Anyone selling a home gets excited with the anticipation of receiving an offer, how to approach it can be another story. When your Realtor calls you with an offer and sends it your way it is important to peruse the contract with a discriminating eye. Look over every detail and try to keep the following in mind:

• Take the emotion out. It is understandable that you are attached to your home, you might think it is worth every penny you are asking for it, or you might disagree with inspection items. You decided to sell your home, take your attachment away from it and sell it from a real estate perspective.
• Prioritize. What is most important to you as the seller? Closing quickly? Price? Inclusions? Financing?
• What are the buyer’s priorities? If closing quickly is key then maybe you can get closer to your asking price by offering to move up the closing date.

Listening to your Realtor can be extremely helpful and important during the selling process, from pricing your home to walking through a contract. Look over the details of the contract you receive, make notes, examine the contingencies and ask questions. Having experience and knowledge on your side make selling a home a much easier experience.

 Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library

If you are interested in leasing, purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)

Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

The New York Times today notes that federal agencies that backed new mortgages as high as $729,750 will end September 30, 2011.  The new loan limits will depend on various formulas but in the higher end counties, the limit will fall to $625,500.  It is anticipated the Buyers will face more demands from the lenders “including higher credit scores and larger down payments.”  In the next few months, there should be more articles swirling about this but at least this is a good heads up for anyone looking to buy or sell. 

If you are interested in leasing,  purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)

Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

Real estate is ending 2010 on a positive note with President Obama recently extending tax credits that add value to home ownership and home improvements. On the 17th of this month Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. The Act extended tax benefits, reduced payroll taxes and extended a variety of energy efficient tax credits. The extension of the tax credits for energy efficient improvements include those for new homes, existing homes, and building credits. The credits are good for improvements made throughDecember 31, 2011.

Thus far the year is also ending with the mortgage interest deduction (MID) in place, a vital benefit to home owners everywhere this allows homes owners to write off the interest paid on mortgages. While the MID is being threatened to be reduced or eliminated as a way to recover money and reduce government debt, it hasn’t been altered yet, making homeowners throughout the United States grateful for the time being.

Home sales are holding their own as mortgage rates remain hovering above historic lows. Re-financing and buying real estate is benefiting greatly form these low rates. The low interest rate is helping boost sales, appearing to stay put until recovery is in full swing. All in all real estate is ending 2010 in a good position to pick up speed in 2011.

Click here to learn more about real estate provisions that are a part of Obama’s latest tax bill.

If you are interested in leasing,  purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)

Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library

There are a number of smart decisions home owners can make to live greener during the holidays, choices that will not only make people lessen their impact on the environment but also add a little zip to your holiday spirit. The holidays breed good will toward men and the spirit of giving, and there is no need to ignore the environment in the process.

Wrapping paper. Wrapping paper no doubt creates the most garbage during the holiday season and choosing recycled or reusable materials is easier on the landfills. Fabric makes a great wrapping and can be used again for further wrapping or to make something out of.

Christmas trees. Christmas tree farms grow trees strictly for Christmas time, lessening the effects that could come from chopping a tree down in a forest, its natural environment. Choosing a farmed tree is kinder than cutting one down.

Recycle your tree. Most neighborhoods have areas designated as Christmas tree drop-off sites. Dropping your tree off will enable it to be turned into mulch or returned to the environment in a different way.

These are just a few ways to lessen the burden we make on the environment during the holiday season. We live in a consumer society, something we are all guilty of, and the holidays represent a time of greatest impact. It might just lift our spirits to do our part toward easing the impact during this busy time of year.

Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library

If you are interested in leasing,  purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)

Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

It is sad to see that Congress is again re-considering the time honored tax deduction for the mortgage interest according to the Los Angeles Times article dated December 20, 2010. The impact will be felt quite strongly in California where cost of housing is higher than other states.

When Congress convenes to discuss the impact, it is so important to discuss the benefits it has had to the “home builders, construction workers, the financial services industry and local governments”.

The key issue “pits lawmakers in high-end housing districts against those representing less expensive areas. Americans have never been comfortable with governmental redistribution of income, yet many are growing increasingly uneasy about the widening gap between the rich and poor.”

If you are interested in leasing, purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.
Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)
Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

The annual Calabasas Pumpkin Festival held at the Juan Bautista De Anza Park in Calabasas, California – exit 101 freeway at Lost Hills is taking place on October 16th and 17th weekend.  This is a lot of fun for everyone.

