Pasadena CA Real Estate

Featured Neighborhoods

Why a website about Pasadena real estate?

Because I love what I do - helping buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals!

Real estate has always been a vehicle for building wealth. There is a lot of fear involved in buying or selling a home, condo or income property. A fear of the unknown. A fear of being represented by an unqualified or uneducated agent.

My goal is to provide a website with on-line tools and information which will give power to the consumers in Pasadena and surrounding areas. Knowledge is Power!

My promise to my readers is to provide you with:

~~~ A FREE Multiple Listing Search for Pasadena and the surrounding cities. This tool will allow you to create personalized home searches and/or track the real estate market at your own pace. You can create your own account, with individualized user name and password and access it at your convenience. The power of researching available properties is yours!

~~~ Weekly updated real estate market statistics for Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Monterey Hills, and Alhambra. Check back each Monday for an updated graph of Median Home prices and Average Days on the Market for each city.

~~~ A Market Snapshot - a tool that you can register for at your own convenience to see what the
real estate market activity is around your home. You will receive regular emails (usually every four weeks, but you can set your own schedule) with all the active and sold properties around your residence. The market snapshot email will include comprehensive maps, sales data, descriptions, charts and graphs which you can peruse from the comfort of your home.

~~~ Neighborhood Profiles and activities as theyre happening. This neighborhood website will be updated daily. So¦ stay tuned! I will also highight interesting listings, homes for sale or activity within each area. I, also, welcome any suggestions and articles from my readers. Feel free to email me with your ideas at Irina@Irina4RealEstate.com.

~~~ Loan and Mortgage Updates as they are taking place. Its been a true roller coaster over the last five to seven years with creative financing programs and tons of different options that were available to the consumers. As you know, the lending industry is changing and quite frankly, its a good thing for everyone. My goal is to provide you the most up to date information as these changes are taking place.

~~~ My Personal Experience with Pasadena real estate. I will be posting many interesting articles about the buying and selling process. Secrets and strategies that sharp real estate agents are utilizing in the Pasadena area. Warnings, suggestions and educational posts.

About your Pasadena California Real Estate Agent: Irina Netchaev & Associates

Thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me and my team. Before you select a Realtor to represent you, its important to understand the type of experience, tools, techniques and strategies, the real estate agent will use to your benefit.

Our team is focused on implementing the latest technology along with an "old fashioned" approach to selling real estate in helping you find your home or market your Pasadena home for sale. 91% of our buyers find us through our multi-media marketing and on-line presence. We utilize neighborhood websites, Featured Listings on Realtor.com, personal home websites, flash presentations and are members of numerous Multiple Listing Services allowing us to list your home on four different Multiple Listing platforms.

Your advocacy is our number one concern. We work for YOU and take our fiduciary responsibility as your Realtors very seriously. Whether my team helps you negotiate the price and terms for your first home or helps you get the best possible bottom line on the sale of your home, our objective is to be your advocate and implement all our experience and tools to reach YOUR goals.

Our team is Customer Service focused. We take the time to find out what is important to you and work towards reaching your goals. Since most of our business comes from referrals, we are not happy unless you are overwhelmingly satisfied with our services.

Important Statistics*:

~ 72% of Irina's sales are past clients or referrals.

~ Irina's Listings sell in an average of 33 days. That's 12% faster than the Pasadena Board of Realtor average of 37 days.

~ Irina's percentage of sale price to list price is 103.5%. The Pasadena Foothill Board average is 100.4%. That's an average of 3.1% more money in the seller's pocket when a home is listed with Irina Netchaev.

On a home priced at $500,000, Irina could potentially save you $500 in interest and taxes (due to faster sale of home) and get you $15,500 more on the purchase price. That's a difference of more than $16,000 on an average transaction!!!

My Goal is 'to make it easy and profitable for you to do business with me!'

My Mission Statement:

I will consistently and efficiently provide home sellers and buyers the most professional real estate service available in Pasadena.

