2007 N. 6th Street, Burbank, has closed. Hooray!

The probate fixer at 2007 N. 6th in Burbank has closed for $450k.  This property is rough and I wish the new buyers all the best for this.  Yes, they plan to re-do it and sell it. 

We received a total of 11 offers and all of them were cash.  And, surprise surprise, we got into a late bidding war (usually bidding wars happen at the beginning of the listing).  Three buyers duked it out (and wanted to duke me out) over about $1000 dollars at a time. 

The house had been vacant for many years and had holes in the ceiling, holes in the floor, etc.  Yes, it was jungle-y around the outside which is why the picture above isn't better. We worked around break-ins, trash-outs, board-ups, etc.  The probate attorney was a real asset (don't be afraid of probate, buyers!) and some of the sellers were, too.  I'm sure the new house will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Unvarnished truth in real estate advertising? We gots it.

Need a 3000+ sf short sale home in Sherman Oaks for $602,000? Check out the listing agent's text for this new listing on Meadville (unedited): The house has major foundation issues with mold. No warranties are giving. Buyer to hire a general contractor and mold company. There are cracks in the foundation with 3 to 4 inches off the back of the house. No termite report or termite completion. The retaining wall has major issues with water running into the back of the house. Part of the house in not in liable condition. Buyer to be aware of dog in backyard.Please be aware there is freeway noise. The seller holds a valid CA Real Estate. Their was additional structural damaged found after buyer inspection. The pool does not work or in operating condition. A lot of draining issues with leaking roof. If you are LOOKING FOR A HOUSE WITH MAJOR DAMAGE YOU FOUND IT. The retaining wall is worse condition then expected.
Such candor is kind of refreshing, no? Yes, that's the best picture, above. How long do you think it will take it to go pending?

Major price reduction on 2007 N. 6th, Burbank

Big news: 2007 N. 6th Street in Burbank has just had a price reduction to $450,000.  That's down from $485,000, folks.  We received several all-cash offers -- this is a serious fixer and won't qualify for a loan -- but they were all lower than what the sellers want to take.  Some details about the house: it's a 3 bed, 2 bath, 1712 sf, on an 8989 sf. lot.  It's in a great neighborhood and has a lot of upside potential.  But it is a serious fixer and not a DIY project. Do you know anybody that would like to live here and is a contractor?

Why my listing at 2007 N. 6th in Burbank must be purchased for cash

2007 N. 6th Street in Burbank needs to be purchased for all cash because it is a FIXER. Yes, there are some FHA programs and banks that will loan on fixers, but not one that's below minimum standards like this one.  This house has been vacant for many years and needs way beyond the typical DIY coat of paint and new windows.  So, do you know anybody with $485k in cash that wants a project?

New Burbank listing coming tomorrow! Probate fixer!

I will be listing 2007 N. 6th Street in Burbank tomorrow for $485,000. This probate fixer offers stellar upside opportunities and expansion possibilities.  And it's right across from Jefferson Elementary, one of the best elementary schools in Burbank.  It's 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1712 sf on a 8989 sf lot and has a bonus room, attached garage, fireplace, big backyard, etc.  But people, this is a serious fixer and NOT a DIY project, so contact your contractors.  It won't qualify for a loan, so offers will need to be all cash.  And it doesn't need probate court confirmation, but there are special probate procedures involved.  If you're interested, please contact me at my email address and I'll send you an information sheet.

The Rapture: good for the real estate market or bad for the real estate market?

...It depends, but mainly bad.  Those of us left behind will have to contend with empty houses, unwatered yards, and unpaid condo association fees.  And that will have a depressive effect on property values.  So if you're a seller, my advice is to sell your home within the next six hours.

But if you're a buyer, here might be your chance for some real bargains.  Houses don't hold up well when they sit empty, so plan on doing some fixing.  Hey, maybe this is an idea for a new HGtv show -- how about "Fix this Rapture"?

And if you're a bank, you can look forward to getting your oily mitts on yet more property when you have to foreclose on all these empty homes.

And if you're a Realtor, you will not be getting raptured (except for maybe a few of you in Texas), and there will be plenty of houses to show and sell.  Begin courting bank asset managers today to position yourself as a post-foreclosure rapture specialist!

Thinking of buying, and then selling, a fixer?

Thanks to my manager, Mike Napolitano, for the following article.  All in all, I recommend leaving the flipping of fixers to professional groups that do just that.  Most of the foreclosures I've seen lately are properties that were bought by regular folks with the hopes of adding improvements and then selling at a profit.  And on most of these foreclosed properties, you can see exactly where in the house the would-be flipper ran out of money -- usually somewhere in the kitchen.

Fixing to sell: Don't go overboard

Make improvements that pay off

By Dian Hymer, Tuesday, May 11, 2010.

