Food

while in Highland Park. Here are a few of my (Raphael’s) favorites to stop in and try for a sensational taste treat.

Antigua Bread – Ave. 57 & Figueroa, across Chase Bank

This recently opened bakery seems more like a cross between a panaderia and a Starbucks than an authentic West Indian bakery. Antigua Bread offers a variety of items from great sandwiches to Tex-Mex to tasty baked goods.

Cinnamon Vegetarian Restaurant – Ave. 55 & Figueroa

You can start with exciting salads and juices move to bright entrees fittingly skew Latin—minus the lard that makes refried beans so mouth-wateringly tasty. The menu also features a diverse selection of faux meat: Passable shrimp, carnitas and chorizo get mocked up in soy while wheat protein composes something called “happy bread steak.”

Folliero’s Pizza & Italian Food – Ave. 55 & Figueroa

This is a family owned Italian jewel that serves heaping portions of traditional pasta along with pizza you will long remember. Stop in and be greeted by Titina, the daughter, who will advise you depending on your taste for the day.

Huarache Azteca – Ave. 52 & York Blvd.

The #1 item on the menu is the huarache, a long oval of masa prepared with meat, onions, cilantro, crema and finely powdered cheese on top. The tastiest meat is pork in a terrific tangy marinade . Thin-cut carne asada and chicken are other choices, and you can pump up the flavor of any of the meats with three fiery salsas. Refreshing drinks such as Horchata, Tamarindo and Jamaica are an energizing change from a standard canned soft drink.

Juanita’s Restaurant – Ave. 59 & York Blvd.

Proven Mexican specialties make you want to return and savor the variety of quality items on the menu. The ambiance is relaxing and friendly in an open atmosphere of comfort. A nice diversity of Mexican/American items make it a pleasure to enjoy and easily be satisfied.

So now you have a few ideas to excite your taste buds in the area of Highland Park. Raphael is your local resident Realtor bringing you some great benefits of this exciting and upcoming community of Northeast Los Angeles. Stop in any one of the above mentioned spots for a real nice and enjoyable time as you will not be disappointed.

Seeking to now make a move to the area and check what the neighborhood is like? Drop Raphael a note with your questions and receive a quick response. Learn what is available in home sales and how commuter friendly the area is with a simple e-mail or call. So act now to enjoy and benefit what this N.E.L.A community has to offer. Information is free and proven research is easy.

Your privacy is always respected so contact Raphael, today…

Mt. Washington Home Sales

Now you can have a little short background of Mt. Washington history, a different community in Northeast Los Angeles.

Mt. Washington was founded in 1909 as a luxurious suburb of Los Angeles. Wealthy Angelenos quickly snapped up many of  its luxurious Mediterranean Revival homes with outstanding views of the Los Angeles Basin and the western San Gabriel Valley. As the mountain was far too steep for the construction of a proper road in the pre-automobile era, the new district instead was served by a small railway going up the hill, which had its lower terminus at a Pacific Electric Railroad “Red Car” stop. Mt. Washington was eventually absorbed into the city proper as Los Angeles grew.

Mt. Washington’s boundaries are roughly El Paso Drive and Avenue 50 on the northeast, the Arroyo Seco on the southeast, Isabel Street on the southwest, and Division Street on the northwest. Neighboring communities include Eagle Rock on the north, Highland Park on the northeast, Montecito Heights on the southeast, Cypress Park and Glassell Park on the southwest. The Metro Gold Line light rail line passes through the district and has a station near the Southwest Museum. The Pasadena Freeway (CA-110) runs along the district’s southeastern edge, adjacent to the Arroyo Seco.

The real estate in Mt. Washington is always desirable and opportunities are available for the qualified home buyer. Presently there are 8 homes pending in escrow with a value from $495k to $669k. A total of two dozen homes are actively for sale with a value range from $450k to $990k. The N.E.L.A community of Mount Washington shares the same zip code as Glassell Park, 90065. It’s a major reason that a home buyer needs to be represented by a local Realtor, such as Raphael, that’s aware of all the housing factors.

Raphael is a resident of the community and involved in many local organizations helping preserve this secret N.E.L.A community. A local Realtor that understand the needs and expectations of today’s home buyers allowing for a win-win transaction. Are you considering purchasing a home in this great suburban like community? Contact Raphael and spend a few minutes discussing your needs. It will be a benefit to your home search and time well spent.

Be advised that there is never an obligation and your privacy is respected.

Realtor Plan

Announcing some important errors that home sellers in Northeast Los Angeles can make if a reputable local Realtor, like Raphael, is not used. Keep in mind that today’s real estate market in all N.E.L.A communities require focus and detail for the benefit of the home seller.

