POINT ROBERTS Great Real Estate Investments; Chinese from Hong Kong
and China etc. buying up Point Roberts, WA

an investment of $475K+ may give them a greencard and immigration
rights needed to move in full time to stay and work in US -
(vs. Canada require about $2mil. + for immigration)

They bought the golf course, the Marina and developed farms -

Ex.....


Bald Eagle Golf Club
Unlisted
555 views Jul 12, 2019

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNYgIhD_RdU

if it happen? The property values in the Point Roberts may
go UP 5 times or better,

mick thanks, you are right on my friend; great wild life and
best fishing on the west coast, in the safest witness
protection area, only 30 min. drive to Vancouver BC Canada,
but still in US on the border to Canada to enjoy the best
of two countries; )

$MSPC - Metrospaces has Issued a Letter to its Shareholders regarding the State of Affairs from CEO Oscar Brito and CTO Alejandro Laplana.

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/third-quarter-2021-shareholder-letter-1031043622

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5 Quick & Easy Ways to Get Started Investing In Real Estate...

https://dailyinvestingadvice.com/5-super-easy-ways-to-get-started-investing-in-real-estate/

I have recently started reading the famous ''rich dad, poor dad'' book. So far it has been eye-opening and he mentions real estate quite a bit. I have been wondering if anyone here has read it and what your opinion is.

Real Estate: Using Real Estate to Create Passive Income and Achieve Financial Freedom (Rental Property, Cash Flow, Accounting, Law, Managing Tenants) by David Nelson

Use This Clear And Concise Step-By-Step Guide On How To Invest In Real Estate To Create Substantial Passive Income And Start Your Journey To Financial Freedom Today!

Are you feeling tired of being stuck in the rat race? Are you looking to make passive income and escape the 9-to-5 grind? Do you want to live a more fulfilling life and do more of what matters? You may think there is no way all of this is achievable. However, you could not be more wrong. One of the most powerful ways to create cash flow and achieve financial freedom is real estate investing. Real estate investing is one of the oldest investment activities around for one simple reason: it works. It's one of the best ways to become financially secure, prosperous and successful when done right. But if done wrong, well, go figure.

In this book, I will show you how to invest wisely in real estate. In particular, I will show you how to make substantial passive income via property rental, how to find the right property and how to screen your prospective tenants. By the end of the book, you will be in a very good position to take further action toward earning passive income from real estate. So, start your journey to financial freedom today, and to do so, you need this book.

Here Is A Preview Of What You Will Learn..


Why You Should Invest In Real Estate
The Different Types Of Property Investment
The Property Rental Basics
How To Find A Good Property Investment
How To Find Tenants
And Much More..

Do not wait any longer to become financially independent and get this Kindle book now!

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How did you get into real estate investing?

I have been wondering what motivated people here to become active real estate investors.

10 rental markets where landlords make a killing

Stocks aren't the only asset class with impressive returns. With the help of low homeownership rates and strong mobility demand, the rental market remains attractive for investors, especially in areas of the country experiencing double-digit returns.

According to a new report from RealtyTrac, a leading source for comprehensive housing data, rental property in the United States posted an average annual return of 9.06% in the third quarter. That is down slightly from 9.65% in the same year-ago quarter, but still represents a significant return for landlords.


Furthermore, median home prices rose more than 7% on average from a year earlier. The report analyzed median sales prices for residential properties and average fair market rents for three bedroom properties.

"The single family rental market is still strong, with returns averaging 9% in the 586 counties analyzed," said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac, in a press statement. "Even so, the market is softening, with those same 586 counties averaging a nearly 10% return a year ago. In the high-risk, high-yield markets, where unemployment and vacancy rates are higher than national averages, the average return was a whopping 19%, actually up from a year ago thanks to a strong increase in rental rates."


Let's take a look at the top 10 rental markets where landlords are making a killing, using annual gross rental yields from RealtyTrac.

10. Hernando County, Florida

• Annual gross rental yield: 17.29%

• Vacancy Rate: 5.1%

9. Pasco County, Florida

• Annual gross rental yield: 17.30%

• Vacancy Rate: 8.9%

8. Columbia County, Florida

• Annual gross rental yield: 18.42%

• Vacancy Rate: 11.3%

7. Wayne County, Michigan

• Annual gross rental yield: 19.88%

• Vacancy Rate: 8.9%

6. Spalding County, Georgia

• Annual gross rental yield: 20.35%

• Vacancy Rate: 12.3%

5. Putnam County, Florida

• Annual gross rental yield: 22.63%

• Vacancy Rate: 6.3%

4. Howard County, Indiana

• Annual gross rental yield: 24%

• Vacancy Rate: 6.6%

3. Duplin County, North Carolina

• Annual gross rental yield: 24.4%

• Vacancy Rate: 8.8%

2. Clayton County, Georgia

• Annual gross rental yield: 26.88%

• Vacancy Rate: 16.9%

1. Edgecombe County, North Carolina

• Annual gross rental yield: 41.57%

• Vacancy Rate: 11.1%

Thank you for giving informative status about home prices.

You Sir are truly "OVER THE EDGE"! Crawl back under the rock you were born under! Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez!

[Administrating:7053] Fwd: FW: Bankers are going to jail?

Four years after the crash that plunged the world into chaos thanks to mortgage backed securities and banking greed, a tiny handful of perpetrators are being put behind bars. Here are three very recent articles that highlight this:


1.Firstly, the front cover of Time Magazine: "This Man is Busting Wall Street." - http://swampland.time.com/2012/02/01/prosecutor-preet-bharara-busts-wall-street/

2.Secondly, a top executive gets busted for running a company that fraudulently signed mortgages which resulted in thousands of illegal foreclosures: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/07/robo-signing-docx-missouri_n_1261369.html

3.Finally, it looks like some banks may get away with it. If there is no investigation, they will: http://usawatchdog.com/will-big-banks-get-free-pass-in-robo-signing-mortgage-mess/


What you need to know is this: all mortgages are frauds because no money is actually lent. Loans are created out of thin air by banks who call them "loans", and then have the audacity to charge interest because. Most loans are securitisied (sold) which means that the bank loses all rights to the debt. This is not conspiracy nonsense, it is a confirmed fact. The sooner society wakes up to this, the better.
Now, some mortgages take the fraud a step further. There is proof in the US (see point 2 above) of banks who paid companies to hire under-aged students to sign documents because they "lost" them in the securisation pool. They brought these forged documents to court, pretended they are real, and illegally foreclosed on thousands of homes.
Once again, we encourage all of you to open your eyes and learn what is going on in the world of banking and finance. There is no knight in shining armour who is going to come and save you. You save yourself by studying this information, sharing it, and making some very tough decisions for your family's future.
If you are a banker who has a soul, please switch teams play on the side of truth... before it's too late for all of us.
--The JJC

For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/administrating-your-public-servants?hl=en?hl=en

Making a Record

http://www.jurisdictionary.com/?refercode=HJ0018

Probably the most important point we can make is that you must create a

complete and readable record of your case whenever you are before the court. Everything

that supports your position needs to be made a part of the court file.

Making a record is the sum and substance of

courthouse procedure. You cannot win without a proper

record. Some lawyers think cases are won at trial. In fact,

if a case is not won long before trial by putting together a

record of facts and law that cannot be refuted, it is never a

good idea to go ahead to trial. The time for trial is when

you’re ready for trial … when you’ve already made your

winning record.

Everything you do in court should be aimed at

making an effective record.

Lots of people think winning a lawsuit depends on

pleasing the judge. They make the mistake of thinking the

judge can rule however he wants to. The fact is that a good

lawyer makes the judge rule in favor of his clients by making a record of the case before

the judge rules, then making certain the judge rules in accordance with the record and the

law.

Make your record. Get your truth in the clerk's file.

Win your case on paper. That’s how successful lawyers do it.

Losing lawyers try to sway the court with rhetoric. One desperate lawyer was

heard saying to the court, "You know judge, we go way back, you and me." That is not

the way to win, and a smart litigant can literally steal his silver-tongued opponent’s

thunder just by making an effective record and demanding that the court rule on the

record before it and not upon the rhetoric of the other side’s desperate lawyer. Judges

must decide in accordance with the rules and the law … if you see to it. That’s also the

whole point.

• Make a record.

• Put in all the necessary ingredients.

• Force the other side to show their hand.

Then, if the judge refuses to rule in your favor, you can win on appeal by showing

that the judge did not follow the rules. This is the bottom line, after all. American justice

is a system of laws, not men’s opinions nor the granting of judicial favors to a privileged

few. The record is everything! everything!

You must make an effective record … or there’ll be nothing to appeal.

Making a record is easy. Every paper filed in the court file, whether the court

ultimately admits it as evidence or not, becomes part of the record. It may be ignored or

passed over if it has little or no merit, however anything that is not scandalous or outright

nonsense may be filed with the clerk of court and made a part of the case file. Making a

record begins by filing papers. Making an effective record means filing the right papers,

the papers necessary to prove your facts and establish your legal arguments that tell the

court why you – and not the other fellow – should be the winner.

Make no mistake about it, your power over the outcome is your right of appeal.

Judges don’t like their rulings to be overturned. They particularly do not like to be

overturned by non-lawyers. By keeping the judge "fully advised in the premises" as

lawyers say, the court will be unwilling to rule against you if you’ve made a solid record

of your cause and clearly presented in the file itself indisputable reasons why you should

win instead of your opponent.

Take every opportunity to put your case concisely and effectively on the record.

Do not attend any hearing without an experienced and accurate court reporter.

Do not go "off the record" with a judge at any time ... unless it's to discuss your

golf handicap.

Make certain everything that is said or done gets on the record ... in the court file.

In particular, make certain every fact and every law you must establish is

established rationally, readably, and conclusively on the record.

Max Gardner's Top Tips for Fake Mortgage Documents


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




1. The Mortgage or Deed of Trust is assigned from the Originator directly to the Trustee for the Securitized Trust.

2. The Mortgage or Deed of Trust is assigned months and sometimes years after the date of the origination of the underlying mortgage note.

3. The Mortgage or Deed of Trust is assigned from the initial aggregator directly to the Securitized Trust with no assignments to the Depositor or the Sponsor for the Trust.

4. The Mortgage or Deed of Trust is executed, dated or assigned in a manner inconsistent with the mandatory governing rules of Section 2.01 of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.

5. The assignment of the Mortgage or Deed of Trust is executed by a legal entity that was no longer in existence on the date the document was executed.

6. The assignment of the mortgage or Deed of Trust is executed by an entity whose name is different than the entity named in the original document (i.e., National City Bank Corporation in lieu of ABC Corporation as a division of National City Bank).

7. The assignment was executed by a party pursuant to a Power of Attorney but no Power of Attorney is attached to the instrument or filed with the instrument or otherwise recorded with local land registry.

8. The mortgage note is allegedly transferred in a single document along with the Mortgage or Deed of Trust (i.e., “Assignment of the Note and Mortgage”). You cannot “assign” a mortgage note. You can only “negotiate” a mortgage note under Article 3 of the UCC.

9. The assignment is executed by a party who claims to be an “attorney in fact” for the assignor.

10. The assignment is notarized by a notary in Dakota County, Minnesota.

11. The assignment is notarized by a notary in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

12. The assignment is notarized by a notary in Duval County, Florida.

13. The assignment is executed by an officer or secretary of MERS.

14. The assignment is notarized by a secretary or paralegal employed by the attorney for the mortgage servicer.

15. The assignment is executed or notarized by an employee of MR Default Services, Promiss Solutions LLC, National Default Exchange, LP, LOGS Financial Services, or some similar third-party.

16. The endorsement on the note is actually on an allonge affixed to the note. In most states, an allonge cannot be used if there is a sufficient amount of room at the “foot” or the “bottom” of the original note for the endorsement.

17. The allonge is not “permanently” affixed to the original note. The term permanent excludes the use of staples and tape and as a result you must use a sold fastener such as glue. Allonges are commonly referred to “in the business” as “tear-off fraud papers.”

18. The note proffered in evidence is not the original but a copy of the “certified copy” provided to the debtors at the closing.

19. The note is endorsed in blank with no transfer and delivery receipts. It is fine to endorse a note in blank, in which case it becomes “bearer” paper under the UCC. However, in order to prove a true sale from the Sponsor to the Depositor you must have written delivery and transfer receipts and proof of pay outs and pay in transactions.

20. The note proffered in evidence is not endorsed at the foot of the note or on an affixed allonge.

21. The assignment of the mortgage or deed of trust post-dates the filing of the court pleading.

22. The assignment of the mortgage or deed of trust is executed after the filing of the court pleadings but claims to be “legally effective” before the filing. For example, the deed of trust is assigned on June 1, 2009, with an effective date of May 1, 2007.

23. The parties who executed the assignment and who notarized the signature are in fact the same parties.

24. The signor states that he or she is an “agent” for the executing entity.

25. The signor states that he or she is an “attorney in fact” for the executing entity.

26. The signor states that he or she is an employee of the executing entity but claims to have custody and control of the records of the entity.

27. The signor of the document makes statements about the status of the mortgage debt based on his or her review of the “records of the plaintiff” or the “records of the moving party.”

28. The proponent of the original note files an Affidavit of Lost Note.

29. The signor claims that the allegations in the court pleading are correct but the assignment of the mortgage and/or delivery and transfer of the note occurs after the law suit or the motion for relief from stay was filed.

30. One or more of the operative documents in the case is signed by one of the attorneys for the mortgage servicer.

31. The default payment history filed in the case is prepared by the attorney for the mortgage servicer or a member of his or her staff.

32. The affidavit filed in support of legal fees is not signed by an attorney with the firm involved in the case.

33. The name of one or more of the signors is stamped on the document.

34. The document is a form with standard “fill-in-the-blanks” for names and amounts.

35. The signature of one or more parties on the document is not legible and looks like something a three year old might have done.

36. The document is dated and signed years before the document is actually filed with the register of real estate documents or deeds or mortgages.

