Interest rates nudged up a bit this week but remained near record lows. The following are some excerpts from this week's newsletter on interest rates from HSH Associates :
"In a week where a "landmark" forclosure-abuse lawsuit finally came to a close, mortgage rates held close to record low levels. One happenstance is good for potential homebuyers, the other not so much. Inasmuch as $25 billion in penalties for perceived wrongdoing must be paid, and the money ultimately must come from somewhere, we can only be left to conclude that the cost of mortgages will eventually be higher than it would be absent the settlement.
And what of the foreclosure and loan servicing "abuse" settlement, which ran longer than a year, with tens or possibly even hundreds of millions in legal costs? Well, homeowners who weren't directly subject to any kind of foreclosure abuse might be able to get as much as $20,000 chopped off their loan balance, if they are in trouble or in danger of becoming so and if their loan is not a GSE (FNMA or Freddie Mac owned loan ) or FHA-backed model. That's expected to eat up maybe $17-$20 billion of the settlement, while another three to $5B is expected to be distributed in the form of checks to up to perhaps 750,000 folks who lost their homes to foreclosure between 2008 and 2011. Other funds will provide some refinance opportunities for certain borrowers, and most of the rest will go to states for foreclosure prevention programs and such.
Where are the borrowers who were making payments per the terms of their contracts whose homes were taken from them? If they exist, what is $2,000 to them? Conversely, why should a borrower who lost their home to foreclosure for failing to make payments (sometimes for years) be eligible for compensation at all? Does the fact that a human did or did not fully review the paperwork during the foreclosure process change that simple fact? It does not.
Principal reductions are all well and good, but they are being offered to folks who haven't been "abused" by the system per se, but are as much victims of the downturn as anyone else who owns a home. That said, if the house is underwater by perhaps $50,000 (a working figure, according to CoreLogic), the homeowner will remain underwater for many years yet to come. Although it does move the needle closer to zero for some, it fails to solve the problem. Also, if the loan isn't re-amortized after the principal reduction (that is, if the $20,000 is simply treated as a one-time prepayment), there will be zero effect on the borrower's monthly payment, which is stipulated in the loan contract. Rather, the value will come in total interest savings from shortening the loan term. That's great, but is not immediate relief of any sort. It would, however, change the mix of principal and interest due in a borrower's payment, moving them toward solvency at a slightly accelerated pace.
For reasons hard to discern, we seem more intent upon trying to penalize the issues of the past than trying to solve the issues of today. We'd argue that the $25 billion (or more) would better have been used to help promote homebuying. Given how many properties are now going to be dumped into the market as the foreclosure disposition process comes back up to speed, fueling homebuying by whatever means possible should be a priority. Twenty-five billion would cover a lot of GSE-required MI premiums, pay for a pile of crisis-created GSE loan-level pricing adjustments, paid for some of the FHA insurance premium for first-time homebuyers or other ideas.
As we move slowly away from the crash of the housing market, it's of course natural to want vengeance for wrongdoing and to lash out at whatever the closest party might be. "Victims" of virtually every sort can be found if one looks hard enough, but untangling the thorny mess which produced the market collapse to find a responsible party who can be forced to pay damages is harder. It took decades of good intentions (and perhaps some bad ones) to build the mess we have today, and the parties involved range from regulators and politicians at the top to people flipping homes for profit at the bottom and everything in between. Good or bad, the settlement is done. More lawsuits are likely to follow, with mortgage-backed securities up next. More costs to be passed along, more effort expended addressing yesterday's problems, and less on today's troubles.
Mortgage rates are holding pretty steady at very favorable levels. A larger batch of economic data is due next week, including the latest from the National Association of Homebuilders and data on housing starts. The new home market has been showing some signs of enthusiasm over the last couple of months, and it seems likely that this gradual improvement will continue. Minutes from the last Federal Reserve meeting are also due and should prove interesting, given the new communications and policy direction they started last month. There will be inflation news, retail sales for January and more.
We thought rates would tick a little higher this week and they did. That might again be the case next week, just enough to again keep us a whisker or two above record lows.
