IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE?

Here in the South Bay we feel pretty safe and secure about our

neighborhoods.  We know the most important thing to consider when purchasing a home is always, location, location, location. 

But, what about other neighborhoods we may be considering for income property, vacation homes or helping one of our kids find their first place?   

Today, with the amount of information available online, crime statistics can be easy to find if you just know where to look.  Here are some helpful places to start...

 

Sex Offenders: Thanks to Megan's Law, determining if there are registered sex offenders in the area has never been easier. Simply Google "Megan's Law, (your city), (your state)," and you should see a list of available resources. You should be able to enter the address, neighborhood, town, ZIP code, or other identifiers that will allow you to see if there are any registered sex offenders in the area. Be aware that process may vary by state, and if you don't have any success with the keywords "Megan's Law," instead try "sex offender, (your city), (your state)."

 

Drugs: Has a property been used for drug sales or drug production? Was it ever a meth lab? It may be a bit tougher to find all the information you want, but there are options:

 

Google the address. If a crime had been reported there, some details may show up in the search, especially if it made the local paper or news channels.

 

Drive by in the evening or weekend (when people are most likely around) and talk with neighbors. They can often be the best source for what happened in that home before it went on the market.


 Justice Dept. website Click on the map to view a list of counties and addresses where drug labs have been found.

Crime: Want to find out about stolen vehicles, robberies, and more? Below are three sites to help your buyers do that (besides the Daily Breeze, of course.) 


Trulia: To get an understanding of the overall crime statistics in the area, Trulia can be a good place to start. After entering the address in the search field, scroll down to the "Local Info" area and click on the "Crimes" tab. This information is also available for larger areas using the "Local Info" tab in the search area.
 

CrimeReports: This site allows you to see the types of crimes that occurred throughout the area. By clicking on the icons, you learn what type of crime was committed, where it was committed, and when it occurred.

SpotCrime is another site that works similarly to CrimeReports, though you may find more details on the CrimeReports site depending on the area.

 

Of course, call me for information on any property in Southern California.  I'd be more than happy to help you research and find a safe place to live, vacation, relocate or check out for the kids.  
Charlie :)
Team South Bay Realty

24214 Hawthorne Blvd. Suite B

Torrance, CA 90505

310-534-3940

New Dog In Town!

All my friends know that Annie (my neighbor down the street, who is 85 years old this year and spry as a Spring chicken) and I walk my dogs every morning.  Annie is on my porch at 6:00 a.m. (which we refer to as O'Dark'30) and you can set your watch by it. We've been doing this for years now.  This keeps us both in shape and accountable to each other.  We walk 7 days a week, unless it's raining.  Each day is a new adventure for us.  We never know what to expect.  There is all manner of nocturnal life moving about at that hour.  We've had a few unusual encounters.

A few weeks ago, as we were getting everyone leashed up on the front porch, an additional nose was poking through the porch gate.  It seems that all stray dogs in my neighborhood show up at my house at some point because they are attracted to my Great Pyrenees, Dyna.  She's sort of the matriarch of the hood.  So, that didn't surprise me much.  Annie arrived and we started our walk with the new dog,  Our new guest didn't have any tags at all.  That's unusual.  When they do, we call the "parents" and escort them home.  "Buddy" which we began calling him, seemed perfectly content to just walk with us, enjoying our normal early morning frivolity.  When we returned, all the dogs headed inside for their morning breakfast - including Buddy.  He was not interested in going anywhere else. 

I posted flyers, checked the websites, called the neighbors and took Buddy to the vet to scan for chips.  Nothing.  A neighbor mentioned seeing someone let a dog out of a van in the early morning and the dog looked confused and afraid.  He thought it looked like our Buddy.  As a Realtor in this market in our times of economic downturn and confusion, I see a lot of animals abandoned.  Cats left in vacant homes to fend for themselves, dogs left chained in yards with no food or water.  Now some families who can no longer care for their pets have been dropping them off in good neighborhoods, hoping some family will adopt them.  The shelters have reduced the time between drop off and euthanaisa, which is also sad, but I digress. 

