Low Mortgage Rates

laguna beach twin point
 

Twin Points sold Tuesday for a record breaking forty five million dollars
This is pushing all records for Laguna Beach and Orange County!

Meanwhile mortgage money is cheap! Cash out to one million dollars!
Second home or primary with rates in the 3's
3.375% Super Jumbo Seven Year ARM APR 3.499
Call now to find out what you need to qualify.
When these events happen it only lasts weeks.
Why not save money with these historically low rates?
Call me to find out how this weekend (949) 784-9699
NMLS 324982
C G Barbeau
2/5/2016 3:56 PM rates change a couple times a day
This is not a commitment to lend.


beach mortgage

Orange county bus smoking

The 90 orange county bus today to point the brakes in the rear caught on fire 

oops

Tropical Storm in Orange County Fills Creek

First rain in Orange County California in a long time.
Don't forget to clean out your rain gutters and drains.
El Nino tropical conditions seem to be here in Laguna Niguel.

Low Down for Jumbo Mortgage

Caroline Gerardo Senior Loan Officer NMLS #324982     Office 949-784-9699 eFax 855-883-4303 CarolineGerardo@eaglehm.com www.eaglehomemortgage.com/carolinegerardo Committed to Seeing You Home. Eagle Home Mortgage 100 Spectrum Center Drive Suite 500 Irvine CA 92618 NMLS #849059 CA #813I609 Universal American Mortgage Company of California, dba Eagle Home Mortgage of California. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act. RMLA #4130383, NMLS #252392, NV #3244. Certain restrictions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Applicants must qualify.

Private Transfer Tax No FHA loan?

cute claw foot tub

New rules may prohibit Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Federal Home Loan Banks from buying mortgages in community associations with deed-based, or private, transfer fees. Ladera Ranch is one community in Orange County with these transfer fees (in addition to regular property taxes and Mello Roos). Pretty expensive home buying costs...

HOAs with transfer fees that benefit a condo community (the vast majority) could receive federal mortgage support. HOAs with mandated transfer fees that don’t directly benefit the Whole Association would be unable to obtain federal loans. Private transfer fees—typically a percent of the sale price and specified in the original condo documents—are fees paid when a condo or co-op unit is resold. They are paid from the purchaser to one of four groups: (1) the community association, (2) tax-exempt groups that provide a direct benefit to HOA owners, (3) tax-exempt groups that don’t provide a direct benefit to HOA owners (like the Sierra Club), or (4) third-party developers or investors.

All four types of transfer fees were sanctioned in the initial FHFA proposal; but in the revised proposal, transfer fees that provide “direct benefit” to communities (typically, the first two groups) would be allowed in conforming HOAs.

 “Direct benefit means that the proceeds of a private transfer fee are used exclusively to support maintenance and improvements to encumbered properties as well as cultural, educational, charitable, recreational, environmental, conservation or other similar activities that benefit exclusively the real property encumbered by the private transfer fee covenants.

Lawyers in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s office of general counsel have warned FHA that under existing “free assumability” regulations, the agency is not permitted to insure mortgages on properties that come with “restrictions on conveyance” — encumbrances on the title that could hamper transfers. That includes fees required to be paid at the sale of units in communities governed by homeowner associations.

This means mortgage companies and banks cannot finance a home with an FHA loan when a private transfer fee is part of the deal. HUD spokesman Lemar Wooley explains that “private transfer fees violate HUD’s regulations at 24 CFR 203.41, which prohibit ‘legal restrictions on conveyance,’ defined to include limits on the amount of sales proceeds retainable by the seller.
“HUD also requires lenders to convey clear marketable title in exchange for insurance benefits.”
Will HUD, the CFBP and attorneys next crack down on the huge fees Management Companies charge for condo certificates and providing copies of budget, bylaws and CCR’s? These things could be posted for free in pdf format on the HOA website

