http://www.trulia.com/voices/profile/Real_Estate_Pro-Laguna_Niguel_CA-342215/The latest answers submitted by Eric Israel to questions asked on Trulia Voicesen-ushttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/Is_this_still_for_sale_And_who_can_I_contact_rega-143343Answer by Eric Israel: This puppy actually sold 06/04/2009 for $243,500. It was a short sale that was on the market a total of 128 days. You can view all the bank owned homes in Orange County here: http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtmlMon, 6 Jul 2009 23:25:06 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/How_large_is_the_yard_-143250Answer by Eric Israel: This is a 3000 SqFt lot and an attached home short sale currently showing "back up" status 236 days on market. You can view all the bank owned homes in the county here: http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtmlMon, 6 Jul 2009 16:18:36 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/Is_this_property_still_available_I_am_interested_-142170Answer by Eric Israel: Any agent would assist you in getting in and taking a look but truth be known, you don't need anyone. Go in and talk directly with them and cut yourself a deal. If you feel like you need representation, then call anyone of us:)Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:15:39 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/Is_this_Multi_family_home_is_vacent_-137958Answer by Eric Israel: This is a short sale and there are tenants in it. Tenants do not know about sale. If you decide to make an offer on this you will not be able to see the inside beforehand and you will just make your offer subject to interior inspection. I can easily help you. You can view all the bank owned homes in OC and beyond here: http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtmlWed, 17 Jun 2009 18:14:21 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/who_is_the_listing_company_-135154Answer by Eric Israel: This is an expired listing of a bank owned home that was involved in a scam from about 4-5 years ago and has been in and out of bankruptcy. It was an REO that was on the market for some time. It has some GEO issues and needs to be completely remodeled to say the least. There is a chance you may be able to buy it but no bank will lend on it as it isn't habitable. It would need to be an all cash purchase if we can get an opportunity to purchase. You can visit my site here www.socaloceanviews.com. Contact me for more information on this propertiy and others like it.Tue, 9 Jun 2009 23:32:40 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/I_am_eager_to_buy_a_new_home_with_downpayment_assi-101667Answer by Eric Israel: Click here for all the area first time home buyer programs: http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional11.shtml .Sat, 30 May 2009 23:15:00 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/removed-130967Answer by Eric Israel: This is easy. Have you been pre-approved for the balance of the purchase as this is the first step in buying a foreclosure property. Click here to view all foreclosures and bank owned homes in Buena Park: http://socallistings.marketlinx.com/SearchDetail/Scripts/PrtBuy4Photos/PrtBuy4Photos.asp?emailGUID=c8f622ef-90b9-4fcd-81d0-dddef1cf63a2&AgentId=SISRAERI . The bank owned home is the best deal today. You can go here to view all the bank owned homes in OC by price: http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtml .Sat, 30 May 2009 23:12:57 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/is_this_home_still_available_-105687Answer by Eric Israel: This is a regular sale on the market only 4 days: http://socallistings.marketlinx.com/SearchDetail/Scripts/PrtBuy4Photos/PrtBuy4Photos.asp?emailGUID=0c1d21bd-b650-47b2-8276-40a408fc2299&AgentId=SISRAERITue, 31 Mar 2009 22:05:53 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/i_m_a_buyer_and_i_have_been_working_with_my_curren-105669Answer by Eric Israel: I'd drop her like a fly and move on to someone else. Unless that is if you signed a buyer broker agreement? How come you haven't secured a home after 6 months? Do you think it was the agent? Pick out someone who has a decent website and or knows more than the average bear. I'd be very careful of any agent wanting to get you in their car really quickly to show you homes as this is the first sign of an agent with no business and an agent like that won't be right for you. Check this out and see what you think http://www.socaloceanviews.com . I post all the bank owned homes by price in OC and have a ton of other extremely relevant info for you. It should not take 6 months to get you a super hot deal as there are many of them out there. The bank owned homes are the deals today but you need an agent who knows how to write these types of offers and who is able to posture and structure your offer so it will be seen by the bank (amongst the multiple offers they receive today) and either countered or accepted.Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:47:23 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/What_is_the_condition_of_this_property_poor_les-80023Answer by Eric Israel: This is a fixer upper and a short sale at that http://socallistings.marketlinx.com/SearchDetail/Scripts/PrtBuy4Photos/PrtBuy4Photos.asp?emailGUID=0f82e48a-748d-4770-9f63-853dd8bc65c1&AgentId=SISRAERI. You can view all the bank owned homes here http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtml. let me know if I can help you as I am in Dana Point.Tue, 13 Jan 2009 22:42:55 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/How_do_you_view_if_a_Foreclosed_home_is_actually_f-74992Answer by Eric Israel: Administrator, the talk was about REO's in my post. Is that what your last post is referring to? I'm not sure what is happening in Thousand Oaks but down here there is no such thing as a REO (bank owned) homes being on the market 6-9 months. Are you an active agent or a lender?Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:52:19 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/How_do_you_view_if_a_Foreclosed_home_is_actually_f-74992Answer by Eric Israel: Happy holidays Lisa. This is easy. If the home is on the market, it will be on the MLS and other public websites such as Realtor.com. Any agent can pull up all the foreclosure homes on the market and get them to you. If you are looking on special foreclosure sites like Realty Trac, most of those homes are NOT actually on the market as these sites like to post homes that have had a "NOD" or notice of default filed and recorded with the county assessors office. I would not be searching on these sites. It would help you to work with an agent who has experience with forelcosure homes and I happen to specialize in this. I post all the bank owned homes on my site here by price and these are automatically updated daily http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtml. You can scroll down on that page for more really good information. As far as pricing goes, bank owned homes here in Orange County are averaging 95% or more of their asking prices. Many areas are averaging above the listed price. When the time is right, you should be pre-approved by a local lender with a letter stating such in hand. Bank owned homes are the best buy in todays market and I can easily help you when the time is right.Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:57:46 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/What_High_School_that_this_house_fall_into_guaran-73933Answer by Eric Israel: Check this link out http://www.iusd.k12.ca.us/asp-bin/whichschool/ as you can enter in an address and see which school pops up. Or, go directly to their site http://www.iusd.k12.ca.us/ as they will answer any questions. You can NEVER trust what a listing may say or even what an agent may say. It has to come out of the districts mouth. That is the only guarantee.Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:12:23 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Should_i_buy_a_home_in_Anaheim_hills_or_Corona_-72975Answer by Eric Israel: Looks like you already have your answer:) There is no doubt you can get more for your money in Corona but personally I don't think Riverside County is a better long term investment then Orange County. Then when you add in the traffic and commute, I think your answer will be pretty clear. If you decide on Corona, maybe you might think about renting for another 6 months to see what happens out there foreclosure wise??? Anaheim Hills like many other OC cities is in high demand today despite the downturn in the economy etc... I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone advising you to buy in Corona over Anaheim Hills?? You never know, I've been wrong before. You can check out all the Bank Owned homes in OC here http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtml. Let me know if I can help you?Sun, 14 Dec 2008 09:38:14 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: Sighburr, this has been basically dead for over a week. It was fun while it lasted. Asher hasn't wanted to come on and detail us on his progress of this home:(Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:37:14 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: I'm not a good painter Asher, but if things fail in my world, I'll look you up. Be sure to keep us posted on your transaction.Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:11:01 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: Asher is quite eloquent huh? I love the part about the gas pumper in Oregon. Fell off my donkey laughing so hard. You are right Robert, he is a wonderful reminder. He deserves his attorney and his Redfin agent. Asher, honestly, thanks for the laughs the last couple of nights. Sounds like you are jealous of real estate agents. Hey, I thought I would give you the link to the CA DRE in case you want to look into what it would take to get your license: http://dre.ca.gov/exm_apply_sales.html.Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:26:47 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: Thanks for the kind words Asher. I give you credit because this is the largest post I have seen. You are in denial my friend. You knew when you asked that agent to show you the home that you would be using Redfin. We have already established this. Whether Redfin knew at that time you would be using them is irrelevant. You knew you would but you wanted someone else to do their job. I understand why that agent got upset because after you told her, she felt used. That is how buyers like you are. It happens everyday. If you were as smart as you think you are you would have just given this agent your best price you would pay for the home already factoring in commissions. See, you were too focused on that 2.5% of the purchase price and what % you might get back to understand you were better off to let her write your BEST offer. I guarantee she would have been able to reduce the price easily by the 2.5%. Problem is, your education got in the way and all you could think about was someone else's commission and not what the best price was that you could have gotten the home for. What do you care how much commission she would have made if you got the home at a price you really wanted. See, here is where your problem lies. Lastly, stop trying to make it out that you didn't have an agent when you called her because in your mind you did. Now your lawyer will pick up where you left off and try and get you the home but I am sure they already accepted an offer. BTW, how much are you getting back from your attorney? Surely, you beat him down too right, or are you going to have him write it and then take it to another attorney for submission? Please let all of us know how this turns out. I'm still available if you can't find a competent agent or attorney:)Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:21:29 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: Asher, it goes back to your post. You asked a listing agent to open the house for you when you ALREADY had your agent picked out to write your offer. That listing agent got upset because she felt it was the duty of your agent to do that. This is what the beef is. Nothing else. Your idea of a lawyer writing your offer is comical. You obviously have issues with realtors and probably anyone else earning decent commission. Do you pull the same stuff with doctors, dentists and mechanics? If you were smart enough or knew smart agents you would easily know that a good agent can negotiate an offer or posture and structure an offer that would easily be worth more than their commission. This is where your problem lies. By the time your lawyer gets through putting together your 14-15 pages for just your initial offer, your dream home will have been scooped up by a buyer who had common sense and had their agent jump on it. Lastly, this donkey doesn't troll for work here my friend. I get to blow off steam and laugh at many of the posts made by buyers like you! Thanks for your laughs. My stomach still hurts. Email us all back with details after you close escrow on your new home as many of us would like to hear your success story.Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:02:27 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: Steve, you don't understand real estate and the MLS so that is why you don't agree. The public has many sites such as Realtor.com, and many others. All information is shared basically. Zillow is for aerial mapping and past sales and that's about it. I don't recommend anyone going there to find a home. Also, there is no "mandated" commission, just whatever a seller is offering. Also, David's claim is accurate but you don't understand what he meant. He was referring to the commission the listing agent was earning which is no ones business. You may have thought he was referring to the buyers agent commission which is easy to find out. Regarding FSBO's. They are in a league of their own. They cannot list on the MLS because the MLS is for agents but as you pointed out, they can hire a flat fee artist to do so but they will have to offer a commission. Contrary to popular belief, most of us agents earn our money, but many people think what we do can be done by donkeys. Hopefully your stay in programming and I'll stay in real estate:) I'm wondering why Thom removed his posts? Where's Asher, probably calling his Trulia agent:)Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:40:52 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: Nice Cameron. Well put. Asher is just upset that when he called a listing agent to show him her listing (even though he knew he had his own representation). She got upset and he didn't understand why. Maybe you could so eloquently explain to him why most agents would feel the same way as that listing agent? Redfin will be done in less than a year in this area.Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:10:08 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: Asher, you never explained to us why you called the listing agent to show you the home when you Redfin agent is representing you? I think many of us agents would like to know this answer? Why didn't you Redfin agent call the listing agent and make the appointment?Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:36:16 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: I thought Redfin agents had memberships to local realtor associations and had their own lock box keys which would enable them to show you the property? Is this not the case with Redfin? Truth be known Asher, you don't need an agent. Skip Redfin, go directly to the listing agent and have her submit your offer minus the commission the buyers agent would have gotten. Then you will be exactly where you wanted to be had you used Redfin. Hopefully there won't be any problems along the way. Here's an example of why buyers usually use their own representation. Let's say you and your wife are getting divorced. She has told you she will go after all your assets. Would you hire the same attorney who is representing her? Most listing agents if called by a buyer who told them they already had an agent wouldn't want to show the home. They feel it is the job of the buyers agent.Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:50:45 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Redfin_vs_traditional_agent-69203Answer by Eric Israel: Hi Asher, many agents think that anyone who rebates their commission is a "discount" broker. No one likes to be called that. Zip Realty does it, Redfin does it and if you press almost any agent (especially in this market), they will rebate some or a portion of it and call it a referral fee. I'm, surprised she didn't ask you whether you were represented before she showed the home to you? I think typically a Redfin agent or Zip agent is quite likely unable to get their own clients but so what? If you really like the home you can do 3 things. 1. go with your Redfin agent. 2. go with a traditional agent like me:) 3. go with the listing agent but have her reduce the price at least whatever the buyers agent's commission would have been. I have a question for you. Why would you have contacted the listing agent to show you the property when Redfin is representing you?????Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:26:29 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/what_percentage_should_you_ask_for_on_Reo_property-69275Answer by Eric Israel: Great job Lindsey. I like your answer better than mine:) Can't get your link to open.:(Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:34:52 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/what_percentage_should_you_ask_for_on_Reo_property-69275Answer by Eric Israel: Banks are averaging here in OC 95% or MORE. This is well documented. The property that your question is about actually sold for 90% of it's asking price. Remember, I didn't say ALL properties sell at 95% or more. I said that is the average. There are areas I have seen go over asking with multiple offers. You can view all the bank owned homes here http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtml. Good luck and let me know if you want to see any of these:)Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:17:55 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/what_is_the_status_of_this_home_-68464Answer by Eric Israel: The truth is this was priced at this low number to attract multiple offers and that is what they have done. It is on hold because they have too many offers on it and the bank doesn't want any more until they can see what they have. Unless you are prepared to pay over this number, you should forget about this home. You can view other bank owned homes by price on this site http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtml. Let me know if I can help you further?Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:03:25 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/My_husband_and_I_are_first_time_buyers_and_we_are_-68348Answer by Eric Israel: Educate your self as much as you can. Keep your credit good or work on upgrading it if isn't so good. Read good articles on the many aspects of real estate and being a home owner. Start to pin point an area or cities of interest. Then start studying values through sold homes and homes currently on the market in those areas. Go to as many open houses in those areas as you can and ask lots of questions. Be an expert on values in the area you eventually want to buy. Then interview agents to see whom you best "connect" with. After all that, you will be ready to buy. Here is a great site to visit for loads of extremely relevant information http://www.socaloceanviews.com/custom4.shtml, and this is also very good reading which will help educate you http://www.socaloceanviews.com/custom4.shtml, Good luck and contact me when you are ready to go.Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:58:10 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Selling/I_lived_at_Mirar_Vista_Drive_in_Mission_Viejo_as_-67836Answer by Eric Israel: It last sold 2/27/1990 for $222,500. The last sale on that street according to the MLS is on 1/2/2004 for $475,000.Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:10:19 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Is_this_house_still_on_the_market_Belvedere_St_-67010Answer by Eric Israel: This bank owned home entered escrow 10/15/08 with only 5 days being on the market. You can view all the bank owned homes in OC here http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtmlSat, 8 Nov 2008 12:37:20 PSThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/On_the_Latern_Hill_C_Dana_Point_CA_the_title_-64685Answer by Eric Israel: Not sure what site you are getting your information but as you can see this is a 2 bedroom attached bank owned condo http://socallistings.marketlinx.com/SearchDetail/Scripts/PrtBuy4Photos/PrtBuy4Photos.asp?emailGUID=e675ac16-d670-4b1d-a570-e7e07a1ba0f0&AgentId=SISRAERI. Let me know if I can help you. You can also view all the bank owned homes in OC on my website http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtmlSun, 26 Oct 2008 22:56:44 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Foreclosure/Do_I_need_to_have_the_full_asking_amount_in_cash_p-64682Answer by Eric Israel: A lock box and sign will stay on the house through the close of escrow. Just because those 2 items are there now does NOT mean it is necessarily available. Contact a listing agent on many of these REO/Bank Owned homes is like trying to call your shoe and have a conversation. I didn't say ALL, I just said some. Sounds like on this one you dialed your shoe. Typically, you would need proof of any down payment funds to go along with any offer you might make. To have proof of funds for the entire asking price of the home just to see it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. They might have said to you (while trying to qualify whether you were a "real" buyer) that you would need proof of funds to make an offer and maybe you heard it differently?? If they called you back and said it was sold, what they probably meant was that the bank has already accepted an offer. This is why I do not recommend a potential buyer calling the listing agent because many times the translation is lost. You can view all the bank owned homes here http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtml. I can easily help you if need be. Email me back the address and I'll get all the details for you.Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:47:30 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Home_Buying/Is_it_possible_to_buy_a_house_in_Costa_Mesa_for_K_-64496Answer by Eric Israel: Sure, there is 1 home available http://socallistings.marketlinx.com/SearchDetail/Scripts/PrtBuy4Photos/PrtBuy4Photos.asp?emailGUID=d3a94372-c11c-4448-94c9-889a3692864d&AgentId=SISRAERISun, 26 Oct 2008 00:19:53 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Schools/Question_about_Haster_Education_Center-64479Answer by Eric Israel: This should answer your questions http://www.trulia.com/schools/CA-Garden_Grove/Haster_Education_Center/Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:20:01 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/Is_this_property_still_available_-63881Answer by Eric Israel: This property was originally on the market from 5/21/07 till 11/22/07 for $769,000. The listing expired then and that was the last time it was on the market. According to the tax rolls, it never sold. Visit all the bank owned homes in OC here http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtml.Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:05:58 PDThttp://www.trulia.com/voices/Property_QandA/can_you_please_contact_me_about_this_property_-63503Answer by Eric Israel: This home isn't even on the market. Trulia gets their information from Realty Trac. Realty Trac uses a fancy term as "Pre Foreclosure" which really means that an owner has become delinquent enough to have their lender file a "NOD" or notice of default against the property. This gets recorded at the county assessors office and Realty Trac takes it and posts it on their website as a pre-foreclosure. You should go after bank owned homes as those are the good deals now. Huntington Beach is in high demand however so you should act quick when a new bank owned home comes on the market. You can view all the bank owned homes in OC here http://www.socaloceanviews.com/professional1.shtmlTue, 21 Oct 2008 08:26:02 PDT