Los Angeles, August 13, 2019 -- LA Animal Services is teaming up once again with NBC4/KNBC and Telemundo 52 Los Angeles/KVEA for the return of the award-winning pet adoption campaign Clear the Shelters™. On Saturday, August 17, at all six LA Animal Services Centers adoption fees will be reduced to $20 for all dogs and puppies 4 years old or younger at all six LA Animal Services Centers . Dogs 5 years and older will have fees waived thanks to The Pet Care Foundation, and cat and kitten adoption fees are waived thanks to a generous grant from the ASPCA. LA Animal Services pets are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and microchipped. While dog adoption fees are reduced, there will be a $20 dog license fee applied for LA City residents for dogs 4 months and older. Adopters will need to provide a valid government issued identification card when adopting. "Since we launched Clear the Shelters five years ago, the adoption drive's unprecedented success has become an integral part of the community every year," said NBC4 President and General Manager Steve Carlston. "NBC4 looks forward to continuing the tradition of helping alleviate the animal overpopulation at shelters and offering affordable adoptions to all our viewers." Local sponsor VCA Animal Hospitals' health teams will also be at LA Animal Services Centers to offer a certificate for a free first exam and a limited health guarantee to ensure a healthy start. "We believe every pet deserves a happy life, and that includes receiving proper medical care. Our support for Clear the Shelters has been in place for five years and the shelters we partner with help to ensure that every pet adopted gets a chance to see a veterinarian, and all the care needed so they can thrive in their new home with their family," said Brandon Antin, VCA Animal Hospital's VP of Social Responsibility & Innovation. For more details, visit NBCLA.com/cleartheshelters and Telemundo52.com/desocuparlosalbergues. Follow @NBCLA and @Telemundo52 on social media throughout the campaign using hashtag #CleartheShelters and #DesocuparlosAlbergues. Los Angeles Department of Animal Services is one of the largest municipal shelter systems in the United States with six services centers serving approximately 60,000 animals annually and responding to 20,000 emergency calls involving an animal or person in danger. LA Animal Services promotes and protects the health, safety and welfare of animals and people. Clear The Shelters™ / Desocupar Los Albergues® is an annual, nationwide pet adoption campaign that is spearheaded by NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations, a division of NBCUniversal. Every year, NBCUniversal's TV stations, plus affiliate stations partner with local animal shelters and rescues in their communities to host Clear The Shelters events. NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations' Clear The Shelterscampaign was inspired by a 2014 North Texas pet adoption event hosted by NBC 5 / KXAS and Telemundo 39 / KXTX and dozens of area shelters that resulted in the most adopted pets in one day for North Texas. Since 2015, NBCUniversal Owned Television Stations' Clear The Shelters pet adoption campaign has inspired thousands of families all across the country to open their homes and hearts to shelter pets, resulting in more than a quarter million pets finding new homes. Visit ClearTheShelters.com / DesocuparLosAlbergues.com for more information. Follow the effort on Twitter @ClearTheShelter, and on social media using the hashtags #ClearTheShelters and #DesocuparLosAlbergues. Buying or Selling Real Estate?
Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com 917 Wildrose Avenue Monrovia 91016 Feel the serenity and peace at this mid-century modern home set back from a quiet street with mountain views and guest unit on a huge lot. The main home is awash in natural light with sunken family room w-skylight and galley kitchen. Rear yard is fully-fenced with avocado, lemon and orange trees. On the other side of the drive-thru breezeway is a 1-bedroom + 1-bathroom guest unit (405sqft) and oversized 2-car garage (703sqft). Fully-gated yard with 2 separate gated driveways. Parking galore! In addition to the oversized 2-car garage (703sqft) there is a drive-thru breezeway as well as parking for up to 12 cars or RV parking. This home is an amazing opportunity to live in a great pocket of Monrovia. Main House 2-bedroom + 1-bathroom 1,455sqft living space (measured) Guest Unit (detached) 1-bedroom + 1-bathroom 405sqft living space (measured) Oversized/Detached 2-Car Garage 703sqft with workshop area and shower area. Year Built: 1947 HUGE LOT: 1,773sqft APN: 8527-028-006 Amazing opportunity Great pocket of Monrovia Feel the serenity and peace at this mid-century modern home Set back from a quiet street Abundant natural light Sunken family room w-skylight Galley kitchen Fully-fenced rear yard Mature avocado, lemon and orange trees Mountain views Fully-gated front yard Drive-Thru Breezeway Two, separate, gated driveways Parking galore! 12+ cars RV Parking Trust sale Buying or Selling Real Estate?
Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com
GET YOUR FREE TICKETS BELOW!
Concert In The Park
FREE ADMISSION Sponsored By Fitzburgh Realty & Homes Fur All August 4, 2019 Sgt. Pepper Beatles Tribute Eagle Rock Chamber of Commerce Summer Concerts www.eaglerockchamberofcommerce.com
FREE FAMILY & PET PHOTOS
LOTS OF FREEBIES DOGGIE KISSING BOOTH KITTEN ADOPTIONS: CATS AT THE STUDIOS www.CatsAtTheStudios.com Where: Eagle Rock Recreation Center 1100 Eagle Vista Drive, Los Angeles, CA. Time: 6 - 8:30PM
Spreading Awareness
"Fostering Saves Rescue Pets"
Buying or Selling Real Estate?
Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com DID YOU KNOW? You can foster for only a weekend or just a few days? MOST CRITICAL TIME: June 30th through July 8t July fireworks scare pets and 1000's run away from home. Shelters are temporarily overwhelmed and forced to kill adoptable pets to make room.
www.4Weeks4Life.org What a wonderful day full of pet adoption and fun! Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, and thousands of neighbors for making the day such a successful and exciting one! Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization founded by the Fitzburgh Realty Team, dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
We Have Sponsorship Opportunities! We are currently looking for sponsors and have different levels of sponsorship. Our sponsors will be supporting a great cause and will be included in our marketing materials. The sooner you sign up, the sooner we can include you in our marketing efforts - Sign Up Today! Be A Goodie Bag Sponsor! Only $35 Become a Goodie Bag Sponsor to promote your business in our Goodie Bags! Contribute to our goodie bags with your business card, coupon or product and it will be distributed to 200 of our local neighbors! Boulevard Sentinel Insert Logo Sponsor! Only $35 Sign up for logo exposure in the "Special Glassell Bark Insert" inside the Boulevard Sentinel! Your business logo will be printed in a Special Glassell Bark Insert inside the June issue of the Boulevard Sentinel. It will be seen by over 14,000 readers! Other Sponsor Opportunities Photobooth Sponsor: $250 Rescue Tent Sponsor: $125 Rescue Adoption Basket Sponsor: $25 Watermelon Sponsor: $125 Face Painting Sponsor: $250 Bouncy House Sponsor: $200 Pumpkin Patch Sponsor: $200 Trick-or-Treat Village Sponsor: $500 Candy Sponsor: $400 Boulevard Sentinel Ad Sponsor: $250 Entertainment Sponsor Water Sponsor Media Sponsor Audio Sponsor Pet Food Drive Sponsor Doggie Toy Sponsor Microchip Sponsor Spay Neuter Sponsor EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! Exhibiting Sponsor $250 (Regularly $350) To qualify for the Early Bird Special, the Sponsorship Form Submission and Donation must be received by May 10, 2019 Exhibiting Sponsors will receive:
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team@homesfurall.com OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE Tuesday May 7th, 11-2pm Saturday May 11th, 12-3pm Sunday May 12th, 2-5pm 16736 RAYEN STREET NORTHRIDGE 91343 LIST PRICE: $925,000 Enchanting Northridge Chateau with guest quarters on quiet cul-de-sac! Your feeling of pride swells as you drive through the tall gates and into your motor court on this sprawling corner lot. As you enter your home the abundant natural light greets you and fills the vaulted ceiling in your living room that’s accentuated with exposed beam trusses. Eat-in kitchen includes high-end appliances and built-in BBQ. Stained glass accentuates the beauty of spacious family room. Luxurious master suite includes huge walk-in closet, steam shower with double shower heads and don’t miss the extra bonus retreat that can be used as a nursery/exercise/yoga room. Mature orange tree and formal rose garden create a special ambiance for the private rear yard that has plenty of room for a pool. Special features throughout include 3 fireplaces a custom-carved fireplace mantle and if that’s not enough, there’s more! Say “Hello” to your totally private guest unit! This amazing “Sherwood Forest” adjacent home is amazing! Property Details 4-Bedrooms + 4-Bathrooms Total Living Space: 3,457sqft (measured) Main House: 3-bedroom + 3-bathroom (3,060sqft measured living) Guest Quarters: 1-bedroom + 1-bathroom (397sqft measured living) Oversized Garage: 756sqft includes storage area & potting room Lot: 12,297sqft Year Built: 1996 Zone: RA-1 APN: 2688-031-051 Automatic Gates Motor Court Massive Corner Lot Abundant Natural Light Vaulted Ceilings accentuated with exposed beam trusses Eat-In Kitchen includes high-end appliances and built-in BBQ Stained Glass accentuates the beauty of the spacious family room Luxurious Master Suite includes huge walk-in closet, steam shower with double-shower heads Bonus Master Retreat that can be used as a nursery or exercise or yoga room. Mature Orange Tree and Formal Rose Garden create a special ambiance for the private rear yard Automatic Sprinklers Plenty of room for a pool Central Vacuum 3 fireplaces & a custom-carved fireplace mantle Guest Quarters totally private and great for rental income or guests Great Location near CSUN, Northridge Fashion Center, Trader Joe’s, Target and Lake Balboa Adjacent to Sherwood Forest RV Parking with separate street entrance www.16736Rayen.com Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
OPEN HOUSE! Sunday May 5th, 2-5pm 1432 Armadale Ave. Highland Park 90042 List Price: $1,050,000 CASH-COW! OXY STUDENT HOUSING!! This 6-bedroom home with converted garage has room for 7 people Location, Location, Location! A mere 210 yards from the Occidental College campus makes this home perfect for Oxy student housing! Today's market rent is $1,000 per bedroom so what does that mean? It means that this cash-cow could bring the lucky new owner $7k per month (=$84,000 per year)! GRM = 14.29 and delivered VACANT at COE. Not only is this home super close to the Oxy campus, it is also super-close from the epicenter of all that is "hot and happening" in Highland Park Only 4-1/2 blocks from "York Park" and the intersection of Avenue 50 & York Blvd- you can't beat that! Don't miss this incredible opportunity in red-hot NELA near the Oxy campus! www.1432Armadale.com 6 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2,710sqft of living space BONUS: Garage converted into additional living space LOT: 7,176sqft Year Built: 1925 Spanish Style APN: 5476-020-030 Zone: Single Family Residential (R1-1) Occidental College Adjacent (a mere 210 yards from the Oxy campus) Only 4-1/2 short blocks from "York Park" and Avenue 50 & York Blvd- the epicenter of all that is hot and happening in Highland Park DELIVERED VACANT AMAZING cash-flow opportunity PERFECT housing for Oxy students www.1432Armadale.com Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Facts About Me Chihuahua & Italian Greyhound Mix Covina, CA Young, Male, Small House-trained Vaccinations up to date, spayed / neutered Good in home with other dogs and children Benny just wants to give hugs and kisses and be held with love. This 1.5 year old pup has so much love to give. Benny is a great apartment dog! He is potty pad trained, loves to lounge, chew on stuffies and toys and take walks to go play catch in the park. Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Enchanting Northridge Chateau with guest quarters on quiet cul-de-sac. Your feeling of pride swells as you drive through the tall gates and into your motor court on this sprawling corner lot. As you enter your home the abundant natural light greets you and fills the vaulted ceiling in your living room that’s accentuated with exposed beam trusses. Eat-in kitchen includes high-end appliances and built-in BBQ. Stained glass accentuates the beauty of spacious family room. Luxurious master suite includes huge walk-in closet, steam shower with double shower heads and don’t miss the extra bonus retreat that can be used as a nursery/exercise/yoga room. Mature orange tree and formal rose garden create a special ambiance for the private rear yard that has plenty of room for a pool. Special features throughout include 3 fireplaces a custom-carved fireplace mantle and if that’s not enough, there’s more! Say “Hello” to your totally private guest unit! This amazing “Sherwood Forest” adjacent home is amazing! Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
COMING SOON! 3326 Larga Avenue Atwater Village 90039 3 beds 2 baths 1,766 sqft LOWEST PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT Newer kitchen and delightful guest quarters! Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Ashley Russian Blue Mix Young Female Small Gray / Blue / Silver HOUSE-TRAINED: Yes HEALTH: Vaccinations up to date, spayed / neutered. Ashley is a 12 week old Russian Blue mix. She came to us in pretty bad shape about a month ago. Barely breathing and hanging on for dear. But we knew she was a fighter. She spent a couple days in the hospital receiving iv fluids, antibiotics and breathing treatments at our vet. She had a severe upper respiratory infection and the vet noticed her belly was super hard and full and she didn't want to eat. So he ran a barium test and found a huge nest of worms blocking her bowel. After an intense deworming she was able to go to a foster home to continue meds and recover. She is doing amazing and is ready to start her search for a new home. She is spayed, microchipped, dewormed again and vaccinated for rabies. She still needs her other vaccines which will be done very soon. She is litterbox trained, loves to play with her toys and other cats. She isn't bothered by dogs unless they are aggressive toward her but she is still young and can learn to be playful with dogs. If you would like to make Ashley a part of your family please fill out an application at www.heartandhomerescue.org to meet and adopt this beautiful girl. Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
LA Animal Services and The Pet Care Foundation to Host Chi-Pitty-Kitty this April 20 & 21!4/17/2019 Los Angeles, April 16, 2019 - This Saturday and Sunday, April 20th and 21st, you can find a new furry family member to bring home! The Pet Care Foundation is making it easier to adopt a new pet this weekend with the return of the Chi-Pitty-Kitty event. Dog and cat adoptions will be reduced during the Chi-Pitty-Kitty event at all six LA City Animal Services Centers - locations can be found at www.laanimalservices.com. "This event is meant to connect people with adoptable chihuahuas, pit bull terriers and cats, and to celebrate how pets can also take care of their owners, providing both physical and mental health benefits." said Bill Crowe, director of the Pet Care Foundation. "This is a great time to add a cat or dog to your family," said Brenda Barnette, LA Animal Services General Manager, "Regardless of whether you live in an apartment or house, you'll be able to find many wonderful dogs and cats of all ages and sizes and meet the one that's right for you." Our adoption rates during the Chi-Pitty-Kitty event will be discounted to $52 for dogs, $100 for puppies and free for kittens. Cats will also have adoption fees waived through a generous grant provided by the ASPCA. All animals come vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and with a microchip. A $20 license fee will apply to all LA City residents who adopt dogs four months and older. Los Angeles Department of Animal Services is one of the largest municipal shelter systems in the United States with six services centers serving approximately 60,000 animals annually and responding to 20,000 emergency calls involving an animal or person in danger. LA Animal Services promotes and protects the health, safety and welfare of animals and people. The Pet Care Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of homeless pets in the Los Angeles area. For more information contact: bill@petcarefoundation.org, www.petcarefoundation.org, or call 310-247-8469. LA Animal Services | 888-452-7381 | LAAnimalServices.com Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Brian and his team are super knowledgeable, very responsive, and friendly. They helped me buy my first home and negotiated to get me a good deal. When we checked out homes, Brian was able to spot problems and quickly point out the pros and cons of each home. In addition, he kept in contact during the entire process and kept me in the know. April 12, 2019 SyedRezaAli Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
BUILD VS. BUY - BLOG SERIES: FINAL STEP #5 PERMANENT FINANCING AND MOVING INTO YOUR DREAM HOME!4/11/2019 BUILD VS. BUY - BLOG SERIES Since so many of our readers ask us about this topic, we decided to write a blog series! Step #1 - Buying a Good Lot! (Click to read) Step #2 - Getting Your Permits (Click to read) Step #3 - Part A: Contractors (Click to read) Step #3 - Part B: Financing (Click to read) Step #4 Let the Building Begin (Click to read) Final Step #5 - Permanent Financing and Moving into your Dream Home Here you are! Almost at the end of what was certainly an epic journey that challenged your patience, endurance, imagination, creativity AND your finances! Yes, there were lots of twists and turns and a number of times when the frustration level was at a very high level but you persevered and got through the tough times. Don't forget these milestones! While there were plenty of challenges along the way, there were also some amazing highs in the process too.