37. The proffered document has the word C O P Y stamped on or embedded in the document.

38. The document is executed by a notary in Denton County, Texas.

39. The document is executed by a notary in Collin County, Texas.

40. The document includes a legend “Hold for” a named law firm after recording.

41. The document was drafted by a law firm representing the mortgage servicer in the pending case.

42. The document includes any type of bar code that was not added by the local register or filing clerk for such instruments.

43. The document includes a reference to an “instrument number.”

44. The document includes a reference to a “form number.”

45. The document does not include any reference to a Master Document Custodian.

46. The document is not authenticated by any officer or authorized agent of a Master Document Custodian.

47. The paragraph numbers on the document are not consistent (the last paragraph on page one is 7 and the first paragraph on page two starts with number 9).

48. The endorsement of the note is not at the “foot” or “bottom” of the last page of the note. For example, a few states allow an endorsement on the back of the last page of the note but the majority requires it at the foot of the note.

49. The document purports to assign the mortgage or the deed of trust to the Trustee for the Securitized Trust before the Trust was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This type of registration is normally referred to as a “shelf registration.”

50. The document purports to transfer the note to the Trustee for the Securitized Trust before the date the Trust provides for the origination date of instruments in the Trust. The Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Pooling and Servicing Agreement will clearly state that the pool of notes includes those originated between date X and date Y.

51. The document purports to transfer the note to the Trustee for the Securitized Trust after the cut-off date for the creating of such instruments for the Trust.

52. The origination date on the mortgage note is not within the origination and cut-off dates provided for the by terms of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.

53. The “Affidavit of a Lost Note” is not filed by the Master Document Custodian for the Trust but by the Servicer or some other third-party.

54. The document is signed by a “bank officer” without any designation of the office held by the said officer.

55. The affidavit includes the following language on the bottom of each page: “This is an attempt to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose.”

56. The document is signed by a person who identifies himself or herself as a “media supervisor” for the proponent.

57. The document is signed by a person who identifies himself or herself as a “media coordinator” for the proponent.

58. The document is signed by a person who identifies himself or herself as a “legal coordinator” for the movant.

59. The date of the signature on the document and the date the signature was notarized are not the same.

60. The parties who signed the assignment and who notarized the signature are located in different states or counties.

61. The transferor and the transferee have the same physical address including the same street and post office box numbers.

62. The assignor and the assignee have the same physical address including the same street and post office box numbers.

63. The signor of the document states that he or she is acting “solely as nominee” for some other party.

64. The document refers to a power of attorney but no power of attorney is attached.

65. The document bears the following legend: “This is not a certified copy.”


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Source: http://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ugc/max-gardners-top-tips-for-fake-mortgage-documents

Lost Star -Walter Cruttenden on how oursolar system work and how symbolism and religion is tied into it,based on it. http://www.loststarbook.com/

from the google group site: http://groups.google.com/group/administrating-your-public-servants?hl=en?hl=en

Santos Bonacci - Roman Ecclesiastical Law & Sovereignty
August 11, 2011

Santos Bonacci lives in Melbourne, Australia and is a professional jazz musician. He also runs the universaltruthschool.com website and teaches classes on Astrotheology. In this first hour, we'll talk about Ecclesiastical law. Santos Bonacci explains how over the past two thousand years the Roman cult/empire has set up a system of ownership of all property and souls that exist on this Earth through their Papal bulls and trusts. He'll talk about how enslavement and ownership is their business. Then, he tells us about historical myths and fictional characters that have created deception among the masses. Later, we talk about the priesthood, which is essential for this current system, symbology found in court, common law, mind control and the pope.

http://www.redicecreations.com/radio/2011/08/RIR-110811.php

got it from the google group: http://groups.google.com/group/administrating-your-public-servants?hl=en?hl=en

DROIT DROIT

http://www.scribd.com/doc/7547617/0-Intro-Course

INTRODUCTION TO DROIT DROIT

NOTE: To fully understand what a Deed of Trust is and what role you really play in this amazing instrument, study Course 8 PRIVATE BANKING in the NEW BEGINNING COURSES and Class A2.

Droit Droit is a private remedy based upon the current system the banks use to take possession of your property without going to court when the bank claims you breach the contract (mortgage or deed of trust) for nonpayment.

They know there is no money, but they count on your voluntary cooperation to play the game and pretend there is money to pay off the 30-year loan of credit with federal reserve notes.

The banks have used this system for 70 years and it works every time.

of some interest ? got this email forwarded to moi:

Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:55:28 -0700
From:
Subject: Success with mortgage!


Some success! Kerry from Sechelt has been trying everything from GSA forms to liquidations against the court and Royal Bank regarding his foreclosure problem on his $450, 000.00 home in Gibsons BC. About 2 months ago the bank got an order to sell the house. Within a week Kerry appealed and put in to the bank and court a cease and desist order, a PPSA lien against his property, and a series of affidavits signed by Sechelt Elders and Squamish Elders claiming that the land had never been sold or ceaded by the Natives and that that the natives have a superior claim over the Royal Bank to the land.

Last week Kerry got summonsed to court again for yesterday and the Bank was bringing all the paper work that Kerry filed to bring it in front of the Judge. So.....Kerry had entered an affidavit which allowed Seemas (a native elder) to speak for him. Kerry read it into the court right off the hop and told the judge that it was native tradition for the elders to speak for someone untill they are competent in native ways to speak for themselves. The judge said "Well we can't go against native tradition" (Kerry is a whitey that has been adopted by the Sechelt natives) Kerry also read his affidavits into court and interestingly enough the judge commented to him that it was a good move reading them into court otherwise the court would not have seen them.

The lawyers for the bank told the judge that they were relying on code such and such to proceed with the forclosure and the judge said that that code would require a bill of sale in order to be applied. (A bill of sale between the natives and the Crown or the Bank evidencing that the Natives sold or ceaded the land in the first place.) Kerry piped up and said we have repeatedly asked by affidavit for the bill of sale and the Bank has not provided us with one. The judge then said do you have any copies of those affidavits? Kerry said yes and filed them in to the judge. Then majicely the Judge found that he already had copies of the affidavit in the pile of paperwork in front of him. (Obviosly, he had seen them but chose not to look at them untill they were presented in open court)

This is where it gets good.....the Banks Lawyers had entered an instrument that initiated the action (I forget what the instrument is called) This instrument according to the judge requires that it is backed by a bill of sale! The Judge asked the lawyers for the Bill of Sale. The lawyers nervously flipped through their papers and said they couldn`t find it.The judge said Òhhhh! `someone may be liable for a possible 14 year prison sentence for filing this instrument without there being a bill of sale!

Seemas stood up and said enough is enough we want this over and right now! We want that Bill of Sale by tommorrow. The Judge said no they have two weeks to come`up with it!
Then he said `` I`m allowing two weeks because I`m going on holidays and I don`t want to be around in two weeks when this case gets decided because it`s too big of a ruling for me. I don`t want to touch it.

Someone at the Bank or the Banks lawyers office is going to jail! Not only that but the Bank will be ruined by eventually having to pay everyone back who has a mortgage with them on any land in BC that has not been sold or ceaded to the crown. Kerrys house is within the municipality of Gibsons and that still means Jack Shit because the Natives have a superior claim to it. This is huge!

Dave

...and you BE.LIE.VE that BS ???

in Canada...realtors are told that they MUST SNITCH on their CLIENTS!!!

1. clients have to tell realtor WHERE they got their downpayment and $$$$ to complete for their purchase of the real estate property.

2. client has to show gov't-made ID to realtor

3. during open houses -- realtors told to take your ID down -- and also get your plate # down.

4. butttt if you buy through a LAWYER -- lawyer DON'T have to SNITCH on you/their clients -- cause you see -- THEY THE ONES WHO WROTE THEM LAWS!!!!

...and allll this based on September 11, 2001 -- IMAGINE UNDER 3,000 people D.E.A.D. -- and OVER 6 BILLION people A.L.I.V.E. -- and the LAW MAKERS aka WALL makers aka Law Societies around the world decided that YOU, YES YOU -- THE MENTAL MIDGETS are WORTH TERRORIZING cause you NOTHING like your ancestors were who took up their guns and shot WHOMEVER came up with SUCH A MENTAL CONCEPT called THE LAW and SHOT THEM BETWEEN THE EYES and then ASKED questions!!!

P R O P E R T Y rights

FW: Letter to Dona Cadman on stolen Property rights?

From: Norris Barnes (vancouverpropertyrights@shaw.ca)
Sent: Fri 6/18/10 12:14 AM

Hi one and all:

This is an email I sent to my M.P. in Ottawa I also sent Bcc to as many news agencies I could think of.



Let’s see how they Weasel their way out of this one, and they will.



Norris Barens


From: Norris Barnes [mailto:vancouverpropertyrights@shaw.ca]
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 11:55 PM
To: 'CadmaD1@parl.gc.ca'
Subject: RE:





Dear Mrs. Cadman:



Thank you for forwarding my concerns to the Attorney Generals office below is the response I received from L. Bisson in Ministerial Correspondence. In his reply Mr. Bisson suggested I contact the Attorney General of B.C.

This is the response I received from Wally Opal the Attorney General of the day.



With respect to your allegations of criminal wrongdoing, I do not authorize criminal investigations or otherwise direct the police.

Whenever an individual has reason to believe that someone has been involved in criminal activity, the proper course of action is for that individual to report his or her allegations to the police. If the police determine that an investigation is warranted, they will conduct one. They are also in the best position to determine whether a particular allegation involves a criminal matter or one to be addressed through civil law.



I would like to inform all involved in this I these correspondence that I have tried every avenue over the years, in every office and have been stonewalled passed on to every other office from the Mayors of Vancouver to M.L.A.’s

of all parties to the Commissioner that stands in front of the R.C.M.P’s headquarters in Vancouver and Vancouver’ s Police department. Attached are my correspondences with various M.L.A.’s



The police insist that theft of billions of dollars worth of “PRIVATE” property from millions of land owners in B.C., by Bureaucrats, and elected officials is a civil matter and that I should get and pay for a lawyer and spend years in court to stop the abuse of the system by those in positions of trust.



I am reporting to all concerned that I have irrefutable evidence that Municipal and Provincial governments have stolen Private Property by abusing the legislative system. I did as Mr. L. Bisson suggested only to be turned away at every instance to the benefit of prominent members of our society who are still in position of power to steal from the public with impunity. I have no reservation in naming Michael Harcourt ex Vancouver Alderman and Ex B.C. Premier as a key player in these crimes and who is still in a position of power capable of destroying many more of our rights and freedoms.



As I have tried every avenue I thought would be open for an investigation I have again come to you to impress on the Attorney General of Canada that we have a rouge Government operating here in Canada and I wish to have law and order re- established here in British Columbia and have a full public investigation into the wrong doings of our Government (or some bodies government).



I am therefore requesting that you Dona Cadman demand the Governor General and the R.C.M.P. investigate the B.C. Legislature for crimes against B.C. property owners and the abuse of the legislative process.



Yours Truly Norris Barens





From: Minister's Correspondence CD:EX [mailto:CD.4.Minister@gov.bc.ca]
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 8:19 AM
To: VancouverPropertyRights@shaw.ca
Cc: Minister, AG AG:EX
Subject: 129644 - RE: Vancouver and Community Charter

Ref: 129644

Mr. Norris Barens
President
B.C. Property Rights Initiative

Email: VancouverPropertyRights@shaw.ca

cc: AG.Minister@gov.bc.ca

Dear Mr. Barens:

Thank you for your emails dated July 9, October 27 and November 24, 2008, regarding your concerns about an amendment that was made to the Vancouver Charter in 1973 involving the ownership of property on which highways have been built in Vancouver. I understand that my colleague, Honourable Wally Oppal, Attorney General, responded to your first email on September 17, 2008. I apologize for the delay in responding.

As you have noted, the ownership of all local roads in the province is vested in the name of the municipality within which they are located. The locally elected municipal council is responsible for making decisions about road standards, the amount of funds required to maintain them and the level of maintenance.

Municipalities can also decide whether to close local roads to traffic and, if they are no longer required as part of their transportation network, council can decide to dispose of the lands by selling them. Usually the value of the lands at the time of sale is determined by having a professional appraisal undertaken. The proceeds from the sale are used to offset the municipality’s costs which, in turn, benefit the taxpayers.

As municipalities are public entities responsible for providing services, laws and other matters for community benefit, I fail to understand the advantages of returning lands on which local roads are located to individual owners. If you or any other individual feels that there was an error in the application of laws regarding the dedication of local roads to municipalities, the only way for this to be determined for certain is by a decision of the courts. The reason that the courts are responsible for deciding the issue is because they have the expertise to adjudicate the matter and they are removed from direct involvement. If the Province of British Columbia (Province) were to make decisions about legal issues involving local governments, people would view the process as being biased because the Province is responsible for establishing and supporting the local government system.

If you want to pursue this matter in the courts, you may want to approach one of the groups that provide free legal services. One such group is Pro Bono Law of British Columbia. It is a society formed to promote, coordinate and facilitate the delivery of free legal services in the province. The society can be reached at the following address:

Pro Bono Law of British Columbia
PO Box 103
845 Cambie Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 4Z9
Telephone: 604 893-8932
Facsimile: 604 893-8934

Thank you, again, for writing to me about this matter.

Sincerely,

Blair Lekstrom
Minister of Community Development


From: Norris Barnes [mailto:vancouverpropertyrights@shaw.ca]
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 6:40 AM
To: Lekstrom.MLA, Blair
Subject: Vancouver and Community Charter

Dear Mr. Lekstrom, I emailed you about a month and a half ago about some criminal activity that took place in the City of Vancouver and stretched to Victoria.

The attachment above will prove my case.

This crime of embezzlement from a trust in which all highways in municipalities are held happened in two stages. The first was in 1953 when ownership of the “soil” in highways was transferred from those that built and dedicated the highways and given to the City of Vancouver in section 289 of the Vancouver Charter after it’s transition from “THE VANCOUVER INCORPORATION ACT of 1926”. The second happened in 1973 and my attachment will show some of the organized criminals that took part in the crime.

In 2003 the Community Charter section 35 (1) and (4) the rights in the soil appear to have gone through the same first transition that happened to the Vancouver Charter.

