North West Glendale Real Estate

Glendale Is A Safe Place......

2010-03-08T21:42:00Z

Glendale is part of the Safe Place program which is a youth out reach program. The program educates thousands of young people each year on the dangers of running away or trying to resolve a difficult or threatening situation on their own. When kids see this sign, which is typically displayed in front of a youth friendly business, library or fire station, they can take comfort in knowing that they have immediate access to the help they need.

For more information you may call 888-641-2297 or visit www.nationalsafeplace.org

Registered Sex Offenders

2010-03-08T20:49:00Z

We all heard about the recent tragedy in San Diego County regarding the rape and murder of Chelsea King. Officials believe she was murdered by registered sex offender John Albert, who is now in custody. It is also believed that John Albert had something to do with the disappearance of Amber DuBois.

As tragic as this news is, it has served as a reminder to me of just how important it is to go over the Megan's Law Disclosure with all of my client's. The disclosure is now part of the purchase agreement and I stress to all of my client's that it is important that they log on to www.meganslaw.ca.gov to see if there may be a registered sex offender in the neighborhood of the home they are purchasing. I also remind them that they need to do so within their contingency period.

I recommend that you click here and search so see if there are any offenders in your neighborhood. As responsible citizens of our community it is important that we all do our part to keep our neighborhoods safe for our children. For more information about Megan's Law you may also contact your local Police Department

My Oscar Picks

2010-03-06T23:16:00Z

I enjoy going to the movies which is why I look forward to the Oscars every year. Here are my picks for this year's awards:

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart

Best Actress
Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

Best Supporting Actor
Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones

Best Supporting Actress
Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

Best Picture
The Blind Side

Home Improvements

2010-03-02T23:03:00Z

Are you thinking of adding a room, building a fence, replacing doors or windows? If so, the City of Glendale requires that you obtain a permit. For more information, contact Building & Safety at 818-548-3200. Click here to read about the pitfalls of not pulling a permit.

If you think your neighbor is doing work without a permit you may contact Neighborhood Services and they will be more than happy to check for you 818-548-3700.

CSI Actress Loses Battle

2010-02-25T06:28:00Z

The Glendale City Council voted 4-1 to uphold the Planning Commission's denial of the zoning exception and therefore Eve La Rue's gate must come down. But it may not even matter to the actress now, all of the media attention made the exact location of her home public to the world and she moved out in fear of her safety.

The saga continues.....

2010-02-23T04:51:00Z

Tomorrow the Glendale City Council will be making a final decision as to whether or not actress Eva La Rue will have to take down her gate. The actress installed the gate in an effort to protect herself from a known stalker however, the gate is not in compliance with the current city code.

Do you think the gate should come down?

What's so great about living in Glendale?

2010-02-22T02:23:00Z

Friday night a friend of mine invited me to a show at the Club Nokia. We met at my office at 6:30 and headed downtown to LA Live. We arrived at 7:00 which left us with plenty of time to stop in at the Yard House for a cocktail and a bite to eat. The show started at 9:00 and I was home at 11:30.

If I lived in say, Santa Clarita, I would have had to leave much earlier than 6:30 to make it all the way downtown on time and that would have cut into my work day. I also would not have made it home by 11:30 which would have been bad because I had to work on Saturday.

Living in Glendale (which I consider the best suburb of L.A.) allows us to conveniently enjoy all of the great things Los Angeles has to offer without all of the hassle.

Being Green

2010-02-20T00:20:00Z

The last time we had rain I noticed that several of my neighbor's neglected to turn their automatic sprinkler's off. Since we are expected to have rain over the weekend and tomorrow is one of our allowed days to water, I just want to remind all of you to switch your timers over to Rain mode.

Environmental responsibility requires us all to work together to make our planet a better place. Seemingly small changes can go a long way towards saving our planet! Have a great weekend!

If these walls could talk

2010-02-18T06:10:00Z

Today a friend of mine sent me a text message saying that she just drove past my childhood home. In the message she wrote, “If those walls could talk LOL”

Throughout my career I have had people stop in at an open house and tell me that they grew up in the home. I always enjoy hearing the stories they have to tell.

