WALK FOR HOPE~ IN SEARCH FOR A CURE FOR WOMEN'S CANCERS~
NOVEMBER 6, 2011 LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA
Once in a while life takes a turn for the unexpected! Women's cancers are affecting lives all over the world each day. As a young mother of 3 children, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer at the age of 26. I was so grateful that I already had my daughters because the treatment for the disease required a total hysterectomy.
I have joined Walk for Hope because I want to make a difference in the fight against women's cancers. More than 275,000 women will be diagnosed with breast or a gynecological cancer THIS YEAR! More than 25% of those women will die from these diseases. I wat to help save these women by helping the City of Hope researches find cures!!
If you choose to help me in this fight, please use the following link to make a donation of any amount. The goal is $150 which should be easily attainable. The donation you make could save the life of someone YOU love! I appreciate anyone who takes this to heart and decides to pitch in. Sometimes the smallest sacrifices can create lasting change!
http://nationalevents.cityofhope.org/site/TR/Walk2011/WalkforHope?px=1612506&pg=personal&fr_id=1430
This walk will happen on Saturday, November 6th in Los Angeles California.
Sincerely,
Wendy Rich-Soto
SAN PEDRO HOMES -
ISSUES FOR 1ST TIME HOME BUYERS
Buying a home in San Pedro is one of the most significant investments you will make in your life. Not only are you choosing the place you will live, and the place in which you will bring up your family, you are most likely investing a large portion of your assets into this personalized space. The more prepared you are at the beginning, the less overwhelming and chaotic the buying process will be. My goal is to provide you with the detailed information you will need to assist you in making an intelligent and informed decision. Remember, if you have any questions about the process, contact me, Wendy Rich-Soto at 310-944-8062.
As you begin keep the end in mind by keeping your mind focused on your ultimate out come, being a homeowner. At some point you have to trust someone who is a Real Estate professional to help you navigate through the process. There are so many things to consider that you need someone who is specifically trained and has your best interests at heart. There is a starting point to a purchase and it is something that must be done in order to get started. If you will be obtaining a mortgage to purchase your home, you need to speak with a lender. That should really be your first stop. A lender will be able to go over your credit, income, assets, and debt. Once they do, they can give you a budget to shop within. Now some buyers hear the top dollar that they can spend and they do not want to go that high. They don't feel comfortable with a monthly committment that seems like it will take away so much from their lifestyle. That is understandable. So they decide on a price that has more to do with monthly payment and their comfort level. This is a huge step in the right direction!
Most 1st time home buyers choose FHA financing. The primary reason for that is a down payment of 3.5%, more lenient guidelines with regard to credit scores. Some buyers will need a seller to help with their closing costs which can range from $8,000-$10,000 on average. With so many San Pedro homes and condos on the market at affordable prices one would think it should be really easy to find a home and get a great deal. So why are so many first time buyers having trouble finding a home that suits their needs at a price they can afford? Until 2008 it was almost impossible to find decent homes in San Pedro for under $500,000. Prices have been dropping so rapidly over the last 2 or 3 years that some homes have finally become affordable to first time home buyers. Recognizing this, many are out shopping, trying to make the dream of home ownership a reality.
Where are the great bargains? Homes currently on the market that are affordable to first time home buyers, are predominantly short sales and foreclosures or bank owned properties and are not necessarily in the best condition. Even with a deep price reduction many of these homes are still beyond the reach of first time buyers because the buyer will have to lay out considerable cash after purchase to bring the house into livable condition. First time home-buyers just dont have this kind of cash to invest in the home for repairs and upgrades after the purchase. In some cases FHA will not finance if serious repairs are required or kitchens and/or baths are missing.
Some of the problems buyers have discovered in many of the available homes for sale on the market are:
Many bank owned homes have several of these issues placing the seemingly affordable home into the unaffordable range for the FHA buyer. For instance a buyer may be able to afford a new shower, but not be able to afford new plumbing if that too is necessary, this can become a large expense. When a San Pedro home becomes available in really good condition, priced to sell it will likely receive multiple offers very quickly. FHA offers are often being put to the side while banks and sellers entertain offers with 20% or better down payments and all cash offers, often from investors. It is critical for an FHA buyer to write the strongest NET offer possible. Even with a strong offer it is very difficult for an FHA buyer to compete against the stronger offers.