master bath with glass tile

Plant for Bees and Butterflies

Flowers in my garden to attract and feed butterflies and bees.
Bees need some help in this drought and competing with invasive
species. Planting flowers that they can use the pollen naturally gives
them the food they need to survive. I'm allergic to bees. I was only
stung once as a child. The keys to living in harmony with bees:
In the heat of the sun move slowly around where they are gathering
nectar. Cut flowers early or as the sun goes down. Bees are home asleep
before sundown.
Butterflies also need a little help, and they add grace and fun to your garden.
In my last house at Kite Hill we built a tree fort and planted coral seas passion
vine. With only water the vine soon overtook the fort which was a favorite
reading spot of my daughter Blair's. She could it up there in a wicker chair and
read for hours. The fort offered an ocean view, and the glory of thousands of
monarch butterflies.
The vine needed chopping regularly as it found the soil and spot perfect,
See below bottom I planted a different passion vine as I couldn't find
coral bells and it needs a solution to tangle up and attach to the roof of the
gazebo. Input please!

Bee is sitting in the painted blanket

Bees need:
bare ground spots for mud
plants they like are:
lavender, thyme, cilantro, fennel, borage, sage, hollyhock
buttercup, calendula, geranium,  aster, zinnia,
sweet assillum, poppy, sunflowers, heliotrope
I have all these in my garden in Orange County California
Mixing different perennials and annuals the bees and butterflies
enjoy makes for a colorful garden year round

heliotrope

Butter flies surprisingly enjoy a similar list
budderia, butterfly, bush,  primrose,
statice, lilac, lantana, phlox, aster, butterfly weed,
 milkweed, chives, red clover,
 lavender, loostrife, sedum, wisteria,
 coreopsis, marigold, globe thistle,
 yarrow, heliotrope, ceanothus, aster, cosmos,
 zinnia, thyme, calendula

Important note: I never use pesticides. I only use water,
home cooked compost and let the sun do what it will..
I do kill snails naturally with my snail ranch that they come
in and have a beer but never leave.

my backyard this October 2014

my front yard has three varieties of lavender and Mexican sage, see the little white butterfly?

mexican sage

coral bells passion vine

Milkweed favorite for monarch butterflies the pods dance on the wind

Coreopsis is hardy in California it blooms year round if you trim by thinning the plant and dead head the flowers

Okay here is a problem child. I planted this passion vine
for the butterflies but try as I might I can't get it to cling
to the roof or over the hanging.
Suggestions?

Search for your New Home

A soaking tub in your new home

Search the Southern California Multiple Listing Service MLS from your smart

phone or desktop free
http://hbsr.homescouting.com/myapp/54b9393c-a2cb-437e-a2d7-1784249a2081

I offer this application for free. You can shop during the day or night. You can look up the value of your own home. Search for comparable sales in your neighborhood. It will tell you all the open houses near to you on any given day. It links to the Multiple Listing Service directly. When a Realtor uploads a new listing, it is live and available for you to view. A helpful way to search for a home from your smart phone, car, apartment desktop. To sign on you will need my secret code. The secret code is my phone number with no dots, no dashes, no parenthesis... 9496378190 Once you sign in then you will set up your own personal user name and password. Feel free to look at properties as often or as little as you may need. Shop for a friend, share it, be my guest.

When you need a mortgage or home loan just remember me and that I gave you this free Birthday present. Any questions my friends? Please feel free to call me. I am here to help.

Bath tub Bathroom remodel

http://eaglehomemortgage.com/carolinegerardo/

NMLS 324982

Amaranth Recipe

Amaranth plant in my garden image

Amaranth grows in my yard about 15 feet tall. Orange County, California

Amaranthus is easy to grow.  I grew mine from seeds from a friend.

I don’t use fertilizer or any pesticides. 

It is a good companion plant for other vegetables. 

Colorful and edible and gluten free

Popped Amaranth this was made by daughter age 9

Día de Los Muertos treat made from popped Amaranth. 