My purpose for writing you today is to ask; will you return the stolen private land that belongs to Vancouverites by rewriting section 289 of the Vancouver Charter and section 35 of the Community Charter so as to reflect the rights in the soil of those that built and dedicated the highways in clear an unambiguous language before the next provincial election?

Today in Vancouver when highways are stopped the City sells the land back to the people that already own them. This is criminal!


Myself and 1000’s of others await your reply.

Yours truly Norris Barens
President of the B.C. Property Rights Initiative


Mr. Norris Barens
E-mail: vancouverpropertyrights@shaw.ca

Dear Mr. Barens:

Thank you for your e-mail dated July 9, 2008, concerning an amendment to the Vancouver Charter which you describe as having been made in 1973.

I note your concerns about the effect of that amendment on the ownership of property on which highways have been built in Vancouver, and your request for a legislative amendment to the Vancouver Charter to restore some language deleted pursuant to the 1973 amendment. Although this ministry is responsible for the drafting of legislation approved by Cabinet, the responsibility for individual Statutes often falls to one of my Cabinet colleagues. The Vancouver Charter and the Local Government Act fall under the jurisdiction of the Honourable Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Community Development. Therefore, I am forwarding a copy of your e-mail to Minister Lekstrom.

With respect to your allegations of criminal wrongdoing, I do not authorize criminal investigations or otherwise direct the police.
Whenever an individual has reason to believe that someone has been involved in criminal activity, the proper course of action is for that individual to report his or her allegations to the police. If the police determine that an investigation is warranted, they will conduct one. They are also in the best position to determine whether a particular allegation involves a criminal matter or one to be addressed through civil law.

If the police determine that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a criminal charge, they will forward a report to Crown counsel recommending that a charge be laid. Crown counsel review the report and decide whether the evidence will support the charge and whether a prosecution is in the public interest.

As Attorney General, I do not have a mandate to intervene in this established process. Each component of the justice system is independent of the other, in order to provide checks and balances within the system and to prevent perceived political interference.

If you need advice about your legal rights and options, you may consider contacting a lawyer in private practice. If you do not currently have a lawyer, you may wish to call the Lawyer Referral Service at:
1-800-663-1919. This service, provided by the Canadian Bar Association, can refer you to a lawyer in your area who will meet with you for up to 30 minutes for a fee of $25 plus GST and PST. Information about the Lawyer Referral Service is available from the Canadian Bar Association - British Columbia Web site at:

www.cba.org/BC/Initiatives/main/lawyer_Referral.aspx

I appreciate your taking the time to write to me.

Sincerely,


From: CadmaD1@parl.gc.ca [mailto:CadmaD1@parl.gc.ca]
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 9:48 AM
To: vancouverpropertyrights@shaw.ca
Subject:



Dear Mr. Barens,



Attached are the letters that we discussed on the phone, 2 are from Ms. Cadman dated Nov.16th 2009 and Nov.23, 2009 and also the response from Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada the Honourable Rob Nicholson dated Feb.4th 2010.

I trust this information will be of assistance to you.



Sincerely,



Wendy Jones



Special Assistant to Dona Cadman, M.P.

Surrey North

9808 King George Highway, Unit 307

Surrey, British Columbia

V3T 2V6

Tel: (604) 586-2441

Fax: (604) 586-2445

Cadmad1@parl.gc.ca

US New Home Sales at 2-Year High in April

Sales of newly built U.S. single-family homes rose faster than expected in April to their highest level in nearly two years, government data showed on Wednesday, as buyers signed contracts to benefit from a popular government tax credit.


AP
Home sales
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Commerce Department said sales jumped 14.8 percent to a 504,000 unit annual rate, the highest since May 2008, from an upwardly revised 439,000 units in March. It was the second straight month that new home sales rose.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected new home sales to increase to a 430,000 unit annual pace from March's previously reported 411,000 units.

Buyers had to sign contracts by April 30 and close on the home by the end of June to qualify for the federal tax credit.

New home sales are measured at contract signing and analysts believe buying activity will temporarily ebb in May.

However, they expect sales to pick up toward year-end as the economic and labor market recovery gain more vigor.


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US Home Refinancing JumpsHome Prices Edge DownDurable Goods Orders Surge in AprilRealty Check with Diana Olick
Data on Monday also showed the tax credit spurred sales of previously owned homes, which are recorded at contract closing, to a five-month high in April. Existing home sales are expected to rise through June when the tax credit ends.

Despite the jump in sales, the median sale price for a new home dropped a record 9.7 percent from March to $198,400, the lowest since December 2003, the Commerce Department said. In the 12 months to April, the median sale price declined 9.5 percent.

The number of new homes on the market fell a record 7 percent to 211,000 units in April, the lowest since October 1968. Last month's sales pace left the supply of homes available for sale at 5.0 months' worth, the lowest since December 2005, from 6.2 months 'worth in March.

Choosing Your Agent

It is recommended that you have a real estaste agent help you with your transactions. But how do you know which agent to select? The choice can be difficult, but here are some questions to ask during potential agent interviews.

1. Do you have references from past clients? Ask their past clients if they were pleased with the service the agent provided them. Did they communicate in a timely manner, and were they kind and courteous?

2. What does being an agent mean to you? By asking this question you'll be able to see what their work ethic and business philosophy are. You want an agent that puts their priority on your happiness first, and their commission check second.

3. How long have you been in real estate? This is not to say that someone new to the business would not be a great asset. However, depending on the nature of your transaction, you may feel more comfortable with an agent with a proven record of sucess.

4. How many homes did you sell last year? Just because an agent has been in the business for a while doesn't mean they've been successful. You don't want to have your home on the market for months, when a savvy agent could have it sold in weeks.

5. What designations and certifications do you hold? Beyond holding a real estate license, agents can opt to expand their education and skills. There are a multitude of courses and programs available. In general, these certifications mean a more specialized agent.

6. What is your marketing plan? In an ideal world a house would just sell itself, right? But the market swings back and forth on a constant pendullum between being in favor of sellers and then buyers. If you are selling a house in a buyers market, then you need a solid marketing plan to make your home stand apart. Open houses, email campaigns, webcasts, and brochures are just a few of the items your agent may use.

7. Do you do dual agency? Dual agency is when the agent represents both the buyer and the seller. This is legal, as long as disclosed, but it may not be something you're interested in signing up for. Be sure to ask.

8. What are your home sales stats? It is important to ask them how long it takes them on average to sell a home. And then ask what the area average is. They should know this information off the top of their head, or at least have the statistics readily available.

9. How do you communicate with your clients? There is nothing worse than not being able to get ahold of your agent, with questions, for updates, and for feedback. In today's modern world of technology, there is no excuse for them not to stay in constant contact. There is email, texting, cell phones, and a myriad of other options. Ask what they use to stay in touch with their clients.

10. Do you have other connections? Meaning, will they be able to refer you to contractors, mortgage lenders, banks, landscapers, pool maintenance crews, and the like. This will be especially important if you are new to the area.

Is Your Home in Tip-Top Shape for Sale?



Ah, spring is in the air and that means a lot of people will start their spring cleaning routines. That couldn't be more important than for those who are selling their homes.

There's nothing quite like walking into a home for sale that's fresh, bright, clean, and sparkling. Of course, the opposite is true too. It's highly discouraging to walk through the house and not be able to study it because it's cluttered, dirty, and you can hardly see out the windows. With this in mind, here are a few areas to be sure you focus on before you have buyers coming through your home.

Window cleaning. If you have a lot of windows that are high, hiring a window cleaner might be needed. But if you think you can manage, then try some insider tricks. Mix one-quarter vinegar with cool water in a spray bottle. Instead of using paper towels, roll up newspapers and wipe the windows with them. The newsprint won't rub off on the window and it will save you the extra expense. Window washers recommend using a strategic wiping pattern. Starting at the top, so you don't have to be concerned with drips, wipe top to bottom. Then on the inside rub right to left. This way you'll see where there are streaks. Keeping the windows crystal clear allows buyers to see the natural light coming into your home and any beautiful landscaping.

If your screens are damaged with small tears or sagging it's worth repairing or rescreening them. Just make sure you have a good spline roller. A rundown house will attract low offers. HVAC Systems. Air condition and heating ventilation systems should be checked, cleaned, and in good working condition. Something as simple as a dirty filter can produce a thick layer of dust in your home when the HVAC system is used. Even though dust isn't a permanent problem (like a structural issue), it's not appealing to buyers and can leave an overall bad impression about the home. On top of that, dirty filters can cause everything from very poor air quality to poorly running systems that will drain your wallet.

Get rid of Insect nests. Bees, wasps, hornets love your home. Make sure you eliminate them by getting professional help if necessary. Insects buzzing around can be quite a scare for some buyers. Again, this problem isn't about the house, necessarily, however, it could make buyers uncomfortable. The same goes for pets. Don't have them in the house when it's being shown or even in the backyard—not everyone is a pet lover.

Clear soil buildup. You may not live at the bottom of the hill, but homeowner, Mary Kelley says, "You don't have to have had a mud slide from the hill behind you. Heavy rain can cause soil buildup and then the water may seep under the foundation of the house."

The rain can cause the soil to move, even on the slightest slope (not even visible to the eye), and settle against the house foundation, causing dampness which may be harmful to the foundation…not to mention it's unsightly. Weed out driveway and exterior areas. Maybe you have an asphalt driveway. If the asphalt has even a hairline crack you could be headed for trouble. One homeowner had a tiny hairline crack between her house foundation and the concrete pool deck.

"I didn't even realize there was a gap there, then I saw this little green blade thing coming up. I thought it was grass. It was such a tiny little blade. I just ignored it. In a few weeks, with our continuing rain, I could see that it was going to be a palm tree. A palm tree has a very large, rigid trunk and it could actually damage the foundation of the house, pool, and deck," says Kelley.

Kelley says she has snipped the pesky baby palm tree off three times already and it keeps coming back. "I may have to try pouring 'RoundUp' on it and hope it kills it," she says.

Post check. While we're on the subject of slipping foundation and water, how's your wooden fence doing? It's not a good sign when buyers get to your home and suddenly the fence collapses due to age or wobbly posts from soil saturation. If they're loose, secure them.

Check to see if the wooden posts are rotting in the ground and, maybe weeds are growing around them trapping moisture and causing it to penetrate the wood. If that's the case, solving the problem before a buyer discovers it is best. Taking care of these not-so-common spring cleaning items before you put your home on the market is a matter of making a good first impression with buyers, and that may be the only impression…so make it count.

The Banking Mortgage Fraud


The following transcript of a banker being on the witness stand is lengthy, but worth the read. I doubt that it really happened, as the lawyer would likely have been dis-bared.

Quote:
This is the way a "bank loan" really works.

Interviews with bankers about a foreclosure. The banker was placed on the witness stand and sworn in. The plaintiff's (borrower's) attorney asked the banker the routine questions concerning the banker's education and background.

The attorney asked the banker, "What is court exhibit A?"

The banker responded by saying, "This is a promissory note."

The attorney then asked, "Is there an agreement between Mr. Smith (borrower) and the defendant?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Do you believe the agreement includes a lender and a borrower?"

The banker responded by saying, "Yes, I am the lender and Mr. Smith is the borrower."

The attorney asked, "What do you believe the agreement is?"

The banker quickly responded, saying, " We have the borrower sign the note and we give the borrower a check."

The attorney asked, "Does this agreement show the words borrower, lender, loan, interest, credit, or money within the agreement?"

The banker responded by saying, "Sure it does."

The attorney asked, `"According to your knowledge, who was to loan what to whom according to the written agreement?"

The banker responded by saying, "The lender loaned the borrower a $50,000 check. The borrower got the money and the house and has not repaid the money."

The attorney noted that the banker never said that the bank received the promissory note as a loan from the borrower to the bank. He asked, "Do you believe an ordinary person can use ordinary terms and understand this written agreement?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Do you believe you or your company legally own the promissory note and have the right to enforce payment from the borrower?"

The banker said, "Absolutely we own it and legally have the right to collect the money."

The attorney asked, "Does the $50,000 note have actual cash value of $50,000? Actual cash value means the promissory note can be sold for $50,000 cash in the ordinary course of business."

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "According to your understanding of the alleged agreement, how much actual cash value must the bank loan to the borrower in order for the bank to legally fulfill the agreement and legally own the promissory note?"

The banker said, "$50,000."

The attorney asked, "According to your belief, if the borrower signs the promissory note and the bank refuses to loan the borrower $50,000 actual cash value, would the bank or borrower own the promissory note?"

The banker said, "The borrower would own it if the bank did not loan the money. The bank gave the borrower a check and that is how the borrower financed the purchase of the house."

The attorney asked, "Do you believe that the borrower agreed to provide the bank with $50,000 of actual cash value which was used to fund the $50,000 bank loan check back to the same borrower, and then agreed to pay the bank back $50,000 plus interest?"

The banker said, "No. If the borrower provided the $50,000 to fund the check, there was no money loaned by the bank so the bank could not charge interest on money it never loaned."

The attorney asked, "If this happened, in your opinion would the bank legally own the promissory note and be able to force Mr. Smith to pay the bank interest and principal payments?"

The banker said, "I am not a lawyer so I cannot answer legal questions."

The attorney asked, " Is it bank policy that when a borrower receives a $50,000 bank loan, the bank receives $50,000 actual cash value from the borrower, that this gives value to a $50,000 bank loan check, and this check is returned to the borrower as a bank loan which the borrower must repay?"

The banker said, "I do not know the bookkeeping entries."

The attorney said, "I am asking you if this is the policy."

The banker responded, "I do not recall."

The attorney again asked, "Do you believe the agreement between Mr. Smith and the bank is that Mr. Smith provides the bank with actual cash value of $50,000 which is used to fund a $50,000 bank loan check back to himself which he is then required to repay plus interest back to the same bank?"

The banker said, " I am not a lawyer."

The attorney said, "Did you not say earlier that an ordinary person can use ordinary terms and understand this written agreement?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney handed the bank loan agreement marked "Exhibit B" to the banker. He said, "Is there anything in this agreement showing the borrower had knowledge or showing where the borrower gave the bank authorization or permission for the bank to receive $50,000 actual cash value from him and to use this to fund the $50,000 bank loan check which obligates him to give the bank back $50,000 plus interest?"

