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Los Angeles FHA Loan Limits
Homeownership is not out of reach. FHA limits in California are one of the highest in the country. I have great lenders that can help you reach your real estate goals! Call me to get started on your home ownership goals!!! Laura Key 310.866.8422
Here are the current limits for Los Angeles (as of Nov 13, 2014) FHA allows 3.5% downpayment over a 15 to 30 year term!
Single Family $625,500
Duplex $800,775
Tri-Plex $967,950
Four-Plex $1,202,925
Start your home search today!
**Source: https://entp.hud.gov
Auto Insurance Shopping
I bet you are wondering why a real estate agent would post about auto insurance, but the fact is, most people bundle home and auto. So here are some interesting tips about auto insurance for your reading pleasure.... Auto Insurance. Shopping for it is not enjoyable. Trying to figure out which policy is best for you is confusing. Typically we just like to choose the cheapest, however, depending on where you live geographically that may not be the choice as those of us located near or adjacent to our Southern Border must take into account the high percentage of uninsured drivers. Not only does this typically raise our annual premium, but usually it will require us to buy additional coverage. There are ultimately 7 primary factors that have the most significant impact on your insurance premium.
- Aesthetics
- Fuel Efficiency
- Usability
- Comfort
- Drivability
- Engine Horsepower
- Crash Test Ratings
Now it will not take a rocket scientist to figure out that driving a high performance sports car will yield significantly higher rates than say a small sedan. This infographic lists among the 10 most popular vehicles to drive as well as the upper and lower limits for what people pay for insurance. Thus, if you drive one of the vehicles described in the above infographic and are paying significantly more, perhaps you have a strong case to change carriers, or perhaps you are buying too much coverage. Regardless it’s always a good idea to do a bit of research to see what else is out there. Luckily with the digital age there are numerous ways to save time by comparing numerous carriers’ quotes at one time. One such company compare.com does this for Auto Insurance. So even if your car is not one of the 10 vehicles, it’s still worth a shot to give compare.com a visit and Compare Auto Insurance now to see if you could be saving money on your policy!
Written by Matt Lawler www.MattJLawler.com
Home Design Inspiration For Your Bathroom
A few candles, a dimming light, a glass of bubbly, some music and some bubbles....YEAP!
Start your home search out RIGHT! Access homes from a direct source! Text LKHOMES to 87778 today or go to http://87778.mobi/LKHOMES Available on iPad/Tablet/Smartphones
Source: http://homedesignboard.com/bathroom/home-design-inspiration-for-your-bathroom-12/
As Home Prices Rebound, Lenders Rush to Unload REOs
The recovery in home prices this year is prompting banks to sell off their REO inventory at a brisker pace. Sales of bank-owned homes made up 10 percent of residential sales in November, the third consecutive month for increases in REO sales, RealtyTrac reports.
"Lenders are taking advantage of this environment to unload more of their bank-owned inventory and in-foreclosure inventory at the foreclosure auction," says RealtyTrac's Daren Blomquist. "But as the backlog of distressed inventory available dries up in many of the markets with the most efficient foreclosure processes — namely California, Arizona, and Nevada, with Georgia not far behind — overall sales volume is declining and will continue to do so until more nondistressed sellers enter the market."
Rick Sharga, executive vice president at Auction.com, says his company is “seeing more properties sold at trustee sales, and we are seeing more properties that are coming from servicers priced to sell at trustee sales.”
Previously, mortgage servicers would put foreclosed homes up for sale at the full value of the loan, CNBC reports. However, those homes would often land back at the bank as investors sought larger discounts. “Ironically, as prices are rising, servicers are discounting the homes more,” CNBC reports.
Start your home search out RIGHT! Access homes from a direct source! Text LKHOMES to 87778 today or go to http://87778.mobi/LKHOMES Available on iPad/Tablet/Smartphones
Source: “Sales of bank-owned homes surge,” CNBC (Dec. 20, 2013)
FHA Limits for Los Angeles Area
Homeownership is not out of reach. FHA limits in California are one of the highest in the country. I have great lenders that can help you reach your real estate goals! Call me to get started on your homeownership goals!!! Laura Key 310.866.8422
Here are the current limits for Los Angeles (as of August 23, 2013) FHA allows 3.5% downpayment over a 15 to 30 year term!
