Home Inspection Rocked!

I have a team of professionals that help me with my clients. Escrow, Title, Disclosure, Termite, Inspectors.

Since most clients don't know one of the above, it's my job to recommend one to them that I have total trust in.

I've been working with one inspector, I had to go back and look, since 2008. I used to work with another before that but he didn't take photos and refused to do so. Which made it a little difficult to know what he was talking about when the report actually came. He just didn't want to keep up with the times!

So, this guy....Charlie Garcia of National Property Inspections, did a home inspection on one of my listings back in 2008. When I received the report....boy was I impressed. Sooooo detailed, and yes, you betcha, photographs so my seller and I could see what he was talking about.

Fast forward to yesterday, inspection for a new buyer escrow and the seller was a tad antsy. We'll get the report tomorrow, or the next, but the review indicated there wasn't a whole lot to do.

The entire inspection rocked! From the inspector doing his due diligence, me doing my Agent Inspection, buyer and seller talking about what the seller wanted to leave, what the buyer would be okay with leaving....watching sports on television. Hey, I may even get a bottle of wine at the end from the seller!

Best part? The time my client and I spent walking around the neighborhood, wandering through the driving range of the nearby golf course, and spotting the abundant squirrel activity around his soon to be new home.

Yep, that Home Inspection certainly Rocked yesterday! 

Delay on Loan Approval....Just Blame TRID!

But, really, don't blame the newer TRID rules. I've had plenty lenders get it closed in 30 days. Approved in 2 weeks, closed in 30 days. And, we've been at this for a while now. Known about it for even longer.

Don't tell me it can't be done when I've got lenders doing it.

It would appear that most lenders are getting up to speed, most. They seem to have no troubles closing in 45 days. But, what if we need 30 day closing, then what?

Best be working with a great lender that moves quickly, manages their files as if they were their own home purchase!

If an FHA loan can close in 45 days, a conventional sure should be able to close in 30.

Yes, I'm ranting a bit. But, an article that I just read prompted the rant.

And, I've got one right now that is blaming TRID for not having approval yet. None of my preferred lenders have closed late, or gotten an approval late, due to TRID. That's why they're my preferred lenders.

Creating Beautiful Rest Areas in Small Yards

I've got an odd shaped yard. Big side yards, kinda narrow actual rear yard. So, I look at these types of designs frequently.

Working with a buyer right now that wants low maintenance yard. So, needless to say, we are looking at many that just have patios or very small outdoor spaces.

This was prompted from Houzz, my favorite design site that drips me e-mails daily!

They are just share worthy. Oh, and Houzz is looking for your small outdoor space ideas as well!

A tad too leafy for my taste.

Great apartment building, contemporary feel.

Yep, I could totally lounge here!

Goldman Sachs ~ YIKES ~ Gotta Have the Money to Pay the Fine

5 billion in fines, etc. from crappy, misleading, Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS) sold as part of the crash.

FIVE BILLION they have to pay out. For lying, basically, for lying. Stating the RMBS' were good when they, in fact, were crappy, with a likelihood of failing.

Did I mention FIVE BILLION? Now, I don't feel sorry for them at all. In fact, I think it probably should have been more, but I wasn't privvy to the fine details at all. Yet, you have to think, if they have 5B to pay out....they must have a helluva a lot more in their coffers to still stay afloat.

It was a long article, read on Housing Wire. Feel free to read the detailed version here:

Goldman Sachs officially reaches $5B settlement over toxic mortgage bonds

At any rate, they deserve to be punished for the wrongful acts they committed. Remarkable that it took a decade to bring them to justice. The people that suffered won't even begin to be compensated....IMHO. But, do the crime, pay the fine. Another one crossed off the DOJ's list!

5k Value For Paid Solar System.....Thoughts?

Met with an appraiser for one of my listings yesterday. These sellers have a leased solar system. No value given at all. We know that. Have to make sure the buyer can qualify for it is the biggest issue we are seeing with Solar Systems on homes for sale.

But, a year or so ago completely owned outright systems were not given much in value either.

So, as Appraiser felt like chatting...most really don't....I asked her if she was giving value to the owned outright systems?

Five thousand. Yep, that's what she said she was adjusting her appraisals for. There just aren't enough like type sales to use for comparison values. She indicated that she kinda estimated a years worth of electric bills and that's where her 5k came from.

So, something to think about when you're considering solar in your home. Right now, the value this appraiser was considering for an owned system......$5,000.00.

Sales Activity in Awesometown & Surrounding Communities April 12, 2016

Keeping you informed!

Included, as usual.....Acton, Agua Dulce, Canyon Country, Saugus, Newhall, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, Val Verde.

Active homes for sale as of today ~ 563. I would rather see about 1000.

In escrow is 698, 607 of them are standard sales.

Closed escrow in the last 30 days ~ 306.

So, those are your numbers about Santa Clarita Home Sales for today!

O.M.G. Really? That's A Whole Lotta Moolah!

This ought to be a pretty dang short post.....but wowza.....I definitely had blinders on until I read this article! Thought I should share.

TOP FOUR BANKS CEO'S MAKE HUGE DOUGH!

4. Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan's made the lowest amount, with his total compensation rising to $16 million for 2015, up from $13 million for 2014.

3. Next, Citigroup CEO Michael Corbat received a sizeable pay raise in 2015, increasing by about 27% in 2015, earning about $16.5 million last year, compared with $13 million in 2014, the article stated.

2. While ranked second, Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO John Stumpf’s pay was unchanged from last year at $19.3 million in 2015.

1. Coming in first, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, chief executive of the largest U.S. bank by assets, had his 2015 pay surge 35% to $27 million.

Are those amounts really necessary? I mean, really?

Taking Out A New Client Tomorrow.........

A buyer was referred to me by one of my trusted lenders and a past client we both worked with.

Tomorrow is our first day together. I told him we're taking my car so we can chat along the way and get to know more about each other and the process of buying a home with me. Cool beans. Well, he didn't really say that but didn't try and say no either!

Some agents don't drive with their clients, weird I think. If a client is 'getting into bed' with me for a few months, we sure should be able to drive in the same car. AND, it's when a lot of information is provided by and to me. Super important.

First day out I never expect to find the perfect home. It's happened maybe once or twice in my 14 year career but I persuaded the client to look at more homes ....so they could be sure.

I anticipate watching and listening to this new buyer when he views a property, sees the neighborhood, looks at the appliances....not really, they don't pay a ton of attention to the appliances!

But, this first day will tell me a lot. I've got my favorite style of homes, and I know what the majority of the people like when they are buying. I've been told what this new client is looking for as well. However, he's not 100% sure, or we wouldn't be looking a everything from a pool home to a townhouse and properties that fall in between.

There will always be a few gotta haves, a couple of no ways, and several that could go either way. It's my job to climb into bed with the client at night, and come out in the morning with the perfect home for them!

I love what I do!!!