One of the things I always take into consideration when I go on a listing appointment is the length of time the owner has lived in the home. The majority of my clients are leaving a lifetime of memories behind. As a REALTOR it is important for me to understand that selling a home is an emotional process for many. Here’s what my client’s have to say…

“It wasn’t easy selling the home we raised our family in, but Chris made the entire process much easier than we anticipated with her genuine warm heart and true professionalism.”

Charles and Eleanor

If you are thinking of selling your longtime Glendale home call me today!

New Credit Card Rules

2010-02-15T03:11:00Z

The Federal Reserve has issued some new guidelines that go into effect on February 22, 2010. Below is a quick rundown of some of the new guidelines:

• Banks must give 45 days notice before raising the interest rate on future purchases.
• Your interest rate on existing balances can't be raised until you're in default for 60 days.
• Your monthly statements going forward will reflect how many years you'll be in debt if you only make minimum payments.
• Any annual fees must be capped at 25 percent of your card's limit.
• If you have multiple interest rates on your account, anything you pay over the minimum balance will be applied to the highest rate first. But beware, if you only pay the minimum, the money will still be applied to the lowest balance first.
• Teaser rates on new cards must be honored for one year.
• Two-cycle billing will no longer be allowed. This was a sneaky way that banks would charge massive interest if one month you paid in full and the next month you didn't.

LOVE IS.....

2010-02-14T04:37:00Z

celebrating Valentine's Day at home!

Looking for a place to call home? Call me today!

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

2010-02-12T15:55:00Z

If you are sporting an iPhone you can download a couple of new apps Skout and LoopT both use GPS technology to help tech savvy singles locate that special someone who might just be right around the corner. LoopT is also available for BlackBerry users as well. Whether you are looking for a special someone or just friendship you may want to check out these new apps.

Charity Begins At Home

2010-02-08T01:16:00Z

When I was a little kid, my Grandma would say "If you don't pick up your toys, I am going to take them to the poor kids." We knew she was serious because she was always telling us about poor people. When we out grew our clothes she would have us box them up and we would take them to the donation drop off at church. She wanted us to know how fortunate we were and how important it was to help those less fortunate.

During these tough economic times I would like to remind everyone that charity begins at home. It doesn't always have to be monetary either, you can volunteer your time or donate unused items. For example last week I noticed a garage sale sign that read "All Proceed Go To Haiti Victims".

If we remember that charity begins at home, we can all help to make the word a better place. Teach your children well!

Weekend Movie Review

2010-02-07T00:14:00Z

I enjoy going to the movies and each year I do my best to see all of the Oscar contenders before Award night. This weekend I managed to squeeze in a couple of movies. Friday night I saw The Lovely Bones which I found a little boring and far from Oscar worthy in any way shape or form.

Saturday night I headed to the Americana and saw Crazy Heart which I thought was quite Oscar worthy. Jeff Bridges did a great job and so far I am rooting for him in the best actor category. Maggie Gyllenhaal was also great however I am a bit on the fence on the best supporting actress category because I really liked Anna Kendrick in Up In the Air.

So this weekends review is a Thumbs Down for The Lovely Bones and a Thumbs up on Crazy Heart.

When people die at home

2010-02-04T21:46:00Z

I just listed a home that the owner passed away in. When the trustees were in my office to sign the listing agreement I told them that the death had to be disclosed. Is the home worth less just because the owner chose to pass away peacefully in his home? In my opinion no but it depends on how one looks at it. If buyers are interested in the property they can't negotiate a lower price based on the fact that someone died inside. Someone dying in a home is not a defect of the property unless of course it was under bad circumstances, a murder or suicide for example. If a buyer has a problem with the fact that someone passed away in the home then more than likely they won't be interested in it at all.

