Very Affordable Home Life Within Scyene in Dallas, TX

When you imagine the wild, Wild West, and all that Texas has become known for within the past, you can imagine the old days of one of Dallas, Texas's most historic neighborhoods. Once the town of Scyene, the neighborhood fell into a decline with the introduction of the Texas and Pacific Railway, later becoming annexed by Dallas, Texas, becoming one of the neighborhoods that can trace down the oldest of Texas roots.
Scyene is now a quite expansive neighborhood within the large city of Dallas, taking up 2.855 square miles of zip code 75227. The population of 15,027 is made up of various populations from the state of Texas and all over the nation. It isn't uncommon to see a couple strolling down the street or kids playing in the evening hours, bringing back all the old memories of the historical neighborhood.

Built and during the 1800's, Scyene was established officially during 1854 with the building of the local post office right in the town. This led to massive growth in the area, with famed residents in history including Jesse James, Belle Starr, Frank James, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, and others as well. The small town was really what you would envision within those earlier years, with a lodge, wagon factory, and six separate saloons within the town of a small population of only 300.

Today, you can find very quaint and affordable homes ranging within the range of just over $100,000. Only 10 miles from the downtown section of Dallas, the neighborhood is in short access to all the major scenes and attractions of Dallas, with the private and serene lifestyle still an echo of the area. The neighborhood is now part of Eastern Dallas and makes up a large section of the area, bringing forth very cultural qualities to the city.
Living in Dallas can be so interesting, with the many sites, sounds, people, and vastly popular neighborhoods.

There is such history in the state of Texas, all of which you can find a piece of within the large city of Dallas.Scyene happens to be one of the oldest established areas of the city, once a small town of its own. Although no longer its own town, Scyene is still home to several Dallas residents, all of which can enjoy the scenes of the area and the wonderful quality of life found within the Scyene community and environment.

District of Columbia Is a Safe Place to Drive

Who would have thought that the District of Columbia is a safe place to drive? Not I! But according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the District of Columbia has the lowest rate of deaths per thousand (4.8) that occur on the roads. There are numerous reasons I believe that DC can boast this distinction.

First, since there is so much traffic in the DC area, motorists are stuck sitting in roads that feel more like slowly moving parking lots rather than driving. The Washington, DC metro area earned the distinction of tying for first place with Chicago for having the worst traffic in the United States. According to the Texas Transportation Institute's Urban Mobility Report, DC motorists spent 70 hours in traffic in 2009, and that was up from 59 hours in 2006!

On the positive side, the Washington DC area is second to New York in terms of percentage of commuters that use public transportation in the United States. The high usage of metro can in part be attributed to the fact that approximately 120,000 federal workers receive up to $230/month for transit expenses as an employee benefit.

Federal workers make up approximately 40% of the metro usage. The fare subsidy program in effect means the DC Metro receives about twice the federal aid then other United States transit systems according to The Washington Examiner. The benefits extend beyond the federal level as employees in Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties all receive some sort of subsidy for utilizing their local mass transportation.

In addition to Metro, the Washington area is served by rail, both commuter and express. There is MARC train service from Union Station to Baltimore to the northeast; to Martinsburg, West Virginia to the west; to Frederick, Maryland to the northwest; to Fredericksburg, Virginia to the south and to Manassas, Virginia to the southwest.

Traveling to and from work by bicycle is an athletic means that is gaining in popularity in the DC metro area, now 6th in the nation in number of bike commuters according to the Washington Post. There are approximately 45 miles of dedicated bicycle lanes around the area and more are planned as this means gains in popularity.

All of these options are necessary to move people around as of the people employed in the Nation's Capital, only 28% are commuting from inside the city, 33.5% come from somewhere in Maryland and 22.7% from Northern Virginia and outlying suburbs. Understanding these transportation options is critical in determining where to live.

Protect Yourself From Real Estate Fraud

I view my tent ministry as a real estate professional as an honorable job. I am helping people who are in distress get a new piece of mind. On a broader sense, owning a piece of property is part of the American dream. Sadly, there are vultures out there that want to prey on the innocent with things that sound good but are pure trouble. I recently read an article by the Department of Real Estate of California and I thought I would share a few pointers with everyone.
(Note - this is written from a California standpoint, most pointers should be applicable anywhere in the US but check with a RE agent in your area if you have specific questions.)

Does a person who helps me with a short sale have to be licensed by the state?
Yes, any person who "negotiates loans...or perform services for borrowers or lenders...in connection with loans secured directly or collaterally by liens on real property... for or in expectation of compensation" must be licensed.
What is that in English? If a person wants to help you negotiate with a lender in regards to a property - that person must be licensed. This applies to anyone who wants to talk to your lender(s) on your behalf in regards to a loan secured by property.
Application - we are seeing 'short sale negotiators' as a new business. If they cannot produce a DRE license number then run. Also, once they give you a license number check it out against your state's real estate license database. Some of these negotiators hire a broker to list the property which is a licensed professional. However, if THEY talk to your lender(s) they too must be licensed.

