Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Rat January 25, 2020 through February 11, 2021 The ups and downs of being a Chinese “Rat” – You are the first animal in the whole 12 animal pantheon You are optimistic, energetic, likable but a little stubborn You are a sign of wealth and surplus, as you … Read more
HAPPY 2020! And how is your vision doing? Is this the year? Is this the year in which the dream of homeownership becomes a reality? My gut view, plus the following article on CNN says “maybe”, and only if you are in the right place. You know what they say about real estate – its … Read more
“Ho! Ho! ‘Tis the Season.” What gifts are you looking for under your tree? WHAT ARE FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR? In this season of Thanksgiving, what are friends and family for? They bring us joy, they bring us love, sometimes food, and more than that, for some lucky ones, they bring us monetary help that … Read more
THE ART OF SLOW STRANGULATION All the news about the college admissions scandals has highlighted the ongoing parental concerns regarding their children getting into their preferred school of higher education. All those helicopter parents and tiger moms are probably outwardly projecting a “holier than thou” attitude but I just bet some of them have considered … Read more
September/October are always fun months and it’s not because school started (Boo!) and Halloween treats are overwhelming the little kids (Double Boo!) September is the month in which California’s legislative year is done and October? This is the month we wait expectantly to see how the Governor will dispose of the hundreds of bills that … Read more
It’s early September and the mad rush of buying and closing so that kids are enrolled properly has dissipated. If you were not in a hurry, now is the time to make an offer. Now is the time to negotiate the price down because all indicators are that the resale market is down and inventory … Read more
OH, THOSE HAZARDS OF THE ESCROW DESK! A rather odd story to share. 15 years earlier… A Buyer entered into an escrow to buy a property. She got a loan through Countrywide, one of those adjustable rate mortgages with impounds attached. Through the years her mortgage payment rose and rose. Finally, 15 years later, the … Read more
Half a year gone, half a year to go! As this year’s president of the California Escrow Association, one of my goals is to visit every single regional association (there are 38) and bring my thoughts and concerns of the state of our escrow industry to our members. I emphasize that our industry does not … Read more
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE HAVE ANSWERS! VIVA ESCROW Q & A SEGMENT Sometimes I get asked questions that inspire me to think before I respond. Then I share so that everyone is made aware. Question: I have a transaction in which the Seller is a Trust. The original Trustee is mentally incapacitated and we have … Read more
HAZARDS OF THE ESCROW DESK! And this is one for that book that I will be writing after I retire…. John and Jane are my Sellers of property A and they are my Buyers of property B. Property A has to close first so that the money will flow into their purchase of property B. … Read more