Single Family $729,750
Duplex $934,200
Tri-Plex $1,129,250
Four-Plex $1,403,400
Source: FHA.com
IRS Simplifies Home Office Deduction
Working from home can be beneficial! Hope these tips help! Need a home checkup? Call me Laura Key 310.866.8422
The number of home owners who work from home at least one day a week increased nearly 10 percent — from 9.5 million to 13.4 million — between 1999 and 2010, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. However, only 3.4 million home owners claimed deductions for business use of a home in 2010, according to the IRS.
The IRS recently announced a new safe harbor provision for home office deductions for the 2013 tax year.
“This allows at-home workers the option to simply take a deduction capped at $1,500 per year based on $5 a square foot for up to 300 square feet,” FOX Business reported. “The requirement that home office space be exclusively used for business and limitations on income earned from that business still applies, and direct business expenses unrelated to the home (advertising, supplies and wages paid to employees, etc.) are fully deductible.”
"The home office deduction is one of the most misunderstood and abused deductions out there," says Margaret Munro, a tax consultant, about the changes. "If you have a valid home office, you take the deduction because you shouldn't be paying tax on money that you're using for your business."
For more information on the deduction, visit the IRS Web site.
Source: “IRS' Simpler Home Tax Deduction Cuts Through the Clutter,” FOX Business (July 24, 2013)
10 Most Desirable Do-it-Yourself Outdoor Projects
Increasing the value of your home does not have to mean it's costly! Call me today for free Home Checkup! Laura Key 310.866.8422
The warmer weather has home owners looking to spruce up their home’s outdoor spaces. So when it comes to do-it-yourself outdoor projects, which projects are most home owners tackling?
A survey of more than 1,200 home owners by the Home Project Council identified the following DIY outdoor projects as most desirable:
1. Plant a garden
2. Use decorative pebbles, stones or rocks for landscaping
3. Build a deck
4. Create a fire pit or barbecue pit
5. Build a patio or walkway using concrete pavers or bricks
6. Install or build a shed or storage building
7. Stain or paint siding or windows
8. Build a privacy fence
9. Stain or paint exterior concrete surfaces (patio, pool deck, driveway, sidewalk, etc.)
10. Repair or seal concrete cracks in patios, steps, or driveways
Home owners identified the most difficult or intimidating DIY outdoor projects as being building an outdoor kitchen and pouring concrete slabs for patios, steps, or sidewalks, or building a deck, according to the survey.
Source: Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR(R) Magazine
Want to know what your home is worth in this market? Give me a call for a free CMA Laura Key 310.866.8422
Higher Home Prices Cool Buying Frenzy
Is all this frenzy creating a mini-housing bubble? What are your thoughts on this housing market? Laura Key 310.866.8422
The recent rise in home prices has more investors concerned that it will be increasingly difficult to turn a profit from their rental investments. Nearly half of U.S. real estate investors say they expect to purchase fewer rental homes in the next year, according to a recent survey conducted by polling firm ORC International.
Just 10 months ago, the percentage of investors who said they intend to buy fewer homes stood at 30 percent—compared to 48 percent today. Only about 20 percent of the investors surveyed say they plan to buy more homes in the next year—a drop from the 39 percent who reported they intend to buy more homes last August.
More than half of the investors surveyed who own rental properties say they plan to hold them for at least five years or more, and 33 percent plan to hold them for 10 years or more.
“Higher prices are reducing returns on investment and investors are responding by cutting back on their purchasing plans until conditions sort out,” says Chris Clothier, a partner in MemphisInvest.com and Premier Property Management Group. “Fewer foreclosures, rising property values, and competition from hedge funds are making it tough to find good ideals on distressed sales. On the other hand, investors are planning to hold onto their rental properties for at least eight to 10 years and realize the benefits of rising rents and low vacancy rates. Cash flow is much more important than appreciation.”
