The City of Temecula Redevelopment Agency First Time Buyer Program The City of Temecula FTHB Program is designed to provide loan assistance to lower income persons in the purchase of their first home. The amount of assistance available depends on the buyers qualifications and the price of the home. The maximum amount of assistance is 20% of the purchase price plus closing costs up to a total of $65,000. Loan Terms: This is a 30 year 2nd mortgage loan at 5% interest. The loan is deferred for the first 5 years, then fully amortized in years 6 - 30. If the borrower transfers title, ceases to occupy the property as his or her principle residence, or refinances with cash taken out, the loan becomes due and payable. To Qualify: The purchased cannot have owned a home for the previous three ye... 12/10/2008

Today's market is a learning experience, everyday the rules change. Just when I think I have it figured out something new drops in. We are rewriting the Real Estate game. Everything from marketing to negotiating a deal. For those out there that think Realtors make easy money, you don't know how stressful and difficult it really is.  My satisfaction comes from truly helping people in this trying time.   It is not as it was a few years ago when people "wham bam" made an offer and closed in 30 days or less. The agents and brokers out there today are surviving because they have adapted to what it takes in today's market place.  When they talk listen don't think because you heard or read it in the newspaper you know better. The media and real estate reality are not even in the same room. You... 12/03/2008

Banks are beginning to see the best they can do is close the Short Sale and accept the loss. If they don't we have an even greater number of REO's dumped on the already saturated market place which is driving prices even lower. The biggest problem is when asset managers hire their favorite BPO agent to come in and do a BPO in an area they are not familiar with. The lender then sets an unreal price that won't be competitive in the current market. Further slowing down the sale.   I have heard Countrywide is hiring more negotiators to help with the overload of NOD's. But are they educating them? What are their back grounds? I know it's a number's game and nobody wants to take a loss. But how can they make rational decisions faster? The longer it takes to negotiate a Short Sale the more the... 12/03/2008

I've been working with a great couple from Oceanside who are first time home buyers and are also engaged to be married next year.  We've been looking for a home for them since July.  Yes, July. A lot of people think that since its a buyer's market that it should be EASY to get a smokin' deal on a house.  Guess what so does everyone else!!  So we've seen just about every property there is to see in South Temecula that was under $220K.  We've seen major fixers, we walked in open side garage doors (per the instructions in the MLS mind you), we've seen a body laying on the floor of one of the properties. We had an offer in on a short sale for two months only to be outbid at the last minute by a cash offer a few thousand more than our offer. Just recently we were one of two offers being cons... 11/25/2008

  The seasons are changing and it's finally beginning to feel like autumn in the Temecula Valley. Every year at this time the Temecula Valley Woman's Club hosts its annual Holiday Home Tour. This year the homes selected were in the wine country . Laura and I decided to tour the three homes chosen for this year's tour this morning. We started at Keyways Winery where owner Terri Pebley's home is located.     Cameras weren't permitted inside any of the homes, but I'm happy to show you the exteriors. The Pebley home is 4,300 square feet, and you get the feeling you're entering a wine cellar when you walk in. There are carved solid oak arched doors, a carved wood bar, natural stone walls and a slate floor. It's truly magnificient. Next up was the incredible Hassler home.     You arrive via ... 11/22/2008

Only one of these beautiful and spacious homes left.  Priced at $299,000.00 this brand new 3507, Five bedroom home is the best value I have found in the Valley.  These homes are ready now and come with the following:   Window Coverings Block Wall Finished Yard Granite Countertops Upgraded Flooring Move-In Ready Short Escrow    Yard and Park             I have others in throughout the valley but none as large as this one.    And at only $85.00/sq. ft. price it is the best value I have found to date. 11/22/2008

After 45 days of bi-weekly phone calls to CW then being assigned a negotiator and now three weeks of shaving down the HUD 1 and my commission to 3% total, I have both sides. I find the seller had a pending law suit for a loan gone bad. This resulted in a lien being put on the house. This last week was negotiating with the attorney to remove the lien during escrow. I will pay the lawyer $3000 at the close of escrow the buyer has offered to split this with me. Great People!! So next week or what there is of it I will have to resubmit a HUD 1, (I think this is the 5th or 6th HUD1) thank you Fidelity Title and Escrow. Whether or not CW will approve money$ going some where other than their pocket, I don't know. But I will submit. My buyers are great people and truly want this house. I have ... 11/21/2008