The following are interest rate quotes from Al Hermann of American California Financial :
|
30 Yr Fixed FHA |
||||||
|
Rate |
APR |
|
||||
|
3.600 |
4.280 |
|
Conforming 30 Yr Fixed up to $417000 |
||||||
|
Rate |
APR |
|
||||
|
3.750 |
3.895 |
|
Conforming Jumbo 30 Yr Fixed $417001 - $625500 |
||||||
|
Rate |
APR |
|
||||
|
3.875 |
4.014 |
|
Jumbo 30 Yr. to $1.5 Mil |
||||||
|
Rate |
APR |
|
||||
|
4.625 |
4.761 |
|
Jumbo 7/1 ARM $1.5 Mil (higher loan amt available) |
||||||
|
Rate |
APR |
|
||||
|
3.375 |
3.458 |
The following are interest rate quotes from Jan Schott Bank of America, Home Loans jan.schott@bankofamerica.com 310-802-2300 :
Conforming Loans to $417,000
5 Yr Fixed: 2.375% @ 1.000/pts 2.875% @ 0/pts
30 Yr Fixed: 3.875% @ 1.000/pts 4.375% @ 0/pts
Conforming High Balance to $625,500
5 Yr Fixed: 2.500% @ 1.000/pts 3.000% @ 0/pts*
30 Yr Fixed: 4.000% @ 1.000/pts 4.500% @ 0/pts
Non-Conforming Loans to $2,000,000
5 Yr Fixed: 2.625% @ 1.000/pts 3.000% @ 0/pts
30 Yr Fixed: 4.125% @ 1.000/pts 4.375% @ 0/pts
FHA Fixed Loans to $729,750
30 Yr Fixed: 3.750% @ 1.000/pts 4.125% @ 0/pts
Between the turn of the 20th century and WWII, the White Point area of San Pedro was home to a thriving Japanese community of abalone fisherman and farmers. In 1899, 12 Japanese fisherman leased beach front property at White Point from Ramon Sepulveda, a descendant ofJose Dolores Sepulveda, the original Spanish land grant owner of San Pedro, with the intention of establishing an abalone and lobster fishery at that location. By 1903, they had earned enough money to construct a cannery at the fishery. This profitable industry ended in 1908 when it was alleged that these settlers were using fishing as a front for spying on coastline activities. Laws restricting how much shellfish could be taken were also enacted when the lobster and abalone population was quickly depleted.
After the fishery closed, the area became a Japanese farming community and a resort locale. In 1915, Tojuro and Tamiji Tagami, with the help of Sepúlveda, developed the area as the White Point Health Resort, a sea side resort centered around a sulfur spring at the base of the cliffs. Tamiji suffered severely from arthritis but after several weeks of immersion in the hot water from the ocean, he recovered and was again able to work. So they built a bathhouse and then constructed the balance of the resort which consisted of a two story50 room hotel and restaurant with a dance floor, three salt water plunges, an enclosed boating area, a bathhouse, and a pier which ferried tourists to a nearby fishing barge . Local children often bathed in the sulfur water on their way home from school. Doctor would send patients to the resort for the therapeutic powers of the hot springs, and tourists would stay there for the beauty of the weather and location.
Diver at White Point Resort
Various disasters in 1928 and the late '30s, led to the decline and eventual closure of the property when storms damaged the pools and some of the buildings. In 1933, an earthquake sealed off the sulfur springs.Although the Tagamis continued to operate the hotel, they never actually owned the land. Ramon Sepulveda could not legally sell the land to Asian immigrants under a California law which prohibited ownership of land by those not eligible to become citizens. Although the hotel continued to operate despite these set-backs, the final blow came in the late 1930’s with the rise of anti-Japanese prejudice and depressed economic conditions forced the closure of the resort.
After the start of World War II, The federal government took over the area, becoming part of the nearby Fort MacArthur military complex. The resort's buildings were demolished, and fortifications were added to the shoreline and nearby hillside.
The state of California bought the beach area in 1960, and it became Royal Palms State Beach. In 1995, the land was acquired by the county of Los Angeles and became Royal Palms County Beach.
White Point Health Resort - Circa 1920's
The Silver Spur area of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates (Area 176 in map below) had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :
Properties Sold: 13
Address Sales Price BR BA Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS# Sold Date Days on Mkt.
26453 Basswood AV $680,000 3 2.00 1,753 $387.91 1956 S10113690 10/19/11 71
5940 Finecrest DR $700,098 4 3.00 2,270 $308.41 1959 V11087256 11/18/11 82
27051 Springcreek RD $721,960 3 2.00 1,780 $405.60 1960 V11102759 12/16/11 124
5547 Bayridge RD $730,000 3 2.00 1,321 $552.61 1956 P802819 12/30/11 7
27161 Fond Du Lac RD $750,000 4 2.00 1,890 $396.83 1958 S673218 10/21/11 3
5302 Littlebow RD $765,000 4 2.00 2,340 $326.92 1957 P789544 11/28/11 100
5507 Bayridge RD $782,000 3 2.00 1,773 $441.06 1956 V11076837 10/27/11 133
26332 Grayslake RD $785,000 4 2.00 1,890 $415.34 1961 S11114085 10/21/11 14
26916 Springcreek RD $825,000 3 2.00 1,642 $502.44 1960 V11153114 12/30/11 18
11 Via De La Vista $830,000 4 2.00 2,339 $354.85 1965 S11096590 10/11/11 14
26644 Shadow Wood DR $870,000 4 3.00 1,917 $453.83 1961 P796824 11/04/11 6
5951 Flambeau Road $870,000 5 2.00 2,190 $397.26 1959 V11099943 11/16/11 109
27100 Mesaba DR $902,000 4 3.00 2,245 $401.78 1958 V11110300 11/09/11 26
Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ .8 million
Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11: 11 
Average List Price at 12/31/11: $ .9 million
Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr: $ 411 per sq. ft.
