Taxes and Your Mortgage March 2011 The mortgage interest tax deduction, introduced in 1913, is used by millions of Americans to lower the taxes they pay. If you are itemizing your taxes on IRS form Schedule A, you own the home and the mortgage is a secured debt, then usually you can deduct the total of your mortgage interest payments.   Types of Interest Mortgage interest includes interest you paid on loans to buy a home, home equity lines of credit and construction loans. The amount you can deduct is limited. Plus, you can only deduct interest paid on your main home and a second home. If you own more than two homes or your second home is also used as a rental property, you should consult a qualified tax specialist to determine your interest deduction allowances.   If you refinance w... 03/15/2012

The real estate recovery was in full bloom last year & headed for a banner year up until July.  Once again, we were devastated by forces that were beyond the power of the consumer.  Washington debated whether to pay our nations bills.  This self serving fight lead to our nations first ever credit downgrade and put a halt on home sales through the end of the year.  The other disaster that this caused is the spiraling downhill of home values and sales prices.  You see, in a market with millions of home upside down and foreclosure being released, inventory continues to grow.  Not only does the inventory grow but the seller of this inventory was extremely motivated to unload foreclosures.  To do so prices needed to be lowered. We are now in the midst of the next great hope!  Home affordabil... 03/12/2012

Click the play button below and turn your volume up to enjoy the tour! 03/09/2012

  Energy Efficient Appliances: Are They Worth the Investment? March 2012   Trying to save money while lessening your impact on the environment is a popular trend these days. Choosing to purchase energy-efficient appliances is one way to save green while going green. But are these appliances all they're promising to be?   The Pros and Cons Frankly, there is no easy answer. Appliances have increased their energy efficiency steadily over time, while generally not increasing in price at the same pace. So why pay more for an appliance labeled "energy efficient"? The immediate cost of purchasing a house full of new energy-efficient appliances is just not practical for most people, especially in this economy.   Plus, a study by Consumer Reports found that many people don't use their appliance... 03/09/2012

  The advantages of a short sale Real estate: A short sale is better than a foreclosure in many ways — for everyone involved By Jim Walker Escape Editor http://www.the-signal.com/section/43/article/61000/ So, you’ve got to go. Maybe your employer is transferring you out of town, or maybe you can’t make the monthly payments on your home and you are in default or heading toward it rapidly. And, what is worse, you owe far more on your home loan than your home is worth. The handwriting is on the wall. You are beginning to realize you won’t be in your home much longer, one way or another. So, pull your head out of the sand and make some smart choices while you can. Be proactive. Don’t let your home go to foreclosure. Have a short sale, instead. And, while you are at it, why not get a profes... 03/05/2012

 Parent’s Workplace Establishes Residency for School Attendance   A school district may deem that a pupil has complied with the residency requirements for school attendance in the district if at least one parent or the legal guardian of the pupil is physically employed within the boundaries of that district at least 10 hours per school week. This provision, which was originally scheduled to expire on July 1, 2012, has been extended to July 1, 2017. Senate Bill 381 (codified as Cal. Ed Code § 48204) (effective January 1, 2012).   http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lr/sa/     District residency status may be granted to a student whose parent/guardian is employed within district boundaries. (Education Code 48204)   Applications for Admission When applying for his/her child's admission to a district ... 03/01/2012

  Getting Your Home Loan: 3 Easy Steps Feb. 2012   Whether you've already purchased a home or know of someone who is looking to buy a home or refinance, here is a simple outline of the steps you need to take before you walk into the mortgage originator's office to apply for your home financing.   1.    Perform your own financial review. o   Obtain copies of your credit reports. You can get a free copy from each of the three credit reporting agencies once every year. Correct any errors immediately, before you begin the home loan process.   o   Create a budget. Decide how much you are comfortable spending on your housing. Use online mortgage calculators to take a look at different scenarios. Remember you'll also need to factor in taxes, homeowners insurance and home repairs and upkeep – ... 02/28/2012

Wondering how much your house is worth? Let us help you. Call 661-251-8900. Click here for your home value. 02/26/2012

This is the latest Newsletter sent to clients and friends: Dear Clients & Friends, Santa Clarita homes and the community are more desirable and in higher demand than most locations for many reasons.  Schools, safety, cleanliness, diversity and annual events calendar are just a few of the reasons our community remains in high demand.  More and more buyers are taking advantage of the lowered prices along with the most affordable loans in history. This difficulty in securing a loan along with job uncertainty has led many potential buyers to rent in this community rather than purchase a home.  This is unfortunate since, with low down payments and interest rates and potential tax benefits of home ownership, these renters could pay the same monthly fee ... 02/18/2012

  Protect Your Investment: How to Start a Neighborhood Watch Group Feb. 2012 Your neighborhood can feel like your family when you find the right home and the right location. Building relationships with your neighbors while you make your home your own is exciting and can foster a sense of protectiveness and pride. One way to show your pride in your neighborhood while also ensuring you live in a safe environment is to start a Neighborhood Watch group.   Founded in 1972, the Neighborhood Watch program encourages residents to partner with local law enforcement to keep a watchful eye on the happenings in their community and to show a strong and vigilant presence to deter crime and violence. According to www.ncpc.org, the website for the national Crime Prevention Council, "Neighborhood Watch... 02/16/2012

Single Story Canyon Country Ca. Home under $275, 000 This home is in a good neighborhood in the Golden Oak tract of Canyon Country Ca. Please call me for further details on this hard to find 4 bedroom home under $275,000. Laura Coffey & Team | Re/Max of Santa Clarita | (661) 284-5004 30216 Abelia Rd, Canyon Country, CA Nice Open Floor Plan 4BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $274,900 Year Built 1975 Sq Footage 1,312 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 6,747 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION Charming single story home with open floor located in a great neighborhood in Santa Clarita. Enjoy the remodeled eat in kitchen, cozy brick fireplace in the family room, custom wall unit in the living room, walk in closet in the master bedroom. Outsi... 02/14/2012