FHA buyers who successfully purchase are finding that their best option is often looking at homes and condos that have been on the market for a while. These homes and condos don't present the multiple offer problem and often result in a sale. While homes and condos that sit for a while sometimes do have issues beyond the buyers ability to deal with, if you pick through them you can often find an overlooked gem. Don't just assume if a home as been on the market for a long time that it isn't worth considering. More often than not, a seller may have listed the home to high for the current market and it took them a long while to realize that in order to sell they had to adjust their price significantly. Other times, if a home is priced out of your price range, comparable recent sales may unveil that the home is worth what you can afford. That is the time to strongly consider that home if it meets your needs.
Give yourself some room! If you look at homes that are below your price range, you give yourself room to negotiate. When you look at property that puts you at your max, it doesn't give you any room to go up. That doesn't mean that you won't get the home, but it does make it more difficult. Many times a seller may not consider an FHA offer and so an FHA buyer must shop smart. While it may take some time, it is still possible for an FHA buyer to purchase if they are dedicated to the purchase. Trusting your Realtor to help you through these types of things will make the process so much easier for you!
Friends & Family: Our friends and family always want what is best for us and so when we are getting ready to buy a home, they want to help! Many of them have purchased homes in the past and they know a lot about the process. The thing is that this market is different now than it was even 12 months ago. Lending guidelines have changed so much that every time you think you have everything that you need in place, a new change comes up and can make it impossible for you to buy the home the way you thought you could. It is important to get a pre approval letter, a budget, a Realtor you trust, and then get ready to find the home you want. Family and friends should be supportive but they should also defer to those who are working in real estate and lending today and know what the requirements are that will allow you to become a home owner.
This is "Your San Pedro Real Estate Girl" Wendy Rich-Soto, signing off~~
Closed Sales in San Pedro
Point Fermin
December 10, 2010-January 10, 2011
The following homes sold in San Pedro, Point Fermin within the last 30 days. This report shows details about days on the market, final sales price, and address.
•1. 718 W. 37th St. #3; DOM 144 Sold 1-7-2011 $337,500
•2. 2823 Kerchoff Avenue; DOM 44 Sold 12-30-2010 $349,000
The townhome on 37th Street was a short sale. It had fantastic ocean views and was in turn key condition. The home on Kerchoff had an updated kitchen and was a standard sale. It offered just under 900 square feet of living space.
This is Wendy Rich-Soto, "Your San Pedro Real Estate Girl" Signing off~
Closed Sales in San Pedro
Palisades
December 10, 2010-January 10, 2011
The following homes sold in San Pedro, Palisades within the last 30 days. This report shows details about days on the market, final sales price, and address.
•1. 2611 S Patton Avenue, DOM 146 Sold 12-29-10 $504,500
•2. 3622 S. Leland Avenue, DOM 10 Sold 1-7-2011 $620,000
Both of these homes were standard sales. Patton was completely remodeled because of smoke damage. It was basically a new home inside. Leland had a high end kitchen remodel and offered a great ocean view!
This is Wendy Rich-Soto, "Your San Pedro Real Estate Girl" Signing off~
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San Pedro Real Estate Blog- Wendy Rich-Soto: Wendy Rich-Soto, Realtor, San Pedro, South Bay Real Estate, DRE#01311750 I serve San Pedro, Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Redondo Beach, & entire South Bay
What value can a Realtor offer you?
In my mind the answer to that question is very simple, they can actually care about you and the home you are trying to buy or the home you are trying to sell. There are many things that drive people in business but few business owners are driven by caring about their clients. Usually the drive is highly determined by the focus on their bottom line. That is where I differ from many agents in this industry.
As Realtors, we vow to take on a role as a fiduciary as we represent any buyer or seller. We have said we will represent our clients with diligence, integrity and utmost care. I take these things to heart and I strive to exceed my clients expectations of me as we work together towards a common goal. Real estate is a really big deal for just about anyone who ever buys or sells a home. Most of the time your heart is involved maybe a little more than you might like to admit. It is important to work with someone who recognizes that and is willing to do what they can to get you top dollar as quickly as possible or to help you to obtain that home that you just can't get off your mind.
There are many different facets to the job of being a Realtor and it isn't as simple as finding a client, showing a home and making a sale. Sometimes it takes a very long process before a buyer is ready to buy a home. Sometimes it is the first home they see because it is exactly what they are looking for. No matter the time it takes, each client is precious is given my full attention because they are all equally important to me.
I am not the head of a big team that doesn't allow my clients to interact with me. Each client works directly with me. I am easy to reach and I don't have stingent business hours. I make myself available on purpose. I know how gut wrenching it is to be in escrow on a home and not hear from your lender and be scared to death that somehow, things are going to fall apart. I am not only your Realtor, but your lifeline! Your connection to your lender, your escrow and title representative, home inspector, etc. There needs to be someone who can navigate you through the process and that is a large part of my job that I embrace fully!
