Southern California Housing Vibes

Attending school in Orange County, California, can be a real beach.    Southern California has a shoreline that's roughly 1500 miles long, and is dotted with some of the most coveted schools America.    How much more gnarly can you get?          Aside from uber attractive weather, delicious sea b...

The mention of silicone in Orange County schools may bring risque images mind.   In the context of high school, it may This is The O.C., after all, home of the hit Fox television show featuring teens and their families from Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, California.   These affluent communities ...

This is a true story! This title came to me in the dead of the night in a zombie state of mind.   Imagine my shock seeing Alan May's comment on Mimi Foster's blog?   It's identical to this blog title!   Alan exercised his psychic powers and ripped off the precise title from my dream.   The nerve!...

This subject is too serious for a teaser. A recent decision by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) affects renters, buyers, homeowners, investors, Realtors, and Realtor affiliates. Jeepers creepers, put on those peepers—this applies to everyone!    In 2008, the FHA raised the temporary maximum lo...

The Activerain culture often belies competition among Realtors.    Members contribute copious amounts of educational and instructional material in spite of aiding the enemy—so to speak.   This creates a sense of solidarity within the AR community, and I’m as happy as pup with two tails to be part...

California Governor Jerry Brown unsticks the risk of deficiency judgments for Southern California short sales. Former Senate Bill 931 required lenders to waive its right to pursue a deficiency between the sale proceeds and the amount owing on thefirst mortgage. However, Senate Bill 458, the new l...

Being watched may change our behavior, but it shouldn't. We are the Realtors of yesterday, with more experience today. As our profession changes, our task changes. Most of us have wistful remembrances of fun transactions, but they do little to serve the modern client. Servicing our neighbors, som...

"Hey, Louise, Curmudgeon Man on the phone.  He wants to talk about your house." My worst nightmare is being introduced in this way.   I'm better able to step into the shoes of would-be clients wearing my compassion cap, and that's especially important with homeowners being hammered at every turn....

Dear Distressed Homeowner: Short sales have become a common fixture today and account for the plurality of home sales.  Opting for a short sale in Orange County, California places you in the company of many of your neighbors across the great nation of ours. Short sales are an American reality.   ...

A high level of short sale frustration is apparent.   Misguided bank appraisals that send short sales into tailspins are one recurring theme.   Banks reordering appraisals in the home stretch and, effectively, sending the short sale back to square one is another theme. IS FORECLOSURE MORE OF A DE...