Pasadena CA Real Estate

This post is dedicated to Ines, a Miami Beach Realtor, who inspired me to make a Mojito for the first time. Here’s a video dedicated to Ines. I challenge all of you to make your own Mojitos using the most creative tools!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oheWS90eBw[/youtube]

For the original Miamism Mojitos recipes, visit Mojitos Central.

A lot of folks are happy to see 2008 come to an end.  It’s been a difficult year for many given the financial crisis and the natural disasters that occurred making it one of the deadliest years on record.

Is there a reason for optimism in Pasadena for 2009?

There’s an interesting overview of what caused the financial crisis by Barry Habib of Mortgage Success Source which provides an easy overview of the “whys”, “hows” and “whats” coming up in 2009.  Here’s his perspective:

The financial crisis we are in today was not caused by mortgages or housing, although they were both catalysts. The real reason was an accounting rule called “Mark to Market” (also known as FASB 157).

Few people have a strong grasp of this rule, and even those who do have a tough time explaining it on air due to time restrictions. So let’s take a few minutes to break it down, so you can have the inside track on this very important concept and understand why it represents some great opportunities.

Why does ‘Mark to Market’ exist?

Let’s go back to the stock market crash, which occurred between 2000 and 2002. With the S&P down 49% and the NASDAQ down 71%, many people lost much of their life savings and they were very angry.

Companies like Enron and Arthur Andersen were able to find ways to make their books looks more attractive, which was reflected in an artificially inflated stock price.

Both the public and Congress had a call for more transparency in business and hastened the passage of “Mark to Market” accounting.

This is the notion that all assets should be valued as if they were sold on a daily basis. Under the letter of the law, failure to do this conservatively can now result in jail time.

So what’s the problem?

Before we get into what this means for banks, let me make a quick analogy using a scenario that should make perfect sense to you.

Let’s imagine that you own a house in a Pasadena neighborhood where all of the houses are priced at around $300,000. Unfortunately, your neighbor, who owns his home free and clear, falls ill and needs emergency cash quickly. Because he is under duress, he must sell the home for $200,000 in order to get the cash he needs right away, even though the home is worth considerably more.

Now would this mean that your home is now worth the same $200,000 that your neighbor sold his for? Of course not, because you are not forced to sell under duress. It just means that your new neighbor got a great deal.

However, if you were a publicly traded company and had to abide by Mark to Market account rules, you and the rest of your neighbors would now have to say, by law, that your home was worth only $200,000 – not the $300,000 you would get for it if you actually sold. So what’s the big deal? Read on.

So how does this principle apply to banks?

Let’s say we decide to start a bank . . . call it XYZ Bank. We raise $2 Million to open our doors. Remember that our capital account is $2 Million. Banks make money by taking in deposits and paying low rates of interest to those depositors (maybe throw in a toaster too). We then take that money and make loans with it at higher rates. We keep the difference.

So, we turn that money into $30 Million worth of loans. This puts our ratio of loans to capital (our Capital Ratio) at 15:1 ($15 Million in Loans to $1 Million in Capital). This level is acceptable, as long as we can shoulder some losses and recover.

Because we are very conservative here at XYZ Bank, the loans we make require a minimum down payment of 30%, a credit score of 800 or better (that’s nearly an 850 which is perfect), proof of income and assets, a reserve of at least two years of mortgage payments (normal is two months) and income requirements that only allow 10% of monthly income to cover all expenses (normal is 40%).

We do this and our loans perform perfectly. We make lots of money. Nobody is paying late and our clients are sending us holiday cards. They love us . . . it’s a party. You and I are celebrating as we see our stock price soar.

But real estate values decline and, even though all of our loans are paying perfectly, we must re-assess the loan portfolio to account for the decline in real estate values, which leaves us with less of an equity cushion. We had a minimum 30% down payment, which means the loans were 70% of the value of our assets – until we account for the decline in the market. Now, our position goes from 70% to 90%. That’s riskier and, therefore, worth less than when our loans had a 70% safety position.

Our accountants tell us that we must “Mark to Market” or risk jail. They say our value is now reduced by $1 Million. Whoa!