Pumpkins are featured by way of (1) pumpkin patch (2) various pumpkin foods – come and try (3) pumpkin baked goods – yummm (4) pumpkin beer (5) pumpkin crafts including a professional pumpkin carver.

There is dancing, music including a tribute to Queen taking place on Sunday from 2 to 4 pm.

There are rides galore – this year it just requires one low cost ticket to grant access to all the rides, obstacle courses and giant slide.

For those who love contests — pie eating contests for kids at 11 am and 4 pm and for adults at 2 pm. Then we have the mummy wrap contest at 12 pm and a seed spitting contest at 1 pm and 3 pm – can you guess what kind of seed you’ll be spitting?

Come down and join the fun including the classic car – antique car show at the same area.

If you are interested in leasing,  purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)

Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

If you are trying to sell a home with a small amount of space it is important to know how to maximize its potential for all to see. Most starter homes have less space and when it comes time to sell it is important to know how to make a home’s space as useful as possible, not to mention as large as possible.

Here are some helpful ideas:

• Paint. When choosing paint pick light, neutral colors and stick to one or two colors that flow from room to room.
• Light. Lighting is an important feature in any home, try to make your home as bright as possible. To best utilize your space implement wall mounted lighting and avoid floor lamps.
• Furniture. Small, clean lines are best when choosing furniture for smaller spaces. Likewise furniture should be arranged to maximize the space in any room. In addition, if it is possible try to add built-in shelving and cabinets to corners and hard-to-use spaces throughout your home.
• Mirrors. Lastly, mirrors make any room appear larger, often creating a mirage of sorts and doubling its size in the minds eye.

The past couple of years have been a great time for people to move up from a starter home to a bigger home. Low mortgage rates and lower home values have helped make this transition feasible for many. For home buyers who need to sell in order to buy, maximizing a home’s space can be an instrumental move. Make the most of what you have to work with and showcase your home’s potential.

Click here to read an article from Realty Times on storage solutions for small spaces.

If you are interested in leasing,  purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)

Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library

A short sale can be time consuming and complex

A short sale is the selling of property to avoid foreclosure, the catch being that the property is being sold for less than the amount owed on it. What makes a short sale tricky is that the sale price is not up to the seller, the lender has to agree to the purchase price. The home owner isn’t walking away with any money at closing in the case of a short sale so he doesn’t care if the home sells for a dollar, the bank’s involvement is to reduce   their loss as much as possible and the buyer just wants a bargain.

The basic process of a short sale is:

• Borrower must be in arrears on loan payments
• Borrower or broker contacts lender to discuss the possibility of a short sale
• Potential buyer makes offer, knowing what is owed by borrower/owner of property
• Lender reviews loan and offer
• Borrower has to show/prove financial hardship
• Lender and broker discuss value and condition of property and examine any offers
• Lender makes final call

The short sale process looks easy on paper, follow the steps and the deal is done, short sale completed. However, in reality the communication between the borrower, lender, Realtor and potential buyer is complex and time consuming. Simply wanting a short sale won’t make it happen. Using a CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) eases the pain and insures you better success when trying to complete a short sale. Being in financial stress is not easy on anyone and using an expert will help you get the job accomplished in a more timely manner and help create a successful real estate transaction.

If you are interested in leasing,  purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)

Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

Sourced from: Kinetic Content Library

Pepperdine Placard

Pepperdine Monument

American Flag

Sea of Flags 1

Beauty of the Flags

It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Today, these photos cannot express the solemn feeling of those who lost their lives unexpectedly on that fateful day – September 11, 2001.  Pepperdine University in Malibu, California honors each life lost on that day by displaying a flag in their memory -each flag representing the citizens of origin.

If you have the chance to come and visit – park briefly nearby and walk amongst the flags.  There are almost 3,000 flags that flow along Pacific Coast Highway as well as Malibu Canyon Road on the Pepperdine front lawns.  It is a good moment to pause pray and meditate on our nation, our leaders and those who protect us each day.

If you are interested in leasing,  purchasing a property or selling a property in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Calabasas or the surrounding Beverly Hills/southern California area then please contact Judy Kunisaki for professional real estate advice in the Westside Los Angeles area, on 310-317-8396 her online contact form on her website.

Subscribe to our blog using our RSS feed. (Click here!)

Judy Kunisaki – CA DRE license 00963582

Be the first to join the discussion»