The best reading on pending homes sales since a federal home buying tax credit expired appeared to encourage traders on Wall Street. In November, the number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes rose to the highest level in a year and a half. 

With the index of sales, a reading of 100 is considered to be healthy. The Realtors group said Thursday that its index of sales agreements jumped 7.3 percent last month to a reading of 100.1. The last time the index was that high was in April 2010, one month before the tax credit expired. 

 There's generally a one- to two-month lag between a signed contract and a completed deal. 

Contract signings usually indicate where the housing market is headed. Homes are the most affordable they've been in decades. Prices in most metro areas have ... 01/03/2012

Refrigerator/freezer Energy-efficiency experts tell us to focus our efforts on the biggest energy hogs in the house, and that definitely includes the fridge. Because it cycles on and off all day, every day, the refrigerator consumes more electricity than nearly every appliance in the home save for the HVAC systems. The average refrigerator costs about $90 per year to operate, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The good news is that a few simple adjustments can trim roughly $38 to $45 off those utility bills. 1. Adjust the thermostat. By setting the thermostat colder than it needs to be, you might increase your fridge's energy consumption by as much as 25% on average. Adjust the refrigerator so that it stays in the 37-40 degrees F range. For the freezer, shoot for between 0-5 de... 01/02/2012

The nation's average mortgage interest rates are finishing 2011 near all-time historic lows, helping to keep homebuyer affordability high. The Freddie Mac  mortgage market survey showed the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.95% for the week ending Thursday, up from the prior week's average of 3.91%. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.86%. This week's 15-year FRM, a popular refinancing choice, averaged 3.24%, up from last week when it averaged 3.21%.A year ago, the average rate for a 15-year FRM was 4.2%. Five-year, Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 2.88% this week, up slightly from 2.85% the prior week and lower than 3.77% a year earlier. And one-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 2.78%, barely rising from last week when it averaged 2.77% ... 12/29/2011

The 10 Deadly Mistakes You Can Make in Selling your Home Here's some helpful tips from other sellers who have already gone through the process. 1. Buying a replacement home before selling the old one. The temptation may be great to buy a replacement home first.  That way you'll know where you are going and how much you'll be paying.  And you don't have to worry about being left out in the cold with nowhere to go if your home sells quickly. However, the financial risks of buying first are great.  It's far better to sell your current home first and endure the inconvenience of moving to an interim rental -- which rarely happens -- than it is to end up owning and paying for two homes when you only want one. 2.  Basing the list price of your home on the price you would like to get rather th... 12/20/2011

A home energy audit will pinpoint areas and suggest the most effective measures for cutting your energy costs.  You can conduct a simple home energy audit yourself, you can contact your local utility, or you can call an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination.  (Many utilities conduct energy audits for free or for a small charge.)  The first step to taking a whole house energy efficiency approach is to find out which parts of your house use the most energy. Check out the two charts.  On the left, you will see the categories and percentages of energy loss due to insulation weaknesses in the typical home. On the right is the percentage and type of energy consumed in the typical home. For do-it-yourselfer's, here are some tips. Check the insulation levels in your at... 12/19/2011

Are you looking to buy or lease a home? Or maybe you just want to see what's out there. There are several open houses taking place this weekend in Malibu and Topanga. For information on the open houses, including details about the homes and vacant properties as well as the schedule, go to the 4 Malibu Real Estate Partners weekend open house page.  View all Malibu homes for sale.    12/17/2011

Check your condo rules before you put up that menorah or Santa decoration, or you might find yourself taking your holiday decorations down a lot sooner than you planned.   I want to flout condo rules and put up holiday decorations despite an HOA rule banning them. What’s going to happen to me? Option 1: Nothing may happen because the HOA rules aren’t enforced. Option 2: You might get a letter asking you to take down your decor. Option 3: You might get fined for breaking condo rules. Constructive ways to balance your need to deck the halls with condo rules that ban decorations:Talk to your neighbors. If it’s your first holiday in your new home, check with your neighbors to find out what's really allowed. Condos that ban lights and signage most of the year may ignore illegal decorations d... 12/15/2011

