HAPPY NEW YEAR! A PROSPEROUS AND HEALTHY 2018 TO ALL! I would like to start this new year with a story of a phishing scam that I was unknowingly dragged into right before Christmas, not because I want to start the year out with disturbing news, but because in this day and age, let this … Read more
Happy End of the Year Holidays! WHERE ARE YOU IN TERMS OF WEALTH? As we hit the end of the year, we look back to where we have been and look forward to where we will go. Consider this: A report from Credit Suisse gives us the number of millionaires in the world. It has come … Read more
Yes! Three weeks to Thanksgiving! Okay, now that I got that out of the way…. THE FEEDING FRENZY – AMAZON’S QUEST TO BUILD A SECOND HOME 238 proposals submitted from cities looking for the opportunity to get 50,000 new jobs and $5 billion into their economy with the construction of the new headquarters fo Amazon. … Read more
OH, WOE IS US! AMBIGUOUS? NOT OUR LEGISLATIVE BILLS! That was sarcasm, yes. Whoever said that our legislators could write a bill that is not in some way, shape or form, clear and concise? SB 2 will bring much woe to the escrow, title, real estate industry as well as California’s County Recorder Association. … Read more
BUSY! BUSY!!! HOT OFF THE PRESS AND RIGHT ON TIME – FINCEN GTO CHANGES AND WE NEED TO WATCH OUT For the last year we have kept a very wary eye out for transactions that match the requirements for a “Covered Transaction” under FinCEN’s Geographical Targeting Order (GTO). They have been renewing it every 6 … Read more
Oh, the Hazards of the Escrow Desk! Here is a true story from a Loan Broker client. His client, a Buyer, was in the market to purchase a home and put in several offers for properties through his Real Estate Agent. Buyer got an e-mail from his Real Estate Agent that for his offer to … Read more
Oh, the Hazards of the Escrow Desk! A sharp eyed Escrow Officer in my company got a copy of the recorded Grant Deed on a property in which the owner contemplated doing a Reverse Mortgage. The Deed stated that Jane Doe, a widow, (original owner), granted the property to Mary Smith, (present owner). Upon further … Read more
We are at the halfway mark for the year and I am not sure if I should freak out or breathe a sigh of relief. It’s like looking at a bottle of wine – is it half full or half empty?? Should I just relax and enjoy what is left or should I rush out … Read more
The Market is BUZZING! Finally! I am happy to report that the real estate market has turned around. After a dismal November, December, January and February, we saw the comeback in March and April and we hope it keeps on going through the year. NAR reported March the highest selling month in the last decade, … Read more
There is no place like home! I spent a week in our nation’s capital this last month, trudging up and down those hallowed halls of power. We had appointments with around 30 Congressional offices, we met with the national trade organizations, and we even had a very good meeting with the CFPB. We walked till … Read more