2009-06 dena land news
DESCRIPTION
June 2009 Dena Land News - a monthly newsletter from Linda Lane-White of Keller Williams RealtyTRANSCRIPT
Father’s Day is June 21st! Thanks, Dad
T here's more to being a dad than earning a
living and being an advisor to their children.
According to researchers in the Fatherhood
Project at the Families & Work Institute, interact-
ing with Dad is crucial for child development.
Researchers now know that even interactions
with your infant or toddler influence how your
kids will relate to other people later in their lives
and how they will view the world at large.
Other studies show that children whose fathers
played with them at age 2 tended to form closer,
more trusting relationships with others at ages 10
and 16.
Dads often tell the family stories to children,
giving them an anchor to their family as they grow
and experience life’s challenges.
For all the Dads and Moms out there who are look-
ing for the perfect place to anchor their families, I
hope you’ll call me. I can help you find the home of
your dreams.
Mortgage Interest Is Lowest Since 1990
L ow interest rates have set off a race among homeowners to
refinance, and the low interest rates are increasingly nudg-
ing undecided buyers finalize their purchase of a home.
In the week ending March 20, loan
terms for 30-year, fixed rate mortgages
fell to an average of 4.63 percent, the
mortgage Bankers Association reports.
Up to that point, it was the lowest rate in
the history of the survey, which began in
1990.
Mortgage applications were up 20
percent in that week over their year ago
level.
In addition to mortgage deals, attrac-
tive prices on homes and foreclosed
homes are drawing new buyers into the
marketplace. Up to 45 percent of exist-
ing home sales were distressed proper-
ties in this same week.
Individuals looking for a safer place to
invest are making real estate deals,
which also increased the number of
mortgage applications.
Refinancing
Refinancing of present mortgage loans accounted
for 78.5 percent of all mort-
gage applications in that par-
ticular week.
Real estate agents, mort-
gage brokers and lenders are
busy. Some lenders are
sweetening the deals in order
to move properties with such
offers as a "no points" clos-
ing.
Government loan modifi-
cation plans are also causing
homeowners to refinance. In
most cases, they should have
the aid of a professional to
assist them in deciding which
program would be best for
them.
“Green” Solutions: 1) Plant mint to keep mice from invading your garden; 2) Return unused or expired prescription medications to your pharmacy for proper disposal; 3) Pick up dog waste
with biodegradable scoop bags; 4) Remove the screensaver from your computer, use sleep mode instead and save 90 watts of power; 5)Use ice to sharpen the blades in your garbage disposal; 6) Set air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees throughout the summer; 7) Put a cover on your pool so less water can evaporate; 8) Wash your car at a commercial car wash (i.e. Fair Oaks Car Wash) 9) Read magazines at the library instead of buying them; 10) Invite friends to summer gatherings electronically via “e-vite.com” or “sendomatic.com”
DENA LAND NEWSDENA LAND NEWSDENA LAND NEWS A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER BY LINDA LANE-WHITE—KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY
SERVING MY HOMETOWN OF ALTADENA/PASADENA AND OUTLYING AREAS
Linda Lane-White
“Singing” Realtor ®
CA Lic #01091347
Notary Public
(626)786-1231
June 2009
In Memory of my Father,
Bill Lane who passed
away on 6-21-95. You
were so full of wisdom
and had so many stories to
tell. I love and miss you!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Q I'm a military
veteran and hav-
ing a difficult time
making my high
mortgage payments.
Is there any special
help available for
me?
A Indeed there is.
Veterans of
Iraq and other mili-
tary service can take
advantage of recent
changes that make
the VA's loan guar-
antee program more
flexible for borrow-
ers. The VA Stream-
line Refinance pro-
gram allows loans of
up to 100 percent of
the value of a home.
Maximum loan
amounts vary from
one part of the coun-
try to another. Before
these increased
maximums, VA
loans were capped at
$144,000.
The changes are
specifically designed
to assist veterans
with subprime mort-
gages so they can
refinance into a
safer, more afford-
able VA loan.
During wartime,
an active-duty mem-
ber of the military
needs only 90 days
of service to qualify
for the program. The
requirement for a
reservist or National
Guard member is six years, unless the member is
called to active duty, in which case the 90-day re-
quirement applies.
Jim Brown, CEO of Veteran Mortgage in Everett,
Washington, says many reservists don't know that
they qualify.
The VA charges an upfront funding fee, but the
fee is waived for veterans who have a 10 percent
disability or more. Borrowers must have a stable
income and reasonable credit history, though guide-
lines are generous and flexible, according to Brown.
Experts at Bankrate.com point out one advantage
over FHA and other loans. The VA does not require
mortgage insurance on loans that exceed 80 percent
of the home's value.
