According to the Orange County Register, after three long years, it appears a settlement is at-hand between Surf City officials and some local area residents. Homeowners in the Cape Ann affordable housing development filed suit in 2006 alleging that they were misled into believing that their homes would appreciate without restrictions and according to the market rate.

Buying affordable housing tracts enabled the Cape Ann homeowners to purchase their homes at a below-market rate. Based on the restrictions of [...]

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When the state asks you to open your books and you don’t, you’re gonna get shut down. That’s what Fayeteville mortgage broker Francine Shannon learned when she failed to disclose information requested of her by a state examiner.

Owner of Mortgage Consultant Services, Inc. Shannon had her annual mortgage license revoked by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance early in October. The state’s press release claims it has evidence that she intentionally withheld information requested of her by [...]

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Tempe and Glendale Attorney General (AG) Offices settled lawsuits earlier this month in two mortgage fraud cases. The settlements totaled $1.37 million, much of which will be returned to homeowners scammed by foreclosure rescue fraud.

Unsuspecting consumers were victimized by foreclosure rescue scams. Taken Care of Investments Principal Richard Winer will pay fines to the tune of $691,000 without admitting guilt. Homeowners risking foreclosure hired the firm in hopes of remaining in their homes.

The company promised to buy [...]

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Wittmann citizens interested in annexation issues, in particular, may want to join monthly meetings facilitated by the Northwest Citizens Group (NCG), along with Surprise staffers. Items discussed impact the Surprise planning area. Included in the planning area are unincorporated sections of Circle City, Morristown, Nadaburg, Surprise, Wittmann and the northwest area of Maricopa County between Wickenburg and Surprise.

August meeting issues discussed were proposed enhancements to communications with area residents. The effort was to begin with a local [...]

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(If I saved every realtor notepad I have been given, I would never need one more sheet of paper. Ever.)

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From the Santa Monica Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, from Topanga Canyon to the borders of Ventura County, home sales and values in the City of Malibu are treading water.

Lower sales prices and a dramatic reduction in the number of sales have been noted, along with home values that continue to diminish. Median home sales prices have dropped over 30 percent this year. Even with the drop in the list price of homes on the market, buyers are [...]

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In the battle against foreclosure and loan modification fraud, Attorney General (AG) Jerry Brown ordered over 380 mortgage foreclosure consultants to register with the AG’s office and post a $100,000 bond each. Letters were sent to each to post the required bond and register within 10 days, or provide justification as to why they should be exempt.

If the companies don’t register, post bond, or show good reason not to, criminal penalties could be imposed for up to one year in [...]

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Secession. A word we’ve all heard tossed around at times, but not exactly an action we’ve seen taken in recent years in America.

Secession is the topic of interest for government entities in regards to Imperial Estates and Island Village, two Long Beach communities. Proposed by the Orange County Local Agency Formation (OCLAF), the OC Register reported that the reason for the secession was due to the shifting of the Coyote Creek Flood Channel, which changed the county border. [...]

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So here is our fourth installment of Roost’s 50 Real Estate People You Should Follow on Twitter. If you are seeing this list for the first time, you need to stop and click the July List, August List and September List first because there are some incredible people in real estate who you could be following on Twitter. I know our October List is coming out a little late, but there is a reason. I attended RE [...]

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A close eye is being kept on the Fortune 500 company Kaufman & Broad, better known as KB Homes, by some very unhappy homeowners in Hesperia. They are anticipating an investigation of KB Homes by the California Attorney General’s (AG) Office in regards to the company’s previous joint venture with Countrywide.

Herein lies the rub for the homeowners – flaws in construction that were never repaired and unscrupulous marketing initiatives by the former joint venture of KB Homes with Countrywide. [...]

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