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Phil McCollum's Real Estate Articles & Advice Newsletter
Phil McCollum REALTOR® (DRE License Number 01339323)
BRC Realty Group
700 S. Flower St
Los Angeles,  CA  90017
562.225.5234
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Death of a real estate deal
Take a proactive approach to buying or selling a home. By anticipating what could go wrong with your real estate transaction, you can take care of potential problems before they derail the deal.
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Home improvement you can trust
The Internet certainly has revolutionized the way we gather information. From remodeling our homes to protecting ourselves from fraud, there's an incredible wealth of product and technical information that's just a mouse-click away.
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Find the right real estate stager
Buyers in some areas complain about walking into an open house and finding dirty laundry in bedrooms. In places like the San Francisco Bay Area, so many listings are well presented for sale that sellers who don't stage their homes are at a disadvantage.
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Short-sale buyers seek closure
DEAR BENNY: Almost six months ago, we made an offer to buy a condominium, under a short-sale arrangement. Our real estate agent called it a clean deal, as we are paying cash and all closing costs.
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Phil McCollum
REALTOR®
BRC Realty Group
700 S. Flower St
Los Angeles,  CA  90017
562.225.5234
Contact Me
Visit My Web Site
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Buying an existing home that’s “green”
With rising energy costs and growing awareness – and availability – of environmentally friendly products, it's no wonder that interest in purchasing green homes is rising. Green remodels on existing homes both save the environment and save homeowners money on monthly bills. As green home remodeling becomes more abundant, so does the demand to purchase these homes. This increased interest in existing green homes has created a need to educate buyers on what is really considered "green." ...more
 
Appraisal rules tough on additions
Recently a homeowner in the hills above Oakland, Calif., applied for a refinance. An appraiser visited the property and measured both levels of the house. The appraiser called the homeowner a few days later to find out if the lower level had been added with a permit. The public record indicated the house had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and 1,513-square feet. ...more
 
Is security sign advertising?
DEAR BENNY: I am an 81-year-old widow who bought a townhouse four years ago. There were some odd things going on here so I installed a security system. I have been told that the security sign I have in front of the townhouse is considered advertising and I have to take it down. There are three other areas in town that have townhouses and none of them have a problem with this. What happens if I refuse to take the sign down? --Lillian ...more
 
Window trim: from boring to bold
If you look closely at homes with beautiful windows, you'll typically find one thing in common: wood trim. No matter what the style of the window is or what material it's made out of, a painted or stained wood surround enhances the beauty of the window far more than the inexpensive "drywall wrap" that's common on a lot of today's homes. ...more
 
Sizing up purchase deposits
In most states, it's customary, or required by law, for the buyers to include a good faith deposit when they make an offer to purchase a home. The deposit should not be given directly to the seller, but held by a trustworthy third party that maintains a trust account specifically for home purchase deposits, such as an escrow or title company, real estate firm, or real estate broker. ...more
 
 
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