Anyway, Buddy has decided that I'm his new Mama.  He's a true "Heinz 57" variety pup.  Looks like a cross between a Beagle, a Dalmation with maybe a bit of Lab or Setter.  He has these big liquid brown eyes that follow you everywhere. He wags his tail as soon as you turn your head toward him. He gets along with all the animals, including my three recently adopted cats.  You can leave the gates or doors open and he justs sits down and waits for someone to notice.  He's moved in!  If you or someone you know has lost this wonderful dog, please let me know.  Otherwise, I guess three dogs and three cats are still manageable.   Buddy seems to be a special messenger that has chosen our family and me in particular, for which I feel very blessed.  My friend Ray, who is an artist, painted a beautiful painting which is hung in my office.  It's called The Messenger.  Ray says, sometimes in life we are the message and sometimes we are the messenger...makes sense. 

Charlie Hoffmann (Mother of six furry children)
Team South Bay Realty

Financing Foreclosed Homes

 A "not so beautiful day in the neighborhood" for some homeowners today. Living next door to a boarded up home after foreclosure is not anyone's choice. Even with the price being way below market value (also not a blessing for the neighbors) the problem generally lies in being able to finance a severely distressed property. There is an answer that a lot of folks are over-looking in today's market. That is the old 203K loan. Still viable, available and a real good way to purchase that "fixer property" and have enough money to make it habitable.

Foreclosure properties, especially those with the water and power turned off, may not qualify for standard financing, but may qualify for a federally insured 203(k)loan. Buyers who are going to "owner occupy" the property and do not have enough money to purchase a foreclosure home using cash, may qualify for the federally insured 203(k) loan, which allows borrowers to roll projected rehab costs into the loan.

Since most foreclosure properties are sold "as is" and, oftentimes, heating, plumbing, and/or electric are problematic or inoperable, it's unlikely a conventional lender will lend money on the home. With a 203(k) loan, buyers generally employ an independent consultant hired by the Federal Housing Administration to review contractor cost estimates and architectural plans for things like whether the work will bring the property up to minimum standards, while not going overboard on improvements.

Buyers should be aware that not all foreclosure properties will be eligible. For instance, a partially built house that has never had a certificate of occupancy will require a construction loan of the kind that a commercial developer would use. We're also seeing more and more "unfinished remodeling job" homes today where the seller ran out of money and the building systems and/or structural definitions are lacking or insufficient. Those would require construction loans as well.

The interest rate on a 203(k) loan is approximately a quarter of a percentage point higher than on a standard FHA-insured loan, and a buyer also can expect to pay 1 or 2 points. Also, as with other FHA-backed loans, down payments may be as low as 3.5 percent, and loan limits apply. Currently, most FHA loans are capped at $729,750.

My friends at PACIFIC FIRST FINANCIAL will give you all the information necessary to investigate the 203K loan for your purchase. They also work with the CHF Platinum Program which is a Homebuyers Assistance Program featuring low interest rates and down payment along with closing cost assistance with Grants that do not have to be repaid. Call Sheila for the latest info at 310-214-9299.

Tote your toolbelt over to my office and I'll give you list of great opportunities in your neighborhood! We're always ready to work for you here at Team South Bay Realty, Your Realtors For Life!

Call 310-534-3940 or email: Charlie

EVEN THOUGH IT'S 40 DEGREES, SPRING IS HERE!

And let the ritual of spring cleaning begin... but here's a tip for all year round from one of our Home Warranty Companies. Something to think about! 

“Failure is simply the opportunity to

begin again more intelligently.”  Henry Ford

Home Maintenance Tip 

Keeping Your Water Heater Fit

Most people don't give much thought to their water heater - they just turn on the faucet and expect hot water to come out. Water heaters are relatively maintenance free, and you can keep your water heater in peak operating condition just by performing two

simple maintenance tasks every six months: test the pressure valve and then flush the tank.

If the pressure release valve is not operating properly, the tank can potentially over pressurize and explode. Flushing the tank prevents sediment build up, which can reduce your water heater's energy efficiency and clog your water lines. Consult your owner's manual or other maintenance guide for instructions on how to safely perform these maintenance tasks. Visit OLD REPUBLIC and click on the QUICK FIX TIPS link in the Homeowner's Section of their site for more information.

