INTEREST RATE UPDATE

Friday October 31st., 2008 Interest Rate Update for The Westwoodian. Not much change from last week.

Here are the approximate interest rates for this week of October 31st. 2008 for 30 year fixed loans for residential properties (single family homes and condominiums):

Conforming Loan (loan amount up to $417,000) - 6.25%

Agency Jumbo Loan (loan amount $417,000 - $729,750) - 6.375%

Jumbo Loan (loan amount over $729,750) - 7.5%.

An alternative to the high interest rate of the 30 year fixed jumbo is the 10 year fixed converting Jumbo loan (loan amount over $729,000)- 6.5%.

This information has been provided by Jim Greenwald of First Capital Mortgage at 310-434-1703.

Posted by Mickey Kessler at 8:24 AM

The Coolest House On Caravan

1955 Thayer Avenue

Westwood

You don't see a home like this in the Westwood area every day. It has a very open floor plan with hi ceilings and loads of French doors opening to a resort-like back yard.

The indoor-outdoor design of this home is keenly executed giving a sense of both space and intimacy. The result is a home that is perfectly suited for entertaining both large and small gatherings, and doing it in style.

We at the Westwoodian selected this gem as the Coolest House on Caravan because it is . . . well it's really cool!

Nestled in a charming pocket of Westwood, this home is ideal for entertaining featuring French doors off the main rooms that lead to lushly manicured yard w/ saltwater pool & spa. The property boasts a grand living room with designer fireplace, media room and formal dining room.

A Spacious family room opens to recently updated gourmet kitchen with imported marble counters & top-of-the-line appliances. State-of-the-art sound system throughout & security system featuring gated entry with remote access.

The home is listed for $2,395,000. If you'd like to see this home or for any inquiries please contact Mickey and Jamie at The Westwoodian at 310-442-1398 or 310-339-3525, email- mkessler@verizon.net, jtheis@camoves.com. You can also contact the listing agent- Amy Colvin of Hilton & Highland at 310-278-3311, email- amycolvin3@aol.com or Sara Berger of WEA Inc. at 310-247-7770, email- sb@w-e-agency.com. For more information about this property you can also visit Zillow.com

Life Imitating Art

It’s happened again, or, perhaps, not. Maybe I’m stretching a little but does anyone else notice the parallel between what’s going on with our election campaigns with the story line from Kevin Costner’s most recent movie, Swing Vote. In Swing Vote, Costner plays an average Joe (note the similarity to Joe the Plumber) who due to a unique set of circumstances is thrust into the nations spotlight as his vote was deemed invalid and in an unprecedented occurance, the election ends in a tie, whereupon Kostner is required to recast his vote and decide the fate of the nation's election.

How they are able to trace Costner’s errant ballot back to him and require him to re-cast his vote, I have no idea (note Florida 2000), but that’s the story line. As the nation’s citizenry await his decision, the fate of the free world hangs in the balance.

As a result, both presidential campaigns are re-ignited as the candidates must re-direct all of their resources to sway one single voter. The plot takes shape as Grammar and Hopper employ all the political savvy at their disposal to sway Costner’s vote their way.

Needles to say Costner (the “Average Joe”) becomes the focus (and in some ways the symbol) of the nation. And the story revolves in large part around the two presidential candidates’ (Kelsey Grammar and Dennis Hopper) efforts to make their case to Costner.

Are you with me so far?

Well, isn’t that essentially what has happened to our presidential campaign? “Joe the Plumber” may not be casting the deciding vote in this election however, as the nation looked on, Joe the Plumber became the central focus of the final presidential debate. As both candidates spent the bulk of their time catering to this one man who in many ways has become the spokesman for the nation.

I’m just saying.

Which Ex-President (alive or dead) do you believe would be best suited to handle our current ecconomic problems?

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