PERMANENT FINANCING Did you go the route of a construction loan with an automatic roll-over into permanent financing? If you went that route, then you are pretty much done! Congratulations! If your construction loan does not automatically "roll-over" into permanent financing you will need to obtain an new loan so that you can pay off the amount you owe to your construction lender. Hopefully, interest rates did not rise too much from when you started this journey. In any case, you really don't have any option other than to obtain permanent financing because construction loans are "short term" and most likely you are just about "out of time". The good news is that it's likely that the value of your new home will significantly exceed the amount that you have spent so far. For example, maybe you paid $250k for the land + $100k to get your permits (soft costs) + $700k for the build (hard costs) so you are "all in" for about $1,050,000. In order to get approved for your new loan you will need to find out the appraised value of your new home. In all likelihood, your home will be worth much more than you have spent. Using this example, it's likely that your new home could be worth about $1.4M so that means that you have earned about $350,000 in equity. It's only appropriate that you are rewarded with some equity because this long process was NOT EASY! So if you are applying for a loan with a 20% equity position, and your new home is appraised for $1.4M that means that your lender could lend you $1,120,000 which is actually MORE than your total "all in" costs. Keep in mind, that unless you want to finance the maximum amount possible, you can always elect to request to borrow a lower principal amount and thereby lower your monthly loan payment, that decision is totally up to you. The good thing, though, is that you have great options and have earned equity through the process of building your own home. NEWS FLASH! YOU ARE LIKELY TO SAVE $$$$$ EVERY MONTH ON YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. For those that were not brave enough build their own home, in Los Angeles County, you can expect to pay annual property taxes that are 1.25% of the purchase price. So if you had purchased a $1.4M home that means that your property taxes would be about $1.4M x 1.25% = $17,500/year (= ~$1,458/month) What will likely be a very pleasant surprise is that even though you new home might be worth $1.4M your property taxes will be MUCH less than expected! In fact, with this example, you might save about $1,000 per month on your average property taxes. I had no idea about this "silver lining" when I built my home and when I received my first property tax bill I thought there must be some sort of mistake. I actually contacted the tax assessor to see if indeed there was a mistake and to my pleasant surprise there was NOT A MISTAKE. I was told that the assessor goes through a process using their internal "cost books" and come up with a tax basis that does not take into account "the builder's profit". So the result is that your "tax basis" is considerably lower than the market value of your new home. This is the gift that keeps on giving for all the years that you own your custom-built home. MOVING IN! Okay, at the beginning of this week’s article there were some milestones listed but I left out the biggest one. There is a final milestone that is very difficult to forget. THE FIRST NIGHT YOU SPEND IN YOUR NEW HOME! What a feeling it is to spend your first night- you are so proud, so much more knowledgeable about things you never knew before and you get the best night's sleep because... YOU ARE EXHAUSTED - YOU BUILT YOUR DREAM HOME! CONGRATULATIONS! Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Facts About Me BREED: Poodle Senior Male Small White / Cream HOUSE-TRAINED: Yes HEALTH: Vaccinations up to date, spayed / neutered GOOD IN A HOME WITH: Other dogs and children Seniors need love too! Scotty is a young at heart 9-year old miniature poodle, weighing 10 lbs, that is friendly to human and dogs. He recently had eye surgery for cataract removal which improved his eyesight. He will need eye drops for the rest of his life to help maintain his eyesight (cost for drops is minimal). Scotty loves to cuddle, gives kisses, plays with squeaky toys, and sit right next to you on the couch where he'll fall asleep in 10 seconds. His foster is currently working on potty training him on pads. He's about 90% there. He is one of the sweetest dogs, who still likes to play with other dogs. He just needs someone to love him and give him a safe and happy home. Senior dogs are great! Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
In this spotlight, we would like to recognize the hard work and dedication of the Eagle Rock High School Key Club. They are a group of selfless students who volunteer their time helping members of the community. We are so grateful for their contributions over the years with helping Homes Fur All during our community events in Glassell Park and Eagle Rock. Without their help, Glassell Bark and Eagle Rock Bark wouldn't have been able to reach as many families who needed the free or low cost pet services. Pictured Key Club Presidents From Top to Bottom: Emily Chan (Key Club President 2017-2018) Athicha Dechawatana (Key Club President 2018-2019) Alan Cisneros (Key Club President 2019-2020) They also have helped jump start the T-Shirt Doggie Toy mission where they upcycled t-shirts into toys for rescue doggies in our community! They had their first ever Award Banquet Dinner and recognized some outstanding members. It was held at the Eagle Rock 20th Century Woman’s Club! THANK YOU EAGLE ROCK HIGH SCHOOL KEY CLUB FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY! Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
