Check Out Google’s New 411 Service!

It might be time to lug that stack of phone books you just received to the trash can! Check out Google 411 and then decide.

1-800-GOOG-411, Google’s new 411 service is totally FREE, fast and easy to use. Give it a try now and see how simple it is to find and connect with local businesses for free. I love it, it’s awesome with a hand-free Bluetooth system.

 

Tip: Always use categories, never business names.

If you decide to throw your phone books out in favor of GOOG-411, opt-out and never have to lug or store another bulky phone book again? Below are the numbers to call for the major distributors of phone books and yellow pages. Call the numbers and tell them you want to opt-out of delivery – it only takes a few minutes.

AT&T/YellowPages (formerly SBC):

(800) 792.2665

Verizon:

(888) 266.5965

Yellow Book:

(800) 373.3280 or (800) 373.2324

Foreclosures rise more than 300 percent in the two-county Inland region

The Inland Empire homeowners are losing their homes at an alarming rate due to risky subprime mortgages. Take a look at this article from Knight Ridder Tribune Business News.

Click Here

FHA Might Be The Way!

My son, a lender at Majestic Mortgage just gave me a hot mortgage tip. This could help you:

• Is your credit score 620 or below?
• Have you had any late mortgage payments in the last 12 months?
• Is your loan amount under $362,760?
• Is that loan balance less than 97.15% of your home’s value?
• Do you have an adjustable rate mortgage set to adjust?

If you answered YES to the above and you’re looking for a way out, how does this sound?

• A 30-year fixed loan With NO prepayment penalty
• In the mid-upper 6% range With a 1% origination fee
• With no junk fee charges

Interested? If you have a sub-prime mortgage loan and need to get out of because it is about to adjust to a payment you can’t afford then you might want to contact my son, Mike Martin or his Processor, Bea at (909) 466-4889. You could be the perfect candidate for an FHA loan. Imagine an affordable monthly mortgage payment plus stability to your life as well.

Sub-prime adjustable rate mortgages are ticking time bombs, if you are in one and want out, inquire about FHA refinancing. Remember, not every lender is FHA approved.

RSS

 

Wondering what this little RSS orange insignia that’s popping up everywhere is all about? Believe it or not, so was I? I found out that it’s called Really Simple Syndication. OK and what does that mean, you ask? It’s gotta be something really technical right? No, it actually serves a very good purpose.

RSS solves a problem for people who regularly use the web. It allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest content from the sites you are interested in. You save time by not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure your privacy, by not needing to join each site’s email newsletter. Many news-related sites, blogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it. What the RSS button does (aka RSS Feed) is allows you to indicate that you like a particular blog or podcast, and would like to stay current with their content. By clicking on the RSS button you’ll indicate that you would like to stay apprised to the latest publications or broadcasts. It’s as simple as clicking the button and will be notified every time someone posts a new thought on your favorite blog or podcast! So, click the RSS button off to the side of this blog!

TOP BLOGS, ACCORDING TO CNET

With more than 14 million blogs in existence and another 80,000 being created each day, how is a person supposed to find the ones worth reading? Whenever I to research technology of any sort, I head over to CNet to check out their editorials and user reviews. Whether I’m shopping a color printer, digital camera, laptop or cell phone, I know I can always trust what they have to say. Last time I visited, I was a little surprised to find something entirely different…they are rating blogs that focus on technology. I thought you might be interested in their 100 choices because they could end up providing valuable information that you could use:

Top100 blogs according to CNet:

• 1080Eye
• Alice Hill’s Real Tech News
• Apple Matters
• AppleInsider
• Ars Technica
• Between the Lines
• Beyond VC
• Boing Boing
• Burnham’s Beat
• BusinessWeek’s Blogspotting
• BusinessWeek’s The Tech Beat
• BuzzMachine
• C:\PIRILLO.EXE
• Channel 9
• Cleantech Investing
• Cyberjournalist.net
• Dan Bricklin’s Log
• Daring Fireball
• Declan McCullagh’s Politech
• digg
• Doc Searls Weblog
• Engadget
• Fixyourthinking.com
• Freedom to Tinker
• Geek Culture
• Geek News Central
• Gizmodo
• GPS Review
• Groklaw
• Hypebot
• IEBlog
• iLounge
• Jeremy Zawodny’s blog
• JKOnTheRun
• John Battelle’s Searchblog
• Joi Ito’s Web
• Jon’s Radio
• Jonathan’s Blog
• Justin’s Guide
• Kim Cameron’s Identity Weblog
• Kotaku
• Kottke.org
• Kuro5hin.org
• Lawrence Lessig
• Lifehacker
• Linux-Watch
• LonghornBlogs.com
• MacMinute
• Matt McAlister
• Micro Persuasion
• Microsoft Security Response Center
• Microsoft Watch from Mary Jo Foley
• Mini-Microsoft
• Molly
• MozillaZine
• Neowin.net
• New Media Musings
• O’Reilly Radar
• Om Malik on Broadband
• Ongoing
• PaidContent.org
• PCS Intel
• PhysOrg Weblog
• PressThink
• PVRblog
• Responsible Nanotechnology
• RFID Weblog
• Romenesko
• Schneier on Security
• Science Blog
• Scobleizer
• Scott Rosenberg’s Links & Comment
• Scripting News
• Search Engine Watch
• Seattle Post-Intelligencer Microsoft Blog
• Security Fix
• Seth Godin’s Blog
• Silicon Valley Watcher
• Slashdot
• Spamroll
• Sunbeltblog
• SunMink
• TaoSecurity
• Tech Confidential Blog
• TechCrunch
• Techdirt
• Tecosystems
• Terra Nova
• The Blog Herald
• The Gadgeteer
• The Internet Stock Blog
• The Mac Observer
• Things That … Make You Go Hmm
• Threadwatch.org
• TiVoBlog.com
• TVOver.net
• Venture Chronicles
• Vitalsecurity.org
• whatsnextblog
• XplanaZine