Information provided by DataQuick stated that the number of homes sold in Southern California rose modestly in November from both October and in 2010, as first-time buyers targeted homes priced below $400,000.  Prices slipped in most areas. There was a total of 16.884 resale and new houses & condos sold in Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardio and Orange counties last month.  November existing-home/condo sales rose 5.8% from a year earlier, while new home sales fell 15.2% to the lowest level on record for a November. Distressed property sales accounted for 51.3% of the Southland resale market last month, down from 52.3% in October and down from 53.4% a year earlier. Short sales, where the sale price fell short of what was owed on the property, made up just shy of 20% of Southland... 12/14/2011

Just Listed - Malibu Bank-Owned/REO - 3B/3B - $634,900 MLS #11-570645 - 31422 Birdella Rd., Malibu, CA 90265 View additional photos/info at the Property Website. Bank-owned/REO. This Craftsman home, located on a cul-de-sac street, surrounded by mature oak trees & Santa Monica Mountains. The living room is light and bright and has soaring ceilings. New paint & carpet throughout. The family room has a fireplace and opens to the kitchen. Formal dining room. Downstairs den with its own bathroom. There is an upstairs loft / office. Master has a large walk-in closet. Master bath has dual sinks and a separate shower & tub. Inside laundry. Detached two-car garage. Close to the beach and 101 freeway.   View other Bank-Owned/REOs in Malibu. Click here. 12/13/2011

Fitch Ratings analysts reported that a  typical foreclosed home will spend eight months in REO before being resold. Lender Processing Services estimate that more than 2 million of these properties are somewhere in the foreclosure process with many more coming. Fitch statest that the majority of the backlog could take as long as two years to clear, and the current foreclosure timeline can last more than 12 months, before the time the property will spend in REO. Bulk sales will be a  key part of the housing market for the next few years, accoridng to analysts. Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae currently own half of these properties and the Federal Housing Agency is working on new ways to sell these homes.  What remains unknown however, is the effect. New rental programs could also be in the mix.  ... 12/13/2011

I love sharing great news! Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you have enjoyed your weekend and staying warm at home... November 29, 2011 At the City Council meeting on November 28, 2011, State Senator Fran Pavley honored Malibu as the first recipient of her new Sustainable City Award in recognition of the City's policies and practices which protect and preserve the environment.   The Senator congratulated the City for awards previously bestowed for its projects, such as Legacy Park and LEED-certified building, and commended Malibu for its leadership in being one of the first cities to ban plastic bags.   "You're sending the right signal, not only to your constituents, but particularly the children growing up here," remarked Senator Pavley while presenting the award to Mayor Laura Zahn Rosen... 12/11/2011

An analyst from Barclays Capital has predicted housing recovery, supported by improving job numbers and prices for non-distressed homes with stabilize without government support. He reported that prices for these non-distressed properties have stabilized over the last year even without government homebuyer incentives. This stability has not been getting much media attention and it has occured despite a large portion of distressed activity and a contintued decline in overall prices.  Improvement potential in this sector is supported by recent economic data which includes more job creations  last month and improved homebuyer traffic.  In mid-2010, the federal homebuyer tax credit expired, leaving the housing market without training wheels for the first time since the 2008 economic meltdow... 12/05/2011

It's that time of week again. Sunday open houses. If you're in Malibu or Topanga tomorrow, stop by one of the many open houses that are being held open from 1-4p. There are beach homes, condos, townhomes, bluff estates and much more to see. Click here to view the complete Malibu & Topanga Open House List for Sunday, 12/4 from 1-4p. Click here to see what else is on the market in Malibu for sale.   "Like Us" on Facebook and tell us what you are looking for. We have properties not on the market that may be a fit for you. 12/03/2011

The National Association of Realtor's pending home sales  index rose from from 84.5% to 93.3%, which is based on signed real estate contracts for existing single-family homes and condos. This index is based upon a national sample, which usually represents 20% of the transactions for existing home sales. They remain above last years levels. An index of one hundred is equal to the average level of contract activity in 2001. Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtors chief economist stated that there is a pent-up demand for home buyers who normally would have entered the market in recent years  and interest rates are staying at record lows.     11/30/2011