Properties sold at an average of 98% of List Price
The Eastview area of Rancho Palos Verdes ( area 177 in map below) had the following real estate market activity for single family residences during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :
Properties Sold: 18
Address Sales Price BR BA Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS# Sold Date Days on Mkt.
1839 Jaybrook DR $407,500 2 1.00 853 $477.73 1950 11556983 12/16/11 33
2034 Jaybrook DR $520,000 2 2.00 1,100 $472.73 1950 P797983 11/16/11 50
2036 W Macarthur ST $530,000 4 2.00 1,629 $325.35 1955 S11067145 11/18/11 113
27630 Tarrasa DR $569,000 4 3.00 1,902 $299.16 1960 V11070978 11/18/11 164
2079 Noble View DR $590,000 3 2.00 1,719 $343.22 1957 S11129469 12/14/11 92
1921 Summerland ST $610,000 3 3.00 2,064 $295.54 1955 S11103210 12/09/11 110
1966 W General ST $620,000 4 2.00 1,781 $348.12 1955 S11135149 11/22/11 28
27905 Pontevedra DR $654,000 4 2.00 2,136 $306.18 1959 S10083217 10/13/11 250
28614 Mount Sawtooth DR $670,000 4 3.00 2,460 $272.36 1973 S11103172 12/30/11 105
1465 W Toscanini DR $675,000 4 2.00 2,100 $321.43 1974 S11042705 11/09/11 166
29004 S Bayend DR $685,000 4 3.00 2,376 $288.30 1987 V11104151 11/08/11 76
28621 Mount Hood CT $700,000 3 3.00 1,768 $395.93 1974 V11109007 12/02/11 93
1815 W Toscanini DR $710,000 3 3.00 2,029 $349.93 1962 V11062959 12/28/11 208
2042 Crestwood ST $715,000 4 2.00 2,015 $354.84 1956 V11122603 12/02/11 75
2062 Upland ST $725,000 3 2.00 1,716 $422.49 1957 V11099311 10/01/11 33
27904 Alaflora DR $735,000 4 2.00 1,746 $420.96 1959 S11109970 10/20/11 64
27831 Pontevedra DR $737,500 4 2.00 1,746 $422.39 1959 V11089587 12/08/11 118
27636 Tarrasa DR $740,000 3 3.00 1,900 $389.47 1960 V11065503 10/01/11 131
Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ .6 million
Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11: 13
Average List Price at 12/31/11: $ .6 million
Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr: $ 361 per sq. ft.
Properties sold at an average of 98% of List Price
The Peninsula Center area of Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates (Area 175 in map below) had the following real estate market activity during the 4th Quarter of 2011 :
Properties Sold: 2
Address Sales Price BR BA Sq.ft. $/Sq.ft Yr.Blt. MLS# Sold Date Days on Mkt.
27509 Elmbridge DR $930,000 4 2.00 2,165 $429.56 1965 V11030733 10/14/11 210
27926 Longhill DR $1,100,000 5 3.00 2,494 $441.06 1967 V11071606 10/13/11 107
Average Sales Price of homes sold during 4th quarter: $ 1.0 million
The Peninsula Center area had low sales activity during the 4th quarter primarily due to a large decrease in the number of listings, with only 2-4 properties in this area listed for sale during the quarter.
Properties for Sale as of 12/31/11: 4
Average List Price at 12/31/11: $ .9 million
Average Price per Sq. Ft. for Properties Sold during 4th Qtr: $ 435 per sq. ft.
Properties sold at an average of 95% of List Price
 |
|
|
Providing real estate services for the Palos Verdes Peninsula and the South Bay of Los Angeles. I work tirelessly to help buyers and sellers of real estate meet their goals. Let me help you!
I am among the top producing agents in Remax Palos Verdes Realty, and a member of the Remax 100% club. I really listen to my clients and strive to get to know them and their families; to learn what their goals are and what is most important to them. I work hard to be the Best Palos Verdes Peninsula and Best South Bay Realtor possible!
I work as both a Seller's Listing Agent as well as a Buyer's Real Estate Agent. Working for both Sellers as well as Buyers makes for a better informed agent. I have four specialist certifications; Certified Palos Verdes Specialist , Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Certified Distressed Property Expert, and e-pro certification as an internet specialist.
