The BEST Team Blog by The BEST Team

JD POWERS: Keller Williams ranks highest among real estate companies

The BEST Team — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:57:00 GMT

National Real Estate News...

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Among Home Buyers, Keller Williams Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction With Real Estate Companies in Inaugural Study

Despite Popularity of Online Home Buying and Selling Tools, Real Estate Agents are Key to Customer Satisfaction

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 23, 2008(read more)

Discount Travel Website

The BEST Team — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:35:00 GMT

FIND GREAT TRAVEL PRICES HERE!!!

BETTER PRICES THAN MOST SITES CHECK IT OUT!

Long Beach Sea Festival Events

The BEST Team — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:57:00 GMT

Here are some local events for Family Fun... Check them out!!!

UPCOMING CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS SEA FESTIVAL EVENTS – AUG 4 – AUG 10
(read more)

Tax Traps In The Housing Bill

The BEST Team — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:56:00 GMT

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/media/hidden-tax-traps-housing-rescue/

LOS ANGELES -- The eagerly anticipated housing-rescue bill, also know as the Housing Assistance Act of 2008, is intended to calm the mortgage market, the real estate market, homeowners on the verge of bankruptcy and foreclosure, victims of bank failures and others whose lives are topsy-turvy this year.

But from a tax perspective, the bill is likely to cause more upset than calm. Here is a look at five areas where tax law was changed along with ..(read more)

President Signs Historic Housing Bill!!!

The BEST Team — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:37:00 GMT

President Signs Historic Housing Bill!!

Thank You to Everyone Who Has Worked So Hard to Increase Loan Limits!

This morning President Bush signed the 'Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.' For the past several years, C.A.R. and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® have aggressively lobbied for Congress to pass numerous provisions found in this historic bill. Many of you participated in these efforts by communicating with your Members of Congress.

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Bush signs U.S. housing rescue plan into law

The BEST Team — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:20:00 GMT

By Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Reuters) - As home foreclosures rise and property values slump, U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday signed into law a rescue package that includes emergency backstops for mortgage financing companies Fannie Mae (FNM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Freddie Mac (FRE.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

(read more)

Understanding 'Distressed' Property

The BEST Team — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:10:00 GMT

Understanding "Distressed" Properties

There are many confusing terms out there today regarding "distressed properties." This article will discuss the different terms used in real estate, such as short sale, and foreclosure to help you understand what you are seeing.

Short sale

With the declining real estate market, many owners have found themselves "upside down" in their home, meaning they owe more than it's worth today's market. A short sale occurs when a home owner asks their lender(s) to accept less than the full loan payoff for their property.

Short sales, in most circumstances, are a way to avoid foreclosure. Although the lender will ..(read more)

Michael Simpson: Elected to 2nd Term Pacific West Association of Realtors

The BEST Team — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:23:00 GMT

2008 PWR Election Results

Thank you for participating in the 2008 Pacific West Association of REALTORS® Election.

On this year´s ..(read more)

Short Sale Article: LA Times

The BEST Team — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:32:00 GMT

Short sales: A tough road

As an alternative to foreclosures, short sales are on the rise, but they can test the patience of all involved: sellers, buyers, banks.

By Diane Wedner, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 15, 2008

RESIDENTIAL short sales sound like a picnic: Owners need to sell their homes for less than they owe, lenders forgive the difference and buyers grab a good deal.

If only. This is one picnic that requires a long wait for dessert. The only "short" thing about short sales, buyers and sellers say, is one's ..(read more)

Long Beach Fire and Police Down Payment Assistance

The BEST Team — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:39:00 GMT

POLICE & FIREFIGHTER DOWNPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Police & Firefighter Downpayment Assistance Program provides qualified police officers and firefighters conditional grants of up to $10,000 to be used towards their downpayment and non-recurring closing costs. The conditional grant may be applied to 100% of the borrower's required downpayment and may be forgiven after five years of residency (certain restrictions apply). The program is available throughout the City of Long Beach.
HOW DO I QUALIFY?
To qualify for the program, you must meet the following requirements:

1. You must be a sworn police officer or firefighter employed by the City of Long Beach and have successfully completed ..(read more)

Down Payment Assistance Program

The BEST Team — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:52:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce that the PWR Opening Doors Down Payment Assistance program will re–open in June, thanks to the generous support of our REALTOR® members who contributed to the PWR Charity Foundation. First–time buyers who meet the criteria may be eligible for up to $10,000 in down payment assistance. Only clients of PWR REALTORS® who contributed to the PWR Charity Foundation (min $25) in 2008 are eligible.

In 2007, PWR gifted $225,000 to fifteen families towards the purchase of their first home. The generous giving of REALTORS® through this program caught the attention of the media and our program was covered by the Long Beach Press Telegram, LA Times and the Orange County Register in a front page, full page article on ..(read more)

Seeking Buyers Agent!!!

The BEST Team — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:26:00 GMT

JOIN THE BEST, The Best Team @ Keller Williams is Hiring the BEST buyers agents!!!

We are looking to hire on 2-3 buyers agents who are motivated and ready to do what is takes to make $100,000+ per year!

The Real Estate Market is full of change and many Real Estate Agents are having a hard time getting by, we have a solution for you if you are selected to join our team you will have a chance of success in this exciting industry.

* Some experience prefered but not required
* We are looking for full time Realtors or who could become full time in a short amount of time
* Reliable transportation
* Learning Based
* Able to see "the big picture"
* Highly Committed
* Multi-lingual a plus (but not required)
* Quick Learner and quick to action
* MUST BE AVIALABLE ON 3 out of 4 ..(read more)

Find Your Dream Home Online

The BEST Team — Tue, 13 May 2008 09:29:00 GMT

Michael Simpson / The Best Team with Keller Williams and Norma Chacon with Metro Coastal Mortgage have combined forces in a newly formed strategic relationship with a licensed real estate company, Home Buyers Marketing II, Inc. (HBM II). HBM II provides area homebuyers with an innovative and FREE home finding service called the Home Buyers ..(read more)

Wall Street Journal: The Housing Crisis Is Over!

The BEST Team — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:40:00 GMT

The Housing Crisis Is Over

By CYRIL MOULLE-BERTEAUX
May 6, 2008; Page A23

The dire headlines coming fast and furious in the financial and popular press suggest that the housing crisis is intensifying. Yet it is very likely that April 2008 will mark the bottom of the U.S. housing market. Yes, the housing market is bottoming right now.

How can this be? For starters, a bottom does not mean that prices are about to return to the heady days of 2005. That probably won't happen for another 15 years. It just means that the trend is no longer getting worse, ..(read more)

Fannie Mae to Loosen Policies to Combat Housing Slump

The BEST Team — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:44:00 GMT

Fannie Mae to Loosen Policies to Combat Housing Slump (Update2)

      2008-05-06 15:54 (New York)

           (Adds comment from lender in fourth paragraph.)

      By Jody Shenn

           May 6 (Bloomberg) -- Fannie ..(read more)