Staging Your Home-What To Avoid

If you are ready to sell your home you will have alot of competition so it is important to do everything you can to make your home stand out and appeal to buyers. A great way to make your home ready for showing is to 'stage' your home. Staging is a way to set up your home so that it will appeal to a wide variety of possible buyers. It is vital that your home looks neat, well maintained, spacious and ready to move into.

If this is your first time selling your home you may not be familiar with this process and it can be easy to make mistakes. Below are some of the top mistakes that sellers make when they are preparing their house for the market and things that you should avoid when staging your home.

• You don't go it alone, don't be afraid to get advice from others on what looks neat and organized. Don't be afraid to ask for your agent for advice. If you are selling on your own, have a trusted third party walk the home with you and point out areas that look cluttered or cramped.
• Keep in mind that you do not have to make extensive renovations or replace all the furniture to be successful. Keep things simple and your investments small. Updates to paint, replacing light fixtures or changing out pillows or bedcovers can all go a long way to giving your home an updated look without major expense.
• Leave out personal items and knick-knacks. Be sure to remove family photos, school projects and other personal items that might make it hard for a new family to envision themselves living in the space. 
• If you need some inspiration, visit a few model homes for sale for ideas on attractive staging and open spaces. Open up heavy curtains with tie backs and make sure that your furniture isn’t in the way of creating, bright open spaces. If you need to take some things out, try temporary storage.
• Avoid painting with dark or intense colors. Keep your wall and flooring colors to neutral, adaptable tones. Even if bright or varied color palettes are trendy, they are too much for most prospective buyers..
• Avoid overstaging with accessories. Over the top accessories, including flowers, scents, and home décor items not only make it look like you are trying too hard, they can detract from the real form and functionality of your house.

Simplicity is the key to correctly staging your home for sale. Clean, uncluttered and neutral surroundings show off the possibilities of your home to your buyers and make your house the number one choice!

 

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Posted via email from Westlake Village

Just Listed: Views! Views! Views!

Lydia Gable | Prudential California Realtors - North Ranch | (818) 597-4504 2670 Grandoaks Drive, Westlake Village, CA Views! Views! Views! 4BR/3BA Single Family House   offered at $1,075,000 Year Built 1990 Sq Footage 3,301 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 0 partial Floors 2 Parking 3 Car garage Lot Size 14,374 sqft HOA/Maint $10 per month DESCRIPTION Views! Views! Views! Highly desired view home in Three Springs. Light and bright open floor plan with 4 bedrooms/3 baths plus a large bonus room. Remodeled kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counters and travertine flooring throughout the downstairs. Adjoining family room with stone fireplace and views. Spacious master suite with sitting area, fireplace and fabulous mountain views. Large bonus room and two secondary bedrooms complete the upstaris. Backyard features an in-ground spa and pool, grassy area and views perfect for entertaining. Professional landscaping and lighting and 3 car garage with built-in cabinets complete this immaculate home.   see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace - Walk-in closet - Living room - Bonus/Rec room - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Granite countertop - Stainless steel appliances - Laundry area - inside - Balcony, Deck, or Patio - Yard - Swimming pool   OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES - Highly Desired Views in Three Springs - Light and Bright Floor Plan - Remodeled Kitchen with Granite Countertops - Stone Fireplace in Family Room - In-Ground Swimming Pool and Spa - Master Suite with Fireplace and Sitting Area   ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Front of Home Swimming Pool View Entry Living Room Kitchen Contact info: Lydia Gable Prudential California Realtors - North Ranch (818) 597-4504 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Sep 29, 2010, 4:03am PDT

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Notes on Fashion

If you enjoy fashion and great music you will want to make plans to spend a memorable afternoon at the 'Notes on Fashion' event benefiting the New West Symphony. This event will take place on Thursday, September 30th form 11:30-3pm at the Lake Sherwood Country Club.

Enjoy a sit-down lunch, while viewing the latestet
Neiman Marcus, Topanga will present the latest trends in fashions for the upcoming season.
You'll see each outfit up close as models walk by answering any questions you might have.
What a wonderful way to plan for the upcoming holidays and 2011.

For your listening pleasure, we are very excited to introduce
Benjamin Krasner, pianist, a 10-year old prodigy.
In 2010 Benjamin was the winner of the Southern California Junior Bach Festival
and in 2008 he was the youngest Laureate
in the International Young Musician Competition, Lincoln Center, NY.
One day you will say "We knew him when..."

In addition to these wonderful experiences, we are also offering opportunity drawings for:

 Neiman Marcus, Topanga - Shopping Spree valued at $1000 Hawaii accommodations at the luxurious Hyatt Maui Resort, Kaanapali.
Five night stay. (Air fare not included) Boccaccio's Restaurant of Westlake Village serves a meal to you
and three guests on a private boat while cruising the lake Season Tickets to New West Symphony
and more...