The banker said, "No."

The lawyer asked, "If the borrower provided the bank with actual cash value of $50,000 which the bank used to fund the $50,000 check and returned the check back to the alleged borrower as a bank loan check, in your opinion, did the bank loan $50,000 to the borrower?"

The banker said, "No."

The attorney asked, "If a bank customer provides actual cash value of $50,000 to the bank and the bank returns $50,000 actual cash value back to the same customer, is this a swap or exchange of $50,000 for $50,000."

The banker replied, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Did the agreement call for an exchange of $50,000 swapped for $50,000, or did it call for a $50,000 loan?"

The banker said, "A $50,000 loan."

The attorney asked, "Is the bank to follow the Federal Reserve Bank policies and procedures when banks grant loans."

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "What are the standard bank bookkeeping entries for granting loans according to the Federal Reserve Bank policies and procedures?"

The attorney handed the banker FED publication Modern Money Mechanics, marked "Exhibit C".

The banker said, "The promissory note is recorded as a bank asset and a new matching deposit (liability) is created. Then we issue a check from the new deposit back to the borrower."

The attorney asked, "Is this not a swap or exchange of $50,000 for $50,000?"

The banker said, "This is the standard way to do it."

The attorney said, "Answer the question. Is it a swap or exchange of $50,000 actual cash value for $50,000 actual cash value? If the note funded the check, must they not both have equal value?"

The banker then pleaded the Fifth Amendment.

The attorney asked, "If the bank's deposits (liabilities) increase, do the bank's assets increase by an asset that has actual cash value?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Is there any exception?"

The banker said, "Not that I know of."

The attorney asked, "If the bank records a new deposit and records an asset on the bank's books having actual cash value, would the actual cash value always come from a customer of the bank or an investor or a lender to the bank?"

The banker thought for a moment and said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Is it the bank policy to record the promissory note as a bank asset offset by a new liability?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney said, "Does the promissory note have actual cash value equal to the amount of the bank loan check?"

The banker said "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Does this bookkeeping entry prove that the borrower provided actual cash value to fund the bank loan check?"

The banker said, "Yes, the bank president told us to do it this way."

The attorney asked, "How much actual cash value did the bank loan to obtain the promissory note?"

The banker said, "Nothing."

The attorney asked, "How much actual cash value did the bank receive from the borrower?"

The banker said, "$50,000."

The attorney said, "Is it true you received $50,000 actual cash value from the borrower, plus monthly payments and then you foreclosed and never invested one cent of legal tender or other depositors' money to obtain the promissory note in the first place? Is it true that the borrower financed the whole transaction?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Are you telling me the borrower agreed to give the bank $50,000 actual cash value for free and that the banker returned the actual cash value back to the same person as a bank loan?"

The banker said, "I was not there when the borrower agreed to the loan."

The attorney asked, "Do the standard FED publications show the bank receives actual cash value from the borrower for free and that the bank returns it back to the borrower as a bank loan?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney said, "Do you believe the bank does this without the borrower's knowledge or written permission or authorization?"

The banker said, "No."

The attorney asked, "To the best of your knowledge, is there written permission or authorization for the bank to transfer $50,000 of actual cash value from the borrower to the bank and for the bank to keep it for free?

The banker said, "No."

Does this allow the bank to use this $50,000 actual cash value to fund the $50,000 bank loan check back to the same borrower, forcing the borrower to pay the bank $50,000 plus interest? "

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney said, "If the bank transferred $50,000 actual cash value from the borrower to the bank, in this part of the transaction, did the bank loan anything of value to the borrower?"

The banker said, "No." He knew that one must first deposit something having actual cash value (cash, check, or promissory note) to fund a check.

The attorney asked, "Is it the bank policy to first transfer the actual cash value from the alleged borrower to the lender for the amount of the alleged loan?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Does the bank pay IRS tax on the actual cash value transferred from the alleged borrower to the bank?"

The banker answered, "No, because the actual cash value transferred shows up like a loan from the borrower to the bank, or a deposit which is the same thing, so it is not taxable."

The attorney asked, "If a loan is forgiven, is it taxable?"

The banker agreed by saying, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Is it the bank policy to not return the actual cash value that they received from the alleged borrower unless it is returned as a loan from the bank to the alleged borrower?"

"Yes", the banker replied.

The attorney said, "You never pay taxes on the actual cash value you receive from the alleged borrower and keep as the bank's property?"

"No. No tax is paid.", said the crying banker.

The attorney asked, "When the lender receives the actual cash value from the alleged borrower, does the bank claim that it then owns it and that it is the property of the lender, without the bank loaning or risking one cent of legal tender or other depositors' money?"

The banker said, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Are you telling me the bank policy is that the bank owns the promissory note (actual cash value) without loaning one cent of other depositors' money or legal tender, that the alleged borrower is the one who provided the funds deposited to fund the bank loan check, and that the bank gets funds from the alleged borrower for free? Is the money then returned back to the same person as a loan which the alleged borrower repays when the bank never gave up any money to obtain the promissory note? Am I hearing this right? I give you the equivalent of $50,000, you return the funds back to me, and I have to repay you $50,000 plus interest? Do you think I am stupid?"

In a shaking voice the banker cried, saying, "All the banks are doing this. Congress allows this."

The attorney quickly responded, "Does Congress allow the banks to breach written agreements, use false and misleading advertising, act without written permission, authorization, and without the alleged borrower's knowledge to transfer actual cash value from the alleged borrower to the bank and then return it back as a loan?"

The banker said, "But the borrower got a check and the house."

The attorney said, "Is it true that the actual cash value that was used to fund the bank loan check came directly from the borrower and that the bank received the funds from the alleged borrower for free?"

"It is true", said the banker.

The attorney asked, "Is it the bank's policy to transfer actual cash value from the alleged borrower to the bank and then to keep the funds as the bank's property, which they loan out as bank loans?"

The banker, showing tears of regret that he had been caught, confessed, "Yes."

The attorney asked, "Was it the bank's intent to receive actual cash value from the borrower and return the value of the funds back to the borrower as a loan?"

The banker said, "Yes." He knew he had to say yes because of the bank policy.

The attorney asked, "Do you believe that it was the borrower's intent to fund his own bank loan check?"

The banker answered, "I was not there at the time and I cannot know what went through the borrower's mind."

The attorney asked, "If a lender loaned a borrower $10,000 and the borrower refused to repay the money, do you believe the lender is damaged?"

The banker thought. If he said no, it would imply that the borrower does not have to repay. If he said yes, it would imply that the borrower is damaged for the loan to the bank of which the bank never repaid. The banker answered, "If a loan is not repaid, the lender is damaged."

The attorney asked, "Is it the bank policy to take actual cash value from the borrower, use it to fund the bank loan check, and never return the actual cash value to the borrower?"

The banker said, "The bank returns the funds."

The attorney asked, "Was the actual cash value the bank received from the alleged borrower returned as a return of the money the bank took or was it returned as a bank loan to the borrower?"

The banker said, "As a loan."

The attorney asked, "How did the bank get the borrower's money for free?"

The banker said, "That is how it works."

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1040790/pg1

Landlords Get Help With Managing Rentals

Many landlords love the income they get from their rentals but hate the business of managing their properties. Meanwhile, other people are interested in becoming a landlord but are concerned that it's too much work. That's where Rentometer (a free service to compare rent rates) and its advanced product, RentometerPro (an automated rental management system) are helping ease the work load for landlords.

"We're essentially acting as an impartial third party for both people [landlord and tenant] to interact in a really convenient way that is up to date with the times," says Allison Atsiknoudas, CEO of Rentometer.

Atsiknoudas says people who are interested in becoming landlords but also have some fear about the expense and cost of managing a property should note that there are simplified ways to manage your rental. "Now, there are options," says Atsiknoudas. "It's only been recently that there have been management solutions for people who own just a few units." That's good news for the approximately 90 percent of United States rental owners who each manage only a few rental properties.

"The tool Rentometer itself is a way to compare actual active rental rates for the market in a specific area. One of the things that we focus on is being able to present rent comparables in a very close proximity," says Atsiknoudas. For tenants, it allows them to compare how their current rent rate compares in their local neighborhood. They enter an address on the website and a free report is instantly generated by Rentometer.com.

"If you're an owner or a real estate professional and you wanted to find out what you might be charging these days for a vacancy, you enter the unit information and find out," says Atsiknoudas.

"A majority of our clients are individuals or small partnerships and those folks really own a majority of the rental property in the United States. Most of the people who fall in that category are people who are in an industry other than real estate and they're just managing some properties on the side—their own properties as long-term or mid-term investments for additional income," says Atsiknoudas. The Rentometer tool and the rental management service that is provided by the company help landlords manage their properties easier and without all the loads of paperwork that often accompanies rentals. "The one thing that these people have in common is that typically they're managing small portfolios. … between two and 35 units," says Atsiknoudas.

She says that most of these properties owner are in situations where they don't have large staffs (if any) to manage their rentals. So, they seek ways to simplify the process. "We have about 22 units in Northwestern Pennsylvania. The process of managing the rent and collecting the rent checks became pretty cumbersome," says landlord Matt Angerer.

He uses Rentometer's services to help manage his properties. "My tenants can now send their rent either directly to the processing facility that RentometerPro owns and operates in Rhode Island and, in turn, they will actually cash the checks and deposit them into my account, or my tenants can pay online via electronic fund transfer or they can pay with a credit card," explains Angerer. Here are a few other services offered by the company.

Creating rental forms. Rentometer and EZLandlordForms.com provide a way for landlords to use a forms builder to create their own documents for their rental properties. Landlords can find forms such as lease agreements, lease renewals, rental applications and even eviction notices on Rentometer.com.

Simplifying rent processing. "We do everything from the monthly invoicing of tenants, (both electronic and snail mail), to the acceptance of rents," she says. Atsiknoudas emphasizes that the company accepts all forms of payments from credit cards to paper checks.

Automated late reminders. The payments are automatically posted to the landlords accounting ledger and to the tenants account. "Part of our automated system is that if you have late payments, [it] automatically sends out friendly reminders to people to pay their rent," says Atsiknoudas.

Pricing starts at $7.99 per month for up to five units and increases for additional units with $50 a month buying unlimited access. "We'd like to be able to simplify management on every level," says Atsiknoudas.

Proper Listing Pricing Strategies For Any Market

I can't even count how many times I've heard Sellers start pricing discussions with the statement, "We really need to net this amount of money." The declaration usually goes hand-in-hand with the Seller's instruction to: "Try this price, I don't want to give it away," which is usually followed by the caveat, "We can always come down later, but we can never go up."

If you allow yourself to be swayed by a Seller's need to start higher than the property should be priced, you set yourself up for a costly error.

No matter whether you're selling real estate or any other offering, pricing must reflect what the market will bear, not what the Seller needs to net. Your pricing deliberation should focus only on the value as determined by your CMA.

As an example of the type of situation you want to avoid, I have a friend who had a home for sale where I live in Bend, Oregon. He selected an Agent who clearly demonstrates the "get the listing at any price" mentality. The result: His home was for sale at a price at least $200,000 over market value. Every Agent in town knew it was overpriced. His Listing Agent knew it, too, but he was more interested in the for sale sign than the sold sign. He was hoping something good would come out of this poorly priced situation.

The only way they would win the bet is if they found a two-suitcase Buyer – a Buyer with one suitcase that is full of money and another suitcase that is full of stupid! No one would come close to his asking price for a long time to come, if ever.

You can bet his Agent didn't arrive at a price $200,000 above market value based on research or analysis. He listened to his client's pricing input, which was based on what my friend wants to net in order to buy another home for cash, so he has no mortgage. Does the prospective Buyer of his home care what he needs or wants to net? This is truly a ridiculous approach, but it's all too common. Most people who want to start high and reduce later are motivated by the need to net a certain amount. The sad thing is the approach is nearly always counter-productive. Aiming too high rarely works.

The only time you can afford a "start high come down later" Seller is in a market environment where prices are rapidly appreciating and inventory is low. Even then, be sure you're working with an owner who really wants to sell; otherwise you're apt to waste time while your client tests the market's pricing tolerances.

Following are a few scripts you can use with the "start high" crowd of Sellers.

To learn why the owner wants to sell and what role price plays in the decision, ask: "Mr. Seller, is your motivation to get your home sold greater than your motivation to achieve a certain price?"

This powerful question will unlock the Seller's motivation vault. Going back to the example I shared previously, my friend's motivation to obtain an inflated price exceeds his motivation to sell. As an Agent, I'd categorize him not as a Seller, but rather as a home lister or market tester.

If Sellers are stuck on their own profit motive, work to shift their mindset to a Buyer's point of view by saying:

"When we go out looking for a home for you to buy are you, as the Buyer, going to be concerned with what the Seller needs to net? Don't you think that other Buyers are going to feel the same way you do?"

If necessary, add: "Then we can all agree that what a Seller needs to net truthfully has no real connection to the actual market value of the home."

One caveat: This script works well when housing inventory is normal or when an oversupply creates a Buyer's market. It is less effective in a Seller's market where housing inventory is in short supply. The greed of the Sellers in that market drives everything.

Coming in on-the-button That headline probably tips my hand and reveals my preference, so I'll just say it clearly: I personally believe on-the-button pricing is the single best pricing strategy – though too few Agents use it.

Most Agents pad listing prices by adding 5% to 10% to a home's current market value. This strategy is detrimental because even though Sellers realize the overpricing is meant to provide a negotiating allowance, they begin to hope to receive at least some of the padding in their own pockets. They rarely share that fact with their Agent, but it's a true underlying expectation and a real downside of padding. The upside is that padded listings create a real pricing advantage for homes that come on the market priced at their fair market value.

Homes that are listed at market value stands out from the competition. Compared to all the overpriced options, they strike Buyers as a value. This leads to traffic and a high number of showings by other Agents. It also leads to a high increase in new business opportunities for the Listing Agent, who meets numerous prospective clients as a result of to the home's ads, signage, and online posting.