Source: ORC International
Laura Key, CBS News, Buyer's Agent, Selling Agent,
Thinking of Selling? I have buyers who are pre-approved and ready! They are looking in several areas of Los Angeles county!
Do It Yourself Simple Repairs
You can save money with these simple fixes!
Treatment for a scratched wood floor. For minor scratches, crayons will do the trick. Pick a color that matches the flooring, and color in the scratched area. Be sure to stay in the lines; then buff to a shine. A matching permanent marker can camouflage deeper, ugly scratches. Another method: Grind the meat of a walnut or pecan into the scratch. The nut oil will provide a shine that blends with a polyurethane or water-based surface finish.
Pennywise way to unclog a drain. For a balky drain, try dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the sink followed by a cup of white vinegar. After about 15 minutes, you can clear the drain with boiling water. Do not attempt this trick immediately after using a commercial drain opener like Drano or Liquid-Plumr.
You’ve stripped a screw. Now what do you do? Using a hacksaw, cut into the top of the screw to create a new groove for the screwdriver.
Clean up your walls . . . with toothpaste. Patch small holes using a putty knife or butter knife to smooth non-gel toothpaste into the hole. Sand the spot to smooth the surface. To erase crayon marks from walls, grab toothpaste (again, non-gel) and a scrub brush; then, just wipe until the marks are gone.
Curious to know how much your home is worth? Call me for a FREE Comparative Market Analysis! Laura Key 310.866.8422
Condominiums – Should You Consider Purchasing One
Condominiums tend fall into the love them or hate them position for buyers
Condominiums are all about communal living, which can be good or bad depending upon your personal views. This type of communal living doesn’t refer to the failed experiments of the sixties wherein hippies packed into a structure and shared everything. Instead, the modern condominium community is all about sharing common spaces as well as rules, rules and more rules.
Condominiums come in all shapes and forms. Condos can be found in a single high rise building in a downtown area or in an apartment complex type of layout in a planned community. The structure isn’t the determining point. Instead, the issue is how the properties are owned.
Unlike a stand alone home, the property lines on a condominium are the walls of the structure. Essentially, you own everything inside the condominium as your individual property. Everything outside the condominium is owned jointly with the people who own the other units. These areas are known as common areas and are subject to group rule.
Every condominium has a homeowners association in one form or another. The association has rules set out by the original developer regarding landscaping and so on. Members of the community are then elected to the board of the association, whereupon the immediately become a focal point of aggravation from individual owners and often wonder why they took the thankless job.
The problem with the association and condos in general is the issue of uniformity. If you desire to change the exterior of your condominium in some way, you must comply with the rules of the association. This means you cannot paint your property a different color, do landscaping and so on. For some people, this isn’t a problem, but others are frustrated they can’t express themselves.
When deciding whether a condominium is a good option for your next purchase, you need to carefully weigh the restrictions of a particular association. If you consider yourself an individual and want to show it, a condominium is probably a very poor choice for you.
Clean Home, Easy Sale
One of the biggest problems people run into when selling their home is the process of preparing it for sale. The best way to begin this process is to take a quick walk through your home then call me for an appointment! Laura Key 310.866.8422
One of the biggest problems people run into when selling their home is the process of preparing it for sale. Many homes are simply places where we keep the accumulated treasures of the years. Are you a clutter-bug, a pack-rat? It's OK, we all are to some degree. When preparing a home for sale, we need to be mindful of our "stuff." The best way to begin this process is to take a quick walk through your home. Make a list of everything that you have not used in the past 3 months, 6 months? Now, and here is the hard part. Get rid of it. Seem a bit extreme? It might, but things that you have not used in half a year are not likely to get used in the future. Remember we are trying to get rid of some stuff so that people can see the house, not what's in it.
There is a common line of thought that home buyers want to see the "personality" of the homes current owners. This is not true. Buyers want to be able to see their belongings in the home. They want to put their personality into it to see if they could see themselves living there. A backlog of your stuff will get in the way of them doing this. Go through every room in turn and remove the clutter! This includes the closets, shelves and cupboards. Also remove excess furniture if the room seems too crowded. Here is another important thing to remember, don't put all this stuff in the garage! Buyers will go through the garage like any other room in your home. Hire a storage locker if it is really necessary. Aside from that, use this as an opportunity to rid yourself of those things that you never use.
