Bonnie Sterling

"Working to give Realtors a good name"

I'm a:	Real Estate Professional
Company:	C21
Location:	Simi Valley
Web sites:	My Web site
Phone:	(805) 584-1777

42 Answers
2 Best Answers
16 First Answers
20 Useful Answers

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About Me

About Bonnie Sterling
It is my pleasure to assist you with your real estate interests. I provide...
Extensive knowledge of todays Real Estate market
Strong negotiating skills
Successful in-depth targeted marketing plan that includes extensive internet marketing including Realtor.com Featured Homes.
Internet Marketing. I am an EPRO designated agent with training AND experience.

Personalized customer service and dedication
East Ventura County resident for over 20 years
I specialize in
The areas of Simi Valley, Moorpark, and the Conejo because this is were I grew up and now live with my family. I also service the Camarillo area and the N. LA Counties of Chatsworth, Northridge, and Agoura.
Residential properties, Distressed Property - including Foreclosures, RV access property, townhomes, and condominiums
-My first home purchase was a bank owned foreclosure. Squatters had been living in it for about 6 months and it had no working toilet, Yikes!
-As an RVer myself, I understand that not all RV parking is created equal.
I am very active in the Realtor community, as a full-time Realtor I participate in;
-California Association of REALTORS, National Association of REALTORS, Womens Council of Realtor.
-Simi Valley/Moorpark Association of Realtor - Board Member and MLS Committee Member.
-Conejo Valley Association of Realtors, Ventura Coastal Association of Realtors MLS Member

Real estate is the number one asset for most families. This is why I am committed to caring for your real estate needs as though they were my own. Whatever your real estate interests, I want the individuals and families I call clients to think of me as their first stop when they have questions about their home or property. I'm here to talk about the market over coffee, answer your question about what the neighbor sold their home for and refer you to other professionals who can make your life easier. When the time comes to sell or purchase real estate, you will be confident that I am the perfect professional for you. I'm looking forward to building a relationship with you.

How can I indulge your real estate interests? please contact me.

- Bonnie Sterling

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Bonnie Sterl…'s Questions (0)

Bonnie Sterl…'s Answers (42)

Are the prices for recently sold homes for real as listed on Trulia?

Asked Sun Aug 24 2008, 17:34 by Karen O. - Simi Valley - Home Buying - 4 answers

Bonnie Sterling answered:

Hi Karen, Jonathan is right and really savvy for someone who's not an agent. That is exactly what happens and this is why working with an agent is really valueable. Using only the information found online isnt enough. I often have buyers who keep talking to me about the Zestimates from Zillow. Those price estimates are based on algorithims that look at proximity. If a beautiful newer tract is near an older one, the radius that Zillow uses is not able to take that into account. I think that the information people have access to online is fantastic and I love working with buyers who are better educated about real estate, actually, I'm sure I would not have wanted to be a Realtor before the industry was techie, but it is still a local, in the field, understanding the neighborhoods and the features service business that cant be fully replaced by technology. - Sun Aug 24 2008, 21:04

Where can I find a full disclosure of calhfa loan details?

Asked Mon Aug 18 2008, 15:30 by Home - 93065 - Home Buying - 3 answers

Bonnie Sterling answered:

Hi, I would recommend working with a lender in person on this loan. I had a buyer do a CalHFA earlier this year with Jenni Sherman at Countrywide in the Tapo Office. Sure Countrywide has gotten a lot of bad press but they are an approved lender and working with an actual person who has successfully closed a CalHFA is so much better than trying to do it online or with a lender you later find out has never done one. Plus, these are a little tricky. Countrywide has an inhouse pre-underwriting type process so, the really have it dialed in before they package up the loan to submit to CalHFA, if that makes sense. Jenni can be reached at 805-306-7520. You can make an appointment and sit down and talk with her. Its the best way to work on one of these loans.