The Certified Palos Verdes Specialist designation assures you that I have the specialized knowledge of the Palos Verdes Peninsula to ensure that yo purchase the perfect home. The Seniors Real Etate Specialist designation indicates that I have extensive knowledge of the specialized needs of our Senior Citizens in helping them meet their financial goals. The Certified Distressed Property Expert designation demonstrates that I have the specialized knowledge to advise homeowners on how best to deal with home loan delinquency issues, foreclosures, and short sales. The e-pro certification issued by the National Association of Realtors is specifically desinged to provide real estate professionals with the technology tools needed to assist consumers in the purchase or sale of a home.
I also have a bachelors degree from Calkifornia State University - Chico, as well as an advanced degree in fashion design from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. My eye for design is especially useful in helping a seller stage their home for maximum sales appeal. I have lived in Palos Verdes Estates for over 25 years, and have raised 3 boys here, and have been actively involved in community organizations.
My clients know that no one would work harder for them in either helping them locate their perfect home, or in helping them sell their home. I am totally dedicated to providing the best service available, and a lot of that comes from good communication. I treat my clients as I do my friends, and many of them have become good friends.
My website http://www.maureenmegowan.com has been designed to provide someone new to our area all of the information that they would need to make an informed decision about buying a home in our wondeerful community. That is why I work with many relocation clients.
Here are some excerpts of testimonials I have received from my clients ( full testimonials may be read at the end of my profile);
"Our experience with Maureen was more than just exceptional"
"Maureen did a fantastic job marketing our property"
"Maureen is really an exceptional agent. She gives 110% for her clients. She is dedicated, honest, patient, smart, and makes her clients feel like family. Even your mother wouldn't give you this much attention if she was your real estate agent . No one will ever give you the service that Maureen will"
"I highly recommend Maureen to anyone searching for real estate, especially if you are new to the area. . . She is an excellent Realtor and has become a great friend!"
Why do People Move to the Palos Verdes Peninsula ?
I have had numerous clients that were considering job transfers to the Los Angeles area, and after considering many different possible locations in the Los Angeles area decided to buy a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The following are the key reasons in their decisions:
1. Quality of Local School System :The Palos Verdes Unified School System is one of the best in the State, and our schools consistently rank among the top in standardized test scores. These can be verified at the following link on my seb site : PV School Info . People recognize the value of having strong local public schools and the cost savings that can be achieved when they don't have to send their kids to private schools.
2. Rural Atmosphere : The foresight of the city planners of the 4 cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula to insure the preservation of open space has made the Palos Verdes Peninsula an island of tranquility in the urban jungle that is Los Angeles County. In additon, the maintenance of equestrian oiented trails and rights of way have preserved this rural way of life for all of us.
3. Larger Lot Sizes and Set back Requirements: Compared to most of the local beach communities, our city governments on the hill have maintained building standards to limit the "mansionation" of homes here. Most of our cities have limitations on the size of the foundation of a home as well as strict neighborhood compatability regulations to make sure that new homes do not sit on top of each other and give all of us breathing room.
4. Our Beautiful Views and Proximity to the Ocean: We are so fortunate to enjoy the spectacular views along our coastline, as well as the magnificent city views that we also have. People who are looking to relocate here are absolutely blown away by the beauty and spectacular views that many of the homes here have. Even if you do not have a view from your home, we all enjoy the spectacular setting that we live in just when we are driving around the Peninsula. I have lived here for 24 years, and have never taken the beauty of this area for granted.
5. The Weather: Because of the moderating influence of the ocean, our weather varies very little from month to month compared to most areas of the Los Angeles basin. The cool ocean breezes cool us during the summer, and the ocean also tends to moderate cold temperatures in the winter. I live in Lunada Bay and I don't think that our high tempertures vary by more than about 10 degrees for most of the year. Most of the older homes on the Peninsula that are near the ocean do not even have air conditioning.
6. Our Sense of Community: My husband and I have raised 3 boys in the Lunada Bay area of Palos Verdes Estates, and we have made so many friends over the years through other parents participation with their children in their school programs and sports programs. Our boys played for many years in the baseball leagues, basketball leagues, and soccer programs on the Hill, and we have found most of the people that we have met to be friendly and non-pretentious. We have had some relocation clients comment to us that in the well off areas that they are moving from that people tend to treat their homes as status symbols, but I believe that most of the residents on the Hill see their houses as truly their homes.
Please call me at 310-259-7124 if you would like help in finding the perfect home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula or in one of the other beautiful South Bay beach communities.
Home Listings:
To review my listings, Click Here
To search MLS Home Listings for the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Click Here.
