Valencia, CA

Here's another great program that the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) launched. The C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program (C.A.R.H.A.F. MPP), for first-time home buyers.

Through the Housing Affordability Fund Mortgage Protection Program, first-time home buyers who lose their jobs due to layoffs may be eligible to receive $1,500 per month, for six months, to help make their mortgage payments. A qualified co-buyer also can participate in the program, and receive a monthly benefit of $750 per month for up to six months. Program benefits also include coverage for accidental disability and a $10,000 death benefit.

C.A.R.'s Housing Affordability Fund is dedicating $1 million toward its Mortgage Protection Program, and estimates that as many as 3,000 families will benefit from the program this year.

To qualify for the Mortgage Protection Program, applicants must:

· Be a first-time home buyer - someone who has not owned a home in three

or more years

· Open escrow April 2, 2009, or later, and close on or before Dec. 31, 2009

· Use a California REALTOR® in the transaction

· Purchase the property in California

· Be a W-2 employee (cannot be self-employed)

To apply for the program, home buyers must request an application for the H.A.F. Mortgage Protection Program from Jennifer and Gary Ricco REALTORS®, or your Realtor.

My husband Gary and I have taken the time to learn about this current real estate market. We specialize in distressed properties whether your buying or selling, we are Certified Distressed Property Experts, CDPE. By dealing with agents who have earned the CDPE designation, you as a home buyer ensure that you are working with real estate professionals that are equipped to handle your specific needs.

As a first time home buyer, you have a window of opportunity to negotiate a price which could be up to 20% below Fair Market Value. Now is a great time to buy with the right long term strategy and obtain a great interest rate which are at an all time low. As a first time home buyer let us help you find the home of your dreams. To learn about the First time Home buyer Tax Credit go to Gary's blog: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1004242/Is-Now-The-right-Time-To-Buy-If-Your-A-First-Time-Homebuyer

You need a team of experienced professionals guiding you through the purchase of your dream home. We work the Santa Clarita Valley, the San Fernando Valley, Palmdale, and Ventura County. If you would to learn more about us and the services we provide go to www.RiccoSellsHomes.com or give us a call at 661.290.3837. If you would like to search the MLS and get daily updates on properties available in the Santa Clarita or San Fernando Valley go to: http://santaclaritavalleyhomesforsale.listingbook.com/

irst off - Town-homes in Valencia California? Yes we have those too. We have received a lot of calls regarding our Country-wide relocation site and I wish to thank our subscribers very much for that.

Condo/Town-home - differences? In Southern California, which is of course different from other parts of the world, carry the following "agent understood" descriptions he two.

1. Condo: Single Story - apartment style
2. Town-home: More than 1 level.

Dont' forget our Market Snapshot Resources - Real Estate Value from the Source - the Local Multiple Listing Service.

Lies Lies Lies... We see them everywhere.. Everything from asking Johnny if he had a cookie before dinner; only to see him wipe crumbs from his face and say "no mom", to the Bernie Madoff's of the world that schemed millions with a carefully crafted series of deceit and forgery.

We all condenm lies, and generally speaking no one wants to be a liar. Yet we all occasionally fall into the trap ourselves and justify this ocassional mistep by saying it's ok as long as it's a white lie. Meaning a white lie is acceptable provided that no one is hurt by it or if the lie was unintentional.

Let me clarify. A lie is a lie!

It's a misrepresentation of the truth and intent doesn't matter, it either IS or it ISNT.

For century's we've been seeking ways to determine if a person is lying or not. People have been persecuted and convicted for lying, and in many cases also persecuted when they were innocenct and it was believed that they lied.

To this day however, there is still no full proof way to determine if a person is lying or not, sure law enforcement has lie detector polygraph tests and psychologists have done extensive testing on human behaviors that are exhiibted when one lies, but the truth can only be confirmed by facts. If you have the facts, you can usually prove it one way or the other, but in the absence of facts there is no way to confirm what is true.

So how do lies factor into business?

How does a consumer know if they are being lied to by an individual or a corporation?