The minimalist approach is a good thing to utilize when showing your home. The lack of personal effects will make it easier for buyers to place themselves in your home. This will also make the moving process easier on you. With less things to pack when moving day comes, you can dedicate more time to creating your perfect space in your new home.
Laura Key, BRE 01908085 310.866.8422 Laura.A.Key@gmail.com www.KeyCaliforniaHomes.com
Bank Faces Lawsuit Over Excessive Fees
Are you facing or someone you know facing foreclosure? There are sources out there to help you! Call me for a list of free resources! Laura Key 310.866.8422
JPMorgan Chase faces a lawsuit that alleges the bank imposed overly high or unnecessary fees on delinquent borrowers. The banking giant tried to get the case dismissed, arguing to the courts that the claims were unjust, but a federal judge ruled the lawsuit should proceed.
Borrowers are accusing the bank of “imposing excessive or unnecessary fees to inflate profit, including on services performed by third party vendors, cheating thousands of already-strained borrowers out of millions of dollars,” Reuters reports.
Among the fees in question range from $95 to $125 for “broker’s price opinions.” The plaintiffs, who reside in Tennessee, California, and Oregon, claim that the BPOs cost $30 to produce and that according to Fannie Mae guidelines they should not cost more than $80.
Similar lawsuits over mortgage fees charged to delinquent borrowers are pending against Wells Fargo and Citigroup.
Source: “JPMorgan must face lawsuit challenging mortgage fees,” Reuters (June 14, 2013)
Where Asking Prices Are Rising the Most
California is rising fast, yet it's not at the highest it's ever been. Interested in buying or selling! Let me assist you in reaching your real estate goals! Laura Key 310.866.8422
Median list prices in May edged up 2.10 percent month-over-month, as housing inventories also were on the rise, creating a greater balance between supply and demand, according to realtor.com’s latest Real Estate Health Report.
The nationwide median list price was $199,000 for May, and up 4.79 percent year-over-year.
"We are seeing large regional markets across the country leading the way to national recovery. These regions are acting as a microcosm for what's slowly happening in the larger real estate market," says Steve Berkowitz, chief executive officer of Move. "Overall, we're seeing seller confidence beginning to respond to consumer demand. Nationally, there are more homes going on the market for a shorter amount of time. And this is happening in our hot markets on a much larger scale."
California housing markets are seeing some of the highest median price gains. The following 10 markets have seen the highest year-over-year list price gains:
1. Sacramento, Calif.: up 42.45%
- Median list price: $284,900
2. Oakland, Calif.: up 38.27%
- Median list price: $495,000
3. Detroit, Mich.: up 31.73%
- Median list price: $125,000
4. San Jose, Calif.: up 30.58%
- Median list price: $679,000
5. Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif.: up 27.80%
- Median list price: $428,000
6. Fresno, Calif.: up 27.48%
- Median list price: $219,900
7. Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.: up 27.03%
- Median list price: $235,000
8. Stockton-Lodi, Calif.: up 25.63%
- Median list price: $199,750
9. Reno, Nev.: up 24.23%
- Median list price: $235,900
10. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, Calif.: up 24%
- Median list price: $775,000
Source: realtor.com®
Search for your next home for FREE! Click below!
Laura Key
Realty Goddess
Laura Key on CBS News
Make Your Pad Reflect You
Hey men should know how to trick out their pads just as much as women do! I have a high amount of male clients who purchase homes, and they don't need Martha Stewart to make it their own! Ready to have your OWN space men? Call me! Laura Key 310.866.8422
Whether you're a sports buff or the trendy guy in your posse, we've got ways to make your pad part of your image.
By Karin Eldor, Fashion Correspondent
Page 1: Bachelor pad furniture
If you are where you live, what does that say about the maintenance and effort you have to put into your home? Well, that all depends on what you want others to think about you. So if you're decked out in expensive threads, your effort won't mean much if your place is a disaster, or worse, not a reflection of you.
