The Senate passed an amendment to an appropriation bill that would restore the $729,750 loan limits through December 2013.  Both Senate and House are now working out the differences between the Senate bill and the House bill, which the House passed earlier this year. However, it did not reinstate the higher loan limits.  There would be a 2 year extension on the conforming loan limits if the House and Senate agree on a final bill. The California Association of Realtors is also working with the California Congressional Delegation to ensure this provision is included in the final bill. There's also changes coming down the road to help distressed borrowers. Late October, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced important changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to... 11/08/2011

Malibu has become a tourist and relocation hot-spot and great place to own investment real estate. With many real estate investors living outside of Malibu, it is important to have an experienced property management company to represent and protect your investment. Whether you own a house, condo, townhouse, or other investment property in Malibu, 4 Malibu Real Estate Partners understand the Malibu market as well as the local Westside such as Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Santa Monica.As a home owner or investor you have chosen a great place to own rental property. Having a reputable Malibu property management company in your corner will take all the heavy lifting off your shoulders, such as property maintenance, financial reporting, accounting and leasing. Due to Malibu’s great lifesty... 11/07/2011

According to a Fitch Ratings report, reflecting the impact of last year's robo-signing scandal, rising foreclosure start rates will add to the distressed property inventory driving  home prices down further.  More than 10% of severely delinquent loans in private-label residential mortgage-backed securities are now moving into foreclosure each month, the ratings agency said. That's nearly double the rate from a year ago when the moratoria instituted by lenders and servicers in the wake of the robo-signing debacle were in place. It's also edging closer to the 14% rate seen between 2000 and 2010. Home prices are expected to dip another 10% before they stabilize, due to an increasing inventory of distressed homes. Home prices dropped around 1%  in September from August and 4.1% from a year ... 11/07/2011

Loans in foreclosure are at their highest level yet, at an average of six hundred twenty-four days. In contrast, foreclosure starts dropped over 11% from August to September.  A mortgage monitor report from LPS for September showed foreclosure starts fell about 15% from a year earlier. The national delinquency rate  is 8.09%, down from 8.13% the prior month and 9.27% a year earlier. LPS said that the average delinquency process in judicial states, where backlogs remain extremely high, is about 200 days longer than non-judicial states: 751 to 565. According to LPS, 1st time delinquencies accounted for about nearly 30% of new delinquencies in September. Almost 40% of loans in foreclosure have not seen a payment in more than two years and foreclosure starts outnumber sales by more than thr... 11/04/2011

Malibu Short Sales Currently on the Market (as of October 29, 2011)               Type Address LP Br Ba SF LSZ SFR 6390 Meadows Ct. $3,850,000 5 5.5 6,706 98,445 SFR 520 Costa Del Sol Way $1,395,000 5 5 3,931 228,254 SFR 24730 W Saddle Peak Rd. $1,299,000 4 3 2,690 329,314 SFR 3000 Sequit Dr. $1,195,000 4 3.5 - 17,628 SFR 6029 Latigo Canyon Rd. $995,000 3 2 - 133,729 SFR 2850 Seabreeze Dr. $910,000 3 2 1,827 5,606 C/C 6451 Zuma View Pl., #116 $900,000 3 3 2,390 - SFR 26200 Lockwood Rd. $879,000 3 3 2,061 11,330 SFR 2794 Hume Rd. $800,000 6 6 3,148 19,162 C/C 3601 Vista Pacifica St., #7 $750,000 3 3.5 1,799 - C/C 6435 Zumirez Dr., #17 $702,900 2 2.5 2,081 - SFR 26349 Fairside Rd. $485,000 2 2 - 12,646 LND 31555 Pacific Coast Hwy. $475,000 - - - 319,295 LND 3963 Encinal Canyon Rd. $395,0... 11/03/2011

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 •  REO Offer Instructions •  REO Offer Worksheet  Bank-Owned / REOs Coming Soon to Market      Address B/B Sq. Ft. LSZ LP Status 31422 Birdella Rd. Malibu, CA 90265 3B/3B 2,649 18,709 TBD COMING SOON 4935 Serrania Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 3B/2B 1,584 6,615 TBD COMING SOON                     MALIBU Bank-Owned / REOs Currently on the Market (as of October 29, 2011) Type Address LP Br Ba SF LSZ LND 0 Kanan Dume Rd. $6,900,000 -   - 19,825,027 LND 0 Pacific Coast Highway $3,350,000 -   - 153,331 LND 33400 Pacific Coast Highway $2,895,000 -   - 27,442 SFR 28860 Selfridge Dr. $2,2... 11/02/2011

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