BUILD VS. BUY - BLOG SERIES Since so many of our readers ask us about this topic, we decided to write a blog series! Step #1 - Buying a Good Lot! (Click to read) Step #2 - Getting Your Permits (Click to read) Step #3 - Part A: Contractors (Click to read) Step #3 - Part B: Financing (Click to read) Step #4 Let the Building Begin Step #5 - Permanent Financing and Moving into your Dream Home Let The Building Begin! This is the moment you've been waiting for. So much hard work, so much money, so much time. Now it's time to make it REAL! If you thought it was a challenge to get to this point of having all of your entitlements and permits get ready to raise it up a notch. If you did all of your research and hired a great general contractor (which I didn't do) then your experience will be quite a bit different as compared to if you decided to not only "build" but also "be the builder". If you hired a great contractor then you hired someone that is responsible to bring a result and that means do whatever needs to be done to deliver the home that is specified in the approved and permitted plans. But, even if you hired a great general contractor, it's unlikely that you will be able to completely step away from the process and that you will still need to invest quite a bit of time visiting the site, going over details and MAKING LOTS OF DECISIONS. In all likelihood, even if you have very detailed plans, there will be some details that were left out and/or situations that arise where you feel that going in a different direction or making a change is the best way to go. Clear your schedule for the 12 to 24 months it will take to complete the build of your home. If you are not readily available when situations arise then you might be disappointed with the result. If you decided that you want to take this project on as an "owner builder" and NOT hire a general contractor then get ready for the adventure and challenge of a lifetime! THERE ARE SO MANY SITUATIONS that will come at you in rapid-fire and that means that you will need to make SO many decisions with so little time. If you aren't available or can't make decisions quickly then the timeline of your construction project will suffer delays. Here is a short-list of some of the steps in the building process: 1) Bring in temporary services that will be needed such as: chain-link fencing, Porta-potty, water service, temporary electric power. NOTE: be sure to find the best porta-potty service provider. Look for the business that's "#1 in a #2 business!!" LOL:)) 2) Grading & hauling/import - bring in the bulldozers, bobcats and drill rigs. You are going to move the dirt around and dig some trenches and deep holes for your foundation! 3) Foundation - This takes the hillside out of your lot. After the grading, you are going to need to fill the trenches and deep holes with re-bar and concrete 4) Underground Infrastructure - plumbing, natural gas pipes, sewer lines & drainage. 5) Framing & Structural Earthquake Measures 6) Getting “weathered in” means that when/if it rains the outer shell of your home is water-tight. This means that the roof has been installed, the windows and doors have been installed and the plywood siding and building paper are covering all the exterior walls. NOTE: at this point it might seem like you are almost done but it is pretty much the mid-point of your building project. Visually, it seems like you've already done most of the work but the rest of what needs to be done TAKES TIME! 7) “Roughing In” - this is all the "stuff" that's "in the walls" and not visible after the home is done. We are talking about the rough-plumbing, fire-sprinkler system (if required/desired), electrical, drains and vents, HVAC, communication lines (cable/phone/internet/etc), central vacuum(?). 8) Site Security? This is something to consider. Vandalism and theft can cost both time and money and set you back. Depending on where you are building your home you might want to consider your security options so as to minimize potential problems. 9) City Inspections - with each milestone of construction there is a corresponding city inspection to make sure that the approved and permitted plans are being adhered to and followed. 10) Neighbors - keeping good relations with your neighbors is very important. Try to imagine what they are going through with all of your mess, noise, dust and dirt, contractors parking their cars on the street, and more. Respect the rules and only work on your build during approved hours/days and maybe consider getting gift cards to a nearby car-wash so that your neighbors feel that you care. If your neighbors are against you, it will be a real uphill battle. Be nice. Be respectful. Be grateful:) 11) Public Works/ Street Services/ Utilities - basically, there are two worlds- the world of "private property" and the world of "public property" and the two worlds are very, very different. If your project approval included requirements to provide some sort of "public works" to be completed as a condition of your permit approval you might want to get ahead of these requirements. It takes much longer than you could ever imagine to complete public improvements so unless you want to have the entire home built and be waiting months and months for your CofO (certificate of occupancy) it's best to try to complete any public works requirements asap and not to wait until the end. GOOD LUCK with however you decide to move forward- either with a general contractor or on your own. GET READY FOR AN ADVENTURE! STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK FOR Step #5 - Permanent Financing and Moving into your Dream Home Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Spotlight Rescue Pet of the Week: Bon Jovi Facts About Me Staffordshire Bull TerrierAdult Male Large Black/Brindle COAT LENGTH: Short HOUSE-TRAINED: Yes HEALTH: Vaccinations up to date, spayed / neutered. Prefers a home without cats Bon Jovi is such a smart good boy and loves the affection his human foster brother gives him. His dream home consists of a big backyard with lots of bones, toys and loving humans! He very much enjoys his humans 8 years and older that are home a good majority of the day and love to go walking, running or hiking. We do not recommend any smaller dogs or cats but he is currently getting along with his regular foster brothers that are medium to large sized dogs. Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Free Spay/Neuter Services for Cats During April! LA Animal Services is offering free pet cat Spay/Neuter Certificates to all LA City residents from April 1 - April 30, 2019 Los Angeles, April 1, 2019 - During April, LA Animal Services will be offering free Cat Spay/Neuter Certificates to all LA City residents (three pet cats per household), regardless of income, to encourage our community to get their cats spayed or neutered before they have unwanted litters. Kitten season is starting early again this year and LA Animal Services is seeing an increase in cat and kitten impounds citywide. By taking advantage of these Free Spay/Neuter Certificates, you can help prevent unwanted kitten births. To get your Free Certificate immediately, visit the nearest LA City Animal Services Center, or apply online for a print-at-home Free Certificate at https://www.lacityvet.com/onlinevoucher/. "By spaying or neutering your cat or kitten, you are helping LA Animal Services get one step closer to reducing unwanted kitten births and helping LA Animal Services place more animals in homes of their own," said Brenda Barnette, LA Animal Services General Manager. "With our new print-at-home system, it's never been easier to spay or neuter your pet!" This program is available for residents of the City of Los Angeles who are 18 years of age or older. Each household is eligible for Free Spay/Neuter Certificates for up to three cats. Free spay or neuter surgeries are for companion cats only, and stray animals are excluded. Once a Free Certificate is received, it must be redeemed at a participating veterinary hospital within 10 days of issuance. To learn more about how to apply for a Free Spay/Neuter Certificate and to find participating veterinary hospitals, spay/neuter clinics and mobile spay/neuter clinics in your area, please visit: http://www.laanimalservices.com/general-information/spay-neuter/. To locate your nearest services center, visit: http://www.laanimalservices.com/shelter-locator/ Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Choose your favorite 2020 calendar cover cutie! Let’s face it: “Cute” can be hard to define. You just know it when you see it. With that said, we think you’ll agree that the contenders for our 2020 calendar cover model definitely qualify. So, who elicits the loudest “awwww” from you? Who do you think is the best choice for our 2020 calendar cover? When Best Friends was founded in 1984, an estimated 17 million dogs and cats were killed in shelters every year. Today, that number is down to about 800,000, but that means nearly 2,200 dogs and cats are still being killed in shelters every day, just because they don’t have safe places to call home. Working collaboratively with passionate people like you, and alongside shelters, rescue groups and other animal welfare organizations, we are determined to bring the country to no-kill by 2025. The 2020 calendar helps spread the word about homeless pets and our lifesaving efforts. Want a calendar of your own? Just cast your vote, and we’ll tell you how to get one. Thank you for caring about homeless pets. Together, we can Save Them All. BEST FRIENDS REGIONAL PROGRAMS: New York | Los Angeles | Utah | Atlanta | Houston NO-KILL PROGRAMS: NKLA No-Kill Los Angeles | NKUT No-Kill Utah OTHER BEST FRIENDS SITES: Save Them All | Best Friends Store | National Conference | Network Partners | Strut Your Mutt Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
BUILD VS. BUY - BLOG SERIES Since so many of our readers ask us about this topic, we decided to write a blog series! Step #1 - Buying a Good Lot! (Click to read Step #1) Step #2 - Getting Your Permits (Click to read Step #2) Step #3 - Part A: Contractors (Click to read Step #3 Part A) Step #3 - Part B: Financing <---------------- Step #4 - Let the Building Begin! Step #5 - Permanent Financing and Moving into your Dream Home STEP #3 PART B: FINANCING Financing is not the most glamorous part of the process of building a home but it is indeed the most vital because you MUST have adequate funds to get you over the finish line = pass your final inspection and obtain your CofO (Certificate of Occupancy) SELF-FUNDING Maybe you haven't spent all of your personal savings on the vacant lot you purchased and all additional money that was spent on the "soft-cost" expenses that you needed to spend to get your permits. Maybe you have access to funds in a home equity line of credit and/or a business line of credit or maybe a retirement fund. These can be sources of funding that can either fund your entire construction cost or maybe allow you to reduce the amount you borrow from a lender. TRADITIONAL FINANCING: CONSTRUCTION LOANS With this type of lending, the financial institution will likely be willing to lend you 80% of the estimated value your home will have after your home is completely built. More specifically, your lender will order what is called an "subject to" appraisal where the appraiser will take a look at your detailed and approved construction plans and imagine that your home was already completed and using recent comparable sales information of nearby homes, will come up with an appraised value "subject to" the home being completed. Let's use some real numbers as an example: Purchase Price of Vacant Land = $250k Soft-Costs to get Permits = $100k Estimated "hard costs" for construction from beginning to end and CofO = $700k "Subject To" appraised Value of Completed Home = $1.4M Once your construction loan has been approved, the amount of principal that your lender will lend will be up to 80% of $1.4M appraised value = $1,120,000 Typically, what your lender will require a formal quote from a licensed general contractor showing that the total construction costs will be less than the amount that you are borrowing. Your lender wants to make sure that there will be adequate funds to complete the project because if the project is not completed, (i.e. your home is not completed with a CofO) then the lender does not have an asset that will cover the risk of lending. In fact, the lender might want to see a quote from a licensed general contractor that is 10% less than the amount you were approved for so that there is a 10% buffer for anything unexpected that might come up... AND IT WILL!! With a typical home loan that you might get to purchase a home, the lender "funds" you loan in one lump sum into your escrow account, you add your down payment funds. Viola! Now you have your new home and you start paying interest and principal payments starting the month after you close. In a construction loan, however, it's much different. Your construction loan is sort of like a credit card with a credit limit for the amount that you were approved for. Typically, in a construction loan you are required to make an "interest only payment" only on the amount that you have spent. For Example, let's go back to the numbers used above and imagine that you were approved for a construction loan in the amount of $1.120M and the interest rate is 5% No payments are due until you start spending money. Let's say that you finish the grading and on the contractor's quote that was used for your loan