Teal Pumpkins

I'm sure you wouldn't blink if you saw a pink dinosaur or a purple spider this Halloween...but what is up with that Teal Pumpkin out in your neighbor's yard?  Well, if you are into handing out candy at your home or taking your little ones out for Trick or Treats, you may be hearing about and seeing these Teal Pumpkins more and more.  With food allergies being such a scare for a lot of kids and their parents, some neighbors have decided to paint a pumpkin teal to let families know that they will have non-food items for our little ghosts and goblins to choose from as well.  And if you would like to hand out some crayons or spider rings too, just paint your pumpkin teal this year and give some parents a little less to be frightened about this Halloween. 

 

                                                         

 

                And if you are looking to make a move this Fall or Winter, call me. 

                                               I am always here to help.

Winds Of Change

If you haven't heard the new changes coming our way in real estate, maybe it's just because you're not in the real estate business, but this can have an impact on you if you are thinking of buying or selling any time in the near future. There are some new regulations that will be in place starting tomorrow that came from the Consumer Protection Act that was signed into law in 2010.  This new regulation is called by another wonderful acronym that we in the industry will start throwing around but let's call it "Know Before You Owe".  Without getting into too much detail, this new change will cause most buying periods to move from a normal 30 day transaction to 45 or more, at least for a while.  "Know Before You Owe" helps buyers to more clearly see what all their costs are going to be when purchasing a home. But at least for a while, loans will be a bit tricky, times to buy and sell could possibly be longer and because of this, deals may be a little less stable.  So my best advice is to work with a lender that you either know very well that has a great deal of experience or ask your realtor for a referral for a lender.  Also, make sure you are working a realtor that is on top of these changes, which is where I say, "Feel free to call me anytime.  I would love to help you in buying or selling your home"
                                                                            

One Escrow Closed and Another One Opened

I have two first time buyers this month.  One that just closed on a home and another that opened escrow on another.  Congratulation to them both! I couldn't be more excited to help some really great people find their first home. 
                                                                       

Top Things People Forget To Look For When Buying A Home

It happens to the best of them.  Buyers walk into a home, look around, get a good feeling about the place and forget to look for some important, and even needful, things they want in a home.  Here are some of the top things that people seem to overlook when looking for a home.
1. Kitchen Pantry
 Not all homes have them. So if yours doesn't, is there a place you can store your food?
2. Place to put/hang the TV
Some homes may have a smaller TV on display that you own.  Or some homes are staged with no TV on display.  So is there a good place to put yours in that home?
3. Garage or parking area
Garage conversions are common here in LA since so many people want more square footage or sometimes a guest unit ,and that is really useful.  But does it leave a place for you and your guests to park your car?
4. Bath tub 
Not all people need them but for the ones that do, make sure that you have one in your bathroom as opposed to just a standing shower.
5. Microwave 
The reason why I tell my clients to look for a microwave isn't because it's a very important item that needs to come with a home, but if there isn't one already there and you bought one, does that leave enough counter space in the kitchen for you?
6. Access door to the back yard 
 Some homes only have one door to the back yard and that door is through a bedroom. Nothing wrong with that, but does it work for you?
7. Central AC and Heat in every room
 Yup. Even as hot as it may get in some areas of LA, there are quite a few that either don't get hot enough for long enough that AC was ever needed by the previous owners, or some homes that are older just may not have put in central AC or heat...at least in every room.
                                                                             

      If you are looking to buy or sell, please call me.  I am always here to help! 

2 New Great Yelp Reviews!

I love helping people buy and sell their homes.  And it makes me so thrilled when they refer me on to people they know and leave great reviews about my services.  There are 2 new ones just posted today on Yelp. 
                                                                            

Places To See Fireworks In LA 2015

 Here are some of the great places to see fireworks in LA.  Just click on the area and it will take you to a link with all the information about those fireworks.

Pasadena Rose Bowl

Pacific Palisades

Downtown/Civic Center

Hollywood Bowl

Marina Del Rey

Long Beach/Queen Mary

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Woodland Hills

Calabasas

Studio City

Burbank

And as always, if you are looking to buy or sell, please consider calling me first.

