REO Buyers Finally can choose their own Escrow

Our California Governor will be signing into law a bill to allow home buyers of REO properties to choose their own escrow services.Having an impartial escrow company, mutually agreed upon ensures smooth transactions for the buyer and seller. It is already a law that the Title company cannot be imposed on the buyer.This law was approved finally by both houses of the California legislature and will be signed soon!.

Let's conserve water and enjoy native gardens

Water managers in 36 states anticipate shortages by 2013, according to a report by the U.S. General Accounting Office. Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled, but public demand for water more than tripled, according to the EPA. Native and natural gardens look great.
For some households up to 70% of the water we use is on our gardens. Anyone can start a grey water recycling program. Ask Brenden with the City of Santa Monica: brenden.mceneaney@smgov.net

Mortgage Calculator New from Federal Reserve

https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/mortcalc/
Simple and it works

Did a workman come to your home and you are unhappywith their work, but not sure what to do about it?

Just off the presses, the 30th edition of the Consumer Action Handbook from the General Service Administration's Office of Citizen Services and Communication is chock-full of goodies for aggravated citizens who don't know how or where to complain.
The free guide, available at www.consumeraction.gov or by calling (888) 878-3256, has a section with tips on how to be a savvy consumer, another section with a list of public resources and contact information, and a third that contains an expanded list of information for corporate offices, consumer groups, trade groups and government agencies.

Feel free to call me for a referral of someone used by one of our clients or a Sotheby's agent anytime.!

Update on Fun in Santa Monica and the Westside

Join me Wed 9 9 2009 for 7 am kick off. Rousing start at 6 pm for the recreation of the 1909 ceremony, and we all need a taste of that 100 foot cake so we can watch the fireworks!

Santa Monica is offering a September 19 2009 Sat. Green Building Walking Tour
When: Saturday, September 19th, 10 AMWhere: Meet on the South side of the Carousel building on the Santa Monica PierDuration: approximately 2-3 hours Come join a walking tour of some of Santa Monica's green gems led by Brenden McEneaney, the City's Green Building Program Advisor. The tour will start at the historic Santa Monica Pier and follow a course around the downtown Santa Monica area, with several stops along the way that highlight some of the City's progressive and historic highlights in sustainability. The tour will focus on sustainable buildings, but as all things are connected in the local environment, it will touch on other related efforts too.

Westside Of Los Angeles Fun in September 2009

Fun Things to do in Santa Monica and the Westside in September

Brought to you by your neighborhood realtor®, Maralee Grantham

Don’t believe it, summer is not over, it really just began with warm weather finally coming to Santa Monica!
SM Pier celebrates 100 years Wed. 9/9, 2009: the celebration starts early with a grand re-opening ceremony, see the pomp and pageantry of the official rededication celebration, complete with musical performances and celebrity participants, along with a few centenarians who will cut the Pier's 100-foot birthday cake. At dusk see the first large-scaled fireworks spectacular in 18 years, launched from the Bay. Put your name on a plaque on the pier for $200!
Last Pier concert Sept. 3: punk rock founder Patti Smith and her band, starts at Sunset.
Annenberg Community Beach House 310 458-4904; Free and still open 9am to sunset, and besides daily pool passes you can now eat all day long! Web site shows classes from Yoga to Soccer. Tours at 11, 1 and 3 on the weekends tell you about the glamorous, kind donor who gave us this jewel. Ask the city and you will continue to have the free Tuesday night classes and concerts: 6:30 to 8:30 pm 9/1 Verdi Chorus sold out; 9/ 8 poetry and music; 9/15 a reading of the Long Embrace Raymond Chandler; 9/22, also sold out.

SM Chamber Mixer Wednesday, 9/16 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at FIG RestaurantSM Chamber’s Taste of Santa Monica Sunday, September 13th from 1:00pm-5:00pm

Drive-in at the Pier returns on Friday, September 11th through October 2nd at 7pm

Big Blue Bus Grand Opening/Open House Wednesday, September 23 from 11am-12:30

Amazing plays continue at theTheatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., 310 455 3723. This summer includes Julius Caesar, Cymbaline, The Cherry Orchard, The Miser and Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Planetarium at Santa Monica College 9/ 7, 18, 25 shows at 7 pm, free parking Drescher Hall; Griffith Park Planetarium shows $7 starting 11:45 am to last 8:45 pm weekends. You must go there to buy- beware park in red zone and you will get a $78 .ticket.

Santa Monica Ambassadors in pink shirts and straw hats help day to late night from 10 am to 12:30 am.You can become a volunteer ambassador by taking the “I am Santa Monica” course: Thurs, 9 24, 2pm-5pm. Receive a badge and be eligible for prizes such as tickets to the Cirque de Soleil.
Our Getty Villa annual play opens Sept.3 with a modernized Aristophanes' 'Peace', performed by Latino group Culture Clash. Previews at $20 are sold out, regular tickets are $42.50.
Medea opens 9/18 at UCLA’s Freud Theatre www.UCLAlive.org, a modern and tragic love affair between Jason and the Greek goddess.

