Nag, Nag, Nag!

Attention All First Time Home Buyers!

I hate to nag, but unless the government extends the time limits on the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, it will expire on December 1, 2009. That gives you only 42 days from today to collect $8,000.00 for free, courtesy of Uncle Sam, either as a tax credit or a tax rebate. In certain cases, you can also apply the anticipated tax credit  toward your home purchase immediately, rather than waiting to file your 2009 taxes. The only strings attached are that your earnings are less than $75,000.00 per year and that you live in your new home for the next 3 years. If you make more than $75,000.00 per year, up to $95,000.00 per year, you can still claim a portion of the tax credit, based on a formula provided by the  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. For much more information on the Home Buyer Tax Credit, click here: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/home.html.

Now I need to stress to you that there are only 42 days from now to find a home and close escrow before December 1, 2009. This is cutting it close, as, due to changing banking regulations, appraisal times for loans are longer, the increase in home sales means that home inspections take longer to schedule, and there are always those little things that can and go wrong during a normal escrow that gobble up days. Not to mention that there will most likely be a glut of last minute escrows during this time that will also slow the process down due to a lack of manpower.

So please, stop waiting! Meet with your Real Estate Agent and your Banker immediately, and start your search for a home right now. Receiving a free $8000.00 from the government will only happen once in your life! Don’t be afraid, take action!

Creating the Perfect Home Office

Here is an interesting and informative article that I copied from a newsletter that was sent to me by Dana Dukelow of Prospect Mortgage. I believe that the article came originally from the Mortgage Market Guide View.

Creating the Perfect Home Office

These days, more and more people are working all or part of the time from home, making a home office a necessity. Here are some tips for creating the perfect home office.

Layout - There is no bigger mistake you can make than purchasing office furniture or equipment without knowing exactly where you’ll be placing it in the room. Before you buy any new furniture, make sure you measure and plot where each piece will go, and don’t forget to account for electrical and cable outlets.

Furniture – A desk that’s roughly 60-inches wide, 30-inches deep, and 29-inches high is not only conducive to work, but it’s highly functional in terms of storing the items you use regularly. Your chair should be comfortable, but its primary function should be to promote healthy posture. Good posture will facilitate strong mental focus and will help to alleviate back and neck pain.

Lighting – Don’t underestimate the importance of quality lighting. If you’re lucky enough to have a window in your office, this should serve as your primary light source during the day. Natural light is easy on the eyes and promotes physical energy as well as a good mood. It’s also free. Large lights like floor lamps and ceiling lights should have the ability to be dimmed. Also, make sure your desk lamp is equipped with a light bulb that’s easy on the eyes. These “soft” light bulbs can be found anywhere, from office supply stores to grocery stores.

Storage – Identifying the type of items you need to store, as well as the quantity, will help you to determine an appropriate course of action. Here are a few helpful hints.

• Closets are great for storage. Not only can they house filing cabinets, but they are also perfect for storing the items you don’t need to access on a regular basis. This helps to maximize the actual workspace of your office.

• Shelving is one of the most versatile options for storage. Shelves can be purchased cheaply and come in a variety of sizes. They are easily installed and take up zero floor space.

• Don’t forget about your garage. When it comes to older files or anything that is rarely accessed, a garage can provide ample storage space. Word to the wise, however, the garage can be a dirty place. Plan accordingly by storing paper items in boxes and wrapping equipment in protective plastic.

• Visit a store that’s dedicated to home organization. Nowadays it seems like nearly every mall has a store of this kind. You’d be surprised at some of the inexpensive, space-saving storage options available. Wall Organizers – Dry erase boards, chalkboards, corkboards, and magnetic boards are fantastic tools for keeping clutter off your desk. They are inexpensive and available everywhere in a variety of sizes. There are even combination boards that provide countless options.

Cords – Never underestimate the importance of power strips as they provide the ability to plug multiple devices into one outlet. The better power strips also provide surge protection to the equipment that’s plugged into them. In addition, cord covers are a great way to not only hide cords but to keep them from becoming a tangled mess. They can be purchased quite cheaply at any electronics store.

Décor – Last but not least, once you’ve got all the necessities in, don’t overlook decor. Certificates, diplomas, awards, trophies, and pictures not only complement an office, but they also help to personalize it. Follow these simple steps, and more organization, function, and focus could be right around the corner.

Tick Tock…Time is running out for Free $$$

Probably the biggest giveaway that this administration has come up with yet is going to expire on November 30, 2009! I am talking about the $8,000.00 new home buyer’s tax credit. This is an actual credit against your taxes, and can even be a refund direct to you if you have a tax liability less than $8,000.00 this year!

It is true that you have to make $75,000.00 or less as a single person to qualify for the full amount, and that amount of income would not be enough to qualify you to buy a $400,000.00 condo in West Hollywood, but if you really want to get in on this sweet deal, maybe you should consider purchasing a condo in Canyon Country or elsewhere in the Valley for around $200,000, which you can afford, and living in it for the next three years (which you must do in order to not have to pay the money back). Remember, you must have closed escrow by December 1, 2009 to qualify for the tax credit, and it can take 2 months or more from your first offer on a property to closing the deal. This means that time is running out. If you want to be included in this generous giveaway, you have to start looking for a home right now.

If you have questions about how much money you will have to make to qualify for a loan of a certain amount,  you can go to my website, http://www.robertjonezetcie.com and click on “mortgage calculators” to get an idea of how much of a loan your income will qualify you for and what kind of down payment, closing costs, and payments to expect,  or  contact your accountant or loan officer for specific amounts.

You can get more information on the Federal Housing Tax Credit by clicking on this link: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/home.html.

So if you are in the market to buy your first home, I strongly urge you to jump at this opportunity. I am sure that it will only knock once in our lifetimes.

Summer Backyard Recipes

With the price of gas soaring, many of us are staying home this summer instead of taking road trips or long vacations. Here are three recipes to make that summer pool party or backyard gathering a little more delicious.

Fabulous Fried Chicken

I stole this recipe from a good friend of mine named William who wheedled it out of a 70-plus year-old African American lady named Katherine, who used to chef for many Old Hollywood notables. She brought the recipe when she left the South over 50 years ago, and had been guarding it jealously ever since. I don’t know how he did it, but after several years of wheedling, William finally got the prize.

Makes 30 pieces of chicken, enough for 9 hungry guests. Eat up, y’all!

3 large whole fryers

½ gallon 2% buttermilk

About 6 cups flour

About 3 tsp salt

About 6 tbsp poultry seasoning

About 6 tbsp Lawry’s Seasoned Salt

About 3 tsp ground white pepper (use black if you want)

About 1½ tsp nutmeg (yes, nutmeg)

About 1½ tsp cayenne pepper

Fresh ground black pepper

More Lawry’s Seasoned Salt

About 1 pint Canola oil

Rinse and pat the chickens dry. Section the fryers into drumsticks, thighs, wings and breasts. Cut the breasts in half. Each fryer should give you ten pieces. Reserve the backs and giblets for other uses.

Place the pieces in a deep pot, and cover entirely with the buttermilk. Cover the pot and place it in the refrigerator for 48 hours. (Yes, two days and nights.)

Combine the flour and seasonings, adding the cayenne last, a little at a time. Taste the mixture with a wet finger. It should have strong flavor, with a slight bite from the cayenne, but should not be hot. Correct if necessary.

Pour ½ inch Canola oil in two large skillets, (preferably cast-iron) and heat to about 300 degrees F.

Remove 8 pieces of chicken from the buttermilk and immediately dredge in the seasoned flour mixture. Let them sit a minute or two until the flour gets gummy. Test the oil temperature with a small piece of batter. It should sizzle and bubble.

Place no more than 4 pieces of chicken in each skillet; fry about 10 minutes per side, moving the chicken around occasionally between turnings. Remember; do not put too many pieces in a skillet as the chicken will become soggy. Remove to a rack when done.

Before coating the next batch of chicken, shake the flour mixture through a sieve to remove any lumps.

Repeat this process until all the chicken has been cooked.

Serve with The Best Potato Salad and Pink Turtle Cocktails.

The Best Potato Salad

Makes about 6#, or 24 healthy servings.

5# medium WhiteRose potatoes

8 large stalks celery (2 ½ cups chopped)

1 medium Spanish onion (2 cups chopped)

12 large baby kosher dill pickles (3/4 cup chopped)

2 cans (each 6 oz total drained weight) large pitted black olives

6 large eggs

2 medium Fuji apples, (Any firm, crisp, sweet apple will do. Should yield 2 cups chopped.)

1 ¼ cup mayonnaise

4 tsp cheap yellow mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Cover the unpeeled potatoes with salted water and bring to boil. Reduce the heat and cook at a gentle boil about 30-45 minutes, or until a fork slides easily in and out when piercing the largest one. Drain and cool thoroughly in the sink under running cold water.

Place the eggs in water to cover and bring to boil, reduce heat and cook without boiling ten minutes, or until the yolk is bright yellow and firm. Drain and cool thoroughly in the sink under running cold water.

While the potatoes and eggs are cooking, chop the celery, onion, pickles, and olives into roughly ¼ X ¼ X ¼ inch pieces.

When the potatoes are chilled and firm, peel with a butter knife and cut into ½ X ½ X ½ inch pieces. Add celery, onion, pickles, and olives.

Peel the eggs when cool and chop roughly the same size as the olives. Add to the other ingredients. Mix everything, season with salt and pepper.

Add the mustard a teaspoon at a time to the mayonnaise in a separate bowl until the mixture is tangy but does not taste too much like mustard. Pour the dressing into the salad a little at a time and mix thoroughly until the salad is moist but not sloppy.

Cut the unpeeled apples away from their cores and chop into ¼ X ¼ X ¼ inch pieces. Mix into salad.

Rest the salad in the refrigerator, covered, for 24 hours.

Note: Because of the apples, this salad will not usually keep longer than three days, five at the most, without souring. However, you will not have a problem with this, as the salad is so good that it will vanish immediately.

Pink Turtle Cocktail

This is a recipe for alcoholic pink lemonade. It tastes delicious with fried chicken and potato salad, served outdoors by the pool from an iced pitcher to a group of friends on a hot day.

Pink Lemonade:

Juice 12 fresh lemons

Add sugar and water to taste

Add Grenadine syrup for the pink color

OR: open a couple of cans of commercial pink lemonade (varieties like raspberry/lemon are also delicious), and follow directions to mix, using slightly less water than the recipe calls for.

In a glass pitcher, combine 1 ½ ounces of good vodka with each 4 ounces of pink lemonade until the pitcher is ¾ full. Add ice and thin lemon slices for garnish and color. If you have strawberries, raspberries, or other fresh and colorful fruits and berries in the refrigerator, add some to the pitcher also, if you feel creative.

Pass around the pitcher to fill tulip glasses garnished with lemon slices.

Enjoy!

On My Own!

In an attempt to provide the best and most knowledgeable service possible to my clients, in the past few months I have studied for, and passed the Real Estate Broker’s Examination. This resulted in me starting my own Real Estate company, Robert Jonez Real Estate, also known as Robert Jonez et Cie. I am, as always, dedicated to providing the very best and most comprehensive service possible to my clients, and in this transition, I sincerely hope that no one is adversely affected.

Please feel free to check out my website, http://www.robertjonezetcie.com, to see how I can better serve you, or e-mail me at robert@lacarealestate.biz if you have any questions or observations. You can also call me at 323-387-0001 if you so desire.

I greatly appreciate your constant support in the past, and feel confident that I will continue to earn it in the future.

Best to you as always,

Robert Jonez

Making the Best Offer – REO Purchases

In the very different Real Estate climate of today, first-time buyers are becoming baffled, confused, frustrated, and angry with the process of buying a REO or bank-owned foreclosure property.

In the past, your Real Estate Agent would tender an offer for you, based on the listed price of the property, and then you would wait for the Listing Agent to come back to you with a counter offer, and the process would proceed until you you reached an agreement with the seller, the offer would be accepted, and you would proceed to escrow.

That is not happening now, especially if you wish to purchase a REO or bank-owned property. Now, because there are so many foreclosed properties on the market, many banks are not writing counter offers, but are requesting that all potential buyers submit Best and Final offers on the property, and then the bank chooses the best one. This process is difficult for the buyer to understand. Many consider it unfair, because it becomes much like shooting fish in a barrel, there is no counter offer to give a foundation for a higher offer; the buyer just has to guess what kinds of offers will be coming in from other potential buyers and go from there. But that is how it is right now, so we must adjust our tactics.

This is where the Real Estate agent has to get busy and do their homework. If they haven’t already, they should run careful and thorough comparisons on several houses in the immediate area to see what price should truly be offered on the property. In this market, many savvy Listing Agents offer REO properties at discount prices in order to generate multiple offers, expecting that knowledgeable Realtors will offer considerably more than the listed price, if the property warrants it. One of my clients just offered $75,000.00 above list price for a house, and still did not get it! And then you must consider the strength of your offer. All cash usually comes in first, with large down payments of 20% and more plus solid financing second, and FHA and VA loans last, because of the small down payment and more stringent financing rules. Banks also like shorter contingency periods and shorter escrows. Knowing this, you can adjust your offer further to make it more attractive to them.

Above all, be patient. And remember, you are buying an already discounted property, so don’t insist on lowballing the price.  Eventually you will find an REO property that you can make a realistic offer on, and the bank will accept that offer. Even if you have an FHA or VA loan with a small down payment, there just are not that many all cash buyers in the market, as well as those with large down payments. You are in the majority, and will eventually win.

Another $$$ Pride $$$ Goes By

West Hollywood is recovering from yet another Pride celebration.

This one seemed to be lower key than usual, and far more commercial. You could not turn around without someone  haranguing you for donations for some cause or trying to sell you some product or service on the streets, street corners, in the festival, in fact, just about everywhere.

Many people that I have talked to have become weary of such blatant commercialism, and are planning trips to the  Chicago, New York and San Francisco Prides in an effort to rediscover pride festivals that are not so closely tied to dollar signs. Wouldn’t that be a blessed relief?

What has gone wrong with Christopher Street West that they have lost sight of gay pride in favor of gay dollars?

Newest WEHO Restaurants and Clubs

In the past several months, four new restaurants and one refurbished nightclub have opened/re-opened on Santa Monica Boulevard. I visited them all, dined in two of them, and here are my opinions.

Tender Greens – 8759 Santa Monica Blvd. This establishment specializes in salads. Not just salads, but gastronomic creations.  I have not dined there yet, but everyone I talked with is extremely enthusiastic about the menu, decor, and service.

Caffe’ Primo has finally opened its new location in the shopping center that fronts the Ramada. I have not eaten at this location yet, but the sleek decor, fine menu, and attentive staff will draw me in soon.

Baby Blues – 7953 Santa Monica Blvd.,  is undoubtedly going to make the location a success, finally! The joint serves very tasty pulled pork, brisket, ribs, catfish, shrimp, and chicken, to name a few items from their big menu. Some people have a problem with the BBQ sauces, as they are a North Carolina recipe that is vinegar based, rather than sweet tomato based.  I liked them fine, but must admit that I still craved the thick, sweet tomato based sauce that I am used to. I took  most of my meal to go, and sauced it up at home. The side dishes are quite good, especially the greens. The full bar is a great addition also, especially when you are waiting for a table, which you will probably do unless you go early. Service is cheerful and rapid.  Portions are large, prices are medium expensive, (about $25.00/person not incl. beverages)

Mexico Restaurant – 8512 Santa Monica Blvd. This establishment, (formerly the old Benvenuto Cafe) is a paradox to me. A normal-sized Margarita cost me $15.00. Not Patron, mind you, but Cuervo Silver, I believe. It was a good drink, but I fastened my seat belt  in anticipation of the rest of the evening. For our main courses, while squinting  at the menu in the darkness,  I ordered the Chiles Rellenos, and my friend ordered Chicken Mole’. We munched through 2 baskets of chips and all of the three flavors of excellent salsa on the table before our food arrived. I have never experienced Nouvelle Mexican Cuisine before, but there it reposed in front of me, two rellenos the size of my thumb, scattered with salsa and goat cheese. No beans, no rice, no nada. My friend’s 1/2 chicken must have been raised in a prison camp, it was so tiny. Both my mini rellenos and the teeny chicken mole were extremely tasty, but I had become convinced that this was going to be a MacDonalds evening, where I go to the drive-through afterwards to get full. To drown our appetites, my friend and I ordered more Margaritas; I ordered a peach one this time for, I believe, $13.00  which, maybe because it was blended,  came in a much smaller glass than the original Margarita that I had ordered previously. Over all, for $60.00 apiece, we got slightly tipsy and ate delicious appetizers. I don’t think that West Hollywood will stand for this kind of restaurant, but I might be wrong…

Micky’s – After about 18 months and tons of speculation, the New and Improved Micky’s has finally opened its doors. And the club is beautiful, with lights embedded in the bar-tops, a great new patio with its own little bar,  and a fabulous lounge upstairs. The gorgeous stable of dancers is cool too. However, I am a little put off with the nightly cover charges, and the exorbitant drink prices, so I will do what everyone else does, spend my drinking money elsewhere, and go there to dance, if I get around to it.

Try these places out! Let me know your reactions!