My Background:

  • Awarded a Gold Medallion for Production & Service in 2006 and 2007 by Keller Williams International Realty
  • Presidents Circle (top 8% of agents nationwide), Prudential California Realty, John Aaroe Division - 2005 and 2004
  • Irina holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Pepperdine University, 1993
  • Irina holds a Real Estate Brokers license since 2006
  • Irina holds a Real Estate Salesperson license since 1984
  • Member of Pasadena Foothill Association of Realtors
  • Member of CRISNET Regional MLS serving the San Fernando Valley
  • Member of California Association of Realtors
  • Member of National Association of Realtors
  • Prior to Real Estate Experience:

    o National Project Manager, AETNA

    o Manager, Employer Services, Prudential HealthCare

    Irina is married to Victor Netchaev, the first Russian Hockey Player to be signed with the National Hockey League. They have two beautiful children - Gregory who is 12 and Sasha who is almost 14.

    * Statistics are based on 2005 and 2006 sales results.

    TESTIMONALS:

    "I met Irina during the purchase of our townhome in 2004 - after nearly a half dozen prior real estate transactions over the years. Without exception, she was well-researched, energetic, proactive, and a personal delight to work with. We have since completed a sale/purchase to a new home and the experience was exceptional. The many amazing stories of her efforts, service, and personality can't do her justice." September 8, 2007" - Thomas Dover

    "Irina represented me, a home buyer, with purchasing our first home in California. She successfully fullfilled every need my husband and I demanded from the beginning to the end ... Irina is truly a professional, reliable, and trustworthy agent and always in our highest esteem. An agent should be someone you can trust. Irina works hard, she's smart and is truthful. I would not hesitate recommending her to handle future real estate sales or purchases on my behalf and perhaps yours, too..." - Cori Walworth

    "Mathematicians have the unique ability to break complex equations down into their simplest form. Irina does just that for Real Estate! Her instinctive ability to collect data combined with her unique ability to market a home creatively makes her a dynamic resource in the Pasadena Real Estate market. With such intimate knowledge that Irina possesses over the real estate process, it's no wonder she's a "go to" resource to many buyers and sellers! Irina not only produces results, she does it with a certain charm and flair that makes you want to continue a relationship for years to come." - Ricardo Bueno

    "We hired Irina to both help us with our first home purchase as well as the sale of that home when we moved to the Central Coast. I always felt completely comfortable with her, with her business judgment, and with the results. At no point did I think she had anything but our best interests at heart during either process. On top of that she's a great lady with high integrity and an excellent personality and level of professionalism. Would have continued to work with her had we stayed in the area." March 7,2008" - Robert and Melissa Hope

    "Irina is amazing! Exceptional follow-through, accessible (day and night!), and knowledgeable. We bought our first home through Irina." -Krisianna Bock

    "We had spoken to many agents and found most of the houses they suggested less than appealing. Here is where Irina's talent really showed and her expertise was most apparent. The homes she showed to us demonstrated a zeal for good taste and a diligence in work ethic." -Saul and Tina Correa

    "Irina's patience in developing a strategy and creativeness in presenting an offer really proved to be the difference in the seller accepting the offer. Irina went way beyond the call of duty, kept us up to date on timelines, deadlines and documents to be completed while catering to our schedules. ...I have already referred her to family and friends and will continue to do so!" - Hugo and Lisa Correa

    "Thank you so much for all your help. Your personal touch in preparing my townhouse for sale was greatly appreciated. Your encouragement and professional advice relieved my concerns... You are a valued agent." - Thomas Mike Griffin

    "Throughout the process of searching for, making offers on, and finally securing a property, Ms. Netchaev proved herself to be a consummate professional. ...Despite the difficulties of working in an over-heated real estate market, Ms. Netchaev always presented a calm, collected demeanor and ensured that all of our transactions flowed smoothly. I commend you for having such a capable and caring professional on your team, and look forward to working with Ms. Netchaev again." - Anny Surmenian

    The estimate of the property value helped us in keeping perspective about the sale and making our final decisions." - Ben & Hideko Furuta