Be Sustainable: In 1996 the city launched a plan to become self sustaining and there are many programs that we can join to learn and help the city & ourselves to be more environmentally self sufficient. Take 6 weeks of almost free classes ($25 materials fee) Tuesdays 1744 Pearl, Wed. at the Library 7-8:30 pm and Sept 20 and 21 start 6 weeks at 1-2:30 pm.
Included in the programs is the Car and Transportation Expo on September 26th & 27th. Help design the Big Blue Bus of 2050, go to www.busofthefuture.com. Also look for a week of programs following 9/18; to learn more contact Traci Reitz at.sustainablesantamonica.org Recycle: local stores agreed to help the city—Drop your used batteries at Walgreens or Whole Foods parking; Drop old electronics at our local Staples and Apple; Old cell phones go to our local ATT store.
The Santa Monica Conservancy offers walking tours of the city every Saturday at 10 am starting from 1436 2nd Street; Cost is $10 for non members and $5 for members. www.smconservancy.com
Westwood Farmer's market on Broxton Sundays 10 to 3 pm.

Saanta Monica Fun Things to do September 2009

Fun Things to do in Santa Monica and the Westside in September 2009

Brought to you by your neighborhood realtor®, Maralee Grantham

Don’t believe it, summer is not over, it really just began with warm weather finally coming to Santa Monica!
SM Pier celebrates 100 years Wed. 9/9, 2009: the celebration starts early with a grand re-opening ceremony, see the pomp and pageantry of the official rededication celebration, complete with musical performances and celebrity participants, along with a few centenarians who will cut the Pier's 100-foot birthday cake. At dusk see the first large-scaled fireworks spectacular in 18 years, launched from the Bay. Put your name on a plaque on the pier for $200!
Last Pier concert Sept. 3: punk rock founder Patti Smith and her band, starts at Sunset.
Annenberg Community Beach House 310 458-4904; Free and still open 9am to sunset, and besides daily pool passes you can now eat all day long! Web site shows classes from Yoga to Soccer. Tours at 11, 1 and 3 on the weekends tell you about the glamorous, kind donor who gave us this jewel. Ask the city and you will continue to have the free Tuesday night classes and concerts: 6:30 to 8:30 pm 9/1 Verdi Chorus sold out; 9/ 8 poetry and music; 9/15 a reading of the Long Embrace Raymond Chandler; 9/22, also sold out. SM Chamber Mixer Wednesday, 9/16 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at FIG RestaurantSM Chamber’s Taste of Santa Monica Sunday, September 13th from 1:00pm-5:00pmDrive-in at the Pier returns on Friday, September 11th through October 2nd at 7pmBig Blue Bus Grand Opening/Open House Wednesday, September 23 from 11am-12:30
Amazing plays continue at theTheatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., 310 455 3723. This summer includes Julius Caesar, Cymbaline, The Cherry Orchard, The Miser and Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Planetarium at Santa Monica College 9/ 7, 18, 25 shows at 7 pm, free parking Drescher Hall; Griffith Park Planetarium shows $7 starting 11:45 am to last 8:45 pm weekends. You must go there to buy- beware park in red zone and you will get a $78 .ticket.
Santa Monica Ambassadors in pink shirts and straw hats help day to late night from 10 am to 12:30 am.You can become a volunteer ambassador by taking the “I am Santa Monica” course: Thurs, 9 24, 2pm-5pm. Receive a badge and be eligible for prizes such as tickets to the Cirque de Soleil.
Our Getty Villa annual play opens Sept.3 with a modernized Aristophanes' 'Peace', performed by Latino group Culture Clash. Previews at $20 are sold out, regular tickets are $42.50.
Medea opens 9/18 at UCLA’s Freud Theatre www.UCLAlive.org, a modern and tragic love affair between Jason and the Greek goddess.
Be Sustainable: In 1996 the city launched a plan to become self sustaining and there are many programs that we can join to learn and help the city & ourselves to be more environmentally self sufficient. Take 6 weeks of almost free classes ($25 materials fee) Tuesdays 1744 Pearl, Wed. at the Library 7-8:30 pm and Sept 20 and 21 start 6 weeks at 1-2:30 pm.
Included in the programs is the Car and Transportation Expo on September 26th & 27th. Help design the Big Blue Bus of 2050, go to www.busofthefuture.com. Also look for a week of programs following 9/18; to learn more contact Traci Reitz at.sustainablesantamonica.org Recycle: local stores agreed to help the city—Drop your used batteries at Walgreens or Whole Foods parking; Drop old electronics at our local Staples and Apple; Old cell phones go to our local ATT store.The Santa Monica Conservancy offers walking tours of the city every Saturday at 10 am starting from 1436 2nd Street; Cost is $10 for non members and $5 for members. www.smconservancy.com
Find out what is going on in our neighborhood. Join our local org., Wilmont for Wilshire Montana: Join for $10 annual dues and vote on parking and construction projects for this area. The non-profit corporation was organized more than 17 years ago; it represents the 25,000 residents who live between the Ocean and 21st. and Wilshire and Montana. Telephone is 310 840 2257; meetings are 3rd Mondays each month 7 pm at the Ken Edwards Cr. At 1527 4th St., parking is free.