posted by Josh Wigler
http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/02/25/oscars-2011-natalie-portman-best-actress/
The Oscars are just three days away now, and as the race draws to a close, it feels like it's getting tighter than ever.
In the Best Supporting categories, "The Fighter" co-stars Christian Bale and Melissa Leo were long considered the frontrunners for their categories. Lately, however, some potential spoilers have emerged. And it's like that for a lot of this year's categories — like Best Actress, an award that many believed belonged to Natalie Portman months ago.
But is she really a shoe-in for the top prize? Can someone stand in Portman's way? We're fielding that question past the jump, and asking you to join us by voting on YOUR pick for Best Actress!
As the overworked and overly competitive Nina Sayers, Natalie Portman delivered the performance of her career in "Black Swan." And that's saying a lot: at only 29 years old, Portman already has a huge list of acclaimed roles to her name from "Garden State" to "Brothers" to "Closer" and more. Can't forget "The Professional," either, her debut performance that immediately proved she was a talent to keep an eye on.
Portman hasn't disappointed those expectations — don't you think it's time we put the "Star Wars" prequels past us? — but let's face it: she's young, and she'll be in this industry for many years to come, barring disaster. She's certainly the favorite for the award, but if Portman loses, it's likely she'll have another shot in the very near future.
But it's not just about age: Portman is in a very contentious category this year alongside an overwhelmingly deserving pool of candidates. Jennifer Lawrence is my personal favorite of this year's nominees, though a nomination for the "Winter's Bone" actress is a big enough victory as it is. Nicole Kidman and Michelle Williams turned in fearless, gut-wrenching performances in "Rabbit Hole" and "Blue Valentine" as well.
Then there's Annette Bening. Somehow, she has yet to win an Oscar despite three powerful and previously nominated performances. Like Portman in "Black Swan," "The Kids Are All Right" gifted Bening with the role of a lifetime as Dr. Nic Allgood. After a series of disappointing losses, now might be the time for Bening to earn the prize. Certainly, she's Portman's fiercest competitor.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Coolest House on Caravan!
1823 Roscomare Road
Los Angeles, CA 90077
Tranquil Bel Air Canyon Living is offered here on an extraordinarily large lot with a wonderfully uncommon amount of flat, useable area.
This 4 bed, 3.5 bath, updated and remodeled, the vibe here is definitely CA casual combined with elegant Mediterrenean.
Spanish tile floors, custom cabinetry, stainless-steel appliances, Carrera marble counters, wine cooler, center island make the kitchen a showstopper.
Los Angeles, CA 90077
Tranquil Bel Air Canyon Living is offered here on an extraordinarily large lot with a wonderfully uncommon amount of flat, useable area.
This 4 bed, 3.5 bath, updated and remodeled, the vibe here is definitely CA casual combined with elegant Mediterrenean.
Spanish tile floors, custom cabinetry, stainless-steel appliances, Carrera marble counters, wine cooler, center island make the kitchen a showstopper.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Weekend Rate Update
The Government’s temporary loan increase to $729,750 is slated to roll back to $625,500 on October 1st
5.250% for the 30 year Fixed ~ Conforming {0 to $417,000}
5.250% for the 30 year Fixed ~ Agency Jumbo {$417,000 to $729,750}
6.000% for the 30 year Fixed ~ Super Jumbo {$729,750+ 80% - $1,500,000 is OK}
3.875% for the 5 year Fixed ~ Conforming {0 to $417,000}
4.000% for the 5 year Fixed ~ Agency Jumbo {$417,000 to $729,750}
4.375% for the 5 year Fixed ~ Super Jumbo {$729,750 plus}
Please buffer the 30 year Fixed Rate by 0.50% for your purchase contract with Points "not to exceed 1.00".