Market Condition Report – August 2007

MARKET CONDITION REPORT INLAND EMPIRE – WEST END August 2007

THIS YEAR LAST YEAR

Year to Date Sales

This Year	Last Year	Change	% Change
3,217	4,917	-1,700	-34.6%

The market is remaining rather constant relative to last year varying by a few percentage points either way. Last report was -35.3 %. This is generally in line with other areas surveyed. There are markets performing at a lower level than Inland Empire-West (Victor Valley -51%), but there is also Santa Barbara at +6%. This implies the current market condition varies according to area and price class. Note from the History of Median Sales Price the market peaked in terms of price in the late spring-early summer of 2006. MARKET QUICK LOOK

Indicator	Comment – Current Position and Movement	Buyer	Seller	Neutral
DEMAND	Increasing moderately-slower for CONDO. No trend.		–	–
SUPPLY	Rising slowly-near peak.		–	–
PERCENT SELLING (Market Efficiency)	Increased 2 points-too small to be meaningful. No trend.		–	–
DAYS ON MARKET	Steady.	–	–
MONTHS SUPPLY	Declining slowly-movement favorable to seller. No trend.		–	–
60 DAY ABSORB (Market Speed)	Very small positive movement. Not meaningful.		–	–
PRICES	List, Ask, Close Price-off moderately. Negative trend.		–	–
FUTURE PRICE INDICATOR	Expect declines to limit of $450K for SFR and $329K for CONDO.		–	–

In terms of current position the market is clearly favorable to the buyer. In terms of movement the market is moving toward the seller. However, this movement is very slight and tentative. No clear trends are evident except a tendency to declining prices (see graph History of Median Sales Price).

MCR TIP The 60 DAY ABSORB RATE measures market speed. Another way to think about the ABSORB RATE is the rate that listings are converted to closings in a 60 day period. The higher the ABSORB RATE, the quicker this conversion is occurring and the more the market is moving toward the seller. The opposite is true.

WORDS OF WISDOM Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes (Peter Drucker).

Click here to view Market Condition Report.

STUNNING Deer Creek Home! 5673 Bonita Ave.

This Large, Yet Cozy, Deer Creek Home Nestled High In The Foothills Boasts Space Galore. This Private Tennis Court Property Has The Look And Feel Of A Five Star Resort. Sparkling Pool and Bubbling spa, Sprawling Green Landscape, Gorgeous Kitchen With Granite Counter Tops, Spacious Bedrooms And Romantic Bathrooms With Marble And Travertine Inlay, custom plantation shutters, ample storage areas, 3-car attached garage w/new roll-up garage doors Are Just A Few Of The Features You’ll Appreciate In This Executive Masterpiece. Come See For Yourself And Enjoy! presents a functional plan designed for casual elegant living: formal dining area, casual living area, and numerous other interior embellishments!

Visit www.5673BonitaAve.com for more information!

Credit Crisis Cripples The Market

Just last week, American Home Mortgage and its wholesale counterpart, American Brokers Conduit, became the latest casualties of the credit crisis. Last year, this company closed over $58 billion in home loans. Despite being, by all accounts, a well-run business, market conditions forced them to file for bankruptcy, leaving nearly $800 million in loans unable to close. Tens of thousands of borrowers have now been left without financing as a result of companies like this going under. Clearly, with over 100 national lenders having now closed shop in the last eight months, this is no longer simply a subprime lending issue. The credit market is experiencing unprecedented turmoil that, according to Mike Perry, CEO of Indymac Bancorp, is “broader and more serious than past disruptions.”

What does this mean for to the real estate market?

• Sellers can no longer be reluctant to accept offers or reduce prices. Tightening credit and diminishing mortgage products will continue to reduce the pool of qualified buyers. This, along with the increase in national inventories, means now is not the time to hold out for the “best” price possible.

