IT'S RAINING INSIDE MY MASTER BATH!

The weather has finally begun to show signs of summer. June gloom is edging away and the sunny Southern California sun has finally begun her tour across the South Bay. The air in the mornings is crisp and clean. As I walk with my dogs through the tall Pine trees, everything smells fresh and sweet at 6:00 a.m. with temperatures in the low 60's. Lomita Pines Photos

Now it's about Noon ... the sun begins to beat down ... and beat down... and beat down... and temperatures rise and my dogs find shelter on the cool stone floors, begging not to be put outdoors. I begin to remember those hot summer days I used to frolic through when I was 10. Now they create rivulets of sweat coarsing down my back but I digress...It is definately summer. 90 degrees+ Not normal!

Here in the South Bay we enjoy very mild weather patterns. We are actually quite spoiled by the weather. The cool breezes off the ocean or the harbor (depending on which side of the Peninsula your home is attached) keep us quite comfortable. We rarely use air conditioning. We pride ourselves on our conservative use of electricity in the summer.

At 5:00 I did it! I turned on the air conditioning. I just wanted to cool things down a tad before getting prepared for an evening event. Just a few hours of air conditioning usually do the trick. About 7:00 I headed for the master bedroom to get ready to go out. I walked into the master bath and there was a new "water feature" not unlike the one in my patio, but upside down so to speak. Water was not dripping but pouring from the light fixture in my bathroom. My brain went into shock as I tried to figure out what would cause such a thing to happen. The dogs and I watched for a few seconds and then it hit me. It had to be the air conditioner. The furnace is poised right above the bath. I pulled open the attic door and sure enough, water was pouring from the condensation tubing which should have been entering the drain provided for it's collection. I rushed to shut down the air conditioner and gathered up a mop and towels and started cleaning up the new lake in my bathroom.

Since this is the beginning of the summer season for many of you, my story is meant as a reminder. Many of us have not used our air conditioner for six months or more. Many things can occur in that period of time. The drains get clogged, The tubing escapes from the fittings. Mold has formed in the tube or drain. Remember to remind your clients (and friends and husbands or wives) that summertime is a good time for an air conditioning "dust and clean." We change the filters and vacuum the vents but we don't think about the fragile mechanical parts until something like this happens. It's not a bad idea to have the air conditioning people take a peek and make sure you're ready for the season! Flooding does not help to cool the house in the summer ...

By the way, if you need a few recommendations for help around the house, check my Business Referral Directory and let them know that Charlie sent you - they'll take good care of you!

Good luck and God Bless. Let me know if you have any helpful hints for homeowners preparing for the summer season.

Charlie

Team South Bay Realty

DID THE EARTH MOVE FOR YOU?

After dinner last night I was typing in my Face Book when something picked up my house and plopped it back down again...
I had a glass of wine on my desk and I watched my glass in amazement as it hopped up and righted itself without losing a drop! One of my dogs, however, was not as confident about the situation as my wine glass seemed to be. She threw open the patio screen and tried to fit all 125 pounds of her quivering fur self into my lap, pushing the other dogs and my keyboard and waste basket clean out of her way.

I've lived in Los Angeles for over 30 years (I believe that makes me a native, doesn't it?) I've survived the Northridge Quake, several Long Beach bursts and a host of assorted mini movers and shakers. Each time the drill is the same...quiet the dogs, carefully look around the house for broken glass and eventually venture outdoors to check for any broken pipes or evidence of foundation shifting, fallen trees or shaken neighbors. Here in the South Bay, we have been very blessed. We sit on a good deal of bedrock and have tested our homes' flexibility enough times to feel fairly safe. Of course, Redondo Beach is within Tsunami reach and Palos Verdes has the Long Beach fault running through it (as well as Lomita, Harbor City, San Pedro and Wilmington.) Needless to say, we still catch our breath when the rumbling starts.

I'm a certified CERT member (Community Emergency Response Team) and was trained in Redondo Beach by some of the best fire fighters in Los Angeles County! We completed some drills that would make Grey's Anatomy (the TV program on Thursday nights) look like Romper Room. We learned how to triage the neighborhood and toe tag the casualties. We learned how to shut off gas service to prevent fires and handle water shut offs before broken pipes turn houses into swimming pools. We learned how to store food and supplies and prepare to help others in assorted states of emergency. We learned how to comply with FEMA rules, give first aid, give CPR, use Cribbing, how to use Fire Extinguishers and to work on a hoseline operation.

Of course, non of the above can prepare you emotionally for any actual event but it helps. Those first few crucial moments when your mind snaps into place and fear retreats, come a lot faster with this training. I sincerely suggest that everyone reading my blog consider checking with your local city or county to find a CERT program to prepare you to help yourself, your family, your neighbors and your community in a time of crisis. We know it's coming. We know we must prepare. We should also be conscious that this kind of training may save your life or the lives of your loved ones and all it takes is one night a week for a few weeks. You won't be sorry - you'll be glad you did it.

By the way, they don't train how to catch a Great Pyreness dog flying at you across a room in emotional distress. Call me and I'll give you some pointers!

