Real Estate Information

December is indeed a busy month for most folks as they shop, plan, party, and attend religious, social, and cultural events.  It begins too soon after Thanksgiving and ends with a bang as it ushers in a new year.  It is a season unto itself, one filled with excitement, symbols, customs, reflection, and a general sense of good will.  Four major celebrations occur during December, both secular and religious (or a combination of the two) and include the following:

December 20 -28.  Hanukkah (or any one of a dozen spellings). 

This  Festival of Lights is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt of the second century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by the ;lighting of the candles on a nine-branched menorah, one candle on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night, and it is customary to give children one gift (gelt) each night.  Although it is based on a military victory, it is actually considered a time to celebrate Jewish independence and religious freedom in general.  Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday in the Jewish year; in the United States, however, its closeness to Christmas has brought greater attention to Hanukkah and its gift-giving, special foods, and games.

December 25.  Christmas

The religious basis:   Christmas is a Christian holy day which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is typically celebrated on December 25^th, and the word Christmas comes from "Christ's mass." The story of the birth of Christ is told in the opening chapters of the gospels of Luke and John.  Each contains different elements of the Christmas story. The visit of the Archangel to the shepherds and the birth of Jesus in a manger are from Luke. The story the visit from the Wise Men bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh are from Matthew.

Over the years Christmas has also become a very popular social holiday with an emphasis on lighted and decorated trees and wreaths, exchange of presents, caroling, special foods, and the colors red and green.  Christmas traditions abound throughout the Western world, many of which have secular origins, some with their roots in ancient folklore and pagan beliefs. Click here to learn about a wide range of Christmas customs.

December 26-January 1. 

Kwanzaa.  Neither political nor religious, Kwanzaa is a reflective holiday which was created in the 1960’s to foster pride and unity among African-Americans.  Kwanzaa is a week -long celebration honoring universal African-American heritage, family life, and culture. It features activities such as lighting a candle holder with seven candles—each representing an important principle of life--and culminates in a feast and gift giving.  Visit Wikipedia for much more information about this holiday

December 31.  New Year’s Eve. 

New Year's Eve is a social holiday observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies New Year's Eve is often celebrated at festive gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to say goodbye to the current year and celebrate the incoming one. The observance of New Year's Eve generally extends through midnight of January 1.  It is a holiday celebrated throughout the world and has many different names.  The dropping of the ball in Times Square and the singing of Auld Lang Syne are symbolic of this holiday in the U.S.           

Here are outstanding power point presentations dealing with each of these holidays. Although the site is designed primarily for children, the extensive array of topics and interesting information provides excellent reading for adults, too.

Happy Holidays!!

In the month of December, many owners of a Los Angeles home turn their attention to the holidays, to lights and wreaths and cheerful displays that chase away the darkness of the shorter, colder days. This month’s days—and nights—are usually filled with shopping, decorating, and entertaining, and the overly-busy homeowner is tempted to postpone routine maintenance tasks and overlook those specific to the month.  Use this friendly reminder of “must do’s” to jog your memory, clear your conscience, or just escape the chaos of the season.

OUTSIDE:

• Clean the gutters.  Click here for tips on doing this quickly and safely.
• Clean and oil garden tools.
• Mulch around shrubs and trees.
• Start a compost pile with raked leaves.
• Download this printable to-do list for gardeners which covers the care of shrubs and trees, lawns, perennials and bulbs, clean-up, and maintenance.
• View this YouTube video to assist you in trimming your Los Angeles home with lights and check out this website to learn how to wrap trees and bushes.  (Check all lights for defects before using them.)

INSIDE:

• Change the HVAC filter.
• Check all smoke detectors.
• Clean your oven.
• Make certain your fireplace is clean and in good working order.
• Click here for tips about safely putting lights on the tree in your Los Angeles home.
• Buy and put up the tree.
• Check lists for menus, gifts, etc.
• Decorate the house.
• Look under sink cabinets to check for moisture and/or leaks.
• Having guests? Clean out the guest room (or space). Dust, vacuum, change linens. Prepare a care package of whatever you think your guest might enjoy. Spend the night in your guest room to make sure it´s comfortable.
• Evaluate the amount of moisture in your home. Low moisture content in the air can cause excessive static electricity, dry coughs, and problems with your sinuses in the coldest parts of the winter. Consider purchasing a humidifier—cost ranges between $30 and $150.  (Old home remedy trick: hang a sheet or towel in the shower area and keep it wet and the shower curtain open. Moisture then evaporates and gets into the air. Swap out the sheet or towel at least every week. This trick may make the coldest, driest months more comfortable.)
• Check your roof for broken or missing shingles.