Good luck and let me know if I can help you find a home once you get pre-approved. I have a great automated service that will send you homes that meet your criteria once you know more about what you can price range you can qualify to purchase. I have helped FHA and CalHFA buyers purchase bank owned foreclosures this year. You can find me on the #1 foreclosure web site online http://www.RealtyTrac.com. I am the local agent for RealtyTrac for Simi, Moorpark and the Conejo or you can contact me at my web site referenced here. - Mon Aug 18 2008, 22:03

I'm interested about 243 VIA DEL PRADO, Santa Paula, CA 93060

Asked Mon Aug 18 2008, 15:15 by Amelia Grazi… - 93060 - Home Selling - 4 answers

Bonnie Sterling answered:

This home was actually listed as a short sale/preforeclosure and the listing expired this past week. It was listed for 350,000. If I had to guess, I think you will see it as a bank owned foreclosure listing in the near future. If you would like me to set you up to recieve an immediate email alert when it becomes available on the market (which could be a few days or a few weeks) please contact me personally. I promise not to pester you. I'll set it up for you and then when it becomes available, you'll know. - Mon Aug 18 2008, 15:30

We are selling our home and have lowerd our price quite a bit and finally have a very interested party.

Asked Wed Jul 30 2008, 13:31 by Alisa - 93065 - Home Selling - 10 answers

Bonnie Sterling answered:

Hi Alisa, I am wondering why you dont know if the buyer is coming with 100% financing? It would be on your offer contract. Also, in your offer contract, there is a contingency for the appraisal. So, if the appraisal did not come through matching your offer price, then you would have to consider a reduction to your agreed sales price at that time.

It seems that you have NO OFFER. Why would you waste your time dealing with this detail for an interested party who has not even taken the time to write you an offer. I would implore you to go to your Realtor and he is asking you to reduce your price to procure an offer you dont have to meet an appraisal you dont have??? There may be something missing here but it sounds like you dont understand what it is either and I would recommend that you feel completely informed about a decision you make based on a recommendation you dont fully understand.

Alisa, the decline value issue is real and you certainely want to work with a prospective buyer because I honeslty think that values will continue to decline and if you say that you cant afford to go lower than having a buyer now is certainely better than the buyer I believe you will have in 3 months. That said, you dont seem to have a buyer. You would know more about your prospective party if you had an offer. An offer is just paper and if your buyer is not willing to put the offer on paper to show their seriousness then why are you being asked to consider a price reduction?

I hope that getting on this forum empowers you to ask lots of questions of your agent who may be fantastic but does not seem to be communicating well with you, well enough that you understand what is going on or why you are being asked to make choices.

Good luck! - Wed Jul 30 2008, 14:23

How do sellers feel about participating in home buyer assistance programs such as The Nehemiah Program? I

Asked Tue Jul 29 2008, 10:19 by Judy - 93030 - Home Buying - 5 answers

Bonnie Sterling answered:

Wow, Money laundering is a really strong negative to associate with this program. In lending guidelines, there are very strict rules and this non-profit program is a work around for the rule that requires that the Seller not directly contribute to the buyers down payment. I think that Sellers who are working with a Realtor who can convey how the program works and how it affects the Sellers bottom line wont have a problem with this program. Using the program probably lessens the pool of homes you will have to select from, probably short pays and REO's are completely not workable for you. However, I have worked with Sellers to explain to them that by marketing their willingness to work with this program, they Sellers actually expand the pool of buyers who can consider their home. I try to keep my Sellers focused on the bottom line. If the home isnt selling and the reduce 10,000 wouldnt it be the same difference in their bottom line to offer that 10,000 to the buyer in the Nehemiah Program? Would that allow them to find a buyer easier?

On a personal note, I think that the buyer has a stronger commitment to the property if they have contributed some of the money to purchase the home from their own pocket. I feel their commmitment to stick it through the tough times will be stronger. But there are programs for teachers that help them buy with little or no money down and we dont tend to think that teachers are going to default. Are engineers or hairdressers any more likely to walk away, probably not. The lending program itself that the buyer qualifies with is usually very conservative so even with little or no money on the purchasing table, contributed by the buyer, the payments are usually within their means or they wouldnt qualify for these loans. These are not down payment assistance programs coupled with teaser interest rates and neg am loans.

In closing, I wouldnt rule this out, I would just work with a Realtor who could help you find a property that works in terms of the property and that property sellers financial flexibility. Good luck - Tue Jul 29 2008, 12:32

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