We must take (or write down) this loss against our capital account. It is a paper loss – we don’t write a check, we have no late payers, no defaults, no bad business decisions. Still, we must reflect this $1 Million paper loss in our Capital Account, which drops from a $2 Million to $1 Million in value.

Here’s where things get problematic.

At this level, with $30 Million in loans outstanding, we now have a capital ratio of 30:1. At
this level of leverage, alarms begin to sound.

Our ratios are out of the safe zone; we could go under with just a few losses, deposits are in jeopardy. Hello FDIC examiner, we are on the watch list, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is asking questions and our stock starts to tumble. The business networks are showing coverage of our now troubled bank. We are in big trouble.

The problem, we are “over leveraged”. The solution? We have to “de-lever” . . . and do so
quickly. But there are only two ways to do that, and one of them isn’t really an option.

The first way is to raise capital, but that’s not going to happen when our ratios are out of whack and we are in serious trouble as well as on the FDIC watch list. It is unlikely that anyone will be willing to invest cash in XYZ Bank.

The other option is that we can sell assets, like the outstanding loans, which are increasing our capital ratio. Like your neighbor, who owned his home outright but needed cash for medical bills, we are now under duress. The paper we are holding has a lot of value, but we have to sell it quickly and, because of that, cheaply. So, we offload the loans at a loss, which exacerbates the problem because those losses further reduce our capital account.

Very quickly, like a flushing toilet, things start to spiral – we are going down.

The problem multiplies

The problem doesn’t stop there. The fire sale we just had on our loans makes things worse – even for the banks that bought them up and thought they were getting a great deal.

Under Mark to Market, the loans we just sold must be included in the comparables that other financial institutions use to value their assets. This is how the problem spread and got so bad so fast. Other good institutions, with good loans, have to mark down. Just like us, they become over-leveraged. It’s a chain reaction, all triggered by a well intentioned, but over-reaching accounting rule.

Financial institutions fold, sell, or freeze. Credit – the life blood of our economy – is cut off at the source. Because of a lack of available credit, home sales and refinances crawl, auto sales drop and jobs are lost. Additionally, the economy enters a recession.

During the last recession in 2001, the economy recovered relatively quickly thanks to $3 Trillion worth of home equity withdrawals. But, more restrictive programs, a lack of available credit, and lower home values will make it difficult for us to use home equity to help pull us out of a recession this time around.

Fixing the problem

The Federal Reserve has passed a rescue plan, which, over time, will provide some level of help. Some banks will get money to infuse into their capital accounts. Others can sell some assets to the government in an effort to “de-lever”.

But, the big thing that is not talked about, not well understood, is the part of the rescue plan that traces this financial crisis back to the source.

The US Congress has given the SEC its blessing to modify “Mark to Market” accounting. And by January 2, SEC Chairman, Chris Cox has to get back to Congress with ideas, if any, on how to fix Mark to Market accounting.

It won’t be eliminated, as we will not want to go back to the Enron days. But he is likely to adjust the Mark to Market provisions.

Here’s one potential solution – even rental or commercial real estate properties can be valued two ways:

1. The comparable sales method, which determines the value based on what other assets have sold for, which is the way Mark to Market work currently.
2. A cash flow method, which values the property based upon cash coming in.

If we see Mark to Market modified to use cash flow to value assets, without requiring a large percentage discounting mechanism – wow! What a shot in the arm that would be. We’d likely see the stock market rally, with financial stocks leading the uphill charge.

Consider that, in today’s market, fund managers are holding 27% of their assets in cash, compared with just 3% they held in cash when the stock market peaked in October of 2007. That means there is a lot of money on the sidelines that can push stock prices higher.

Additionally, think about the redemptions from hedge funds that eventually need to be put
back to work. That’s another reason to be optimistic about stocks in the first quarter of 2009 – provided that Chairman Cox modifies Mark to Market accounting in a meaningful way. And a good stock market helps individuals feel better about purchasing homes.

Additionally, stronger balance sheets for financial institutions will allow them to lend more money.

The bottom line

With some potentially very good news around the corner, there might be reason for optimism as we head into 2009.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens and we’ll keep you updated on the changes to the Mark to Market accounting rule.

