Comments for MCAR Blog & Forum http://mcarforum.com MCAR Blog & Forum Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:26:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on “Green” is the new “Black” by Annee Martin http://mcarforum.com/2008/07/green-is-the-new-black/#comment-93 Annee Martin Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:53:16 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=16#comment-93 Great Comments.........I remember 25 years ago as a Chef being involved in the Organic Movement, and the process it has undergone since then both on an educational and economical level. Today you can go into any grocery store, Costco, Trader Joes and find affordable Organic Products. When the public would complain that Organic was not affordable to most people we would reply Yes and can you afford not to be Organic. This Green Movement is no different......We are at a place that we cannot afford to "Not Think Green". This is a process and it begins with each one of us doing our part in whatever small or large way we can. There will be some of us who will have to pay the higher prices in order to keep the movement going.If we all do our part then there will be enough volume to keep the prices down because more people will be supplying these products and thus the law of supply and demand will bring the prices down. We are doing it for the next generation although I truly believe that we will reap the benefits in our own lifetime from doing the right thing. The process will included people who try and capitalize on it with no integrity except to make money.However it will also include people like you and me who will see the larger picture. Everyday we are faced with what we believe in as we make choices on building materials, go to the store to buy paper and cleaning products....We need to be willing to go thru this period and pay the higher price so we are not paying it down the road and having our quality of life threatened. I am very grateful to everyone who is giving their time and resources to educating us and carrying the vision that we are all connected, we do affect each other as can be seen in this mortgage-housing disaster.The ripple affect is serious. We need to be the change......I am excited that MCAR is looking at this and coming out with a program to educate Realtors so we can then educate our clients.....I appreciate cities like Monterey and Seaside and Sand City that are looking at how to create incentives and support these efforts......I agree with John that what appears Green is not always so and we need to ask questions about the sources of some of these materials......We need a central Resource Center that we can verify the origin of these materials. Just because a product from China is Green does not take into account the factory that made it or the fuel it cost to ship it. We are all so intertwined and I think this energy crisis is a blessing in disguise to help elevate our consciousness that we need to pull together on this one and stop thinking only of our own bottom line.......That we are one huge family occupying this planet, this Peninsula at this time and we can no longer afford to turn our backs and pretend this is not happening..... Great Comments………I remember 25 years ago as a Chef being involved in the Organic Movement, and the process it has undergone
since then both on an educational and economical level. Today
you can go into any grocery store, Costco, Trader Joes and find
affordable Organic Products.
When the public would complain that Organic was not affordable to most people we would reply Yes and can you afford not to be
Organic.
This Green Movement is no different……We are at a place that we
cannot afford to “Not Think Green”. This is a process and it begins with each one of us doing our part in whatever small or large way we can. There will be some of us who will have to pay the higher prices in order to keep the movement going.If we all do our part then there will be enough volume to keep the prices down because more people will be supplying these products and thus the law of supply and demand will bring the prices down. We are doing it for the next generation although I truly believe that we will reap the benefits in our own lifetime from doing the right thing. The process will included people who try and capitalize on it with no integrity except to make money.However it will also include people like you and me who will see the larger picture.
Everyday we are faced with what we believe in as we make choices
on building materials, go to the store to buy paper and cleaning products….We need to be willing to go thru this period and pay
the higher price so we are not paying it down the road and having
our quality of life threatened.
I am very grateful to everyone who is giving their time and resources to educating us and carrying the vision that we are
all connected, we do affect each other as can be seen in this
mortgage-housing disaster.The ripple affect is serious. We need
to be the change……I am excited that MCAR is looking at this
and coming out with a program to educate Realtors so we can then educate our clients…..I appreciate cities like Monterey and Seaside and Sand City that are looking at how to create incentives and support these efforts……I agree with John that what appears
Green is not always so and we need to ask questions about the sources of some of these materials……We need a central Resource
Center that we can verify the origin of these materials. Just because a product from China is Green does not take into account the factory that made it or the fuel it cost to ship it.
We are all so intertwined and I think this energy crisis is
a blessing in disguise to help elevate our consciousness that
we need to pull together on this one and stop thinking only of our own bottom line…….That we are one huge family occupying this planet, this Peninsula at this time and we can no longer afford
to turn our backs and pretend this is not happening…..

