Wednesday, April 29, 2015

~~ CONGRATULATIONS TO MY CLIENTS ~~

*~*~*~* HI FOLKS .... MY CLIENTS WERE ACCEPTED AS THE NEW TENANTS OF THIS HOME IN CHINO .... THEY WILL TAKE POSSESSION ON MAY 15th ... It is a 4Bd / 2.5 Bath with 1,880 sf of living space & a low maintenance lot os 4,500 sf..... Very Clean & ready to move in .... Congratulation John & Melanie .... Big Smiles all around .... need help call me at 909.9102481 ... Cj *~*~*~*

Saturday, April 25, 2015

~*~*~ JUST A LITTLE "R & R" TODAY ~*~*~

~~ TODAY HAVING A LITTLE "R & R" WITH OUR FRIEND OF OVER 35 YEARS ~~ WOW ~~ I will still be answering my phone for clients but am looking for a little down time ~~ Schedule a Home Viewing, Ask for a Free Market Analysis of your Home or Ask how to get into position to Purchase a Home of your Own .... call Cj at 909 / 910.2481 ~~

Friday, April 24, 2015

*~* TODAY'S FEATURED LISTING - CHINO HILLS *~*

***** SOUGHT AFTER SUMMIT RANCH HOME ***** 4 BD / 2.5 BATH, END OF CUL-DE-SAC LOCATION; ASSOCIATION FESS OF ONLY $130 / MONTH WITH AMENITIES TO INCLUDE ... POOL, CLUB HOUSE, MULTIPLE TENNIS COURTS, PARKS, 1/2 COURT BASKETBALL, EQUESTRIAN COMMUNITY WITH HUGE STABLE & 14 MILES OF RIDING / HIKING TRAILS ... ALL LOCATED IN THE HILLS ... LISTED AT ONLY $658,000 .... FOR MORE INFORMATION & PRIVATE SHOWING CALL Cj AT 909.910.2481 *****

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

$$$ ~ What Not to Do as a New Homeowner ~ $$$

******* If you're new to Home Ownership, you'll definitely want to avoid these easy-to-prevent mistakes that could cost you big time. ******* We know so well the thrill of owning your own house -- but don't let the excitement cause you to overlook the basics. We've gathered up a half dozen classic boo-boos new homeowners often commit -- and give you some insight on why each is critically important to avoid. ** 1. Not Knowing Where the Main Water Shutoff Valve Is ** Water from a burst or broken plumbing pipe can spew dozens of gallons into your home's interior in a matter of minutes, soaking everything in sight -- including drywall, flooring, and valuables. In fact, water damage is one of the most common of all household insurance claims. Quick-twitch reaction is needed to stave off a major bummer. Before disaster hits, find your water shutoff valve, which will be located where a water main enters your house. Make sure everyone knows where it's located and how to close the valve. A little penetrating oil on the valve stem makes sure it'll work when you need it to. ** 2. Not Calling 811 Before Digging a Hole ** Ah, spring! You're so ready to dig into your new yard and plant bushes and build that fence. But don't -- not until you've dialed 811, the national dig-safely hotline. The hotline will contact all your local utilities who will then come to your property -- often within a day -- to mark the location of underground pipes, cables, and wires. This free service keeps you safe and helps avoid costly repairs. In many states, calling 811 is the law, so you'll also avoid fines. ** 3. Not Checking the Slope of Foundation Soil ** The ground around your foundation should slope away from your house at least 6 inches over 10 feet. Why? To make sure that water from rain and melting snow doesn't soak the soil around your foundation walls, building up pressure that can cause leaks and crack your foundation, leading to mega-expensive repairs. This kind of water damage doesn't happen overnight -- it's accumulative -- so the sooner you get after it, the better (and smarter) you'll be. While you're at it, make sure downspouts extend at least 5 feet away from your house. ** 4. Not Knowing the Depth of Attic Insulation ** This goes hand-in-hand with not knowing where your attic access is located, so let's start there. Find the ceiling hatch, typically a square area framed with molding in a hallway or closet ceiling. Push the hatch cover straight up. Get a ladder and check out the depth of the insulation. If you can see the tops of joists, you definitely don't have enough. The recommended insulation for most attics is about R-38 or 10 to 14 inches deep, depending on the type of insulation you choose. BTW, is your hatch insulated, too? Use 4-inch-thick foam board glued to the top. ** 5. Carelessly Drilling into Walls ** Hanging shelves, closet systems, and artwork means drilling into your walls -- but do you know what's back there? Hidden inside your walls are plumbing pipes, ductwork, wires, and cables. You can check for some stuff with a stud sensor -- a $25 battery-operated tool that detects changes in density to sniff out studs, cables, and ducts. But stud sensors aren't foolproof. Protect yourself by drilling only 1¼ inches deep max -- enough to clear drywall and plaster but not deep enough to reach most wires and pipes. Household wiring runs horizontally from outlet to outlet about 8 inches to 2 feet from the floor, so that's a no-drill zone. Stay clear of vertical locations above and below wall switches -- wiring runs along studs to reach switches. ** 6. Cutting Down a Tree ** The risk isn't worth it. Even small trees can fall awkwardly, damaging your house, property, or your neighbor's property. In some locales, you have to obtain a permit first. Cutting down a tree is an art that's best left to a professional tree service. Plus, trees help preserve property values and provide shade that cuts energy bills. So think twice before going all Paul Bunyan. ………………………………………. John Riha