What is a Certified Distressed Property Expert?

All markets have a certain percentage of homes or homeowners who are distressed. Distressed could reference the condition of the property, the state of the homeowners finances, the reduced value of a property because of poor market conditions...there are many variations. In a healthy market one can expect about 1 to 3% of properties/homeowners to be "distressed." In some areas today, distressed properties may number as many as 1 in 10.

Here in the South Bay area we are quite fortunate. We are experiencing somewhere in the area of 1 in 75 homeowners facing either some loss of income, property in foreclosure (or currently behind in payments) or mortgages adjusting to sometimes double the original monthly payment. Our values have declined but generally only 25 to 35% (varies from city to city.) This is good news for us geographically. For a homeowner who just lost a job and is facing an increase in his/her mortgage payment because of an adjustable rate mortgage at a time when their value has decreased possibly under their loan balance, the news is not so great.

Many times, these homeowners try to work with their lender (loss mitigation departments) to work out a payment plan or rewrite their loans for lower payment amounts (with the owed balance tacked on the back end.) Check Government Site: http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/ When the lender can't help and the homeowner must sell the home to avoid foreclosure, my expertise as a Certified Distressed Property Expert applies. In working with a "short sale" (loan balance is higher than market value) the first thing a homeowner must do is put their property on the market. Homeowners must choose a Realtor who has the specific training to work with the lender and help them through this process in the most efficient and painless way possible. Call me for a free confidential consultation to help determine whether you, a friend or a loved one may be a candidate for a "short sale."

In my next few blogs, I will be going through some additional information to help distressed property owners. In the meantime, I will be putting together a new website http://www.teamsouthbayshortsales.com/ and will be posting information on the website to answer some of your questions, especially the biggest question regarding FORECLOSURE vs. SHORT SALE.

Call anytime for no obligation information: 310-534-3940

The Rain Always Stops!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009


Mark Twain and his good friend the writer, William Howells were leaving church on Sunday when it began to rain heavily. Howells looked up at the clouds and said, “Do you think it will stop?” “It always has,” replied Twain…

I started working in the real estate business in 1979. Interest rates were 17%. Banks were not lending. In order to sell homes, we were “wrapping” loans, doing AITD’s and using many other methods, which by today’s standards would probably result in a quick indictment at best in some cases. People were losing their homes then too, but we survived.In the early 90’s we experienced a similar climate. The economy (especially in my area) was challenged by many factors. We lost our aerospace economic foundation in the South Bay. California lost many profitable manufacturing businesses to other states. Again, some of our families lost their homes, their jobs, their dignity but we survived.

In comparison, more than 1000 banks closed in 1930 – only 14 U.S. banks were taken over in 2008. There are 76 million households in the U.S. that own their home - 24 million of these homes are FREE AND CLEAR! There are 52 million homes with mortgages - 97.2% of these are NOT in foreclosure, 93.8% of these homes are CURRENT on their payments.I see the clouds in the sky too but I also see that clouds cannot remain constant, by their very nature. Time passes, things chance and as the philosopher Heraclitus said “You could not step twice into the same river; for other waters are ever flowing on to you.” Enjoy this time of abundance for many and growth and change for us all. Make the most of the positive aspects of today’s economy. It’s never as bleak as the media portrays. Remember, bad news sells, good news revives and this too shall pass.

Call for help if you have a loan challenge. As a Certified Distressed Property Expert, I can help you in saving your home or help you in purchasing one of todays abundant REO’s or “short sales.” As my friend Sam always tells me “It’s all good, Charlie, it’s all good.” The rain always stops!

LETS MAKE LEMONADE!

Something of a mystery to many right now is how to maneuver in today's real estate market to avoid the pitfalls in Short Pays and REO's. Having been in this business for going on 30 years, I've seen the bottoms fall out before. We know that no business can continue in one direction forever. That said, what happens next in this climate? Do you reinvent your portfolio?Do you change your career? Do you give up on home ownership? NO TO ALL THREE.

I don't like to use the term "change" as I am not on that Band Wagon. Instead, I am a conservative Republican ... there I said it! I am not opposed to capitalism. I believe we should all be responsible for what we create - positive or negative. I don't believe the government should bail us out of our own mistakes. Along those lines, it's time to take stock of who you are and what you are willing to do to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and make some "lemonade." If you have some savings and are willing to invest, REO's today are an excellent choice. Interest rates are at an all time low. Banks are now prepared to finance again. This is going to sound like a Dennis Miller rant but everyone should stop whining and start focusing. There are too many opportunities being overlooked right now. Instead we are listening to the media use soundbites to direct us to others' agendas. Let's start taking care of ourselves. Let's use the word POSSIBILITY again in the right context.

Let's move forward America - the only real "bail out" we need is the removal of the wax from our ears and the glue from our feet. MOVE FORWARD now. Use these opportunities to create your possiblities - YOUR CHANGE! Be in charge and prosper. If you need help, call me. I'll push you in the right direction!