Real Estate Market Information:
For the latest Real Estate Market Report for Palos Verdes Estates Click Here
Palos Verdes Estates City Description
Palos Verdes Estates is one of the most beautiful cities in the world to live. The Palos Verdes Peninsula is also one of the wealthiest communities in the country, as described in the Los Angeles Business Journal. Palos Verdes Estates has an extremely interesting history and it is one of the best examples of city planning and controlled growth of any small to medium sized city in the United States. Palos Verdes has only a limited number of entrances to the city, and many of the streets end at the city limits.Over 25% of the city's 4.75 square miles is zoned as permanent park land and is maintained in its natural state. Much of this parkland is scattered throughout the city and provide natural areas between different clusters of homes. Although there are some areas of the city with horse trails, none of the homes are zoned to maintain horses, and horses must be stabled at the Palos Verdes Stables or other privately owned stables in the area.
PALOS VERDES ESTATES REAL ESTATE
RANCHO PALOS VERDES REAL ESTATE
ROLLING HILLS ESTATES / PALOS VERDES PENINSULA REAL ESTATE
ROLLING HILLS REAL ESTATE
MANHATTAN BEACH REAL ESTATE
HERMOSA BEACH REAL ESTATE
REDONDO BEACH REAL ESTATE
EL SEGUNDO REAL ESTATE
TORRANCE REAL ESTATE
SAN PEDRO REAL ESTATE
Relocation Specialist:
I work extensively with relocation clients who are looking to relocate to the area. My website, http://www.maureenmegowan.com has been designed to provide all the information a prospective buyer of real estate would want to know when relocating their home from another part of the country, and they are not familiar with the area.
My award winning website has far more information than any other realtor in the South Bay of Los Angeles. Because of this, it is also highly rated with the internet search engines, which also provides me with an excellent tool for helping my clients sell and market their home.
I work in all price ranges of real estate, from condos and townhomes, to luxury estates throughout the South Bay of Los Angeles, particularly on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and I have assisted clients in selling and buying homes in numerous cities including Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance, and San Pedro.
Renovation and Stagin a Home to Sell:
I also have a unique ability among real estate agents to help my clients complete significant renovations and updating of their homes in preparation for sale. Within the last year, I have managed the renovation/remodeling of two of my client's homes which both sold from $1.45 to $1.7 million. Both renovations were in the $60,000 to $70,000 range and included remodeling and updating bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens as well as exterior improvements and painting. I have a group of contractors that I work with that do a terrific job at reasonable prices and in a short time frame, and I relieve the homeowner of the nightmare of trying to manage the process of putting their home in the best possible condition for sale. See the following page on my website: Home Improvements
Because of my fashion design background, I also have the ability to work with the homeowner to "stage" their home so that it makes the best first impression possible to a potential buyer. See the following link on my website: Staging Your Home
I have four specialist certifications; Certified Palos Verdes Specialist , Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Certified Distressed Property Expert, and e-pro certification as an internet specialist.
The Certified Palos Verdes Specialist designation assures you that I have the specialized knowledge of the Palos Verdes Peninsula to ensure that yo purchase the perfect home.
The Certified Distressed Property Expert designation demonstrates that I have the specialized knowledge to advise homeowners on how best to deal with home loan delinquency issues, foreclosures, and short sales.
The Certified Palos Verdes Specialist designation assures you that I have the specialized knowledge of the Palos Verdes Peninsula to ensure that yo purchase the perfect home.
The Seniors Real Etate Specialist designation indicates that I have extensive knowledge of the specialized needs of our Senior Citizens in helping them meet their financial goals.
Following are some of the testimonials that I have received from my clients:
SUNNI McBRIDE
I never understood how complex the job of being a realtor could be until I worked with Maureen Megowan. She worked tirelessly to assist me before, during and after the sale of my home and the purchase of my new home. It took a month to prepare my home to be put on the market. She orchestrated the remodeling and staging of my home so that it showed like a jewel. Closing the sale required a delicate dance. She was the force which made it all happen. The purchase of my new home required creative financing. She helped to guide me along that path. I cannot thank Maureen enough for the endless hours she spent helping me and my family.
I highly refer Maureen Megowan and would absolutely use her again.
TORYE KAMBE:
I contacted Maureen Megowan to list my parents' home in Rolling Hills Estates. I personally live out of state and my parents are elderly, so the idea of selling a home in a declining real estate market was overwhelming to them. Maureen immediately took control of the situation. Her first step was to evaluate the home and come up with an aggressive marketing plan which involved a thorough decluttering of the house, repair, renovation and staging. Maureen works with a team of professionals who assisted her in totally transforming my parents' home in a relatively short time at reasonable costs. This was a huge help to us, as we were able to leave everything in her hands. In fact, my parents were able to leave their home and stay with me in Texas while Maureen arranged everything.