Monday, April 20, 2015

TODAY'S FEATURED LISTING ~ CHINO HILLS

~~~ CHINO HILLS BEAUTY ~~~ TURNKEY ~ MOVE RIGHT IN ~~~ This 4 Bd & 2 Bath Single Story Home on a Corner 16,500 sf Lot and is ready to make this one your own *!*!*! Listed at only $550,000 .... INTERESTED ??? CALL FOR A PRIVATE VIEWING ... CJ AT 909.910.2481 ~~~

Friday, April 17, 2015

~ANOTHER OF MY LISTINGS NOW IN ESCROW~

*** CONGRATULATIONS TO SELLERS & THE BUYERS, SOON TO BE NEW OWNERS!! *** Open Escrow on 4498 LIDIA CT., Chino *** Listed at only $326,000 *** Great PUD Single Family Home which is a 3Bd. & a 2 Bath home !!!! If you need help with BUYING OR SELLING .... CALL ME AT 909.910.2481 ... THAT'S Cj ***

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

DO YOUR HOMEWORK WHEN PURCHASING A FIXER-UPPER

When you buy a fixer-upper house, you can save a ton of money, or get yourself in a financial fix. Trying to decide whether to buy a fixer-upper house? Follow these seven steps, and you’ll know how much you can afford, how much to offer, and whether a fixer-upper house is right for you. # 1. Decide what you can do yourself. TV remodeling shows make home improvement work look like a snap. In the real world, attempting a difficult remodeling job that you don’t know how to do will take longer than you think and can lead to less-than-professional results that won’t increase the value of your fixer-upper house. • Do you really have the skills to do it? Some tasks, like stripping wallpaper and painting, are relatively easy. Others, like electrical work, can be dangerous when done by amateurs. • Do you really have the time and desire to do it? Can you take time off work to renovate your fixer-upper house? If not, will you be stressed out by living in a work zone for months while you complete projects on the weekends? # 2. Price the cost of repairs and remodeling before you make an offer. Get your contractor into the house to do a walk-through, so he can give you a written cost estimate on the tasks he’s going to do. • If you’re doing the work yourself, price the supplies. • Either way, tack on 10% to 20% to cover unforeseen problems that often arise with a fixer-upper house. # 3. Check permit costs. Ask local officials if the work you’re going to do requires a permit and how much that permit costs. Doing work without a permit may save money, but it'll cause problems when you resell your home. • Decide if you want to get the permits yourself or have the contractor arrange for them. Getting permits can be time-consuming and frustrating. Inspectors may force you to do additional work, or change the way you want to do a project, before they give you the permit. • Factor the time and aggravation of permits into your plans. # 4. Double check pricing on structural work. If your fixer-upper home needs major structural work, hire a structural engineer for $500 to $700 to inspect the home before you put in an offer so you can be confident you’ve uncovered and conservatively budgeted for the full extent of the problems. Get written estimates for repairs before you commit to buying a home with structural issues. Don't purchase a home that needs major structural work unless: • You’re getting it at a steep discount • You’re sure you’ve uncovered the extent of the problem • You know the problem can be fixed • You have a binding written estimate for the repairs # 5. Check the cost of financing. Be sure you have enough money for a downpayment, closing costs, and repairs without draining your savings. If you’re planning to fund the repairs with a home equity or home improvement loan: • Get yourself pre-approved for both loans before you make an offer. • Make the deal contingent on getting both the purchase money loan and the renovation money loan, so you’re not forced to close the sale when you have no loan to fix the house. • Consider the Federal Housing Administration’s Section 