related to the Real Estate/RE Financing Industry

Concerned about crime in the neighborhood you are considering buying into?  Use this website to review statistics on past crime in your new neighborhood.

http://crimereports.com/

Great source of data, uploaded directly from Local Law Enforcement Agencies.

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Greater Los Angeles Area Rental Values

Investors:

Thinking of buying an investment property and want to know what current market rents are?

Landlords:

Want to know if your maximizing the value of your property?

Renters:

Want to know if your paying fair market value for your unit?

Here is a Zilpy link, bookmark it, its a cool service

http://www.zilpy.com

Los Angeles - Craigslist is a good source too but too many scam artists on that site for my tastes.

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Never pay for Directory Assitance on your cell phone again.

I know most people have smart phones but it can be time consuming to look up info on the internet from a PDA.

Google has a free 411 service set up: GOOG-411 

I've tried it, it works well.  Its a completely automated system and you don't get to speak to a live person so if the system doesn't understand you or there is too much back ground noise you may not get good results.  I tested it with a "roebucks juice" in "torrance,ca" query and the results were accurate.

 To apply this to real estate, it may be handy next time you need a local service contractor, i.e.- plumber, electrician, roofer, termite, carpenter, window repair etc., etc.

 

 

 

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Did you know that the state of California is offering a $10,000 tax credit for homebuyers buying new construction?

Well time is running out on this great opportunity.

  
For more information go to CA Franchise Tax Board website at:

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/New_home_Credit.shtml

 

Update: as of July 3rd, 2009 the state has run out of funds for this program.  Sometimes when sales people are telling you that you'd have to "Act Now" its actually true....

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Here is an interesting application of the job loss protection gurauntees the auto industry introduced being applied to the Real Estate Market

http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/channels/video/79154.aspx

 

 

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Here is the website for the program the Real Estate Company is using as the insurance backstop for making this claim

http://www.helpprogram.org/index.htm

 

C.A.R. launches Mortgage Protection Program (Thursday, April 2, 2009)

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This is a really complicated process and I don't have alot of teaching experience so I hope you can get all of this in one sitting...

  1. Go to this website. (LA County Assesor)
  2. Download one page form: "Decline-in-Value Reassessment Application (Prop. 8)" (bottom of page).
  3. Complete and sign form. 
  4. Printout 2-3 sales comparables from 1/1/09 - 3/31/09 that support value you want property assessed at.  If you need help with comps try www.zillow.com or www.cyberhomes.com  If you still need help contact me at (cell # in signature below) or e-mail here.
  5. Put both pieces of paper into envelope with stamp and mail back to assesors office.

Now please allow me to go rest after that long, strenous teaching session...

If you choose to pay someone or some…

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