Whether you live in a small apartment, a 1,500-square-foot condo or a three-level house, the home you call your own is your representative. And when a fine lady comes over to pay you a visit, you want to make sure she's impressed by your space.
You don't need to be an interior designer or spend tons of cash to be proud of your pad. As long as you feel comfortable in it, you will hold your head up high... even while lounging in your favorite chair.
who are you?
Start by asking yourself the following questions, for a self-inventory checklist:
How would you describe yourself? (athletic; cultured; ambitious; stylish; indifferent; etc.)
What are your hobbies? (mountain climbing; traveling; scuba diving; world history; wine tasting; golf; playing music; screenwriting; etc.)
These might seem obvious to you, but remember; making your home a reflection of you is worthless without knowing what your image is -- or at least what you want it to be.
No passions or traits have to be exclusive; you are likely an amalgamation of characteristics and that can be reflected in your home.
get started
The following are different broad categories that can be used as templates for decorating your pad, to bring out the "you" you're going for (based on your profile). Remember; you can be a combination of each of these categories.
The Athletic DudeWhether you're usually glued to the TV watching the big game (and this can mean several simultaneous games) or love reciting sports scores with your buddies after scoring big in your own football game, sports are your thing. Show your appreciation by adorning your home with things like vintage sports jerseys and mementos. And of course, you can't forget a widescreen plasma TV (50 inches or more) -- made larger than life with surround sound -- so that you can watch the game in style while sitting in a super cool recliner.
The HipsterWhen it comes to style, you've got it in spades -- at least that's what your friends tell you. You're a leader who always knows the trends before they hit the streets and your posse relies on you to dictate the latest fashion. This character trait could get pricey when it comes to your home, which is why I recommend starting with a classic, neutral base for the expensive items (i.e. couch, dining table, etc.) and decking your pad out with ultra-hip accessories like cool lamps, trendy vases, a stylin' coffee table, and cutting-edge gadgets.
Whether you're cultured or ambitious, here are some ideas for your home...
Page 2: Home decor
The Cultured BlokeThe ladies are always impressed by your appreciation for the finer things in life, be it your knowledge of fine wine, your travels to Botswana and Brussels, or your penchant for investing in valuable art. Make your pad your canvas by covering the walls with your favorite paintings, and rather than a table from Pottery Barn or Ikea, search for an antique table last used by Louis IVX. Store your wine collection in a slick wine cabinet and display your African masks in the living room.
The GourmetThere's nothing wrong with knowing your way around the kitchen; after all, you've been known to woo women with your creations. Show your female guests that you can satisfy their hunger (and more) by investing in a luxurious kitchen. If you enjoy spending time experimenting with food, make yourself more comfortable by installing a kitchen island, and treat yourself to an industrial-style stainless steel oven range. Pimp up your kitchen with a slick fridge or exhaust hoods, a rack to hang copper pots and pans over your oven or island, or, for those on a tighter budget, accessorize with appliances like a sleek toaster, blender and coffee maker.
The Zen Master Show off your inner peace by placing fresh bamboo or stones in clear glass vases, or for a bigger investment, treat yourself to a Jacuzzi with jets in your favorite bathroom. Maintain a minimalist look with white walls and furniture, and an overall sleek decor.
The WorkaholicWhile this might not be a character trait you want to flaunt, you can spin your workaholic tendencies as "ambitious." Set up a home office with a flat-screen computer, a state-of-the-art desk chair, and a slick table with a lot of organizational features to make you look like a guy who's always in control.
maximize your space
You don't need to overhaul your home to give it that unique touch that's "you." If you've been living in your home for a while and are already settled in, sometimes a slight reorganization can do the trick, as can a paint job and some new accessories.
Source: www.AskMen.com
Do you work from home? Buy your next home with your office in mind!
If you work from home, and it is time to move to your next home, there are some factors you should consider carefully before making your decision.