11-20 woine country bank owned Temecula Valley Wine Country Bank Owned Homes Million Dollar Foreclosures = Opportunity Find yours at: SouthwestCaliforniaHomes.com  ATTENTION:   If you've ever though about owning a home in the Wine Country but prices were just too steep - check out these bank-owned beauties. Some are even Brand New Construction, all are on acreage, many offer expansive views from the mountains to city lights. Plant your own vineyard and live the dream!   Helpful Programs That SouthwestCaliforniaHomes  Found For Temecula Valley Wine Country Buyers. (May not all apply to 1 home)   $7,500 TAX CREDIT!     FREE HOME WARRANTY!    BROKER REBATE!    FREE HOME INSPECTION!    FREE APPRAISAL!   TEMPORARY INCREASE IN VA LOAN LIMIT!   HIGHER FHA LOAN LIMIT!    CLOSING COSTS PAID! Th... 11/21/2008

I am happy to announce that Animal Friends of the Valleys, is able to continue offering spay/neuter vouchers for Dogs and Cats.   The vouchers are valid for $100.00 off the price for spay/neuter for dogs and $50.00 for cats. A list of participating veterinarians is available at the AFV office.   Act quickly, vouchers will be on a first come first serve basis.   For more information contact Animal Friends of the Valleys at (951) 471-8344 or visit the office at 33751 Mission Trail in Wildomar.   Click Here for their web-site! 11/13/2008

                        Want to find a Bank Owned Bargain in Temecula or Murrieta?                                                          YES????                          We can help you get into that Temecula Bank Owned Home                                                                           GET BANK OWNED HOMES BY EMAIL HOW?  Sign up here to let that next deal on a Bank Owned Home find YOU as soon as it hits the MLS. There are several Hundred Bank Owned Homes in Temecula and Murrieta. SIGN UP HERE TO GET A FREE LIST OF TEMECULA BANK OWNED HOMES FOR SALE sent to your inbox DAILY. You can also get a free list of MURRIETA BANK OWNED HOMES FOR SALE sent to your inbox, SIGN UP TODAY! If you want to see some homes now, you can see all Temecula HOmes for sale here Murrieta Homes for ... 11/11/2008

Here is a simple checklist for walking through a bank owned property.     Some of these things may be missing: Air Conditioner Heater Water Heater Kitchen appliances Bathroom fixtures Also check for: Sinking floors or that spongy feeling under your feet Mold smells or visual mold of any kind Look under sink cabinets for leaks and mold Water stains on the ceiling-check every room even the downstairs rooms because a leak could have occurred in an upstairs bathroom!   Many of the problems with bank owned homes are superficial and cosmetic.  Dead lawns come back to life quickly by flooding them.  Paint will fix most of the dirty walls or weird colors.   Making a list of each house you go into will eliminate trying to remember later.    The best homes with few problems do not last long.  Th... 11/09/2008

In my never ending quest to put Temecula on the map and make outsiders aware of some of our finer points, I am today featuring "De Luz".   Going North on the I15 Freeway and exiting Rancho California Road here in Temecula can take you to two great destinations.  Going right takes you to the Temecula Wine Country and going left will take you to De Luz.      De Luz has many beautiful mansions and also is own "Crosscreek" Golf Club.          De Luz is in both Riverside County and San Diego County, extending to Fallbrook which is in San Diego County.       Just 18 miles from the California Coastline Some views from the mountain top homes will give you a view of the Southern California Coastline. Call me for information on De Luz or the Temecula Wine Country.     11/08/2008

11-7 fraud part 3 Last blog I started a list of fraud schemes covered in Rachel Dollar's MortgageFraudBlog Conference held in Miami. We started the list with The Classic, The Straw Buyer, Air Loans and Double Sales. Here's a few more: Affinity Fraud - where the perpetrator looks to specific groups for victims. They will recruit ringleaders who have contacts at a church group, within ethnic groups, senior groups and professional groups like nurses or teachers. By virtue of the fact that they are already part of that group, they are more readily accepted and after making sure the first couple victims are treated like royalty - the rest fall like dominoes. Soliciting Investors - you've seen the signs by the side of the highway - 'We Buy Houses for Cash', 'Investors Needed' that sort of th... 11/07/2008

If you're disappointed at the trashed "bank owned", properties you have been seeing or if you are wondering when you will get an answer on that short sale property that you have an offer on.     Then call me about the brand new Bank Owned homes that I have inside information on.   This beautiful 5 bedroom home is going for $85.00/sq. ft. No repairs and no waiting. Finished Backyards, Window Coverings....Appliances included. I have connections with the builders in several areas and in price ranges from $175,000 to $299,000.00.  All Builder Close outs - great deals.  Purchase at prices way below what these homes were originally priced.     Granite Counter-tops in almost all of these builder close outs. Call me toll free at (866) 621-0155 for information on these brand new builder close o... 11/07/2008