]]> Comment on Conforming Loan Limit Adjustment by Bob Walker http://mcarforum.com/2008/11/conforming-loan-limit-adjustment/#comment-90 Bob Walker Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:10:16 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=48#comment-90 The New Conforming loan limit of $483,000 is not a realistic level of financing for home sales on the Monterey Peninsula. The Peninsula specifically has been negatvly impacted by the slide in prices in the surrounding areas, hoever the values call for a different level of financing. The Peninsula has not been an area of pricing distress in the past. To help prevent more loss the Monterey Penisula should not be counted in the Salinas MSA. I am not sure if there is anouther MSA that has such a large disparity in the markets values and characteristics as the Monterey Peninsula to the rest of Monterey county. The New Conforming loan limit of $483,000 is not a realistic level of financing for home sales on the Monterey Peninsula. The Peninsula specifically has been negatvly impacted by the slide in prices in the surrounding areas, hoever the values call for a different level of financing. The Peninsula has not been an area of pricing distress in the past. To help prevent more loss the Monterey Penisula should not be counted in the Salinas MSA. I am not sure if there is anouther MSA that has such a large disparity in the markets values and characteristics as the Monterey Peninsula to the rest of Monterey county.

]]> Comment on Money in the Bank by galencall http://mcarforum.com/2008/10/money-in-the-bank/#comment-84 galencall Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:46:26 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=47#comment-84 Joe you are absolutely correct. Yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause; there is money to loan! Purchase money or refinance money will require however to be first approved by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Fannies DU approve/ eligible status or Freddie’s equivalent Loan Prospector approve/ accept status is what you need. This underwriting approval sets the borrower free to all sorts of Bank platforms and their programs for either FHA or non FHA conventional or jumbo financing. There is money to loan and yes qualifying has changed and on many levels changed for the better. When a borrower is held accountable it requires education to learn how to measure up to the new standards of lending. I will start with credit scoring and can tell you we have been quite successful in assisting potential borrowers improve those scores where necessary, ethically and affordable. They move on to make that purchase. Galen Call, CMPS® Mortgage Planner Treehouse Mortgage Group 451 Washington Street Monterey, CA. 93940 direct: 831.645.1164 fax: 831.643.1161 galen@treehousemortgage.com Joe you are absolutely correct. Yes Virginia there is a Santa Clause; there is money to loan!
Purchase money or refinance money will require however to be first approved by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Fannies DU approve/ eligible status or Freddie’s equivalent Loan Prospector approve/ accept status is what you need. This underwriting approval sets the borrower free to all sorts of Bank platforms and their programs for either FHA or non FHA conventional or jumbo financing. There is money to loan and yes qualifying has changed and on many levels changed for the better. When a borrower is held accountable it requires education to learn how to measure up to the new standards of lending. I will start with credit scoring and can tell you we have been quite successful in assisting potential borrowers improve those scores where necessary, ethically and affordable. They move on to make that purchase.

Galen Call, CMPS®
Mortgage Planner
Treehouse Mortgage Group
451 Washington Street
Monterey, CA. 93940
direct: 831.645.1164
fax: 831.643.1161
galen@treehousemortgage.com

]]> Comment on A Money Line by Galen Call http://mcarforum.com/2008/09/a-money-line/#comment-79 Galen Call Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:32:00 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=39#comment-79 Yes all seller-funded down payment assistance, (no more Nehemiah, Genesis, AmeriDream, etc.)was eliminated as of October 1, 2008. If that transaction was registered with Nehemiah Corporation for example, before Sept.30, that credit approval remains ineffect to closing of the loan. Yes all seller-funded down payment assistance, (no more Nehemiah, Genesis, AmeriDream, etc.)was eliminated as of October 1, 2008. If that transaction was registered with Nehemiah Corporation for example, before Sept.30, that credit approval remains ineffect to closing of the loan.