 

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HOPE NOW-Help For Homeowners

When the subprime mortgage crisis started in 2006, then President George Bush initiated the creation of an alliance between lenders, investors, foreclosure counselors and the U.S. government (including FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) designed to help homeowners threatened by foreclosure. The formation of the HOPE NOW Alliance was one of the first steps the government took towards ‘foreclosure avoidance.’

Since it's creation, more than a million homeowners have been helped by HOPE NOW, to find the resources, counseling or programs they needed to stay in their homes. If you a homeowner in need of assitance and support, visit the HOPE NOW website where you will see a simple online eligibility assessment, based on the six questions below:

1. Is your home your primary residence?
2. Is the amount you owe on your first mortgage equal to or less than $729,750?
3. Are you having trouble paying your mortgage?
4. Did you get your current mortgage before January 1, 2009?
5. What is your monthly mortgage payment?
6. What is your monthly gross income

Your answers are quickly analyzed and then you will be directed to a ‘Next Steps’ section for Home Affordable Loan Modification program or to other options for additional services. While the site can help you quickly determine your eligibility, your mortgage company is the only organization that tell you if you actually qualify.

Other resources for home owners through HOPE NOW include a toll free hotline (888-995-HOPE) to a free, 24X7 counseling service provided by Homeownership Preservation Foundation; a home owner ‘Options’ page that explains various programs like repayment plans, loan modification, partial claims and others by state; unemployment resources; other counseling and government resources and more. The site offers an extensive list of links and references to outside services.

HOPE NOW also sponsors events in different cities and offers a list of events and public outreach programs coming to your area. The site is helpful in not only providing a calendar of these events but in also explaining the documentation you should bring with you if you attend.

If you are in danger of foreclosure or are having trouble with your mortgage payments HOPE NOW can help you to learn more about the many programs and counseling services ready in place for distressed home owners.

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Posted via email from Westlake Village

Keeping Kids Healthy In Thousand Oaks!

 

 

Make plans to attend the Kids Health and Fitness Day this Saturday, September 25th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Thousand Oaks Community Center, 2525 Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks.

This free hands-on event will teach children about the importance of fitness and nutrition. Among the attractions are Taste of the Farmers Market, Nutrition Alley, Kitchen Stadium, a garden area and an agility course. For preschool children there will be a grocery store and an obstacle course.

Entertainment will be provided by Harlem Hoopsters, showcasing basketball skills and hip-hop routines along with audience participation. Shows are at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., along with a workshop teaching basketball tricks at 11:30 a.m. Also performing will be Soccer Collies.

Refreshments will be available for a small cost.

The health and fitness event is presented by Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Conejo Valley Chapter of the National Charity League.

 

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Posted via email from Westlake Village

Where Is the Shadow Inventory?

There is a lot of talk about Shadow Inventory from the Banks.  What do you think about the attached article?

Where Is the Shadow Inventory?
For the last year, the real estate industry has been talking about shadow inventory and the coming flood of distressed properties. Where are they?

Here’s what’s happening, according to a recent paper by Alan Mallach, a senior fellow the Brookings Institution:

· Some delinquencies have been resolved through loan modifications or people working out the problems on their own.
· Banks are getting better at managing short sales.
· Investors are aggressively buying up properties, sometimes in bulk, directly from the banks or at courthouse auctions so they don’t hit the market.

The likeliest outcome, Mallach predicts, is a steady flow of foreclosures over a long timeframe that will prevent another crash in home prices, but will probably lead to low or no appreciation in home prices.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiaros (09/16/2010)

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Fannie Mae Cracking Down On Strategic Defaults

There is little argument that the real estate market has taken a serious blow in the last few years and as a result foreclosures are at an all time high. Unfortunately, there are more than 5 million homeowners who are underwater or in default and now lending giant Fannie Mae has announced they are getting tough on homeowners who are planning a strategic default.

At the end of June, Fannie announced that it would no longer look the other way from borrowers who walk on their mortgage. The penalty? A seven year ban from the GSE (Government Sponsored Enterprise) program. Additionally, Fannie plans to take legal action against borrowers who strategically default on their loans.

This annoucment is a bold one by Fannie Mae, but the reality is that with unemployment still at 9.5% or higher in some regions and a sluggish economy is having many home owners feel that they have no choice but to walk away from mortgages that they have no hope of catching up on.

 “We’re taking these steps to highlight the importance of working with your servicer,” said Terence Edwards, Fannie’s executive vice  president for credit portfolio management. “Walking away from a mortgage is bad for borrowers and bad for communities and our approach is meant to deter the disturbing trend toward strategic defaulting. On the flip side, borrowers facing hardship who make a good faith effort to resolve their situation with their servicer will preserve the option to be considered for a future Fannie Mae loan in a shorter period of time.”