Although this list is long, the tasks are actually rather short and just may allow you time to rest, relax, and enjoy the month’s activities.

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Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com. 

Now that you have interviewed potential contractors to work on your Los Angeles home, verified their license and insurance, compared their written bids, and selected the one you want to hire, it is time for the signing of a contract.  If you wish to use your one of own making, you may consult an attorney or create one online at Do It Yourself Legal, RocketLawyer, or LegalForms.  Many contractors insist on using their own form, and if you agree to do so, read the fine print very carefully as to the who, what, where, when, and cost of the project.

Whichever contract form you decide on, it should be written in clear, concise language and should contain:

• The contractor’s name, address, phone, and license number
• The payment schedule for the contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• An estimated start and completion date.
• The contractor’s obligation to obtain all necessary permits.
• How change orders will be handled. A change order — common on most remodeling jobs — is a written authorization to the contractor to make a change or addition to the work described in the original contract. It could affect the project’s cost and schedule. Remodelers often require payment for change orders before work begins.
• A detailed list of all materials including color, model, size, brand name, and product.
• Warranties covering materials and workmanship of the job on your Los Angeles home.  The names and addresses of the parties honoring the warranties — contractor, distributor or manufacturer — must be identified. The length of the warranty period and any limitations also should be spelled out.
• What the contractor will and will not do. For example, is site clean-up and trash hauling included in the price? Ask for a "broom clause." It makes the contractor responsible for all clean-up work, including spills and stains.
• Oral promises also should be added to the written contract.

A written statement of your right to cancel the contract within three business days if you signed it in your home or at a location other than the seller’s permanent place of business. During the sales transaction, the contractor must give you two copies of a cancellation form (one to keep and one to send back to the company) and a copy of your contract or receipt. The contract or receipt must be dated, show the name and address of the seller, and explain your right to cancel.

As the work on your Los Angeles home proceeds, be sure to personally check on its quality and progress and keep all paperwork, a written log of all payments, phone calls and oral conversations, and a timeline of activities.  Taking photos showing the progression of the job is also a good idea.  These records will be useful in the case of a dispute.

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Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com.

Traditionally, both sellers of Los Angeles real estate and those looking to purchase a home have avoided doing so during the winter months, especial in December.  Because the last month of the year is a time of many religious, social, and cultural celebrations, most people feel they are too busy to deal with real estate matters and/or are convinced that the market is pretty much dormant until at least early spring.  Not so, say many Realtors!  Not only do many folks have vacation time in December and are thus free to house shop, but the slower months are often the ones where buyers are really serious and prices have been reduced. 

According to Lendingtree there are five strong reasons to buy Los Angeles real estate during this season:

• Lower prices. Because many people are too busy to house hunt now, the slackening of demand is reflected in softer house prices.
• Less competition. With fewer active house-hunters out there, you are unlikely to end up in a bidding war, and sellers will be willing to negotiate.
• Favorable mortgage terms. Because there is less demand for mortgage money during the holiday season, lenders may be willing to shave a few basis points off the interest rate or to forgo some of their fees in order to get your business.
• Tax deduction. If you close on or before December 31, you are likely to be eligible to deduct the interest component of your first monthly mortgage payment and any money you paid for points from your taxable income for this year.

If you’re a seller, check out Realtor.om for a long list of reasons that support their belief that December is a good time to sell your Los Angeles real estate.  Some of their arguments include:

• Less competition.  People who look at your home over the holidays are serious buyers who have fewer homes from which to choose.
• Business moves.  January is traditionally a month where employers have to move so they can’t wait until spring.  They have to buy now-- you’re there to capture that market.
• Advantage for you.  By selling now, you have the opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer for next year when houses are less and you’ll have more opportunities and properties to choose from.
• Timing.  Many potential buyers want to settle before the end of the year for tax reasons.

Search all Los Angeles homes for sale.

Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com.

As more and more homeowners opt for improving  their homes rather than trying to sell it as it is in today’s soft market, there has been an increase in reported scams, incomplete or shoddy work, and payment conflicts.  In fact, according to the Better Business Bureau, the home improvement industry ranks among the top five sources of complaints each year, thus necessitating due diligence on your part in researching, verifying, interviewing, hiring, and working with contractors for your Los Angeles home.

FINDING A CONTRACTOR: 

To locate a reputable contractor who will deliver quality work on time and within budget, first ask friends, family members, neighbors, and real estate brokers for recommendations.  Other sources include www.angielist.com, a site which features reviews of improvement contractors written by actual clients, and www.freecontractormatch.com which will direct you to contractors by type and location.

VERIFYING CREDITIALS: 

Once you have the names of three or four potential contractors, check with your local Better Business Bureau to check on complaints against the firm.  You also need to confirm that the contractor is registered with the state and licensed and that he carries the required insurance.  License information may be obtained from the Department of Labor and Industry online or by calling 651-284-5065.  Any contractor working in your Los Angeles ­­­­­­home should have personal liability, worker’s compensation, and property damage coverage.  You might also contact the Contractors State Licensing Board to check out credentials.  This site also provides a checklist and suggestions for prescreening contractors to help you decide if a particular contractor is right for you.

INTERVIEWING PROSPECTS: 

Questions which you should ask include the following:

• How long have you been in business?
• What permit is required—and will you obtain it?
• Will you be using subcontractors?
• Will you (and your subcontractors) sign a lien waiver?
• Do you offer a warranty on your workmanship and materials?
• Will you give me references?  (Names, phone numbers, and even photos, if available.)
• What are you working on now?  May I visit that site?
• How have you handled customer complaints?

TALKING MONEY: 

In addition to requesting a bid for all expenses involved in the work on your Los Angeles home, you will also want to determine in advance the required down payment.  Some municipalities have a limit on the amount which can be charged; contact your local consumer affairs agency for this information.  In any event, you should not put more than 25% down, and you should never pay in cash! You should also insist on a reasonable payment plan and try to make those payments contingent on the completion of a certain amount of work.

Coming in PART II—drawing up a contract and dealing with problems.

Search all Los Angeles homes for sale.

Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com.

Just as there are innumerable Internet articles dealing with the positive aspects of buying a Los Angeles home at auction, there are also many which warn potential buyers of the possible drawbacks and pitfalls such as inability to inspect the property prior to purchase, large—and unexpected— repair expenses, complicated evictions, and retaliation by occupants.  If, after reading such material, you decide that you still want to pursue buying a foreclosed house at auction, here are some steps you should take to protect yourself and your investment.

1. Do your homework!  According to Rob Friedman, chairman of Real Estate Distribution Corp., the potential auction bidder has to “set out to quantify risk, inspect the property well, and then quantify the necessary repairs and run price comparisons…in the neighborhood so you’ll know the values.”
2. Locate possible properties.  There are many on-line sites which are either free or charge a small fee to give you access to lists of foreclosed Los Angeles homes for sale.  You can also contact your city of county government offices or consult the real estate section of your local newspaper.  Experts advise you to find as many as ten properties to check out rather than concentrate on just one.
3. Research the market.  You will need to ascertain how much is owed on the house and if there are any liens on it.  (Public records have this type of information available.)  The priority of a lien is usually determined by its date, so the first mortgage will have priority, and all other liens will be considered junior liens, which, with the exception of tax liens, will most likely be cleared at auction.  Look at neighborhood comps (including auction-bought and short sale Los Angeles homes) for the past three months to come up with a realistic market value for the property.  Check, too, the area’s rate of appreciation and the added value of repairs and improvement. 
4. Prepare for the auction.  The first order of business is to determine your bid amount based on the above information and your financial capability.  Generally speaking state, a reasonable purchase amount is at least 20% below full market value.  Check in advance for requirements regarding method of payment, as some states require cash or certified checks for the full amount while others need only a 10% down payment.  Attend an auction as an observer only to familiarize yourself with practices and procedures.  Call beforehand to verify the date, location, and time.  And, arrange for a veteran contractor to accompany you to access the condition of the house and estimate the cost of necessary repairs.
5. Attend the auction.  Arrive early with a set limit in place.  Don’t let other participants dictate how much you bid—and don’t get caught up in the excitement of a bidding war!  Some veterans advise that you wait until the bids begin to die down before making yours.  If you’re interested in more than one Los Angeles home, Friedman suggests bringing detailed information and photos of each one to avoid confusion.
6. Take ownership.  Collect all documents which verify that you are the winning bidder.  Clarify with the auctioneer and a real estate attorney what further steps you need to take and when your ownership becomes official.  Do not begin to make repairs until you are sure you are the registered owner!  If the property has occupants, find out who is responsible for evicting them.