When I first started in real estate, death was not a mandatory disclosure, I am sure there were many buyers that had no clue that someone died in the home they purchased it, I know I was one of them. My home was built in 1927, it was occupied by tenants when I purchased it. A few years later my neighbor told me that the prior to leasing the house out, the previous owner cared for her Mother in it and that she passed away inside.

When a loved one chooses to be at home when they pass they should have the right to do so and family member's should support and respect their wishes without being concerned about it effecting the value of the home.

Where to buy some cool Mexican stuff

2010-02-04T00:07:00Z

I live in a Spanish home and I love to decorate, which is why I enjoy traveling to Mexico. My decor is what I like to call an eclectic mix of religious artwork that I have collected from the many places I have visited in Mexico. I have also purchased several things from various Botanicas throughout Los Angeles.

In recent years Botanicas have become quite popular. They attract the attention of those interested in everything from spiritual traditions and holistic healing to people like myself who simply appreciate Mexican art. Click here to read more about Botaicas and their growing popularity.

I recently discovered a great place to purchase Mexican artwork locally. It is located in Burbank on Magnolia and it is called Artesanos. It is not what I would consider a Botanica, but it is a totally cool place to purchase Mexican pottery, furniture and all kinds of art. Their prices aren't as cheap as Mexico but they are very reasonable. If you are in the area I recommend that you stop in and check it out!

Oh and is case you are wondering, I don't practice Santeria

Follow Up To Eva LaRue's Gate Debate

2010-02-02T14:42:00Z

Last week I talked about actress Eva La Rue and her battle to keep a gate that she installed without a permit. As you recall the gate was installed in an effort to keep away a known stalker. I didn't mention the exact location of her home for obvious reasons however the city's attention caused so much media attention that address her home was made public. Consequently the actress has moved out of her home in fear of her safety, not to mention the way she was treated by her neighbor's!

Glendale Yesterday

2010-01-31T19:40:00Z

Last week I came across a few old news papers in my garage and couldn't help but sit down and look through them. Below is a cover of a Glendale New Press from September 1987. It was like opening a time capsule, inside a list of local movies, Beverly Hills Cop was playing at the Alex and it was just $3.50 for a ticket. The funnest advertisement was one that reads: Responsible Young Adults Wanted-Start your own business delivering news papers. My little brother used to do that when he was a kid. I would help him fold the papers and he would hop on his bike and deliver them all. Imagine our kids doing that today!

As I've said many times over, I have seen many changes take place in my hometown however one thing remains the same, Glendale is still a great place to live! I am fortunate to be able to live and work in my hometown

Glendale Actress Fights For Gate

2010-01-29T06:32:00Z

CSI Miami actress Eva La Rue installed a gate in front of her home without obtaining a permit to do so. La Rue was issued a citation by the city's code enforcement however, it was dismissed once officials realized that she installed the gate in an attempt to block her home from the eyes of an alleged stalker. Unfortunately some cranky neighbors were upset by the special treatment the actress received. The matter has been turned over to the Los Angeles Planning Commission which the actress is currently appealing.

Personally I think the gate looks great and yes I understand that there are codes in place but seriously folks, I don't think it's very neighborly to make such a fuss over something so small. Don't we have better things to do?

Hope and Change, How Is It Working Out For Us?

2010-01-23T00:32:00Z

Well, the rising number of defaults on loans that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) have led to policy changes in it's loan program. IMAGINE THAT!

Up until now, borrowers with a FICO score as low as 500 where approved for an FHA loan, WHAT!! All that the buyers had to come up with is 3.5% down. Soon FHA will increase the minimum FICO score to a whopping 580. Buyers with less than a score of 580 will be required to come in with 10% down.

Don't get me wrong, I strongly believe that the FHA loan is a good product and crucial to our current housing market. I like the fact that the loan is fully documented meaning there is no stated income. I also like the fact that it is a 30 year fixed rate loan. I just don't feel that this policy change will do much to reduce the agency's risk especially when you consider that FHA is insuring 30% of new loan compared to just 3% in 2007!

Wondering if you qualify for an FHA loan? Call me today and find out 818-238-0188.