Home prices seen stabilizing, sales rising

Companies:LoweS Companies Inc.
On Monday February 22, 2010, 12:24 pm
REUTERS FORECAST:

* The median forecast is for the S&P composite index of 20 metropolitan areas to be unchanged in December from November, non-seasonally adjusted, and down 3.2 percent from December 2008. This would follow a 0.2 percent November monthly decline and 5.3 percent annual drop.

* The median forecast is for a rise of about 5.3 percent in January new home sales to 360,000 annual units, following a 7.6 percent drop to 342,000 units in December.

* The median forecast is for a 1 percent rise in January existing home sales to 5.50 million units, after a 16.7 percent plunge in December.

FACTORS TO WATCH

U.S. home prices probably stagnated in December, with the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index showing no change after a 0.2 percent November decline and a total average price plunge of about 30 percent from 2006 peaks.

The rate of annual decline also continued to improve, based on the median forecast in a Reuters poll, with a 3.2 percent drop expected to follow the 5.3 percent downturn in November.

Economists in a separate Reuters housing poll last week said the bottom had probably been reached but prices were unlikely to gain this year. The 20-city index would be unchanged in 2010 before rising 2 percent next year, the poll found.

But even stability is welcome after prices tumbled for more than three years, helping send the U.S. housing market into freefall and the economy into recession.

Housing is gaining some traction on the back of massive government aid, including buyer tax incentives that are set to end this spring.

After harsh December weather kept many buyers inactive, sales of both new and existing homes rose modestly in January, economists said. Home shoppers aimed to take advantage of near record-low mortgage rates and the tax credits before they disappear.

Qualified borrowers need to sign contracts by April 30 and close loans by June 30 to get the $8,000 first-time buyer credit or $6,500 move-up credit.

Sales of new homes rose about 5.3 percent to 360,000 annual units after slumping 7.6 percent in December, and sales of existing homes climbed 1 percent to 5.50 million units after a 16.7 percent December plunge, based on Reuters surveys.

No. 2 U.S. home improvement chain Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW - News) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and predicted improved sales this year, saying that the worst of the economic cycle has probably passed.

Home Depot, the largest home improvement chain, is set to report its quarterly results on Tuesday and is seen outperforming Lowe's. Sales had been lackluster at both companies with customers delaying major home renovations during the housing and economic downturns.

Also, new homebuilding rose to a six-month high in January, surpassing forecasts and pointing to stabilization.

Thirty-year mortgage rates averaged 5.03 percent in January, virtually the same as the average for all of 2009, according to home funding company Freddie Mac. The rate got as low as 4.71 percent in December, the lowest since Freddie Mac started tracking rates weekly in 1971.

Home loan rates are seen rising through the year, however, as another key government intervention ends. The Federal Reserve by March 31 will have completed purchases of more than $1.4 trillion in mortgage-related securities aimed at lowering borrowing costs to revive housing and the economy.

Rising borrowing costs, and the looming flood of repossessed properties that banks have yet to put up for sale, should prevent much of a near-term housing recovery, most economists agree.

(Reporting by Lynn Adler; polling by Bangalore Polling Unit; Editing by Andrew Hay)
Copyright © 2010 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Clean Homes Show Better--Five Areas To Scrub to Make Yours Sparkle

So, here's a question for you. Would you rather walk into a clean home or a dirty one? No, it's not a trick question but it is an important one. You see, when it comes to selling a home, many people forget how important the answer to that question really is. Sellers get busy looking for their new home, preparing the kids for a move, packing up their belongings, getting organized for their new life and relocation so much that sometimes their home that's for sale doesn't get the TLC that's needed to push it to the top of the buyers' must-have list.

It's not until the home sits on the market for long periods that sellers realize something has to change. Sometimes it's the marketing, sometimes it's the price, and sometimes it's the fact that the home that's being shown isn't clean enough. Yes, a clean home shows better and there are five ways to make yours sparkle from roof to baseboards.

Hard to Reach Windows/Skylights. These often get overlooked either because they're difficult to access to clean or because they aren't right at eye level. Whichever the case, cleaning windows in high ceilings or skylights provides a brighter light to shine in your home. Sometimes just getting out the cloud of dust and dirt that accumulates can make a difference between a murky-looking room and one that is eye-catching. And here's a tip from Buzzle.com, "Clean the windows on a cloudy day, but not a rainy one. If you clean the windows in the direct light of the sun, traces can appear on the window, as the cleaning solution gets dry before being cleaned.”

Baseboards and Walls. I have written about giving your home a fresh coat of paint prior to putting it on the market. But maybe you can get away with a good wipe-down instead. Using a wet, mildly soapy cloth you can scrub the baseboards and walls to make them look like they've had a fresh coat of paint, if the paint isn't chipped or too worn. However, a product called Mr. Clean's Magic Erasers will save you the mess and ease the elbow grease. These rectangle-shaped cleaning pads help take the grime off nearly everything. You don't have to spray anything on the surface you're going to clean; just wet the eraser and wipe off the marks. I've done whole walls with these pads and made it look as though the wall had been freshly painted. Be sure to get the baseboards and get down to kids' level and wipe off the marks where they place their fingers while walking down the hall or up the stairs. When buyers see homes that are scoffed and worn like that, they may think it's an indication that the home might not have gotten the care it needed for the bigger things too—such as furnace, disposal, plumbing, electrical wiring, etc. It gives a general feeling of un-cleanliness and can leave a negative lasting impression.

Toilets. It may seem like this goes without saying but I'm sure any real estate agent you ask will have a horror story about toilets. Whether they're leaking, continuously running, stained, or simply stinky, they pose a major deterrent. If you've got an older toilet, give it a good inspection and be sure to check under the lid. Buyers sometimes use your toilet when they're looking at your home and nothing is worse than seeing rust stains and other unsightly marks. A good product is Zep Toilet Bowl Cleaner.

Tile. When you're showing your house, hopefully, you'll get lots of foot traffic. This, however, can lead to very dirty flooring and grout. Yes, you can supply those footies and the sign placed by the door asking buyers to remove their shoes or put the footies on before entering your home, but, the truth is, not all will comply. Still, the tile and the condition of the grout will matter to buyers should they decide to make an offer. There are certainly many products to get the dirt out of those tiny grout lines; one that I've had success with is called Heavy Duty Acidic Cleaner for tile. Use a brush to really scrub those dirty lines; doing so will make the tile standout and not look like it needs re-grouting.

Closets, Cabinets, Computer areas. "Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. That's according to About.com Guide, Elizabeth Weintraub. She writes about the need to de-clutter closets, hang shirts all facing the same way, and even alphabetize the spice cabinet. Wow! Love it! I realize you may feel you don't have time for all of that. Still, the point is, don't have junk stuffed inside closets and cabinets so that when potential buyers open them to have a peek, everything comes crashing down on them–and gives the impression that the closets are too small. Computer areas are becoming more popular in homes and behind most of those computers is a tangled web of wires collecting tons of dust.

Organize the wires using Velcro zip-ties and dust them off! Or, better yet, if you don't have to use the computer daily, arrange the area like you were filming a movie or shooting an advertisement—you never see wires. Remove all of the computer and accessory electronic cords. You can leave the monitor display on the desk but taking away the wires and storing them will give the area a more spacious, clean, and professionally staged look. A little cleaning and preparation before you market your home will help show buyers that you've cared for the house and that could be just the signal a buyer needs to make an offer.

Banking on dummies coming in for a loan

From: Jack Harper (xxxx@gmail.com)
Sent: Sun 1/03/10 9:04 PM
to:

To whom it may concern;


For illustrative purposes...
You walk into a bank and approach the counter with (2) $10.00 bills (notes).
You ask the young lady if she would kindly exchange these for a $20.00 bill (note).
You exchange your two pieces of paper (notes) for her one (note).
Did the bank give you a loan?

Same scenario...

You are seated across from the banker or bankers rep...
You sign a piece of paper (note) worth $13,000.00 and give it to him in exchange for a check (note) for $13,000.00
Did the bank give you a loan?

Not only that, the bank expects the dummy to not only pay the non-loan back but, pay compound interest on top of it.

There is only one way to lawfully verify this scenario...
Offer to pay the loan...and get their assurance you will get your note back.

For use with just about any type of financial obligation issued by a licensed financial institution mortgage, credit card, bank loan etc. (Does not work
if the loan is from a “private” source.)



From: ____________________
Date: ____________________
To: ____________________
Re: ___(Credit Card, bank loan, mortgage,
etc.)
Account Number:___________

To Whom it may concern:

I would like to make arrangements to settle the above referenced matter.
Please provide me with your statement of the amount owing as of ___(pick date 2 weeks out for example)___, together with your assurance that you will accept payment in direct and immediate exchange for the original instrument of indebtedness in its original form.

Thank you very much.

___________________________
by: authorized party

I'm suggesting here that if you do not get the note back then, the young lady at the counter took your two tens and then told you to buzz off....get the hell out of the bank.
And her boss did the same.



Regards,


JackieG


[JackieG is kissin' cousin of Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper]

Where Does The Fraud Begin

Read Me First Instructions

Notice Of Fraud And Intent To Litigate

FBI Cover Letter

Media Cover Letter

List of Exhibits and Packet Info

Exhibit A Tennessee Deed

Exhibit B Walker Todd

Exhibit C Memorandum of Law: Bank Fraud

Exhibit D Memorandum of Law: Bills of Exchange

Exhibit E Boyko

Exhibit F Rose

Exhibit G Securitization

http://www.thetrustee911.com/foreclosurefraud.htm

Beware These 5 Caveats When Buying a Foreclosure
Friday, November 6, 2009

Thanks to the tax credit for first-time homebuyers along with low interest rates, home sales have been creeping up during the past few months.

However, a very large percentage of home sales are either foreclosures or short sales.

First-time buyers and investors alike are looking for a deal -- whether as a safeguard against further market decline, as a way to lower their monthly payment, or as a vehicle to increase potential profits.

In my area of Northeast Florida, pending home sales are up more than 60% from this time last year and closed sales are up nearly 13% during the same time frame. A large number of these closed sales were either foreclosures or short sales.

The atmosphere among the local real estate companies has now become carnival-like at times. If you listen closely, you can almost hear some of the brokers making noises like carnival barkers:


"Lay-dies, and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Come one, come all and buy a foreclosure. Prices are a-MAZE-ingly low, interest rates are lower still, and if you act now you get a big fat government check for EIGHT Thou-sand dollars! I ask you, what could be better? Who is gonna be the first to buy a foreclosure? Yowsa, yowsa, yowsa!"



'Step right up and steal this amazing home for just peanuts!']


BUT NOT SO FAST!

If you are not careful, you might get a home at a great price, but you can also inherit some big problems. So that you don't find yourself investing in a money pit, I'd like to talk to you about some of the most-common problems you might encounter today.

1. You Get What They Don't Pay for

First, what you must realize about foreclosures is that they are often neglected by their former owners. The routine-maintenance projects that people do to keep up their homes are usually not done, because the owner cannot afford to do them.

I am referring to things like having the heating and air conditioning systems cleaned and maintained, or installing gutters to prevent wood rot (which can lead to termite infestations), or fixing a small roof leak before it does damage to the sheathing and ceiling below it.

A small task like keeping a shower properly caulked and grouted can prevent water from seeping behind the shower walls and rotting the wall board, which then becomes a much-more-expensive repair. Caulk and grout cost about two bucks each, but often the previous owner won't spend even that little money.

The last time I bought a foreclosure, this was the case, and sheet rock, tile, insulation and even one panel of exterior siding had to be replaced. And it could very well have been avoidable with a less-than-$5 expenditure by the prior owner!





A few bucks' worth of caulk and grout could have prevented this ...



Homeowners who are in financial trouble rarely do even the little things necessary.





... the same shower, after we rehabbed it.

So you have to be aware that, even if you have all of the necessary inspections done before you sign on the dotted line, you could still find other minor problems after you close on the home.

2. Beware of a Real 'Steal'

Second, with some foreclosures there is a problem with theft or vandalism. It is bad enough when the thefts occur prior to your bidding on the property. At least then you know what is missing and can bid accordingly. However, sometimes the thefts or vandalism occur after you have already gone to contract.

Many people may have access to the foreclosure lockboxes or keys. So, make sure that you do a total property walk-through 24 to 48 hours prior to closing. If there is expensive damage or items stolen, you may need to renegotiate the deal with the bank. Check your contract to see what it says about such a possibility.

3. Know Your Boundaries

Third, although the banks will not usually pay for a survey, make sure that you have one done. Most mortgage companies will demand that a survey be performed, but it is recommended even on cash deals.

One time I bought a foreclosure and they told me at closing that my fence was about six inches over the survey line. Not a huge problem to remedy. However, the first day that I arrived at the house to begin rehabbing it, I was greeted by a half-crazed, angry neighbor who screamed at me that my fence was three feet onto her property and that her lawyer would be suing me if I didn't move it immediately!

It was something I would have fixed soon enough anyway, but I wasn't prepared to do so the very first day of ownership. It was also very unpleasant to have a crazy woman screaming at me about a house that I had just purchased. I didn't put the fence on her lot!

Fortunately, I had a survey done prior to closing, and was able to see exactly where the proper boundary and fence should be placed.



Welcome to the neighborhood ...

Another time I bought a foreclosure that had an actual survey problem, and we could not close on the home until we received a written waiver notice from the county. The closing was delayed by two months, and caused everyone much inconvenience.

4. Know Whether the Deed is Really Done

Fourth, understand that sometimes with foreclosures, there are title problems that can delay or even prevent the closing from taking place.

I lost a deal last year because the foreclosure papers had been drawn up incorrectly, with the wrong type of deed described, by the foreclosure attorney. The property had to be re-foreclosed, and then be re-listed onto the market -- a process that would take several months. This cost me some time and money as well.

I learned an important lesson, and that is to never spend any money, prior to closing, on non-returnable materials for any property.

Also be sure that you are getting owners' title insurance, and lenders' title insurance as well if you are taking out a loan. One time, I was the selling agent on a foreclosure. After the closing, it was discovered that there was a $25,000 lien on the house that was missed by the title company that closed the escrow.

