"The size of the loan package may be 300 Billion" Here we have the government doing what most Americans have done and that is go get a HELOC! "Each company now has a $2.25 billion credit line, set nearly 40 years ago by Congress. At the time, Fannie had only about $15 billion in outstanding debt. It now has total debt of about $800 billion, while Freddie has about $740 billion. Today the two companies also hold or guarantee loans valued at more than $5 trillion, about half the nation's mortgages."  full article in nytimes is http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/washington/14fannie.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 The Bush administration was alarmed. What alams me here is the underlying fact that says we are the ones picking up the tab. Well, where else will they get the money? There is a circle and ... 07/14/2008

to.daniel.rothamel@inman.com this fellow is the realestatezebra. Everyone already knows this zebra for his stripes are all about learning and sharing. That's some Zebra! His natural instinct for this is showing up ahead of Inman, so we can all find each other...easier. His idea is to make a youtube video of yourself saying who you are what you do where you do it and whatyou are going to look forward to at Inman. Its simple as the black and white stripes that distinguish one zebra from another. I'm going to do it this weekend. Right after 3 open houses. Redondo Beach and Torrance- my listings at www.teamatthebeach.com check it out. I learned about the flip video from active rain member Mara Hawks! 07/12/2008

  Short sales have been a hard long road for the Realtor. We were innocent, novices trying to roller skate on ice. The lenders may have it worse but who is really for sure. No money to lend and no way to buy homes! something has to happen....and it just did for Indymac.  Imagine a game board that keeps changing the rules with every throw of the dice. Be the Buyer and need to buy to get in the game Be the seller and have to sell your home. Be the Bank...and you just got sold. The Feds took it over rather than spend anymore green stuff they'll spend enough trying to get the arms around yet another wild card! Its likely out of the league..is homeland security an oxymoron? Be the Federal Government. Is it a grey -haired- big tummy old santa?  A short tale of a short sale! You don't know you... 07/11/2008

The ultimate question "What is my home worth in today's real estate market?"  I hear it all the time and the short answer that is always true is that "Your home is worth the dollar amount equal to what someone is willing to pay for it and what you are willing to sell it for."  That number is very hard to arrive at sometimes. Here in the South Bay we have seen a softening of the real estate market...properties taking longer to sell, prices needing to be reduced, homes needing to be staged and then kept in "showing" condition for the duration of the "marketing period."  This is no easy task.  The hardest part of this softening market is finding a price that will attract a buyer.  Sellers that are looking back at what homes sold for a few months ago are looking the wrong direction.  Seller... 07/07/2008

There are 38 homes for sale as of this morning, July 5th, 2008.  That's the highest number of homes we've had for sale in a while.  22 of those homes have reduced their list price at least once so far as well, giving buyers have a lot ot chose from right now.  There are 15 single family homes under the $1 million mark which makes for some great opportunities to get into this idyllic Hollywood Riviera neighborhood.      As yesterday was the 4th of July, one drives around the Hollywood Riviera to find themselves getting stuck in many places because so many streets were closed to thru traffic due to all the "4th of July Neighborhood Block Parties."  It's truly a wonderful neighborhood...BBQ's, jumpers and waterslides for the kids (and some adults too), sno-cones and cotton candy machines, ... 07/07/2008

I have a builder friend.  He built on gates and is selling for 699k over 2100 sq ft.. So here is the thing. People are crazy to buy a REO a short sale and     missing the boat on regular houses...and builders homes..They often have several out there and need to sell them all. He is a realtor. We stick together...we need to shout it out to the worlllllld!!! here is the deal   contact me and I will help you negotiate until " sold " and your offer accepted. win win for all.   read and believe....... sooner or later   also see my blog at www.teamatthebeach.com  and see the other deals I have for sale....   email me for the photos and mls for the gates property  200K off original price! later... love lynne 07/01/2008

Los Angeles Townhome Receives 7 Offers at Initial Open House How do you get your home sold fast in today’s market without risking a price reduction? You hire a professional team to market your home. A professional team like real estate expert, Rae Lord, from Coldwell Banker and home staging expert, Terri Lucas, president of Exclusive Home Staging. Together we work with the home seller to help them fully understand what it takes in today’s market to set their home apart and attract the most potential buyers. We both believe Price and Condition is the Key. Home Seller’s need to ask “Is my home ready to sell”? Discerning buyers want a “turn key home”, that is in model home condition and they want it at a fair price. Home Seller’s need to work with an experienced realtor and home stager tha... 06/28/2008

