Pasadena Craftsman Bungalow

Let this Pasadena Real Estate and Community blog give you insight into the City of Pasadena and do ALL of the home searching for you!

Our automated search system will send new real estate properties to your e-mail as soon as they come on the market. Sign in as a VIP member and receive access to private property data, as well as the ability to compare homes and see how they are priced. We invite you to browse thousands of Pasadena area Residential Homes, Pasadena Townhomes and Condos for sale complete with virtual tours and picture slide shows. Take an inside look at our favorite local restaurants, schools, Pasadena night life and events. This site is designed to give you a feel for Pasadena and the amazing lifestyle our city has to offer.

We showcase active real estate for sale. Whether you are searching Pasadena Homes for Sale, Pasadena Condos and Townhomes, San Marino Homes, Altadena Homes, La Canada Flintridge Homes, South Pasadena Homes, Bradbury Estates, Arcadia Homes , Highland Park Homes or Eagle Rock Homes, let us assist you in your search from the comfort of your home or office. 

South Pasadena Modern Loft

Here you will also be able to do our advance Foreclosure Search system which allows for you to find Southern and Central California foreclosure homes and condos for sale. 

If you currently own a Pasadena area home or are thinking about relocating, you’ve come to the right place. As Pasadena Realtors with Keller Williams Realty Pasadena, we can give you a professional real estate home evaluation to determine your home’s best marketable value. If you are seriously considering selling your Pasadena Home, Townhome or Condo and would like a private consultation, please contact us at (626) 497-4606.

Pasadena Condos for Sale, Pasadena Foreclosures, Pasadena Homes for Sale, Pasadena Lofts, pasadena real estate, Pasadena Real Estate Agents, Pasadena Real Estate Blogs, Pasadena Realtors

Pasadena Collection West is a condominium complex built in 2004 that is in the heart of the South Lake District. It has a modern design and onsite concierge’s service 7 days a week. The units at this complex range from 1-2 bedrooms.

Call for a showing on any on the Pasadena condos listed below at 626-497-4606.

Also visit our Pasadena Collection Condos and Lofts website to see units for sale at both the East(175 S. Lake Avenue) and West (160 S. Hudson Avenue) buildings.

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

Pasadena Collection Condos West, Pasadena Condos for Sale, Real Estate

Pasadena Homes for Sale
View all active residential real estate and pending MLS listings in Pasadena from $250,000 to $400,000. Please call or email to view any of these homes for sale.

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

MLS listings, Pasadena Homes for Sale, Pasadena Real Estate Blogs

In 2009 the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured nearly 30% of the single-family mortgage market. More than 50% of first-time home buyers used FHA programs?

In today’s challenging credit climate, many home buyers and homeowners are turning to FHA for insurance, to purchase loans, and for refinancing options to get out of risky ARMs or subprime loans.  According to Jerome Nagy, senior regulatory policy representative at NAR, in order to replenish its dwindling reserves, FHA has implemented or proposed the following changes:

1.  Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP)
FHA has increased the upfront MIP from 1.75% to 2.25% for borrowers while it awaits legislative authority to increase the annual premium. FHA stated it will decrease the upfront premium when they can increase the annual premium.

2.  Credit Score Changes
FHA has proposed that borrowers with a credit score below 580 be required to make at least a 10% down payment. The minimum down payment will remain at 3.5% for all other borrowers.

3.  Seller Concessions
FHA intends to propose a rule to decrease allowable seller concessions from 6% to 3%. NAR plans to argue against this decrease since closing costs differ greatly among states, and with fees on services (such as appraisals) increasing, seller concessions can be a vital part of closing the transaction.

4.  FHA Loan Limits
Current FHA loan limits are as high as $729,750 in high-cost areas, and are set to expire at the end of the year and revert to lower amounts, potentially putting a damper on a housing market rebound. A decrease of current limits would adversely affect 612 counties in 40 states and the District of Columbia, reports NAR, which is urging passage of legislation to make the loan limits permanent.

5.  Condominium Rules
FHA is delaying implementation of “Mortgagee Letter 2009-19” and making temporary enhancements to the policy instead, such as eliminating the owner-occupancy requirement for FHA condo mortgages and reducing the number of units sold prior to FHA’s endorsement of a unit from 50% to 30%.

Please feel free to contact us for guidance on the above FHA programs and how changes might affect your particular situation.