Search all Los Angeles homes for sale.

Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com.

In an attempt to stave off many future foreclosures, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced a new financial bill, the Emergency Home Loan Program (EHLP), to assist homeowners in 32 states and Puerto Rico.  An augmentation of the Hardest Hit Fund (click here--hardest hit) established in 2010, the EHLP program is designed for owners who have experienced a reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, economic conditions, or a serious medical situation.  Go to HUD.gov for a list of participating states.

EHLP provides emergency mortgage payment relief to eligible owners of Los Angeles real estate who have suffered a drop of at least 15% in income.  Such funds are limited to those having a total income of $75,000 or less or 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for a four person household.  Applicants for the program must be at least three months delinquent in mortgage payments and have received notification of their lender’s intent to foreclose on their property.

Potential recipients of EHLP assistance must also have a reasonable likelihood of being able to resume making their payments within 2 years and meet other debt obligations when their income rises above 85% of the previous level.  Additionally, recipients must reside in their Los Angeles real estate as their primary residence at the time of application and for the duration of the loan.  HUD predicts that it can aid up to 30,000 distressed homeowners by providing interest-free loans averaging $35,000 (limit is $50,000).

On another front, the Obama Administration recently announced a second plan to assist unemployed owners of Los Angeles real estate.  This policy affects the FHA’s Special Forbearance Program by requiring lenders/servicers of the Making Homes Affordable Program (click here for specifics of  MHA) to extend the current forbearance period of 3 or 4 months to 12 months whenever possible.  The program will also reduce upfront obstacles in order to make the qualifying process easier for applicants.  The intent of this plan is to allow more time for distressed homeowners to find employment.  As HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan explains, “Today, 60% of the unemployed have been out of work for more than 3 months and 45% have been out of work for more than 6.  Providing the option for a year of forbearance will give struggling homeowners a substantially greater chance of finding employment before they lose their home.”

We can only hope!

Search all Los Angeles homes for sale.

Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com.

The present state of the real estate market may well be a boon for would-be buyers, but it is a certainly a difficult one for sellers. No longer can the latter count on making a great deal of money (or even any money, for that matter), but the large number of Los Angeles homes for sale means that sellers are competing to find a buyer. For those of you who are first-time sellers and have never been through the home-selling process, the following suggestions are designed to help you face reality, make your property appealing to a buyer, and ultimately sell your home.

PRICE IT RIGHT FROM THE START:

Since the greatest number of showings will occur in the first two to three weeks of the listing, it is important that you set the price (based on comparables and advice of your Realtor) competitively at the outset. Lowering the price after the initial listing only wastes time and costs you potential buyers.

BE PREPARED TO LOSE SOME MONEY: 

Understand that this is a market based on supply and demand and that you just may not be able to sell for the appraised value of your Los Angeles home or even what you paid for the property a few years ago. The market value of your home today is what a buyer is willing to pay, so unless you want to hold on to your home until the market improves, be prepared for the possibility that you may be the one bringing money to table.

ACTIVELY PROMOTE YOUR HOME: 

Ask potential Realtors you interview how they plan you market your home--and to whom? If it is a starter-home that will appeal to the younger set, then take advantage of technology such as smart phones, attractive photos on the internet, and sites that contain information that potential buyers can access electronically. And don’t forget the old-fashioned word-of-mouth approach. Spread the word among friends, family, coworkers, etc., and ask them to do the same.