• Buyers with credit issues or who have difficulty providing required documentation can no longer sit on the fence. If market conditions change, buyers who qualify for a loan today may not qualify a few weeks from now for the same exact loan. Just this week, many lenders have stopped offering no-Doc loans, and some lenders have even pulled back on all forms of stated loans. As market conditions continue to change, a buyer’s pre-approval status can disappear even more quickly, delaying or spoiling the deal.

• Subprime and Alt-A refi candidates, especially those with ARMs scheduled to reset over the next 12 months, need to act now – even those with a pre-payment penalty. ARMs borrowers struggling with monthly payments now might be shocked to know that monthly payments can double in some cases once an ARM resets.

What does this mean to you?

As educated Real Estate and Mortgage professionals, we feel it’s our responsibility to educate and inform you. Please feel free to utilize our experience and resources to help navigate through these turbulent times. Don’t leave your future in the hands of random mortgage providers. We’re local, accountable, and you can trust us to discuss this or any other strategies to survive in today’s challenging market. Don’t hesitate to call us. We’re happy to speak with you.

Not Your Average Joe

That’s right . . . It’s Trader Joe’s! And they’re finally coming to Rancho Cucamonga.

Trader Joe’s one of Southern Californians most recognized specialty grocers in the marketplace has found a home at Haven Avenue and the 210 freeway in the Haven Village Shopping Center. For Trader Joe fans that’s a big reason to celebrate.Trader Joe’s, a privately owned specialty grocery chain with approximately 280 stores across the country, offers a variety of imported gourmet, organic and vegetarian foods, unusual frozen foods, domestic and imported wine and basics like bread, cereal, eggs, and produce. They also carry non-food items like personal hygiene products, household cleaners, vitamins, pet food, plants and flowers. The Rancho Cucamonga Trader Joe’s, which is planning to open sometime in the 4^th quarter of 2007, will be located in the Haven Village Shopping Center next to the newly remodeled Von’s where the old Sav-on Pharmacy use to be. Kudos to the Rancho Cucamonga Redevelopment Agency for having a Trader Joe’s join the growing roster of sought-after retailers that already call Rancho Cucamonga home.

Protect Yourself. Protect Your Identity.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR PULLS YOUR CREDIT REPORT?

1. Your mortgage originator pulls your credit report from the credit bureaus to obtain your credit score and process your loan application.

2. The credit bureaus may place your personal information on a prescreened list (also called a trigger list).

3. Within hours the credit bureaus may sell the list to hundreds of companies. Your mortgage originator does not authorize the sale of your personal information and cannot stop it. Only you have the ability to stop this practice.

4. Within hours you begin to receive phone solicitations for mortgage products from numbers and companies you don’t recognize.

5. Within days you begin to receive mail solicitations for mortgage products.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

1. The “bait-and-switch” scheme. This scheme is run by companies who get business by luring consumers in with low rates and then switching the loan product.

2. Solicitations (phone and mail) that appear to be from your current mortgage company. Always confirm who you are speaking with.

3. Solicitations asking for pin numbers, passwords, your mother’s maiden name and/or your social security number.

4. If you believe you have been the target of one of these deceitful practices or some other abuse of the system, please report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

1. Opt-Out of prescreened offers.

2. Register with the Do-Not-Call Registry, www.donotcall.gov.

3. Contact the Federal Trade Commission.

4. Contact Congress.

5. Stop other forms of direct marketing by visiting the Direct Mail Association’s Web site at: www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html.

Worried? Want To Do More To Protect Your Information?

Voice your concerns by calling your Congressional Representative at 202-224-3121.

FAQs

WHAT IS A PRESCREENED OFFER OF CREDIT OR INSURANCE?

A firm offer of credit or insurance is defined as any offer of credit or insurance to a consumer that will be honored if the consumer is determined, based on the consumer’s credit report, to meet the specific criteria used to select the consumer for the offer, subject to certain confirmation requirements.

WHAT IS OPT-OUT?

Opting-Out refers to the process of removing your name from lists supplied by the Consumer Credit Reporting Companies, Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion (“Credit Bureaus”), to be used for firm (pre-approved /prescreened) offers of credit or insurance. Your rights as a consumer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act include the right to “Opt-Out” for 5 years or permanently.

HOW TO OPT-OUT

You can opt-out by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com or through the toll-free telephone number, 888-567-8688. When you call or visit the website, you’ll be asked to provide personal information, including your home telephone number, name, Social Security number, and date of birth. The information you provide is confidential and will be used only to process your request to opt out.

DOES EXERCISING MY RIGHT TO OPT-OUT AFFECT MY ABILITY TO APPLY FOR CREDIT OR INSURANCE?

No, removing your name from these lists does not affect your ability to apply for or obtain credit or insurance.

DOES OPTING-OUT IMPROVE MY CREDIT SCORE?

No, since inquiries for firm offers for credit or insurance are not used in calculating credit scores, Opting-Out does not improve your credit score. Similarly, inquiries for firm offers for credit or insurance do not reduce your credit score.

HOW DO I CONTACT THE FTC?

Federal Trade Commission

Consumer Response Center

Room 130600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20580

www.ftc.gov/credit/