Changes are coming to FHA loans (Federal Housing Administration Loans).Let me ask you:  Do you think it would be wise for Home buyers to use the FHA loans? Congress is expected to approve House Resolution 5072 or better known as the FHA Reform Act of 2010. Many lenders of the mortgage finance industry are concerned that HR 5072 part of the provision of this law is geared towards, cracking down on lenders who are approved by FHA. These lenders are concerned that the law would do more harm than good. What are your thoughts? I am all for regulations if they benefit the Real Estate in a responsible way. I am not for regulation for the sake of regulation.  I am concerned that the buyers who use FHA have generally lower FICO scores (credit scores), less financial means to save up to 20% for a... 06/11/2010

  Is this a Good Time for a Mortgage?     　 Yes!     In early June, the national average interest rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate conforming loan (under $417,000) was 4.9%,   "These are the best rates we'll see for a decade, and I don't expect them getting better." Business is slow right now, so lenders may even bid for your business if you have good credit. Lending standards remain tight, and lenders have been picky even with the best-qualified borrowers.Freddie Mac, which set the standards for mortgages they buy from lenders, require a minimum credit score of 620; you'll get the best rate if your score exceeds 720 (Federal Housing Administration) requires a minimum credit score of 580 to qualify with a down payment of 3.5%. FHA The 30-year fixed rate for conforming jumbo loans ( for ho... 06/10/2010

  Market Analysis Report     Culver City Market Report 1/2010-6/1/2010   　   FOR SALE NOW       Listed for Sold For     Withdrawn # of Listings 35 homes       26 26     --                   -- Low Price   374,900       389,900 2,425     -- Average Price $ 700,000       689,000 695,000 SOLD PRICE   -- High Price $ 1,200,00         1,299,0   1,120,0       -- Average Price Total $ 750,846       696,202 670,656     -- 　 Snapshot of Culver City for the last 6 Months. Average price on SOLD homes 695,000 from January 1,2010- June 1,2010. For up to date homes for sale in Culver City contact me at www.doreneslavitz.com. Dorene Slavitz your Culver City expert! 06/07/2010

Housing Market UpDates   Home sales jumped 7.6 percent in April, reaching the highest level since the first tax credit expired last November. Renewed buying activity has encouraged home owners to list homes, driving inventories to 8. 4 months of supply, up from 7.2 months at the end of 2009.   The median price has risen 4 percent r and prices remain well below cyclical highs.   However, bank-owned properties will continue to pose difficulties in the housing market recovery; but if employment growth strengthens, and foreclosures slow, that would enable a real housing recovery.   The outlook for newly constructed homes looks good in April, with sales increasing 4.8 percent; sales of new homes have spiked nearly 50 percent year over year. Along with adding stability to the housing market,... 06/01/2010

  Taste of the Nations   The City of Culver City and Culver City Redevelopment Agency sponsoring  Share our Strength's Taste of the Nation on June 6th, from 1-4pm in Media Park.  Savor the finest from the nation's hottest chefs - all of whom are coming together to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger across America. Featuring silent auction games VIP tent features extraordinary food, fine desserts and a guest mixologist. helping to end childhood hunger in our community and across America.   Come out to eat, drink and be charitable. call 1-877-26TASTE. 05/31/2010

New Restaurants: West Culver west of Centinella Waterloo & City This restaurant is located in the old Crest House Family Restaurant on Washington Blvd., Near Handy J's Car Wash. The Menu : gnocchi with shrimp and veal ragù; corn soup with Parmesan ravioli; whole roast chicken with wild mushroom pot pie; as well as a variety of cured meats,. Twenty-five white and 25 red wines, 10 craft beers on tap and a seasonal cocktail list are also available.   Waterloo & City, 12517 Washington Blvd., Culver City. (310) 391-4222; www.waterlooandcity.com . 05/31/2010

  What's Happening in Commerical Real Estate Culver City Retail   Downtown Culver City has reached it quota of Restaurants. There remain only a few permits for such a business in the Down Town area. Anyone considering a restaurant should consult with a knowledgeable Agent about possible locations. Office   The office market is still soft in Culver City and all of Los Angeles. Market rates have dropped and vacancies are high. Office space is leasing for 2.50SF and up. There are some fabulous opportunities with new creative office space available . Warehouse   Culver City warehouse space is often used as creative office space. Some M-1 property on Jefferson Blvd. has been converted by the owners in to such, in order to meet the demand for Creative Office. The warehouse district on Messmer... 05/31/2010

Culver City Restaurants - Brunello Trattoria       Dining out is a favorite activity of mine. Which I don't enjoy nearly enough, I might add. Brunello Trattoria, a popular Culver City Restaurant, is a favorite place to dine in the Los Angeles area.       Brunello Trattoria (best known as Brunello's) is a family owned restaurant (owner Bruno Morra), popular with locals, and an easy place to feel comfortable, yet pampered, and enjoy some really good food from an eclectic but not pretentious or pricey menu. It has a easy-going neighborhood feel to it, where you can walk in dressed in jeans, or enjoy a celebratory occasion, as we did at dinnera week ago following from daughter's graduation from USC.  As in the past, the food was great and the service prompt, efficient, and friendly. The win... 05/23/2010

    ALL SENIOR HOMEOWNERS!         Get Free Exterior Home Repairs from Habitat for Humanity Can you home use a brush with kindness?   Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications in the Westside Area must have proof of ownership and residency      2.   must meet income guidelines   apply by may 31,2010 CALL (310)323-4663 EXT 118 Habitat For Humanity 17700 S.Figueroa Street Gardena, CA 90240 www.habitatla.org 05/08/2010