What should I watch out for if I use a negotiator?
Upfront fees - It is against the law for any person to charge you up front fees in dealing with your loan; whether it is a short sale negotiator or a person helping you with a loan modification.
Signing away your rights - Some of these negotiators require you to sign a document that grants them exclusive rights to negotiate on your behalf. While it is true that you only want one person dealing with your short sale, beware of anyone that wants to cut you completely out of the loop. By law, all offers have to be submitted to you and to the lender.

The fraud we are seeing is the negotiator hides high bids from the lender and only submits low bids. They keep the high bids until after the short sale is complete. They then bring in the high bidder to buy the property.
Example, this negotiator receives a bid for $400,000. They have a friend that gives them a bid for $350,000. They submit the bid for $350,000 and get the short sale completed. Then their friend re-lists the property and they contact the high bidder and sell the property for $400,000. They just made $50,000 at your expense and at the expense of the economic recovery of this nation.

They committed fraud by withholding all offers from the lender; this is a felony. This 'short sale flip fraud' is now on the radar of the FBI who is actively seeking out these quick short sale flips.

Can I pay anyone 'under the table'?
No! In short sale situations there can be more than one lender. Sometimes the second (or more) lender will try to hold up the process and get as much money from you as they can. Payment to any lender outside of the process (under the table) is called fraud.
If a lender, an agent, or other licensed party encourages you to do something illegal do not do it. If it is a lender be sure to disclose this to your agent so they can speak with their broker to see if there is anything legal they need to do. If it is your agent that asks you to do something illegal contact their broker. Fraud in our industry cannot ever be acceptable. You can also report them to the California Department of Real Estate (or whatever your state department is called.) If the offending party is the broker then contact the Department of Real Estate and report the incident.
If you are ever unsure of an action it is best to get advice. It is much better to be safe then to get into serious trouble.

Final Thoughts
In any real estate transaction there are many items that must be done at the right time and in a specific manner. It is very important to your financial future to make sure you are being advised in a proper way. If something sounds too good to be true or it doesn't quite feel right then caution is recommended.
*Here is a site that tracks Real Estate fraud in California: http://www.californiarealestatefraudreport.com/
*Never pay up-front fees (they are illegal)
*Never work with a person who is unlicensed (they may say they do not need to be, and the answer is if it involves real estate in any form, like negotiating on loans secured by real estate, they must be licensed.)
*Be aware of any unspecified surcharges or fees
*Be cautious if contacted by a 'short sale negotiator.' This is the highest rising form or fraud and scam. As the states crack down on fraudulent loan modification scams these unscrupulous people are moving to the short sale arena.
*Some lenders might try to induce you to commit fraud. They don't care if you are violating law; they just want money. The seller, buyer, or agents cannot make any hidden payments. Anything paid in the short sale process needs to be disclosed and appear on the HUD-1 form.
*No one should ever tell you to stop making payments on any mortgage. One, you do not have to be in default in order to short sale your house. Second, you will be trashing your credit report with no purpose.
*In a short sale with 2nd or more lien holders can be very difficult. They will play extreme hardball with you. Make sure your agent can play hardball right back (like I am happy to do.)

Disclaimer: Seek licensed help from a tax lawyer or CPA before making any decisions regarding your house. The information in this article is to assist you in understanding real estate transaction and cannot be construed as legal, tax or financial advice. This article is for informational purposes only.

Become a Hawaii Real Estate Expert in Ten Minutes

Brief History
 
Hawaii is the only state in the Union that keeps one central location for all real estate deeds. All other states delegate this responsibility to the county level. Hawaii's unique form of recording can be traced back to the original land tenure system of the Hawaiian Kingdom. All land was owned by the King, but made available to everyone else. The concept of private property did not exist.

That changed with the Great Mahele. Westerners pressured the Hawaiian government to adopt a private system of land ownership. Bowing to that pressure, between 1845 and 1848 King Kamehameha III divided up land among the Kingdom, high-ranking chiefs, and the territorial government. This was called the Ka Mahele now known as the Great Mahele. Ka Mahele translated is "the division."

There are compelling arguments the native Hawaiians did not receive their fair share of the Great Mahele. Periodically, groups or individuals advocating native Hawaiian rights challenge the established land ownership system. These challenges create rumors and innuendo resulting in confusion and uncertainty.

Because of confusion determining land ownership and similar names the Land Court was established in 1903.Original registration in Land Court is done through a lengthy process of a judicial review. The availability of title insurance has dramatically reduced the need for judicial determination and registration in the Land Court.