approval, the line item for grading was $30,000. Once the grading is completed and you have passed inspection, the lender will send out a representative to confirm that indeed the grading is completed. They will review the signed inspection card, and then approve the release of the $30k. If for some reason you don't need the entire $30k, by some miracle the contractor completed the work for less than the original estimate OR you might want to contribute some amount of your own funds, then you can request less than $30k to be approve to be "released". Once the $30k is released, you now have a balance of $30k on your "credit line" so next month you will need to make a payment of $30k x 5%/12 = $125 Keeping this example going- let's say that two months later the foundation is complete and that was $175,000 on the construction cost estimate. Now the total amount on your credit line that has been dispersed is up to $205,000 ($30k + $175k = $205k) and next month the amount you need to pay has increased to be $205 x 5%/12 = ~$854 This continues as you go through the process and at each milestone and with each successful inspection you pass, additional funds (per the amount on the contractor's estimate) will be released. FUND CONTROL The process of funds being released only after confirmation from a bank representative confirms that the work is actually done and the inspection passed is called "FUND CONTROL". NOTE: at the time your loan is originally approved, you can request some amount to be released in the beginning and although you will start incurring interest charges from day one, you will have funds that you might need to pay contractors as soon as they complete their work. From my experience, contractors like to get paid asap after their work is done. The process of FUND CONTROL will create a delay in time from when the contractor has completed their work and when you receive the funds to pay for that work. Most contractors will get very grumpy if they don't get paid right away so unless you have made an agreement that the contractor is willing to wait for FUND CONTROL delays then you probably need to have some source of money (think of it as a "slush fund") that you can draw from for immediate payments and then the FUND CONTROL will replenish when those funds are released to you. TOO MANY DETAILS?? IS YOUR HEAD READY TO EXPLODE YET!!??? SORRY BUT WE AREN'T DONE JUST YET... Every time you fund a loan, there are typically fees associated with the process of funding so if you first obtain a construction loan there will be fees associated with funding your construction loan. After your home is completed, you will want to pay off the principal borrowed for your construction loan with "permanent financing" in the form of a 30-year, fixed-rate, fully-amortized loan of whatever other loan product you might prefer for your long-term permanent financing. OH, I think I forgot to mention that construction loans are considered to be "short-term" loans and are typically only 12 months to 24 months before they are due to be paid back in full. So, the idea is that you get your construction loan, build your home, then use funds from another loan (long-term financing) to pay off the construction loan principal and live happily every after in your new dream home! Keep in mind that when you fund your loan for permanent financing you will PAY ANOTHER SET OF CLOSING COSTS. THERE'S A BETTER OPTION! Instead of getting two separate loans (construction loan and then permanent financing) you can request a special type of construction loan that has "AUTOMATIC ROLLOVER INTO PERMANENT FINANCING" and with this type of loan, you only have one loan closing- your construction loan will automatically (and without the need to apply for and be approved a second time) "roll-over" into a permanent loan. What's great about this option is not only that you avoid the "closing costs" on the second loan but also you will typically lock-in the interest rate on your long-term loan at the time your construction loan is approved. What's great about this is that if interest rates increase from the time you start your construction until you have your CofO then you are loving it and your interest rate will make you smile and if rates go down then you can always refinance at the lower interest rate - yes there will be the additional closing costs on the new loan but if the interest rates are low enough then it would be worth paying the extra closing costs. FYI: Not all lenders offer construction loans but the last I checked, US Bank and Wells Fargo offered construction loan products. STAY TUNED FOR STEP #4: LET THE BUILDING BEGIN! Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
Facts About Me PETEY Breed: Chihuahua/Italian Greyhound Mix Color: Tan/Yellow/Fawn Age: 2 years old, Adult Size: Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less Weight: (current) 10 lbs Sex: Male Petey is a chihuahua Italian greyhound mix that weighs 10 lbs. Someone saw him loose on the street being attacked by a big dog. The big dog broke his leg. The owners could not be located so the good samaritan posted his story on Facebook. One of our volunteers offered to take him in. He’s super sweet, very out going and gives kisses to everyone he meets. He’s great with other dogs, including big ones, even though a large dog attacked him. He’s all healed up, neutered, up-to-date on shots and micro chipped. Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
CASH-COW! OXY STUDENT HOUSING! 1432 ARMADALE AVE, HIGHLAND PARK 90042 List Price $1,200,000 This 6-bedroom home with converted garage has room for 7 people Location, Location, Location! A mere 210 yards from the Occidental College campus makes this home perfect for Oxy student housing! Today's market rent is $1,000 per bedroom so what does that mean? It means that this cash-cow could bring the lucky new owner $7k per month (=$84,000 per year)! GRM = 14.29 and delivered VACANT at COE. Not only is this home super close to the Oxy campus, it is also super-close from the epicenter of all that is "hot and happening" in Highland Park Only 4-1/2 blocks from "York Park" and the intersection of Avenue 50 & York Blvd- you can't beat that! Don't miss this incredible opportunity in red-hot NELA near the Oxy campus! 6 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2,710sqft of living space BONUS: Garage converted into additional living space LOT: 7,176sqft Year Built: 1925 Spanish Style APN: 5476-020-030 Zone: Single Family Residential (R1-1) Occidental College Adjacent (a mere 210 yards from the Oxy campus) Only 4-1/2 short blocks from "York Park" and Avenue 50 & York Blvd- the epicenter of all that is hot and happening in Highland Park DELIVERED VACANT AMAZING cash-flow opportunity PERFECT housing for Oxy students Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