Circle J Ranch Single Story Pool Home with View  22574 Cardiff Drive, Santa Clarita, Ca. 91350 This Circle J Ranch home is definitely a must see. Call me for details on this home because it will go fast being a standard sale.   Laura Coffey & Team | Re/Max of Santa Clarita | (661) 284-5004 22574 Cardiff Dr, Saugus, CA Pool Home with View 3BR/2BA Single Family House offered at $350,000 Year Built 1987 Sq Footage 1,410 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 1 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size 6,500 sqft HOA/Maint $0 per month DESCRIPTION You'll fall in love with this single story open floor plan in Circle J Ranch minutes to the freeway, shopping, restaurants, and more. Pride of ownership shown throughout the home. Formal living/ dining entry with fireplace leading to open kitchen with ... 02/14/2012

Hypocrisy!  Most Realtors have run into a situation of making an offer on a REO/Bank Owned/Foreclosure listing with an offer that had FHA Financing.  This type of loan is Government insured.  Lenders in masses will turn down the FHA financed offer when giving another offer equal or even close to the same amount.  It is a sad state of affairs in America when the very banks that have been bailed out by the Government have the right to discriminate against the same Government! Your Friend & Realtor, Tony Lewis * RE/MAX of Valencia www.TonyLewis.com tonyglewis@yahoo.com 661-510-7975     02/13/2012

Click to read the recent posting on our Santa Clarita Real estate blog that talks about this very topic... What is a NOD and DOM?  Notice of Default is what NOD stands for.  Days on Market is what DOM stands for.  Both should be of concern to any buyer that is approaching Short Sales to purchase.  The other thing you will need to know is how the Short Sale home, condo or town-home is being structured.  Have a look at our SCVmoves YouTube channel for other videos (there are 4 in this series) which will give you better advice when approaching a short sale seller.   02/11/2012

Santa Clarita Radio Stations are few and far between.  We have a local "traditional" radio station that has been at the top for a long time.  The mission of our Santa Clarita Radio Station, a "non traditional" web based one, is to not be about sponsors but real people. People starting businesses, people that are "real" wanting to talk about themselves and their business.  More importantly, what is they do to give VALUE to their clients? Our Next Show, This Monday at 1030am, can be listened to live by anyone calling the "Call In" number at: (805) 727-7098 You can also join the Santa Clarita Radio Chat room at the same time if you want to interact with others that are busy being all about the Buzz. -  We make it fun, but not "shocking". If you want to follow our show on Blog Talk Radio, c... 02/05/2012

It has not be an easy rope to tow - but we have it together when it comes to web presentation for the cities that compose the Santa Clarita Valley and all of our followers real estate interests. I don't say that with any contempt to others in the Real Estate industry and we do our best to help anyone that asks.  It is all about getting the best results when searching, obtaining the most accurate home values and never having your personal information spammed, sold or traded. Enjoy and Let your "Santa Clarita Neighborhood Real Estate Experts" Help You.   02/03/2012

Ralph's Weekly Legal What-If Scenarios: Contract Addendums - Who Signs What And Why? Each Monday, I'm going to post a "What If" Scenario that presents a legal issue in a real estate hypothetical situation. Each Sunday, either the correct legal answer (or most likely legal resolution) to the situation will be posted. This week's "What-If" Scenario was based on contract addendums. If you'd like read this week's blog, click here: http://activerain.com/blogsview/2726242/ralph-s-weekly-legal-what-if-scenarios-contract-addendums-who-signs-what-and-why- Here is this week's scenario: Jane is the listing agent, and is representing her seller, Adam, in an escrow.  Steve is the buyer's agent, and he is representing his buyer Carol. Things are going fairly well with the escrow, and the loan approva... 01/22/2012

  Kitchen Improvements that Boost Home Value Jan. 2012   Picking the right upgrades can help set your home apart and above the competition in a hotly contested real estate market. Moreover, kitchen upgrades are the sorts of improvements that you and your family will benefit from and enjoy, given that the kitchen serves as the nexus for many families. You cook in your kitchen, you eat there, you talk there, and you even play there, so why not make it the best it can be?   When you pencil things out, the numbers of a kitchen upgrade are quite compelling in terms of adding value to a home while giving you upgrades that you will enjoy throughout the use of your kitchen. A major kitchen upgrade with a budget of $57,500 can recoup 66 percent of its cost when the home is sold, according to Re... 01/20/2012

  Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Jan. 2012   What is identity theft? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.   How can you find out if your identity was stolen? The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report at least once per year from each of the three major credit bureaus. You can request a free credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com.   You can minimize your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft by making it more difficult for identity thieves to access your personal information. Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission to help prote... 01/20/2012

I just made another micro loan on Kiva.org to a man in Kenya - Pay It Forward Fadhili is a married man with nine school going children. He owns a house with electricity but no piped water. His greatest monthly expense is school fees for his children. Fadhili has operated a retail shop for the past year. In addition he owns a rental house. His potential clients are the local area residents. He faces a major challenge of seasonality. He dreams of owning another rental house. With the Kshs 100,000 he wants to purchase more stocks of rice, sugar and maize flour for his shop and also renovate his rental house. He decided to join Yehu to get capital to improve his businesses. For those of you unfamiliar with Kiva.org, definitely check it out.  You are able to make small $25, micro loans to p... 01/18/2012