I AM QUOTED IN THIS ARTICLE WHICH WAS RECENTLY  PUBLISHED IN THE DAILY NEWS.  Getting ready to purchase a home? Ready to re-model or add on to your existing home? If you live in the City of Los Angeles and answered, "yes" to any of these questions then this may come as a big surprise for you! The Los Angeles City Department of Public Works Bureau of Engineering has adopted policy requiring the homeowner to pay for and provide a video inspection of the main lateral sewer line when an application for a building permit is made on any structure built prior to 1965. The lateral is the portion of the property's main sewer line that connects the property to the city sewer pipe. The homeowner must provide video documentation of the sewer line for the city inspector to review so the city inspect... 04/24/2008

Burbank Real Estate, San Fernando Valley Real Estate, Palmdale & Lancaster Real Estate by Lupe Soto, Realtor (818)968-3718. Se habla espanol.For those homeowners that have not paid property taxes before 04/10/08 in Los Angeles County. Please give the Tax Assessor a call regarding a 5-year repayment plan and how to qualify. I encourage everyone to contact them monday to friday and do not hesitate to call and ask about this option.  1-888-807-2111, please read more below. LOS ANGELES COUNTY TREASURER & TAX ASSESSOR WEBSITEINFORMACION EN ESPANOL. Si tiene alguna duda, llame a Lupe, Agente de Casas al 818-968-3718 y con gusto le dare mas orientacion.Para aquellos duenos de propiedades que no pagaron su taxes de propiedad el pasado 04/10/08. Por favor consideren llamar a la oficina del Tax A... 04/23/2008

WebTV Realtor - Padre Island - Corpus Christi REALTOR's  JUST Listed!April 23, 2008WebTV Realtor: Corpus Christi - Padre Island, TexasMr. C. KIM McGuire Lists a Parade of Homes CUSTOM Home (Built by Mr. J and Sons) and a Lot on Padre Island for Sale: Cozumel Drive, 78418Please visit:  www.CorpusTV.com for the New Listings as well as other fine Homes and Lots. Search for ALL homes in the Coastal Bend are via www.CorpusTV.com.KIM can sell any homes and lots listed by any realty agency. Ask KIM for Buyer Representation. NO cost to buyers! KIM also can help with rentals.Note: Contents of this article are the sole opinion of the REALTOR. Just like anything else in life, individuals MUST use their own research, analytical, decision, and prediction skills!    Padre Island Weather: Gorgeous! Pe... 04/23/2008

     http://www.homenloan.com/files/790726/los-angeles3.jpg Picture courtesy of homeloans.comGreat Article in the Los Angeles Times about the Luxury Multiple Homeowners that want Luxury and location convient to Downtown....fantastic spectacular Los Angeles developments This is a few highlights of Jennifer Lisle article in the LA Times, March 30,2008.. High-rises, high prices With luxury penthouses in Los Angeles, developers pursue the ultra-wealthy buyer. By Jennifer Lisle, Special to The Times March 30, 2008  IF you want a killer condo in L.A., the stakes are getting higher. Several über-luxe penthouses are defying the gravitational pull of the housing market and redefining the meaning of luxury.Mostly new, they are set atop buildings awash in every service and amenity imaginable and t... 04/03/2008

Take a stroll through one of LA's most well-kept, exclusive neighborhoods. An island unto itself, Hancock Park is home to stately mansions and plush greenery throughout - providing its residents a serene oasis in the middle of the urban jungle that is Los Angeles. Wedged in between Korea Town and the Miracle Mile, bordered by Larchmont and Wilshire, HP offers a Beverly Hills appeal in the midst of an urban landscape. Enjoy.Click here for the link to the video made by yours truly.Some sample pics:       03/31/2008

Last night my boyfriend and I went to a going away party for our girlfriend, Elenor, at Medusa Bar on Beverly in L.A. Located about 12 mins no-traf* from North Hollywood, 8 mins no-traf from Downtown, and pretty darn close to Silverlake, Medusa Bar and lounge is an architectual must-see. A mix of class and style make this place a modern and detailed establishment.Enter the bar through a large door guarded by two lions and you will see many chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.  My favorite chandelier encompasses the majority of the main bar, while others hang around - complete with antlers. As you walk through the lounge prepare to be "floored" by the high cathedral ceilings. Unusual in the L.A. area, to stand under these is worth the trip alone.  Conversation and enjoyable music  - spu... 03/29/2008

