Santa Clarita Valley Real Estate

CITY OF SANTA CLARITA TRANSIT We would like to hear from you! The City of Santa Clarita has hired Walker Parking Consultants to study commuter parking in the City of Santa Clarita. The goal of the study is to help the City manage the parking for maximum efficiency and customer service, and also to determine how much parking might be needed in the future. We are interested to hear your thoughts on what works well, what doesn’t work well, and what people’s parking habits are. Please visit their website at www.santaclaritatransit.com to participate in an online survey regarding parking in the City of Santa Clarita. A direct link to the survey is provided on our homepage. For more information contact City of Santa Clarita Transit at (661) 294-1BUS (1287).

Home Maintenance Tip - Instead of using chemical drain cleaners to clear a tub or sink stoppage, pour 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of salt down the drain, and then follow with 1 cup of white vinegar. Let it sit 15 - 20 minutes, then follow with a pot of boiling water. To keep your garbage disposal running smoothly and odor free, try this: Fill an ice cube tray with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water. Once the cubes are frozen, place 2 - 3 cubes down the disposal a week for about a month. This will not only sharpen the blades, but also keep your disposal clean and odor-free at the same time! (Grinding lemon peels in your disposer will also work well for odors).

Current mortgage rates and changes in loan underwriting standards have led some borrowers to make mistakes when applying for a mortgage loan. One old adage that many borrowers fall into is not paying up-front points. In previous real estate cycles, paying one percentage point was equivalent to shaving off approximately a quarter of a percentage point of interest. In today’s market, one percentage point can lower the interest rate by as much as 1 percent, changing a 6 percent interest rate into one that is 5 percent. Another common mistake some borrowers make is not locking in an interest rate, especially when the rates are at historic lows, as they are currently. Many borrowers believe that if a favorable rate is available this week, a lower one will likely be offered next week. Mortgage experts advise clients to lock in a rate if the numbers work and not try to wait for a better rate that may not come. For details on financing and real estate deals in Los Angeles County, contact

Fannie Mae rolled-back one of its least popular mortgage guidelines updates of the last 12 months. Effective March 1, 2009, real estate investors can once again own and finance up to 10 individual properties. The restriction reversal does come with new minimum requirements, however. Homeowners buying a 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th or 10th home must meet the following standards, as set forth by Fannie Mae: 720 credit score 25% downpayment for a 1-unit (30% for a 2-4 unit) No mortgage delinquencies in the last 12 months 6 months of reserves for each investment property In other words, Fannie Mae is re-opening the lending spigot for real estate investors with good credit , a sizeable downpayment and ample reserves. According to Fannie Mae, the change rationale is that experienced investors can "play a key role in the housing recovery". Until now, foreclosure auctions have gone at less than full speed because investors unable to pay cash have been halted by the existing 4-property Fan

Local Singer/Songwriters Needed for Earth Day Unplugged The City of Santa Clarita is seeking local singer/songwriters to perform at the 2009 Earth Day Festival and 20th Annual Arbor Day Celebration on April 18, 2009 at Central Park. Ideal talent should capture the essence of Santa Clarita and its music community. All applicants will be reviewed by a panel of judges including Carol Rock from KHTS, Lila Littlejohn from The Signal and the City’s Arts and Events Office. If you would like to apply for this unique opportunity to showcase your talent to the community and other local music enthusiasts, please submit a one-song CD and lyric sheet to Santa Clarita City Hall, Arts and Events Office, Suite 120, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, Santa Clarita, California, 91355. The Arts and Events Office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The deadline for all submissions is Friday, February 20, 2009. Earth Day, nationally recognized on April 22, will be celebrated citywide on April 18th as a

Senate approves $15,000 tax credit for homebuyers DAVID ESPO AP News Feb 04, 2009 20:54 EST The Senate voted Wednesday night to give a tax break of up to $15,000 to homebuyers in hopes of revitalizing the housing industry, a victory for Republicans eager to leave their mark on a mammoth economic stimulus bill at the heart of President Barack Obama's recovery plan. The tax break was approved without dissent and came on a day in which Obama pushed back pointedly against Republican critics of the legislation even as he reached across party lines to consider a reduction in the spending it contains. "Let's not make the perfect the enemy of the essential," Obama said as Senate Republicans stepped up their criticism of the bill's spending and pressed for additional tax cuts and relief for homeowners. He warned that failure to act quickly "will turn crisis into a catastrophe and guarantee a longer recession." Democratic leaders have pledged