Advertise the Office If you Have One According to several different surveys, future homeowners will be looking to buy homes that are either closer to work or they want to work from home. The high cost of gasoline and long commute times are two reasons fueling this change. The 'closer to work' group are not averse to urban living where the 'live/work' communities are gaining a strong foothold. These are comprised of living areas located above a 'store' type unit that exists below. It may also include communities where a retail center is located within walking distance of the home/living community. Having restaurants, movie theaters and shopping within walking distatnce is also very appealing to these future buyers. The other preference articulated by the future homeowners is the ability ... 05/23/2011

I don't know about you, but I've noticed a serious downturn in activity here in Ventura County. Available homes are getting harder to find; even those that should be in a short sale status. We are coming close to the end of our "selling season" and if there are any serious buyers out there, now is the time to take advantage of the prices AND most importantly the low low low interest rates. Once again housing has become affordable and there's the hope and promise of the American dream that finally makes some sense. Gone are the days of 100% financing if you could fog a mirror and greed has been replaced by (some) empathy toward the homeowner's who were caught up in the bubble. The one thing I still can't figure out is your average Joe who still can't see past his or her nose when it come... 08/23/2010

I close escrow today on a short sale in Oxnard, California. This was the "typical" short sale with Chase where much of the chase happened to be chasing Chase in an effort to stabilize my Seller's position in this crazy recovery. We played a lot of cat and mouse games because while I was chasing Chase, Chase was chasing my Seller for more payments adding subtle hints that their short sale would seen in a more "favorable" light if they continued to make payments toward the 2nd lien holder (surprise, also Chase). First off, let me be the one to shed a little light on the subject by informing you, the reader, that the collection department at Chase has nothing to do with the short sale department. I tend to form a close bond with my short sale clients (I almost used the word "people" here, ... 08/20/2010

At  one point or another in our career's I'm fairly certain we've become attached to a client because of the special bond that's created in reaching the common goal of a positive outcome for our client. I tend to get a bit sappy at the end of escrow when it's time to say "goodbye", but always hope that the client will somehow keep in touch to tell me how they're doing...maybe they'll even remember me when they are ready to move again or will refer me to a friend or a relative. (The highest compliment.) I've been working with a short sale seller who really made the difference in getting my job done with the best positive results considering the situation. Everyone should have such a client! She was so well organized and had documents ready for me at a moments notice. Each time Chase said... 08/17/2010

My last blog regarding Chase seems like an eon ago. I've been jumping from asset manager to asset manager as I've got one located in California and one in Texas on the same property. Both purchase money on the same home. The 2nd (Texas) is sending out their collections department big time since they've learned we are negotiating a short sale and are days away from approval. I've had my Seller email me on several occasions idicating that they used her short sale package (pay stubs) to hunt down her work phone number and are now calling her at work. The problem with Chase (and I can name some personal ones as well) is typical in that one department doesn't talk to the other, etc. I'm certain you've heard it all before. But what is so distressing is when you're told you have 1st approval v... 07/30/2010

  If you owe a debt to someone else and they cancel or forgive that debt, the canceled amount may be taxable.The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 generally allows taxpayers to exclude income from the discharge of debt on their principal residence. Debt reduced through mortgage restructuring, as well as mortgage debt forgiven in connection with a foreclosure, qualifies for the relief.This provision applies to debt forgiven in calendar years 2007 through 2012. Up to $2 million of forgiven debt is eligible for this exclusion ($1 million if married filing separately). The exclusion does not apply if the discharge is due to services performed for the lender or any other reason not directly related to a decline in the home's value or the taxpayer's financial condition. Many homeowners don't ... 07/10/2010