  Nicole Albrecht EA, a young professional who also does Investment Advisement at Financial Accounting Services, Inc.,  here in Temecula, recently purchased this brand new and very lovely Townhouse.     These Town homes were originally priced at $300,000.00, and now are starting at $200,000.00, for the 3 bedroom model. (Two Bedroom models start at $175,000).       They all feature energy saving construction with:  Dual Payne Windows Additional insulation, even in the garage Energy efficient light-bulbs throughout Screwed and glued flooring to prevent creaking Indoor Laundry room         Hi, mom and dad!!!      She is one happy bathtub camper!!!!    Here she is in her brand new kitchen: (They are including stainless steel Refrigerator, Microwave, dishwasher and washer/dryer also! If you ... 11/05/2008

  Anyone from an Investor to a First Time Buyer, should be taking advantage of this.   Buy a Brand new Home or Town-home, with  Builder incentives that make this a "no brainier", in today's housing market.   No repairs, no problems, no waiting for an answer from a bank.         Avoid the Foreclosure and Short Sale hassle!   Opportunities for these brand new homes at these prices will be gone by the end of next year or perhaps even sooner. Inventory is high now but these will be the first to go and then the only opportunities will be the re-sale, Short Sales homes and Foreclosures.  (They are also a good investment but take longer to get bank approval for the short sale and also have to be inspected thoroughly.)          Many builders have cut their sales staff and these are shown by app... 11/03/2008

Beautiful 2200 sq. ft. 3 &4 bedrooms, New Construction. These homes come with community pool, Spa, work out room and are reduced to $279,000.00. Park with several B-B-Q's. Come see this lovely community.   Upper-scale homes with many amenities. You will not find a better deal on a home. This home has been reduced for quick sale. Only one at this price. Call me or e-mail me today.   info@soreal.biz Call Toll Free at: 866-621-0155 2203 Sq. Ft. of Living Space 2 Car Attached Garage Jane Grant, Southwest Real Estate, Inc. Call me for a private showing: 866-621-0155. This price is only for Standing inventory..... Visit me on the web at www.riversidecounty4closures.com 10/31/2008

One very valued local business here in Riverside County is: APEX Pool and Spa Service owned by: Rob and Lisa Arnold  -  951 587-1504         Rob Arnold did a consultation for me at a pool home I am in escrow on.  I am representing the buyer and the pool was completely empty and the filter was not working properly when we first filled it.    Now, the pool is in full working condition thanks to Rob's assessment and service performed on the pool equipment.     Even though we had the pool inspected by the home inspector, who inspected the home. The inspector missed some vital issues with the pool equipment that Rob discovered and repaired.    My clientis extremely happy with Rob's advice and thorough service.    I also own a pool home in Temecula that I am currently renting to tenants and ... 10/30/2008

  My husband Mark and I have been lucky enough to live in Temecula/Murrieta Valley for 20 years.  And over those 20 years we have enjoyed many great local events.  This weekend in Temecula Valley Wine Country is one of our BEST events/traditions held by the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association!  Trust me, if you are a wine lover you DO NOT want to MISS the Harvest Wine Celebration.  Lot's of fun people, yummy food, beautiful views, oh yeah....and GREAT WINE! You get the opportunity to visit 22 wineries (10am-5pm) once over 2 days and sample great wine and fab food for only $89.00!  The toughest part of this event for me is trying to decide which wineries to visit!!  Sure you can hit them all up within 2 days (my math tells me that's about 11/day...YIKES) but be sure to have a Designa... 10/30/2008

  I had the pleasure of meeting Robert Renzoni a while back at Francesca's Italian Kitchen in Temecula. He told me to come see his winery and this past Saturday, I did. Word has gotten out as the tasting room was packed, and I'm not surprised. Robert makes several outstanding wines and also makes visitors to his winery feel right at home. Laura and I tasted several of his wines including chardonnay, rose, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and his newest addition the 2006 Super Tuscan blend "Fiore di Fano". It hasn't been released for sale yet as he is waiting for the labels to arrive, but we purchased a bottle that he signed for us.     If you haven't visited the Temecula wine country lately, come see some of the newer wineries. You'll be very glad you did. Here's a picture of ... 10/27/2008