Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Munson Montejano-Los Angeles Bank Owned Foreclosures-A Buyers Guideline


foreclosure signMunson Montejano-Los Angeles Bank Owned Foreclosures-A Buyers Guideline are plentiful right now but they sure can be a challenge to purchase. By following some simple guidelines and having a generous amount of patients, you can snap up one of these better priced properties.

But because the banks are required to disclose very little about the properties condition (remember, MR or MRS Bank Never lived in that property, all they know about it is they want it sold!), it is up to you and your agent to do your homework!

Here are some very useful guidelines to bear in mind if you are considering purchasing LA Reo Properties (Real Estate Owned, same as bank owned).

inspector with thumbs upProperty Condition:

Many of the Bank Owned homes Los Angeles host aren't left in the best of condition. While cosmetic issues can be resolved rather easily in some cases, structural issues can blow your deal and cause your lender to NOT loan you the money on the property (cash buyers not such an issue).You must get a home inspection to avoid walking into a nightmare!*Buyers looking for FHA approved homes in Los Angeles must pay super close attention to this as FHA is very picky about the structure of the home you are buyer.

Timeliness:

When dealing with bank owned homes it's all about the bank and their schedule! Be aware it may take several days to weeks to get a response to your offer. On the other hand, they are very strict in the time lines they set forth for you. It is not uncommon for them to charge you $100 per day if you do not close on time. Make sure you pick a Savvy Realtor and Lender to represent you or it could cost you money!

Make Strong Offers:

Be sure to put your best foot forward when you are putting offers on and of the Los Angeles bank owned properties. Especially when you know there are multiple offers. Make sure your Agent has a good idea of the market value in the area and that you are being reasonable with your offer. In most cases, don't "Low Ball" offers because you are simply wasting valualbe time you could be utilizing to find your next home!

Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano-Munson|Montejano-Southern California Real Estate, All Rights Reserved *Munson Montejano-Bank Owned Foreclosures-A Buyers Guideline,LA Reo Properties,Bank Owned homes Los Angeles,FHA approved homes *

How To Short Sale A Home-Short Sales Realtors Explain


question markHow To Short Sale A Home-Short Sales Realtors-Luis Montejano & Stephen Munson Suggest that before you consider entertaining a short sale you must first Determine if you Qualify for A Short Sale by asking yourself Do I pass the Hard Ship Test?

Here are just a few examples of Hardship.

  • Loss of Job
  • Becoming disabled
  • Divorce
  • Death of a spouse

Click here to learn more about Hardship For Short sale

Next Steps...

If you believe you pass the Hardship Test, it is most likely time to contact a Short Sales Reator to begin the Listing Process. Your Short Sale Listing Agent will most likey follow these steps:

  • Help you Put your Hardship Letter together to present to your lender
  • Guide you through putting your "short sale package" together according to your banks stipulations.
  • Determine the market value of your proerty and setting the listing price

Once the short sale package is initiated and the prelimanary steps are in place, you Short Sale Listing Agent will then begin to market and sell your home, much like a traditional home sale.

Be sure to choose a Short Sale Realtor that will give your home the marketing attention it deserves. An agent may know how to short sale a home , but without excellent home marketing skills, their short sale skills may be useless.

When your home is skillfully marketed it will recieve an offer. Once it does:

  • Your Short Sale Listing Agent will negotiate with your lender for their approval of the Short Sale
  • Once Short Sale is approved by lender, escrow process begins
  • After all parties meet their obligations escrow is closed and short sale is successfully closed.

And now...

You may begin move on and start reestabishing your credit.

      Now that you have a good idea of How to Short Sale a Home, here's what you can and should do now to make things easier for you and your new Short Sales Realtor:


      • Gather Financial Documentation including: Tax statements, stacks of paperworkpaycheck stubs, medical bills, mortgage statements and anything you think you will need to support your Hardship case.
      • Contact Legal, Tax and Financial Professionals for their advise on how the short sale will affect you now and in the future.


      What are your other Home foreclosure alternatives?