If you have any homeowner tips you'd like to offer, please email Charlie@TeamSouthBayRealty.com  and we'll post for everyone. 

Happy Spring! 

p.s. You might want to invest in a hot tub for "after Spring Cleaning" to treat your aching back!  I purchased a FreeFlow Spa about 5 years ago and I love it.  Lots of good deals right now.  Shop around and get one that is "self-contained" like mine.

Call if you want some tips on on tubs. 

Charlie :) 
and Dyna too, Of course  (with her friend Moose on a Doggie Playdate)

A Good Time To Buy?

A good time to buy?



Many housing economists have said that for borrowers with stable incomes, good credit history, and FICO scores of at least 620, now is an opportune time to purchase a home. Although inventory rates are below the long-run average, there still are plenty of options available for buyers of middle to high-end homes.


Consumers trying to time the market and purchase their home when prices are likely to rise again are advised to take a different approach. According to one real estate consultant, while home prices have stopped declining in most areas, and even have risen in some markets, mortgage rates may rise, offsetting any potential savings.


Early last year, the Federal Reserve began purchasing mortgage-backed securities, which helped maintain low interest rates for consumers. However, the Fed’s purchase program ended in March, and some analysts forecast interest rates to increase throughout the rest of the year. One financial publishing company predicts that rates likely will rise to 5.5 percent by mid-2010 and close the year at 5.75 percent to 6 percent. The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) projects rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages to average 5.6 percent this year.

Closely-watched indices, including the Standard & Poor’s/Case Shiller Index, indicate that the high end of the market didn’t experience the same dramatic price appreciation as the low end. Home prices in this segment have not declined as steeply as homes in the mid- to low-end of the market. Additionally, many discretionary sellers in the high end—those who do not have to sell their homes—are opting to wait until home prices rise before listing their homes for sale.



The high end of the market also is facing challenges with buyers qualifying for financing. During the height of the market, many high-end home purchases were fueled by exotic mortgage products. Now that those mortgages are no longer readily available, many lenders are requiring borrowers to provide proof of income, such as W-2s and recent paystubs, as well as demonstrate their ability to meet the monthly mortgage obligation.

This year is still providing many windows of opportunity.  If you've been waiting to move into a larger home or waiting to downsize for retirement, this is a good time to move forward.  As the market stabilizes, interest rates will rise.   Use this time to meet your goals and make the most of the current market.  Why wait 3-5 years to achieve the same result under different circumstances. 

Call me with questions about your home value or for a list of homes to preview in your area. You know I'm never too busy to be of service in my community and never too busy for your referrals!

The home pictured above is a wonderful 3 bedroom home in the Lomita Pines area.  Check out this home's personal website:
http://www.2077guyson.com/ for all the details or call me and I'll send a copy of the listing information directly to you. 

Enjoy the beautiful Spring weather!

IT'S RAINING INSIDE MY MASTER BATH!

The weather has finally begun to show signs of summer. June gloom is edging away and the sunny Southern California sun has finally begun her tour across the South Bay. The air in the mornings is crisp and clean. As I walk with my dogs through the tall Pine trees, everything smells fresh and sweet at 6:00 a.m. with temperatures in the low 60's. Lomita Pines Photos

Now it's about Noon ... the sun begins to beat down ... and beat down... and beat down... and temperatures rise and my dogs find shelter on the cool stone floors, begging not to be put outdoors. I begin to remember those hot summer days I used to frolic through when I was 10. Now they create rivulets of sweat coarsing down my back but I digress...It is definately summer. 90 degrees+ Not normal!


Here in the South Bay we enjoy very mild weather patterns. We are actually quite spoiled by the weather. The cool breezes off the ocean or the harbor (depending on which side of the Peninsula your home is attached) keep us quite comfortable. We rarely use air conditioning. We pride ourselves on our conservative use of electricity in the summer.


