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West Hills, CA Real Estate News

By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
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...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
 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...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
  Hosting out of town guests soon?  Going the extra mile when hosting out-of-town guests can be both affordable and reflect the charms of your town.  Here are some handy tips I like to share with clients who have friends staying in the wonderful West Hills  Woodland Hills or any area.   For the guest room:   •        Clear out a nice space for your guests items. Even a section of a closet or a dedicated set of shelves / drawers will help them feel welcome.   •        Fresh flowers are a great way to make an average guest room seem like a little dose of “B&B” treatment.   •        Provide local information on the nightstand; local maps, history, and points of interest are great ideas.   On arrival:   •        Giving guests a spare set of keys and showing them how to use the alarm (if you...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
    I came across this interesting infographic in the Washington Post recently called “Anatomy of a Burglary,” which reveals some fascinating statistics about break-ins, including a few ways to protect your valuables and deter thieves.   Some interesting facts:   ·   Most burglaries occur between 10AM and 3PM. ·   The typical house burglar is a male teenager who lives within a couple of miles of your home. ·   Burglars spend on an average between 8 and 12 minutes inside your home.   Not only did the graphic detail the most common entry points for a burglar, but it also offered these helpful tips for protecting your home:   ·   A home with a security system is 3 times less likely to be broken into than a home without a security system. (Even if you don’t have one, buying the stickers fo...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
  New guidelines for the real estate tax deduction   Beginning with the filing of your California tax return for 2012, you are required to file an itemized report on any real estate tax deductions you claim, as well as include the parcel number and amounts that can or cannot be deducted.   Deductions may be claimed for state, local and foreign real estate taxes based on the property’s assessed value, called ad valorem taxes. Charges on the tax bill unrelated to property taxes and local government maintenance of offsite improvements are not deductible.   Deductions may not be claimed for:   amounts included in the tax bill for local benefits which increase the value of the parcel assessed; special assessments and fixed charges such as assessment district bond payments and zoning violatio...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
    Chart last updated 11/2/11   October 2011 September 2011 October 2010 One YearRate Differential .16% .24% .72%   Data courtesy of Freddie Mac   A homebuyer’s maximum financial ability to purchase property depends entirely upon his down payment and the amount he qualifies to borrow from a lender. The amount a homebuyer can borrow is initially based on two factors:   the buyer’s income, which generally changes annually at the rate of inflation; and current mortgage rates, which change constantly.   Lenders know that by one standard, homebuyers are less likely to default if they allocate no more than 31% of their monthly gross income to monthly mortgage payments. Accordingly, mortgage lenders now refuse to lend more money than the buyer can repay at that 31% gross income ratio amortize...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
Building Stronger Communities and Better bonds between Neighbors- West Hills-Woodland Hills Ca-Homes. Living next door to someone doesn’t make you a neighbor.It makes you an adjacent homeowner.One of the great opportunities we have in our communities is the chance to build real, meaningful relationships with the people who live closest to us.       While I understand the desire for privacy, I think it’s important we realize that regular, helpful communication with our neighbors makes us both safer and paves a smooth road for difficult conversations we might face with our neighbors in the future.       Small gestures such as a nice note about landscaping, an invitation to a potluck, or an “all hands on deck” community improvement project allow us to get to know our neighbors.This is vita...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
Stop-Junkmail- West Hills Ca Real Estate / Woodland Hills / San Fernando Valley Homes for Sale       Stop-Junkmail A common complaint I hear from home owners is “How do I stop junk mail?”  This is especially true for new home owners who find they’re bombarded by catalogs and advertisements intended for the previous owners.   Not only is eliminating junk mail a personal convenience, but it’s also good for the planet.  Who hasn’t lugged 60 pounds of junk mail down to the curb on recycling night and thought, “I can’t believe all of this paper and ink is wasted.”?   Well, if you’re looking for a free and easy way to cut down on the unwanted catalogs, coupons, credit card offers, circulars (and more!), then be sure to check out CatalogChoice.org (http://www.catalogchoice.org).      Catalog ...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
West Hills California -Veterans Day Honoring All    Honoring All   Navy , Marines, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard     The Man and Women Who Have Selflessly Served Our Country     Veterans Day 11.11.11     My Website For Sellers For Buyers Monthly Newsletter Call me! eMail me! Canoga Park-Winnetka SF Valley Face Book Listing Book West Hills LA Gas Prices Rentals Housing Trends You Tube       West Hills Woodland Hills Calabasas Hidden Hills Canoga Winnetka Tarzana Sherman Oaks Studio City Northridge Chatsworth Lake Balboa Grandada Hills Encino                 
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
Fall Back / West Hills Ca Real Estate / Woodland Hills-San Fernando Valley Homes.   LET'S ALL ENJOY THE DAY AND BE HAPPY.    PLEASE REMEMBER TO ADJUST YOUR TIME..ITS "FALL" BACK AN HOUR.    "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, i...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
West Hills Ca Real Estate / San Fernando Valley  Homes for Sale  I can't believe It is November already. I hope you find these home care tips & ideas for this month helpful.      Esperanza ButlerRealtor, GRI, e-PRO, SFRRodeo Realty21031 Ventura Blvd.#100Woodland Hills, Ca. 91364Cell: (818)-926-5425Office: (818)-999-2030Esperanza@EsperanzaButler.comwww.Esperanza4homes.comwww.Activerain.com/Esperanzahttp://goo.gl/tQnbs         Home Buyer Beginnings My West Hills home buyers guide contains useful information written exclusively for home buyers, designed to assist you make an informed decision about your home purchase. I'll use my West Hills real estate expert knowledge of the area to find you the perfect West Hills home, one that’s comfortable for your life style as well as your budget...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
Halloween Safety There's No Trick to It! / West Hills  Ca Real Estate The observance of Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with images of witches, ghosts, devils and goblins. Over the years, Halloween customs and rituals have changed dramatically. Today, many of other young and young-at-heart take a more light-spirited approach. Glowing skeletons and lighted Jack' O Lanterns decorate homes, while children dressed in all kinds of costumes begin flocking  out onto  neighborhood streets in search of treats. Make this year's  holiday extra safe by following these safety tips on costumes, treats, decorations and more! Esperanza ButlerRealtor, GRI, e-PRO, SFRRodeo Realty21031 Ventura Blvd.#100Woodland Hills, Ca. 91364Cell: (818)-926-...
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By Damion Alexander, Real Estate Sales and Service
(Westbridge Realty)
As you get older, your memory bank gets full and needs somewhere else to store information. That's why we need keywords or visual aids to jog our memory sometimes. Well it's always great practice to write down important things such as: goals, appointments, transactions, names and numbers, events, etc. So get yourself an AT-A-GLANCE weekly planner to schedule your life's most important things. Walmart carries them for a very low price.  So the next time you have an appointment or a goal to achieve, make sure you write it down!
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
West Hills CA - Real Estate / So How long is this down real estate market going to last? Just about every day people ask me: "So how long is this down real estate market going to last?   Where's the recovery? They're surprised when I tell them that in some markets, the recovery is already under way. Consumer attitude often lags behind local market data. You see, there were lots of market indicators as far back as 2006 that the bust was on its way. Despite the fact that inventory on the market was increasing, prices floated up well into 2007. But there came a point when the "Market data came home to roost"  And when it did, well.... no need to rehash bad news. In some markets (especially those where buyers have recognized the incredible values and low interest rates) we see several indic...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
  Is Now Really The Right Time to Buy a Home? / West Hills Ca Real Estate                                                                       Whether you’re considering buying your first home, considering buying again after a short sale, or deciding if you should buy after a relocation to West Hills, the real question every buyer should ask is this one: “Is now the right time for me to buy a home.”   So let’s take a look at both sides of the question.     First the reason why now is a good time to buy:    Home prices are down. Interest rates are still at historic lows. Right now you can lock in to a 30-year mortgage with low payments that won’t go up as your income rises.   In comparison to home prices and interest rates back in 2006 or 2007, you can now buy considerably “more home” f...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
                       First Time Home Buyers                            ????? TIRED OF RENTING ????                   Now is the best time to OWN your Own home                                                                                                                              1.     Would you like to enjoy the privacy of your own home ? 2.     Would you like affordable home payments? 3.     Would you like home equity rather than rent receipts? 4.     Your own garage 5.      Your own backyard with space for pets    6.     And the most important thing,   (To pay your own mortgage-not your Landlord’s mortgage)    Low prices Low interest rates FHA 3 ½ down payment     When home prices rise in value the winner is …. THE LANDLORD          With rising prices comes rising RENT and the...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
West Hills CA - Homes For Sale / Do You Really Need a Buyer's Agent?    Do You Really Need a Buyer's Agent?                    Why hire a buyer’s agent? For the simple reason that it will make your life easier and your home search time shorter.               In my last letter I explained my method of narrowing down the choices, so you only spend time looking at homes that are suitable. You’ll also know about every new listing as soon as it hits the market, because I get that information every morning. When I see a home that fits your “must have” list, I’ll alert you immediately. You won’t miss out on the perfect home because you didn’t notice it until it was under contract to someone else.               The second reason to have a buyer’s agent is to have someone who is working for you ...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
  West Hills Real Estate /Are you Considering Relocation in Your Retirement?   Unlike earlier generations of retirees who paid off their mortgages and retired in their family home, today's Baby Boomers are looking to capitalize on home equity to enhance their retirement savings.   If you’re considering a “relocation retirement,” below are a few points that may inform your decision.  Here are some discussions you should have before making any decisions about relocating, downsizing, or trading up:   1.Speak with your spouse or partner first, even if you think you're both of the same mind. Don't just assume that you're in agreement.   2.Consider the cost-of-living in a different part of the country. There's a pretty big swing between rural Florida and urban San Francisco, for example.   3....
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
West Hills Real Estate/ Finishes Wood Inerior Design tips   Finishes Wood Interior Design tips       Home Buyer Beginnings My West Hills home buyers guide contains useful information written exclusively for home buyers, designed to assist you make an informed decision about your home purchase. I'll use my West Hills real estate expert knowledge of the area to find you the perfect West Hills home, one that’s comfortable for your life style as well as your budget.   Home Seller Solutions West Hills Home Value West Hills Home Sellers Guide If you are considering listing and selling your West Hills home, you’ve come to the right place! As a West Hills resident, I combine area knowledge with the latest internet home sales technology to market and get your home SOLD! If you'd like to know the...
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By Esperanza Butler® 818 926 5425, Homes For Sale in West Hills, Ca (818) 926-5425
(Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty)
 West Hills Real Estate / Looking for a Home – Should You Consider a Bank Owned Home?                 Bank owned homes, also known as REO’s, are generally the lowest priced homes in the market – probably because they do present some problems.               The bank’s asset managers are not as slow to respond as the short sale negotiators, but they don’t honor response deadlines like homeowners do. In addition, they do all the negotiating before they put a signature to anything. That can be nerve-wracking for buyers and for the agents involved.               Next is the fact that because the bank is the owner, there is no “homeowner” who has occupied the home, so there is no property condition disclosure and no one to explain how to work any of the systems. Sometimes REO’s present myster...
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