The mortgage crisis is steadily running its course through the economy and arguably has left not one sector or industry unscathed or at least threatened. And from where there is weakness, there is opportunity. Potential home buyers across the nation have realized a true "buyer's market" - defined by lowering interest rates, falling home prices, and motivated sellers. Finally, it seemed, that there was hope for the low and moderate income families to get a taste of good ol' American pie. Government-backed subsidy programs aimed at first-timers increased in popularity. We've even seen their funds being depleted due to a rise in loan reservation requests. For some time I have questioned the mortality of these types of assistance programs and recently posed the question on Zillow.com. Are t... 03/28/2008

Why?45% of the nations cargo goes through the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.Therefore the roads out of the port lead to the rest of the world across our local streets. The local mayors met the agents of the South Bay Thursday 3/27/08 in Torrance. It was a great meeting Transportation was the key issue and sewer systems under the roads were next in orcer of biggest problemsfollowing Mayors.Gardena(freeway city)Lomita (the mayor is funny)Lawndale( they have money)Torrance (the biggest city)Redondo Beach(55+ drivers are biggest complainers on traffic)Hermosa Beach(the mayor is serious and says we don't know really bad traffic yet)Carson (talk about brown fields later)They have problems. mandated state items without the funds to follow the rule.got to www.teamatthebeach.com for... 03/28/2008

 LAPD Foothill DivisionApartment Owners & Managers Rental Property Forum(A learning series on how to run, a safer & more profitable apartment building)  March 27, 2008 / Thursday6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Presented by:The City of Los Angeles in conjunction with The Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles Topics will include:    1. WORKING WITH LAPD(Meet your Senior Lead Officer) 2.  FOOTHILL GANG UNIT(LA City Attorney's Office) 3.  HOW TO CONTROL CRIME & NUISANCE AROUND YOUR PROPERTY(Crime prevention through environmental design - CPTED & documentation for evicting nuisance tenants)  4.  EVICTION ATTORNEY - LESLIE BORN / QUESTIONS / ANSWERS Meeting Location:7747 Foothill Boulevard, Tujunga CA 91042(Sunland Tujunga Municipal Bldg. - Councilmember Wendy Greuel Field Office)    For more inform... 03/27/2008

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa And Counsel Member Eric Garcetti announced on Wed a plan to streamline the process for getting building permits approved, the current process is incredibly time consuming anti growth. The new process will reduce the number of agencies involved from 12 to 2 and put the majority of the responsibility on The Department of Building safety and Public Works. The move is an effort to stimulate economic growth and the creation of Jobs. Several Local news sources have reported on this action and additional information is available from the mayor's office.This will be a time consuming process to get this initiative approved although the mayor wants to fast track this plan. There will be opposition but I believe that this is a plus for local homeowners and co... 03/27/2008

Multi-Family Income Properties 2-4 Units, Residential Income Properties in Burbank & San Fernando Valley (Duplex for sale, Triplex, Fourplex, 2-4 units, 5+ units) serving Los Angeles County .  Lupe Soto is your Exclusive Buyer's Agent & Exclusive Real Estate Investor Agent . Lupe is committed to building wealth for you!  SE HABLA ESPANOL LUPE SOTO REALTOR & INCOME PROPERTY SPECIALIST, REO AGENT serving Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando Valley & Northern Los Angeles County including Santa Clarita Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster, CACALL FOR FASTER SERVICE (818)276-6882 Lupe Soto Realtor Income Property Specialist Principals only Multi-Family For Sale - MultiFamily For Sale - Duplex For Sale -Triplex For Sale - Fourplex For Sale VIDEO BLOG with duplex triplex fourplex for sale, call Lupe for mor... 03/25/2008

With less than 30 days left until April15th, many Los Angeles homeowners are scrambling to get their paperwork together for their tax preparer appointment. In all the frustrated and anxiety filled moments before the meeting, many homeowners may forget a few of the tax deductions they may be allowed. As a reminder, here are just a few that may help you with your income taxes this year. Be aware that before you make any of these deductions, you need to speak with a tax professional first before doing so. 1. PMI - Private Mortgage Insurance is an extra insurance that lenders require when a homeowner puts less than 20% down payment on a home. in essence, lenders would prefer an 80% Loan-to-Value, however those borrowers with an LTV higher than 80% must pay an insurance premium each month. B... 03/21/2008