Not all mortgage brokers and lenders can offer
Veterans Affairs loans, but many do.
Across
1. "Welcome" site
4. ___ Today
7. "___ la la!"
8. Heirloom location
10. Bruin legend Bobby
11. Bridget Fonda, to
Jane
12. Colossus
14. Highest points
17. A pen for livestock in
southern Africa
18. Norse goddess of
love
21. Kind of feeling
23. Billiards bounce
24. "Fantasy Island"
prop
25. Number cruncher, for short
26. Feminine suffix
Down
1. Jersey call
2. Blood carrier
3. Thunderflies
4. Colorado Indian
5. As written
6. Trick taker, often
8. Type of word play
9. Skin problem
13. ___ Rose
15. American symbol
16. Veers
18. TV monitor?
19. Bad-mouth
20. Baseball stat
22. "___ the season ..."
The title is a clue to the
shaded diagonal word.
High Finance Crossword
Veteran
Refinancing
Happy Birthday Kathryn Melton—4th
Adam Odisho—4th
Shanti Molina—8th
Craig Peery—10th
John Welton—13th
Ramona Rodriguez—14th
Chris White—16th (Happy 50th)
Shelly Parker—18th
Chris Williams—20th
Rebecca Mitilineos—22nd
Kitty Nickerson—24th
Fred Shotlow—29th
Happy Anniversary Coreen & Peter Larson—1st
Kitty & Kyle Nickerson—12th
Joe & Sherry Cavallo—14th
Paul & Juanita DeVaugn—15th
Eric & Alice Blackwood—22nd
Henry & SunYoung Moon—23rd
Robert & Connie DeVaughn-27th
Chet & Jackie Kelsey—29th
Dena Land News—Linda Lane-White • Keller Williams Realty (626) 786-1231 • www.lindalanewhite.com
Ask an Expert
Want to know what has sold re-
cently in YOUR area. Send me an
e-mail or give me a call and I’ll
custom tailor a list just for you! Linda Lane-White (626) 786-1231
Active Adults Corner Trust Linda Lane-White as your Seniors Real Estate Specialist®
Pasadena Senior Center 85 E Holly Street, Pasadena 626-795-4331
Senior Olympics - June 6-28 Contact Cynthia Rosedale at 626-685-6754 or [email protected]
www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org,
www.californiaseniorgames.com
Friday Movie Matinee - 1:30 6/5 Frost/Nixon, 6/12-Sunset Boulevard, 6/19 Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Dementia & Memory Loss —12pm is time for the lec-ture. Make reservation by calling 626/795-4331
Billiards Tournament—6/13 10am Call George Heusenstamm at 818/248-0537 or email
Maintenance & Prevention of Diabetes—6/18 10:30am
Putting Your Life Story Down and Getting it Pub-
lished—6/19 10am FREE Seminar. More info call Raul
626/685-6706
Class Tasting—6-22&23 9am to 12pm Test drive differ-ent classes at the center.
Altadena Senior Center 560 E. Mariposa St., Altadena 626-798-0505
Friday Movie Matinee 12:30 Films vary Exercise 9am Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday Bingo 12:30 Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month Sign up now for the July 9th trip to Rubel Castle in Glendora
Ingredients:
1 cup lemon low-fat yogurt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (be sure
that any frozen fruit you decide to use be thawed
and drained before adding to recipe)
Directions:
Heat oven to 375º F. Spray a 9x9x2" square pan
with nonfat cooking spray. Beat yogurt, oil, egg
whites and sugar in a large bowl. Stir in remain-
ing ingredients except blueberries. Carefully
stir in blueberries and spread all ingredients in
pan. Bake about 45 minutes or until cake springs
back when
touched lightly in
center. Cool 10
minutes.
Blueberry Coffee Cake
The Altadena Summer Beach Bus Starts June 23rd (other areas see http://ladpw.org/PDD/beach_bus/index.cfm)
All Children and Adults ................... $3.00
Sr. Citizens (60+) ............ $1.50 (bring ID)
Persons with Disabilities..................$1.50
Trips are Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Labor Day
Pickups are from 9:15 to 9:50am throughout Altadena. Arrive at
the beach at 11am. Then the bus leaves Santa Monica Beach at
3:30 to return to Altadena.
Call 888-769-1122 for more info
When Buying or Refinancing...
Call Peter First Peter Cosfol
& Augusta Financial
Get Pre-Approved Senior Loan Officer Augusta Financial is a service oriented mortgage company that specializes in residen-
tial financing. We have many loan programs to help our clients with all of their mortgage
needs.
Peter offers the best pricing with the lowest fees!
Peter will personally address all of your questions and concerns regarding the loan process!
Augusta Financial makes the loan process seem easy!