    "Within five days of the Open House, on my home, I received five great offers. My profit was far more than I had ever hoped for. Not only was Irina's professionalism apparent while selling my home, but she negotiated such a fantastic price for me on my new dwelling!" - Joyce Donato

    "I chose Irina because of my personal knowledge of her work ethics. I knew I could trust her to do her best for me. I knew Irina would have good advice. Irina was terrific!!! She helped us get that extra money for the carpet - we really needed it!!!" - Lynn Mahlmeister

    Connect with Irina on the following networks:

    Irina Netchaev on Twitter

    Irina Netchaev on Facebook

    Irina Netchaev on Flickr

    Irina Netchaev on LinkedIn

    Irina Netchaev on Google

    Irina Netchaev on Trulia Real Estate Voices

    FriendFeed

    Irina Netchaev on Utterli

    Irina Netchaev on Realtor.com

    Irina Netchaev on Plaxo

    Irina Netchaev on Technorati

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    Pasadena Real Estate: Opportunity Knocks

    Pasadena Home Buyers and sellers have good reason for hope in economic crisis

    Another great article by my friend Joanna Dehn Beresford in the Best Of Pasadena issue of Pasadena Weekly this week.  Granted, it mentions yours truly, but it also gives some sound advice on what to look for in a Pasadena Real Estate Agent.

    Buyers and sellers have good reason for hope in economic crisis

    By Joanna Beresford 10/16/2008

    rainbow"These are the best and worst of times for real estate," says my favorite real estate agent, Irina-the-Tsarina Netchaev. "The worst is uncertainty. Buyers wonder if it's the right time to buy.

    Sellers don't know if they should sell, rent or hold. And agents have to keep up with constant changes in the industry, work a lot harder to make the same number of sales and serve their clients in the same way that they did in the past."

    But even during economic tumult, Irina is no pessimist. Her family struggled to reach America, a country that her grandmother had dreamed of for years; when they arrived in the United States, Irina and her parents had left fear and despair behind them in Kiev.

    "The best thing about the era we're in right now is the opportunity!" Irina says. "Opportunity for buyers to get into a home at a more affordable price. Opportunity for sellers who want to move or trade up, to exchange their present home for the home of their dreams. It's also an opportunity for savvy and creative agents who want to build their business, and position themselves for developments in the market."

    I can't claim unequivocally that Irina is the best real estate agent in the San Gabriel region, because there are so many realtors in the area. Many of them are terrific, and most of them I've never even met. But I do know that Irina is among the best. I know that she delights in the artistry of her craft. I know that she's learned a great deal from her corporate experience, and also from her experience as mother to teenage children. I know that she's an avid student of life, real estate and human nature - and I know that she's not perfect.

    "It's really important to have a consultation before making any decisions or commitments," says Irina, alluding to the chemistry and compatibility involved in the agent-client relationship. "I can't help everyone."

    The best Pasadena real estate agent will demonstrate several, fundamental characteristics. Some of these are self evident. Like, if you're selling a home, you don't want to hire an agent who's going to nosh on your leftovers, drink out of the milk carton and indulge in a shower in the master bath during a lull in open house activity.

    Second, don't mistake "top producer" for "best agent." The truly gifted agent may spend more time, therefore earning less money, to properly serve a client, than the agent who maintains a madcap momentum of million-dollar home sales and massive commissions. Often snubbing other agents in the process, which is another thing you should consider if you want the best agent in the business; find someone who cultivates friendly, supportive relationships within the real estate community.

    Now more than ever, we all need each other in the course of buying, selling and living in our homes.
    Most experts caution against working with a part-time agent. The full-time agent tends to be more focused, informed and dedicated than the guy who's still hanging onto his day-job.

    Also, among other things, the best agent knows how to take a decent photo, write a decent description and return calls in a decent amount of time. It also helps if your realtor knows how much it costs to replace a 50-year-old furnace or rewire a converted garage.

    The best real estate agent will provide you with references and comprehensive market analysis. He will negotiate effectively on your behalf. He will, according to real estate coach, broker and author Jennifer Allan, put your needs above his/her "need for a paycheck."