Update:  Picture of Staged Home.  It Sold above asking price.  Yeah!   So, you feel your home is ready to market? You’ve de-cluttered, repaired and cleaned but are you really sure your home is showing to its fullest potential? Then perhaps you need the opinion of a professional home stager. Exclusive Home Staging was recently hired to do just that for a Los Angeles condo. I arrived before the MLS pictures were scheduled to be shot. The home was clean, updated, and had beautiful furnishings. It just needed that special “WOW” factor to make it stand out. It included re-positioning furnishings, staging the kitchen counters, staging the fireplace, positioning accessories into groupings, fluffing pillows, staging the bathrooms, removing a rug over carpeting, editing personal items, remaking ... 06/23/2008

Top news for Redondo Beach School kids, parents, and Real Estate, it is ahead of all the other South Bay Schools for having the most 10/10 schools. Jefferson, Madison, and Beryl Heights elementary. Let it be said for Manhattan Beach that they scored 966 out of one thousand points. All said it means a gread deal for the entire South Bay. Torrance has a section called Hollywood Riveria which along with Hermosa, and Palos Verdes schools continue to make our Real Estate prices kept high in reach. Families just want to know they are getting the best for the home purchase in the local schools.   06/07/2008

According to the 2007 National Association of REALTORS® information 84% of home buyers are searching the Internet to view homes for sale prior to visiting.  If the homes MLS pictures don't look good, the home doesn't look good and the pool of potential home buyers shrinks.  Thus, the property will sit on the market longer.  Let's face it, there is a lot of competition in today's market and the homes that stand out are professionally staged to attract the most potential buyers.  But, what if you/your home seller is in need of a little guidance or on a limited budget?  Do It Yourself Home (DIY) Home Staging Consultations are the answer.  In fact, most of Exclusive Home Staging Realtor partners are using it as part of their listing presentations to aid the home seller in understanding the ... 06/04/2008

Looking for a simple, inexpensive upgrade to give your property a selling edge?Try some lovely landscaping.It doesn't matter whether you are planning to sell this year or five years from now, beautiful landscaping will give you very high returns on your investment now and later.  And, with landscaping, the value usually increases with time and a little TLC.For return on investment, landscaping rivals kitchen and bathroom remodeling, experts say, but a simple landscape upgrade can be done for much less than either of those interior upgrades.According to Realtor Magazine, a minor kitchen remodel averages about $15,000 and returns than 98 percent of the cost.Landscaping done well can return 100 percent to 200 percent of an investment and can be accomplished for an average of $5,000, accord... 06/04/2008

Tulita Elementry School on Prospect in South Redondo had open house last week. The school event started in the Library with a display of the Young at Art series for each class. Cookies were for sale and raffle baskets. And it rained. Even rain did not stop the good time. We went from class to class seeing all the progress and expectations for each grade. The teachers were amazing. One teacher I could nickname the "child whisperer" like dog whisperer...she just understood children and spoke a language to them that reached them on a deeper level. Another teacher was fun, sporty and just seemed to be a teacher you would want to have. This school is distinguished academically, it is known for many areas of strength. The parent population is caring and sharing. People are so glad to be there... 05/30/2008

I was reviewing  old emails in my God Folder when I came across this excellent prayer written by Paul Harvey, just about the time I was new on active rain and there was no Silent Majority Group- This is an awesome article and pray. Please Keep this going around the globe.....read it, link it  and forward it in an email everytime you receive it. We can't give up on this issue ! Pictures courtesy of google images. granitegran.com"Paul Harvey and Prayer Paul Harvey says: I don't believe in Santa Claus, but I'm not going to sue somebody for singing a Ho-Ho-Ho song in December. I don't agree with Darwin , but I didn't go out and hire a lawyer when my high school teacher taught his theory of evolution. Life, liberty or your pursuit of happiness will not be endangered because someone says a 30... 05/30/2008

http://www.redondo.org/civica/inc/displayblobpdf2.asp?BlobID=15945     Pier Summer Concerts - 2008 FREE Summer Concerts at the Redondo Beach Pier !!!  Beginning Friday, July 4th at 5:00pm and continuing each Thursday and Saturday at 6pm throughout the summer.  Please bring your chair and enjoy the sights and sounds in WWW.RTYNDALL.COM 05/20/2008