Amaranth Day of Dead Treat


Popped Amaranth Honey Treat

Gluten Free Fun

Amaranth is gluten free
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Total time: 10 minutes
 Serves 4

Recipe Ingredients:
  2 cups popped amaranth,
  2 cups local honey,
  1/4 cup sugar,
  1/4 warm water,
  1/2 teaspoon vanilla.

Instructions:
Pop the amaranth in a heavy pot with lid, no oil about 3 minutes
Microwave honey in water and sugar for 20 seconds, 
mix dry and wet ingredients with hands. 
Shape into little heads and place on waxed paper. 
Decorate with seeds, raisins, peanuts or M and M candies.

Prep time: 2 minutes of fun
Cook time: 5 minutes

Cuisine: Ancient, Mexican, Children, Holiday

Category: Dessert 
Author: Caroline Gerardo

Nutrition facts:
One average sized head is 100 calories
Amaranth is source of Lysine. 
It also contains primary proteins called albumin and globulins, which, in comparison with the prolamins in wheat, are more soluble and digestible.
 One cup of raw amaranth contains 15 milligrams of iron, 18 milligrams of fiber;  9 grams of protein.

High in manganese calcium magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. Amaranth contains 6 to 10% oil, predominantly unsaturated, or around 77% unsaturated fatty acids, including linoleic acid, required for optimum nutrition. Not least in this list, amaranth is the only grain with documented vitamin C content.  

Amaranth is a gluten-free grain that's high in fiber, protein, and micronutrients. It's also a good source of: 

Manganese, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B5, Folate, Antioxidants. 

One cup of cooked amaranth contains 

NUTRITION

• 251 calories
• 9.4g protein
• 3.9g fat
• 46g carbohydrates
• 5.2g fiber

Amaranth may have several health benefits, including: 

• Reduced inflammation
• Lower cholesterol levels
• Increased weight loss
• Better digestive functions
• Increased energy
• Reduced risk of broken bones

Amaranth is high in fiber, which can help with digestion. It can also help with bloating, constipation, and cramping

Chinelos Mexican Dancer her
purple plumes remind me of Amaranth

Other uses:

I use a few red leaves in salad for color, it’s stronger like arugula, an acquired taste.

An easy colorful side dish:

Saute one finely chopped garlic clove in average olive oil (don’t waste your Extra fancy virgins)

Toss in torn leaves but save the stems for your compost pile.

Add salt, pepper and a pinch of paprika.

Cook like spinach 2 minutes

Author: Caroline Gerardo

Studies show amaranth can reduce blood pressure and

is helpful in preventing heart disease

Amaranth towering above the garden

Another sample amaranth in Laguna Beach growing with tomatoes

tomatoes

Other fun in my garden

vegetable gardening fun

Chinelos mask with leopard elephant nose  Day of the Dead Mask

Thanks for reading!
October 31st

Reduce Your Property Tax Bill

How to reduce your new increased property tax bill

It’s property tax increase time! 
Get a light green notice from Webster J Guillory
he’s increasing your property tax bill? 
It looks innocent enough.
It says (THIS IS NOT A BILL).
It’s a tax increase.
The State of California is broke. 
Statewide homeowners, property owners
are getting these increases.

Property tax increases are determined 
by home values, not made up by local governments.

Want to know what formula your assessor used to calculate increases in your property taxes? Give me a call.

Proposition 13 is getting push back. 
Notice on your bill the assessor may have 
increased the base year amount of value. 
On one of mine they increased the basis (the original sales price) about twenty percent. This could mean thousands of dollars in property tax increase for my bill. It is an error.

Some jurisdictions use a home's actual market value,
while others use a percentage of a property's worth.

Whatever value is used, it's multiplied by the local tax rate to compute the property's final bill (about 1.25%)  As home values now are increasing counties are looking for extra revenue. They will up your assessed values sometimes in great excess of the real value. Can you see them rubbing their hands together?

The National Taxpayers Union estimates that sixty percent of taxable property in the United States is over-assessed.