Most transaction times should be set to fit the following Lender's time frames
Conforming and Agency Jumbo
Loan Contingency ~ 21 days
Appraisal Contingency ~ 21 days
Condo/Townhomes ~ 45 days
Single Family Residences ~ 45 days
Super Jumbo
Loan Contingency ~ 24 days
Appraisal Contingency ~ 24 days
Condo/Townhomes ~ 45 days
Single Family Residences ~ 45 days
Steve Eckhoff, Office and Voicemail/Pager 310-470-8080, e-fax is 310-576-8046
2006 Kelton Avenue
BROKERS OPEN HOUSE TODAY 11-2 pm
2 story, 4 bed, 2.5 bath gorgeous Meditteranean home in Westwood.
Sun filled kitchen features granite counter tops.
Master suite features marble finished bathroom.
Large yard is great for outdoor activities.
Contact: Chad Lund
2 story, 4 bed, 2.5 bath gorgeous Meditteranean home in Westwood.
Sun filled kitchen features granite counter tops.Pantry and breakfast area opens to large patio and backyard.
Master suite features marble finished bathroom.
Large yard is great for outdoor activities.
Contact: Chad Lund
(424) 202-3295
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Coolest House on Caravan!
10433 Scenario Lane
Los Angeles, Ca
This architectural gem nestled in the Glen has an open and airy floor plan with designer details through out.
Home has floor to ceiling winows, and a cozy Malm fireplace define the interior space with charm and character.
Watson lighting illuminates every room with peaceful views of the hillside.
This 2 bed, 2 bath also features hardwood floors. 
The lush grounds offer a private deck, patio, and brick courtyard with terraced gardens, creating a tranquil and romantic ambiance.
Contact: Joann Dresner
jodresner@gmail.com
Los Angeles, Ca
This architectural gem nestled in the Glen has an open and airy floor plan with designer details through out.
Home has floor to ceiling winows, and a cozy Malm fireplace define the interior space with charm and character.
Watson lighting illuminates every room with peaceful views of the hillside.
This 2 bed, 2 bath also features hardwood floors. 
The lush grounds offer a private deck, patio, and brick courtyard with terraced gardens, creating a tranquil and romantic ambiance.
Contact: Joann Dresner
jodresner@gmail.com
310-275-1000
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Luxury Homes Sales Up in California
Some good news from the LA TIMES...
"Prestige home buyers respond to a different set of motivations than the rest of us. Their decisions are less dependent on jobs, prices and interest rates, and more on how their portfolio is doing," DataQuick President John Walsh said. "When the financial world was full of uncertainty a couple of years back, and the jumbo-loan market dried up, luxury sales plummeted. As the economy started its top-down recovery, some wealthy buyers went looking for a bargain," he said. Savvy shoppers trying to time the market swooped in before discounted prices could turn the corner."Certainly, we're pretty sure we're at the bottom" for home prices, said economist Christopher Thornberg, principal with Beacon Economics in Los Angeles. Even if prices fall further, he said, "if you are borrowing, buying today makes a lot of sense because interest rates are just incredibly low."Two other reasons for the $1-million-and-up market increase are the return of the jumbo mortgage market in 2010 and a comeback in the stock market, which saw huge losses in 2009, Thornberg said. "A lot of folks who were reeling from equity losses bounced back." Cash purchases also inched upward among $1-million buyers last year to 29.4% of sales, up from 28.9% in 2009 and the highest for any year since 1994. But even cash purchases can be motivated by low interest rates. "A lot of cash offers are done on the basis of the person trying to get a leg up and then they turn around and refi," Thornburg said.Million-dollar-plus sales hit a high of 54,773 in 2005 and then dropped through 2009. Last year's sales increase came despite a winnowing in the category; 3,380 of the homes that sold statewide for less than $1 million had previously sold for $1 million or more, DataQuick analysis shows. "There are not as many million-dollar homes kicking around as there were during the boom years," Thornberg said.L.A.-area real estate offices also noticed the uptick in $1-million-plus sales. "I think last year there were a lot of buyers who said now is the best time to buy," said Jeffrey Hyland, president of Hilton & Hyland, whose Beverly Hills office doubled its dollar volume from 2009. "We noticed it on the high end." His office, for example, sold seven houses for more than $20 million last year."That's a good sign to the market of where we are" that high net-worth buyers are making purchases, Hyland said. "It's like those people don't read the doom and gloom" news reports, he said.Plus, the rich do often get richer. "Some people are more wealthy now than they were before," Hyland said. Most of the high-end sales, 79%, fell between $1 million and $2 million. The median-size home in the million-dollar-plus category was 2,840 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, and the median price paid per square foot was $601, down 0.6% from $605 in 2009. For the overall California housing market, the median price per square foot was $164 in 2010, up 10.1% from $149 in 2009, DataQuick said. The most expensive confirmed purchase statewide last year, based on public records, was a 35,000-square-foot-plus mansion on 2.2 acres in Bel-Air that sold for $50 million.But not all mega-deals are subject to the bright light of public curiosity, if buyer and seller employ legal sleight of hand. "A lot of the sales … may not appear on public records," Hyland said of the most expensive transactions.So the number of $1-million-plus sales, he said, could be even greater than reported.