Toluca Lake Real Estate & Leasing, Burbank Real Estate & Homes For Sale by Lupe Soto (818)968-3718 Renting Better Than a Vacant HomeIf a house doesn't sell, owners should consider renting - and hiring a real estate professional to lease and manage the property.Renting out a house rather than leaving it vacant is almost always a better option. Plan to rent the property for several years, get some income and "get on with your lives."Some are afraid they'll lose a tax-free sale. But sellers only have to live in a home for two of the last five years to claim the capital-gains exclusion, so even if that is an issue, sellers have three years to rent.Once a home is rented, any fix-up costs are tax deductible. An empty house is hard to insure and it's a target for vandals. TENANTS - LEASING SER... 03/17/2008

The Los Angeles Times is running a feature article in the Sunday Real Estate section on March 16. The article paints a very clear picture of how home staging helps sell homes, even in this volatile real estate market. The article The Benefits of Staging a Home, written by Ann Brenoff, is available for viewing on-line. Ann interviewed Connie Tebyani of Platinum Home Staging, and me. The article gives a very balanced view of how home staging works, and how it can benefit home sellers and real estate agents. While this article will provide great promotional benefits for both Connie and myself, I think that it will also benefit the staging industry as a whole. No doubt, when a well respected newspaper like the Los Angeles Times says that staging is beneficial, it lends great credence to our... 03/14/2008

For the majority of the year the commercial market had gone along its merry path,mostly undisturbed by the market forces affecting the residential world. However for the past few months we have finally felt some changes. Some of the commercial lenders have gone out of business. Recently the guidlines for commercial lending have also tightened up. Properties such as restaurants and assisted living facilities have become a challenge to finance. Is the commercial market going bust?I feel not. Although some of the guidelines have become more difficult, these changes will affect 10 to 20% of the available market. There is still a HUGE amount of business available for the real estate professional that goes out and seeks it. Our current lending market is probably like the one we had back in '0... 03/14/2008

Get the truth about selling your home before the Bank forcloses on you. Short Sale Specialist in Orange County, Riverside and Los Angeles County. Let me list your home and I will negotiate the sale of your home. The Bank will pay all the sales commissions and closing costs. Time is crutcial so call me today for your confidential consultation. Gary Gonzales - ReMax OCE, 949-322-4279 or 818-585-3856 www.GaryGonzaels.com Experienced! Reliable! Ethical! & Friendly! 03/14/2008

11th District Cost-Of-Fund- A published data series based on the average yield paid by saving and loan associations on the funds they used to make mortgage loans.   (Explanation)  The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (the 11th District) Interest rate is relatively stable as a deposit is made the interest rate are paid determined the time of the deposit.     Monetary Policy -Governmental regulation of the amount of money in circulation through such institutions as the Federal Reserve Board   (Explanation) Is a tool that the government uses to influence their economy and by controlling to amount of money on the market.   Seasoned loan – A loan on which several payments have been collected.   (Explanation) If the seller accepts a second mortgage on the property. After he collects 1... 02/29/2008

You have probably heard in the news lately about the possibility of a recession as a result of the downturn in the housing market. Well, before we panic, lets make sure we understand that not all real estate is affected by the sub-prime mortgage crisis. What the newscasters are talking about is the residential (1-4 units) owner occupied real estate. When it comes to commercial real estate (office, retail, industrial, multi-family (5+units)) the real estate market is as hot as ever. In the Los Angeles area the outlook for the multi-family properties for example, remains positive due to the low housing affordability as well as high demand. According to Marcus & Millichap, the asking rents, construction and employment for LA County are expected to rise in 2008. Remember, Southern Californi... 02/27/2008

Accessory: A building product which supplements a basic solid panel building such as a door, window, light transmitting panel, roof vent, etc. Aluminum Coated Steel: Steel coated with aluminum for corrosion resistance. Anchor Bolts: Bolts used to anchor members to a foundation or other support. Anchor Bolt Plan: A plan view drawing showing the diameter, location and projection of all anchor bolts for the components of the metal building system and may show column reactions (magnitude and direction). The maximum base plate dimensions may also be shown. Approval Drawings: Approval drawings may include framing drawings, elevations and sections through the building as furnished by the manufacturer for approval of the buyer. Approval by the buyer affirms that the manufacturer has correctly i... 02/17/2008

Not all home stagers are created equal. Before hiring a stager, there are some things you should consider. At this time there is no independent national organization(like ASID for interior designers, or NAR for Realtors) that certifies or licenses home stagers, and no government oversight or licensing in most areas. Here are some tips to help you select the right stager to help you sell your home: Experience and professionalism trumps "certification", "education" or "designation" in the staging world. Hire the stager with the most real world experience, not the stager with the most letters behind their name, although they may be one and the same. Ask to see the stager's portfolio - either on line or hard copy (book form). If they don't have a staging portfolio, in all probability they h... 02/17/2008