    Obviously your agent should know the region intimately. And who wouldn't want to know Pasadena intimately?

    "Where else can you find a sunny, 76-degree climate?" asks Irina. "Where can you be an hour away from skiing, 40 minutes from the ocean, surrounded by chic boutiques, theater, museums, culinary schools, academia, upscale restaurants and amazing hole-in-the-wall dives - all within a few mile radius of tree-lined streets and quiet neighborhoods? It's an amazing place to live and work!"

    The thing is, the beauty of Pasadena persists through good times and bad, and the pleasures of living and working here make our community shine among the best-of-the-best idyllic regions in the world. The best real estate agents share our passion for the landscape, climate and community and their passion creates productivity.

    "The example of my grandma following her dream," Irina says, "the courage that it took for my parents to leave their homeland with almost nothing and make a life in this country has instilled in me the idea that anything can be accomplished if you just dedicate yourself and are clear about your goals and passions."

    Contact Joanna Dehn Beresford at truewrite@yahoo.com.



    http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/007640
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    Posted on October 17, 2008 10:30:01
    Posted in About Us
    Posted by: Irina Netchaev
    Irina Netchaev

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    Is Your Pasadena Realtor Using Today's Technology to Give Your Home Listing an Edge?

    Don't be left in the dark, market your home on the internet!

    Real estate is changing.

    laptopNo longer can a realtor sign a listing, update information on the Pasadena MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and sit back and wait for buyers.  When I first started selling homes, I used to go into the real estate office early each day to be the first one to look at the big (and I mean big - yellow page size) MLS book which held all the new and existing home listings.  That was the only way for a real estate agent to know what was going on in the real estate market.  Review the MLS book daily, visit broker's open houses's and network with other agents.

    Boy, how things changed - thank goodness!  Today, Pasadena real estate agents and their clients get automated home notices via email as soon as new properties are listed.  Of course we still visit other broker's open houses and network with agents.  But, what is new and exciting is the advent of the internet and how the internet is changing the Pasadena real estate market place.

    Most of my real estate business personally has come from referrals and repeat clients.  Recently, I've been getting a lot of phone calls and emails from people that have been referred to me by google, yahoo and msn.  What does this mean? 

    Home buyers start their search for Pasadena homes on-line by searching the internet.  They put key terms like "Pasadena homes for sale" or "Pasadena real estate" or "Pasadena home listings" into the search engine of their search and then surf the web.  Once they see something they like, they email or call the real estate agent.

    Personally, I have been preparing for this change for the last several years and have built a multitude of websites and blogs like www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com, www.sanmarinoluxuryrealestate.com, www.montereyhillscarealestate.com, www.pasadenaviews.com , www.activerain.com/blogs/irina4realestate , www.irina4realstate.com,  providing buyers access to the information they crave like market reports and free home search tools.  I have featured homes on realtor.com for Pasadena and San Marino amongst a few others so that the buyers will see my seller's homes immediately - exposure = more money for the seller.

    I also participate extensively in social networks like twitter, facebook, plaxo, utterly, friendfeed, linkedin and many more. 

    Why is internet presence important to you as a home seller?

    It's simple... this is the new face of real estateReal estate is not about putting your house in a local newspaper anymore!  Any real estate agent worth their salt will tell you that newspaper ads do not bring in home buyers, but they sure pacify the home sellers.  I say that home sellers are very savvy these days and understand the power of exposure via the web, of getting as many "eye balls" on their home as possible - that's how you sell homes!

    So if you are thinking of selling your home, please ask your real estate agent the following questions:

    1.  Does your real estate agent have a website that provides timely buyer information and MLS home search tools?

    2.  Does your real estate agent have a real estate blog?  A blog is simply an interactive website.  A Pasadena real estate blog like this one allows consumers to interact with a real estate agent in a non-threatening atmosphere, learn and search for homes.  Blogs are the Web 2.0 version of a website.

    3.  What kind of traffic does your realtor get on their website or real estate blog?  Remember, traffic = exposure to your home for sale which in turn creates more money for the seller and a quicker home sale.  A good real estate site should drive about 100 unique visitors a day and about 500 - 800 hits.