The flexibility afforded by a “zero-commute” combined with the skyrocketing price of gasoline has strengthened the case for full time teleworking and telecommuting. According to an Environmental Protection Agency (2004) study:
“Americans spend an average of 46 hours per year stuck in traffic. Gridlock produces more than $63 billion in congestion costs per year”
The artist community has been well acquainted with the use of work/living spaces for years, but improvements in technology have made the benefits of teleworking and occasional telecommuting more attractive to general consumers. According to the key findings form the International Telework Association & Council (ITAC) Telework America (2000) study:
“Home-based teleworkers also have larger homes, on average, than non-teleworkers; the difference amounting to about 500 square feet. The most popular place for an office in these larger homes is a spare bedroom, with the living room a distant second. The primary home telework activity is computer work (55% of total activities), followed by telephoning, reading, and—averaging 7% of the time—face to face meetings.”
As you purchase your next home, there are certain factors to consider if you need to set up a new home office:
Make sure that your high-tech needs can be met. Have a qualified electrician inspect the wiring of the house to see if the system can handle the extra power load that your home office requires. Older homes may need significant upgrades to handle the extra power, while newer homes are built with more energy-efficient systems to handle the additional power along with heating/air conditioning requirements. If you use cable, DSL or satellite internet access, check with your local service provider to see if access is available in your new neighborhood. Shop around for your telephone provider—in some cases, business service bundles may be more cost effective than regular residential service.
Designate where your office space will be. Determine the amount of space you will need to accommodate your work style and space. In many cases a spare bedroom or living room space can be used, if a formal den option is not available. If your work requires heavy telephone usage or just heads-down concentration, you may want to consider utilizing a room with a door. Doors can be closed to reduce interruptions from other family and household noises.
Plan your office blueprint to include all required furniture, bookcases, computers, fax, and printers. Make sure to allow for filing and storage space for files and extra office supplies. Lighting is critical for computer or assembly work, so make sure to allow for direct sunlight along with any specific task lighting that may be necessary. Select flooring options that will allow you to work comfortably—you may wish to go with hardwood or laminate flooring to allow for your chair to move smoothly across the floor. Install enough phone lines to cover your home, business and fax machines needs.
Is the office easily accessible? If you will expect regular package deliveries, make sure that your designated office is easily accessible to the front door of the home. This is also necessary if you will need to meet clients or visitors in your office and would like to ensure a professional appearance for your business.
Find out about local business requirements. Some cities have zoning restrictions and guidelines for work/living spaces along with tax implications. Make sure to check with your local government to determine if special restrictions exist.
Are you ready to find a home that could allow you to work from home? Or...do you need more room in the current home you own? Give me a call - lets get you started!
Bankruptcy And Buying A House - Is It Smart To Buy A House After Bankruptcy?
Each year, millions of people file bankruptcy as a means of erasing their consumer debts. While this approach may relieve stress, a bankruptcy is damaging, and will hang over your head for the next ten years. Still, it is possible to overcome bankruptcy. The key is making smarter financial and credit decisions. With this said, some people choose to purchase a home after a bankruptcy. Here are a few pointers to consider when buying a home.
Each year, millions of people file bankruptcy as a means of erasing their consumer debts. While this approach may relieve stress, a bankruptcy is damaging, and will hang over your head for the next ten years. Still, it is possible to overcome bankruptcy. The key is making smarter financial and credit decisions. With this said, some people choose to purchase a home after a bankruptcy. Here are a few pointers to consider when buying a home.
Reasons to Delay the Buying Process after Bankruptcy
If you consult with mortgage or financial experts, they will likely discourage you from buying a home following a bankruptcy. After your bankruptcy is discharged, there is a black cloud that looms over your credit report.
When any prospective lender reviews your report, they will be notified of your recent or past bankruptcy. In some instances, this justifies an immediate denial. On the other hand, there are lenders eager to help you establish or rebuild your credit. Thus, they will approve a loan request. Nonetheless, the penalties are steep.
Higher mortgage rates can be anticipated when purchasing a home after bankruptcy, especially if you have not established other credit accounts. Mortgage lenders consider two factors: credit scores and credit reports.
