We all know rodents, insects and other pests can damage your home and cause illness to you and your family. Here are some helpful tips to make it difficult for them to find their way in. Mice and rats are usually in search of food and water and can find a way into your home through any opening. Once inside, they can chew on wires, eat through food packaging and crawl into heating equipment. They can also spread diseases such as Lyme disease, salmonella or hantavirus. To keep them out, fill any siding or foundation holes &fract14; inch or larger with mortar or copper wool. Cover dryer vents with a tightly woven metal mesh like hardware cloth, and keep garbage cans tightly covered and away from the house. If you must set traps with poison, be sure to keep them clear of children and pets. ... 04/17/2012

There has been a dramatic drop in the number of properties that have been sold at trustee sales/foreclosure auctions. California’s foreclosure sales are down 16.7% from February 2012 – March 2012 and are down nearly 53% from March 2011. Of the nearly 90,000 sales scheduled for California, 80% were postponed and nearly 10% were cancelled. Just over 80,000 sold. Third parties accounted for nearly 40% of the properties that did sell in California. Large increases in foreclosure starts occurred in California, Nevada and Washington. Even with this increase, the volume of new foreclosures remains down year over year.        04/13/2012

Malibu Short Sales Actives | Looking for Backup | Pending (as of April 9, 2012)   ACTIVE           Type Address LP Br Ba SF LSZ SFR 30245 Pacific Coast Highway $5,250,000 4 4 4,000 145,490 SFR 2878 Hume Rd. $2,850,000 4 4.5 3,138 49,222 SFR 27091 Sea Vista Dr. $2,500,000 4 5 5,000 28,994 SFR 520 Costa Del Sol Way $1,395,000 5 5 3,931 228,254 SFR 6754 Dume Dr. $1,300,000 3 3 2,557 8,712 SFR 4262 Aveninda De La Encinal $1,200,000 3 3.5 3,875 20,038 SFR 20374 Seaboard Rd. $1,195,000 4 3 2,751 11,517 SFR 26200 Lockwood Rd. $879,000 3 3 2,061 11,330 C/C 3601 Vista Pacifica #14 $750,000 3 3.5 1,810 - LND 3963 Encinal Canyon Rd. $395,000 - - - 100,397 LND 26349 Fairside Rd. $250,000 - - - 12,646 LND 0 Decker Canyon Rd. $159,900 - - - 753,649 LND 26347 Ingleside Way $120,000 - - - 87,120      ... 04/09/2012

Bank-Owned/REO | Short Sales | Foreclosure Search •  REO Offer Instructions   •  REO Offer Worksheet  Bank-Owned / REOs Coming Soon to Market      Address B/B Sq. Ft. LSZ LP Status 3601 Vista Pacifica #7 Malibu, CA 90265 3B/3.5B 1,799 - $797,900 ACTIVE 4935 Serrania Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 3B/2B 1,584 6,615 TBD COMING SOON 5709 El Canon Dr. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 3B/3B 2,752 11,413 TBD COMING SOON                     MALIBU Bank-Owned / REOs  Active | Looking for Backup | Pending (as of April 9, 2012)   ACTIVE           Type Address LP Br Ba SF LSZ LND 0 Pacific Coast Highway $3,350,000 - - - 153,331 LND 33400 Pacific Coast Highway $2,895,000 - - - 27,442 SFR 5944 Filaree Heights $1,500,000 3 2 1,584 47,480 LND 6140 Galahad Rd. $850,000 - - - 34,717 LND 6327 Gayton Pl. $299,000... 04/09/2012

One of the largest investments you will make in your life is buying a home. To protect your investment, you need a homeowner's insurance policy.  More importantly, you need to know how to choose one that meets your particular needs.  You can get homeowner's insurance to cover a multitude of situations. A) The standard policy will usually cover things like fire, smoke, frozen pipes, ice, snow and theft. It also provides coverage for liability claims and legal or medical costs if you find yourself in a lawsuit. For example, if your dog bites the mailman, or your kid's friend falls from a tree on your property and breaks his leg, your insurance will cover the medical expenses. The most common liability coverage is $100,000 but it is important to consider whether that amount is sufficient f... 03/26/2012

  According to the California Association of Realtors, low interested rates along with improvements in the overall economy help lift home sales in California from both last month and a year ago last month. Signs of stabilization are starting show after the median price dipped.   It is reported that February sales were up about 2.1% from January and up about 5.5% from last February.  The statewide median price of an existing, single-family detached home dipped 0.6 percent to $266,660 in February from January’s $268,280 median price.  The median price was down 1.7 percent from the revised $271,370 median price recorded in February 2011.   The California Association of Realtors resale housing report for February 2012 also reported that California’s housing inventory declined in February. T... 03/15/2012