Augusta is both Broker and Mortgage Banker!
We offer In-house processing and funding!
It’s a GREAT time Buy or Refinance!
(661) 260-2970 Office · (661) 291-2234 Direct · (818) 281-1466 Cell
Who do you know right now who’s looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate? Give me a call or send me an E-mail. I’m never too busy for your referrals to friends or family.
Linda Lane-White ([email protected] or 626-786-1231)
Disclaimers: All real estate information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All properties are subject to prior sale, change, or withdrawal. Neither
listing broker(s) nor this company shall be responsible for typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. If your property is currently listed with another
real estate broker, this is not a solicitation of that listing.
Level 1-Commercial 560 sf
Level 2- 1 BR/1BA 560 sf
2 Car Garage 400 sf
Laundry Room 64 sf
2,997 sf lot
Separate HVAC Units
Separate Electric Meters
Dual pane laminate glass
Alarm System
Security Gates
(10% down financing is
available for owner/user)
Highlights
Mixed Use
Live/Work
Owner/User
Investment
Enterprise
Zone
Tax Credits
Hiring Credits
Zoned FGSP-CL-1B
Use Code: Retail/
Residential
1564-66 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA Open House Every Saturday from 2 to 5pm
Bring me a buyer for $599,000—Free LCD TV!
Completely renovated, vacant, free-standing
building, great street frontage Call (626) 786-1231 for more information
www.1564NFairOaks.com (Construction by Ceedub Construction)
Investing in real estate: The time has come
P eople just like you are scoop-
ing up bargain-priced prop-
erties. They could be getting the
bargain of a lifetime. It is a great
time to invest.
First timers: If you haven't
owned a home in the last three
years, it's an even better time to
buy. According to the govern-
ment mortgage assistance pro-
gram, you are considered a first-
time buyer and are eligible for
the first time homebuyer tax
credit.
Under that program, singles
with income of up to $75,000 and
couples earning up to $150,000
can claim a tax credit of up to
$8,000, ($4,000 for singles)
which does not have to be paid
back. The home must be pur-
chased between Jan. 1 and Dec.
1 (not December 31) of 2009.
This is an "above the
line" tax credit, which means
you don't have to itemize taxes
to get it.
Investing wisely: Even if
you aren't eligible for that pro-
gram, prices of many homes are
lower than they have been in a
long time. Today's super-low
interest rates, five percent of less,
make investing in real estate a
smart move.
I can guide you through your
search for the right property, one
that will bring you a profit right
now. Though many home prices
have fallen, most rents have not,
and rents are still rising in many
areas.
A well-established real estate
agent knows the neighborhoods, is
familiar with the properties in-
volved, can help to secure a favor-
able financing deal and trouble-
shoot the whole procedure.
Foreclosures and auctions: Some-
times a buyer can work directly
with the bank or lender that is fore-
closing on a property or one that is
putting it up for auction.
Unfortunately, the buyer could
make a cat-in-a-bag deal, acquir-
ing a property on which there is
little history available. The prop-
erty may not come with an ap-
praisal from a reputable company.
Generally, this buyer is on his
own without a real estate agent to
negotiate for him or defend him.
W hen the home you want
does not have a mortgage
or has one the seller is willing to
carry, seller financing can be a
great deal for a person buying a
home.
Usually, the seller will want
10% down, but not always. The
interest rate charged could be a
point above the lowest bank rate.
But one big advantage: The seller
usually doesn’t require mortgage
insurance, meaning the monthly
payment will be lower in any
case.
The loan can be constructed on
a 30-year basis. Most seller-
finance deals, however, last for 5
to 7 years, then are settled with a
balloon payment for the balance.
Sometimes, a buyer who opts
for seller financing will be in a
better position 5 or 7 years down
the road and will then be able to
qualify for a 30-year conventional
mortgage.
When buying a seller-financed
property, be sure to get a current
appraisal. Get title insurance for
a few hundred dollars. It will
show any tax liens and any other
claims that could affect a prop-
erty transfer. And, of course, con-
sult your local Realtor—me!!
- Linda Lane-White
Seller Financing Can Be An Option For
Some Buyers/Sellers
Dena Land News—Linda Lane-White • Keller Williams Realty (626) 786-1231 • www.lindalanewhite.com
CEEDUB
CONSTRUCTION RESIDENTIAL & LIGHT COMMERCIAL
With over 30 years of experience, we work
with you to achieve your dream.