      If you think or believe you qualify for a short sale and are ready to take the next step and contact a Los Angeles Short Sales Reatlor, please guve us a call. There is no fee for a consultation.


      You may contact us by clicking HERE

      Or Calling

      1-877-636-0444

      Or Email us at getinthehouse@gmail.com

      And on a more personal note: We have personally had friends and family experience hardship and have to Short Sale their homes. It is not an easy decision but once the process is over there is such a feeling of freedom that will allow you to have a more productive life and eventually be able to enjoy home ownership again if you choose to do so. Before you do anything else, let go of any negative judgment you have about your situation. We all experience challenges in life. Many of the worlds most successful people have had much larger challenges than you are probably going through right now. Like them, you must detach emotionally and realize this is a business decision and indeed, this too shall pass!

      Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano- Munson Realty|*How To Short Sale A Home-Short Sales Realtors-Luis Montejano & Stephen Munson | How to short sale a home, short sales realtors,short sales realtors,short Sale.

      Munson|Montejano Realty-Family Home in Probate is Sold


      Family Home in Probate is Sold-There really is no easy way to let go of the family home of 30 year, especially after a parent has passed away.

      Helping Marjorie and her family through this emotional and challenging time was our honor and privilege.

      Thank You Marjorie for allowing us to be part of this turning point in you and your family's lives.

      What Our Seller Marjorie Had To Say:

      "I would like to thank you for all your help in selling our family home of thirty years, it was very hard leaving behind all the memories. But, with the professionalism of your company and compassion of care that you showed, it made leaving our home behind to start anew less traumatic. So, again thank you both so much" - Marjorie Sagio-Talei

      What Her Attorney Had To say:

      "You guys did an excellent job in handling a probate sale for us. In spite of the fact that we were selling in a buyer's market, they were able to secure a great price for the estate and close escrow within a couple of months. Probates are full of legal complexities, deadlines and potential pitfalls, but Stephen and Steve made the process easy and painless for everyone involved. The trustee, beneficiaries, attorney, paralegal and escrow officer in this probate sale are all very happy with the job that Munson Montejano did. Thanks Munson Montejano Realty! We hope to work with you again soon.." - Elise Kindelan, Attorney at Law

      More Client Testimonials

      Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson& Luis Montejano,Munson | Montejano Realty,All rights reserved.*Family Home in Probate is Sold*

      Short Sale Listing Agents-Munson|Montejano Realty-Help another client avoid foreclosure!


      guy with thumbs upShort Sale Listing Agents-Munson | Montejano Realty-Help another client avoid foreclosure! In the game of Short Sales, this is what it is all about, helping distressed sellers avoid foreclosure.

      Keeping their home should always be the sellers first goal. But when that just doesn't make sense, avoiding foreclosure is the next best option for both the bank and the distressed seller.

      We are grateful that Victoria has take the time to say a few good words aboutMunson|Montejano Realty.Munson|Montejano Realty.

      Here's what she had to say...

      Munson Montejano saved me from foreclosure. They went the extra mile with me and I felt like they always had my best interest at heart. Luis was a real professional when it came to negotiating with the banks and I really believe it was his persistence tempered with diplomacy that pulled us through the day. I don't know what I would have done without him. I highly recommend Luis Montejano of Munson Montejano Realty for sellers who want to avoid foreclosure and do a short sale on their home.

      Victoria, Los Angeles

      Munson|Montejano Realty-Homes for Sale Pasadena Cal


      Pasadena Homes for saleMunson|Montejano Realty-Homes for Sale Pasadena Cal| Pasadena rates in the top Los Angeles neighborhoods to live and play. It encompasses the many attributes we in Southern California have come to expect and enjoy. Pasadena is rich and diverse in Culture with people from all walks of life and nationality's.

      Pasadena is architecturally diverse as well and provides many “photo ops” starting with City Hall’s Mediterranean Style architecture, to the Gamble House with it’s American Arts and Crafts style architecture.