There are many things to consider as you prepare to list your home for sale. First, you should always consult a local, reputable Realtor who is familiar with your neighborhood and current market conditions. They can offer you data on homes that have recently sold and that are listed which will be invaluable when deciding on your final price and sale terms. In addition, here are some basic tips that will help get you started.Most real estate professionals agree that it is a good idea to get a pre-listing home inspection. No matter who ends up purchasing your home, they are going to ultimately conduct an inspection anyway. Purchase contracts are written up "subject to" a satisfactory property inspection in most cases. As the seller, you should know if there are any problems ahead of time ... 03/12/2012

Crumbs Bake Shop of Malibu, Beverly Hills, New York & Chicago Do you ever discover something or some place that has been in front of your eyes, but did not notice it before? Well yesterday we did that exactly. We were strolling in Malibu at the Cross Creek Mall. Had a great sandwich (food for another blog postJ) so we saw this sign to Crumbs Bakeshop, we wanted a cup of good coffee. I am not a big fan of the Chain Coffee shops so I am always on the search for small good coffee establishment. So with that my eyes were perked up when we saw this sign. Turns out it is a Cupcake Establishment and Coffee is just an Oh BTW we do that too. As we were there mesmerized by the huge selections and various size of Cupcakes needless to say we walked out with two Lattes and two Cupcakes. Turns out th... 03/04/2012

NEW LISTING Open Saturdays & Sundays   1812 Manzanita Park Ave. Malibu, CA 90265 • 3B/2B  • Short Sale  • Secluded Corner Lot • Hardwood Floors • $785,000 Property Website COMING SOON Open Sunday   26335 Lockwood Rd. Malibu, CA 90265 Santa Monica • 1B/1B • 2 Fireplaces • Tranquil Environment • $3,000/mth (Weekly Rates Available) •  Property Website   02/22/2012

Happy Thursday everyone! I hope you are surviving the week and ready for the weekend ahead.  I have been meeting with Bobby Lehmkuhl, Malibu Association of REALTORS President 2012, and the M.A.R. Education Committee members over the past few weeks regarding my participation and contribution to the Education Committee. Needless to say, I have accepted the honor of sitting the Chair for the Education Committee. I look forward to bringing my passion for technology and Real Estate education to my fellow REALTORS! We are looking forward to having the trainers from the Apple Corporation hold an iPad training later this month.  Brad Anderson, from Zillow and Activerain, will hopefully be gracing us with his technology insights in the next few months. Brad, I look forward to our conversation to... 02/09/2012

New home sales fell 2.2% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000 units from a revised rate of 314,000 units in November. Compared to a year ago, new home sales are down 7.3%. On a year over year basis, pending home sales are up 5.6% and pending home sales, a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts, fell 3.5% in December after a 7.3% increase in November. On a year-over-year basis, pending home sales are up 5.6%.  The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted composite index of mortgage applications for the week ending January 20 fell 5%. Refinancing applications decreased 5.2%. Purchase volume fell 5.4%. Orders for durable goods, which are items expected to last three or more yearss, rose $6.2 billion or 3% to $214.5 billion in December. T... 01/30/2012

Dataquick stated that investors have pushed home sales in Southern California apx. 14% higher in December than November. The real estate research firm also reported that there were a total of 19,247 resale, new homes and condos sold in Southern California California area in December.  Demand grew for homes priced under $300,000. The fact that more lower-cost homes were sold during the period pushed the median Southern California sales price down to $270,000, compared to $275,000 a month earlier. The median home value in the area fell 46.5%, when compared to the medain price of $505,000 in mid-2007. The number of homes that sold for less than $200,000 rose 5.9% from a year earlier, while the number of transactions in the $300,000 to $800,000-price range dropped 10.7%. Sales above $800,00... 01/17/2012

Are you looking for Malibu or Topanga Real Estate?  View the list below for this Sunday's Malibu & Topanga open house list below. Open houses are Sundays from 1 - 4p. View all Malibu properties currently on the market at our Malibu Real Estate website. This site also lists the Malibu Short Sales and Malibu bank-owned properties currently on the market.     OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION: Residential Single Family Sunday - January 15, 2012Time: 1 - 4 PM Nelson Shelton & AssociatesMary Mehrnaz Tahbaz DRE:# 01063408310-395-4352MLS Number: 11-545467   30608 LA SONORA DR MALIBU 90265 4 bedrooms    3.00 bathrooms $1,399,000 ActiveListed On: 08/01/2011 VERY BRIGHT SECLUDED 4BEDRM+3BATH WITH MOUNTAIN VIEW, FRESH PAINT AND NEW CARPET, FAMILY ROOM OFF THE KITCHEN, LAUNDRY ROOM, LIV W/FIREPLACE,NICE YARD ... 01/15/2012

According to Fannie Mae economists, the housing sector is expectd to take steps forward in 2012, though total originatons will fall on fewer refinances.  They also say that the second half of the year should outpace the first 6 months, with relation to growth, and political uncertainty and fiscal policy in Washington is expected to drive consumer & business activity.   Chief Economist Doug Duncan said positive consumer activity and challenges in housing and the global economy will equate to moderate growth for the year. He stated that we're moving into 2012 with decent employment on the employment side which is resulting in positive consumer and household behaviors.  Total home sales were reported to increase about 3.5% to abouve 4.74 million in 2012 from 2011, and it's expected there w... 01/13/2012

