For Sale - Not in the MLS 26664 Seagull Way #A205, Malibu, CA 90265 2B/2B $719,000 Stunning whitewater ocean views from this highly upgraded corner unit in the exclusive guard-gated Tivoli Cove complex. This top floor, end unit has soaring ceilings, is light and bright and has a double wide floor plan, with two fireplaces, two balconies, a second story loft-style bedroom, in addition to a separate storage room. Enjoy resort-like living with a heated pool, spa, gym, two tennis courts,  beach volleyball and beach access to one of the most beautiful beaches Malibu has to offer. View additional photos/info: PROPERTY WEBSITE.   11/01/2011

Not in the MLS! $399,000 2B/2B 23901 Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA 90265 This recently upgraded unit is located in a guard gated, centrally located community that is within walking distance to the beach, Malibu Legacy Park, Pepperdine University & the Cross Creek shopping centers.  The complex features a pool, tennis court & clubhouse. Dining area looks out onto the private patio area. Travertine floors and newer carpet. Recessed lighting throughout. Customized closets. Covered parking. Great rental property. View additional photos/info at the PROPERY WEBSITE. 11/01/2011

IT’S TIME TO BUY A HOME! “The millionaire says to a thousand people, ‘I read this book and it started me on the road to wealth.’  Guess how many go out and get the book? Very few. Isn’t that incredible? Why wouldn’t everyone get the book? A mystery of life.”  – Jim Rohn Mr. Rohn explains that if we want to make the right financial decisions in our lives, we should depend on the same sources the wealthy read. This past month four different iconic financial resources said the same thing: Here are all four resources. Forbes Magazine: The Next Mortgage Crisis Wall Street Journal: It’s Time to Buy That House MarketWatch.com: Now Might Be the Best Time Ever to Buy a Home JP Morgan Market Insights: Housing: A Time To Buy 10/31/2011

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 Company Info  |  Agents  |  Press  | Sales   WE LIST...WE SELL!!!  Sales & Leases Since 2007 * Indicates Representation of both Buyer & Seller Address Sales Price Date Sold 28170 Rey De Copas Ln., Malibu $4,600/mth 10/25/2011 5600 Forest Cove Ln., Agoura Hills $785,000 10/19/2011 190 N Wendy Dr., Thousand Oaks $310,000 10/19/2011 26664 Seagull Way #A205, Malibu $ Confidential 10/18/2011 29458 Bluewater Rd., Malibu $3,000/mth 10/08/2011 26322 Fairside Rd., Malibu $560,000 10/04/2011 26258 Fairside Rd., Malibu $719,000 09/22/2011 21361 Pacific Coast Hwy, #5, Malibu $1,995/mth 08/24/... 10/30/2011

What are your thoughts about Incentives to the Buyer’s Agent vs Incentives to the Buyer? I have seen over the years Sellers and Seller’s Agents offering various incentives. Bonus to Buyer’s Agent, Bonus to Buyer in form of closing costs, additional or higher commissions to Buyer’s agent if full price or closing by a certain date. My belief has been that if you price a property correctly and market it correctly by strategically staging the home and exposing the home to all potential buyers and buyer’s agent the property will sell within the period the absorption rate allows for the type of home. I also believe that the higher commission is offered both Seller’s and Buyer’s Agent work more diligently to keep the transaction on track not letting it get derailed for the wrong reasons. The o... 10/29/2011

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 Open House Gude.  10/29/2011

The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) is seeing some changes, made by the government, making it easier for homeowners to refinance their underwater, high-interest mortgages. This isn't for everyone thought. There are still millions who are pas the point of no return and do not qualify for participation. Those homeowners who owe 125% of market value can refinance into new loans. There is help for those who are current in their payments and it helps to reduce the fees that prevented them from refinanciing in the past.  Apprasals, title insurance and closing cost fees are among a few other fees that will be reduced or eliminated in order to help the homeowers afford their new loans.  The HARP does have limitations, as it is only open to borrowers who are current on their payments f... 10/28/2011

The National Associaton of Realtors has announced, based on September contract signings has increased 6% from last year. This number is based on signed sales of existing homes. Weak consumer confidence and stricter bank requiremenets are partly to blame for the pending home sales drop from last month. The mid-west showed the biggest increase and the northeast had the smallest increase. 10/27/2011

Many homeowners are facing foreclosures initiated by the Calfornia Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) because the homeowners are no longer living in that home, have rented it out and are living in different properties, according to the Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes.  Many of these homeowners have not wanted to sell, because they owe more on the property then their homes are worth and they would lose their initial investment. CalFHA is able to finance billions of low interest mortgages by selling tax-free bonds. The IRS has prohibited lending from the money from the sale of those bonds to homeowners who are renting out their properties. There are a few exceptions to that rule, however, such as those who have suffered from major economic problems.  10/27/2011

According to the Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse survey released Monday, refinance applications and appraisal complications are causing home sale closings to slow from the typical 30 days to between 45 and 60 days.  

Short sales and foreclosures face an even longer time to close and those account for nearly 1/2 of the market.  

2500 real estate agents were surveyed and one fo the top reasons for delays is the mortgage origination preapprovals, which sometimes expire before all interested parties agree. 10/27/2011


Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to help more borrowers.