One example of her attention to detail is the numerous trips she made to Lowes to pick out a perfect dining room light fixture. Maureen went to Lowes at least three separate times just to get the right item. This is one of the many items that Maureen personally selected and installed for my parents to make their house look updated and fresh. Not only did she coordinate all the various tradespeople involved, she worked side by side with the stager (and even brought some of own personal furniture) to make the house look and feel absolutely perfect.
I cannot imagine any other real estate professional would offer this level of service. I know for a fact that the other agents I interviewed do not. Maureen's marketing includes professional photography, an online virtual tour and exposure in various forms of print and online media. In my opinion, her website presence is unparalleled among realtors in the South Bay. As an out of state client myself, I know how important the internet is in marketing properties. When you type Palos Verdes real estate in any online search engine, Maureen's name is top of the list. Because her website is so informative, I'm sure that many potential buyers don't venture elsewhere.
In the case of my parents house, Maureen's proactive approach to marketing paid off immediately, and we received four offers on our house in the first week. We are currently negotiating with one of those buyers and hope to sell the house soon. Maureen has been a great advocate every step of the way, and I cannot recommend a more hard-working and professional realtor to sell your home.
GORDON AND LIONI McDONALD:
We started our search for a home in Los Angeles, while we were living in Connecticut and by sheer chance, found Maureen through her website. We can still not believe our luck in finding such a wonderful and knowledgeable Real Estate Agent! Maureen knows Palos Verdes and the South Bay like the palm of her hand. She is very professional, yet very personable and also has the ability to size up her clients and show them what they are looking for. She helped us to find our lovely home in Rancho Palos Verdes in just one day! The seller of our home received multiple offers at the time, and Maureen's excellent negotiation skills gave us the competitive edge to ensure that the seller accepted our offer. We did some remodeling to our home and Maureen recommended some contractors, who all did an excellent job. Maureen is a gem of a Real Estate Agent and we can not recommend her highly enough!
SARAH CUNNINGHAM:
We located Maureen through the internet before we moved to California and found the website, her emails, phone calls, and listings so helpful. She helped our transition moving across country and eased my fears about finding the perfect house as quickly as possible. From the first day we met, Maureen was so hospitable and really went the extra mile to show us every property and community possible in our price range. What really stands out about Maureen is how she really took us under her wing, paid so much attention to us, really made us feel comfortable and like we had a great friend in state so far away from our friends and family.
Throughout the whole process, Maureen was diligent, thorough, and really helped us through the process of finding the right home - through all of the ups and downs. Overall, she made the transition so easy and helped us settle into the perfect home.
Maureen was always there to answer our questions, push for more repairs and ensure that everything was done right and running smoothly. She has kept in contact with us since we have moved in and has been wonderful with checking in, referring stores and contractors to help us create the perfect home.
I highly recommend Maureen to anyone searching for real estate, especially if you are new to the area and really want someone who knows what is out there. She is an excellent Realtor and has become a great friend.
Many thanks,
Sarah Cunningham
JIM YORK:
Maureen did an excellent job in marketing our property near the Long Point Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. It was a single family detached house but the property had some complexities to it, including an existing lease tenant as well as a homeowners association.
Prior to placing the property on the market, Maureen went far above the normal responsibilities of a listing broker, by determining what repairs or enhancements needed to be made to make the property as marketable as possible, and then working with numerous contractors to complete the repairs, all while working with the existing tenant and keeping them happy during the process.
Maureen performed a comparative market analysis, and due to the strength of the market Maureen recommended that we establish an asking price slightly below what we believed to be the propertys market price in order to solicit multiple offers on the property. This strategy resulted in a sales price approx. $100,000 over the original asking price. Maureen prepared a comparative presentation of the competing offers that analyzed not only the creditworthiness of the proposed buyers, but also the probability of the buyers actually closing the escrow. .During the marketing process, Maureen prepared effective marketing materials, including flyers and advertisements, and held several open houses. Maureen seemed to be very effective in interacting with both potential buyers as well as their cooperating brokers.
During escrow, Maureen was extremely organized and made the escrow process flow smoothly. She was very effective in working with the buyers lender, as well as in obtaining termite reports (and completing subsequent remedial work required), etc.
I would be very happy to work with Maureen again, and would highly recommend her services!
Sincerely,
Jim York,,York Long Point Associates
DEBBIE R.:
Discovering your website was a gold mine. Maureen, you are an incredibly fun business woman who has it all in one finely tuned package of professionalism wrapped with hard work and the ribbon of commitment. That ribbon keeps it all together. Your commitment to your clients and your vow of ethics are of the highest standard. Maureen. that is what counts and sets you apart.