    4 Malibu Notary Services Danielle Dutcher | Commission #1873145 23805 Stuart Ranch Rd., Ste 150 & 22967 Pacific Coast Highway  Malibu, CA 90265 O 310.456.3655  |  F 310.218.2117  |   NotaryPublic@4Malibu.com     • $10  per Notarized Signature • REQUIRED: Current/Unexpired Government Issued Identification • Appointments not required, but are encouraged     Mobile Notary Public & Certified Loan Signing Services • Services are provided 7 days a week to the businesses and residents of Malibu. • Off- hours, call 310.773.7556 or email NotaryPublic@4Malibu.com. • Travel fees do apply.     Disclaimer: A Notary Public is not a lawyer, and by law cannot answer any questions you may have about your document(s). Please be sure to contact your lawyer or the individual who provided you with your... 01/10/2012

MLS #12-574001 20152 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, Ca 90265 For Sale - $2,495,000 Awesome ocean front duplex on 60' of Big Rock Beach. Both units have been extensively remodeled and are in move-in condition. The upper unit is 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths with all major rooms on the water that open to a huge beach front terrace. Open kitchen to living room with stacked stone fireplace. The lower unit is a 2 bed 2 bath with all major rooms on the water. Big Master suite and sitting area. Large ocean front terrace. Open kitchen to living room with fireplace. Both units with separate private entrances and both have private retractable stairs to beach. 6 car uncovered on site parking. City of Malibu septic operating permit just obtained. Priced to sell quickly. Listed with Pritchett-Rapf - Jeff... 01/09/2012

The temporary property anti-flipping rule waiver has been extended through the end of 2012, by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The FHA rules prohibited insuring a mortgage on a home that the seller owned for less than ninety days. However, in 2010, the FHA waived this regulation and has extended it through the end of this year. Buyers will be able to continue to use FHA-insured financing to purchase bank-owned properties and HUD-owned with this extension. This waiver will help stabilize prices a revitalize communities with high foreclosure activity. According to the FHA’s Acting Commissioner, the waiver has strict guidelines and conditions which are implemented in order to prevent “predatory property flipping” in which properties are sold quickly at inflated prices.    Additio... 01/09/2012

You've heard it before.  Someone you know bought a house without a home inspection and got a big surprise.  Over 40 percent of the previously owned homes on the market have at least one serious defect.  Don't take over someone's problem.  Most "used" homes need some type of attention.  Be sure you are aware of any major problems in a house you are considering purchasing, and what it will take to correct or repair the situation.
 
Here are some of the more serious defects to watch out for: 1.Insect infestation -- termites, ants, etc. 2.Chimney settling or separation 3.Foundation cracks 4.Major house settlement 5.Cracked heater exchange 6.Failing air-conditioning 7.Hazards including lead paint, radon, water contamination, asbestos, and underground storage tanks 8.Moisture in the basement ... 01/09/2012

 OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION: Residential Single Family Sunday - January 08, 2012Time: 1 - 4 PM Nelson Shelton & AssociatesMary Mehrnaz Tahbaz DRE:# 01063408310-395-4352MLS Number: 11-545467   30608 LA SONORA DR MALIBU 90265 4 bedrooms    3.00 bathrooms $1,399,000 ActiveListed On: 08/01/2011 VERY BRIGHT SECLUDED 4BEDRM+3BATH WITH MOUNTAIN VIEW, FRESH PAINT AND NEW CARPET, FAMILY ROOM OFF THE KITCHEN, LAUNDRY ROOM, LIV W/FIREPLACE,NICE YARD ROOM FOR POOL,VERY CLOSE TO SCHOOLS, BEACH AND PRIVATE CLUB,EASY TO SHOW, FOR LEASE $6250 PER MONTH, SELLER WILL CONSIDER LEASE OPTION  OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION: Residential Lease Sunday - January 08, 2012Time: 1 - 4 PM Nelson Shelton & AssociatesMary Mehrnaz Tahbaz DRE:# 01063408310-395-4352MLS Number: 11-545473   30608 LA SONORA DR MALIBU 90265 4 bedrooms... 01/07/2012

The Malibu Association of REALTORS hosted an evening at Duke's Malibu last month to install its 2012 Board of Directors and acknowledge the accomplishments of members over the past year. 2011 President Dan Ross was awarded "Realtor of the Year" for his dedication and accomplishments over the past year, then passed the gavel to incoming President Bobby Lehmkuhl.  Lehmkuhl currently serves on the Board of Directors of the California Association of REALTORS and the Combined L.A. Westside Multiple Listing Service. In his acceptance speech, Lehmkuhl thanked his mentors, friends and supporters. He credited his drive and ambition to having spent his formative years as part of the Malibu community. Lehmkuhl's first job in real estate was with Realtor, mentor and friend Chris Cortazzo, who was a... 01/06/2012