      For you “Foodies” and “Shoppers”, there are plenty of those opportunities at Paseo Colorado and in Old Town Pasadena. And of course what Hip and Happening City would be complete without Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Fresh And Easy!

      eaton canyon signIf being outside is your thing there are plenty of places to hike such as Eaton Canyon Natural Area Park or just a morning jog through many of the wonderful Neighborhoods where you will see Beautiful Craftsman, Mediterranean Spanish , Bungalow and even a few Tudor Style homes.

      So if your making Pasadena your next home, then welcome! And if you already live here but your “Moving Up”, “Down Sizing” or ready to stop renting, then you already know how fabulous our city is! And you couldn’t pick a better time to start your home search because there are many good buying opportunities for you available today.

      The map feature below is interactive, you can move the map around with your mouse, you can zoom in and out also getting more homes for sale in Pasadena on to your map. If you happen across one of the listings that appeals to you, you can click on it to get more information.

      If you need more information or want to schedule a showing you can request that we contact you. At the bottom of the map search there is a search tab. When you click on that tab- it will open up into a screen without leaving the map where you can change your search criteria. So you can change the number of bedrooms or the price range or switch from single family homes to Pasadena Townhomes.

      Enjoy your search!

      Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson& Luis Montejano,Munson|Montejano Realty,Homes for Sale Pasadena Ca*Pasadena Home Search,Pasadena townhomes, Southern California neighborhoods.

      Munson|Montejano Realty-#1 Reason Homes Don't Sale


      Munson|Montejano Realty-#1 Reason Homes Don't Sale- Price is determined by The real estate market, not by your Realtor®, and not by you. When you insist that your property be priced above the current market value, your property will not sell.

      When real estate agents agree to take an overpriced listing, it's called "buying the listing". Basically they agree to what YOU believe the value is, just to get your listing. Once they have your listing, they must ask for price reductions over and over again. "Buying The Listing" really doesn't make sense though because they've "bought a listing" that will never sell. This is a "lose-lose" situation for both the Seller and the agent.

      So wouldn't it make sense to price your home right from the get go? It is a proven fact that you will receive the largest number of showings on your property in the first 2-3 weeks on the market. It is also a proven fact that overpriced homes sell slower and for less money.

      If there’s anything we can take away from the plethora of Bank Owned Foreclosures is they certainly know how to price a home to move!

      It's real easy to shoot yourself in the foot by overpricing your home. Your home will almost always sale at or above market value by pricing at or below market value.

      So why is that? Well think back at when YOU were buying a home. Remember when a “great deal” came on the market and everybody and their agents were “swarming” to the open house? You placed your offer only to find out their were 10 other offers and they were going above the asking price? This “bargain price” created an auction affect and got people excited. THAT is how banks are pricing their homes and if you want your home to move quickly and for the most amount of money, this is a winning strategy.

      So why don’t sellers do it? I think it’s because there’s a little voice inside of our head (and pocketbook) that says “what if”.

      “What if”- I can get $50K over market value. (even if someone were excited enough about your home to pay $50K over appraised value, their lender won’t loan the money if the value isn’t there. No loan, no buyer)

      “What if”- I don’t get multiple offers and I only get one offer (May be still overpriced!)

      Often fear (and greed) hold us back from making smart choices! Don’t feel bad though, even Real Estate Agents are guilty of senselessly overpricing their homes. Somehow when it’s our turn to sell all of our “market knowledge” becomes goo and leaks out of our ears! It’s like the hairdresser with bad hair!

      The bottom line is, almost always, an Over Priced House will sit on the market longer and sell for less than it should have had it been priced strategically from the beginning.

      Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano-Munson|Montejano Realty, Munson|Montejano Realtyy*#1 Reason Homes Don't Sale*

      Munson|Montejano Realty-How to short sale


      concerned woman stressed looking at pc Munson|Montejano Realty-How to short sale. Before you consider a short sale you must first Determine if you qualify for A Short Sale by asking yourself Do I pass the Hard Ship Test?

      Here are just a few examples of Hardship.