The mortgage industry for years was issuing stated income loans that where referred to as a "liars loan". This was an accepted practice that was embraced by many, so long as no one was being hurt by it (and everyone got what they wanted). Well fast forward to 2009 and we see that the bubble didn't just burst, it exploded! And it took the real estate industry and the American economy with it. Now we are in the midst of a recession trying to assess blame and figure out what went wrong.

Im not going to get into all the dynamics of how we got into this mess, thats a whole topic of discussion on its own, but its clear there were a series of lies and a lot of people got hurt by it.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

One answer is to create checks and balances where you can. Work with proven individuals that have a track record and compare them to others. Educate yourself on important matters and investigate anything that doesnt seem right to you.

Recently, I was at a restaurant with a friend and he asked me a casual question. When I gave him my answer, he said "you're lying! I saw you look down and to the right." I was surprised by his remark because I didn't think I had lied about anything, but his police training taught him to watch for certain mannerisms that could indicate a lie. Well I don't know how credible this technique really is, but my point is that if you have a hunch that something isn't right. Look into it. Don't assume and don't accept things for face value. And if you find yourself taking part in a lie, even a white lie, correct it immediately. Sometimes lies may appear to have no repercussions, but lies left uncorrected can often re-surface years later to cause irrepairable damage.

Honesty really is the only policy, not just the best policy.

As a member of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors I am always looking for ways to educate potential home buyers on the latest programs. Here is Grant to help first time home buyers that serves our local communities. This grant currently provides a home ownership grant to low and moderate-income individuals and families who purchase a home in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valley. The amount of the grant will be $4,000. Here is how the Grant works:

The funds are paid after the close of escrow and there are no repayment requirements.

The Southland Association of Realtors staff will administer the applications.

The grants will be awarded to the most deserving candidates.

Each candidate would receive $2,000 from the SRAR Foundation, and a further $2,000 from the

C.A.R. Housing Affordability Fund.

NOTE: THERE IS A LIMITED NUMBER OF GRANTS. GRANTS WILL BE AWARDED TO

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND ACCORDING TO

INDIVIDUAL APPLICANT NEED. BUYERS NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THERE IS NO

GUARANTEE THAT AN APPLICATION WILL RESULT IN A GRANT.

Here are the requirements to qualify:

1. You must be a first time home buyer.

2. Your combined family income level must be at $120,000 or less per year.

3. You must attend the Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services class.

4. The home must be located in the San Fernando or Santa Clarita Valley.

5. Buyer's REALTOR must be a full Southland Association of Realtors member.

6. Must receive additional assistance programs.

To receive the funds you will need:

1. A photocopy of your ID (BUYER).

2. A copy of your final closing statement. You will receive this from the Escrow Company a few days

after your transaction.

3. Page 8 of the contract showing buyer's agent.

4. Your class certification.

5. Details of loan programs AND assistance programs that you attained. Please include loan addendum

that indicates low or moderate income program funding.

6. First Time Home Buyers verification (Lender/CPA/W2's etc.).

Once you have assembled this information, it must be submitted to:

It may take a month or longer to receive the funds after all the paperwork has been submitted.

My husband Gary and I have taken the time to learn about this current real estate market. We specialize in distressed properties whether your buying or selling, we are Certified Distressed Property Experts, CDPE. By dealing with agents who have earned the CDPE designation, home buyers ensure that they are working with real estate professionals that are equipped to handle their specific needs.

You as a first time home buyer have a window of opportunity to negotiate a price which could be up to 20% below Fair Market Value. Now is a great time to buy with the right long term strategy and obtain a great interest rate which are at an all time low. As a first time home buyer let us help you find the home of your dreams. To learn about the First time Home buyer Tax Credit go to Gary's blog: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1004242/Is-Now-The-right-Time-To-Buy-If-Your-A-First-Time-Homebuyer

You need a team of experienced professionals guiding you through purchase of your dream home. We work both the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valley's. If you would to learn more about us and the services we provide go to www.RiccoSellsHomes.com. If you would like to search the MLS and get daily updates on properties available in the Santa Clarita or San Fernando Valley go to: http://santaclaritavalleyhomesforsale.listingbook.com/