In the meantime, I’ll take this opportunity to take my 2009 crystal ball out and share my Pasadena real estate market predictions with you:

1. Pasadena mortage rates will remain under 6% through the 2nd quarter of 2009 and will begin to rise in the 3rd quarter of the year.
2. We will see an influx of REO (bank-owned) properties hit the Pasadena real estate market around March and April of 2009. 
3. A lot more Pasadena sellers will try to negotiate a short sale with their banks which will provide opportunities for first time buyers and real estate investors.
4. Pasadena housing units available for sale will begin increasing as more foreclosures and short sales hit the real estate market.
5. Pasadena SFR (single family homes) have seen a drop of 10.5% in price per square foot from 2007 to 2008.  I believe the market will continue to see a decline in prices through June of next year of another 4 to 5%. 
6. We will start seeing a turn around in the market place by July of 2009 with the changes in the Mark to Market rules, additional first time housing programs and availability of conventional programs.

READ MORE:  Pasadena real estate market comparison between 2006 and 2007

What do you think of my Pasadena real estate predictions?  Agree or disagree?  Put your 2009 predictions in the comments below.

Would love to hear from you.

Sierra Madre is set against the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains just 10 miles North of downtown Los Angeles.  Pasadena and Altadena is to the South West and Arcadia is South East of Sierra Madre California.

It’s a small town, with population of a bit over 10,500 per 2000 US Census. 

As you’re driving through Sierra Madre, please slow down – Sierra Madre has no traffic lights within its city limit.  This town is also home to the only remaining volunteer fire department in the Greater Los Angeles area.

This small village in the Sierra Madre Canyon area is noted for being a distinct and unusual community. The Canyon is characterized by narrow and winding roads, lush vegetation, views of the San Gabriel Valley, and small bungalows or cabins.  The downtown has small restaurants and shops.

If you are thinking of taking a day trip to Sierra Madre consider the following:

E. Waldo Ward & Son – a small family farm that’s been canning fabulous jams and jellies since 1918.  Its tiny gift hop sits among the last remaining commercial orange groves in Los Angeles.  It is located at 273 East Highland Avenue and is closed Sundays.  Call 626-355-1218 for more info.

Mt. Wilson Trail – the winding 7.5 mile trek to historic Mount Wilson Observatory climbs from chaparral into pines, with spectacular views along the way.  Call 818-899-1900 for trail conditions before setting out on your journey.  It is located at Mira Monte Avenue and Mt. Wilson Trail Drive.

Some places to eat:

Bean Town – the gum-ball machine still costs a penny at this cozy coffee bar and bakery with yummy ice cream and live music on weekends.  Located at 45 North Baldwin Avenue – 626-355-1596.

Cafe 322 – craving Italian?  Cafe 322 is the place to go.  Try their manicotti al forno.  Located at 322 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.  626-836-5414.

Interested in learning more about Sierra Madre real estate?

Check out these homes for sale:

Posted by Irina Netchaev – Pasadena area realtor focusing on helping buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals.

A couple of weeks ago, I urged all my friends and clients to review their existing financing.  Pasadena mortgage rates have been dropping steadily and are now way below 5% if you have good credit.

30 Year Fixed Pasadena Mortgage Rate Hits Record Low. In the most recent survey period, mortgage rates plunged amid fading inflation concerns, more economic bad news and the Fed’s historic rate cut.

The Fed’s next meeting is scheduled for January 28, at which time we expect the Fed rate to stay unchanged.

Here’s a rate sheet from Wells Fargo with Pasadena mortgage rates as of December 19,2008

If you are interested in refinancing and need a referral to a mortgage rate consultant, please email me at irina@Irina4realestate.com. 

And, don’t forget, the same rates apply when you are buying your Pasadena home or Pasadena condo.  Give me a call to see if now is the right time for you to buy your home.

Irina Netchaev is a licensed California real estate broker and has a team of Pasadena realtors.  Irina can be reached at 626-627-7107 for a private consultation.

you’ve been reading this Pasadena real estate blog, you know that I keep talking about how we need to look at the local activity in the real estate market. National and California housing statistics are great, but if you’re looking to buy a Pasadena home or are a Pasadena home seller, you really need to understand what’s going with Pasadena’s housing market.

When I work with my home buyers and home sellers, we take this real estate data even further and narrow it down to the individual neighborhood. I recommend looking at real estate statistics within a 1/4 mile radius of the home that you are buying or selling.