Rebates And Tax Credits For Your Home

Tax credits for Solar Systems and Geotherman heat pumps
http://energy.gov/savings/residential-renewable-energy-tax-credit

Turf replacement rebates through DWP
Turf rebate

For LADWP residential customers who have in-ground swimming pools filtered with a single-speed pool pump you may be eligible for a $1,000 rebate if you replace it with a certified pool pump
Pool Pump rebate

For certain refrigerators and high efficiency washers find rebates here
Appliance rebates

Heating, cooling and whole house fans rebates
Heating and Cooling

Low Flow Toilet rebate
Low Flow Toilet rebate

Get a Free Tree for your yard
free trees

Free shower heads and faucet aerators
Faucets and shower heads

High Efficiency natural Gas Water Heaters
Gas Water Heaters rebate

Tankless Water heater rebate
Tankless Water heater

High Efficiency clothes washer
Clothes washer rebates

Natural Gas Furnace
Gas Furnace rebates

Energy Efficient window, air duct replacement, and wall/attic insulation
Home Energy Saver rebates

Whole House Home upgrades. From the shell of your home to new flooring and everything in between
Whole House Upgrades

                                                                   

What You Will Need When Renting in Los Angeles

First thing you'll need to know is things can move very quickly.  So if you are looking to rent, you will need these things all ready to go to give to the person who is leasing the home if you like it.  And each person over 18 that will be living there may be required to each have these:
Copy of your driver's license
Copy of your social security card
Copy of at least the last 2 pay checks with stubs attached
Recent credit report or they may run one for you
Have your previous landlords and employers names and contacts
And as a renter, don't forget to ask what is included with the rent.  Such things as gas, electricity, water, cable, landscaping are just a few to inquire about.  And if you every have any questions, feel free to give me a call.
                                                                               

 

Remodeling: Cost VS Value 2015

The 2015 report is here! So if you are thinking about doing some small or big projects on your home, check out this website http://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/2015/pacific/los-angeles-ca/  They have taken data from every region and city to let you know what the Cost VS Value is in each project.  And by no surprise, here in LA some of the highest Value in remodeling comes from doing work to the outside of your home.
                                                                        

What Is That Called?

There are so many features in a home that can make it unique or architecturally appealing.  And as I walk clients through a home a point some of these out, I have heard many people say "Oh, I never knew what that was called".  So I thought it would be fun to put together a blog with some fun features in and around the home that you probably have seen but may not know the name to.
                                                                               

 This is a Baja step.  These are large shallow steps where you can place a pool chair or just sit without having to go all the way in the pool. Sometimes they also have small holes meant to hold umbrellas.

 This is a chair rail. It's a type of wooden molding typically put about 1/3 of the way up a wall to add detail to a room.

 You'll typically find these under the top corner of a door way or on the outside of a building under the eaves.  It is called a Corbel.  This one is a counter top Corbel. You'll see a lot of these on old European buildings and churches as well as Colonial architecture and while this one in the photo is pretty simple, they can be quite ornate. 

 This feature above the door is called a Pediment. You will see these on most Colonial style homes and they can be pointed, curved, or "broken" like the one you see here in the photo.

 If you've ever admired homes in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles, you've probably seen this.  Called a Porte-Cochère, it is meant to protect a car (or horse and buggy) from the weather when getting in and out.  We now see these a lot a hotel fronts to allow guests to get in and out or their cars and to the front desk without getting rained on if the weather is not favorable.

 Coffered Ceilings are one of my favorite details in a home. Typically seen in the more affluent homes, this really adds a touch of elegance to room.

 You will see these in many backyards in LA. It's called a Pergola and can be free standing, attached to the back of a home. Sometimes you will even find plants such as Wisteria growing from the top.  They add a great place for shade from the summer sun.

Wainscoting was something many New England and Southern homes had in them and they really look nice in many rooms.  They are making a huge come-back as Cape Cod style homes are seen being built everywhere.
                                                                     

This is a Tray Ceiling.  This gives a room dimension and like in this picture, some people paint it to give it that extra touch.

If you are thinking of selling your home or buying a new one, please consider me.  I am always here for you

Earth Day Tips

Happy Earth Day 2015!
 Okay Okay. You got me. Earth Day was last week. I've been a little busy.  That being said, we are never to busy to make a few small changes that can have a big impact on helping to work towards a healthier planet.  
So here are just a few tips that can go a long way.   