      • Loss of Job
      • Becoming disabled
      • Divorce
      • Death of a spouse

      Click here to learn more about Hardship For Short sale

      How to short sale...

      If you believe you pass the Hardship Test, it is most likely time to proceed with the Process of a short Sale.

      It is now time to contact a short sale listing agent who will quickly be able to confirm if indeed you qualify for a Short Sale.

      Once that is established, your short sale Realtor begin the Listing Process and guide you through the following steps:

      • Put your Hardship Letter together
      • With your permission to contact your lender, your short sale listing agent will negotiate on your behalf and determine what you owe to date.
      • After they determine the market value, they will set a listing price and your home will be listed and Marketed on the MLS.
      • Once Offer is Received and you have approved the offer, your short sale listing agent will negotiate with your lender for their approval of the short sale.
      • Once Short Sale is approved by lender, the escrow process begins.
      • After all parties meet their obligations escrow is closed and the short sale is successfully closed.
      • You man now Start rebuilding your life and credit!

          What you can and should do now if you think you are going to short sale:


          • Gather Financial Documentation including: Tax statements, stacks of paperworkpaycheck stubs, medical bills, mortgage statements and anything you think you will need to support your Hardship case.
          • Contact Legal, Tax and Financial Professionals for their advise on how the short sale will


          If you believe you qualify for a short sale and are ready to take the next step please contact us immediately. There is no fee for a consultation. If you are not in the Los Angeles area we will happily refer you to one of our many affiliates throughout the US.

          California Short Sale Listing Agents, Munson|Montejano, have earned the prestigious ® (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance, with a particular emphasis on short sales.


          Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano, Munson|Montejano Realty-*Munson|Montejano Realty-How to short sale, short sale, short sale listing agent,short sale realtor,luis montejano,stephen munson

          Friday, May 27, 2011

          Homes In Los Angeles For Sale- Search The Los Angeles MLS

          Homes In Los Angeles For Sale- Search The Los Angeles MLS-Search the Los Angeles MLS right here for FREE-No need to log in to search the Los AngelesHome Search. You can search by price, rooms or map. All listing are up to date.

          Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano-Munson-Montejano Realty –Homes In Los Angeles For Sale*Homes In Los Angeles For Sale- Search The Los Angeles MLS*

          MLS in Los Angeles|Munson-Montejano Realty

          MLS in Los Angeles|Munson-Montejano Realty- Search the entire Los Angeles MLS completely free. Search by Price, neighborhoods, Bedrooms, baths, square footage and by home map search. See all homes in La that are listed in the Los Angeles MLS for sale including, single family, condos and town homes.

          Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano- Munson-Montejano Realty-MLS in Los Angeles|Munson-Montejano Realty*MLS in Los Angeles,home map search,homes in La,MLS in Los Angeles,Los Angeles MLS*

          Silver Lake Los Angeles|Munson-Montejano Realty


          Silver Lake ResivoirSilver Lake Los Angeles is one of my favorite Los Angeles Neighborhoods. I love it’s hip, trendy and culturally diverse energy and its wide variety of shopping, culinary and social experiences.

          Some of my personal favorite dining spots include: “Cliff's Edge”, “Gindergrass”, “Silver Lake Wine”, “Madame Matisse”(for breakfast), “Dusty's”, “The Desert Rose” in Los Feliz, “Masa” in Echo Park for great deserts & Chicago style pizza and of course “Two Boots” for their great Louisiana style pizza.

          And let’s forget the eclectic night life scene and all of the neighborhood coffee houses such as Intelligentsia for coffee.

          Silver Lake ResivoirPart of Silver Lakes charm is its somewhat windy and hilly streets and of course its namesake reservoir, Silver Lake Reservoir which is composed of two basins, with the lower named Silver Lake and the upper named Ivanhoe. The lower body of water was named in 1906 for Water Board Commissioner Herman Silver, and in turn lends its name to the neighborhood. The upper body received its name after the 1819 Sir Walter Scott novel Ivanhoe (source Wikipedia)

          As someone who is passionate about architecture, I really appreciate the variety of home types including craftsman, Spanish style and contemporary homes and buildings you will see throughout the Silver Lake-Echo Park and adjacent neighborhoods.