  Saturday, May 8, 20109AM-3PM --> Food, Music, Vendors & More! Sponsored by theExchange Club of Culver City   Proceeds benefit local kids' charities   Come to Downtown Culver City for the Seventh Annual Cruisin' Back to Culver City Car Show on May 8, 2010! 100's of classic cars and hot rods from all across California will be on display, as well as great exhibitors and vendors. George Barris, car customizer extraordinaire, creator of the Batmobile, the Munsters' Koach, the Beverly Hillbillies' jalopy and so many more great vehicles from the Movies & TV, is coming back to his roots in Culver City! Some of his great creations will be on display alongside great classic cars & hot rods from all across California! GREAT FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! On Culver & Washington between Duquesne & Ince... 05/08/2010

Single Family Open Houses in Culver City,  Sunday, May 9th - 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Search Culver City homes for sale 05/08/2010

  ALL SENIOR HOMEOWNERS!     Get Free Exterior Home Repairs from Habitat for Humanity Can you home use a brush with kindness?   Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications in the Westside Area must have proof of ownership and residency   must meet income guidelines   apply by may 31,2010 CALL (310)323-4663 EXT 118 Habitat For Humanity 17700 S.Figueroa Street Gardena, CA 90240 www.habitatla.org 05/07/2010

         List View Program   View All Arts & Culture Associations & Clubs Entertainment Environment Government Government Meetings Health Kids & Family Neighborhood Special Events   << May 2010 >> SunMonTueWedThuFriSat             1 2 Big Sunday Interpretive Walk and Clean-up at Ballona Creek for Children and Adults 3 Joint City Council/Redevelopment Agency Meeting 4 Parks & Recreation Community Service Commission Storytime at Culver City Julian Dixon Library 5 Rotary Club of Culver City Committee on Permits & Licenses Civil Service Commission Sister City Committee Arthritis: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 6 Police/Juvenile Diversion 7 City Hall Closed CCEF / CCUSD Tribute to the Stars 8 Annual Fire Service Day Cinco de Mayo at Culver City Julian Dixon Library Cinco de Mayo at Culver... 05/06/2010

The Culver City Market statistics below are taken from the MLS CLAW and are for single family homes only.  They do not include condos, income property or private sales. April was a mixed month for Culver City home sales.   The number of homes sold was up significantly but homes going into contract was down, strange considering that the federal home-buyers tax credit was ending at the end of the month.  The median price was down as was the sales price received against the listed price. Days on the market was up and number of homes for sale down.  The months supply of inventory remained the same. Search Culver City homes for sale 05/05/2010

After a trip to Paris last year, I marveled at how the City has embraced its Velib bike system. Introduced in July 2007, it is a short-term bike rental program. Designed and created by outdoor advertising giant JCDecaux, the program includes 20,600 rental bikes at 1,451 stations throughout the city, providing an inexpensive, convenient way for people to use bikes for short trips. I don't know if this program is coming to a city near you, but included in this program is an extensive segment of bike lanes. One could learn from the Parisians. In an effort to make the Los Angeles area more bicycle friendly, especially with the Expo line running through Culver City, the line will include a bike lane from Culver City to Downtown.  This master plan is still in its infancy. They are proposing a... 05/05/2010

New Listings: 52 Average Listing Price: $ 5174334 Listings  Under Contract: 16 Average Listing Price $ 602,806 Listings Sold: 9Average Selling Price: $ 579,222 % Diference Between Listing Price versus Selling Price: 97.21 %% Sales Price Versus Old Listing Price: 97.31 % Average Days on The Market: 85 05/04/2010

New Listings: 37 Average Listing Price: $ 479,856 Listings  Under Contract: 15 Average Listing Price $ 374.980 Listings Sold: 4Average Selling Price: $ 427,750 % Diference Between Listing Price versus Selling Price: 105.55 %% Sales Price Versus Old Listing Price: 105.55 % Average Days on The Market: 126 05/04/2010

New Listings: 62 Average Listing Price: $ 603,079 Listings  Under Contract: 14 Average Listing Price $ 562.503 Listings Sold: 10Average Selling Price: $480,325 % Diference Between Listing Price versus Selling Price: 97.68 %% Sales Price Versus Old Listing Price: 96.11 % Average Days on The Market: 43 05/04/2010

A couple of weeks ago I received a call from a repeat client who had a new listing on Wagner St. I commented on the fact that I myself live on Wagner St, but didn’t think it was the SAME Wagner St. I mean this is Los Angeles after all. There must be at least 4 or 5 different Wagner Streets within 10 miles of here. But this one turned out to be MY Wagner Street, right here in Culver City. As any professional Home Stager will tell you, we spend probably a quarter of our work week in the car, driving all over town from one listing to another, and back and forth to our storage facilities. So I was incredibly psyched to be able to Stage a  home right down the block. I even gave this client a really good deal on the price for the convenience factor. Budget was an issue for her, but for my ow... 04/22/2010

The Culver City Redevelopment Agency and The Music Center of Los Angeles County will present Ballet Folclórico do Brasil, at The Help Group on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 11am as part of the Rainbow Day family program. This event is presented on the west side of Culver City which is experiencing a time of revitalization. The Help Group is located at 12101 West Washington Boulevard An exaltation of Brazil's diverse values, customs and culture, Ballet Folclórico do Brasil shares exuberant dances and music that express the rich blend of African, Portuguese and indigenous influences that shaped this country. The dancers, who have performed in Brazil's leading national dance companies, foster multicultural awareness in young people through dances such as the inspiring candomble, the excitin... 04/09/2010