A FEW reasons that can effect a positive home sale;

• No ’secure’ modern lock box for keys making it difficult to show.
• Unprofessional and poor quality pictures of the property.
• Advertised facts of the home incomplete.
• No communication from the Realtor after showings done.
• Home not displayed in more than one Realtor listing service.
• Home not exposed completely advertised on all internet sites.
• Directions to the property confusing and not accurate.
• Poor home description that is not attention grabbing.
• Features poorly described.
• Home and community benefits not detailed and fantastic.

Home sellers can have the satisfaction of knowing that Raphael reviews all the useful processes to assist in a sensational home sale. A customized marketing plan, in writing, is presented to the home seller. The results oriented plan is discussed in a practical manner understanding the needs of the N.E.L.A seller.

Allow Raphael, your local resident Realtor a few moments to present an energized plan to make it happen. A home sale is a critical process requiring a results oriented Realtor that works and earns the fee.

Contact Raphael and overcome the doubts and fears in selling your home today.

Privacy is always respected and never an obligation upon a presentation.

N.E.L.A Home Research

 home owner planning on downsizing or investing in N.E.L.A real estate?

Well as we enter March, a review of what new properties was done and here are the opinions of your local Realtor, Raphael.

• Short-Sale on Escarpa Dr. near Campus Rd. that is a 2+2, 1348 sq. ft. on a lot of 6220 sq. ft. built in 1950. The home has views, privacy and near Occidental College with a list price of $539k. Don’t forget that with a short-sale the strength of financing rules as well as the negotiation. Contact Raphael for more details or other homes in Eagle Rock.

• Nice Triplex of three seperate houses on Ellenwood with a lot size of 7797 sq. ft. that is a regular sale. Two of the houses for sale are one bedroom and the third is a two bedroom. The listed price for sale is $619k and a downpayment of 25% is required. Contact Raphael for specifics on this or other income properties in Eagle Rock.

See how easily you can move forward in your real estate needs with an experienced professional that is a local Realtor servicing only Northeast Los Angeles properties. Let Raphael be your guide to meet and exceed your expectations in a home sale or home buy in Eagle Rock. Now is the time to act as interest rates remain favorable and great opportunities exist.

Never an obligation and your privacy is always respected.

N.E.L.A Realtor

Before you forget, here are the year to year value comparisons for homes sold in N.E.L.A. The main communities are detailed here to show the difference in value from 2008 V’s 2009, as reported by Dataquick Research.

90027 – Los Feliz, 119 homes sold with a value decrease of 5%.

90039 – Atwater Village, 165 homes sold with a 1% increase.

90041 – Eagle Rock, 132 homes sold with a 16% decrease.

90026 – Echo Park, 140 homes sold with a 27% decrease.

90032 – El Sereno, 236 homes sold with a 28% decrease.

90065 – Glassell Park, 299 homes sold with a 13% decrease.

90042 – Highland Park, 307 homes sold with a 18% decrease.

Raphael, your local resident Realtor, knows that the ’scary’ news of declines is over for Northeast Los Angeles Home Sellers. The demand is growing as we begin to enter the prime buy/sell season in 2010 N.E.L.A real estate. The above comparison is a reference point from year to year but the latest introduces an exciting upcoming change. The month to month figures show how the home sales are improving with less time on the market and bright sale to list price figures.

Home sellers, must be practical and overcome a negative mindset with the assistance of a LOCAL Realtor like Raphael. It is crucial, in today’s real estate, to have an awesome Internet presence and a sensational marketing plan based on reliable pricing. The home sellers Realtor must focus on the benefits of not only what the home offers but also the neighborhood and future investment opportunity. The module has changed and it takes more than a simple market analysis of your home to ‘make it happen’.

Let Raphael be your guide and assist you in the sale of your N.E.L.A home. A home sale is a MAJOR financial move so integrity, knowledge, negotiation and sincerity are key factors. Listen to what Raphael offers, is it not worth a little of your time when making such a decision for you and your family…

Your privacy is always respected. Contact Raphael today…

Chase Home Loans

Chase now brings to benefit you in any real estate transaction.

Chase offers 1% cash back on total P&I payments for the entire year for the life of the loan. Every new loan Chase originates that has a Chase checking account with auto pay from Chase can now be easily enrolled in this program.

Have you noticed the latest;

30 Yr.Fixed (FHA), Max $417,000, 5.000 with 1 point, 5.250 no points OR

it can be 3.750 with 1.125% points.

Contact Jason, at jason.m.jaime@chase.com for refinancing and quotes on loan amounts over 729,750 through $3,000,000 to service every home buyer or home owner in N.E.L.A!