ERICA SWANSON
RIVAS & ASSOCIATES
818-257-1054

Erica@RivasEstates.com

FHA Lending

More couples are choosing outdoor locations for their weddings and has become one of the top choices for Pasadena wedding locations and La Canada wedding locations in sunny Southern California. With the sun softly filtered by mighty California oaks and the richness of the camellia forest, or amidst the breathtaking beauty of the International rosarium in full bloom, Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge provides an extraordinary setting for special occasions and treasured memories. Purchased and developed by Manchester Boddy in 1937, Descanso Gardens comprises 150 acres of land, and can usually accommodate up to three weddings at a time. Seven different sites within the grounds are available to hold a wedding ceremony and/or reception, which include:

The Boddy House is a 22 room Regency style mansion designed by James Dolena. Sited above lush oak woodland, the house was built for Descanso Garden’s developer and publishing tycoon Manchester Boddy and his family.
Weddings held at the Boddy House Lawn or Terrace may have their reception in one of the locations below:

Boddy House Lawn/Terrace, capacity 90
Solarium and Foyer, capacity 50
Living Room, capacity 50
Dining Room, capacity 40

Van de Kamp Hall is a Craftsman-styled building used for lectures,large meetings and corporate functions, wedding receptions, memorial services and other larger gatherings. Fully enclosed, climate controlled and equipped with speakers and a microphone, Van de Kamp can accommodate up to 200 people for table seating or 250 for lecture/ theater style seating. The Hall is part of a complex of buildings located by the Visitors’ Center that includes an outdoor courtyard ideal for after-hours receptions.
Weddings held on the East Garden have their receptions in Van de Kamp Hall.

Magnolia Lawn An East Garden Location, can accommodate up to 200 guests.
Weddings held on the Magnolia Lawn have their receptions in Van de Kamp Hall.
The Japanese Garden: It lends itself to stylish outdoor events in a serene setting of Asian elegance. A feast for the senses, the Japanese Garden is graced by a blue-tiled Tea House and lovely raked rock garden, and the murmur of a koi-filled stream infuses the setting with the sound of nature. The Japanese Garden can accommodate up to 25.

The Japanese Garden is part of the East Garden Locations. Weddings held in the Japanese Garden have their reception in Van de Kamp Hall.

The Main Lawn and The Under the Oaks Theatre are East Garden Locations. The Main Lawn can accommodate up to 400 guests. The Under the Oaks Theatre, is an open-aired location with natural redwood benches that can seat up to 250 guests.
Weddings held on the Main Lawn or Under the Oaks Theater have their reception in Van de Kamp Hall.

Feather Falls is an East Garden Location. An intimate outdoor location that can accommodate up to 75 guests.
Weddings held at Feather Falls have their reception in Van de Kamp Hall.

The Oak Forest is an outdoor location located on the West side of the Gardens. This location can accommodate up to 300 guests
Ceremonies on the West Side of the Gardens have their receptions in the Rose Pavilion.

The Rose Garden is an outdoor location located on the West side of the Gardens. Within the Rose Garden, there are several areas to choose from: the Rose Garden Gazebo (capacity 200); Rose Pavilion; other Rose Garden Nooks (capacity 160 under roof).
Ceremonies on the West Side of the Gardens have their receptions in the Rose Pavilion.

See available La Canada Homes for sale

Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Canada, Ca 91011

818-949-4200 http://www.descansogardens.org/

ERICA SWANSON
RIVAS & ASSOCIATES
818-257-1054

Erica@RivasEstates.com

Descanso Gardens, la canada Flintridge

Congratulations to Spain for winning the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa over opponent the Netherlands. 

Final score:

Netherlands 0:1 Spain 

Spain wins 2010 World Cup over the Netherlands.

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

2010 Fifa World Cup

Monterey Hills Condo for Sale

4280 Via Arbolada #237, Los Angeles, CA

Offered at $359,000 - 2 Bedrooms & 2 Baths – 1,127 sqft. Interior

SEE THE VISUAL TOUR

Wilson Summit Condo for Sale with Dramatic Views

Absolutely breathtaking views is this tastefully updated Monterey Hills condo located in the highly desired complex known as Wilson Summit. With a beautifully remodeled interior, it exhibits elements of practical yet sophisticated living. The open living and dining areas make the home perfect for entertaining. The adjacent kitchen has stainless steel appliances, a breakfast bar and plenty of cupboard space. Your private sanctuary awaits in the spacious master bedroom with dual sinks and a full bathroom. The second bedroom has a large closet and has an adjacent full bathroom across the hallway. Additional features and HOA amenities include an association pool with clubhouse, wood and tiled flooring, outdoor balcony with views, and two parking spaces.

Monterey Hills Condo for Sale $359,000

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

Monterey Hills Condos for Sale, Pasadena Real Estate Blogs, Wilson Summit Condos

Chapman Woods is the featured Pasadena neighborhood.  See all active real estate for sale in Chapman Woods.  Some listings featured are also just outside the boundaries.