]]> Comment on “Landlords & Tenants: Communication Is the Key” by Jan Leasure, Monterey Bay Property Management http://mcarforum.com/2008/11/landlords-tenants-communication-is-the-key/#comment-78 Jan Leasure, Monterey Bay Property Management Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:59:58 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=45#comment-78 The landord-tenant relationship has often been portrayed in television, the movies, and even cartoons, as adversarial. Unfortunately, the stereotype of the landlord who ties his tenant to the railroad tracks when the tenant can't pay the rent has its roots in reality. The reason that California law has historically favored the tenant is because unscrupulous landlords have taken advantage of their tenants to the extent that the legislature had to step in. The good communication advocated in Steve's comment can go a long way toward dispelling the myth that landlords and tenants can't get along. It can also prevent lawmakers from feeling compelled to regulate how those of us in the property management business (both managers and rental property owners) operate. The landord-tenant relationship has often been portrayed in television, the movies, and even cartoons, as adversarial. Unfortunately, the stereotype of the landlord who ties his tenant to the railroad tracks when the tenant can’t pay the rent has its roots in reality. The reason that California law has historically favored the tenant is because unscrupulous landlords have taken advantage of their tenants to the extent that the legislature had to step in.

The good communication advocated in Steve’s comment can go a long way toward dispelling the myth that landlords and tenants can’t get along. It can also prevent lawmakers from feeling compelled to regulate how those of us in the property management business (both managers and rental property owners) operate.

]]> Comment on “Landlords & Tenants: Communication Is the Key” by Michael Pickett http://mcarforum.com/2008/11/landlords-tenants-communication-is-the-key/#comment-77 Michael Pickett Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:32:55 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=45#comment-77 Steve, Great post! Communication is key for a good relationship with your tenants. I agree it is the landlord's responsibility to open up the communication channel. Calling a tenant once month to make sure everything is in working order is a tactic I like to use. -Michael Pickett http://blog.buildium.com Steve,
Great post! Communication is key for a good relationship with your tenants. I agree it is the landlord’s responsibility to open up the communication channel. Calling a tenant once month to make sure everything is in working order is a tactic I like to use.

-Michael Pickett
http://blog.buildium.com

]]> Comment on A Money Line by Katie http://mcarforum.com/2008/09/a-money-line/#comment-75 Katie Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:03:02 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=39#comment-75 Has seller financed down payment actually ended? Has seller financed down payment actually ended?

]]> Comment on Housing Facts and Figures for Monterey County by Luis http://mcarforum.com/2008/10/housing-facts-and-figures-for-monterey-county/#comment-73 Luis Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:23:35 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=44#comment-73 Rents are high. Jobs in the county are good. The Monterey County economy is strong.even now. when should people buy? When they can afford it. Rents are high. Jobs in the county are good. The Monterey County economy is strong.even now.
when should people buy? When they can afford it.

]]> Comment on Was Anyone Listening??? by Luis http://mcarforum.com/2008/09/was-anyone-listening/#comment-72 Luis Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:18:19 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=43#comment-72 It is time to clean up and move on. We can not hold to the past, let's learn from it. My hope is that all the CROOKS get out of the business. Now let's watch out for waht's next. "Be the change that you want to see in the world". Ghandi. It is time to clean up and move on. We can not hold to the past, let’s learn from it. My hope is that all the CROOKS get out of the business. Now let’s watch out for waht’s next.

“Be the change that you want to see in the world”.
Ghandi.

]]> Comment on Was Anyone Listening??? by Mark Galen http://mcarforum.com/2008/09/was-anyone-listening/#comment-70 Mark Galen Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:19:44 +0000 http://mcarforum.com/?p=43#comment-70 Of course nobody was listening. Everyone was too busy making money hand over fist. Now we are all paying for the poor choices of lawmakers who gave the power to lenders to establish mortgages for those who ultimately could not afford them. Of course nobody was listening. Everyone was too busy making money hand over fist. Now we are all paying for the poor choices of lawmakers who gave the power to lenders to establish mortgages for those who ultimately could not afford them.

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