OFFER INCENTIVES: 

Today’s sellers are turning more and more to finding ways to create interest in their property and motivate hesitant buyers. Since builders of new homes offer such incentives, it is becoming commonplace for sellers to do the same. Examples of incentives include:

• Paying points will reduce the buyer’s upfront cost and appeals to the cash-conscious.
• Buying down the interest rate: Offering to pay discount points to lower the buyer’s I interest rate will make your home more affordable, and thus more appealing.
• Paying for some or all closing costs: By doing this you are once again decreasing the amount of upfront cash needed by a buyer. You can determine the mount you will contribute or the items you will cover.
• Providing a home warranty: If you are competing with newer properties, a home warranty will give the buyer some insurance against costly repairs during the first year or two. Such an offering is a relatively inexpensive but is appealing to a concerned consumer.

Note: If you do offer incentives of any kind, make sure that they are included in your real estate listing.

MAKE YOUR HOME MOVE-IN READY: 

Generally speaking, today’s buyers of a Los Angeles home are not looking for a fixer-upper or even for a property that requires any work at all. Their busy schedules motivate them to purchase a house that needs no effort or expense on their part. That isn’t to say that you have you have to make major upgrades, but you do need to make any necessary repairs, complete any projects you may have started, and consider brightening the interior up with fresh pain and new flooring.

Search all Los Angeles homes for sale.

Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com.

Given the lengthy and heated debate going on about the country’s debt, this may well be a good time to think about your personal debt philosophy and/or situation.   While it’s almost impossible to live debt-free, it is important that we analyze and manage our loans; we all have seen in recent years the economic repercussions of taking on too much debt, both nationally and individually.  Experts say that ideally your total monthly long-term debt payments should not exceed 36% of your gross monthly income, but the real challenge is to judge which debt makes sense and which does not.  Economic advisors suggest that you first recognize that some of your obligations are considered good debts, whereas some might fall into the category of bad debts. 

Good debts are those which can be looked at as investments and those which will contribute to your overall financial health.  The best example of good debt has been for many years the purchase of a Los Angeles home and is still considered as such by many.  Another good debt would include a student loan to finance higher education.   Financing a car is also perceived as good debt provided that you make as large a down payment as you can reasonably afford and that you intend to keep the vehicle as long as you are paying for it. Generally speaking, good debt includes the purchase of items which you could not afford without wiping out your cash reserves or liquidating your investments.

On the other hand, bad debt occurs when you borrow to purchase a consumable item without fully comprehending the influence of that purchase on your financial well-being.  Excessive credit card use is an excellent example of bad debt, especially given the high interest rates charged.  One obvious flaw in the credit card system is that it encourages users to purchase things they can’t really afford, a posh vacation or the addition of a pool for their Los Angeles home  e.g., without having to pay for them at the time.  It goes without saying that payday loans and paying pawn shop interest are very poor—and costly—practices which should be avoided entirely.

How to manage your debt?  You can begin by figuring out your credit utilization or your debt-to-credit ratio, which tells you how much you have borrowed of the total amount available to you.  The lower the percentage, the better for your credit rating.  Creating a plan to pay off your bad debts, especially those with high interest rates, is another important step in achieving financial stability.  Many financial counselors urge borrowers to pay off credit cards and car loans before considering taking on student debt or a mortgage for a Los Angeles home.  Another strong caveat is not to pay off one loan with another, such as using a home equity loan to repay bad debt.  The best practice is to use cash to pay off debt.  One way to increase your available cash is to analyze your spending pattern and carefully monitor unnecessary expenses.  Other suggestions for managing debt include taking steps to lower household bills, refinancing a mortgage for a lower interest rate, and requesting a reduced rate of interest from credit card companies.

Search all Los Angeles homes for sale.

Eileen Walsh has a reputation for tough, yet fair, negotiation, and for facilitating real estate transactions to a successful close. She has earned the loyalty of repeat clients who rely on her for all of their real estate needs. Eileen's goals are to ensure Los Angeles real estate sellers that they receive top net dollar for their properties in the shortest amount of time and to help Los Angeles homebuyers find the property which best meets their objectives at the fairest price. 

Empowered with the appropriate people skills, market knowledge, deal-making track record and dedication to her clients, Eileen has shown that she is THE INTELLIGENT CHOICE to represent you in your next Los Angeles real estate transaction.

For more information about buying or selling your Los Angeles home, please call Eileen direct at 310-738-3807 or via email at eileenwalsh.realestate@gmail.com.