          Silver Lake adjacent neighborhoods include: Atwater Village, Echo Park , Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock andLos Feliz.

          Did you know this about Silver Lake?


          sunset  junction signSunset Junction Festival- Held around August is a 30+ Year Old Street fair that brings out all the fun, diverse and craziness of Silver Lake and its adjacent neighborhoods.

          Walt Disney-In the 1930s, Walt Disney built his first large studio in Silver Lake at the corner of Griffith Park Blvd and Hyperion Avenue, now the site of Gelson's Market. (Source Wikipedia)

          Famous Residents-Tom Hanks & Kiefer Sutherland are just two of many of Silver Lakes famous residents.


          Urban Digs Screen Logo

          If you are thinking of moving to Silver Lake or one of its adjacent neighborhoods the start your search here and check out my “Urban Digs” Hot Property List that goes directly into your email box with photos, addresses, prices and every detail you want to know about every new listing that comes on the market in the Silver Lake, Atwater Village, Echo Park, Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock and Los Feliz neighborhoods.

          Watch this YouTube video and Learn more about The Urban Digs Hot Property List


          Or...

          Are you looking to buy a home in Silver Lake and other areas throughout Los Angeles? Then start that search here and access the Los Angeles MLS for free and take complete control over your search for free.

          Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano- Munson-Montejano Realty*Silver Lake Los Angeles|Munson-Montejano Realty-Silver Lake,Silver Lake Reservoir,Atwater Village, Echo Park , Mount Washington, Glassell Park, Eagle Rock,Los Feliz,Los Angeles MLS*

          Los Angeles Property Search|Munson-Montejano Realty

          Los Angeles Property Search|Munson-Montejano Realty- Search the entire MLS in Los Angeles completely free. Search by Price, neighborhoods, Bedrooms, baths, square footage and by home map search. See all homes in La including, single family, condos and town homes.

          Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano- Munson-Montejano Realty*Los Angeles Property Search|Munson-Montejano Realty,los angeles property search,la properties,los angeles property,property in los angeles,los angeles properties,property los angeles,properties los angeles,properties in los angelesMLS in Los Angeleshome map searchhomes in La*

          Listings in Los Angeles-Munson-Montejano Real Estate-

          Listings in Los Angeles-Munson-Montejano Real Estate- Search the entire MLS in Los Angeles completely free. Search allLos Angeles listings by Price, neighborhoods, Bedrooms, baths, square footage and by home map search. See all listings Los Angeles and it's MLS has to offer including, single family, condos and town homes.

          Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano- Munson-Montejano Real Estate*Listings in Los Angeles-Munson-Montejano Real Estate,MLS in Los Angeles,home map search,listings in Los Angeles,listingsLos Angeles,Los Angeles listings*

          Wednesday, May 11, 2011

          Munson Montejano-Los Angeles Bank Owned Foreclosures-A Buyers Guideline


          foreclosure signMunson Montejano-Los Angeles Bank Owned Foreclosures-A Buyers Guideline are plentiful right now but they sure can be a challenge to purchase. By following some simple guidelines and having a generous amount of patients, you can snap up one of these better priced properties.

          But because the banks are required to disclose very little about the properties condition (remember, MR or MRS Bank Never lived in that property, all they know about it is they want it sold!), it is up to you and your agent to do your homework!

          Here are some very useful guidelines to bear in mind if you are considering purchasing LA Reo Properties (Real Estate Owned, same as bank owned).

          inspector with thumbs upProperty Condition:

          Many of the Bank Owned homes Los Angeles host aren't left in the best of condition. While cosmetic issues can be resolved rather easily in some cases, structural issues can blow your deal and cause your lender to NOT loan you the money on the property (cash buyers not such an issue).You must get a home inspection to avoid walking into a nightmare!*Buyers looking for FHA approved homes in Los Angeles must pay super close attention to this as FHA is very picky about the structure of the home you are buyer.