The title company had to make good on paying off this lien. If the new owner had not had title insurance, he would have found himself in an expensive hole.

5. Don't Spend a Dime Till You Can Say 'The Title is Mine'

Fifth, if the foreclosure you are buying is sold at public auction, in some states you cannot receive the certificate of title for 10 days. During that time, the previous owner has the right to pay off his mortgage debt in full and reclaim his home.

So, you had better wait until you have the certificate in hand before starting any work on the house. Otherwise, you might just wind up remodeling another person's home for free!






Hey, thanks for the new kitchen; that sure was swell of you!


So, these are the five caveats that I wish to leave you with today. At any rate, I do want to emphasize that buying a foreclosure (or sometimes a short sale if it's cheap enough), can be a great way to find a home that might otherwise not be affordable, or that may provide you with a great deal of instant equity.

But just be careful, do all your due diligence, have all the inspections done, etc. You may just save yourself a whole lot of time, inconvenience and money!

See you next week!



Ethan Roberts
Contributing Editor
The Tycoon Report

Home Sales Rise as Buyers Exploit Tax Break

WASHINGTON (AP) — Home resales rose in September to the highest level in more than two years, beating expectations, as buyers scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires.

The National Association of Realtors said Friday that sales rose 9.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million in September, from a downwardly revised rate of 5.1 million in August. Sales had been expected to rise to an annual rate of 5.35 million, according to economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters.

The median sales price was $174,900, down 8.5 percent from a year earlier, and slightly lower than August’s median of $177,300.

“There’s a mini-boom going on in the housing market,” said Thomas Popik, who conducts a monthly survey of real estate agents for Campbell Communications, a research firm.

The inventory of unsold homes on the market fell about 7 percent to 3.63 million. That’s a 7.8 month supply at the current sales pace, and the lowest level since March 2007. Nationwide sales are up nearly 24 percent from their bottom in January, but are still down 23 percent from four years ago.

Sales rose around the country, especially in the West, where they grew 13 percent from a month earlier. Foreclosure sales are booming in cities like Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas.

First-time homebuyers and investors are snapping up those homes and taking advantage of low mortgage rates. These buyers can also take advantage of a tax credit of 10 percent of the sales price, up to $8,000, if the sale is completed by the end of November.

The tax credit is so important to some buyers that they are adding a clause to their contracts, allowing them to back out if the sale doesn’t close by Nov. 30.

While home sales and housing construction have risen steadily after hitting bottom earlier this year, most economists believe that the worst isn’t over for home values.

Prices could see a double dip because rising unemployment is causing more foreclosures. The jobless rate, currently at 9.8 percent is expected to rise to as high as 10.5 percent next year, causing more people to be unable to afford their monthly mortgage payment.

“There’s more supply that’s going to come into the marketplace,” said Stan Humphries, chief economist at a real estate Web site, Zillow.com. “That additional supply will outpace demand.”

With concerns about the housing market still prominent, Congress is considering several proposals to extend the tax credit for first-time buyers. Senators Johnny Isakson, a Republican from Georia, and Christopher Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat, want to extend it through June 30, and expand it to include all home buyers, at an estimated cost of $16.7 billion.

Realtors and homebuilders are pressing lawmakers to do so, arguing that the tax credit is crucial to get the housing market back on its feet.

“We are not there in terms of removing the consumer fear factor,” said Lawrence Yun, the Realtors’ chief economist.

One potential roadblock, however, emerged this week. There are concerns that some of the 1.5 million applications for the tax credit are fraudulent.

At a hearing on Thursday the Treasury Department’s inspector general for taxes questioned the legitimacy of some 100,000 claims for the credit, potentially including some illegal immigrants and 580 people under 18. The youngest taxpayers to apply for the credit were 4 years old.

Housing Market Has Bottomed, Banking Analyst Bove Says

The biggest problem that banks have faced was the fall in the housing market, and this seems to have bottomed, Rochdale Securities banking analyst Richard Bove told CNBC.

"I really believe that the industry has bottomed, that we're not going to see further crashes in home prices or in home sales," Bove told "Squawk Box."

Analysts are no longer happy with banks breaking earnings and revenue forecasts and are now looking at early stage delinquencies, he said. If that figure improves, then the stocks of the banks which beat earnings estimates are likely to rise, he added.

"It's all on expectation on what future numbers will be and for that people are going to keep an eye on these early stage delinquencies," Bove said.



Morgan Stanley [MS 34.47 1.95 (+6%) ] and Wells Fargo [WFC 30.82 0.36 (+1.18%) ] beat earnings estimates Wednesday.

"I think Wells Fargo is proving itself to be a stand-out with these numbers," Bove said.



Wells Fargo's profit rose 60 percent in the third quarter, as revenue from mortgage banking surged, and the bank reported earnings per share of 56 cents, from 49 cents a year ago.

Bank of England governor Mervyn King called for a separation between banks' classical functions, such as simple loans and taking deposits, and risky, speculative operations, to avoid a new crisis. Bove said new legislation being examined in the US will in effect do that.


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"I think if you look at legislation currently in front of Congress it will do exactly what Mervyn King is talking about," he said, saying that the change will come from the different capital and regulatory conditions imposed on the two types of banks – so called 'utility' banks and investment banks.

Investor Report: Fraternity House Rentals

College town rental housing and condos have been a profitable niche for investors for years. But are you ready for a niche within a niche - fraternity house rentals?

That's right, frat houses, Greeks -- but nothing quite as rowdy or raunchy as John Belushi's "Animal House" classic.

In fact, according to one real estate broker in Blacksburg, Virginia, home to 30,000-student Virginia Tech, properly-drafted rental agreements with fraternities not only can lock in solid cash flows, but protect the investor against heavy-duty maintenance and management expenses.

Tina Merritt, who works with investors in a variety of real estate fields and blogs on Trump University, says heads-up players can sometimes acquire fraternity-type properties at excellent prices within walking distance of campus that produce rentals of $400 a room, or $4,000 a months for a 10-bedroom frat house.

Merritt concedes that fraternity rentals "are definitely not for the faint of heart," but says investors make money with lease agreements that require the following:


Fraternity tenants are responsible for all maintenance and repairs of damage. National fraternities or local chapters, in other words, have to fix anything their members mess up.

Parents of students typically are guarantors of timely rent payments, and all rentals are payable electronically.

National chapters are required to keep a close eye on the finances of the local chapters renting the property.
As a practical matter, Merritt told Realty Times last week, fraternity house committees, alumni and parents don't want to have problems with the landlord, and when money is needed for property upgrades or repairs that are not included in the chapter's budget, they kick in the needed cash.

Local investors sometimes own multiple frat houses, says Merritt, and in one case she knows, owning fraternity property has evolved into "the family business."

But what if you're an investor who wants to be involved in college housing rentals, but you don't want to be quite so close to all the action?

The good news here is there are publicly traded real estate investment trusts, REITs, that specialize in college and university town housing. At least three are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and typically offer dividends of five percent or better, along with growth in value per share over time.

For example, Austin, Texas-based American Campus Communities owns a huge portfolio of 17,000 rental units in 80 off-campus apartment complexes in places like Arizona State, Penn State and Florida State, to name just a few.

Is it time to go back to school -- this time as an investor? Check it out.

Simplifying The Landlord Job

Becoming a landlord is often met with objections from the inexperienced. They see the difficulties and troubles that can unfold and maybe they’ve even heard horror stories from former landlords. But due to the current market conditions, some homeowners are becoming accidental landlords and that’s causing them to look for simplified avenues to navigate the process.

Fortunately, the demand is being met by a company that is helping to turn the old process of mailing paper rental checks into electronic checks using the Internet.

A new site called PayYourRent.com aims to ease the process, eliminate the headaches for landlords, property managers, and tenants, and help facilitate rents payments. "What we do is we set up a merchant account that will send funds directly from the tenant’s account right into the owner’s account. It’s all completely electronic. The owner will receive an email that the payment has been made and the money will be deposited into the account," says Kevin Eberly, CEO of PayYourRent.com.

"It really takes a lot of the frustration away for the homeowners who want to rent their homes but don’t know anything about property management," says Eberly.

It also simplifies and provides a track record of repair work as well. "We provide a portal and Web site for the owner and tenant to submit maintenance requests, rental applications, online monthly recurring payments, and even connect all the tenant’s utilities -- all on one Web site," says Eberly.

Eberly says that some landlords who don’t have much experience may feel that some of the tasks of being a landlord are "out of their comfort zone" or simply too time consuming and that’s where he says his site can come to the rescue. The site helps tenants to make necessary changes quickly and easily online, alleviating the landlord from having to handle a constant stream of questions from tenants. "It’s one Web site where tenants can go to set up their water, power, gas, phone, cable, Internet, renter’s insurance, change of address form—everything is right there on one Web site and it compares prices from the local and the national brand for their area. And it has a best price guarantee," says Eberly.

Another benefit is the roommate split-payment option. "The original tenant who registers on the site has the ability to add a roommate. So that roommate can go in with a secure username and password and submit payments toward the same property.

What about repairs? Eberly says the site is a great way to track exactly what needs to be done and what repairs have already been completed. The tenant logs in and submits a repair. An email is sent to the property owner or the person who the property owner has designated to receive it. A confirmation email is sent to the tenant. The site provides access 24/7 so that pending repair requests can be viewed by the property owner. Once the property owner marks the repair as completed it is removed from the property owner’s page on the site but PayYourRent.com keeps a back-log of all the previous maintenance requests so that in the event of litigation and the property owner wants proof that the repair was completed, a back-log is available.

Eberly says the company is constantly improving the site based on feedback from those using it. "The idea is to make it a one-stop shop for property managers, owners, and tenants." A monthly service fee of $15 to use the Web site portal applies if you have fewer than 10 units registered with the company as well as a check service charge of $3.95 per check.

Four Things Not to Forget on Moving Day

You’re likely approaching moving day with equal parts excitement and dread.

The excitement: a new home, a new life – a fresh start!

The dread: moving. However, you can’t go from “Old, Boring Life” to “New, Exciting Life” without passing through “Moving Day.” Thankfully, the day itself needn’t be an ordeal, if you keep in mind four things you absolutely should not forget to do.

1. Don’t forget to make sure everything is loaded on the van.

It’s not unheard of for moving companies to neglect to load some items, so before they leave, make sure you go through the house to ensure everything’s on the moving van. And don’t overlook those places where things like to hide, particularly your closets and cabinets. We’re aware of one recent mover who missed a closet full of Christmas decorations – and had to spend $250 to ship them to her new place.

2. Don’t forget to have a plan for your kids or pets.

A house that’s being packed up is no place for a kid or a pet. They tend to get underfoot, which can pose dangers to both the movers and your kid/pet. Your best bet is to have someone watch them – have the kids stay with relatives, and get a kennel for your pet. If you don’t have that luxury, have them in a separate room with the door locked and with plenty of toys and/or a TV to occupy them. Pack that room last when loading the truck; when unloading the truck, unpack that room first so they’re occupied while the rest of your house is unpacked.

3. Don’t forget to pack.

OK, you might not forget to pack, but you might not give yourself enough time to get it done by the time moving day rolls around. Here’s why that’s such a bad thing. First, if you leave packing until the last second, you might have to pull an all-nighter to get it all done. Those might have been fun in college, but they’re no fun when you know there’s going to be a bunch of big burly guys showing up at 9 a.m. looking to move packed boxes. And being tired while packing is not a good idea, particularly if you’d like your items to show up in one piece at your new place. Even if a Herculean effort to get everything done doesn’t do the trick, the moving company will help you – but they’ll charge you for their labor and the moving supplies. These prices are pre-set by their tariff, and they’re not cheap. So be honest with yourself when packing: Can you get it all done yourself? And if you can, can you set aside enough time so it’s not done hastily at the last second?

4. Don’t forget to check your moving paperwork thoroughly.

On moving day, you’ll get two very important pieces of paper. The inventory is a listing of the items that will be moved, as well as their condition, and usually the driver compiles it. Make sure you agree with the assessment of your belongings. That’s important in case you need to file a claim for damages; if it was listed in damaged condition before the move, you might not be able to claim much. (You can also use the inventory to check off that you received everything that was loaded onto the moving van.) The bill of lading is essentially the contract for your move. It should match the estimates that you received when you got the quote for your move. The time to contest any charges is before you sign the bill of lading, so make sure you do so.

To learn more moving terminology, VanLines.com provides a thorough list of moving-related terms.

Moving can be one of life’s most stressful experiences, but it shouldn’t prevent you from looking forward to your new home and all the excitement that comes with it. Keep these four tips in mind as you plan for the “Big Day,” and you’ll be heading off to your new place with a strong start.

About the Author: Tim Johnson is the managing editor of Relocation.com, the nation’s online resource connecting people who need moving services with professionals who can handle their move. The site also offers advice and guides on real estate and home remodeling.

As managing editor, Johnson spearheads all of Relocation.com’s content development efforts. He is responsible for the company’s day-to-day editorial and creative operations, and oversees the planning, development and implementation of new content, including how-to articles, tipsheets, expert columns, checklists and more. Johnson also manages the Relocation.com blog, which features the latest moving news and advice.

The Art of Home Selling

Selling your home on the Internet is more than just a collection of pretty pictures, according to two art and design education professors.

"Your online impact is equal to your curb appeal impact," says Aimee Flynn, Graphic Design and Interior Design Department instructor at the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham.

"In both instances, the way you package the product to entice a potential buyer is key," Flynn added.

Knowing potential buyers is also key.

"A common mistake is to assume that your home would appeal to everyone," says John C. Franke, a General Education department instructor at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

"People don't usually think about their homes in this way, but by analyzing your neighborhood and your home's unique appeal, you can pinpoint your target audience and market accordingly," Franke said.

"Keep in mind that you're selling a dream -- if someone can imagine his or her life unfolding in the images and descriptive text, you are one step closer to landing a successful showing," says Flynn.

Franke, with professional experience in retail buying and merchandising, and interior store design for various specialty department stores, says that the photographs used to promote your home mean everything.