Hawaii's Recording System
Hawaii has three methods to change title on real estate. The Regular System gives "notice" of change in title. Deeds recorded in the Land Court system are guaranteed by the State of Hawaii. Documents recorded in both systems are referred to as a Double System Recording.

Types of ownership
 Hawaiian Real Estate is owned is fee simple, as a leasehold interest or as a timeshare.

Timeshares
Timeshares are fractional vacation ownership interests in a resort. The fractional interest is usually the right to occupy a one or two bedroom unit for one week, every year. One unit could have 52 owners. Purchasers are granted ownership as either as a "Time-share Estate" or as a "Time-share Use." Time-share Estate ownerships are granted by deed and are actual real estate ownerships. Time-share Use ownerships are granted by contract and the owner has a license or membership interest in the time share resort. Time-share Use is not an ownership in real estate.

Leaseholds
Leasehold interest is the right to use the land for a specific number of years, typically 55 to 75. The person who owns the leasehold must turn the land back to the actual land owner at the end of the lease. The leaseholder owns the improvements on the land, but not the land itself.

Ownership in a cooperative or multi-family unit is often acquired by lease hold interest. Leasehold interests are conveyed by an apartment lease. The apartment lease has many names: Apartment Lease, Apartment Lease and Ground Lease, Condominium Conveyance Document, Apartment Deed and Ground Lease, or Dwelling Lease.

Fee Simple
Real property held in fee simple is the most common form of ownership and what a person typically thinks what it means to own real estate. The person owns all the land, and all of the building. In the past, transfers in ownership had words "fee simple". Fee simple meant the new owner's use of the land and buildings had no restrictions what so ever. Today transfers are granted subject to restrictions of an integrated society such as zoning restrictions and access by utilities, by local governments, and holders of mineral rights below the surface.

Typical ownerships in fee simple are single family homes and condominiums. Single family homes are what you expect, land and home owned together by one owner. Condominiums are multiple homes owned by multiple owners with a "common area" owned and shared by all. Common areas are; walk ways, parking lots, pools, BBQ areas, laundry facilities and recreational areas.

Today, grants in fee simple are conveyed with either a warranty deed or a quitclaim deed. A person transferring ownership with a warranty deed at a minimum guarantees he or she is the actual owner and he or she is conveying clean title. Warranty deeds are accompanied with title insurance. Warranty deeds are used in bona fide sales.

Quitclaim deeds are transfer of ownership with no guarantees. The grantor basically conveys whatever ownership he or she may have. Quit claims are essentially the owner walking away from the property. The new owner takes the property "as is." Transfers from one spouse to another are often quit claimed.
Time shares are often conveyed with a quitclaim deed. There is limited marketability for time shares so no real opportunity to sell. To avoid paying annual maintenance fees an owner gives away the property.

Ohana Dwelling
A final type of property is the Ohana Dwelling or Grandma's Cottage. This is separate building on the property of the main home. It is usually much smaller and self contained. It can be rented out or occupied by a relative, such as grandma.

San Diego Real Estate Listings

Years of dreaming may soon end in reality as the waterfront park project that includes outdoor landscapes, spaces for weddings, picnic areas, and a massive fountain, just took one big step forward.
The Board of Supervisors decided on Tuesday to approve the demolition of the of the 1958 J.W. Askew building, located on the north side of the County Administration Center. The board approved $2.6 million for the task, along with another $1.2 million for the completion of the designs for the 12-acre waterfront park. The project would extend north of the building site all the way to the administration building.

The idea for the "legacy project" was championed by supervisor Ron Roberts back in 1995. According to him, the project promises to change the public's view of the waterfront permanently. "The quality and the concept of what is here should be, I hope, a guide for future development on the waterfront," Roberts said of the project.

$38 million is the expected cost for the waterfront park project, the majority of which will be covered by downtown redevelopment funds, though the project is open to donations. In fact, because it is still unnamed, the county is open to the possibility of a major donor attaching their name to the project, if the donation is large enough. The park promises to include landscaped "rooms", which will showcase local public art and vegetation, though neither has yet been donated, chosen, or funded.

Roberts said that had the economy not taken a turn for the worse, the project would have been done years ago. "We had agreements not once, but twice with private development entities," he said. The project, as proposed by the county, is actually a part of a much bigger endeavor: the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, approved in 1998 for the western side of the waterfront. It is the first part of the project that moved.
Supervisor Dianne Jacob requested detailed information regarding water usage, costs of operation and maintenance, construction phases, employee routes and relocations, and the proposed parking garage's timeline, along with the decision of whether or not to charge the public for its use.

Within the next few months, it is expected that a more complete presentation will be given to the board.

ezinearticles.com