At 5:00 I did it! I turned on the air conditioning. I just wanted to cool things down a tad before getting prepared for an evening event. Just a few hours of air conditioning usually do the trick. About 7:00 I headed for the master bedroom to get ready to go out. I walked into the master bath and there was a new "water feature" not unlike the one in my patio, but upside down so to speak. Water was not dripping but pouring from the light fixture in my bathroom. My brain went into shock as I tried to figure out what would cause such a thing to happen. The dogs and I watched for a few seconds and then it hit me. It had to be the air conditioner. The furnace is poised right above the bath. I pulled open the attic door and sure enough, water was pouring from the condensation tubing which should have been entering the drain provided for it's collection. I rushed to shut down the air conditioner and gathered up a mop and towels and started cleaning up the new lake in my bathroom.


Since this is the beginning of the summer season for many of you, my story is meant as a reminder. Many of us have not used our air conditioner for six months or more. Many things can occur in that period of time. The drains get clogged, The tubing escapes from the fittings. Mold has formed in the tube or drain. Remember to remind your clients (and friends and husbands or wives) that summertime is a good time for a air conditioning "dust and clean." We change the filters and vacuum the vents but we don't think about the fragile mechanical parts until something like this happens. It's not a bad idea to have the air conditioning people take a peek and make sure you're ready for the season! Flooding does not help to cool the house in the summer ...

By the way, if you need a few recommendations for help around the house, check my Business Referral Directory and let them know that Charlie sent you - they'll take good care of you!




Good luck and God Bless. Let me know if you have any helpful hints for homeowners preparing for the summer season.


Charlie


Team South Bay Realty

$8,000 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit

As the stomach churns and as prices continue to plunge across the US, there are more programs being offered to help stimulate first time buyers into action. The biggest one right now is the $8,000 First Time Home Buyer Credit Program.

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan on Friday unveiled a policy change to that program that would provide home buyers with quicker access. Buyers would be free to put the funds toward closing costs and a portion of their down payment instead of receiving only a tax credit. The federal government hopes that the measure will stimulate housing demand.

President Obama's $787 billion economic stimulus plan—which was signed into law in mid-February—included a tax credit worth up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers. The $8,000, however, was only being issued as a "tax credit." The new HUD initiative enables borrowers to obtain short-term loans allowing them to tap the tax credit to actually purchase the home. Donovan said in a news release. "What we're doing today will not only help these families to purchase their first home but will present an enormous benefit for communities struggling to handle an oversupply of housing."

The measure only applies to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages and the short-term loans can't be used to pay for the minimum 3.5 percent down payment that FHA loans require. Instead, the loan can be used for closing costs and to finance the portion of the down payment that exceeds the 3.5 percent threshold. The administration opted to have borrowers come up with the initial 3.5 percent themselves to ensure that buyers have an investment in the purchase, which they feel will reduce the likelihood of default.

If you are a first time buyer and are interested in obtaining an FHA loan utilizing the $8,000 credit, call for more information and we will refer you to a qualified FHA Mortgage Broker in your area. This is a special program and must be handled by FHA certified mortgage brokers.

Also available on demand are 2009 Sales Charts for all the South Bay cities. Call or email with your specific city request and we'll send out your up to date FREE, no obligation sales chart for your area (or area in which you are interested in investing.) I will also be posting monthly updates for the South Bay area on my Facebook Page (check Twitter for update notices.)

Stimulate OUR economy - buy local!

By the way, the cute little house at the top is a new Lease Offering @ $2300 per month for those not yet ready to buy - call for more information. It's located in beautiful Lomita Pines!

Did The Earth Move For You?

Monday, May 18, 2009

DID THE EARTH MOVE FOR YOU?

After dinner last night I was typing in my Face Book when something picked up my house and plopped it back down again...

I had a glass of wine on my desk and I watched my glass in amazement as it hopped up and righted itself without losing a drop! One of my dogs, however, was not as confident about the situation as my wine glass seemed to be. She threw open the patio screen and tried to fit all 125 pounds of her quivering fur self into my lap, pushing the other dogs and my keyboard and waste basket clean out of her way.