JESSY:
I don't usually recommend a person/service unless it is spectacular and this woman certainly is. Her name is Maureen Megowan, she's based out of Palos Verdes, but also covers the west side. As a newly single mom, it's been a daunting task shopping for our new home. She spent the day showing me around and was so very informative and thorough.
She can find you either a property to purchase or to rent if needed.
CAROLINA BROWN:
Its funny how great things can happen by accident. I really got to know Maureen when she was representing the buyer for the property next door to my home, and we started to chat when she was at the property.
Maureen is really an exceptional agent. I have never met anyone like her. She gives 110% to all her clients. She is dedicated, honest, patient, smart, and makes her clients feel like family. Im telling you, even your own mother would not give you this much attention if she was your real estate agent, and although that sounds like a joke, it isn't! No one will ever give you the service Maureen will.
Maureen did a fabulous job by representing my husband and I in buying our first investment property in Rolling Hills Estates. I don't think we would have ended up with property if Maureen had not been so together and quick to act. During the transaction she helped us figure out financing, helped us to establish a fair rental value, and maintained her poise and cool when it got a little scary at the end. We got a great tenant within a couple of weeks after closing and we could not be happier or more satisfied with our purchase.
I have highly recommended Maureen to my friends, family, and even acquaintances, and I love the highly profuse thanks I get when they meet her and realize what a wonderful agent and person she is. Maureen definitely has all my business for life!
Carolina Brown
NORMA LOW:
Maureen did an excellent job of selling my home. A neighbor of mine had recommended Maureen to me after my property had been on the market for several months with absolutely no offers at all. I had become extremely frustrated by the fact of attention that my prior real estate agent was giving my listing, and I contacted Maureen to see if she could help. Once I had given the listing to her, Maureen jumped in with both feet, preparing excellent marketing materials such as flyers and advertisements in the local newspapers. She also immediately scheduled both broker and public open houses, and within a short period of time had attracted significant interest from a number of agents until we received a satisfactory offer after a relatively short period of time, especially considering how long our other agent had been marketing our home. During this entire time, Maureen was extremely responsive to me and I was impressed by her dedication to get my home sold so that my husband and I could move to Florida.
During the escrow period, Maureen continued to keep me informed as to the progress of the closing, and worked diligently to get the deal closed. Maureen was a godsend! I highly recommend Maureen for anyone considering selling their home!!
Norma Low
LIZ F.
When I began my initial search for a real estate agent I began that search on the internet.
The attention to detail in Maureen's website instilled a great deal of confidence in me and I knew immediately that I wanted to work with her. The design, navigation, overall information and historical retrospective on her website went far beyond anything else I had encountered in my search. Upon meeting Maureen I found her to be a true reflection of how she represented herself on-line. Highly professional and energetic, with thoughtful ideas and resources.
With a new baby on the way, my husband and I were looking to buy a new home very quickly. Maureen fully dedicated herself to us and made the entire process stress free. Her personal care and attention has extended far beyond the purchase of our new home in Palos Verdes Estates. She has since continued to support us in making sure we're comfortable and settled in our new neighborhood. We dearly love our new home truly are truly grateful for her hard work. I highly recommend Maureen Megowan for the sale or purchase of your new home.
Liz F.
ROZ MATTSON:
Maureen got the job done -- and in record time! Maureen Megowan handled the sale of our property and we could not be happier. We followed her advice and did some painting, staged the property, and agreed on an attractive sell price to move the property. Maureen created attractive brochures, put pictures and a description of the property on her website and advertised the open house in local papers. She held a brokers open house and a Saturday & Sunday public open house and received several offers. Throughout the process, Maureen kept in contact with us and let us know what was happening at every step along the way. Once an offer was accepted, she was efficient at managing all the paperwork and was very diligent about making sure everything was done properly. The thirty day escrow went by swiftly and without problems thanks to the efficiency of everyone involved. Even though selling property and, in this case, settling an estate is a stressful event, Maureen handled everything to minimize our stress and had everything resolved quicker than we ever imagined possible. A huge thank you to Maureen Megowan. Respectfully, Roz Mattson
JEANIE K. :
A friend of mine recommended Maureen when I told her that I was interested in buying a home. Being a first time buyer, searching for the perfect home can be a nerve-racking process. But she exudes confidence that will put your mind at ease.
We found a condo in Torrance. It was exactly what we were looking for. We never thought that we would be able to afford a home. Maureens contacts have made it possible for us to buy our home with no money down. She walked me through the whole process. Maureen goes above and beyond what a normal real estate agents duties are. She can scope out repairs that need to be done and request them done, works with contractors to complete repairs and will oversee until repairs have been done properly.