    4.  Does your Pasadena real estate agent create a personal home website for each and every home that they are listing?  Where do they market these websites?  Will they provide you with weekly statistics on how many home buyers visit these personalized home websites. 

    5.  Which social networks do they belong to and how do they use them to your "seller's" advantage to market your home for sale?  How active are they on these networks?

    6.  Most importantly GOOGLE your real estate agent.  Do they have a presence on the internet.  For example - see google results for Irina Netchaev.  As you can see, there were close to 8,000 internet pages for Irina Netchaev.  That's a lot of internet presence!  Of course, my name is pretty unique.  If your realtor's name is John Smith, you'll get a lot more pages!  But, for the most part you'll get a pretty good idea of how active your real estate agent is on-line.

    Another cool tool to use is www.searchme.com It is a great site that allows you to put anyone's names and actually see some of their internet presence.  For an example see Irina Netchaev's search me results.  Try putting your name in the search and see what comes up.

    This post is not to brag about how many social networks I am on or how many websites I sponsor.  It is to bring light to the fact that real estate indeed is changing.  Demand the best of your realtor.  The real estate market is changing and the way the real estate is being marketed has already changed.  It's just that some real estate agents haven't figured it out yet.

    Connect with Irina on the following networks:

    Irina Netchaev on Twitter

    Irina Netchaev on Facebook

    Irina Netchaev on Flickr 

    Irina Netchaev on LinkedIn

    Irina Netchaev on Google

    Irina Netchaev on Trulia Real Estate Voices

    FriendFeed

    Irina Netchaev on Utterli

    Irina Netchaev on Realtor.com

    Irina Netchaev on Plaxo

    Irina Netchaev on Technorati

    the following networks:

    Irina Netchaev on Twitter

    Irina Netchaev on Facebook

    Irina Netchaev on Flickr 

    Irina Netchaev on LinkedIn

    Irina Netchaev on Google

    Irina Netchaev on Trulia Real Estate Voices

    FriendFeed

    Irina Netchaev on Utterli

    Irina Netchaev on Realtor.com

    Irina Netchaev on Plaxo

    Irina Netchaev on Technorati

     

     < >< >< ><-->



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    Posted on September 29, 2008 21:59:41
    Posted by: Irina Netchaev
    Irina Netchaev

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    Experience Pasadena in a New Way

    Walking miles without anyone's shoes is an eye-opening experience

    Pasadena Weekly's real estate columnist, Joanna Beresford has written another article.   Not only is it a very beautifully written story, but it also mentions a couple of quotes from yours truly.  Here it is for everyone's enjoyment.

    Barefoot in the park

    By Joanna Beresford 09/18/2008

    barefoot in PasadenaEarlier this week I was walking barefoot through the streets of downtown Los Angeles. Backpack over my shoulder and head down, I carried a pair of dilapidated flip-flops in my hand - Corona blue and gold, bought for 99 cents, having traveled many miles on many feet already and deserving their rest.

    The outlandish Disney Center erupts on the block between Grand and Hope streets, where the blue plastic thong wrenched itself free from one of those flip-flops. After that, I was barefoot, but I really didn't mind. The pavement was warm beneath my feet and the view was spectacular. I was looking for something and I may as well have found it with my scummy blistered toes as anywhere else.

    Now I just can't remember exactly what I was looking for, except I do know that I felt sad and worried and angry about a bunch of things, most of which had to do with money and love, naturally. I thought, if I can't find some answers here, between the Disney Center and the Mark Taper Forum, these two bastions of culture, civilization and good taste, where am I gonna find  them? So I walked all the way around the soaring structure that some call a monstrosity and others call miraculous.