It's that time of week again. Sunday open houses. If you're in Malibu or Topanga tomorrow, stop by one of the many open houses that are being held open from 1-4p. There are beach homes, condos, townhomes, bluff estates and much more to see. Click here to view the complete Malibu & Topanga Open House List for Sunday, 11/27 from 1-4p. Click here to see what else is on the market in Malibu for sale.   "Like Us" on Facebook and tell us what you are looking for. We have properties not on the market that may be a fit for you. 11/26/2011

MALIBU REAL ESTATE PARTNERS Sales | Leasing | Property Management | Notary23805 Stuart Ranch Rd., Ste 150 & 22967 Pacific Coast Highway | Malibu, CA 90265   O 310.456.3655    F 310.218.2117     Info@4Malibu.com   Approved Short Sale | Back-on-Market | Corral Canyon | 4B/3.5B | $1,195,000 APPROVED SHORT SALE! Custom view home situated on a promontory point overlooking the Pacific Ocean & Solstice Canyon. Vaulted ceilings and large, view picture windows. The kitchen opens to the family room. Formal dining room. 3 separately zoned heating/air systems. Attached mother-in-law suite can be 5th bedroom or office. 3-car garage w/additional storage space (apx. 600 sq. ft.). Conceptual plans for infinity pool available. This is a must see Malibu property.     For additional photos/info, click th... 11/26/2011

  For SALE - Not in the MLS 31636 Broad Beach Rd., Malibu, CA 90265 PROPERTY WEBSITE Enjoy the ultimate in beach living with this private, gated Tuscan estate located on Broad Beach Road with spectacular ocean views and stairs to the beach. Recent high- end renovations throughout, with state-of-art electronics and top-of-the-line appliances. The many features include a separate one-bedroom guest house, high-beamed ceilings, distressed wood floors, beautiful railings, custom cabinetry and lighting fixtures. Ample parking and room for nearly 100 guests, this makes for a perfect entertainer’s home. 5B/6B  NOT IN THE MLS. Available for Lease.  Inquire on Sales Price & Lease Price.   ****Click here to "Like Us" on Facebook and be the first to hear of other Malibu properties that are not on t... 11/25/2011

According to an industry trade group, home foreclosure filings rose in the 3rd quarter, as recent declines in the rate of new foreclosures came to an end. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that foreclosures started for 1.08% of outstanding home loans, up from 0.96% in the second quarter. Even though the rate of homeowners who are delinquent in their mortgages dropped, the jump in foreclosures still came. Those only 30 days late making payments improved to 3.19%, the lowest level since the second quarter of 2007. And those 60 and 90 days or more late in making payments also declined, bringing the percentage of delinquent loans not in foreclosure to under 8%. But the Mortgage Bankers Association said increased foreclosure filings by several big lenders led to the upturn in homes i... 11/25/2011

               MALIBU REAL ESTATE PARTNERS       Sales | Leasing | Property Management | Notary              23805 Stuart Ranch Rd., Ste 150 & 22967 Pacific Coast Highway | Malibu, CA 90265            O 310.456.3655    F 310.218.2117     Info@4Malibu.com         "Like Us" on Facebook and tell us what type of property you are looking for. Vacation | Short-Term Furnished Rentals in Malibu - Pacific Palisades - Santa Monica       Carbon Beach Hideaway Malibu • 1B/1B (Sleeps 4) • Walk to Malibu Pier & Restaurants • Hardwood Floors Throughout • $450/Night (2 Night Minimum) Property Website Zen-Like Townhome - North of Wilshire Santa Monica • 1B/1B • 2 Fireplaces • Tranquil Environment • $3,000/mth (Weekly Rates Available) •  Property Website   Charming California Bungalow Pacific Palisades ... 11/23/2011

View Malibu Rentals.• No Membership Required• Search our Malibu site for a complete list of Malibu rentals available. Updated daily • Daily Email Alerts • Oceanfront, landside, vacation, furnished, unfurnished, short-term, long-term options available • Inquire about our Relocation Program • Concierge Services Available • We Schedule Appointments • Free Consultation  11/23/2011