BUILDING VS. BUYING - BLOG SERIES Since so many of our readers ask us about this topic, we decided to write a blog series! Step #1 - Buying a Good Lot! (Click to read Step #1) Step #2 - Getting Your Permits (Click to read Step #2) Step #3 - Part A: Contractors <---------------- Step #3 - Part B: Financing Step #4 - Let the Building Begin! Step #5 - Permanent Financing and Moving into your Dream Home! STEP #3 PART A: CONTRACTORS Okay, so you found a great lot and you worked hard to design a home that's just perfect for you and your family AND you even managed to survive the gauntlet of "plan check" with the building and safety department and you actually have your permits and entitlements! Congratulations! This is a real milestone but you are not home just yet! Now you need to decide how your home will get built and how you will finance the construction or "hard costs" Regarding how you will get your home built, there are a couple of main options: 1) Hire a general contractor 2) Build the home yourself as an "owner-builder" GENERAL CONTRACTOR If you decide to go the general contractor route, just be forewarned - you've heard the stories, there are a lot of general contractors who will make lots of promises and offer to do the job for a price that seems too good to be true and you will be very tempted to hire such a contractor. Be careful, what seems to be too good to be true just might be. Often the contracts are poorly written, vague, ambiguous and may not include all sorts of details that should be included and that offers the contractor an opportunity to add all sorts of costs and fees and change orders and the like and you can end up paying MUCH MORE than you ever thought would be possible and it's not just the extra money spent but also the disappointment, stress and maybe worse. How do you find the best general contractor to work with? It's unlikely to go with the lowest price quote. The best advice I can give is to really take your time, check references CAREFULLY and, of course, verify that the contractor's license is current/valid and that there are no complaints or violations with the Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board Contractors State License Board (http://www.cslb.ca.gov/) ALSO be sure that the contract is clear and includes language is not vague or ambiguous AND if your permitted plans are well detailed you can include language in your contract that assures that the scope of work is to build the home per the specifications and details in the permitted plans. Here are two different types of contracts that you might be considering: "Cost Plus" and "Fixed Price" In the "Cost Plus" situation, the contractor will charge you whatever his costs are "plus" an additional amount for the general contractor's fee- a typical "cost plus fee" is about 20% of the costs. While this might seem like a good idea, there is no incentive for the contractor to keep costs in check. In fact, in the cost plus scenario, your contractor is incentive to rack up as many costs as possible and this can create a situation where costs get out of control. The fixed price contract might be a better approach so that you are aware of the price you will need to pay and there really isn't wiggle room for your general contractor to escalate the costs at your expense. BUILD YOUR HOME AS AN OWNER-BUILDER The other option "build your home as an owner-builder" can be an amazing experience and education but it is a very serious undertaking and should not be entered into without careful consideration. Yes, there is an opportunity to save quite a bit of money if all works out well; however, if you do not have experience in construction or as a project manager you might find yourself over your head. Without a certain amount of experience, you might not have the ability to know that the work being done is not being done correctly until it's too late and then things have to be 'undone" and then re-done again. Also, do not underestimate the time commitment that will be required. On a personal note, I built two homes from the ground up, one right after the other. For the first home I made all the mistakes, I hired a general contractor that seemed great but the contract was poorly written and I didn't carefully check references and it wasn't too long before I realized that this contractor (despite his claims to the contrary) had absolutely zero experience building a hillside home. Needless to say, things went south quickly and the contractor I hired hardly ever showed up at the site and his workers didn't really know what they were doing. So I ended up being on the job every day and doing my best to keep the project moving forward. I made it through to a successful completion but it wasn't easy. I was saved by someone who has become a dear friend over the years, a very experienced home builder, that took me under his wing and mentored me and really saved my butt! On the second home, with some experience under my belt, I did not hire a general contractor, instead, I was an owner builder and dedicated about two years of seven days a week and 16 hour days to build the second home. Summary, might not be your best choice to take on the job as an owner-builder unless you have the temperament, experience, and TIME to be on the job every day, plan for what's needed next for many hours each day after the workers have left for the day, and are up for a high-stress environment for months and months on end. I don't mean to be all doom and gloom but realistically I want you to be prepared for the reality of what it really is to embark on such an undertaking. STAY TUNED FOR STEP #3 - PART B: FINANCING! Buying or Selling Real Estate? Contact Us Today! Brian Fitzburgh Real Estate Broker / Animal Lover 818-571-9712 team@brokerstrust.com www.brokerstrust.com Homes Fur All is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization dedicated to helping the people and pets of NELA.
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AuthorThe Fitzburgh Realty Team Archives
January 2024
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