"Pictures must be professional-looking and include shots of landscaping, interior attributes such as laundry room, basement storage, garage and other unique selling points," he says.

"The home should appear to be bright, clean and appointed with fresh flowers or other notable accents to add style or seasonal flair," Franke said.

Flynn and Franke offer these additional tips for preparing your Internet home listing:

• Shop the competition. Research how others present their homes online locally and in other cities before you begin to develop your tactics. Good places to start are local real estate listing sites.

• Seek professional help from within your social network. Don't be intimidated by technology but don't try to master what time doesn't allow. Web designers, photographers and other experts are probably living within your social network. Request their help.

• Sell the locality. Promote the city, school system, neighborhood parks, restaurants, etc. All of these things sell a quality of life and double as search engine buzzwords.

• List the address. Make sure you give very clear directions from main roads or intersections. This allows an interested party to check out the location of the home beforehand, which may weed out non-serious buyers.

• Highlight the property's features. Mention any recent renovations (completed with a permit), the number of bedrooms, if you have a fenced-in yard, and any unique offerings.

• Include detailed descriptions. List the square footage, individual room dimensions, property taxes, association fees, etc. Post multiple images.

• Keep the price in a searchable range. For example, a $299,000 price is more likely to draw borderline buyers than $301,000.

• Choose sites that organize listings by date. When you update your listing, any saved changes will bump up its positioning in the list.

• Seek viewer input. The only way to know what people are thinking about your home, your site or their interest in your property is to provide an easy way for browsers to offer feedback and to ask questions. Add a feedback form or email address to your listing.

Remodeling Increasing: How to Get the Best Value

Homeowners who have either decided to stay in their homes or are considering selling may be helping to build momentum in the remodeling market.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the organization's Chairman, Greg Miedema, said in a recent media statement that, "With more calls from homeowners and more projects under way, remodelers are seeing better activity in their businesses."

NAHB reports that indicators for current remodeling market conditions have improved in all regions across the country. "A significant portion of the market improvement came from the measure for major additions and alterations (jobs worth $25,000 or more with a leap to 38.2 (from 32.7)," according to NAHB. The association's Remodeling Market Index (RMI) measures ranges from zero (very poor conditions) to 100 (excellent conditions) as rated by the remodelers surveyed.

NAHB says several factors could be contributing to better remodeling conditions. "Remodeling does uptick when there are more new homes being built and sold or existing homes being sold because people tend to remodel when they're moving or when they're selling. … The other thing that we could be seeing is an increase in consumer sentiment in that people have been reluctant to spend but now are feeling a little bit more confident and more willing to spend. These are things that some of our researchers think might be part of the influencers right now," says Kelly Mack, Communications Manager for NAHB Remodelers.

Remodeling is, however, a big step for many homeowners. Getting the best value for your remodel shouldn't come from guesswork; instead, knowing how to find a remodeling company with a solid reputation for delivering quality work throughout the entire remodeling process requires research.

Choosing the best remodeler for your project can often be a tedious process and if you don't take the time to explore all your options it can result in frustration and too much money spent.

Making sure the company that is doing the remodel asks the right questions, does its homework, and offers full-service design and remodeling under one roof. This will help ensure a quality remodel that meets all your needs.

Steve Walton, Senior Design Consultant for Marrokal Design and Remodeling, in San Diego, California helps clients sort through what can be a complicated process to get the best value remodel.

"When I meet with clients, I have them describe their ideas for the remodeling project. I take a lot of notes," says Walton. The design consultant then sets another meeting at Marrokal's Design and Remodeling center. Prior to this meeting Walton has already done his homework and researched any likely obstacles for the remodel. Some companies take on a project and later discover remodeling barriers.

"I get your set-backs, zoning conditions, and height conditions and try to see if there are any issues. That way when we meet at our design center we can start looking at the architectural process," says Walton.

The full-service home-design remodel company offers homeowners one-stop shopping for their remodeling needs. "I develop a written program based on what my clients' needs and goals are for their remodel," says Walton. He adds, "Throughout this I am digging deep and finding out what's important to my clients. A lot of companies don't ask these questions but this is how Marrokal Design and Remodeling starts to develop a preliminary budget for our clients."

While not all remodelers offer full service (from design to construction), this type of company is often popular with homeowners. A full-service company keeps your remodeling project running smoothly by coordinating all of the necessary design, construction developments, and communication with trade companies through one primary source (removing the unnecessary hassle of trying to get numerous trade companies to work together).

Another approach to remodeling that sets quality remodelers apart from the rest is the use of value engineering to design the remodel. "Value engineering" means refining and sometimes redesigning aspects of the remodel to make it more cost-effective which ultimately saves money for the homeowner.

Mack adds that the basic tasks of asking for references, planning your budget, interviewing remodelers, asking about certifications that the remodeler holds, and making sure that all your questions are met will help set your mind at ease before you start the remodeling process.

If you're considering a remodel, understanding some of the most popular remodeling trends can help you decide which projects may have the greatest appeal for comfort and sale-ability.

Mack says high on the list are creating outdoor living space and energy-efficient remodels to help off-set the cost of utility bills. The outdoor living trend has been steadily increasing says Mack. "This is a trend that we think will grow into 2015."

Factors That Do Not Affect the Value of Real Estate

When selling a home, there are many factors which affect market value and the eventual sale price of a home, such as location, condition, size, amenities, features, improvements and upgrades, local economic conditions, the current real estate market and mortgage interest rates, among others. Some of these factors are within the control of the owner, and others are beyond the control of the owner.

The definition of Fair Market Value includes various terms such as: the most probable price which a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale; the buyer and seller each acting prudently and knowledgeably; assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus; normal marketing time period, informed buyer and seller.

In helping owners obtain a Market Value estimate for their home, Realtors can provide a Comparative Market Analysis (commonly referred to as CMA). A thorough Market Analysis will include full property details and pricing information of the most comparable type properties currently listed on the market for sale, pending or under contract sales where a contract offer has been recently accepted, closed sale transactions and listings which have expired, those that did not sell during the marketing time period. The purpose of a report like this is to provide the owner with factual information to help them in their decision to sell by providing a recommended asking price and estimated sales price. While no two properties are truly identical, an analysis like this can provide home owners with the most reliable method of obtaining a market value estimate for their home.

In the process of reviewing the pricing information however, it is quite common for owners to question the market value estimate and pricing recommendations. The questions and concerns they have about price, while valid in their situation, do not have an affect in determining the market value for their home. What are some of the factors that do not have an effect in establishing Market Value?

The price paid for a home one year ago, three years ago, five or ten years ago has nothing to do with what the home is worth today. Real estate values exist at a fixed point in time. A home may have been purchased for $300,000 three years ago, and may be worth $315,000 today. Someone else may have bought a substantially similar home for $250,000 five years ago and it is worth $315,000 today. That is a drastic difference in equity in a relatively short period of time.

Real estate ownership has been blessed with appreciation in home values, but that appreciation is not always in a straight line. Real estate values are not static. Over the long term, an investment in real estate is generally considered the most valuable type of investment, one with the best financial returns. Over the long run, it is probably the best investment people can make.

Depending on the market conditions when the home was purchased, some owners were fortunate and purchased their home in a buyers market before the increases in real estate values like we just recently witnessed between 2001 and early 2006. Others may have bought at the end of a strong real market and were forced to pay top dollar in a highly competitive sellers market, as many owners are experiencing now who purchased their home in 2006. It is economic market conditions, the economy, employment, mortgage rates and supply and demand that create changes in the real estate market and cause real estate values to increase, remain stable and perhaps drop at different periods of time. These are the factors that are beyond a seller’s control.

All owners would like to get the price they feel they should get for their home when they choose to sell. The reality is, their home is worth what it is worth, and that is the price a buyer is willing to pay. A buyer will not pay more for a home than what they would have to pay for another home with similar features and amenities in a similar location, something called the "Principle of Substitution".

It is for that reason why so much reliance is placed on sales data when establishing market value, and not personal emotions or personal circumstances.

Whether a home was purchased twenty five years ago, three years ago or just last year, the purchase price was the value when it was purchased, and has nothing to do with it’s current market value when being sold. A seller with twenty five years of home ownership and substantial equity has the same right to fair market value as an owner with just 3 years of home ownership and perhaps little or no equity.

Decisions to sell may be more difficult for owners with short term ownership especially when real estate values have not increased or have dropped since the home was purchased. Home owners with short term ownership may have mortgage balances higher than the value of the home and a sale would require bringing cash to the closing to pay off the mortgage balance.

Home owners with long term ownership and substantial equity can make selling decisions easier than owners selling their home without the benefit of real estate appreciation.

In either case, the real estate market is the real estate market, regardless of when the home was purchased, and the home is worth what is worth.

While it is true that that the condition of a home has a definite affect on its market value, and that a well maintained home will sell for more than a home in need of updating and repair, the actual cost of making repairs and improvements may not be equal to the increase in market value. Why? Cost does not necessarily equal value in real estate. Repairs and improvements are two different things.

A repair corrects something that is broken or is not working properly, and does not necessarily add value to a home when fixed. Some types of repairs are considered necessary repairs. A leaking faucet, broken windows, clogged drains, screens with holes, gutters hanging from the roof, missing downspouts, cracked concrete walkways, among others, are examples of this.

Repairs like these can be considered deferred maintenance, and are considered minor repairs. They are maintenance related and are easily noticed by buyers. They draw attention and become distracting to buyers when viewing a home. If not taken care of, conditions like these will definitely have a negative impact on the marketability of a home, which then will have a negative affect on market value. When repaired or fixed, these type repairs make a home more saleable, not necessarily more valuable.

In other words, just because repairs like these cost $1,500 does not mean that they have increased the value of the home in the same amount. However, if not repaired, they could result in a loss in value of more than the cost to repair and, maybe more important, the loss of potential buyers because they feel the home needs too much repair and work.

What about the roof, exterior siding, windows, heating system, electrical system, central air conditioning system and hot water heater? These type improvements are more costly than the repair items noted above and can have a larger impact on marketability and market value. While a buyer may not rave about how beautiful the furnace looks because it is now, they will definitely have negative thoughts on a home where the furnace is original and is 50 years old. A new or newer furnace will be more efficient than the original, save the buyer money in monthly fuel bills and, more importantly, is an item that will not need to be replaced by the buyer in the near future. These type items relate to the effective age of a home. The chronological age of a home can be much different than its effective age. There is a life expectancy in how long a roof will last, how long a furnace will last, etc. A 50 year home can have an effective age of 20-30 years when improvements like these have been made. When comparing homes, buyers are concerned with near future essential repairs and improvements which need to be made, especially those that are costly, like these.

Quite often buyers will pass up on homes they are interested in simply because they need too much near future updating, even if the asking price is appropriate considering the condition of the home. Why? Very often buyers just do not have the time or inclination to take care of major updating, but more importantly, they may not have the additional cash to make the improvements after closing as they have exhausted their savings for the down payment and closing costs.

Should a homeowner replace the original 50 year old furnace when they are ready to sell? Should they invest the $2,300 to $4,000 and have the furnace replaced? A furnace is an integral system in the home, and something buyers are concerned with. However, it is just one aspect of the home. The question relates more to whether it will cost more to sell the home with the original furnace than what it would cost to replace it. If the furnace is the only item requiring immediate attention, it may not prevent a sale. However, if there are other must do improvements, the furnace will have a negative impact on market value.

Decisions like this have to take into consideration the overall condition of the home. When investing in a new furnace today and spending $2,500, what is the likelihood of receiving a full return on the investment? The reality is that it will help sell the home, but not necessarily at a price to recapture the actual cost of new furnace.

What about the home where a state of the art kitchen or main bath are new improvements made by the owner? Can a seller expect to recapture all or most of the cost? Improvements like these are very costly, and will definitely add to market value. But will the seller recapture all or most of the cost? That depends on various other factors, such as how recent the improvements are, what the overall condition of the home is, the price range the home is in, where the home is located and, more importantly, what buyers are expecting to see in a home like this.

With regard to major improvements in a home, all too often the improvements are made for the benefit and enjoyment of the owner and not solely for recapturing the total investment! Each and every major improvement to a home is unique. There is no rule that guarantees an exact amount of value added for specific improvements.

There are studies available that approximate increased values for specific improvements, but every real estate market area is different! For more information, just Google "cost versus value improvements".

How Much the Seller Needs Whether a home owner has owned their home for 30 years and has paid off their mortgage, or is one who has owned their home for only a few years and has an equity loan on top of the original mortgage, the market value of their home is what it is. Market value has nothing to do with mortgage balance.

Likewise, where the owner is planning on moving to another home, what they need to spend for their next home does not have an affect on the value of their current home. Their home is worth what is worth, whether they are moving into a home they already own, buying a less expensive home or are purchasing a much more expensive home. Market value has nothing to do with the amount the owner needs to purchase another home.

In either scenario, there is a reality however. In order to sell a current home, there needs to be sufficient sale proceeds to pay off the existing mortgage(s) and, or, provide enough equity to enable the purchase of the next home. For many owners, it is a matter of choice. Is it worth it to me to sell my current home and move forward or not? For others, the options are not that simple.

Home buyers make their purchase price decisions based on how much a home is worth to them, not on how much the seller is asking or how much the seller needs. Buyers look and compare one home to another. They ask to see comparable sales, and they base their contract offer on what the real estate market is saying the value of the home is. In most cases, a home buyer will not pay more for a home than it would cost them to find a similar home, in similar condition and with similar amenities, commonly referred to as the "principle of substitution".

fw: Canadian municipal gov'ts are stealing our land - without permission nor compensation!

Hi everyone. I've posted the below noted links for you to investigate some of the recent
research done by Vancouver freedom activist Norris Barens on our public highways.

Through diligent and amazing research, Norris has discovered that first Vancouver and
now municipalities in Ontario are passing legislation to usurp the ownership of our public
highways and vest them in the corporate municipal structures. Ownership of our public
highways is owned up to 1/2 way in the median thereof by the adjacent owners of the land.

This has always been the law throughout English history as well. The only land for the public
highways that has been ceded is the topsoil to permit the public to pass and re-pass. The
land below remains owned by the landowners.