 Loans that were sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that were sold on or before May 31, 2009 will continue to be available for this program. Both Fannie Mae adn Freddie Mac are in the proecess of sending out details about the HARP changes by November 15th to servicers and mortgage lenders. Implementation will vary as participation in HARP is not mandatory. New program points also include: 1. Eliminating certain risk-based fees for borrowers who refinance into shorter-term mortgages and lowering fees for other borrowers.  2. Removing the current 125 percent LTV ceiling for fixed-rate mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. 3. W... 10/27/2011

    (Bobby Lehmkuhl, Dan Ross, Jan Thompson, William Bowling)   The Malibu Association of Realtors leadership team traveled to San Jose recently for the California Association of Realtors board of directors and business meetings. The directors and CAR committees research and formulate policy on all areas affecting the business, professional practices and public policy involvement of California Realtors.   “The Realtors are particularly proud of successful sponsored legislation which will preclude lenders from seeking deficiencies from property owners when a lender accepts the terms of a ‘short sale’, thus giving property owners some security in difficult times,” according to MAR president Dan Ross.   The Malibu leaders were presented with an award from the Housing Affordability Fund for... 10/24/2011

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 Open House Guide.  10/23/2011

CA home sales declinded in September, as economic uncertainty rose. According to the California Association of Realtors, September home sales remain at stable levels and are posted higher for the 3rd consecutive month.  Detached, single family homes sales fell to slightly below 500,000 units. Information was drawn from MLSs statewide. The decline of sales was not a surprise, due to the economic evens that were happening during the month. Those events included, but were not limited to a weakened stock market, debit debate and changes to the conforming loan limits.  The statewide median home price in California for single family homes was $287,440 which is down from August.  10/20/2011

There’s been a little seasonal cyclical pickup in housing activity recently, as spring and summer sales are generally stronger than fall and winter, but leading indicators point to housing sales bouncing near the bottom at least through the end of 2012. Economic growth is expected to be no greater than 2 percent through the end of 2012, which according to Fannie Mae’s Economics & Mortgage Market Analysis Group, this is a growth rate that makes the economy extremely vulnerable to any external shock that could trigger a downturn. The uncertainty surrounding the degree of domestic fiscal austerity, in addition to external factors, including the scheduled expiration of various tax cuts and unemployment benefits will determine how fast the economy will grow. Home prices are a key factor for ... 10/20/2011

View Maibu foreclosures here.  Following a steep spike in August, foreclosure starts returned to levels more in line with prior months in September, and were below the numbers reached at the peak.  California has seen a drop in activity of 56 percent since its peak, from 58,623 Notice of Default filings in March of 2009 to 25,778 today. Foreclosure sales were mixed in September. There were declines in Arizona, California and Nevada, while Oregon and Washington had increases. Despite the declines, the percentage purchased by third parties, typically investors, was at or near peak levels. In California, third parties made up a record 27.4 percent of all sales last month. California statistics:
 • Foreclosure timeframes declined 3.9 percent • Foreclosure starts declined 20.9 percent 
• For... 10/20/2011

According to CoreLogic, a little over 23,000 foreclosures in 2006 sat unsold until the second quarter of 2010. More than 355,000 properties were studied. Investors bought at the courtsteps about 1/3. The remainder went back on the books, becoming REOs. Of the remaining 2/3rds, 90% were sold to third-party buyers which still took time to sell. 1/2 took 6 months and over 20% took over 1 year.  Governments will have to hold these unsold homes, as REO sales have yet to peak. These are the many properties that fell into the foreclosure process before the system passed its maximum capacity.  Stats show that the longer properties sit, the more cash buyers end up with the property. Often at huge discounts.  These largely unmoving properties have crippled recovery in home prices. 2012 is expecte... 10/19/2011

Home prices may be held from a meaningful recovery for some time, as the sale of properties repossessed through foreclosure may not peak until 2013. Private banks held almost half of the 1/2 million REO properties liquidated. Analysts say that in the future, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the Dept. fo Housing and Urban Developemnt will begin to take on a large deal of these assets.  Bank of America and Merrilly Lynch project that REO sales could reach nearly 1.5 million units in 2013 which is a projected 10% increase from 2012. Most of the projected increase will come as the government begins to unload its backlog. The government-sponsored enterprises and HUD, analysts estimate, will liquidate roughly 595,000 properties in 2013 alone. The Federal Housing Finance Agency is also working on a... 10/18/2011

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' Open House page.   10/15/2011

According to federal data, in 2010, nearly 2 million people were turned down for mortgages because they didn't meet certain lender requirements due to problematic or incomplete applications. Due to the stricter guidelines, it's important that buyers are educated about comon triggers for mortgage-loan rejection. 1. Insufficient income: Lenders want to be sure borrowers can afford to make the mortgage payments.  Lenders typically look for at least a two-year track record of income, which could hurt those who have changed jobs recently. 2. Cloudy financial picture: Generally, total debt payments, including the mortgage, cannot exceed 45 to 50 percent of a borrower’s adjusted gross monthly income.  Overtime and bonuses are included only if the borrower has worked for the same employer at l... 10/14/2011