By Lauren Beale, Los Angeles Times
February 12, 2011
Even the rich love a deal.California homes priced at $1 million or more experienced a sales boom in 2010, the first increase in five years, even as overall home sales in the state declined, a real estate information service reported. The reason: High-end home shoppers went bargain hunting as certain parts of the economy improved but luxury home prices remained depressed. Last year, 22,529 homes sold statewide for $1 million-plus, a 21% increase from 2009, according to DataQuick Information Systems in San Diego. In contrast, the total number of California homes sold last year dropped 9%.
"Prestige home buyers respond to a different set of motivations than the rest of us. Their decisions are less dependent on jobs, prices and interest rates, and more on how their portfolio is doing," DataQuick President John Walsh said. "When the financial world was full of uncertainty a couple of years back, and the jumbo-loan market dried up, luxury sales plummeted. As the economy started its top-down recovery, some wealthy buyers went looking for a bargain," he said. Savvy shoppers trying to time the market swooped in before discounted prices could turn the corner."Certainly, we're pretty sure we're at the bottom" for home prices, said economist Christopher Thornberg, principal with Beacon Economics in Los Angeles. Even if prices fall further, he said, "if you are borrowing, buying today makes a lot of sense because interest rates are just incredibly low."Two other reasons for the $1-million-and-up market increase are the return of the jumbo mortgage market in 2010 and a comeback in the stock market, which saw huge losses in 2009, Thornberg said. "A lot of folks who were reeling from equity losses bounced back." Cash purchases also inched upward among $1-million buyers last year to 29.4% of sales, up from 28.9% in 2009 and the highest for any year since 1994. But even cash purchases can be motivated by low interest rates. "A lot of cash offers are done on the basis of the person trying to get a leg up and then they turn around and refi," Thornburg said.Million-dollar-plus sales hit a high of 54,773 in 2005 and then dropped through 2009. Last year's sales increase came despite a winnowing in the category; 3,380 of the homes that sold statewide for less than $1 million had previously sold for $1 million or more, DataQuick analysis shows. "There are not as many million-dollar homes kicking around as there were during the boom years," Thornberg said.L.A.-area real estate offices also noticed the uptick in $1-million-plus sales. "I think last year there were a lot of buyers who said now is the best time to buy," said Jeffrey Hyland, president of Hilton & Hyland, whose Beverly Hills office doubled its dollar volume from 2009. "We noticed it on the high end." His office, for example, sold seven houses for more than $20 million last year."That's a good sign to the market of where we are" that high net-worth buyers are making purchases, Hyland said. "It's like those people don't read the doom and gloom" news reports, he said.Plus, the rich do often get richer. "Some people are more wealthy now than they were before," Hyland said. Most of the high-end sales, 79%, fell between $1 million and $2 million. The median-size home in the million-dollar-plus category was 2,840 square feet, with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, and the median price paid per square foot was $601, down 0.6% from $605 in 2009. For the overall California housing market, the median price per square foot was $164 in 2010, up 10.1% from $149 in 2009, DataQuick said. The most expensive confirmed purchase statewide last year, based on public records, was a 35,000-square-foot-plus mansion on 2.2 acres in Bel-Air that sold for $50 million.But not all mega-deals are subject to the bright light of public curiosity, if buyer and seller employ legal sleight of hand. "A lot of the sales … may not appear on public records," Hyland said of the most expensive transactions.So the number of $1-million-plus sales, he said, could be even greater than reported.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Simple Valentine's Day Ideas
