Housing Trends eNewsletter-West Hills Ca-Real Estate-Woodland Hills  Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general. The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau and Realtor.org reports, videos, key market indicators and real estate sales statistics, a video message by a nationally recognized economist, maps, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, plus local neighborhood information and more.   Please click here to view the Monthly Housing Tren... 06/06/2012

Lloyd Cullen Real Estate is a local West Hills Short Sale Realtor. As a West Hills Short Sale Company that specializes in short sales, you are assured the highest standard of professionalism and can always count on our West Hills Short Sale Realtor to help answer any questions you have in regards to West Hills Short Sales. West Hills Short Sale Realtor Lloyd Cullen is a local West Hills Short Sale Expert with experienced West Hills Short Sale Agents here to assist you.   West Hills Short Sale Realtor We specialize in Short Sales for West Hills and Surrounding Areas A West Hills California short sale involves the seller, the buyer, and the financial institution that currently holds the mortgage on the home. Even after the buyer and seller negotiate a deal, the bank must approve it. This ... 05/30/2012

West Hills Ca Homes For Sale -Protecting yourself during the sale     I absolutely feel for clients who are stressed out during the sale of their home. While I make the process about as smooth as possible, there are always high-stakes feelings on the table. Unfortunately, these mistakes can cost sellers thousands.       In the interest of protecting sellers everywhere, perhaps you or your own clients can avoid these four “emotional traps” that can directly impact how well (and for how much!) a home sells:     Emotional Trap #1: Pricing High You’ve loved your home. You may have raised kids or started a marriage there. Everywhere you look, you see history, memories, and the reasons you fell in love with the place. I guarantee you: Buyers can’t see these. Remember: What you may think is an... 05/14/2012

West Hills Ca Real Estate-Homes-Quick tip to lower your power bill   Does it seem like your power bill has gone up year after year? While elevated energy costs are certainly part of the problem, there’s a “phantom menace” that’s also been driving up your bill: New electronics.   Long gone are the days when shouting at the kids to “turn off the light!” was a sure way to save on electricity (though installing reduced-energy bulbs is a good move, too). The U.S. Department of Energy reports that “75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while products are turned off.” Why’s that? Because newer electronics and appliances consume power even when the device is turned off. The term to describe this is known as “phantom load.”   Home entertainment systems with remote con... 05/13/2012

Going to any weddings this year?-West Hills Ca Homes-Woodland Hills-San Fernando Valley Real Estate   With the Spring and Summer wedding seasons not so far off, it won’t be too long until we hear the forks and knives ringing out against wine and water glasses alike. Celebrations call for toasts, and you might just be called upon to make one yourself--for a son, a daughter, or even an associate who is up for retirement. Here are a few classic wedding toasts, sampled from around the web:   “May you both live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.”   “May you live each day like your last, and live each night like your first.”   “Here’s to the two secrets to a long-lasting and happy marriage: A good sense of humor and a short memory!”     While the etiquette of toasting va... 05/04/2012

West Hills Ca-Homes for Sale-Woodland Hills-San fernando Valley Real Estate-Did you get an iPad recently?      I’m totally blown away these days by what you can do with the iPad. If you have one, or are planning on buying one soon, I put together a blog post with five great apps for homeowners:   Do you have an iPad? Do you own a home? If so, I’ve got five killer apps for you to play with, most of which are free. Even the ones that aren’t free are so worth it that you might want to try them out anyway.   Who would have thought that you could control your TV with your iPad? And match colors you see in the world to exact hues with Sherwin-Williams? And carry a comprehensive wood grain library with you everywhere you go? Oh, and did I mention: An app to measure your rooms and a different o... 04/19/2012

    Home can mean so many things these days! I love it!     HOUZZ.COM (http://www.houzz.com) Houzz is a leading destination site for home design enthusiasts-- professionals and homeowners. The Houzz site and mobile apps feature over 250,000 high quality interior and exterior photos, thousands of highly-engaging articles written by design experts, product recommendations and social tools to manage the remodeling and decorating process.     FRESHOME.COM (http://www.freshome.com) Launched in 2007, Freshome is a weblog devoted to uncovering (and sharing) the latest and greatest products in Architecture and Design. The primary focus of this design publication is to give you inspiration to make your home more beautiful, organized and healthy. We believe that a calm, healthy, beautiful home is... 03/20/2012