Using Alternative Ways To Save On Plastics and Other Similar Products
1. Buy some extra re-usable bags (or wait till I come knocking on your door looking for people to buy and sell their homes and give you a bag with my logo) and use them when you shop in places other than grocery stores.  Take them to the mall, to the hardware store and even to places like Target.
2. Get a couple re-usable traveling coffee cups for when you go to Starbucks and Coffee Bean.  They even offer a discount when you bring your own.
3. Don't ask the waitress for a kid's cup with a lid.  Bring your own if they need a lid or teach the children to drink from adult glasses.  Those small plastic cups are used for 30 minutes at most then tossed in the trash.

Water Saving Tips
1. Most all Water Sprinklers have a "rain day delay" on them. So when it rains (which isn't often these days) do the rain delay.  Saves water and $$
2. Turn the water off when brushing your teeth.
3. I'll try to be delicate on this one but you may not need to flush the toilet Every time you use it...ahhemmm, cough cough
4.  If you have extra water at the table after meals, water your plants or give it to the pets.
5. Keep and clean out your old milk and juice cartons. During those times when you are running water and waiting for it to get warm, fill the cartons and use that water to water your plants outside (something I just started doing and I'm saving a lot of water and a lot of my plants!)
6. These days, most all colored clothes can be washed with whites as long as the colors aren't too brilliant. I use the Shout Color catchers for helping to wash my clothes and keeping the colors from mixing and this allows me to do less loads of laundry.
                                                                          
                                                                           

Fact Or Fiction: Real Estate Myths

1.  I can't put in an offer that would be under the asking price because the home just came on the market.
False - Go ahead and give them an offer.  Some people price their homes a little high expecting some negotiation to take place. So don't always assume what a seller may be thinking

2.  There are no photos, or not a lot of them, so the home must need work.
False-  Fact is some agents just haven't done a great job getting a lot of photos.  I've seen perfectly fine homes that just weren't marketed well.


3.  Per the contract, a seller is to clean their home after they move out for the buyer.
True-  But the sad part of this is that not only does it not always happen, but what is "clean" to one person, may not be to the next.  That, and if you move into a home that isn't clean, your only recourse may be to try and take the seller to small claims court.

4.  If I apply for a loan and can't qualify or qualify for what I was hoping to get, it goes on record and can affect me qualifying later on.
False-  Our financial situations can change often and quickly and the most important aspect to a loan officer is what you are bring in for income Now and what your work status is today.

5 . Realtors must receive some sort of financial benefit from recommending their loan person.
False-  We recommend certain ones because we are confident they can do a good job and we like to work with people we have confidence in. And when the loan turns out good, it reflects well on us too, being that we recommended them.

6.  The Realtor that is hosting the open house isn't always the listing agent for that home.
True- Sometimes we have multiple homes for sale at the same time and can't be hosting them if the open houses fall on the same day. So we ask our colleagues to help host them and they do it in hopes of meeting people who are in need of a realtor to work with (and it is a great way to meet your realtor)

7.  A real estate agent gets more money if they sell a property that is listed through someone in their office
False- Unless the agent that is listing the property is on a real estate "Team" with the agent that brings in the offer, there is no financial benefit for those real estate agents that is different from working with someone from a different company (and you can always ask if they are working together on a team if you're not sure)

8.  I got an offer right after my home hit the market.  I should hold out because that means more are coming and hopefully a better priced offer too.
False-  You will get the most interest on your home within the first couple of weeks that it is being advertised.  If you don't work with an offer you have in hand, you could loose out on a good deal.  And it's possible that there may be other offers coming but no one holds the magic ball to tell that so it would be a gamble you would have to be willing to make. (and it could turn out in your favor, but it could also be a mistake)

9.  I like the home that I saw but it's been on the market for a while now so I'm going to sit and watch it because they are bound to lower the price.
False- I've seen it happen time and time again that someone wants to wait before putting an offer in on the house and then another buyer submits an offer.  Never wait to put your offer in. You don't want to loose out on a home you like and it's best to avoid multiple offer situations if you can. 

10.  In a multiple offer situation, seller's will take 'all-cash' offers over the rest.
False-  First, sometimes people with 'all-cash' give lower offers because they think that using cash will get brownie points.  But also, don't assume what a seller may be thinking.  I've won multiple offers with clients that were using loans and up against all cash. There are too many scenarios that could factor into the seller's mind and equation of why they would choose one offer over another.