I've lived in Los Angeles for over 30 years (I believe that makes me a native, doesn't it?) I've survived the Northridge Quake, several Long Beach bursts and a host of assorted mini movers and shakers. Each time the drill is the same...quiet the dogs, carefully look around the house for broken glass and eventually venture outdoors to check for any broken pipes or evidence of foundation shifting, fallen trees or shaken neighbors. Here in the South Bay, we have been very blessed. We sit on a good deal of bedrock and have tested our homes' flexibility enough times to feel fairly safe. Of course, Redondo Beach is within Tsunami reach and Palos Verdes has the Long Beach fault running through it (as well as Lomita, Harbor City, San Pedro and Wilmington.) Needless to say, we still catch our breath when the rumbling starts.

I'm a certified CERT member (Community Emergency Response Team) and was trained in Redondo Beach by some of the best fire fighters in Los Angeles County! We completed some drills that would make Grey's Anatomy (the TV program on Thursday nights) look like Romper Room. We learned how to triage the neighborhood and toe tag the casualties. We learned how to shut off gas service to prevent fires and handle water shut offs before broken pipes turn houses into swimming pools. We learned how to store food and supplies and prepare to help others in assorted states of emergency. We learned how to comply with FEMA rules, give first aid, give CPR, use Cribbing, how to use Fire Extinguishers and to work on a hose line operation.

Of course, non of the above can prepare you emotionally for any actual event but it helps. Those first few crucial moments when your mind snaps into place and fear retreats, come a lot faster with this training. I sincerely suggest that everyone reading my blog consider checking with your local city or county to find a CERT program to prepare you to help yourself, your family, your neighbors and your community in a time of crisis. We know it's coming. We know we must prepare. We should also be conscious that this kind of training may save your life or the lives of your loved ones and all it takes is one night a week for a few weeks. You won't be sorry - you'll be glad you did it.

By the way, they don't train how to catch a Great Pyrenees dog flying at you across a room in emotional distress. Call me and I'll give you some pointers!

Charlene "Charlie" Hoffmann
Team South Bay Realty
Charlie@YourSouthBayTeam.com
310-534-3940 (direct)
310-947-5453 (mobile)
www.TeamSouthBayRealty.com

We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly.
-- Aristotle, Greek philosopher (384-322 BC)

NEED GARAGE? WE'VE GOT IT!!

Lomita Pines has some great homes. All custom built, each one unusual in its own way but this one is special for all you car enthusiasts, hobbiests, vacationistas, or just those of you with a bunch of STUFF! Not only do we have a beautiful three bedroom, 2 bath city view home, but we have all that plus a FOUR CAR GARAGE! Hmmm...not to mention a beautifully remodeled kitchen, formal dining room, balcony, covered patio, street to alley driveway and additional downstairs kitchenette ... but a FOUR CAR GARAGE! Take a peek, you don't see that many here in the city. Check out the information on the "rest" of the house too!

LEMONADE IN THE PARK ...

I may be dating myself here, but this picture reminds me of my childhood...hot summer days with ice cold lemonade, park-like backyards, playsets, lots of room and lots of time and lots of fun! Today, it's hard to find BIG BACK YARDS with quiet park-like settings.... nice places to sit and sip and talk. Put away the IPODS and Blackberries and just enjoy the quiet, watching the kids play...it makes you feel young again. And if you're the parents in this setting, it makes you feel secure and comfortable that your family has a safe, fun place to play and relax!

This is a lovely home in Lomita Pines. Not only does it have this fabulous back yard, it also has four bedrooms, two and one half baths, a large yet cozy living room with fireplace, remodeled kitchen, covered patio, balcony with city views, attached garage with custom cabinets and direct entry into the home, security system, forced air heat and air conditioning. Great floorplan too... one bedroom and bath downstairs has a private entrance (perfect for teens, nannies, inlaws or just guests.) Beautiful handcrafted oak stair rails lead to the spacious upstairs bedrooms with lovely city views. You have to preview this home to appreciate it. More information is available at: http://www.realestateshows.com/196690 or http://www.lomitahomes.com/.

Oh, did I mention that this home is also on a Cul De Sac? Visit us and feel the difference this neighborhood could make in your life and the lives of your family members.

Call me for more information on this and other beautiful homes in the Pines that may fit your needs. My business is in your neighborhood!

It's a Good Life!