By: Juliana Weiss-RoesslerValentine’s Day is about showing you care, not who can spend the most money, so when you’re brainstorming ways to celebrate, go back to the basics. What can you do to make the day special for the one you love? Here are a few low-cost ideas: Make dinner instead of going out. A fancy dinner at a restaurant can run you $50 to $100, but you can often make that same meal at home for much less. For example, crab legs can cost a pretty penny if you eat out, but you can find frozen, pre-cooked crab legs at the supermarket for $8 to $10 per pound. They’re surprisingly easy to make. Just pop them in the oven at 350°F for eight or nine minutes. Then serve with melted butter, lemon wedges and a nice bottle of wine, and you’ve got a fancy meal for a fraction of the restaurant price. Have a picnic. There are few things more romantic and it makes for a cheap date. Take some time to enjoy each other’s company away from cell phones, email and the other distractions of modern life. Scope out the location in advance and don’t forget to bring a blanket to sit on or a tablecloth to cover the picnic table. Bring along a candle to really set the mood. Your date will appreciate the planning. Make breakfast in bed. Surprise your loved one with heart-shaped pancakes, eggs, bacon and a glass of orange juice first thing in the morning. Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Monday this year, this is a particularly nice way to celebrate the day if you both have to spend it working away from one another. Create your own gift basket. Instead of buying a pre-made one at the store, create your own and fill it with all the things that your significant other loves best. Your date will appreciate the personalization and extra thought that went into the gift, and you’ll save money.
Make a custom music mix. Pick songs that are meaningful to both of you, represent different events from your relationship or just set the mood. You can present it as a gift or simply have it playing in the background while you enjoy dinner.
Click here for the full article: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/how-to-make-valentines-day-special-on-a-budget-2451874/
Make a custom music mix. Pick songs that are meaningful to both of you, represent different events from your relationship or just set the mood. You can present it as a gift or simply have it playing in the background while you enjoy dinner.
Click here for the full article: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/how-to-make-valentines-day-special-on-a-budget-2451874/
Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
New Debt Could Affect your Mortgage Terms
NEWS
First Capital Mortgage 1401 Ocean Avenue, 2nd Floor Santa Monica, CA 90401
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are requiring lenders to scrutinize borrowers' credit behavior before and after they apply for a loan.
By Kenneth R. Harney February 6, 2011
Reporting from Washington — for the LA Times
New credit transparency standards imposed on lenders by mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could affect your mortgage deal. As of Feb. 1, Freddie Mac began requiring lenders to dig back 120 days into your credit bureau files to detect any inquiries — signs of your applying for credit anywhere else — and then to check out whether any applications were approved. If they resulted in significant new debts, your lender might have to revise the terms or the rate you're being offered.
Meanwhile, Fannie Mae is requiring lenders to track or review your credit behavior after you've been approved for a mortgage but haven't yet gone to closing. That period often extends for 60 days or more. If inquiries pop up on your files during this time, lenders must check them out to determine whether any new debt might require a re-underwriting of the originally quoted terms.
For example, if the mortgage quote is tied to specific debt-to-income ratio maximums — say 31% of monthly income for housing, 43% for total household debt — a new credit card account with a $5,000 balance might require a new underwriting or even a higher rate. If the new card account shows up late in the game — a day or two before closing, with moving vans on the way — you could face some serious problems.