Although a bankruptcy appears on your credit report, having a high credit score will increase your odds of getting a comparable rate. Unfortunately, if you buy immediately following a bankruptcy, you will not have the opportunity to boost your score.
Reasons to Buy a Home after Bankruptcy
Lenders will approve mortgage loan applications one day following a discharge. Therefore, it is possible to get a home after a bankruptcy. Buying a home is perfect for rebuilding credit. Moreover, it is the quickest way to increase your credit score.
After a bankruptcy, the average person has a credit score below 600. Good credit consist of credit scores 650 and above. Maintaining current mortgage payments will gradually increase your score. After two years of regular payments, you will have established a good payment history. Hence, you may qualify for a low rate refinancing, which may lower your mortgage payments.
Ready to search for your new home? Start here!
Crenshaw Line Is Really Coming! - Green Line
After a long haul and many battles the Green Line is coming to Crenshaw!
Not sure how much you have been following along but the Crenshaw District IS getting its own Light Rail/Subway. Last week the planned light rail received a boost from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority staff recommending a $1.27 billion contract to build the line. The Line will begin at The Aviation Station along the Green Line, travel north along La Cienaga( meet a soon to be people mover at Century Blvd that will that take travelers directly into the soon-but-not-too-soon Grand Terminal at LAX), touch the eastern tip of Westchester with a station at Hindry to serve the Westchester community. The Light Rail will hit a slight right along Florence, cutting through Downtown Inglewood and finally hitting Crenshaw Blvd in Hyde Park at Crenshaw and Florence. The train will continue north along Crenshaw all the way to expo, submerging underground after Slauson Ave. with a subway stop at Leimert Park at or around Vernon amd another subway stop at MLK Blvd with a underground entrance to the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Bravo!
On June 27, the full Metro board is scheduled to vote on the contract and whether to approve Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors as the contractor.
Source: SouthLA: Crenshaw on the Move
Rare Opportunity to Buy by the Beach!
What a wonderful opportunity to live your dream of living by the beach! Redondo Beach to be exact! Call me for a scheduled showing! Laura Key 310.866.8422
630 The Village Unit 110 Redondo Beach, CA
$385,000
1 Bed 1 Bath 621 SqFt - HUD
Click Photo for Virtual Tour!!!
Call me today! Laura Key 310.866.8422!
Experienced HUD Selling Agent!
Laura Key on CBS News
Appraised Value: The Ups & Downs Of How Much A House Is Worth
How is the fair market value of a real estate property actually determined?
Determining Fair Market Value is an eternal struggle and major balancing act. That’s because buyers want a house to appraise on the low side—to keep the purchase price down. While sellers want the same house to appraise on the high side—to make the sale price higher. And then you’ve got the owners of the house—who also want the appraisal to be on the low side, in order to keep the property taxes down.
So with all these different agendas and points of view, how is the fair market value of a real estate property actually determined?
Once a year, your county sends all area homeowners official notices that put a dollar value on their property. And property taxes are based on those dollar values. But before those notices get sent out, a long, detailed process usually takes place. First, the land is valued as if it’s vacant—an empty lot, in other words. Then any improvements are described and measured. Improvements consist of the house and any other structures, pools, sheds, garages, and so forth. Next, most counties check the Marshall Valuation Service Cost Guide. It’s a standardized nationwide guide for determining the value of the cost per square foot to build a building that fits the description of the improved property. Next, if the house isn’t brand new, the replacement cost is considered, as well as depreciation; the year the house was constructed and the condition of the property are factors here. Appraisers then must take the critical step of comparing the value of the house with recent selling prices of similar homes in the neighborhood. At this point, the appraisal might stand “as is”—or it might be adjusted upward or downward.
Market Value is a theory, in other words—not an unchanging fact.
In a perfect world, you have to have willing buyer and a willing seller. Neither is under duress. Both are in a position to maximize gain and are trying to do this. But in the real world, things are rarely that simple and equally balanced. Which is why people feel differently about the appraisal value of a house. It really depends how strong their position is as a buyer or seller.