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

Pasadena Homes for Sale, Pasadena Real Estate Blogs, Real Estate

VIEW ALL SOUTH PASADENA CONDOS AND TOWNHOMES FOR SALE.  Great time to buy with the low interest rates and seller incentives.  Contact us to buy or sell your next home.

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

Condos and Townhomes, South Pasadena Real Estate

HAVE A WONDERFUL 4TH OF JULY FROM RIVAS & ASSOCIATES!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY 2010

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

4th of july

Pasadena Collection Modern Condo for Sale

Offered at $699,000

1,500 sqft – Built 2004 – 2 Bedrooms – 2 Bathrooms

This is Pasadena’s premiere modern condo located in the South Lake District. Throw away those dining menus and entertainment guides, because at the Pasadena Collection East you have an onsite concierge’s service waiting to serve. Entertain your guests before hitting the town in the open living area with dramatic views of the city and amazing 13’ ceilings. The adjacent kitchen features custom cabinetry with stainless steel details, galaxy granite countertops and a kitchen island with bar.  Enjoy your private retreat in the master bedroom with a custom built-in book shelf and full bath. The other spacious bedroom has a full bath conveniently located next to it.  Additional features and HOA amenities include flagstone flooring throughout, 4 parking spaces, a fitness room with plenty of modern equipment, association lounge, and a community surveillance system.  All close to shopping, Trader Joes, dining, entertainment, and the Metro Gold Line.

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

Pasadena Collection, Pasadena Condos and Lofts, pasadena real estate, Pasadena Real Estate Blogs

Easy Ways to Cut Summer Energy Costs

With summer officially upon us, many Pasadena homeowners will be confronted with rising electric bills as fans and air conditioners kick into high gear in an effort to keep cool. Demand for electricity can also increase if you have house guests or children home for the summer.

As a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have access to lots of great ideas for planning ahead to control energy costs this summer. The following tips are from the experts at Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G):

• Use ceiling fans in the counter-clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect, making you feel cooler. Also, whole-house fans that bring in cooler night-time air can pre-cool a house and reduce energy use in the daytime if heat is kept out by closing windows and shades.
• Install a programmable thermostat. If health conditions permit, raise the setting from 73 to 78 degrees. You can save 3-5% on your air conditioning costs for each degree you raise the thermostat.
• Close doors leading to uncooled parts of your home. If you have central air conditioning, close off vents to unused rooms and be sure to keep filters clean.
• Plant shade trees close to the house on the South and West sides.
• Seal holes and cracks around doors and windows. Eliminate air leaks between window air conditioners and windows with foam insulation or weather-stripping.
• Turn off power sources. TVs, computers and other electronic devices draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off but still plugged in. Plug electronics into power strips and turn off the power switch when the items are not in use.
• Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use 75% less electricity and burn more coolly than incandescent bulbs. Keep in mind that CFLs are especially handy in hard-to-reach fixtures and won’t need to be replaced for about five years.
• Use timers and motion detectors on indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Delay heat-producing tasks such as laundry until later in the day. Wash full loads, using cold water whenever possible.
• Run the dishwasher at night, using the shortest cycle that will get the dishes clean. If manufacturers’ directions permit, turn the dishwasher off before the dry cycle or use the air dry feature if your machine has one.
• Take short showers as they use less hot water than a bath.
• Replace old appliances with new energy efficient Energy Star appliances.
• Unplug the extra refrigerator in your garage or basement and use it only when necessary. Refrigerators that are only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as new Energy Star labeled models.

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

cutting energy costs, pasadena, Real Estate

In business since 1982, Tarantino’s in Pasadena strongly resembles the east coast hole-in-the-wall Italian pizzerias. The red and white checkered tables are intimately placed next to eachother along the brick walls, which are lined with photos of Italian-American celebrities standing next to restaurant owner, Mr. Tarantino himself. The food truly lives up to it’s atmoshere of the quintessential Italian eatery. The New York style pizza is made from handmade dough and a pizza sauce that I am told takes hours to prepare. The restaurant offers a large selection of traditional pasta dishes and Antipasto salads, as well as an affordable list of beer and wine.  

CASH ONLY$!

Mon – Thurs: 11:00 am – 9:45 pm
Fri – Sat: 11:00 am – 10:45 am
Sun: 5:00 pm – 8:45 pm

ERICA SWANSON
RIVAS & ASSOCIATES
818-257-1054

No tags

Stuck in a Pasadena house you can’t afford or can’t sell for more than you owe on it? Beware the Web, where you’ll see plenty of claims that short sales will save your credit, simple as that. But there’s nothing simple about deciding whether to sell your Pasadena house in a foreclosure or in a short sale, which means you sell the property for less than you owe the bank. And in most cases, going through either process will wreck your credit score. 