"We now tell our customers that they need to be ready" for much more rigorous screening of their credit, said Matt Jolivette of Associated Mortgage Group Inc. in Portland, Ore. "[Fannie and Freddie] want to know everything."
This means full disclosure on any credit accounts, big or small, that consumers have shopped for in the months immediately before and after their application.
"Our advice is this: Don't buy cars, don't buy furniture or appliances on credit until we close," Jolivette said. "You don't own the house yet, so don't buy anything for it" unless you pay in cash.
The stricter credit-scrutiny rules from Freddie and Fannie have stimulated an explosion of new services and products to help lenders keep track of their mortgage clients' behavior. For example, Experian — one of the three national credit bureaus — sells a "risk and retention triggers" system that functions much like the anti-identity theft services it markets directly to consumers. Lenders can choose from a detailed menu of trigger-event occurrences that they wish to know about from the application date to the closing date. These include all new inquiries for bank credit cards, retail credit accounts, auto loans and even "over-limit" features borrowers apply for on existing accounts. The monitoring is 24/7.
Equifax, another of the big three credit bureaus, offers a similar service called "u
ndisclosed debt monitoring." Steve Meirink, an Equifax vice president, said there has been "a tremendous response" from banks and mortgage companies interested in signing up for its program.
Other players in the credit industry offer mortgage lenders customized "refresh" pulls of files and scores that compare a borrower's data at the application and just before the scheduled closing. Marty Flynn, president of Credit Communications Inc. of San Ramon, Calif., urges clients to pull "triple merged" files from all three bureaus — TransUnion, Experian and Equifax — because information on file can differ from bureau to bureau.
Freddie Mac's new 120-day look-back rule on inquiries is designed to turn up situations in which home buyers apply for credit a couple of months before seeking a mortgage, but the inquiry and new account haven't hit the national bureau files because of differing reporting schedules followed by creditors. By scanning back 120 days — the previous standard was 90 days — virtually all inquiries made during the four months preceding the application should show up. If they're not caught then, they are certain to be spotted during the scans or refresher reports obtained before closing.
The bottom line on all this: Be aware that your credit files — not just your FICO scores — are probably being checked, rechecked and evaluated for the third of a year preceding a mortgage application and two to three months prior to the closing. The cleaner and simpler you keep the files, the easier your path to an on-time, uncomplicated closing should be.
310-470-8080
Steve Eckhoff
Call Steve for a Quote...if you end up using him for your Financing he’ll
Reimburse you $500 towards the cost of your Appraisal at the Close of Our Escrow!
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Favorite 2011 Super Bowl Commercial?
Now that the Super Bowl has ended, it's time to find out which commercial tops the rest.
According to www.superbowl-commercials.org, the Volkswagen "Darth Vader" commercial where a little boy calls on "the force" ranks #1, surpassing the others like Chrysler, Doritos, and Pepsi.
Click here to watch why this commercial won ours hearts:
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Food 4 Super Bowl Sunday!
As the big day approaches, here are some ideas for food and snacks that will surely be a crowd pleaser during this ultimate sporting event! Enjoy!
Bacon-wrapped Hot Dogs
You'll Need
* 4 beef hot dogs
* 2 slices of bacon
* 1/2 cup honey barbecue sauce
* Chopped onions, mustard, relish
Slice the bacon in half lengthwise. Wrap one of the strips of bacon around each hot dog. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in an oven preheated to 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the hot dog is browned. Serve on hot dog buns with your favorite toppings.
Potato Skins with cheese and baconclick on link to get recipe: http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2011/01/20/homemade-potato-skins/
Buffalo Strips & Blue Cheese dip 
click on link to get recipe: http://blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen/2010/12/31/easy-new-years-eve-appetizers-buffalo-chicken-strips-blue-cheese-dip/
Super easy nachos
click on link to get recipe: http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/nachos
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Bond rates are still low! Get used to it.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Long-term bond rates shot up dramatically at the end of last year. But the fixedincome market has been, dare I say it, boring so far in January.
