Romantic Fireplaces At Home Set The Valentine’s Day Mood

As Valentine’s Day approaches and the mood turns to romance, let’s take a look towards the pleasures of home. The fireplace is a great mood setter to beckon the calls of a romantic evening. When you moved into or purchased your home, if you are like most people you probably noticed and commented on the fireplace. For some people a fireplace in the home is an absolute must have.

There is something to be said about the warm glow of a fireplace. While Southern California is not exactly known for cold temperatures, a cozy fireplace can heat up any night. The great thing about a fireplace is that it not only adds architectural charm to any room, but they are great features for resale of a home also. 

Even if you are not crazy about a real log fire going in the fireplace, try placing a six-votive candle-holder inside the fireplace and light them up for a dazzling display. You can even give scented candles a whirl for an added touch of ambiance. When you are looking for a way to woo your sweetheart just get a few of their favorite treats, their favorite music and a fire going in your fireplace. Now that’s the way to make your sweetheart smile.

 


How Will The California $18 Billion Settlement Help ME With My Home?

California Attorney General, Kamala Harris discussed the settlement negotiation and what is expected of the banks shortly after the settlement was reached.  Now that California may just finally see some relief from underwater mortgages with the billion dollar settlement, now the big question for many homeowners is, “How Will The California $18 Billion Settlement Help ME With My Home?”

Some of the forms of relief that California homeowners can pursue according to the State of California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General are: “payments to borrowers who were wrongly foreclosed upon; reduction of unpaid principal balances; refinancing for borrowers whose homes are worth less than the money they owe; and the opportunity for short sales and other relocation assistance.”

The following five banks are part of the settlement: Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo, and Ally Financial. Several of these banks are also known by other trade names, including Countrywide (a trade name for Bank of America); Washington Mutual and EMC Mortgage (Chase); CitiMortgage (Citibank); Wachovia (Wells Fargo); and GMAC (Ally Financial).

If you are a homeowner and believe that you are entitled to relief based on this settlement, you should contact your mortgage servicer. Should you find that a short sale or pre-foreclosure sale may be  the best option for you, then you should contact a reliable real estate professional.

California Homeowners May See Relief From Underwater Mortgages

With seven of the tops ten hardest city falling in California, it became of crucial importance for the Attorney General to step in and fight for California’s fair share. California Attorney General, Kamala Harris sheds light on the recent victory with the $25 billion foreclosure settlement against the five big banks. California will receive $18 billion from this settlement. Finally, California homeowners may see some relief for our battered state! The California Commitment includes: 1) $12 billion of principal reductions and short sale relief for homeowners, [...] Read more »

What’s the Super Bowl Hype Got To Do With Buying A Home?

Super Bowl and Buying A Home

You hear about it for weeks. It’s the big question that lingers on…who’s going to the Super Bowl? It comes down to two teams in the end and everybody picks a side. The American fascination with the Super Bowl is positively amazing. It’s one of those events that even gets people like me attending parties. Heck, I know absolutely nothing…you hear that NOTHING about football…and there I am rallying with the masses. So what is this phenomenon and why in the world do I bring [...] Read more »

“It will not last” will not sell your home.. so stop using it!

It Won't Last

The next time you list a home for sale, whether you are the home seller or a real estate agent, do everyone a favor. Stop using the over used and sorely misguided marketing cliche’ where you exclaim, “It will not last.” This has become a laughable joke on many properties and surely the public are no fools. Anyone who has been searching for a home long enough has figured out how to find the days on the market. It’s a little embarrassing to see this [...] Read more »

So You Wanna Know Where The Foreclosures Are, Huh?

FederalHousingChart

Lots of people are curious as to just where the foreclosures are located. Recently the Federal Housing Finance Agency created a chart to outline where the foreclosures are located across the country. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has begun accepting applications by investors to purchase bulk REO. These investors are being chosen to manage and rent these properties out. This program has been talked about for quite some time, but now looks like it may roll out very soon. The goal is to stabilize the housing [...] Read more »

Inland Empire Real Estate As A Tax Shelter

Inland Empire Real Estate as A Tax Shelter

That time of the year is approaching. Yes, there are two things guaranteed in life; death and taxes. But just like anything else in life, adequate preparation can help get anyone through even the less than pleasant of life’s aspects. Sitting down and analyzing your income is one of the first steps to financial security. Next, it is a good idea to take a look at tax shelters. A tax shelter will help reduce how much tax you pay the federal government by reducing your [...] Read more »

What Is An Encroachment and What Happens When You Buy A Home That Encroaches on City Property?

Encroachments and home buying

Encroachments occur when one party builds upon another parties land. With many homes that have fallen into foreclosures, many of these encroachments are being called out by cities. The cities are seeking to have the encroachments corrected by asking the owners to remove anything that is built upon city property. This could include backyards, patios, pools, spas, tennis courts, etc. Lately, I have seen all of these home improvements that have come under fire. In some cases, the cities have offered homeowners easements for a [...] Read more »

California Laws for 2012 For You To Know

California Laws for 2012

  Child Booster Seat Law The new California Booster Seat Law outlaws parents, guardians, or drivers from transporting on a highway in a motor vehicle any child under 8 years old without securing that child in an appropriate child restraint meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards. The new California law does contain a provision, however, that a child under 8 years of age who is 4’9″ inches in height or taller may use a safety belt rather than a child safety seat or booster seat. Employment Credit Check [...] Read more »

How Do You Find Who You Can Trust For Your Real Estate Needs?

How To Find An Inland Empire Real Estate Agent

The root of any good or great relationship is trust. Without trust it is impossible to maintain or build a relationship. Trust is a necessary component to any relationship that is to be deeper than a superficial relationship. So how does an individual begin the journey of building trust with another individual? There are a few ways: 1. Sometimes a level of trust is established based upon an introduction by a someone else that is mutually trusted. And so begins the journey of a referred [...] Read more »

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