Just in case there are some potential home buyers reading my blog today, I wanted to let you know about a great event sponsored by the California Association of Realtors and the LA Times.From the C.A.R Newsletter HOME BUYER'S FAIR THIS WEEKEND, COUPONS STILL AVAILABLE The Southern California Home Buyer's Fair takes place this Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles.C.A.R., in participation with the Los Angeles Times, will present the Southern California Home Buyer's Fair in an effort to support REALTORS® and educate consumers about current opportunities in today's challenging real estate market. Admittance to the Southern California Home Buyer's Fair is free, however, event coupons are available. Members may obtain coupons from t... 04/10/2008

Recent Foreclosure statistics for San Fernando Valley There is a plethora of inventory available for bargain hunting homebuyers and Investors oin the Sanfernando valley and sourounding areas which makes even more improtant to educate yourself on the process and get expert advice from a knowledgable Agent in order to insure a smooth transaction. The Right information can be critical when buying a home or inverstment today. Period Foreclosurs Home Sales Jan - Feb 2008 1084 1335 Jan - Feb 2007 235 2481 Helpfull Information # First-time buyers need to be pre-approved . # bank that owns the home might require that you finance your purchase with them. # Many buyers bid on multiple properties. Sometimes creating fierce competition # Banks won’t accept offers that are contingent on selling you... 03/28/2008

I was recently sent a link by a co-worker to the county assesors office that allows homeowners who's property values have decreased in the past year or so to apply to have their taxes adjusted/lowered, the application is a single page in length and easy to fill out, many firms here in Los Angeles have been charging upwards of 45% of the lowered taxes to do this for Homeowners but most can easily do it on their own, Just follow the link below http://assessor.lacounty.gov/extranet/list/forms.aspx?catid=70This is great information for REALTORS to share with their farm or sphere of influence, I'm sure most states have the same process it just takes a few clicks or a phoen call to get to the right resource, the link above is for LA County.   03/22/2008

A lot of people have been talking about Foreclosures in this soft market and with the national foreclosure rate up more than 78 percent in the last year; you can see why they're talking.But what most people don't know is that the problem is REGIONAL and not affecting the OVERALL market. In fact the stats show that over 98 percent of homes in the real estate market were NOT affected. In fact, the exact amount was a mere 1.033 percent of homes that were dealing with foreclosures."Okay Anita, but how do I, the consumer, make sense out of ALL the foreclosure news I hear?"Well I will break it down right here, right now. First of all, foreclosure rates actually FELL, meaning fewer foreclosures, in 14% of the top hundred areas. Second, the stats are never presented in context. And third, only ... 03/13/2008

9 out of 10 times a listing will be sold with the help of a selling agent showing the property to their prospective buyers.  Therefore one of the items that seller's should pay attention to and ask their agents is how will you market my home to other agents?    While ther are numberous methods to promote and market listings to agents such as Broker's opens houses, mass e-mailing, and mailers.  The single most important way listings are marketed is the Lisiting Detail Report.  The details that go into this report are important as this may be the first impression that buying agents and their clients have when searching for homes.  If the marketing remarks, pictures, and virtual tours do not entice the agent to show the property, then they will not send the listing information to their cli... 03/06/2008

I have spent the last 5 years at REALTOR.com working with the top 1% of agents and Brokers nationwide to optimize their Personal and Property marketing strategies. As of February 4th 2008 I consider myself a full-time Real Estate Agent working out of the Keller Williams Sherman Oaks Office. I specialize in property Promotion, client acquisition, and the use of Technology to improve business processes. If you are interested in selling your home or would like more information on Our Digital Marketing Plans, please contact me for a no obligation Market Analysis and Consultation. Prior to REALTOR.com I worked for Yahoo is a senior Ad Agency Account Executive optimizing campaigns for premier clients in the Southeast, with client such as Bank of America, Florida Convention & Visitors Bureau a... 02/08/2008

Click on a picture for more information and price Gorgeously remodeled 5 bedroom 4 bathroom home boasts elegance and charm! All new GE Profile stainless steel kitchen appliances. Beautiful hardwood floors, city view from upstairs, copper plumbing, central heat & air. Three fireplaces to snuggle up next to on those cold winter nights. This is a must see!! To preview the finest Real Estate in Sherman Oaks, Burbank, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Brentwood and Pacific Palisades please visit my website. When you are ready to view homes or have any questions regarding selling your home, please contact me. 12/29/2007

In the last year over 100 mortgage lenders have gone out of business due to the "mortgage meltdown" as most of you might now it is getting much more difficult to qualify for mortgages in Sherman Oaks. The reason it is difficult to qualify for your Sherman Oaks mortgage is because guidelines have changed drastically. Even reverse mortgages in Sherman Oaks are getting harder to qualify for, leaving many looking for a honest mortgage company in Sherman Oaks.Since many mortgage brokers in Sherman Oaks are going out of business, and others are not able to get you qualified, you need to call a reputable company to help you with your home mortgage in Sherman Oaks. We here at America One Mortgage Group are a national company headquartered out of Southern California. We have offices in many stat... 10/21/2007

Sherman Oaks is an 8.1-square-mile district in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by Studio City to the east, Van Nuys to the north, Encino to the west and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south.Sherman Oaks is an affluent neighborhood, with several high-end fashion boutiques, and features many upscale houses and restaurants. One of the city's main claims to fame is the presence of the Sherman Oaks Galleria, a shopping mall identified as a meet-up place for the Valley girls, a 1980s cultural label which became widely known because of the 1983 movie Valley Girl and a song of the same name by Frank Zappa. In addition, a portion of the 1982 movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High was filmed there.Since Sherman Oaks propert... 10/16/2007