For the purposes of this post, we’ll keep it a little more general, and look a how the city of Pasadena is weathering the housing market.

If

Looking at these Pasadena housing statistics side by side, it’s interesting to note the following:

• Median List price is 20% lower in 2008 vs. 2006
• There are properties for as low as $120,000 in 2008. The lowest priced home in January of 2006 was $459,000.
• Average price per square foot of Pasadena homes for sale dropped by 17.6%.
• The available Pasadena home inventory increased by almost 54%!
• It is taking twice as long to market a home now – almost 4.5 months.
• 44% of homes listed expire and have to be relisted by Pasadena realtors compared to only 17% in December of 2006. Main reason for re-listing Pasadena homes is incorrect and overly high pricing.
• Which leads to 2 out of 3 properties needing a price reduction – 40%.

READ More: Pasadena real estate market statistics – October 2008

State of Pasadena Housing Market by Chief Economist of California Association of Realtors

Search for Pasadena homes:

As a real estate agent working in and around South Padena California, I am constantly getting phone calls from buyers looking for great deals and information on the latest real estate prices.

If you are looking for a real estate deal, you came to the right place. I will be posting my “Dusty Deals” by area on a monthly basis right here for your review.

What is a “Dusty Deal” list? It is a list of homes for sale in Pasadena including homes, condos and townhomes that have been on the market for over 100 days. Are all of these great deals? Not necessarily. BUT, the seller has been actively marketing their homes for a very long time and is probably ready to deal.

Why are these homes on the market still? The most likely reason is that they were overpriced to begin with. The first few weeks of marketing a home for sale are the most critical weeks for any seller. If the property is overpriced, or not marketed correctly, it gets stale. Local real estate agents ignore these homes and avoid showing them to their buyers. Potential home buyers look these homes up on the internet, but wonder what is wrong with these homes since they didn’t sell.

My take on this is, if you are looking for a deal, these homes are the best place to start. Why? Home sellers are tired of showing their homes and most are ready to NEGOTIATE their price and SELL!

For a complete list of dusty deals for December – homes for sale in Arcadia, Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, La Canada Flintridge, Monrovia and Monterey Hills, please visit – Dusty Deals for December 2008.   With the inventory of homes being at a record high, you’ll need to scroll down to find the city that you’re interested in.  It’s a very long post.

If there’s a particular city that you’re interested in getting a list for, please leave a comment and I’ll make sure that I include it in future posts.

So here’s a list of homes for sale in South Pasadena California that have been on the market for over 100 days:

Dusty Deals list for November 08 – Pasadena, San Marino, Alhambra, Altadena, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre

Dusty Deals list for September 08 – Pasadena, San Marino, Alhambra, Altadena, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Monrovia

Dusty Deals List for August 08 – Pasadena, Alhambra, South Pasadena, Monterey Hills, Altadena, Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia and San Marino

As you’re going through the list, please look at the last column titled DOM (Days on the Market). This will tell you how many days these homes have been on the market.

Are you looking to buy a home in South Pasadena California? We are happy to give you all the information that might help you with your home purchase.  Please call us at  626-204-3340  or email Irina at Irina@Irina4RealEstate.com.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ALL SOUTH PASADENA HOMES FOR SALE (Single Family Residences)

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ALL SOUTH PASADENA CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES FOR SALE

This question comes up quite often these days – “What is the difference between a foreclosure property and REO (real estate owned)?

A foreclosure is a legal process in which, against the wishes of the owner, real property is sold to satisfy a public or private debt for which the real property has been pledged as security.

Real Estate Owned (REO) is real property that has been foreclosed by a lender and is now owned by the lender.

There’s a lot of confusion between a foreclosure and REOs.  When real estate buyers call me asking about foreclosures in most instances, they are really inquiring about REOs and here’s why?

• A foreclosure property goes through a foreclosure auction which is usually held on an assigned date on the steps of a local court house.
• Foreclosure property buyers need to be able to purchase the property for ALL CASH.
• Foreclosure property buyers inherit all unpaid liens, including mortgage debt, taxes, construction loans, home equity lines of credit, and possibly a second or third mortgage.

