Sometimes We Need to be Serious

This Blog serves many purposes. Some topics are fun and about our great area. Some of the entries are tips and information about the market or trends we see and like to share with you. Sometimes we see information that is serious and put so well that we think you, the public, need to be aware of it. This Blog entry fits this description and is important information. Enjoy and be wiser. If you need help call us. We are here to get you around the potholes and safely into your new home.

From the California Association of Realtors REALEGAL newsletter.

UNDISCLOSED SHORT SALE PAYMENTS MAY BE ILLEGAL
Undisclosed payments in short sale transactions, especially those paid outside of escrow, may violate the law, including RESPA, laws against loan fraud, and licensing laws. Short sale agents have increasingly reported to C.A.R. about requests for agents and their clients to pay junior lienholders and others, oftentimes outside of escrow.
One common scenario is when a short sale seller's senior lender authorizes a payment of $3,000, for example, to extinguish a junior lien, but the junior lender demands that the buyer pays an additional $9,000 outside of escrow. Not only would it be risky for a buyer to pay outside of escrow, but concealing this additional payment from a federally-insured senior lender may constitute loan fraud, which is a crime punishable by 30 years imprisonment plus a $1 million fine (18 U.S.C. section 1014). Furthermore, omitting from the HUD-1 Statement any charges paid at settlement by either a buyer or seller may violate the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) (Appendix A to 24 C.F.R. Part 3500). Depending on the specific circumstances, carrying out these payment requests may also violate other laws and regulations, and an agent's participation in the scheme may be subject to license revocation by the Department of Real Estate or other disciplinary action.
Agents and their clients are encouraged to file any complaints regarding fraudulent activities to the proper authorities.

REALTOR GOOD DEEDS...

REALTORS® have a proud history of philanthropy, and are among the first responders when disaster strikes. If you know fellow REALTORS® who have gone above and beyond in service to their communities, I encourage you to nominate these deserving individuals for NAR’s 11th annual Good Neighbor Awards. Winners receive a $10,000 grant for their community cause, national publicity, travel expenses to the convention, and a crystal trophy. For more details and an entry form, visit http://www.REALTOR.org/realtormag and click on the Good Neighbor logo down the left side of the homepage.

Who is your favorite REALTOR at Sea Coast Exclusive Properties?

Lunch at the Beach Today?

It is an extraordinary day along the coast today. If you are looking for a home or just wanting to enjoy a special lunch, today is a coast day. From Carlsbad to Del Mar, Cardiff and Encintas the weather is gorgeous. If you are looking for a home come over to the coast, visit us and tell us your needs over a salad or a burger and off we will go. If you want to skip the home purchase just come into one of our locations, say hello and ask where the best local eateries are? We know them all and there are some great places to have lunch with warm weather and great views. Cardiff Towne Center is a great spot and if you are in Carlsbad you might try Dini's or Vigilluci on Pacific Coast Highway.

In Encinitas there are too many places to name them all. All great quality.

We have been here for 25 years so if there is something you would like to know about coastal living please contact us via email, phone or just stop by. All our locations are on Google maps and an experienced staff will be glad to help you in any way we can.

And remember: Relax...We'll handle the details!

Encinitas is a mecca for the active lifestyle!

I love the active lifestyle and I love north county. The two of them are the best friends you never see apart. When I recently was presented the opportunity to move my business to, Sea Coast Exclusive Properties, the location on the “coast highway” played as big a role, as did how I was going to be treated, their business and personal philosophies and , well yes, the financial benefits. I am now five doors down from the temple of triathlon, NYTRO where Ironman World Champions have been outfitted for years and across the street from Movin’ Shoes Running Store and their AWESOME Monday night runs. I have started to call it the love triangle!!

When one looks at the relationship between the active lifestyle and San Diego’s north county, the city of Encinitas definitely supports the reputation. World Champions in beach volleyball, Ironman triathlon, cycling and more have at one point or another have called Encinitas home both personally and professionally.

For the triathlete, Encinitas ranks at the top for training opportunities. The Magdalena Ecke YMCA sports a new world class swim venue and the masters program. while beginner friendly, can be STACKED with world class triathletes. Also Moonlight beach, starting in the spring, keeps a buoy anchored offshore so you can practice your open water swimming and sighting skills.

Want to know more, own a home and live the active lifestyle in Encinitas?

Contact Brian Long 760-415-3329.

C.A.R. releases 2009-2010 “State of the California Housing Market”

According to the California Association of Realtors affordable home prices, tax credits for home buyers, historically low interest rates, and a large number of distressed properties prompted many first-time home buyers to enter the market in 2009, according to C.A.R.’s 2009-2010 “State of the California Housing Market” report released today.
California’s median home price hit bottom in February 2009 at $245,170. Since then, the median home price has increased steadily in month-to-month comparisons, but remained below 2008 levels throughout 2009. The annual median price is projected to increase to $280,000 in 2010 from $271,000 in 2009.
Homes priced $500,000 or less dominated the sales mix throughout 2008 and early 2009, but peaked at 85 percent in January 2009. Meanwhile, the market share of homes sold for more than $500,000 increased from 15 percent in January 2009 to 25 percent in July 2009, holding steady around that figure for the remainder of last year.
If you are looking for the perfect Beach home in Cardiff, Encinitas, Del Mar or Carlsbad make sure you call us today or check our ads on-line at SDSeaCoast.com We have beautiful properties in all price ranges and experienced people to make the dream come true.

DocuSign Electronic Signatures

DocuSign is a leading provider of on-demand electronic signature solutions. Increased use of DocuSign's e-signature continues to revolutionize the real estate industry by providing additional service to our real estate clients and increasing customer satisfaction.

More than 20,000 real estate professionals have used DocuSign to accelerate their business, with thousands more subscribing each month. DocuSign real estate subscribers achieve higher sales, increase client satisfaction and maintain a competitive edge. Rather than driving across town to get a signature or inconveniencing clients to find a fax machine, real estate professionals use DocuSign to execute agreements with buyers and sellers electronically, eliminating the old process of printing, faxing and waiting for the return fax.

As more than 95% of home buyers have Internet access, but less than 10% have fax service in their homes, DocuSign saves agent’s time and money while providing client convenience. Clients can electronically sign real estate forms using any Web browser, and documents are legally binding, backed by a court-admissible audit trail.

When do you want to electronically sign your OFFER TO PURCHASE on your NEW HOME in Rancho Santa Fe, Olivenhain, Cardiff, Carlsbad or any other community from Old Town to Oceanside?

RELAX.... We'll handle the details.

TOP 10 MOST ADVANTAGEOUS PLACES TO RETIRE

Where do you want to live in retirement? Most folks age in place, but there are those who spend their golden years in dreamy locales.

According to Brady(John Brady, editor of the second edition of 100 Best Retirement Towns), the 100 most popular retirement towns list is compiled by calculating the 100 towns with the most online visits of the 450 cities reviewed at Topretirements.com. The list is essentially a popularity contest; it reflects the towns that site visitors are the most interested in for retirement. “One thing is clear,” Brady said of the trends he’s noticed in this year’s list. “The Sun Belt is so dominant because people are interested in retiring to where it’s warm.” In addition, he said, this year’s list is dominated by college towns. People are looking for a place to retire where they have access to intellectually challenging activities.

The towns with the most online visits include:

Ashevill, NC..... Sarasota, Fla...... Prescott, Ariz..... Paris, Tenn..... Austin, Texas..... Green Valley, Ariz..... Winston-Salem, NC.... Beaufort, SC

San Diego
To Brady, San Diego has the most perfect weather in the country. Its scenery, climate (there’s only 10 inches of rain on average per year), and lifestyle (the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Gas Lamp District and Torrey Pines Golf Course) are second to none and appeal to active adults 55 and older, reports TopRetirements.com.

Ft. Myers, Fla.

Planning to move? Already live here? Stake your claim to home ownership. Find your perfect home in Carlsbad, Cardiff, Encinitas, Leucadia or any other community from Downtown San Diego to Oceanside.... we've got it covered!

RELAX... We'll handle the details.