West Hills Ca-Woodland Hills Real Estate-San Fernando Valley Homes-The psychology of decision making   The psychology of decision making   Buying or selling a home is a big decision, and most of us think we have perfectly rational reasons for planning a move. But how much do you really know about the decision making process? What influences how we make up our mind? Why do we make the choices we make?   If you’re thinking about the possibility of a move in the next 6 - 12 months, you might like to read up on the science of decision making. There are a number of stellar books out recently (and in the recent past!) which shed some light on the inner workings of our brains when it comes to choice, satisfaction with our choices, and the agony of selection.   Here are few good ones and a “sou... 03/15/2012

West Hills Ca- Woodland Hills Real Estate-San Fernando Valley Homes-How to avoid home-hunting embarrassment   I didn’t realize reservations were required!   Has ever happened to you? You’re out with friends and decide to grab dinner. There’s a new place in town you’ve heard is fantastic.  Rave reviews, amazing cuisine.  Everyone’s excited.    You drive over, pay for parking, and sure enough, there’s a crowd. The atmosphere is perfect, the menu looks incredible.  Mouths water, you can’t wait. You step up to put your name on the list and the hostess says:  “Name for your reservation?”   “Reservation?  I had no idea they were required!”  Awkward apologies.  They’re booked and you’re out of luck.  Not even a seat at the bar.  It’s embarrassing.  Your friends are disappointed.  So much for ... 03/12/2012

West Hills Ca- Woodland Hills Real Estate - Don’t miss out on these tax deductions  Don’t miss out on these tax deductions As you probably know, you are entitled to many excellent tax benefits in terms of    home loan interest, property taxes, and other real estate-related issues.  A few finer points to consider:   •        You can fully deduct most interest paid on home mortgages, but you first must    distinguish qualified mortgage interest.    •        You might be able to deduct points, also known as loan origination fees, maximum     loan charges, or loan discounts.   •        If you have a vacation home and you didn’t rent it out, you can fully deduct the     mortgage interest.   For a deeper dive into any of these issues, you might want to check out the link to article I’ve inclu... 03/06/2012

Just thought you might find it interesting. Stay warm!     Did you know that there’s a simple trick you can use to help efficiently heat your home in the winter months?  If you have ceiling fans, you might find this tip helpful:   In colder months, do you use your ceiling fan the right way?   In the summer they can provide cooling breezes, but during winter they can also assist in circulating warm air through your home.  The trick is understanding the switch on the fan which controls the direction of the fan blades:   During the SUMMER months, the standard setting of COUNTERCLOCKWISE provides cooling down drafts.   During the WINTER months, the reverse setting of CLOCKWISE creates an opposing updraft, which redistributes the warm air which rises to the top of the room.    By pulling coo... 02/27/2012

    The chaos of moving day is a prime time to forget or misplace essential items.  When you’re preparing for the big move to your new home, the following items are some of the most overlooked (and the most sorely missed in a time of need!).       To prevent the hassle and heartbreak of forgotten possessions and lost information, make a check list containing the following items:       1. Jewelry, watches, and small valuables:  These small, expensive and often irreplaceable items are best kept in a safe deposit box or kept with trustworthy friends or relatives on moving day.       2. Garage door opener:  The old one won’t be of much use at your new house, will it? Be sure to leave it behind for the new owners.  Also, make sure the old owners of your new house give you theirs!       3. Sp... 01/30/2012

  Did you buy a home last year? Have you owned your home for a decade? Do you have an accurate idea of how much equity you really have in your home? If you were to sell today, do you know how much cash you’d have available moving forward?     Understanding the true equity you have in your home is a vital part of understanding your complete financial picture.  You may have a vague idea of what you think your home is worth, but do you really know?  And if you’re not sure, can you really be sure of your equity?   I often help clients get an accurate picture of their home equity through a three step process:         First, I use a comparative market analysis to establish a probable range of sale prices for your home.  This takes into account recent closings as well as the unique features yo... 01/27/2012

