Allison Van Wig to Ride in Tour of Long Beach for the THIRD Year in a Row ~ Giving Where She Lives as A Keller Williams Realtor

As a Broker-Associate Realtor with Keller Williams Realty I believe strongly in giving back to the community where I both work and live. Yesterday my whole office contributed a day of volunteer service to the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House and this weekend I will be riding in the 2013 Tour of Long Beach. This ride is a fund raising event which makes it a win-win for all!

The picture to the left is from the 2011 Tour of Long Beach, which you can read all about from my blog post from that year here. This photo appeared in the Grunion Gazette and shows me and my niece Meggan.

I had so much fun in 2012 that I decided to contribute once again which I chronicled in my blog post following up from that event … this blog post has a video that shows what this worth-while event  was all about.

This year I hope to be as successful as I have been in prior years in finishing the 31 mile course … above is a photo of me at mile 25 in the 2011 Tour!

For information about this years Tour on Saturday May 11, 2013 here is a link to the article that appeared in the Long Beach Press Telegram.

Our local real estate market is on a fast moving path so I figured that my participation in this years Tour would keep me in shape for all my Seller and Buyer Clients … if you have any questions about selling in today’s competitive market … give me a call, I would be happy to email you over a market analysis of home prices in your neighborhood …

562-882-1581 … www.SuperBroker.com

NEW LISTING–A Pool Home in Long Beach

This home is MOVE IN READY!!

Perfect starter home and with the pool it will be your own tropical paradise … two bedrooms and 1 bath PLUS an office, laundry room and half-bath in the detached garage just off the pool area.

Newer kitchen with granite counter tops and country type white cabinets. Living room is bright and sunny, large dining room and step-down family room with a fire place. If you would like to see more info about the near-by shopping areas and restaurants … just click the photo above … to see a YouTube home tour, visit my YouTube Channel …. www.YouTube.com/lakewoodvanwig

If you have any questions just give me a call 562-882-1581

Want Someone Else to Do Your Spring Cleaning?

This Spring, I thought I would have a drawing for a FREE Spring Cleaning for a lucky winner who wants someone to do spring cleaning …
Everyone knows that there are so many tips and ideas on how to do the best job of spring cleaning but I did a little research on the Internet and found a great website with tons of interesting tips …
Spring Cleaning Tips this website is full of great tips and tricks!
Now if you would like SOMEONE ELSE to do your Spring Cleaning … register to win a FREE Spring Cleaning on www.WinaClean.com  I will be having the drawing to pick the lucky winner on Friday, April 19th … You must live in Southern California to be eligible to win.
If you have any questions about what is happening in our local market this spring … just give me a call 562-882-1581 or drop me an email Allison@SuperBroker.com

A Royal Rendezvous in Long Beach

A Royal Rendezvous Between Two Queens

A Royal Rendezvous took place Tuesday March 12th in Long Beach when the newest Cunard ship the Queen Elizabeth II came into Long Beach harbor to visit our own Queen Mary. There was such a sense of excitement and anticipation of the event in the days leading up to the event. It was talked about in the local newspaper the Long Beach Press Telegram and on The Queen Mary's facebook page.

As this blog's title says Loving Long Beach, I would be remiss if I did not express my delight when this event approached and unfolded in the community which I have served and promote without shame throughout my career as a full-time real estate agent and Realtor.

As the afternoon unfolded, the Promenade deck began to fill up with those that came aboard the Queen Mary ... the press was there, interviews were done and all waited to see the first signs of the royal visitor with her escort a flagship Goodyear blimp. At sunset and as scheduled ... the event unfolded for all in attendance; after the royal salute, fireworks concluded the rendezvous and visit.

To see a 4 minute video of the fireworks visit my facebook page.
www.facebook.com/SuperBroker

Waiting for the Royal Rendezvous to begin

MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LAKEWOOD AND SNOWDAY 2013

Thanks to local Realtor Allison Van Wig … the students at Madison Elementary school and visiting neighbors enjoyed 34 tons of snow on a sunny California afternoon where we all enjoyed a touch of summer in 81 degree weather. 