          Timeliness:

          When dealing with bank owned homes it's all about the bank and their schedule! Be aware it may take several days to weeks to get a response to your offer. On the other hand, they are very strict in the time lines they set forth for you. It is not uncommon for them to charge you $100 per day if you do not close on time. Make sure you pick a Savvy Realtor and Lender to represent you or it could cost you money!

          Make Strong Offers:

          Be sure to put your best foot forward when you are putting offers on and of the Los Angeles bank owned properties. Especially when you know there are multiple offers. Make sure your Agent has a good idea of the market value in the area and that you are being reasonable with your offer. In most cases, don't "Low Ball" offers because you are simply wasting valualbe time you could be utilizing to find your next home!

          Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano-Munson|Montejano-Southern California Real Estate, All Rights Reserved *Munson Montejano-Bank Owned Foreclosures-A Buyers Guideline,LA Reo Properties,Bank Owned homes Los Angeles,FHA approved homes *

          How To Short Sale A Home-Short Sales Realtors

          question markHow To Short Sale A Home-Short Sales Realtors-Luis Montejano & Stephen Munson Suggest that before you consider entertaining a short sale you must first Determine if you Qualify for A Short Sale by asking yourself Do I pass the Hard Ship Test?

          Here are just a few examples of Hardship.

          • Loss of Job
          • Becoming disabled
          • Divorce
          • Death of a spouse

          Click here to learn more about Hardship For Short sale

          Next Steps...

          If you believe you pass the Hardship Test, it is most likely time to contact a Short Sales Reator to begin the Listing Process. Your Short Sale Listing Agent will most likey follow these steps:

          • Help you Put your Hardship Letter together to present to your lender
          • Guide you through putting your "short sale package" together according to your banks stipulations.
          • Determine the market value of your proerty and setting the listing price

          Once the short sale package is initiated and the prelimanary steps are in place, you Short Sale Listing Agent will then begin to market and sell your home, much like a traditional home sale.

          Be sure to choose a Short Sale Realtor that will give your home the marketing attention it deserves. An agent may know how to short sale a home , but without excellent home marketing skills, their short sale skills may be useless.

          When your home is skillfully marketed it will recieve an offer. Once it does:

          • Your Short Sale Listing Agent will negotiate with your lender for their approval of the Short Sale
          • Once Short Sale is approved by lender, escrow process begins
          • After all parties meet their obligations escrow is closed and short sale is successfully closed.

          And now...

          You may begin move on and start reestabishing your credit.

              Now that you have a good idea of How to Short Sale a Home, here's what you can and should do now to make things easier for you and your new Short Sales Realtor:


              • Gather Financial Documentation including: Tax statements, stacks of paperworkpaycheck stubs, medical bills, mortgage statements and anything you think you will need to support your Hardship case.
              • Contact Legal, Tax and Financial Professionals for their advise on how the short sale will affect you now and in the future.


              What are your other Home foreclosure alternatives?

              If you think or believe you qualify for a short sale and are ready to take the next step and contact a Los Angeles Short Sales Reatlor, please guve us a call. There is no fee for a consultation.


              You may contact us by clicking HERE

              Or Calling

              1-877-636-0444

              Or Email us at getinthehouse@gmail.com

              And on a more personal note: We have personally had friends and family experience hardship and have to Short Sale their homes. It is not an easy decision but once the process is over there is such a feeling of freedom that will allow you to have a more productive life and eventually be able to enjoy home ownership again if you choose to do so. Before you do anything else, let go of any negative judgment you have about your situation. We all experience challenges in life. Many of the worlds most successful people have had much larger challenges than you are probably going through right now. Like them, you must detach emotionally and realize this is a business decision and indeed, this too shall pass!

              Copyright © 2011 By Stephen Munson & Luis Montejano- Munson Realty|*How To Short Sale A Home-Short Sales Realtors-Luis Montejano & Stephen Munson | How to short sale a home, short sales realtors,short sales realtors,short Sale.