    The light and surfaces stimulated me to the point of renewal, and that's something. But I wanted more, so I headed toward the cathedral. You know, The Cathedral. That Spaniard Jose Rafael Moneo's vision of heaven - Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Temple Street. I've been there pretty often. I attended Sunday morning Mass once, and I bought a coffee and sat under the trees with the sparrows, reading. I love the sunbaked adobe color and the transparent walls and everything. But I should have known that a building famous for its lack of right angles (a design element dedicated to the aura of mystery that Moneo wished to explore) wasn't exactly going to give me any solid answers. Anyway, it was late in the day, gates were closing, bells were ringing, and I kept walking. Past tourists, city employees and homeless people mostly.

    "The first loss is the best loss," Irina Netchaev says.  She's a Realtor, but she's also my friend, so I believe just about every word that comes out of her mouth.

    READ BAREFOOT IN THE PARK



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    Posted on September 18, 2008 09:02:08
    Posted in About Us
    Posted by: Irina Netchaev
    Irina Netchaev

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    Another Mention in Pasadena Weekly

    What Price is Paradise? Joanna Beresford's Pasadena Weekly article mentioning Irina

    Joanna Beresford, a Pasadena Weekly reporter, wrote an article asking the ultimate real estate question - To Buy or Not To Buy? She was kind enough to interview me to get my perspective and gave me an honorable mention. :-)

    So... here's this week's, August 14, 2008, Pasadena Weekly's real estate article:

    What Price is Paradise?

    Key to a HomeNow may be the best time to make that move to a new home

    By Joanna Beresford 08/14/2008

    To buy or not to buy? That is the question. Is it better to await the possibilities of further plummeting home values and rock-steady interest rates or, by acting now, avoid the potential effects of world affairs, federal regulations and other cosmic catastrophes? And by acting, perchance, to acquire the home of your dreams ...

    Well, in a recent Los Angeles Times article, Celia Chen, director of housing economics for Moody'sEconomy.com, contends that housing prices will continue to deflate by as much as 25 percent. In the same story, Los Angeles economist Christopher Thornberg agrees (so emphatically, in fact, that he resorts to using a bad word; can you really write H-E-double toothpicks in the newspaper these days? Wow).

    "There's no way in hell the house you buy now will be more expensive next year," asserts Mr. Thornberg. Or, asserted. I don't think he keeps on asserting it after the initial statement, in spite of literary convention, or unless he suffers from some form of Tourette's syndrome, or something.

    Naturally, no absolute realities will provide us with a singular, satisfying response to the question.

    Many experts will advise consumers: calm down, don't rush into anything, but consider MAKING A MOVE before the market turns something worse or different than upside down. So everyone scrambles to seize upon some semblance of a property, sell off the family heirlooms, scrape together a down payment, make an offer, and don't think about sleeping or eating until you get a response from homeowner or banker.

    That's one way to go. But, then there's the voice of reason. First of all, the Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley region aren't equivalent to the country, the state, or even the county of Los Angeles. The region hardly comprises its own cohesive, discreet entity that can be uniformly assessed.

    Enter two of my most enterprising, intelligent and doggone cute local resources. First, Martha Shanks, mortgage professional with Vesta Marketing, in Pasadena. Martha never freaks out or jumps to conclusions. Ask her about fluctuating markets and she replies with refreshing candor. "My initial response is this. I've always told people, and I've been saying until the last 30 days, that really time is on your side. You can buy or not, housing prices will probably continue to tumble. You're in a perfect position to find the house that really suits your needs."

    Martha says won't be surprised if home prices in general continue to drop, but she's more likely, very recently, to consider the undulating landscape of world events, interest rates, etc. as potentially significant factors in the home-buying experience.

    "It may make more sense to buy now," she concedes.

    Then there's Irina Netchaev with Keller Williams Realty. I'm still toying with the idea that Irina is a beautiful Soviet-era spy, sent to the United States to report on our bad grammar, poor hygiene and other slovenly habits. She's so elegant. But she also really knows her business, so I accept her at agent/face value. Here's what Irina says about The Question.

    "It is always a good time to buy real estate if you are prepared to buy real estate and have consulted with a real estate professional and lender to understand your options. For example, if a buyer has spoken with a lender, was preapproved and has a very clear understanding as to how much they can afford to pay monthly, what their closing costs will be and how much house they can afford, they are ready."