I am among the top producing agents at Keller Williams Realty, LA Harbor and a member of the KW 100% club. What does that mean to you? It means that I have successfully closed many transactions and my knowledge and experience will help you when we work together. I am grateful for each and every client I have been blessed to represent.
Client Testimonials
My experience with Wendy Rich as my Realtor was a very positive one. As a Realtor she is diligent, trustworthy, honest and draws from a wealth of experience and knowledge. There were many options for us as far as Realtors go, and I am so glad we found Wendy. We were selling our lifelong family home due to my mom's death and she was a gem to us during that time. She is not only a great Realtor, but she became someone we could truly count on and confide in with the biggest decisions of our life. I would highly recommend Wendy to anyone looking for a down to earth, caring, yet professional real estate expert! Thank you Wendy!
Kristin Baldonado~ San Pedro, CA
After looking for months and finally finding a house I liked, Wendy helped through the whole process. She answered her phone and responded to my e-mails promptly and if she didn't have the answers, she found out for me and kept me informed the whole time. Thanks!
T. Yale~ San Pedro, CA
Since last summer we had been looking at different properties with Wendy. Everything we have requested of her has been handled in the most professional and caring way. She has given us both her attention and time and has always handled our worries or concern with the utmost care. To find someone this trustworthy in this financial climate has been a blessing. From the start we have felt her guidance and encouragement. Thank you Wendy!
James & Heidi Godejohann ~ Lomita CA
When I contacted Wendy Rich-Soto to ask her to assist me with a short sale on my condo in San Pedro, I was scared. I had no idea what to expect and I was worried about the possibility that I would be foreclosed on. During the time that Wendy had my home on the market, I learned so much about the process. It was a lot to deal with emotionally and she was there every step of the way. Any time I had a question, she had an answer or she found out the answer for me. She made me feel confident that I could make it through the short sale succesfully. The best thing was that I did! She was able to work with a buyer and see it through to the end. She rescued me from foreclosure! I will always be grateful to Wendy and I would recommend her to my friends, co-workers and family.
A. Jaminal~ San Pedro CA
Wendy Rich-Soto did an amazing job in guiding me through the home buying process. She also was very helpful with explaning mortgage loans to me and helping me to get the best interest rate possible. It took me four months to find the home of my dreams and I am sure it would not have been possible without Wendy as my guiding light! Thank you so much!
Sonya Jennings~ San Pedro CA
"We are so excited to have just purchased our first home. Wendy helped us out so much as we went through the somewhat complicated process of purchasing an REO property. At one point during our home buying process we ran into some complications and Wendy went to bat for us and we were able to come out of the situation and purchase a home that was a much better fit for us. Wendy also eased the process through her willingness to work during the time we were available and wrote up our offers quickly so that we could take action in a dynamic real estate environment. Thanks so much!"
--Jeff and Laura Williams
"As first time home buyers, we didn't really know what to expect. With Wendy in our corner, there were really no surprises. She walked us through everything and explained things every step of the way. I can't imagine having gone through this with another agent. Wendy made the journey of home ownership very easy and very special for us. She made herself available for me to ask questions and always returned my calls, emails, and texts promptly. We never felt out of the loop. She was in constant communication with us as to what was happening with our home. If I ever decide to buy another home, there is no question that Wendy will be the first person I call. Thanks, Wendy!!"
--Brian & Cathy Looper
"I want say thank you for all the hard work, and long hours (driving to Stockton, on a whim) that you have been doing to help me find my "dream home" even though I am looking for the "bargain of the century" dream home. You are a very special person, and I have to say you are a one in a million agent, and now I feel that someone is in tune with my hope and dreams. Again I would like to say thank you so much for everything."
--Vallaree Spires
One word that best describes Wendy Rich-Soto as a real estate agent is "Assertive". Wendy is determined in meeting her clients' real estate needs. She is very thorough and professional in her findings and her capabilities always meet her client's high standards. We have come to realize that Wendy does not know the meaning of the word "stagnant". She hates to leave her clients at a standstill while the market moves so rapidly. Wendy Rich-Soto is a focused and motivated individual whose labors are directed toward her client(s) rather than the banks. With a good deal of effort, she was able to help us improve our investment portfolio in finding the perfect condominium for the perfect price in no time at all. One word that best describes Wendy's real estate client(s) is "Satisfied". Thank you Wendy, for being the kind of agent you are and all the hard work you do for us.
--Michael & Polet Yonan
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