203(k) program, which is designed to help home owners who are purchasing or refinancing a home that needs rehabilitation. The program wraps the purchase/refinance and rehabilitation costs into a single mortgage. To qualify for the loan, the total value of the property must fall within the FHA mortgage limit for your area, as with other FHA loans. A streamlined 203(k) program provides an additional amount for rehabilitation, up to $35,000, on top of an existing mortgage. It’s a simpler process than obtaining the standard 203(k). # 6. Calculate your fair purchase offer. Take the fair market value of the property (what it would be worth if it were in good condition and remodeled to current tastes) and subtract the upgrade and repair costs. For example: Your target fixer-upper house has a 1960s kitchen, metallic wallpaper, shag carpet, and high levels of radon in the basement. Your comparison house, in the same subdivision, sold last month for $200,000. That house had a newer kitchen, no wallpaper, was recently re-carpeted, and has a radon mitigation system in its basement. The cost to remodel the kitchen, remove the wallpaper, carpet the house, and put in a radon mitigation system is $40,000. Your bid for the house should be $160,000. Ask your real estate agent if it’s a good idea to share your cost estimates with the sellers, to prove your offer is fair. # 7. Include inspection contingencies in your offer. Don’t rely on your friends or your contractor to eyeball your fixer-upper house. Hire pros to do common inspections like: • Home inspection. This is key in a fixer-upper assessment. The home inspector will uncover hidden issues in need of replacement or repair. You may know you want to replace those 1970s kitchen cabinets, but the home inspector has a meter that will detect the water leak behind them. • Radon, mold, lead-based paint • Septic and well • Pest Most home inspection contingencies let you go back to the sellers and ask them to do the repairs, or give you cash at closing to pay for the repairs. The seller can also opt to simply back out of the deal, as can you, if the inspection turns up something you don’t want to deal with. If that happens, this isn’t the right fixer-upper house for you. Go back to the top of this list and start again. ................................. G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer whose parents bought and renovated a fixer-upper when she was a teen. A regular contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Thursday, April 9, 2015

FYI: CHINO VALLEY, CORONA VALLEY & SURROUNDING AREAS !~!

.... Hi Folks ... I believe this fabulous Bicentennial Mural is an important icon ..... I wanted to pass on this information to you & maybe this Mural which is now part our history, CAN BE SAVED !~!~!~! The hearing is tonight...

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

MY LISTING IS NOW IN ESCROW

#~#~# CONGRATULATIONS TO MY SELLERS & TO THE SOON TO BE NEW HOMEOWNERS OF THIS GREAT TURNKEY CHINO HILLS HOME #~#~# #~#~# SOLD IN 6 DAYS #~#~# THIS WAS AN EASTER GIFT FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED ! OPENED ESCROW ON MONDAY AFTERNOON #~#~# THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING ... I AM HERE TO HELP @ 909/ 910.24891 Cj

Sunday, April 5, 2015

WISHING ENDLESS ENJOYMENT THIS WONDERFUL DAY BRINGS !

#*#*# .. HAPPY EASTER .... WHAT A SPECIAL DAY !~! WISHING YOU A FUN DAY WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS ALONG WITH SEARCHING FOR THOSE HIDDEN BUNNY EGGS !!!! #*#*#

Thursday, April 2, 2015

WOW ~ DON'T FORGET THESE !!!!

*** 1. 4498 LIDIA CT. ~ CHINO ~ LISTED AT $326,000 *** 2. 15628 OBSIDIAN CT. ~ CHINO HILLS ~ LISTED AT $658,000 *** 3. 3736 WHIRLAWAY LN. ~ CHINO HILLS ~ LISTED AT $550,000 *** 4. 3717 ALTURA AVE. ~ CHINO HILLS ~ LISTED AT $650,000 *** WANT TO KNOW MORE ??? CALL ME AT 909.910.2481 ... CJ ***