender and of course the borrower. The lender and the borrower then enter into an agreement where the lender agrees to give a certain amount of money to the borrower for buying a car of their dreams. The borrower has to then return the money with interest after an agreed upon period of time.Apply For No Credit Check Auto Loan....!!If you do not happen to have enough money to buy a vehicle, auto loans are an easy option for helping you buy the car without having to pay from money directly out of your pocket. It's simply just a form of credit by lending party of a banking institution.You will of course need to pay back the easy or new auto loan on completion of ... 12/14/2008

Lupe Soto Realtor & Loan Expert FHA & Conventional loans, First time buyers and savvy investors. Burbank Real Estate & Homes for Sale.  San Fernando Valley Real Estate & Homes for Sale, Antelope Valley Real Estate. Buyers First Step to Homeownership is to be pre-approved       Buyers first step to homeownership is to be pre-approved   1: You will save much time, effort and heartbreak by knowing exactly how much home or condo you can afford and can concentrate on your price range. If all that the buyer can afford is a $280,000 home, the time that the buyer wastes on looking at homes in $300,000-$350,000 range can be utilized better by looking at properties in his/her price range. 2: In the current realestate market condition, the chances are great that the buyer will end up buying a fore... 12/14/2008

Shop Smart: Eco Gift Festival An environmentally conscious consumer gift show with live entertainment, an organic food court and on-site eco gift-wrapping and shipping. Or go downtown: Buy cool stuff from 200 independent local designers at Unique Los Angeles. Fri-Sun 10a-8p. Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica (310-390-2930). Enter promo code "rundown" for $5 off $20 ticket price here. Parking $8. Nearby: Cora’s Coffee Shoppe; Capo; Anisette Brasserie Mickey Rourke's Return: The Wrestler sneak preview The actor gets high marks for his portrayal of a washed-up pro wrestler in Darren Aronofsky's latest, which won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival. Q&A: The director and his star will be on hand for a discussion following the screening. Sun 7p. Billy Wilder Theater, Hamme... 12/12/2008

What do Studio 54, Area 51 and Hanger 25 have in common? Why they are all cool places to hang out with space age innovations!! Most of you know Studio 54 was the hip happening disco and party ground zero in New York in the 70's. Area 51 is/was the secret space station where aliens were supposedly studied and a secret alien aircraft was stored. Hanger 25 you ask, why that is the cool new "green" airport hanger in Los Angles!                                   Hanger 25 reportedly cost about $17 million dollars and has the latest space age"green" technology! This is the new 60,000SF hanger at the Bob Hope Airport. It has green features; rooftop solar panels which provide enough energy to run all the buildings lights and recharge various ground equipment. It can also fully power a plane whi... 12/11/2008

Used Auto LoanThe following guide will take you through the various aspects that go with purchasing the right used auto financing. After buying yourself a home, buying a automobile is the second most expensive purchase that most people are ever likely to make in our lifetime so it's very important we get it right. Variety is indeed the spice of life.The number of cars that are available today can easily add the spice one needs for their daily travels. There are literally thousands of different cars available, but how do you know which is the best one for you? To be able to better determine the car that will meet your needs, be sure to first take the time to carefully identify your current and future driving needs, then be fully aware of the many available vehicles at your disposal, and ... 12/10/2008