The tax man gets his money. They don’t make the process easy on purpose. Elderly and minorities are the least likely to appeal.

DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 15^th in Orange County.

This in itself is a trick. Many counties, Riverside for example made the window of opportunity to file very small just so homeowners and property owners won’t file.

Deadlines, along with the appeals process, vary in each county in California. The time allowed for an appeal is short. It once was true that you could appeal year round, and as often as you like. Counties made up rules (likely not legal) as to keep the number of appeals or tax reductions down. You may have only 30 days to appeal. Or in some smaller Northern California County offices you could have up to 120 days.

If your request for an appeal arrives at the assessor's office even an hour after 5:00 on the protest deadline, so sorry too bad. The wait is imposed until the following year (or sometimes the next assessment, which could be longer) before you can appeal. Counties have a habit of losing these appeals. I have read some statistics that twenty percent of the appeals disappear. Send by certified mail AND go get a stamped copy from the counter.

Assessments can be appealed on two grounds: a mistake in the assessment of your house or an assessment at a higher rate than comparable homes.

County appraisers also may use historical information that's wrong. A home's square footage, for example, might have been incorrectly calculated on original construction documents.

Obvious mistakes aren't difficult to spot. Is the inhabitable square footage figure correct? Does the assessment say your home has four bedrooms when it only has three? But you also should consider checking the assessment's accuracy by comparing it with a recent appraisal of your property.

Make sure that any property changes, particularly those that would negatively affect the value of your home, are part of the assessment. New commercial building next door? Bluebird Canyon residents and neighbors mostly failed to use the slide and loss of road access to reduce their bills.

Don't forget any modifications or additions you've made. If you've torn down a gazebo, removed a garage or taken away something structural the value may be lower.

The other way to challenge an assessment is to see how your home value is in reference to houses in your neighborhood. Comparable means homes of the same size, age and general location. They must be within 20% of the square footage, couple block proximity, similar construction and age. You will need to know if they have a pool or other improvements.

Learn the appeals procedure for the county your property is located in. You can find the information on the county government or tax assessor's website, and download the necessary forms. The timing of your appeal is particularly important: San Francisco, for example, accepts appeals of annual assessments only between July 2 and Sept. 15.

Need help? Call me I can walk you through the fire.

Eagle Home Mortgage Rates for Conforming loans SFR Owner Occupied Purchase under $417000 20% down FICO 721 Today 7/9/2014 Rates change several times a day This is not an offer to lend you money.

15 Yr. Fixed at 3.250%	3.644% APR
30 Yr. Fixed at 3.875%	4.142% APR

(949) 637-8190 Cell

NMLS# 324982

Call your tax assessor and find how they determined your value (if they will answer the phone).  If you can show she wrote down the wrong square footage for your house or the number of bedrooms, or that she missed an exemption or deduction you're entitled to under the law you are on strong footing.

File your appeal according to exact county procedures. This will often include paying a fee. You'll be notified when your appeals hearing is scheduled. If you don’t get notified, file again before the deadline.

Collect evidence that your house was overpriced. You may need to hire a Realtor or appraiser to give you a broker price opinion. I have a program that can get you on the Multiple Listing Service to find comps. You will need to not just state the comp address, sale date in past 60 days, and square footage- you will need photographs and a description of why the house is similar. If you can find comparable properties that sold for substantially less around the time that your house was appraised, this would be evidence that your value isn't what the assessor states.

You can try using the assessments on similar houses for the same purpose, however getting access to the bills is not as easy as the Assessor can view from their computer software. In other words- the Assessor has tools to argue back. Know your facts.

In California assessed value only rises two percent each year until a house is sold and reassessed: If your neighbor bought his house 10 years ago and you bought an identical model last month the taxes will be different.

Attend the hearing, or send a representative in your place. Failure to make your scheduled hearing will probably result in the board rejecting your appeal. Be prepared with any forms or documentation you're required to have.

You may need six copies of the papers.