Chase is a strong supporter to home owners and home buyers seeking to improve financial situations. Jason Jaime, is the local loan agent that can service all your needs. Act NOW, to contact Jason ( jason.m.jaime@chase.com) with a simple question for a rapid response. Jason, speaks Spanish and is empowered to bring you the best possible program per your specific need.

Raphael, your local resident Realtor works with Jason to better support his clients with options and variety in all their home financing needs.

Your privacy is respected and this serves solely as a verified recommendation based on past performance and client satisfaction.

N.E.L.A Home Buyer $$$

Here are some stats that will be of value to those currently in the N.E.L.A real estate market. The month-over-month changes in California’s median home price for 2009 were stronger than the long-run national average.  Low interest rates and tax incentives led to a rise in the demand for housing.  As a result, housing inventory was constrained and created upward pressure on home prices.

California’s housing market has shown signs of stabilization since early last year.  Sales of single-family homes bottomed out in August 2007, and the median home price reached its trough in February 2009.   In December, California’s median home price was 25.1 percent above the low for the current cycle.

In December, the median price of an existing, single-family home rose to $306,820, an 8.4 percent rise year-over-year, the second consecutive year-over-year increase, and the 10th consecutive month-over-month increase, according to C.A.R.’s (California Association Of Realtors) December sales and price report.

Home Buyers who purchase a median-priced house, live in their home for a norm of at  least five years, and sell it at the then current median price. The home owners have then averaged an annual rate of return of more than 11 percent, according to data collected by C.A.R. Not to bad in comparison to what a bank savings account will do for you.

Affordability by CAR for N.E.L.A homes shows that the buyer income should be in the vicinity of $55k. On an entry level home the monthly mortgage and insurance payment may range around $2k, depending on the specific community.

Get updated, do a simple home search for your areas of interest to see what is going on in that community. You will obtain accurate and detailed information to make your real estate planning more realistic. Contact, Raphael, your local resident Realtor for any other questions or concerns you may have. Take the time as it is a benefit to you with NO obligation. What a deal…

Remember your privacy is respected and some info on this post was taken from C.A.R data research.

Real Estate Taxes

The time has come for those annual tax filings. If you could have some relief in your taxes due and have a  benefit to go with it, what would you do? It’s here,  as current home owners seeking a new home are now being allowed a tax credit of $6500.  Now is the time to act while the tax incentive is still alive if a home purchase is in your future.
The next truth about real estate taxes is that home owners can have the amount due adjusted. Everyone knows how the real estate market has fluctuated in the past few years. Now is the time to make a move and update the value on your property tax bill. Home owners need not be afraid to obtain a current market analysis if the depreciation in value is considerable. The Assessor’s Office is very understanding and willing to assist any home owner to update the taxes due on a principal residence.

To successfully appeal your property tax bill, you must first obtain an experienced ‘local’ Realtor that is familiar with the area. Northeast Los Angeles homes have been impacted by falling values and the home owner does have the right to appeal and ask for a review.

Owning a home in Northeast Los Angeles can be an expensive proposition when the homes value is what the real estate tax is based on. The basis for your property tax bill, requires doing a bit of homework to obtain current market value. Initial research can be done online or with the assistance of a Realtor such as Raphael. Raphael, a local resident and specialist in Northeast Los Angeles can bring service and sustainable data to the table regarding an appeal of taxes due.

An assessment isn’t the same as a private appraisal, and the assessed value of your home isn’t necessarily how much you could sell it for today. Real estate assessment letters are mailed to homeowners on a regular basis depending on the location.

Your property tax bill will usually be calculated by multiplying your home’s assessed or sold value by the local tax rate of 1.5% for Northeast Los Angeles.

The home owner must first verify that the information shown on the County records is correct in the amount of rooms shown. Raphael has assisted many in helping the home owner achieve an updated value. An experienced ‘local’ Realtor knows the value and is able to support a market analysis with the right detailed documentation.

If any facts are wrong, then you may have a quick and easy challenge on your hands. Next, research your home’s value, with the assist of Raphael making it easier on you. A minimum of three to five comparable properties that have sold recently is a must.  The key is identifying properties that are very similar to your own in terms of size, style, condition, and location. If you’re willing to spend about $400, you can hire a private appraiser but why go that route. Raphael offers this service free of charge and with no obligation or commitment.

If the assessments on your comparable homes are lower than your detailed value, you have the ability to argue and present your findings to the County Assessor. Most assessors are willing to discuss your assessment informally by phone yet it is just as easy to visit the local office. The majority of properties in Northeast Los Angeles are under the control of the County Assessor located in El Monte.