Here’s how Fannie breaks it out:

• Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure> -- reduced from four years to two years with 20% down; four years with 10%.
• Pre Foreclosure Sale -- two years with 20% down; four years with 10%.
• Short Sale-- will be the same as pre-foreclosure sale
• Strategic Default (Walk Away) -- seven years.

Many experts are fearful that this move will contribute to the already dismally depressed home market by cutting out the government backed borrowers. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, fund more than 90% of new mortgages and so far, Freddie has not followed suit.

 

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Posted via email from Westlake Village

We certainly learned this last week-- Thanks to my friend Lisa Doyle for Posting this great quote!

"SOME SUCCEED BECAUSE THE ARE DESTINED TO....
BUT MOST SUCCEED BECAUSE THEY ARE DETERMINED TO!!"

Wishing you a successful day!!!

Posted via email from Westlake Village

Calling All Runners! Register Now For The Agoura Hills Mile and RAD 5k

The Agoura Hills Mile will be held on Saturday, October 2nd and will be the opener of the 6th annual Reyes Adobe Days parade. The race is USATF sanctioned and certified, and will be electronically timed.  

All participants will receive a T-shirt and a ticket to the pancake breakfast at Reyes Adobe Park & Historical Site, 30400 Rainbow Crest Drive in Agoura Hills.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, October 1, 2010

Packet Pick Up/Last Minute Registration at Road Runner Sports in Newbury Park - 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. 

Saturday, October 2, 2010

6:30 a.m. - Race Day Pick Up and Registration Opens

7:30 a.m. - RAD 5K starts

8:40 a.m. - Agoura Hills Mile begins

 

Register now to take advantage of low entry fees! For more information and to register visit the race website at: http://RADrun.com/register/

 /kh

Posted via email from Westlake Village

Do You Know Your Debt To Income Ratio?

Before you apply for a mortgage, it is a good idea to know what just exactly what your debt-to-income ratio is. This is an important part of your credit that lenders will look closely at before approving your new home loan. Many new home buyers have no idea of how this is ratio is figured and how it can affect their chances for being approved.  If you are not familiar with this, below you can find more information as well as why is it important to you and how it effects your financing.

Debt-to-income ratio is simply a comparison of the money you earn to the money you owe. It includes credit card debt, existing mortgages, auto loans, and any other personal debt.

Your mortgage lender will look at your Debt-To-Income (DTI) to evaluate your ability to afford your new mortgage. You should have a good idea of what your DTI ratio is before you approach a lender or consider buying a new home.

You ultimately want to achieve a low DTI ratio. A high number means that you have less disposable income and less ability to maintain the home once you purchase it. With foreclosures at an all time high, lenders are not willing to assume any additional risk in lending.

Most lenders seek DTI ratios in the 20-36% range or lower, with no more than 28% of debt dedicated to the mortgage itself. While some lenders will consider higher ratios, DTIs in the upper 30% range are considered high risk.

There are several different calculators available online to help you determine your ratio, and you can always check with your financial institution for guidance on determining your DTI ratio.

Here’s a simple formula:

1. Add all your monthly payments (mortgage or rent, car, credit cards, any other debt payments)
2. Add your gross income (before taxes), bonuses, alimony, or any other outside income and divide by 12
3. Then divide the total number in (1) by the final number in (2)
4. The result is your DTI ratio

Whether you are ready to buy, considering a home purchase, or are just interested in your financial health, it’s a good idea to know your DTI and understand the steps to lower your ratio and become as close to debt-free as you can.

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Open House Sunday September 12th, 1:30-4:30 - 2030 Kirsten Lee Drive