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE! Charlie's 2008 Client Appreciation Party

The year 2008 ended with a house full of gratitude! My Annual Client Appreciation Party was so much fun. My heart was full to see all my wonderful clients enjoying themselves and chatting with neighbors and friends they had yet to meet. We had a great Pasta Bar (let me know if you need some recipes for your next party) and tons of baked goods and refreshments. Our star of the day was Michael Garisek, a renowned Caricature Artist. Everyone hooted and hollered when they saw Michael's renditions of the kids and parents based on his investigation of their hobbies, sports interests and spontaneous bursts of laughter and information about each other. Michael was our entertainment last year and was such a hit we invited him back again for the people who missed last year's celebration. We were sure happy to have him.

I want to thank everyone for making 2008 a GREAT year for me and Team South Bay. We appreciate you and are very grateful for your business, your friendship and your referrals. We are looking forward to a FINE 2009, so please let us know how we may be of service for any of your real estate needs! Also, don't forget to check our Business Referral Directory for local shops and trades. We all love to work by referral and are accountable to each other to make sure you, our customers and clients are always happy with the results!

Happy New Year and God Bless!

40 Ways to Simplify Thanksgiving! (Or How to Score A Turkey and Eat It Too!)

Whether you want to introduce new traditions or perfect old ones, make this Thanksgiving the happiest and easiest yet...
3 Weeks Before

Decide which recipes you want to make, keeping in mind that there’s only so much one person — and one kitchen — can do. Get rid of any "dead weight" around the house, like a spouse or "significant other" that does more harm than good anyway ... Start creating your menu ... If you really do need 10 side dishes, start thinking about why you don't have a life and cut that nonsense menu down to a few items! Make sure they all cook together, just like the guests you'll be inviting to your little gathering...

After you narrow down your menu, reread the recipes that remain. Most can be thrown in the trash right now if you have a lick of sense. For the absolutely necessary ones, look at the steps that you can do ahead of time. Now make a list of what you want to get done and give it to that "good for nothing" sister-in law that is always preaching about how she can do everything better than anyone else anyway!! That should keep at least one loud mouth quiet for a few days leading up to Thanksgiving...If you give her enough time, she'll get it done and you'll be totally relaxed on the big day!
2 Weeks Before

Figure out what size turkey you need and call up your ex-husband or ex-wife or any other creepazoid that had the audacity to use up the best years of your life ... start crying, berating them and accusing them of ruining your life to the point that you can't even afford a ?!?!? turkey...let them know what size you need and when they should deliver it to your house. Make sure it's not a frozen one when they drop it on your doorstep, ring your bell and run... if it is, call them back and tell them what scum buckets they were for not getting you a fresh one. We'll talk about thawing the bird later...right now it's time for a few kudos and a martini. You've scored! Oh, don't forget to bathe the dog!! You don't want him more fragrant than the bird on the table.

The Weekend Before

Make a detailed shopping list and check it — twice. But don’t expect to get all your shopping done in one trip. Call two or three of the deadbeat relatives who will be guzzling your booze and eating up your food budget for three weeks and divide your list into parts: items you’ll need in advance (wine, vodka, gin, bourbon) and items you’ll need the final day or two before the meal (celery,onions...you get the picture.) Keeping these morons on separate trips, a few days apart, not only keeps your refrigerator from groaning but also relieves you of having to deal with all of them any longer than necessary and God forbid at the same time. Make sure your shopping lists suggest they grab a few bottles of something to serve with the meal (since there won't be much of the early deliveries left by Thanksgiving.)
Tuesday

Make everything that will be served chilled, like cranberry sauce and Martinis. Cover the dishes, place them in the refrigerator, and forget about them. Pour yourself a tall one and watch reruns of Desperate Housewives on TIVO.

Wednesday

Take inventory before calling your Bozo relatives to make their second trip to the store and make sure you haven't used all the beverages. AND don’t forget to check on the turkey. Have the nudnick from down the street who is going to stop by for free food anyway on Thanksgiving Day (always does) chop the onions and the celery, wash the herbs, and trim the rest of the vegetables. Pat him on the behind and send him home. Assemble the stuffing, transfer to a baking dish, and refrigerate. Prepare the dessert (put the ice cream in the freezer when the meathead gets back from the store.) Practice with the "bird" assuming it's been delivered!!

Thanksgiving Day

If, like most people, you think of one last thing you need from the store on Thanksgiving morning, call a trusted guest and ask if he or she could do you a favor (like buy a darned turkey!) All you’ll have left, is the final assembly.

While the Turkey Roasts…get cooked while thinking about side dishes.

While the Turkey Rests…you rest too and give that turkey a good smack on the bottom to help the juices emerge. Make the gravy (open the can and read the directions) search the refrigerator for left overs from the last time you cooked anything and serve as sides.

During Dinner… berate the guests for not bringing enough Holiday wine ... after all, you don't want them driving home sauced!? Best leave the hooch for you to enjoy after they are done cleaning up the kitchen.

And so you have it...another Thanksgiving Dinner "in the can" as they say in the studios...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Glad to be of service ! Charlie & Team South Bay