Is that all about to change now that President Obama has given the strongest indication yet of the needto tackle the deficit in Tuesday's State of the Union address?
The Federal Reserve, which concluded a two-day meeting Wednesday, also appears intent on buyingTreasury debt in an attempt to keep rates low. It left its key short-term rate near zero yet again andmade no significant change to other policies.
First and foremost, the renewed focus on getting the deficit under control should be a positive forbonds. A more manageable federal debt load would likely lead to a stronger dollar and less fear aboutinflation. That should push rates lower since bond prices and yields move in opposite directions.
"The stars may now be aligned on the deficit," said Leslie Barbi, head of fixed income for RSInvestments in New York. "There should be some headway on that made in the first half of theyear. The reality of getting something done should lower rates because there may no longer be thisunbelievable supply of Treasuries out there."
Still, there's some skepticism about just how much the president and lawmakers will be able to getaccomplished. That could keep bond investors from buying too much debt.
Keep track of the bond market"The bond market has the impression that the president is serious about addressing debt levels. But there isn't enough detail to really grab on to," said Ray Humphrey, senior vice president at HartfordInvestment Management Co. in Hartford, Conn. "It's one thing to talk the talk. Investors want thegovernment to walk the walk and actually cut spending."
You also have to throw the Fed into the mix. Fed chair Ben Bernanke and the rest of his fellow merrypolicymakers committed in November to buy up to $600 billion in bonds through the end of June.
Although the central bank said at that time that it reserved the right to "adjust the program as needed"based on economic conditions, Barbi said she doubted the Fed would end QE2 prematurely.
0:00 /05:08The Fed's inflation hawkShe argued that QE2 may no longer be as necessary as it was late last year now that there are signsof improvement in the economy. But job growth remains stagnant. So that is likely to keep the Fed frompulling the plug on QE2 prematurely.
"The Fed has painted itself into a corner. It has to wait a few more months to have some proofthat the unemployment rate has really come down. The Fed would look stupid if it changed thingsbefore that," she said.
Now here is where things get muddled. The purpose of QE2 is to keep long-term rates low.However, the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury is now hovering around 3.4%. That's up a lot from2.6% in early November.
But dubbing QE2 a failure may be a mistake. For one, a 10-year yield below 3.5% (or even 4% forthat matter) is still a relatively low rate by historical standards.
The 10-year was yielding above 5% as recently as the summer of 2007 -- shortly before the creditcrisis and recession began in earnest. So rates could even creep up a bit more and not really beconsidered problematic.
All eyes on the FedAnthony Valeri, fixed income strategist with LPL Financial in San Diego, said he thinks that the 10-year will probably bounce around between 3% and 4% for the remainder of the year. He arguesthat rates might already be significantly higher if the Fed wasn't stepping in as a buyer of lastresort.
"The question is, 'What would rates be if QE2 was not in place?' Bernanke doesn't want yields tobe that much higher," he said. "That's why the Fed will keep stressing that inflation is low and thatthe job market is still sluggish. That's a bond-market friendly statement."
And as I pointed out in a column last week, China still has a voracious, albeit slightly smaller,appetite for U.S. Treasuries. Demand from foreign governments will also probably help keep rateslow.
What's more, the economy is not roaring, it's merely petering along. According to an exclusiveCNNMoney survey, economists are forecasting GDP growth of 3.5% for the fourth quarter. That'sgood, but not enough to make people forget just how far the economy plunged in 2008 and 2009.
Add that up and that probably means that rates will stay in a tight range for some time, no matterwhat the Fed, the president and Congress do.
"We're not likely to see explosive growth for the economy coming out of this recession the way wehad in prior ones," said Humphrey. "There will be low interest rates for a prolonged period."
For inquiries and more information contact Steve Eckhoff of First Capital Mortgage at 310-470-8080 or Mickey Kessler of Coldwell Banker at 310-367-2322.
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