This is what I consider a good value for your money in today’s market. Located in Area 22 and more commonly known as ‘Lakewood Estates’, this home has a lot to offer and built with entertainment in mind.
Film Poster: Laddie McCabe
Location: YouTube
Date: July 9, 2015
This second video picks-up from the first clip and talks about the Whaley operation providing a more in-depth view of how these early homes were built.
Our filmmaker and great story teller takes us back in time through a journey highlighting fascinating details of how the Los Altos and nearby communities evolved. I didn’t realize this earlier, but most of the Whaley developments were primarilly funded throught FHA government insured loans (Federal Housing Administration), one of the most versatile home financing programs offering low-down payments and more flexible underwriting guidelines to first-time home buyers as well as many other borrowers.
Film Poster: Laddie McCabe
Location: YouTube
Date: July 2, 2015
The video is a captivating look at an early 8mm, and now vintage film, depicting the initial development of the Los Altos Community within the city of Long Beach.
According to the narrator of this film, Los Altos was our ‘nation’s first planned community’. Can you believe it? It is interesting to note that the area of Los Altos was developed first, and all other surrounding communities grew from there. The film talks about Lloyd Whaley’s plan and how the first homes, and surrounding community, were developed along Clark Avenue in 1946. By 1949, Whaley had already completed 880 homes between Bellflower Blvd. and Clark at the East and West, and between Stearns and Atherton at the North and South.
Alamitos Heights is located in Area 2 within the city of Long Beach, and it is a very desirable location. When the original home first became available for sale on the MLS, my client wasted no time in presenting an offer.
They were loan pre-approved and had the construction financing in place to build their new dream home. It was a very exciting time for them. At that time and in this particular case, I handled and facilitated the project construction funding through Indymac, one of many and now desist lender casualties from the recent real estate financial collapse that started in 2007 and continues to some degree to this day. Eight years have now passed since and it is difficult for me believe, it all seems so surreal…
This is a small cohesive family oriented community located on the East side of Long Beach, a quiet residential neighborhood. Los Altos was originally developed in 1946 by Lloyd S. Whaley at the end of World War II to provide housing to returning military personnel after the war.
“We love Los Altos”, my wife and I purchased our first home and moved here in 1983, at that time we were the ‘new kids’ on the block and continue to live in Los Altos ever since. I recall how we used to frequent “Bob’s Big Boy” located at the corner of Bellflower and Spring and to this day remember ordering our favorite dessert, a “Hot Fudge Chocolate Cake”. I miss the early days and all our old neighbors.
Much has change since in Los Altos, the area is now mostly populated by younger families, lots of kids (the cycle continues!) running around the clever maze-like street-layout (by design for safety reasons minimizing unwanted through traffic in the area). Los Altos today has many new shops, it is conveniently located within the city of Long Beach with easy access to the 405 freeway, close to the Long Beach Airport, coastline, beaches, entertainment and not to mention excellent dining.
For those Homeowners facing foreclosure and eviction, this section of the website will provide you with practical valuable information you can use to better prepare prior to making uneducated decisions. It is important that you learn all about the options available to you as a homeowner so a realistic and workable solution can be quickly identified.
I cannot emphasize the importance of being able to get out from under the stress related foreclosure, it affects your family, your children, your job, everyone around you. The quicker you get up to speed, the better your chances will be in correcting your situation and moving forward with your lives.
For additional information, please visit the Short Sales page.
Should you have any questions or feel I can be of assistance, be sure and contact me at your earliest possible convenience. Thank you.
Armando Serrano – vm (800) 456-9107
All notary acknowledgements must now include the following prescribed consumer disclosure enclosed in a box at the top of each certificate:
A notary public or other officer completing this certificate verifies only the identity of the individual who signed the documents, to which this certificate is
attached, and not the truthfulness, accuracy, or validity of that document.
Please note that this is only one of many new real estate legislation becoming effective 2015, a new legislation that directly affects the business of title and escrow.
Moving from a small town or suburb to a large city can be an intimidating proposition. Here are a few tips to help make your move as painless as possible.
Research before you move. It’s important to understand the culture you’re joining. Do research online and find out about school systems, neighborhoods, parking, weather, public transportation, and laws that are native to that area. If you can, visit a city before moving and connect with someone who’s lived there before.
Have a plan. There are a lot of steps to go through before you start packing the moving truck. Find housing before you leave, or at least know where you’ll stay while you look for a home. Never sign a lease on an apartment that you haven’t seen.
For the more savvy borrowers and investors, I decided to post this comprehensive comparison chart between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The chart illustrates the differences between both companies ‘loan qualifying criteria’ required of the loans they purchase.
Please keep in mind that some of these lending rules are not cast in stone and those do change over time. As lenders, we must understand and stay informed and current with all the new laws and regulations if we are to continue originating, funding and successfully closing your escrows. Some may find this information helpful, while others will learn something new.
January 6, 2015
If you are a financially distressed California client can no longer afford their homes and are pursuing a short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure, you may be eligible for financial help with your relocation to alternative housing.
The funds come from the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), part of the Keep Your Home California Program.