Inman News

Fixer-uppers with upside potential were in high demand when the market was appreciating at a fast pace. Once depreciation took over, speculators disappeared until 2009, when low-end foreclosure properties in some areas became hot properties -- particularly if they were selling at a 50 percent discount from the peak in summer 2006.
In California, 70 percent of the homes bought by investors in 2009 were distressed-sale properties, according to the California Association of Realtors. Some were stripped of appliances and fixtures. But, at half price, there was profit potential for buyers who were up for a redo -- especially seasoned investors buying multiple homes to fix up and resell, or rent out.
Fixers priced over $500,000 aren't as easy to sell today. Most buyers in higher price ranges are buying a home to live in. They want a home in move-in condition that will suit their long-term needs.
There are exceptions. In high-demand market niches with few listings, there is occasionally a fixer-upper that draws a lot of attention. Usually, these fixers sell to buyers who will live in the property and fix it up themselves to save money. Often this is the only way they can afford to move into the neighborhood.
Sellers of fixers in such neighborhoods should make their property as presentable as possible by cleaning out clutter, both inside and out. Many homebuyers can't visualize a property's potential. It's often worth a modest investment to show the house at its best advantage.
Cosmetic improvements, such as painting, replacing outdated floor covering, or refinishing worn hardwood floors can pay off. Some fixers are staged, even though the property needs a lot of work, so that buyers can envision themselves living there.
Presale inspections will help buyers make a decision about whether or not to tackle the project. Make reports available to buyers before they make an offer to avoid having to put the home back on the market if the deal falls apart because the buyer's inspectors discover defects not previously disclosed.
HOUSE HUNTING TIP: How much you spend preparing a fixer for sale depends on several factors. How much did you pay for the property? How much do you owe against the property? Is there demand for fixer-uppers in your area? Finally, how much does your real estate agent think you can sell the home for given current market conditions?
Sellers who have equity in their home and cash to invest in fix-up for-sale work should consider making cost-effective renovations, like a kitchen upgrade, but not an entire renovation. Ask your agent what the home would sell for with and without these improvements before doing anything to it.
The investment may not yield a profit, but could recover the costs when the home sells. In areas where fixers aren't selling, sellers might need to enhance the property to sell at all. A good real estate agent should be able to provide references for reliable, reasonably priced professionals who can do the jobs for sellers who haven't the time or expertise to do the work themselves.
Buyers who bought at the peak may not be able sell for even close to what they paid. One possibility would be to rent the property, if it makes sense financially. You may need to fix up the property somewhat to attract a good tenant. Consult with a certified public accountant about the tax consequences of converting a single-family residence to a rental.
Another option, if you don't have to sell now, is to stay put for awhile and fix the property up gradually over time. Avoid investing a large amount of money in the hopes of getting a bigger return.
THE CLOSING: The housing market in your area may be too uncertain for speculation.
Dian Hymer, a real estate broker with more than 30 years' experience, is a nationally syndicated real estate columnist and author of "House Hunting: The Take-Along Workbook for Home Buyers" and "Starting Out, The Complete Home Buyer's Guide."

Questions from a recent transaction

Question 1: should non-profit, city government-funded housing entities sell houses that are unsafe?
Question 2: should non-profit, city government-funded housing entities sell houses to investor groups?

These questions have to do with a recent client transaction. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent (and me!).

My clients, Mr. and Mrs. Buyer, are approved for an FHA loan. We have been looking for a home for them since February. They found a home in Glendale that seemed to perfectly fit their needs.

The house was owned by Verdugo Housing Corporation, a non-profit organization that, I’m told, is chartered by the City of Glendale. I understand that Verdugo Housing was formed as a non-profit city partnership to increase affordable home ownership in Glendale.

Verdugo Housing had recently purchased the property for somewhere in the $200,000’s and had done a cosmetic rehab (carpet and paint). The home was for sale in the very high $400,000s and Mr. and Mrs. Buyer made a full-price offer just before it went on the market. Escrow was opened in April.

We repeatedly asked for legally-required physical inspection disclosures, but VHC never furnished them to us. And the house inspection did not go well. At all. (Recall that FHA will not fund loans on substandard houses.) The roof was crumbling. A couple of rooms that were added on were not attached to the foundation. The a/c and the stove didn’t work. The electrical work was substandard in places. Those were the major issues; there were many minor issues as well.
The buyers asked the sellers to fix the major issues; after all, a non-profit housing corporation would not want to sell substandard homes, right? To our surprise, the VHC declined to do so. My broken-hearted clients cancelled the escrow. We heard through the grapevine that the day after escrow was cancelled, Verdugo Housing Corporation sold the house on an all-cash deal to a group of local investors, who intend to rent it out.

Lancaster to refurbish foreclosed homes

Sorry that I haven't posted for a few days -- I've been wrapped up in our national political circus. Anyway, the L.A. Times reports here that the city of Lancaster is going to buy foreclosed homes, fix them up, and sell them to low income people. As we all know, Lancaster has pretty much been ground zero for L.A. County foreclosures. In the main, I think this is a very good thing. Philosophically, I think this is how a small municipality should be handling this problem.

Of course, the devil is in the details. The program has $4.1 million in funds and hopes to fix/resell up to 41 homes. So, that's about $100k per home, which includes the purchase price. If the purchase price is $80k to $100k, that's, uh, not a lot left over for more than a cosmetic fix. But this program is a step in the right direction. And many people will be happy that the money is coming strictly from the City, not from the state, county or federal government. Let's stay tuned and see how it goes.