TIME TO CANCEL TIME MAGAZINE

I’d always considered myself a centrist/conservative. Subscribing to Time Magazine is not something a “dyed in the wool” conservative would do. I appreciate hearing all points of view. That said, the August 30th issue with the cover question “Is America Islamophobic?” really got my dander up (that’s a Midwest phrase.) I spent 9-11-01 in Hawaii with 2000 people at a seminar, a good portion from New York. My roommate lived less than 1 mile from Ground Zero. Dozens of my attendee friends lost loved ones. We were stuck on the island. No flights in or out that week. We grieved together, cursed together and learned about each other on a much deeper level than could ever have been anticipated. The Time article particularly angered me. To cover that gripe I need the space of a book, not a blog.

Now I’m reading the September 6th issue, the front cover shouting “Rethinking Homeownership.” As a Realtor and Real Estate Broker I tried to review their information with an open mind. After all, I need to know what my clients are being told. That recalls another phase “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” When I finished their ludicrous article I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Their concept conclusion - Americans should trend toward dumping their homes and consider inner city living in cities where people can walk to work. The author envisioned urban areas becoming hotbeds of rental housing. Obviously, this writer is probably not a homeowner, certainly doesn’t live in Los Angeles and most likely will never earn a living as a writer except maybe for comedy.

Since most of my clients live near the beach or on the hill (Palos Verdes Peninsula) I’m trying to imagine leaving those homes behind and moving downtown. They could rent a flat (some buildings are currently converting to lofts.) They could walk to work (assuming they can find a job downtown.) They could also take the Red line to the Blue line to the bus station to the beach …problem with dragging those surf boards though. Perhaps this author lives in New York City. If that’s the case, I pray she lives in the same neighborhood as the intended mosque. Meantime, if you would like to downsize to a rental loft in the business district, please call me! I have many people trying to buy homes in the South Bay area. Somehow we have this strange conception that God is not making anymore Beach Front property. I suppose that will hold until the next “big” one drops us into Las Vegas, but I digress.

If you are a first time buyer NOW is the time to buy not rent. Interest rates are in the 4’s for heaven’s sake. If you have a paycheck and even if you have to commute to a job in East Butt Scratch, I suggest this is your window of opportunity. And if you’re short on funds, you can start saving money right now by cancelling your Time Magazine subscription!

Tired of the Wolves?

Every day we hear a different story....the real estate market is recovering....oops, foreclosures are up....OK, notices of default are down...Oh boy, stock market is up...Geez, Dow just crashed...It's gotten to be such a travesty that "television news" is no longer watched for information, just for entertainment.  We know a lot more about Brad and Angelina than what the new health care bill actually contains.  News in the information age has become much more confusing and self-serving than helpful.   

The information available for distressed homeowners is abundant.  If you're currently unemployed, you'll have time to wade through it.  If you aren't, the task is daunting.  I've been in the real estate business for over 30 years now and I've seen depressed market conditions before.  I don't think I've ever seen such depressed homeowners though.  After receiving so many "trouble" calls this year, I decided to create a team to help those people who are overwhelmed with "wolves at their doors" and underwhelmed with the accuracy and availability of helpful infomation.  Team South Bay Realty has had it's own TeamSouthBayShortSales website for quite a while but we needed more.  We needed more "hands on deck" and a way to get the information out to those in need but too embarassed to call for help.  We decided to partner with a national site to help our homeowners "keep the wolves from their doors" and obtain information more easily and accurately either on their own or with our help.  Thus was born our additional site:  Program 3648. Now with the expanded reach of a national information site and our "hands on" regional assistance, we can help our neighbors and friends solve problems and save their homes and sanity. 

Visit our sites and/or call or email Charlie for a personal consultation if you need one.  Invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers and relatives to do the same.  We expect the foreclosure market to get much worse between now and 2013.  We want you to know that if and when you need us, we're here for you.  We cover the South Bay for all your real estate needs including residential and income properties.

Team South Bay provides many services to our clients including our network of small business partners throughout the Southland listed in  Charlie's Business Referral Directory.  We invite you to partner with us too and let us know who you recommend for premium service.  If you'd  like to recommend someone, please call or email their information. 

Please remember, we are NEVER too busy for your referrals.  We take pride in our personal service and you can rest assured the people you send our way will be grateful for your referral.

Meantime, chin up!  There is always a light

at the end of every tunnel. 

Let's keep the lamps lit together.

Charlie :)