Yes its official! Brian Montgomery spoke at the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Kenneth L Harney of the Washington Post wrote in the LA Times on Sunday May 18th 2008. Mid July the FHA will start using the FICO ratings. Pre rules let everyone come to the home buying party. It s kind of like insurance in a way. The healthy people don't want to pay the same rate. It should be shouted front page news. Realtors should run, write, publish educate for the short time left to get their clients out there that will only get these loan deals. I wrote in my blog instead of website...HURRY-for only one more month- FHA will give anyone with a job and 3% down a heck of a great deal no matter what their credit score is. FHA is back in the drivers seat and it's NOT going to be "one size fits... 05/20/2008

Here it is the latest statistics for the Breathtaking and Coean View Townhomes of Redondo Beach. It looks like the latest prices per square foot are running around $480.00 per square foot in the Area 156, South of Torrance and PCh in Redondo, depending upon your spectacular location or view the number of homes sold in April was 6 with the number for sale at 21. This does not compare to the high of 11 homes sold in August of 2007. It shows the Market is steady, stabile and on the rise.   Picture courtesy of southbayhomes.us google images       http://activerain.com/blogsview/487163/Interst-Rates-up-Dont Save money on interest buy now http://activerain.com/blogsview/452990/Los-Angeles-County-Grea FHA http://activerain.com/blogsview/462789/Renting-Versus-Buying-In http://activerain.com/blo... 05/19/2008

I am wondering about sound proof windows. Advice needed. One of my clients is buying near a park in Redondo Beach. The park has a basketball court right behind the property. The games on the weekend get fast and loud. There are two courts side by side so its a double game going on. Milgard- Cornerstone -One stop and whoever you out there know that install and sell them in our area South bay, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Long Beach, Orange County. They must have great windows around here for airport noise anyway This is the resourse place. I'm open to hear. In the meantime. The Beach was lovely today. Quiet and nice and I had a nap, for mothers day. We walked down to the beach and it had spots of sun, very windy but when you get down to the ocean level it really is not windy like above on th... 05/11/2008

 I usually don't have a temper. I love wired magazine too, Here is a link to my blog about the details. http://teamatthebeach.com/2008/05/11/wired-is-reporting-a-lot-of-bull/   Where do we find the healing for our country? When do the Heroes stand up again. Enron, sub-prime, I could go on and on....we all know the sad drill. How do we pull this country and the energy crisis together...somebody tell me. Change....is not enough we have change every day, change in climate, change of industries, change we just need Honesty. We need Lincoln. ABE Lincoln. We need the Wright brothers, all driven to do the best. Not change. But the very best. We need the wisdom of Solomon. The power plants in Redondo Beach were sold to private owners. ( are we sure of fair play) the private sector sold us out..... 05/11/2008

Every year, accompanied with Earth Day are a variety of events occurring on the days around Earth Day.  Earthy Day is April 22nd, which falls on a Tuesday this year.  Here are some of the Earth Day events going on in Los Angeles county's South Bay communities:Saturday, April 19, 2008Earth Day at Sea Lab in Redondo Beach - Trade your plastic bags for reusable totes, green giveaways, beach clean up, native plant sale, tours, demonstrations, entertainment, and more.  10 am to 3 pm.  1021 N Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach.  310-318-7458.Polliwog Park Earth Day Celebration & Concert - Green vendors, green ideas, food, shopping, learning, music, projects, fun, and tips for all.  Also present, some of my favorite folks from the South Bay chapter of Surfrider.  Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beac... 04/19/2008

March 2008 Redondo Beach Home SalesAverage home price was $928,590 compared with $848,424 in March '07, 9.4% price increase. Total of 71 homes were sold in March '08 compared with 120 homes sold a year ago (March 2007). Average DOM (days on the market) was 60 days compared to 53 days in March '07.   33 homes sold in South Redondo Beach in March '08 compared with 43 sales in March '07.  Average home price in South  Redondo Beach was $1,075,924 vs. $950,577 in March '07.  Avg DOM was 63. 38 homes sold in North Redodo Beach in March '08 compared to 75 sales in March '07.  Average homes price in North Redondo Beach was $742,079 compared to $792,948 in March '07.  Average DOM was 57.Despite the "gloom & doom" we're constantly bombarded with by the media, Redondo Beach real estate is in a qui... 04/09/2008