Now, however, municipalities are simply passing 'laws' and claiming this entire land for themselves.

He who owns the land makes the rules!

I urge everyone to complain to your local municipality and demand answers on how and why they
are breaking our fundamental property laws. More information can be obtain from Norris by emailing
him at vancouverpropertyrights@shaw.ca Norris can provide you with more information for those
living in Ontario on their recent attempts to follow what Vancouver has unlawfully done.

You can also google 'invisible b.c. government' to see these videos.

It is only through continued diligence of people like Norris that we are able to obtain this information
to keep on top of our corrupt governments. I urge everyone to thank Norris for his incredible work in
discovering this most important information - and more!


in freedom I remain
David-Kevin: Lindsay


http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=57092430

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/invisible-government-and-your-rights-private-property

US May Home Prices Up, Annual Drop Slows 4th Month

U.S. single-family home prices rose in May from April, the first monthly increase in nearly three years, suggesting prices may be stabilizing, according to Standard & Poor's/Case Shiller home price indexes on Tuesday.
AP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The index of 20 metropolitan areas rose 0.5 percent in May from April, after a 0.6 percent decline the month before, in contrast with the 0.5 percent drop forecast by economists in a Reuters poll.

The May monthly rise resulted in an annual downturn of 17.1 percent, although this was the fourth straight month that the rate of decline slowed. This follows a 16-month string of record annual declines starting in October 2007 and ending in January.

S&P said its index of 10 metropolitan areas rose 0.4 percent in May after a 0.7 percent drop in April, for an 16.8 percent year-over-year drop.


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In May, 17 of the 20 metro areas showed improved annual price changes compared with April. The 10 and 20-city indexes reported positive returns for the first time since summer of 2006.

"To put it in perspective, this is the first time we have seen broad increases in home prices in 34 months," David M. Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P, said in a statement. "This could be an indication that home price declines are finally stabilizing."

New-Home Sales Jump by 11%, Largest Monthly Rise in 9 Years

New U.S. home sales rose by the largest amount in more than eight years last month, in another sign the housing market is finally bouncing back from the worst downturn in decades.

The Commerce Department said Monday that sales rose 11 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000, from an upwardly revised May rate of 346,000.

It was the strongest sales pace since November 2008 and exceeded the forecasts of economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters, who expected a pace of 360,000 units. The last time sales rose so dramatically was in December 2000.

Sales have risen for three straight months. The median sales price of $206,200, however, was down 12 percent from $234,300 a year earlier and down nearly 6 percent from $219,000 in May.

The report is another encouraging sign that the beleaguered housing sector is finally coming back to life. Last Thursday, the National Association of Realtors reported that home resales posted a monthly increase of 3.6 percent in June.


RELATED LINKS
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Commercial Real Estate Wreck Looms For Regional BanksRealty Check with Diana Olick
"The data will reinforce the developing thinking that housing market has bottomed and that the economy has stabilized and will grow in the third quarter," Jim Awad, managing director at Zephyr Management in New York, told Reuters.

"In the cocktail of the market, it will be viewedpositively and will add credence to the bulls, who think we will have a rebound in the markets going forward," he said.

The number of new homes for sale fell to a more than 11-year low at 281,000, the lowest since February 1998 and down more than 4 percent from May. At the current sales pace, that represents 8.8 months of supply — the lowest level since October 2007.

Fallout from the housing crisis has played a central role in the U.S. recession, now the longest since World War II. Foreclosures have spiked, homebuilders have slashed construction, and financial companies have lost billions.

“I turned from a loser to a winner when I was able to separate my ego needs from making money. When I was able to accept being wrong. Before that, admitting I was wrong was more upsetting than losing the money.”


- Marty Schwartz

DETROIT, MICHIGAN: THE DOCUMENTARY

Existing-home sales hit 8-month high

Existing-home sales rose 3.6% in June to an annualized pace of 4.86 million, to the highest level since October, the National Association of Realtors reported this morning.



It was the third monthly increase in a row. "This represents yet another encouraging sign that the housing market is beginning to stabilize," Nomura Securities chief economist David Resler wrote in a note to clients.



Economists had expected an annualized pace of 4.85 million last month. Sales are down 0.2% from June of 2008.



Inventories fell 0.7% to 3.82 million in June. At the current sales pace, it would take 9.4 months to sell homes on the market, an improvement from the 9.8 months in May.



A 7-month supply is typically consistent with stabilization in prices, NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun, said in a press conference. It may take until the end of this year or early 2010 before property values steady, Yun added.



So who's buying? Tax incentives are helping spark resale activity in lower-priced homes. The supply of homes under $250,000 is under a six-month supply, while the supply of homes over $1 million is over 20 months.



That excess supply is contributing to the slump in home prices. The median price of an existing home fell 15.4% to $181,800 from $215,000 in June 2008.



June is traditionally one of the best sales months of the year as families prepare to move before the start of the next school term, according to the NAR. The group adjusts the figures for these seasonal variations, however.



Home sales peaked in August 2005 at an annualized rate of more than 7.2 million. Sales have not topped the 5 million mark since last September.

Mortgage Rates Fall for Third Consecutive Week

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.14 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 16, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.20 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.26 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 4.63 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.69 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.78 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.83 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, up slightly from last week when it averaged 4.82 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.80 percent.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 4.76 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.82 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.10 percent.

"Average fixed-rate mortgage rates were lower than last week and were down 0.4 percent to 0.5 percent from the levels of early June.," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. "For a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the rate reduction over the past five weeks translates into a monthly payment saving of $56 on a $200,000 loan."

The latest economic reports were influenced by recent energy-cost movements. Although higher gasoline prices fueled a 0.7 percent monthly jump in the consumer price index for June, the index was down 1.4 percent from June 2008 and represented the largest 12-month drop since January 1950. In addition, retail sales rose 0.6 percent in June bolstered by automobile sale incentives and higher gasoline prices; the average price for regular gasoline has since fallen 6.1 percent from its recent high set over the week ending June 22, according to the Energy Information Administration. And finally, industrial production fell only 0.4 percent in June, the slowest decline in eight months."

Real Estate Outlook: Positive Signs Reported Again

With the stock market still jumpy and investors worried that the global recession may not be ending soon enough, it may seem a little surprising to see strong positive signs in the home real estate market.

But that's what's been happening.

Pending home sales rose sharply, by nearly 7 percent, in the latest month measured by the National Association of Realtors. Pending sales are those where the contracts are signed, but the deals haven't gone to settlement yet.

Pending sales were up in all four major regions of the country -- and that caught the attention of some key industry economists.

Orawin Velz, economic forecaster for the Mortgage Bankers Association, said in a commentary that "the steady improvements in pending home sales are encouraging," and confirm the view that existing home sales hit their cyclical bottom in January and are likely to continue to rise in the coming months.

Since the January low point, she noted, the Realtors' pending sale index is up by 13 percent.

Mortgage rates continue to be favorable, an average of 5.3 percent last week for 30 year fixed rate loans, 4. 8 percent for 15 year fixed, and those rates are pulling in growing numbers of home purchase loan applications.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey, new applications to buy houses increased by nearly 7 percent in the week ending July 3rd.

Meanwhile a new survey by the California Association of Realtors found sales up in most parts of the state, especially in areas hard hit by price busts following the boom.

More than two out of three buyers polled by the group -- 68 percent -- said affordable prices are the key factor pulling them off the sidelines.

Now, of course, not everything is on the plus side in the real estate sector. Many of the houses being sold at near-giveaway prices are the byproducts of foreclosures and short sales, signs of continuing financial distress among many buyers who purchased at the height of the boom with low equity stakes.

Even the rental market is taking some economic hits in the face of rising home sales. Rental unit vacancies have just hit 7.5 percent nationwide; that's the highest they've been in 22 years, according to the New York research firm that compiles these statistics.

So on balance, real estate market conditions depend on where you're looking.

If it's home sales, the outlook is improving. On rentals, it looks like the turnaround will be a little further down the road.

Welcome to the Hotel California

In that regard, I bring your attention to a story that was published just last week in Hotel News Now. Aside from a massive budget shortfall, the hotel industry in the Golden State is also struggling to stay afloat.

The story was entitled California to see record number of hotel foreclosures.

It read:

The number of California hotels in default or foreclosed on jumped 125% in the last 60 days. The state now has 31 hotels that have been foreclosed on and 175 in default, according to California-based Atlas Hospitality.

Initially, the wave of distress in California was seen by the smaller, non-flagged hotels in secondary and tertiary markets. As the hotel economy worsened, we have seen it impact all property types. The properties range from the luxurious St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point to the more economical Extended Stay and Red Roof Inn chains.

No market or brand is immune in this downturn. In reviewing the hotels in default or foreclosed on, we found that over 75% of the loans originated from 2005 to 2007. During this period, over 2,500 California hotels either refinanced or obtained new purchase loan financing.

Unfortunately, based on today's market values, we estimate that none of these hotels have any equity remaining. The unprecedented decline in room revenues (California is down 21.5% year-to-date) combined with the jump in cap rates has resulted in a massive loss in values.

We estimate that values are currently 50-80% lower than at the market's peak in 2006-2007. (Emphasis mine.)

Now, if that doesn't spell trouble for commercial hotel REITs, nothing does.

As for the state of California, all I can say is I'm haunted by something a teacher said to me a long time ago. . .

"Steve," he said, "if you want to know what's going to happen next, just keep your eye on California."

"Everything," he warned, "happens there first."

That's why I believe this is a trend that is just getting started as "jingle mail" now moves into commercial real estate.

By the way, my Hawaiian contact tells me that hotels on the Big Island are running at about 25% occupancy, which, if true for all the islands, would be devastating. Meanwhile, just last month, the Sheraton on the Big Island went into foreclosure after the resort's owner defaulted on its mortgage.

Your bargain-hunting analyst,



Steve Christ, Investment Director

The Wealth Advisory

P.S. Struggling hotel REITs are only one part of the rickety tower in commercial real estate these days. Unfortunately, it's only a matter of time before the whole sector comes tumbling down. But that doesn't mean you have to be just a bystander to it all. I've identified 4 ways to earn big profits as it happens. To learn more about these opportunities, click here.

From: Wealth Daily (wd-eletter@angelnexus.com)
Sent: Thu 7/09/09 5:00 PM

Majority owners of Neverland are going to sell it!
http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68266

I found this off of Larry King's blog:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-a...astoriginalsC1


What do you guys think???? I was hoping that Neverland can be somehow kept with the Jacksons and they can make it their home and keep it in the family for generations. Maybe they can borrow the money from Donald Trump???



The Next Graceland? No Chance.
by Gerald Posner
July 4, 2009 | 10:20am


A top executive overseeing Neverland Ranch tells The Daily Beast’s Gerald Posner it will not become a public Michael Jackson museum, and that the real-estate firm has received private bids from several billionaires, and has already turned down a $100 million private offer.

Neverland as the new Graceland? Although many Michael Jackson fans might love the concept, The Daily Beast has learned that it definitely is not going to happen. I spoke to a senior executive at Colony Capital, who is intimately involved in overseeing Neverland, but was not authorized to speak on the record. He revealed—for the first time—that since Jackson’s death the company has received several private bids for the 2,600-acre ranch property. The top offer so far? An even $100 million. “All of the offers are from individual billionaires,” the Colony executive told me. “Neverland is not going to be sold to a corporation and become a company retreat.”

Colony became Neverland’s owner in 2008 when it purchased the $24.5 million in debt on the property from the Fortress Investment Group, which was threatening to foreclose. Colony’s owner, Tom Barrack, a California billionaire who made his fortune buying up bad real-estate loans from troubled S&Ls in the 1980s, was personally asked by Jackson to save his home.

“If we just want to sell it—which is what we are going to do—[Jackson’s heirs] have no say, no rights.”

“We own the ranch,” the Colony executive explained, “subject to a profit participation for Michael. Our agreement was that we would get the first dollars that came out of any development, plus a nice return. Everything above that would get split, with the percentage moving in Michael’s favor as more money came in.”

When Jackson was alive, Colony had discussed the possibility of subdividing the property and selling off individual home sites, an idea the pop star strongly disliked.

Now with Michael gone, the Jackson estate inherits his rights under the Colony contract. “If we decided to change the look and feel of the place, they would have a say,” says the Colony exec. “So if we wanted to turn it into a museum and tribute to Michael, they would have to say yes. But if we just want to sell it—which is what we are going to do—they have no say, no rights.”

Colony briefly did consider the possibility of a Neverland-to-Graceland transformation. “It crossed everyone’s mind right away.” But architects and attorneys who did a fast study told them it was impossible due to the narrow two-lane access to the property, coupled with wealthy individual neighbors who would almost certainly oppose any commercial enterprise in their residential area. “Physically and logistically, we just couldn’t do it.” The Colony officer believes those hurdles would also bar any future owner from converting the ranch into a commercial shrine.

Is $100 million the right price? “We are in no rush,” says the Colony executive. “This is an appreciating asset. And there are people who have the money, and some of them will want to own the place that had belonged to Michael Jackson. I work for a billionaire who owns a similarly grand ranch. So I know that while there aren’t a lot of people who can afford this, the ones who can are finding us.”

Buying Real Estate in the Arctic ??

As Polar Ice Turns to Water, Dreams of Treasure Abound
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/10/science/10arctic.html

taylormade -- you welcome. just thought i'd post different perspectives relating to real estate. some are quite hard to take in first cause of the beliefs we've been taught to accept as being truth -- but after re-reading a lot of this stuff...the elevator finally goes straight to the penthouse. believe me moi -- i had to re-read a lot of the stuff i get emailed/forwarded to finally sink in.

but the most important thing is to never ever ever ever forget to question everything or anyone...and i always believe that one should look through the eyes of a 5 year old and think like a 5 year old and then you see all the nonsensical stuff that as adults we buy into....as long as we all believe in the AUTHOR.ity -- those who write laws to keep us out of the walls [law] they built to protect themselves. we're ruled by legal FICTION -- the PULP kind -- the MENTAL kind.

talk about IMAGINARY friends, eh?!LOL