West Hills Ca - Real Estate - Woodland Hills Homes - We may not be in the “flipping days” of years past, but there are some good opportunities     Now is perhaps one of the best times in history to purchase a home.  Low interest rates and unparalleled affordability have created a perfect storm for qualified buyers.       So does that mean the “flipping days” are here again?  Probably not.  While there may be shrewd investors out there who have the ability to squeeze out a profit on flipping properties in this market, the margins aren’t favorable and re-selling is tough.       It is, however, an excellent time for buyers looking for a long-term home investment, especially those who want to manage a rental property.  There’s a good margin between true value and current prices, for one.  A... 01/25/2012

For Lease - Available Now - Flexible lease terms Not in the MLS $2295/mth 7816 Woodlake Ave. West Hills, CA Near West Hills Medical Center. See the pride-of-ownership and attention to deal in this ranch home that has never been rented before. Smell the roses as you enter this recently updated home. Fresh paint and new flooring are just some of the many upgrades throughout. Enter the light and bright living room, which opens to the kitchen and dining areas. The oversized master bedroom has a huge, customized walk-in closet. Dual sinks in the master bath.  Large, manicured grassy backyard with covered patio. Laundry room with full-size washer & dryer. Gated carport & street parking. Good credit a must. Near West Hills Medical Center. 01/10/2012

01/09/2012

   I think you’d probably agree that the worst investing advice in the world is: Buy high, sell low.  That’s the very definition of losing money on an investment, right?   So let me ask you: Why would you wait for the housing market to improve before buying a house?   I understand there’s a lot of uncertainty out there. Job security is questionable, unemployment is high, and you’re not sure what it takes to get pre-approved for a home loan.  It’s scary.  But here’s the thing: Letting fear dictate your financial strategy for the future is a guaranteed way to pay too much for a house in the years to come.   Put fear aside for just a moment.  Here are some facts:              - Interest rates are at or close to historic lows          - Prices for homes have plunged to the lowest levels we’... 12/29/2011

My Wish for you this Year! Lunar Double Happines Bill Vaughn, a once well-known American columnist, said about the new year:   “An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”   Regardless of how you feel about bidding farewell to 2011 and anticipating the events of 2012, I thought now might be a good time to share a few wishes I have for you for the months ahead.    I sincerely hope this year holds health, happiness, and a renewed sense of connection to the people who surround you.  May any uncertainty be replaced with confidence, and may you begin to feel the renewed strength that past adversity fosters in all of us.    I know that my life has been immeasurably improved by my connection to others in the community, an... 12/26/2011

Wow, the true cost of a commute! Do you ever wish you lived closer to work?  Some of the happiest people I know have the shortest commutes.  Traffic stress, the cost of gasoline, and the hours wasted on the road take their toll.   Well, if you’ve ever been looking for a reason to move closer to your work, this might just send you over the edge.  The truth is, it could be a major financial mistake not to cut a long commute out of your life.   This eye-opening infographic from StreamlineRefinance.net shows you how much more home you can afford when you eliminate a long commute from your life.  From their math, it looks to be anywhere from $15,900 (1 mile reduction) to an astonishing $477,000 (30 mile reduction)!    While you might have some arguments against their assumptions, I think the... 12/20/2011

 If You Could Buy a Van Gogh in 1885, Wouldn't You?   “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found those dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.”    Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter (March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890) http://www.vangoghgallery.com/         Artists take risks. They pursue their vision, often without financial security, facing long odds while stewing in their own self-doubt. When the world tells them “it’s not safe,” they listen to their own voice despite “prevailing wisdom.” They have a vision and they pursue it.      Occasionally, if they’re very lucky, they get to look back on their life and see the path that lead them to create a masterpiece. At the time, the path wasn’t easy, yet in retrospect, it looks very much... 12/19/2011