Maureen offered a comprehensive analysis, which helped me determine a price to place an offer on our condo. I cant tell you how helpful that was, especially in todays market.
What more could you ask for in a real estate agent? Out side of Maureens bubbly personality and extensive experience and knowledge of color and design, you could not ask for more. There are many real estate agents out in the market today. But only a few know what questions to ask. She knows how to get results.
There is no doubt in my mind. I would recommend Maureen to anyone looking to buy a home.
Sincerely,
Jeanie K.
PETER AND VICKI KNEPPER:
We hired Maureen to sell a condo we had purchased as an investment in Rancho Palos Verdes, and she did an excellent job for us.
Maureen initially reviewed the market and we established an asking price which we expected would generate interest and activity while still being comparable to other recent sales. She then coordinated a modest refurbishment of the unit, including faux finish wallpaper in the bathrooms and kitchen, painting, and re- carpeting at a cost that was very reasonable.
Maureen then did a fantastic job marketing the property, including advertisements, flyers, and open houses, which generated a large amount of broker interest. Maureen has a great personality and dealt with the brokers and potential buyers extremely well. We ended up selling the property for $39,000 over the asking price within one week!
We highly recommend Maureen's services!
Peter and Vicki Knepper
KATIE T. :
My husband and I were an unusual case for Maureen, since we flip-flopped for more than a year on what kind of house we wanted and what our price range was! She was extremely patient and always helpful, adjusting our searches as needed. Im sure we would have exasperated most agents, but she was fantastic and always willing to work with us in whatever direction we were leaning.
As our needs and financial abilities became more clear, she was helpful in recommending neighborhoods that "fit" us. She knew us so well by that point that she knew where we would best fit; based on the character of the areas we were considering. When it came time to make an offer, she met with us early on the day after Thanksgiving; coffee and pastries in hand. She was always available for questions or discussions, and that was really appreciated because deals and offers don't always adhere to a typical schedule.
We found her presentations to the sellers agent to be very professional and appealing, so nice that even he, a very experienced agent, was impressed and commented on them. Maureen worked very hard for us, and she was never less than enthusiastic to do anything we asked of her. I would definitely recommend Maureen to anyone looking to buy or sell a home!
Sincerely,
Katie T.
FRED DONNELLY:
Maureen marketed our home in an effective and professional manner, and did an excellent job for us. My wife and I were 25 year owners and after my wife passed away I found it difficult to make decisions regarding our property. However, I felt it was at last the right time to sell.
Maureen surveyed the market and established an asking price that was aggressive but yet reflected the realities of a very strong overall real estate market. Even though the market was strong, however, several similar homes in our development had taken quite a while to sell.
Maureen evaluated our home and recommended that we "stage" our home for sale by rearranging some of the furniture, purchasing a small amount of additional furniture, pictures and accent pieces, and coordinating necessary painting and repairs. She handled all of the decorating and the work was completed in a weeks time. The property showed like a model home!
Maureen's strategy paid off spectacularly, as we sold our home in 5 days at a sales price significantly over our asking price. My wife would have been so proud to see the results. It made selling the home so much easier for our family.
I would certainly recommend Maureen to anyone looking to sell their home!
Fred Donnelly
LYNN BARTHOLOMEW:
Without Maureen on my side, I never would have bought my first condo. The first day she took me out to look at places in my price range, I fell in love with a great condo that came with a lot of hassles. Since it was the very first property we looked at and this was my first home buying experience, Maureen went out of her way to make sure that I was fully aware of what was out on the market. So for the next week, Maureen drove out of her way to Orange County to show me other properties that I might be interested in.
Of course, I stuck with my gut and went for the first condo. Maureen was so helpful and has such a keen eye about what needs to be done in order for the deal to be fair. She went out of her way to make sure that I was getting a good deal for my first home and I couldn't be happier. I have every confidence in Maureen for all of my future real estate and design needs.
Lynn Bartholomew
TIM GAVIN & CHARLOTTE MASTEN:
Our experience with Maureen was more than just exceptional from the beginning. She aggressively helped us pursue our dreams of finding our new home. As a first time buyer, we felt her caring and strong support throughout the whole process of buying a home. We really appreciate her support and friendship.
Tim Gavin & Charlotte Masten
San Pedro
Comments from Judges for Advanced Access Most Impressive Website Contest
I love history. California history is so interesting, too. Maureen uses it well, and anyone who is remotely interested in the place they may move, will want to use an agent who also cares about history. Kudos. - Terry Light
Never before have I seen a client take content writing to such lengths. Maureen Megowan is a true authority on her area. The content on her website is both informative and interesting, which beckons a visitor to want to continue to read through the interior pages of her site to learn even more. - AA Marketing
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2012 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