11.  I like a home that is in the area I want to be in, but it's on a busy street and that could affect the resale value.
True- There are a number of factors that could affect the resale value of a home and that is one of them.  But sometimes the area that we would like to purchase a home is a bit out of our price range so this may be a good option if you are okay with it.

12.  Amber Dolle is the hardest working agent I know.
True-  And this is a direct quote from a client that left a review on Yelp.  See here Yelp Review  And call me when you are ready to sell or buy your home!


                                                                         

Why Using A Local Realtor Is So Important

I just had a good friend of my husband's decide to list their home in San Fransisco.  He spoke to my husband and I was asked if I could do real estate transactions up in that area.  Well, yes, technically I can because my license is good in all of California.  But would it be wise of me to list a home up there?  No.  And I told our friend that same thing.  But another friend of his who holds a real estate license that lives here in LA had offered to list our friend's San Fransisco home for him. I did some research and found an excellent agent up in San Fransisco that knows the area like the back of his hand and does a lot of work there. I put the two in touch hoping that having a conversation with that Realtor, and also having had a couple long conversations with myself, would sway him to work with a local realtor. And the reasons to do so are endless...things such as the first hand knowledge the local realtor has of the market, the relationships he holds with other realtors, escrow officers, loan officers, inspection people etc.  Also the local marketing he will be able to do, the disclosures that are specific to that area that the seller will need to give to a buyer that someone from out of town would not know about and on and on....but here is a basic question:  Would you ask your friend that lives 6 hours away from you what the best local sushi restaurant is near your house?  Probably not.  So why would you put the sale of your home in the hands of someone who doesn't know your home?

As realtors we are part of a large network of other realtors within our own state and in most other states across the country.  If you are looking for an agent outside of LA, let me find someone for you.  I can interview them, look up their credentials, and know the right questions to ask to see if they would be a good fit for you. 
                                                                           

No Trust In The Process Of Leaving Your Home To Your Heirs

And by "no trust" I'm referring to the fact that we may no longer need a "Trust" to leave our properties to our heirs. Glendale's assemblyman Mike Gatto is trying to untangle the messy red tape that can happen when someone passes away and doesn't have a Trust, or have one set up correctly.  See, here in California, you need what is called a Trust (aka Living Trust) to leave your home to someone after you pass away.  It's not as simple as just leaving it in a Will.  A Trust is a separate legal document that allows your property to be dispersed to the person(s) you name on the Trust.  And along with making this legal document you also have to make sure the title to your property reflect your property as having a Trust.  And if you don't do it right and pass away, your loved ones can pay through the nose to get your property passed into their possession.  It's a real tricky and expensive thing.  But read more here about what Mike Gatto's plans are for this and follow along because it could have an impact on anyone who owns property here in California http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2015/03/24/42090/avoid-the-horrors-of-probate-under-new-bill-from-a/

For more information on Trusts, Wills and everything else legal, call a real estate lawyer or estate planner.  I have a couple great ones I can refer you to if you like.
                                                                            

        

Questions To Ask When Buying A Condo

If you are looking to buy a condo, there are questions that may be very important for you to know.  I've put a star next to some of these questions that you may not be able to get the answer to until you are in escrow but the other ones, the listing agent should know or be able to find out

1. What are the monthly HOA dues?
2. What do those dues cover? Things like trash, hot water, cable, security....?
3. What amenities are in the building? A pool?  Workout room? Common BBQ area?
4. If there are no washer/dryer hookups in the condo, can I add them?
5. How many parking spaces do I get?  And are they side by side or tandem?
6. Is there guest parking?
7. In Los Angeles, condo buildings can not restrict you from having a pet. But they can limit the type of pet, number of pets and size so ask about this.
8. Who runs the HOA? An off-sight company or someone in the building?
*9. How much money are in the reserves?
10. Is there any litigation going on or pending with the HOA?
11. Are there any assessments now or pending?
*12. Are any units delinquent on their dues? 
13. Is there earthquake insurance on the building?
*14. If the unit does not currently have hardwood floors, can I put them in later?

Make sure to take this list with you when you see condos and if you aren't sure why you should be asking these questions, leave me a comment and I will explain further. And if you are looking to buy or sell your home, please consider calling me. I am always here to help.