“Both short sales and foreclosures are considered negative by the score, because our data shows us it’s very predictive of future credit risk,” Tom Quinn, Minneapolis-based Fair Isaac Corp.’s vice president of FICO scores, said. “The claim that doing a short sale is not going to hurt your score is false. It’s inaccurate.” 

Notice of Forclosure

Credit scores, which are designed to assess how likely it is that consumers will uphold their side of the bargain, look at the severity (are we talking bankruptcy or a late car payment?), frequency (have you skipped a payment once, or have you missed a bunch?), and recency (did you miss a payment last month or last year?) of items on your credit report. 

That’s not to say that there aren’t some instances where short sales are better. If a borrower is current at the point of a short sale, for instance, then the consumer’s credit score won’t sink as far as it would have if he hadn’t made a mortgage payment for six months. Still, Fair Isaac says that the benefit from not having prior delinquencies on file pales when compared with the hit a score takes from a short sale. 

Dan Williams, program director for LSS Financial Counseling Service, says this widespread notion that short sales are better for credit is a big problem because it deters some people from going into foreclosure when that would be the best option for them. 

Breaking the Piggy Bank

Factor in the fact that many banks don’t start foreclosure proceedings right after the third missed payment, and families can potentially stay in a house for more than a year rent-free, hopefully saving that money to help them get back on their feet. This could amount to thousands of dollars. 

Housing counselors say that most clients have credit scores in the basement already. “If you’ve got a poor credit score and are doing a short sale to preserve your credit, it’s ridiculous,” Williams said. And it’s happening every day.” 

If you’re having mortgage trouble, seek help right away from a housing counselor or an attorney. Pasadena Realtors are the go-to professionals to learn about the local housing market and what it takes to sell your Pasadena home. But they aren’t credit experts, and I’d get a second opinion if anyone is telling you that a short sale will save your score. And don’t pay someone a lot of money if they promise to quickly rehab your credit score after foreclosure. Credit scores are forgiving—over time. 

Both FICO and its credit scoring competitor VantageScore have released estimates for what happens to consumers’ credit scores when they make mortgage missteps. In the VantageScore study, a homeowner with an otherwise clean record who then has a short sale sees their credit score drop between 120 and 130 points (on a scale of 501-990) compared with between 130 and 140 points if the same homeowner ends up in foreclosure. 

For a homeowner whose credit report is rife with late payments on everything from credit cards to car loans, a short sale would ding them between 15 to 25 points compared with 10 and 20 points for a foreclosure. Customers with rotten scores will see smaller point drops than someone whose score is good, because the score already has taken into account the lower-scoring customer’s risky behavior and adjusted the score downward. 

FICO’s example found short sales and foreclosures will set you back between 140 and 160 points if your credit score is a respectable 780 (on a scale of 300 to 850), or between 85 and 105 points if your credit is 680. 

Even if you do your homework, you ultimately can’t control how your housing woes are reported to the credit bureaus. For example, mortgage servicers may report your situation to the credit bureaus using different codes that could be interpreted more or less favorably by FICO, Quinn said. 

What if your circumstances change and you’re able to save your home from a foreclosure? “Once you’ve got a foreclosure starting to track on your credit file, you’re taking a major hit,” even if you ultimately save your house, said Sarah Davies, a VantageScore senior vice president. 

Credit scores play such a central role in consumer’s lives. Yet it’s so hard to understand them that people can end up making disastrous choices based on myths that are taken as fact. It’s certainly not a catchall solution, but Congress should at least grant consumers free access to their credit scores, an idea which is currently being floated at the capitol. 

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

credit score, foreclosures, Pasadena Short Sales, SHORT SALE

Pasadena Real Estate for sale in the highly desired neighborhood know as Madison Heights.   Madison Heights features condos for sale, Pasadena townhomes, and houses of many different styles of architecture.

For Buying and/or Selling Real Estate, contact me:
Ramiro Rivas – Pasadena Realtor
626-497-4606
Ramiro@RivasEstates.com

Madison Heights, pasadena real estate, Pasadena Real Estate Blogs

Call to get loan approval at 818-355-7353

The Senate has passed a bill to give homebuyers another three months to close on their homes and receive tax credits up to $8,000. The Tax Extenders Bill would apply to homebuyers who met the April 30, 2010 deadline with a signed contract to purchase a new or existing primary residence. The amendment would extend the deadline to September 30, 2010 for homebuyers to close on their real estate transaction. The previous deadline was June 30, 2010. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives, where it is expected to pass.

Blanca Yanez with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage is committed to meeting your home-financing needs, and to answering questions about how the new law could impact you. Call her at 818-355-7353 if you have any questions, or if you would like to get started on a loan application today!

blanca yanez, tax credit extension, wells fargo home mortgage