Call Today For A Free Estimate
(Licensed/Bonded/Insured)
(626) 786-1229 CHRIS WHITE, OWNER
Ca Lic #883002
www.ceedubconstruction.com
Pasadena Market Center
445 S. Fair Oaks Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
Cell: (626) 786-1231
Home Office: (626) 798-2382
Fax: (626) 296-1979
Home Office: 519 Alameda, Altadena
I n T une Wit h Your Needs
If You Would Like To Receive This
Newsletter on a Regular Basis for
Guaranteed Delivery (Snail or E-Mail)
Call me or send me an E-Mail...LLW
Linda Lane-White “Singing” Realtor® CA Lic #01091347 (since 1990)
Notary Public (since 1987)
Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
www.lindalanewhite.com
Search the MLS on my web site!
Dena Land News June 2009 Happenings Every Sunday 6pm to 8pm Concerts in the Park, Memorial Park 1301 Foothill Blvd La Canada
Various Dates Support our local Coffee Gallery in Altadena (Ian Whitcomb, I’m so sorry I missed you
on May 31st!) Various acts perform at 2029 N Lake Call 626-398-7917 or www.coffeegallery.com
Jun 5 7:15 to 11pm Robert Kyle performs at Red White & Bluezz www.robertkyle.com
Jun 6/7 American Cancer Society’s Altadena Relay for Life Starts at 9am on Saturday and goes for 24
hours at Farnsworth Park. Free live music event...pack a picnic and go!
Jun 6 8am to 12pm Christmas Tree Lane Bulb Testing. Come for refreshments and lunch and sit down
and test bulbs while meeting your neighbors. 2062 Santa Rosa, Altadena 626-926-5045
Jun 6 11-4 Mountain View Mausoleum Open House 2300 N Marengo, Altadena 626-797-8016 $15
Jun 6 12pm John Muir Class of 1979 Reunion Committee Meeting. JMHS Library 626-786-1231
Jun 6 11-7 & Jun 7 10-7 On The Trail of: A Half Mile of Al Fresco Installations, Sculptures and Perform-
ances. Hahamonga Watershed Park 626-398-9278 www.newtownarts.org FREE
Jun 7 1pm Castle Green Tour 99 S Raymond, Pasadena www.castlegreen.com626-577-6765$20
Jun 7 10-4 L.A. Concours de Elegance. Rose Bowl. www.laconcours.com
Jun 7 Pasadena POPS—Free Concert Under the Stars Pasadena City Hall 100 N Garfield. 5:30 pre-
concert fun ...7:30 concert begins
Jun 7 6-10pm 6th Annual Swingin’on a Star 5 Acres Benefit Gala-1 Colorado,Pasadena 626-798-6793.
Jun 13 & 20 8am to 12pm Christmas Tree Lane undergrowth clearing. Santa Rosa/Woodbury
Jun 13 8am California Friendly Landscaping Class Salvation Army 960 E Walnut, Pasadena
www.pwpweb.com
Jun 14 Flag Day—Fly your flag proudly!! Give ―Old Glory‖ its due.
Jun 14 7pm Elliott Caine Jazz Trumpeter Farnsworth Park Summer Concert—Top of Lake in Altadena
Jun 20 10amPasadena Chalk Street Painting Festival.Paseo Coloradoww.pasadenachaulkfestival.com
Jun 21 11am-8pm PUSD All School Reunion Classes of the 70s BBQ-Picnicpalooza. Farnsworth Park –
Top of Lake Ave in Altadena. Food 12-6. Call Mark DuCre at 702-762-5190 for more info
Jun 21,24,25,26,27,28 Levitt Pavilion Events & Concerts in the Park www.levittpavilionpasadena.org
Jun 21 Leigh Adams exhibit at the Howeeduzzit Gallery 821 S Raymond #27, Alhambra 626-458-8811
Jun 27/28 10am-6pm Riviera Village Summer Festival Redondo www.rivieravillage.org/events
Jun 27 11-6 1st Go Mustangs Celebration at John Muir626-798-7881 www.gomustangs.ning.com
Jun 27 7-11pm L.A. Chinatown 71st Anniversary 943-951 N Broadway, L.A. www.chinatownla.com
Jun 28 7pm Downbeat Express,Altadena’s Big Band. Farnsworth Park—Top of Lake in Altadena
Heads up! July 4 12pm Americafest 4th of July Celebration Pasadena Rose Bowl 626-577-3100
www.rosebowlstadium.com $13
ATTENTION
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS
GET YOUR $8,000 HUD TAX
CREDIT NOW TO USE WITH
YOUR DOWN PAYMENT!
Effective as of May 29, 2009,
HUD tweaked the stimulus tax
incentive so first time home
buyers can get INSTANT as-
sistance with down payment
and closing costs.
With FHA financing, a 3.5%
down payment including the
$8,000 Tax Credit, you can
now get into your new home
sooner rather than later.
Call me for details:
Linda Lane-White
Keller Williams Realty
(626) 786-1231