Does the local economy come into it at all? You bet it does.
Ask a successful Realtor about that! He or she will tell you they’ve noticed that the Rio Grande Valley’s fast-growing economy is attracting people from other areas who consider real estate here a bargain. That helps fuel increases in property values.
So—now you know where that Grand Total comes from.
You’re armed with the information you need to make a better house-buying decision. For instance, you can understand how two virtually identical houses that are in two different neighborhoods could be very far apart in price and appraised value. And why your choice of the right house in the right neighborhood could be worth a not-so-small fortune to you right now—and years down the road.
Sellers! You can get a great idea of how much your home is worth! Call me for a FREE Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) Laura Key 310.866.8422
5 Things You Should Know Before You Flip A Property
Money is made at the buy, not the sell of your flip. When flipping a house your money is made at the purchase not at the sell of the house. So, many times people buy a house with the intentions of making a huge profit only to find out that they could not make any money after all the renovations because the purchased price of the house was to high.
1. Money is made at the buy, not the sell of your flip. When flipping a house your money is made at the purchase not at the sell of the house. So, many times people buy a house with the intentions of making a huge profit only to find out that they could not make any money after all the renovations because the purchased price of the house was to high. When you purchase your property you need to be sure that you buy the house with enough money to make renovations, have carrying cost, and add about 5 $6,000. Now, cost is at $147,000, and that is if everything goes as planned. Profit is under 10,000 dollars. The mistake was made at the purchase at the home, not the sell.
2. Get an inspection on the home - Get a complete inspection done on your property. By, spending a few hundred dollars on this expense you can save thousands in problems that you cannot see. Foundation, Pest, Wood Rot, Etc... By, getting a full inspection you can rest assured that you know every thing that is wrong with the property before its to late. In the contact for the house you need to make sure that you have 7 days to have a inspection preformed, and if the inspection finds problems that are going to cost more money that you are willing to spend you can get out of the contract with no penalties.
3. Don't do the work yourself: - Get a contractor or several sub-contractors and have the work done quickly. You need to have you house flipped ASAP, so that you can get it on the market and get it sold. When I started flipping my brother and me did a house together, and we did all the construction. I had a construction background and figured it would save thousands, but it took us over 4 months to get the work done that a contractor could have had the work done in a month. But, we trying to save money on our flip did all the work on our time off and after work, and it just took to long. On our 2'nd flip we used contractors for almost everything and had the house completely flipped with a new roof, new air conditioning, new hardwood, and much more in only 3 weeks. We did not have to spend all our time working on the property and were able to spend that time looking for the next deal. This is how you get rich in real estate.
4. Place the property 1 to 2 percent below market value: If you are wanting to flip real estate and make money the object is to buy and sell the property as quickly as possible, so that you can move on to the next house. If you purchase a house and try to sell it at top dollar to make and extra couple of thousand dollars on your flip, and end up holding it for 6 months you are loosing money. Get the house on the market at a price that is going to blow the competition away, and you will sell it no matter what the market conditions. On our second house the market for selling house went down do to the housing market as a whole, and the tightening of the loans across America. We were told that you could not sell a property in this market, but we went ahead anyway and flipped our house. After 3 weeks on the market we had 3 people wanting to buy the house. Why, because we offered it at such a great deal that people wanted to jump on it. That is what you have to do especially if the market is slow.
5. Use a real estate agent - Do not try to sell you house on your own. Harness the power of a real estate agent and the power of the MLS system. When you do a FSBO you are depending on people driving by your house and seeing you sign, with a real estate agent you have someone actively marketing you house to get it sold. Once again this will free up more time for you to look for more great deals. If you want to help the process I have found that craigslist and listing you house in google adwords help to, but use these tools with the help of a agent such as Laura Key to make sure I have all my bases covered.
I hope this article has been helpful with the basics needs of flipping a house. If you will study and learn you will make money. But, do your homework before you purchase a house, and make sure that you can pull a profit on your deal. Then, make it happen! I am a Investor Friendly Agent, let's get you some deals! Laura Key 310.866.8422
Laura Key on CBS News