Lydia Gable | Prudential California Realtors - North Ranch | (818) 597-4504 2030 Kirsten Lee Drive, Westlake Village, CA Private One Story in Fabulous Three Springs 5BR/4+1BA Single Family House   offered at $1,199,000 Year Built 1989 Sq Footage 3,816 Bedrooms 5 Bathrooms 4 full, 1 partial Floors 1 Parking 4 Car garage Lot Size 24,049 sqft HOA/Maint $11 per month DESCRIPTION Open House Sunday September 12th, 1:30-4:30 Fabulous, private one story home with a swimming pool that backs to open space in sought-after Three Springs. This bright and open 5 bedroom and 4 1/2 bath has a flexible floor plan featuring a large eat-in kitchen with a butler and walk-in pantry, adjoining family room with double-sided fireplace, and a formal living room and formal dining room. The large master suite offers a built-in office and spacious master bath in addition to 4 secondary bedrooms. Enjoy your private entertainers backyard with pool and slide, spa, built-in BBQ and a large grassy area with views to the mountains and open space. Complete this home with a 4 car attached garage and the award winning Las Virgenes School District.   see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES - Central A/C - Central heat - Fireplace - High/Vaulted ceiling - Family room - Living room - Bonus/Rec room - Dining room - Breakfast nook - Dishwasher - Refrigerator - Stove/Oven - Microwave - Washer - Dryer - Laundry area - inside - Yard - Swimming pool OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES - Beautiful Landscaped Yard - Architectural Details Throughout - Family Room with Double-Sided Fireplace - Large Master Suite with Built-in Office - Abundance of Natural Light Showcased Through-Out the Entire Home - Private Entertainers Backyard with Pool and Slide, Spa, Built-in BBQ and a Large Grassy Area   ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Front of Home Family Room Formal Dining Kitchen Swimming Pool Patio and View Contact info: Lydia Gable Prudential California Realtors - North Ranch (818) 597-4504 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Sep 10, 2010, 5:58am PDT

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Save The Date For City Celebration 2010!

Mark your calendar for the annual Westlake Village City Celebration on October 23rd! This day-long festival, is held each fall at the Westlake Village
Civic Center where several community organizations come together with the City to offer a variety of
activities at the event.

Past City Celebrations have typically kicked off on a Sunday morning with a 5/10K
run and pancake breakfast followed by the White Oak Fun Festival and other activities throughout the
morning and afternoon. However, this year the City Celebration will occur on a Saturday (October 23)
beginning in the early afternoon and conclude with an evening event. These changes will provide more
families the opportunity to enjoy the festivities and allow for an early evening finale concert.

City Celebration 2010 kicks off at 2:00 pm with a free Magic Show on an outdoor stage followed by a host
of entertainment provided by local performers. The popular White Oak Elementary School Fun Fair returns
with exciting games and new attractions. The Triunfo YMCA is bringing back their Haunted House and will
be firing up their large grill to offer a BBQ dinner.

Are you interested in doing a 5K run but don’t want to get up in the early morning hours? The City
Celebration “Twilight Run” will offer a fast and flat alternative to morning runs with a chance to get a little
exercise at sunset. The Twilight Run begins at 5:30 pm and offers both a 5K and 1 mile course.
The City Celebration concludes this year with a finale concert. Much like the popular TGIF series, the
Westlake Village Civic Center will transform into an intimate outdoor concert suitable for all ages. The
Concert begins at 7:00 pm.

With exciting performances, good food, an evening run, and the popular White Oak Elementary Fun Fair,
the Westlake Village City Celebration truly offers something for residents of all ages and interests.
Additional information will be available in the coming weeks on the City website, www.wlv.org. Check your
mailboxes for more detailed information in September. For further details, please contact Brianne Anderson
at City Hall, 818-706-1613.t

 

Schedule of Events
2:00 PM • Magic Show
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM • Local Community Performance Showcase
2:00 PM - 9:00 PM • White Oak Elementary Fun Fair
2:00 PM - 9:00 PM • Triunfo YMCA Haunted House
4:30 PM - 8:00 PM • Triunfo YMCA BBQ Dinner
5:30 PM • 5K and 1 Mile Twilight Run
7:00 PM • Finale Concert

 

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Posted via email from Westlake Village

Mortgage Rates Set To Follow GDP

Mortgage rates are a hot topic these days, they seem to keep going down and down. Recently, mortgage giant Freddie Mac released its latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) for both 30 year and 15 year fixed-rate mortgages are at all time lows (since Freddie started tacking back in 1971).

Below is an overview of the numbers:

• 30 year fixed-rate 4.49%, down from 5.22% this time last year
• 15 year fixed rate 3.95%, down from 4.63% this time last year
• Five year Treasury ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage)3.63%, down from 4.73% this time last year
• One year Treasury ARM 3.55%, down from 4.78% this time last year

The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) numbers fell last quarter – the government’s report on second-quarter economic growth showed a marked slowdown from the first quarter. A lower GDP confirms investor expectations that the Federal Reserve won’t be raising short-term interest rates any time soon.

Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac, said, "And yet again, interest rates for fixed-rate mortgages and now the hybrid 5-year ARM fell to all-time record lows this week following the second quarter GDP release. Annual revisions cut the cumulative GDP growth in half over the past three years ending in the first quarter of 2010 from 1.4 percent to 0.6 percent. This reduces inflationary pressures and allows longer-term rates room to ease.”

The big question that most potential homebuyers want to know is will rates go lower? Many are hopeful but we may be near the bottom, and we’ll have to see some serious economic growth before they stabilize.

 

 

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Posted via email from Westlake Village