Consumers are often baffled by the home appraisal process. They may feel their home is worth a certain dollar amount, and therefore, the appraised value doesn't make sense to them. It is important to know that appraisal guidelines are dictated by the lenders. In many states, the lenders must disclose the purpose of the appraisal, as each situation carries its own set of rules.In essence, lender guidelines force appraisers to put a fair market value on a home based upon comparable sales in the area where the home is located, as the home must be bracketed according to size and value. For example, there is no set amount associated with a great view, pool, spa, bathroom upgrades, etc. If a homeowner installs a custom pool that cost them $30,000, and the local marketplace supports the value ... 10/15/2007

How Purchase Loans Are Made A Step-By-Step Walkthrough1.Pre-approval - Getting pre-approved for a mortgage allows borrowers to know exactly how much house they can afford. Viewed as "cash buyers", pre-approved borrowers have greater negotiating power as well.2.Loan Search - Buyers should seek the advice of an experienced mortgage professional, someone who will help determine which financing options best suit their needs today and in the future.3.Loan Application - It's crucial that consumers supply the lender with as much information as possible, as accurately as possible. All outstanding debts as well as assets and income should be included.4.Documentation - Buyers must submit paperwork supporting the application as well. Information commonly sought includes pay stubs, two years' tax r... 10/02/2007

Get the correct financing custom tailored to your overall goals: We specialize in mortgage planning. We primarily work with primarily work with accountants and financial planners who send us their clients to make sure that the sherman oaks mortgage they have is congruent with their overall financial goals. We specialize in purchase and refinance transactions helping the client to be liquid after retirement as well as to lower the clients payments in order to have more money to invest while maximizing tax deductions. We are not your "typical" lender as we use a consulting approach. We work 90% of our business by referral.  Buying a new home: The agents at America One Mortgage and Realty are proud to be members of the National Association of Realtors®. This means that we abide by the code... 10/02/2007

After bottoming in the fourth quarter of 2006, existing-home sales are forecast to gradually rise through 2007 and into 2008, while new-home sales should turn around by summer, according to the latest forecast by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. "With all the wild projections by academics, Wall Street analysts, and others in the media, it appears that much of the housing sector is experiencing a soft landing," Lereah says. "Despite the doomsayers, household wealth will not evaporate and the economy will not go into a recession. If you're in it for the long haul, housing is a sound investment."Soft Landing for HousingThe unemployment rate is likely to average 4.8 percent in 2007, following a rate of 4.6 percent in 2006. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, is expecte... 09/24/2007

Current Market Rating: 312345Buyer'sSeller'sCurrent Price Trend: 312345FallingRisingThe latest forecast for the California housing market's reversal of fortunes jibes with a previous outlook predicting flat, rather than falling home prices in California for the next few years. In 2007, California home prices will slip only 2 percent, while sales will be off 7 percent, according to the California Association of Realtors'. "The housing market clearly down shifted in 2006 from the record-setting sales and robust price gains of the last few years," said CAR president Vince Malta. "The residential real estate market in 2006 was characterized by a gap between buyer and seller expectations. Sellers sensed that the peak of the market was approaching, yet still hoped to obtain the highest possib... 09/17/2007

Yearly reviews are a great way to keep on track with your financial goals. You’re probably already meeting with your financial advisor and other asset manager for quarterly or annual reviews, and you should do the same with your Mortgage Planner as well. An annual mortgage check-up is an ideal way to make sure your mortgage is still having the maximum positive impact on your overall financial plan.  A lot can happen in one year.  The market can take turns that can open up new opportunities, such as reduced interest rates, new loan products or changes in home values.  Furthermore, your personal and financial situation could be mildly to radically different than it was just 12 months prior. Perhaps one or more of the income earners got a raise or lost a job. Maybe you received an inherita... 09/17/2007

In slower markets, some loan officers may feel pressured to close deals that aren’t in the homeowner’s best interest. In order to avoid getting into difficult and financially compromised positions with their mortgages, borrowers are well advised to be acutely aware of the signs of a responsible loan officer when selecting a mortgage professional.First, look for a Mortgage Planner whose values are focused on helping individuals to achieve their financial goals in both the fastest and the safest way possible. A reputable Mortgage Planner will show you the numbers associated with the proposed loan and provide you with concrete information that backs up his or her claims. Review all of the numbers. If they don’t add up, ask for clarification. If your loan officer can’t or won’t answer your ... 09/17/2007

For a FREE MLS search and to viewall Sherman Oaks listings visit www.TheRoyalTeam.comSherman Oaks Real Estate 13101 Valleyheart Dr, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423$1,095,000 3 bed 3 bath Res in Sherman Oaks, CASingle-Family Home, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423$600,000 2 bed 2 bath 1470 sq. ft. Single family home in Sherman Oaks, CA14537 Killion St, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411$819,000 2 bed 2 bath 1267 sq. ft. Res in Sherman Oaks, CA4758 Ventura Canyon Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423$749,000 3 bed 1.75 bath 1327 sq. ft. Res in Sherman Oaks, CAProperty, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423$899,000 3 bed 2.75 bath 1789 sq. ft. Res in Sherman Oaks, CATrulia Real Estate Search Solomon RomanoRe/Max OTB Estateshttp://www.theroyalteam.com 04/26/2007