Last Saturday on March 2nd, 2013, Allison Van Wig hosted a Snow Day for the students of James Madison Elementary School located at 2801 Bomberry St in Lakewood California.

Madison Elementary is in the heart of the Lakewood Mutuals area where Allison Van Wig has been successfully listing and selling homes for over 26 years.  

With 34 tons of snow that was produced for this event, everyone had such a good time. Take a look at this video and if you attended, let Allison know what you thought.
What made it most enjoyable was the fact that there were so many children that had never played in the snow so with 4 sled runs and 2 play areas complete with snowmen … a fun time was had by all that attended.

If you would like to see a longer video with even more pictures go to www.WinterWonderland2013.com   For more information about real estate in Long Beach or Lakewood … give Allison a call at 562-882-1581 or visit www.SuperBroker.com

Buying a Home in Long Beach with an FHA Loan after a Foreclosure.

Buying a Home in Long Beach with an FHA Loan after a Foreclosure? Current FHA guidelines do not penalize a borrower with past credit hardships like bankruptcy, short sale or foreclosure. However, there are certain things that underwriters are looking at to determine that the hardship is unlikely to happen again.

Determine that it will not happen again: You may be asked to provide a Letter of Explanation (LOE) to describe the circumstances around the hardship. Your loan approval does not hinge on this letter, it’s just so the underwriter has an idea about what happened. They do not want this to be a repeat occurrence.

Re-establish good credit: DU, the automated underwriting system, considers the last 12 months. Make sure you have a minimum of 3 credit lines, at least 1 revolving credit line (credit card). Once you’ve established credit, maintain it by not making payments more than 30 days past the due date.

Income / Employment: Documenting income and establishing consistency and dependability of employment is the most important factor in qualifying for a home loan. We need two years of stable employment or just graduated and have a job in that field, i.e. nurse.

Qualifying After Foreclosure Getting Harder?

As of the writing of this article, there is no difference between applying for a FHA loan if you have a past hardship, and applying for a FHA loan if you have not.

Call me if you have any questions about Buying a Home in Long Beach with an FHA Loan after a Foreclosure. Remember, It is a good idea to get qualified now even if you may not buy for a year. Qualifying now gives you a chance to fix any problems that may stop you from buying that great home in Long Beach or Lakewood.

Allison Van Wig, 562-882-1581, www.SuperBroker.com

Buyers’ Agent, Selling Agent, Sellers' Agent – What’s the Difference?

 

Buyers’ agent, sellers’ agent, selling agent. In every Long Beach & Lakewood real estate transaction, the differences are easy to understand, right?

Not quite. A potential linguistic trapdoor can lie right around the corner.

For openers, that sellers' agent may also be called the ‘listing agent’ – both mean the same thing. The ‘trapdoor’ is a further complication that comes into play once a contract is in place -- after which the buyer’s agent may also properly be called the ‘selling’ agent!

The potential confusion between seller’s agent and selling agent doesn’t usually have much practical significance: after all, by then, everyone should know the cast of characters and who represents whom. But it can come into play if buyer or seller are not actually present here in Long Beach or Lakewood to keep the names and duties sorted out -- but that’s rarely the case.

What is significant is how the duties of each designated Long Beach & Lakewood agent differ in their obligation to you the seller (or you the buyer). Briefly, the buyers' agent helps prospective buyers find properties for sale, and the listing agent helps their home owning clients sell their Long Beach or Lakewood homes at the most favorable price as quickly as possible.

Both agents have a fiduciary duty to represent their clients’ best interests, which can differ markedly. Nonetheless, in transaction broker states, it is also possible for an individual agent to represent both sides, which carries a special designation known as ‘dual agency.’

Personally, I have found that being a listing agent in Long Beach and Lakewood brings me many calls from future buyers who later become clients -- at which point I turn into a buyer’s agent, and after a contract is opened, the “selling agent”! Should you ever become confused (and now you can see how!), just ask me or …  your own agent to go over the differences for you. When you pick an agent whose knowledge and integrity are beyond question, he or she will be able to quickly clarify the representation.