I had to share this information retrieved from a few different sources: REALTOR.com, westsidehomefinder.com, and car.org

Your home is in escrow, and the buyer has scheduled a home inspection. Should you be worried about what the inspector might find? The answer depends, of course, on the condition of your home and how well you've maintained its major components over the years. Regardless of what the inspector may uncover, however, you shouldn't be overly concerned about the actual home inspection. Keeping in mind that disclosure laws and customary real estate practices vary from place to place, here are six suggestions as to how you might help the home inspection process go smoothly:

1. Leave the premises. It's perfectly reasonable to absent yourself from your home during the home inspector's visit and turn over the duties to your real estate agent. Your agent should be familiar with the home inspection process and be able to act as your representative. In fact, many listing agents prefer that the seller not be at home during the buyer's home inspection.

2. Be courteous. Some sellers mistakenly assume the home inspector is an adversary. Experienced professional home inspectors aren't on a mission to find fault with every tiny aspect of your home. The home inspector's role is to offer the buyer a fair assessment of the property. Tips: Don't keep the inspector waiting on your doorstep and allow at least two hours for the inspection.

3. Don't attempt to refute negative comments about your home during the inspection. Inspectors don't appreciate being followed around by argumentative or defensive home sellers (or sellers' real estate agents). The time to explain and negotiate will come after you receive and review your copy of the inspector's report.

4. Don't make statements about your home that are beyond your personal knowledge or can't be verified. For instance, if the inspector asks you how old the roof is or when certain appliances were installed, check your records before you answer. If you have documentation, provide a copy of it. If repairs or modifications were made prior to your purchasing the home, don't guess when that work was performed. The same caution about misrepresentations applies to questions about whether permits were obtained for remodeling, the exact square footage of your home, the name of the architect who designed it and so on.

5. Don't block access to normal living areas of your home. If the home inspector can't enter a room or complete some other aspect of the inspection, that will be noted in his or her report and the buyer may question it.

6. Make agreed-upon repairs promptly. The buyer may ask the inspector to okay any repairs you agree to make as a result of the inspection. The sooner you make the repairs, the sooner the contingency can be met. Delaying the repairs until the last minute won't stop the buyer from having those items reinspected, but it could delay the closing of escrow.

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Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are enjoying the weekend and have the time off to enjoy today!

One of my family favorite Sunday activities is walking down to the SM Farmers Market on main Street(Main and Ocean Park blvd). There's something for everyone! Live music, petting zoo, fresh farmers market fruits and vegetables, delicious eateries, and interesting boutiques to check out.

If you are blessed to be a local and haven't checked it out yet, you are missing out! Here is some information from the SM Gov website:

Sunday Main Street

Great for farmers, food, family and fun!

In Heritage Square
2640 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
9:30 am - 1:00 pm

Established: January 1995
Market Manager: Jodi Low
Farmers: 30

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The Sunday Main Street Farmers Market features some of Californias freshest produce plus prepared foods from local Main Street restaurants as well as artisan foods prepared with ingrediants sourced from California farmers - you can't get more local than that! Also enjoy musical entertainment by a variety featured weekly bands. Families with children can enjoy face painting, balloon designs, pony rides and the petting farm - all found each week at this community focused market.

We work as a team and combine our extensive real estate experience, powerful resources and connections to benefit you whether you are looking you buy or sell a home in today's exciting and lucrative real estate market.

Call us now to get started on the road to buying or selling your next home. 310.459.8191 or email info@wsprops.com

To preview the finest real estate and the best deals on the Westside of Los Angeles including Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, Malibu, Brentwood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Westwood, Century City, Marina Del Rey & Mar Vista please visit our website: http://www.westsidehomefinder.com/ When you are ready to view the properties or just have a question, please contact us: 310.459.8191 or info@wsprops.com

Search for homes in your city:

Bel Air | Beverly Hills | Calabasas | Culver City | El Segundo | Hancock Park | Hermosa Beach | Malibu | Manhattan Beach | Mar Vista | Marina del Rey | Pacific Palisades | Palms | Playa Vista | Playa del Rey | Redondo Beach | Santa Monica | Topanga | Venice | West Hollywood | West Los Angeles | Westchester | Westwood - Century City | Woodland Hills

I wanted to share with you the most frequently asked questions a buyer has when purchasing a short sale. This is the first article in a series of five.

Question #1: Buyers want to know who pays the closing costs in a short sale? As a buyer you want to ask your agent this question before you write an offer. The best time to ask it is during your first meeting. In a short sale all terms, conditions and closing costs are subject to lender approval. Sounds pretty vague, right?

Let me tell you what closing costs you should ask for when writing a contract. Then I will tell you what they actually pay.

Buyer should ask the Seller to pay:

Sellers escrow fees

Sellers title insurance

Property taxes-including any back taxes

County taxes

City Required Reports

Retrofitting

Natural Hazard Disclosure

Termite Report & Repairs

Home Warranty

HOA transfer fee

HOA documents

HOA back dues if any

Here is what the Sellers lender typically approves to pay:

Sellers escrow fees

Sellers title insurance

Property taxes-including any back taxes

County taxes

Natural Hazard Disclosure (Sometimes)

Termite Report & Repairs (Credits)

HOA back dues if any (Sometimes)

Each lender is different and has their own policies on what they are approved to pay. That's why it's a good idea to ask for these closing costs to be paid. Keep in mind that short sales are a great opportunity to get a discount on a property. Chances are some of the closing costs will not be paid. So be prepared when you receive the lenders approval for your offer, all the fees might not be covered by the Seller and their lender.

For more information on selling or buying short sales, contact Kristine with Prudential CA Realty-Short Sale Trainer, 310-737-8173. Visit: www.WestsideHomeSolutions.com

Santa Monica loves their produce! This community has 4 Farmers' Markets each and every week so there is absolutely no reason not to go at least once! I'm keeping the posts separate since they are held at different locations on different days. This post is for the Ocean & Main Farmers' Market held every Sunday. In this post I am attaching a recipe for Tender Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan).

Name: Santa Monica Sunday Farmers' Market

Day: Sunday

Hours: 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Location: Ocean Park & Main St.

Manager: Diana Rodgers

Office Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Phone: 310-458-8712 Website: http://www.smgov.net/farmers_market/sunday.htm

Tender Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan)

Ingredients

•· 1 bunch Gai Lan

•· 3 cloves garlic, chopped

•· 3 tablespoons soy sauce

•· 2 tablespoons brown sugar

•· 1 tablespoon fish sauce

•· 1 teaspoon sesame oil

Directions

1. Trim the Gai Lan- don't cut off the long, thick stem because, unlike North American broccoli, the stem of Gai Lan will cook well to become nice and tender; the flowers are also edible so don't remove them.
2. Place Gai Lan in a Dutch oven and fill with plenty of water.
3. Add the chopped garlic.
4. Bring water to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the thickest part of the stem is tender.
5. Combine the soy, brown sugar, fish sauce, and sesame oil.
6. Drain the Gai Lan and place on serving plate, then drizzle the soy mixture over.
7. Serve and enjoy!
8. Gai Lan is also good with oyster sauce.

This post is supported by James90210 on Active Rain, Localism and all other blogs.