On the other hand, an REO property is:

• REO property is already owned by the bank.
• Home buyers are able to get a regular mortgage or loan on that property.  All cash is not needed.
• REO properties in most instances come with clear title.

Five things to look for when purchasing REO or already foreclosed homes:

1. Work with your Pasadena realtor and the Title Company representative to ensure that the title to the Pasadena home you’re buying is free and clear.
2. Understand that most foreclosures occur in a down-trending market.  Factor in falling home prices into your purchase offer.  Look at the current local market conditions and historical trends prior to submitting your offer to the bank.
3. Banks do NOT provide many disclosures, so be prepared for surprises.  Ensure that all home inspections are completed – don’t forget a sewer line inspection – prior to close of escrow.
4. Look for neighborhoods that are not overrun with foreclosures.  Neighborhoods with many foreclosures might offer better prices, but will take a lot longer to turn around and the home prices will continue to depreciate.
5. If you are looking to buy an already foreclosed property as an investment, be aware that lenders charge higher interest rates on 2nd homes and investment property.  Speak to a lender and get fully approved prior to making an offer.

Below is a list of REOs or already foreclosed homes in San Gabriel Valley including Pasadena and surrounding cities:

Interested in discussing if a foreclosed home is right for you?  Give me a call at 626-627-7107.

If you’re in South Pasadena and happen to be around the Gold Line station on Mission Drive, try to catch one of these special horse-drawn carriage rides.  If you’re lucky, Santa will be on hand to greet you as well!

Of course, don’t forget to stop by Heirloom Bakery to pick up a loaf of bread and their one of a kind Hostess cupcakes. They just can’t be beat. Careful… very addicting!

Have you been to Heirloom?  What’s your favorite cupcake?

We are proud to share with you that Pasadena Real Estate Blog is one of the first Pasadena websites to be able to provide home buyers with access to home listings in multiple MLS (Multiple Listing Services) throughout Southern California.

CARETS – California Real Estate Technology Services – has been recently launched and allows us to give home buyers easy access to Southern California listings in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Los Angeles Counties and surrounding communities. 

Most real estate websites are able to provide access to home listings for a very specific and limited area.  With this initiative, our real estate readers will have access to close to 100,000 homes and condos throughout Southern California.  Not only will you be able to see these homes, but you can also register for a FREE VIP membership and save home searches based on your needs and criteria.  This MLS system is so smart that it will allow you to receive emails as soon as new homes, condos or townhomes come up on the real estate market.

To make this even better, this system gives you access to real estate foreclosures, as well.

Take a look at the home search service by clicking on the home search map below.  Let me know what you think!

Posted by Irina Netchaev, Pasadena Realtors.

San Marino real estate analysis for November 2008 is below. Full real estate statistics for September through November 2008 may be found by clicking on the original post at San Marino Real Estate Market Analysis for November 2008.

Even though San Marino has not escaped the touch of foreclosures, overall, real estate market is holding very well. Inventory is relatively unchanged with approximately 30 homes available for sale each month over the last couple of months and homes are selling on average at 1.67% over asking price.

The home on Charleton had multiple offers immediately after going on the market at a premium of $625 per square foot and is now in escrow.

Three out of four homes currently in escrow are over $2 million. Every Thursday broker open house I attend is busy with both real estate agents attending and buyers stopping by.

The lowest priced home in San Marino right now is at 1615 South Los Robles Avenue – a 3 bedroom, 3 bath priced at $989,500.

The highest priced home in San Marino is still the $7.9 million Old Mill Road estate. This luxury property sits on over 82,000 sq. ft. lot and has 8 bedrooms and 7 baths.

There is also one home for sale in unincorporated San Gabriel, but with coveted San Marino school district option. That home is at 7023 La Presa Drive and is listed for sale at $785,000. With 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, it’s a nice starter home for families looking to get their kids into San Marino schools.

All available homes for sale in San Marino California can be found below. Feel free to sign up for a VIP membership which allows you to save your own San Marino home searches. This MLS (Multiple Listing Service) system also emails you automatically as a new home comes up on the real estate market within your specified criteria.

If you are interested in foreclosures in San Marino and the surrounding cities, please click on the link below. Thank you for visiting!

Foreclosure list of homes (REOs) in San Marino, Pasadena, South Pasadena and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley.