Monthly Archives: January 2012

Real Estate

Real Estate Investor Busted – Sacramento, California

English: The Seal of the United States Federal...

SACRAMENTO, CA—A real estate investor pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Sacramento to conspiring to rig bids and commit mail fraud at public real estate foreclosure auctions held in San Joaquin County, Calif ., Sharis A Pozen, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, and Benjamin B Wagner, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California, announced.

Kenneth A Swanger pleaded guilty to conspiring with a group of real estate speculators who agreed not to bid against each other at certain public real estate foreclosure auctions in San Joaquin County. The primary purpose of the conspiracy was to suppress and restrain competition and to obtain selected real estate offered at San Joaquin County public foreclosure auctions at noncompetitive prices, the department said in court papers.

According to the court documents, after the conspirators’ designated bidder bought a property at a public auction, they would hold a second, private auction, at which each participating conspirator would bid the amount above the public auction price he or she was willing to pay. The conspirator who bid the highest amount at the end of the private auction won the property. The difference between the price at the public auction and that at the second auction was the group’s illicit profit.
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Real Estate

President Gerald Ford’s Home Up For Sale For $1.699 Million

English: President Gerald Ford appearing at th...
Image via Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 6,316-square-foot Rancho Mirage, Calif., home belonging to the late President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford is up for sale at $1.699 million.

The one-story, flat-roof home overlooks a golf course and features his and her offices, five bedrooms, and six-and-a-half bathrooms. The Ford’s moved into the home after leaving the White House in 1978.

The home still contains the original furniture and looks very similar to the way it did when the Ford’s first moved there, says the real estate agent listing the home, Nelda Linsk. The home still has floral patterns in the bedroom and lime and avocado fabrics featured in the dining and great rooms.

“They were very private people,” Linsk told the Gannett News Service. “They didn’t want anything showy.”

President Ford passed away in December 2006, and Betty Ford died in July 2011.

Source: “Fords’ Rancho Mirage Home Goes up for Sale for $1.7 Million,” The Desert Sun (Palm Springs) (Jan. 23, 2012) and “President Ford’s House for Sale,” Gannett News Service (Jan. 25, 2012)

 

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Real Estate

Unemployed Borrowers Get Reprieve On Their Mortgages

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently extended their foreclosure forbearance programs to give short-term aid to unemployed homeowners, but housing counselors warn that these borrowers will need to look at longer-term solutions.

Making sense of the story

  • In a forbearance program, a lender agrees not to foreclose on a property and gives the borrower several months’ grace from or reduction in monthly mortgage payments.  The programs work best for temporary setbacks, like job loss, health problems, or natural disasters.
  • There are drawbacks to the forbearances though. The most-significant drawback is a larger total debt from the smaller payments.  The unpaid balance continues to increase during this time.
  • The new temporary mortgage payment is often set to 31 percent of the household income; in some cases lenders agree to accept no payments.  Fannie Mae’s extended unemployment program, first offered in the fall of 2010, limits any nonpayment or other forbearance plans to one year, with the second six months requiring approval by both Fannie Mae and the lender.
  • However, even with the program in place, the lender could still report a mortgage as delinquent, which could adversely affect the borrower’s credit score.
  • Because some agreements add onerous term and conditions, homeowners should also consult with a housing counselor certified by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

Read the full story

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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
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Real Estate

Cash Buyers Are Driving Home Prices Downward

 

Cash buyers are sending home values down much lower than they otherwise would be, suggests a new survey by Campbell Inside Mortgage Finance, which polled more than 2,500 real estate agents nationwide.

In its December Housing Pulse Tracking Survey, the company found that investors accounted for one out of three real estate transactions last month, and about 74 percent of those purchases by investors were made using all cash.

“Investors have an over-sized command on the market since their ability to pay cash in the majority of transactions puts undue downward pressure on home prices,” an article at Housing Predictor notes about the study.

Cash buyers can be attractive to home sellers, banks, and mortgage companies, since they do not usually come with contingencies, require extra time to secure financing, and tend to move more quickly to closing. As such, cash buyers tend to make purchases at lower prices than those who may need financing or come with contingencies.

Source: “Cash Buyers Pushing Home Prices Lower,” Housing Predictor (Jan. 24, 2012)

 

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nevada county fair

Nevada County Fairground’s CEO To Serve As President Of Western Fairs Association’s Board Of Directors

Sandy Woods, CEO of the Nevada County Fairgrounds
Sandy Woods, CEO of the Nevada County Fairgrounds

By Wendy Oaks

Sandy Woods, Chief Executive Officer of the Nevada County Fairgrounds, has been elected as President of the Western Fairs Association’s (WFA) Board of Directors. Woods was recently inaugurated at the association’s annual conference in Anaheim.

Woods will serve a one year term as President. During the past two years, she has also served as Vice President and Treasurer. All WFA directors are elected by their peers.

As President of the Board, Woods will represent the more than 800 WFA members and will work on their behalf for legislative advocacy, as well as govern the activities and policies of the association.

“The President of Western Fairs serves as the Chair of the 19 member elected Board of Directors and is ultimately accountable for all of the associations programs, including the legislative advocacy efforts,” noted WFA Executive Director Stephen Chambers. “It’s a challenging job in these tumultuous times. The fairs of the West are strong, however, funding and oversight issues continue to impact their success and our members stand ready to support Ms. Woods leadership.”

The Western Fairs Association is a non-profit trade association serving the Fair industry throughout the Western United States and Canada. WFA serves fair-related businesses, fair management, fair board directors, festivals, and industry associations.

The 2012 Nevada County Fair, “Barnyard Safari,” is August 8 – 12.
Wendy Oaks
Publicist, Nevada County Fairgrounds
(530) 273-6217
wsoaks@gmail.com

Website: www.NevadaCountyFair.com
Facebook: Nevada County Fairgrounds

Nevada County Fair                          August 8 – 12, 2012
Draft Horse Classic                            September 20 – 23, 2012
Halloween at the Fairgrounds      October 27, 2012
Country Christmas Faire                  November 23 – 25, 2012

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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
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Real Estate

Shopping For The Best Mortgage Interest Rates

Loans
Image by jferzoco via Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shopping for the best rates
Interest rates are the lowest in decades, enticing many borrowers to shop for a loan.  Mortgage lenders adjust their rates based on perceptions of risk, so unless the borrower can show they’re a low-risk individual, the borrower is unlikely to qualify for a rate that matches those seen in recent advertisements and headlines.

  • The rates quoted are averages drawn from a variety of financial institutions, and lenders use varied approaches to set them.  Consumers who want to try for the lowest rates available need to consider basic factors, such as credit score, points, property type, down payment, and length of the loan.
  • Credit score: The ideal borrower has a FICO score of 740 or higher, which puts the individual in the best place for pricing.
  • Points: The lowest rates usually are decreased by paying a fee called a point, or 1 percent of the loan amount.  Borrowers may buy points in order to get the best rates at many banks.  Points might make sense depending on the borrower’s financial situation and how long they expect to stay in the home.
  • Property type: Borrowers planning to buy a duplex or a four-unit build likely will have a higher interest rate.  Condominiums also may have a rate premium rate, especially if they are newer or the down payment is less than 25 percent.  Lenders also may charge more if the borrower is not planning to live in the home.
  • Down payment: Borrowers who put down at least 25 percent are more likely to obtain the best interest rates.  Lenders offer different breaks on rates if equity in the property is higher, so borrowers should ask what is available.
  • Length of loan: Borrowers who are likely to move in a few years may want to look into an adjustable-rate loan with a low interest rate fixed for a few years, and adjusted afterword.

 

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John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
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nevada county fair

Nevada County Artwork Design Contest 2012

Gold :: Locality: Grass Valley, Nevada City Di...
Nevada County Heart of the Gold Country Image via Wikipedia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WIN IN $250 IN ARTWORK DESIGN CONTEST
Submit the winning artwork for the 2012 Nevada County Fair and you could win

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is sponsoring a contest to find the best artwork to illustrate the 2012 Nevada County Fair theme – “Barnyard Safari.” If you’re a talented artist, and you’d like $250, this is the contest to enter!

The contest, which is open to Nevada County residents only, takes place now through Friday, February 10.  If you submit the winning artwork, you will win $250 and a 2012 Nevada County Fair package that includes admission tickets, parking and carnival coupons. Additionally, the winning artwork will be used on various Fair promotional pieces, print ads, buttons, t-shirts, banners, posters, and flyers.

Interested artists may use any medium and can submit up to three entries, which must be on 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper. Entries can be delivered to the Fairgrounds Office at 11228 McCourtney Road or mailed to the Fair Office at PO Box 2687, Grass Valley, CA  95945. A complete set of rules can be found on the Fair’s website at the Nevada County Fair Website, or by calling the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217.

The 2012 Nevada County Fair is August 8 – 12.

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Business

Popular Web Sites Shut Down Today in Protest

Image by Sashala via Flickr
Image by Sashala via Flickr

WordPress.org, Craigslist, Wikipedia, Moveon.org, Reddit, and Firefox browser creator Mozilla are among more than a dozen Web sites that are going dark on Wednesday for a 24-hour period to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), which critics say threaten free speech on the Internet.

The antipiracy legislation is a move by Congress to crack down on the sales of pirated U.S. products overseas. But U.S. Web site makers say that the legislation infringes on their freedom of speech and could have potential widespread, negative effects for Internet users.

“The proposed bills pave the way for authorities to shut down Web sites accused of online privacy — something that concerns huge sites like Google, Twitter, and others,” Fox News reports.

Google, Twitter, and Facebook — who also are strongly opposing SOPA — say they will not be participating in Wednesday’s blackout. However, at midnight Eastern time Wednesday, Google blacked out its logo on its home page in protest. Visitors who click on the blacked-out logo will be directed to more information about the protest.

The 24-hour blackout starting Wednesday on more than a dozen web sites is expected to detour millions of Internet users.

“We want to give people a visceral example of what would happen when content is blocked,” Rob Beschizza, managing editor of the blog Boing Boing, told USA Today. The blog will be shutting down Wednesday, giving visitors an error message that explains the protest.

Source: “Web sites Go Dark in Protest of Proposed Legislation,” USA Today (Jan. 17, 2012) and “Sites Go Dark to Protest Anti-Piracy Proposals SOPA, PIPA,” Fox News (Dallas) (Jan. 18, 2012)

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Wikipedia: Stop Online Piracy A

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Bits & Pieces

January’s Funniest Video 2012

1 Comment

httpv://youtu.be/h3bWsanTsps

When I run out of things to write, I search the internet for something that is funny and fun to watch. This video has had about 4,200,000 views.

I’m always looking for contributors to this website.  If you have something to share that’s not controversial, just drop me a line.

 

Thanks

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE #00669941

History

Martin Luther King Biography

President Lyndon Johnson signing Civil Rights Bill as Martin Luther King looks on. Source: Wikimedia Commons
President Lyndon Johnson signing Civil Rights Bill as Martin Luther King looks on. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family’s long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.

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