A typical review, which usually doesn’t require you to appear in person, can take anywhere from one to three months. The Assessor may send a representative to view the property but your local Realtor can be there for the support required as a service to you.

How much effort you decide to put into a challenge depends on the drive and difference in value that the home owner has on record. Northeast Los Angeles is a vast area with home prices well above the U.S. median and with much fluctuation in price based on the neighborhood.

An easier route to savings might lie in determining if you qualify for property tax exemptions (http://www.houselogic.com/articles/common-property-tax-exemptions/) based on age, disability, military service, or other factors. Raphael offers advice and support to all N.E.L.A home owners seeking to correct the house value for a positive change to taxes due.

REQUEST, a comparative market analysis now from Raphael and become knowledgeable in current home values for your specific community in N.E.L.A.

The service is free, so why wait as there is nothing to lose and much to gain. The current economy makes every home owner cost conscious as the time for taxes has come. Ask, Raphael, for that CMA and put your mind at rest…

All information is private and always confidential.

N.E.L.A. Mortgage Rate History

Are you updated on today’s Real Estate market, specifically for Northeast Los Angeles? Allow Raphael, local Realtor, to assist. Mortgage rates have moved back to less than 5 percent, which have been categorized by industry experts like Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft as “near a record low.” This move that may help boost home loan demand and lend support to the housing market recovery. On January 28, the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 4.98 percent.

Affordability remains at record levels, supported by the lowest mortgage rates in decades, low home prices, as well as the first-time buyer and current repurchasing owner tax credits. So far this year, the home price-to-income ratio has fallen well below the historical average of 25 percent. The ratio now stands at a mere 15 percent. This info is current data from the National Association Of Realtors.

Sellers who listed their home at the price originally recommended by their Local Realtor, sold it:

* 38 days faster
* For 2.25% higher
* With 1 less price reduction

It supports the knowledge and service that a Realtor like Raphael can bring to sellers. Home Sellers who are not realistic and initially differ from their Realtors advice have more heartache and grief in their home sale.

Other notable stats include:

* Only 1 in 3 sellers staged their home, even with all the commonly accepted advantages of staging and preparing per their Realtor’s advice.
* Staging typically took between a simple 2 to 6 hours to complete.

Although it has advantages at all price points, staging was also found to be particularly important for homes priced over $600,000.
Source: Keller Williams Realty Research Study

These facts support the program of having a ‘local Realtor’ like Raphael for any home sale. Raphael lives and works strictly in Northeast Los Angeles and is part of numerous community outreach programs. A knowledge of the various communities in N.E.L.A is critical to better assist any home seller or home buyer today. Feel free to utilize the custom programs in doing a local home search or obtaining the current value of your home with the tools offered by Raphael. The details of having a client understand the local market and financial opportunities available is only a small part of what Raphael offers his clients.

Your privacy is always respected and never an obligation. Contact Raphael TODAY for a positive win-win experience relating to N.E.L.A properties.

N.E.L.A. Home Inspections

home during a purchase. We are all aware that upon presenting an offer to buy a home it is brought to the home buyers attention to inspect-inspect-inspect. A home buyer must sign numerous documents that state inspections are up to the home buyer. A strong Realtor will advise the home buyer to do more than just a normal home inspection depending on the home. Northeast Los Angeles Real Estate is an area which has a very large number of older character homes which can present different challenges on inspections.

A Realtor will offer recommendations of some reputable home inspectors but there is more than can be bypassed. Raphael, local resident Realtor, brings other issues out in the open. One must remember that the sewer lines can create problems due to age of plumbing. Hillside and view homes, which are abundant, in N.E.L.A, should have the foundation closely looked at.  Raphael has the expertise of what to recommend based on the type home and the location.

A home buyer can also request that the seller provide a copy of the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange report which is obtainable from  www.choicetrust.com. The report will show specifics that the home seller may have filed with their insurance company. A similar report, called A-PLUS, is also available from the Insurance Services Office. Finally, home sellers should be aware that this is a request that would need to be honored and is the right of any home buyer.

The other critical details range from the electrical to the plumbing condition of the home. Lastly, is the issue very common in the communities of northeast Los Angeles which is the factor of permits for work done by the home owner.

Raphael, advises the home seller of these issues that can take place and to disclose all that is known for a clean transaction of sale. Raphael also reminds the home buyer to consider all these inspections based on the aspects of the home in question. Just another reason that a resident local Realtor brings value and service for a successful transaction. Home sellers and home buyers both benefit by what Raphael brings to the table for a win-win home purchase/sale.

Ask Raphael, and contact him for free advice and tips that will assist you. Knowledge is key and these factors are critical when dealing with money matters.

All Info is confidential and privacy is always respected.