Here’s the link to  OC form. They do not make it easy.

You will need your bill to file the form.

https://assessmentappeals.ocgov.com/aa/registeruser.jsp/

Do not trust the online application alone.

Mail a certified copy. Or call me for help
(949) 784-9699

http://eaglehomemortgage.com/carolinegerardo/

Flower Arrangements Free

How to Make Free Flower Table Arrangements for a Banquet

Lavender cut from my garden

Tutorial on making flower arrangements for free from

flowers in your yard.

My garden in Orange County is 100% organic.

I do not use pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers.

I'm growing herbs, flowers, and vegetables.

In California public schools funding for sports other than

the main stream - is non existent. Events are put on with 

the parents funding everything. I want the end of season

party to be special and fun. 

My son plays Lacrosse for Dana Hills High School

Out banquet was last night and I made ten arrangements

from flowers in my yard.

Here is the step by step.

orange buck of water with frecias and lavender

You will need

some buckets filled with water

good pruning sheers

regular scissors

recycled plastic food containers

paper

recycled ribbon or twine

White bucket of water with Boston fern fronds

First step is to cut more than you might think you need.
Boston fern grows like a weed on my shady side yard.
I cut about fifty swords and threw them in a bucket.

French lavender, grosso, latifolia, and intermedia

Out front in full sun I have four different lavender plants that
keep blooming as long as I keep them thinned out. Cutting some
eighteen inch stalks and they go in another bucket. I trimmed about
40 big bunches.

roses, coreopsis, and lavender

Out front I also have some roses, sunflowers, freesias, and

snapdragons. I cut half of the front yard flowers to make long

as possible stems.

This mix went into another bucket.

Trimming out flowers will keep the plants

healthy and make them repeat bloom.

lavender cut outdoors on brick patio

Instead of working in my garage I chose to sit on my front

this makes clean up easier and the weather here is amazing.

This photograph shows a long stalk of lavender. Only two

flowers will be used from this piece.

remove lower leaves

With your fingers strip off almost all the leaves and stack the
flowers facing same way. Trim the bottoms off to have a
piece now about eight inches long.

trimmed stalk - more flowers fit in the vase and less bacteria in water

You don't want all the leaves to crowd the vase, or rot
in water. The flower is the most fragrant and pretty part
of the plant. This activity is quiet lovely. The aroma of
the lavender will penetrate your soul and relax your mind.

lavender on wicker chair

Some photos of the lavender waiting for trimming. The bees

followed me into the shade. They didn't bother me, I think

they were getting one last sip of the now easy pickings.

painted blanket, rosemary, feverfew for arrangement

From my backyard:

sweet peas, painted blanket, rosemary, thyme,

chamomile, and more roses.

plastic buckets to keep flowers fresh before the event

I am using plastic food containers that I save and keep

clean and stacked under the sink. Ask friends to save them

- recycling at its finest :)

I stripped all the flower leaves down and begin distributing

a variety to each vase. They don't have to be perfect or

exactly matching. This is fun.

to save costs and the plastic vases are covered in tissue and ribbon

You could use fabric to cover the vases. I've hot glued bark
on vases and used brown paper lunch bags. These are just
a simple thank you gift to volunteers and Senior Mom's
on the team.
Each arrangement has about 30 flowers and they smell
heavenly

view of arrangements before the event

flowers are colorful and will cheer up the tables

Gallardia

gallardia, roses, rosemary

complete arrangements ready to be loaded in the car

They are done! Sitting on my dining room table, waiting to

be loaded into two baskets with some rags underneath to

keep them standing upright for the ride.

Our dinner at El Adobe was a success. I hope the simple

gift of a little bouquet with a note saying :

"Thank you"

will inspire more volunteers for next year.

If you have an Orange County Charity

that might need free table arrangements

or you want to pick up organic flowers

to cheer someone- let me know how I can help.

Thank you for stopping by -

If you have need of a low mortgage rate

please call me (949) 784- 9699

NMLS 324982