    Irina also expresses some concern about the possibility of rising interest rates: "The interest rates are still very low ... If interest rates go up, even if the home prices go down, waiting could be a serious mistake."

    Guess what? When the first Midwestern settlers purchased the land that would become Pasadena in 1873, they bought the property for about $6.30 per acre. Boy, it's a good thing they didn't wait for the market to turn around, eh? In spite of the seemingly low-ball price, these Hoosiers (Indiana natives, mostly) believed they had stumbled upon an unlikely expanse of paradise, and that's one thing that most of us, more than two centuries later, can agree on; so how do you put a price on that?

    Joanna Dehn Beresford is a former teacher, nanny, actress, rock star, farm girl, waitress and clerk. She can be reached at truewrite@yahoo.com.

    READ MORE: It's fun to be famous if only for a day!



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    Posted on August 14, 2008 12:31:18
    Posted in About Us
    Posted by: Irina Netchaev
    Irina Netchaev

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    It's fun to be famous... if only for one day!

    Joanna and I met last week when she contacted me about another article that she was doing about Pasadena short sales.

    Last week, I shared with you an article by Joanna Beresford who writes a weekly real estate column for Pasadena Weekly.

    Joanna and I met last week when she contacted me about another article that she was doing about Pasadena short sales. We took a couple of hours to go out and preview some of the homes for sale and had an opportunity to get to know one another.

    So without further ado and with much fanfare, here's this week's Pasadena Weekly's articles on Pasadena Short sales with a few memorable mentions of me. How fun! Enjoy!!!

    History in the making

    Short sales make owning a home a reality for many

    By Joanna Beresford 06/26/2008

    Last week's CMA Report listed 20 single-family residences available as short pay properties in the city of Pasadena, more commonly referred to as short sales. Offered at prices ranging from $279,000 to $869,000, most of those homes have been on the market for about 100 days. The newest house on the list was built in 1984; most date from the first half of the last century, and the oldest place was constructed in 1886.

    I visited the latter home recently, where I swear, when I put my hands on an original door frame and closed my eyes, I could almost hear the conversations and feel the vibrations of people who've passed through those rooms for the past 122 years. This was a slightly melancholy place. The previous owners have left behind neat piles of clothing, children's toys, even family photos. I studied a picture of a mother and her two handsome boys for a while. They looked very proud and confident. Maybe they're coming back for these belongings, or maybe they had to leave them behind.

    Irina Netchaev, a broker with Keller Williams Realty, guided me through several short sale properties. She's great at making lists and she offered me, at the outset of our tour, an overview of the short sale process in list format:

    1. Seller contacts a Realtor for help

    2. Seller completes a hardship package

    3. Short sale application along with hardship
    package is submitted to the bank (or banks) for review

    4. Bank reviews for completeness, orders valuation and assigns to a negotiator

    5. Negotiator begins the initial review and contacts Realtor and homeowner

    6. Property valuation performed according to investor guidelines

    7. Mortgage insurer and investor approval gained and additional liens negotiated by Realtor

    8. Application decision is made and a decision letter mailed.

    This list applies to sellers, obviously. Potential buyers should consult a lender and determine what they are comfortable with paying for a home. Buyers can research the market to some extent on their own and then should contact a real estate professional who can help them find the perfect home.

    Many agents don't want to bother with short sale properties because, ironically, the process can be LONG and arduous, compared to a more conventional transaction. Netchaev considers it an obligation to present buyers and sellers with all options, so she's become adept at negotiating the ins and outs of the short sale procedure.

    "The first question I ask a potential seller is, 'what are you trying to accomplish with this sale?'" says Irina. "And what helps me as the Realtor is education. So many of us aren't trained properly, and I've found it invaluable to me and my clients that I'm familiar with trends, listings, timing, and aspects of the community."

    Here's another list and this one I made up all by myself - Five Reasons Why I Admire
    Irina Netchaev:

    1. She's got the most delicious Russian accent

    2. She has a spiffy GPS system in her car

    3. She's smart, honest and funny

    4. Her husband is a former Russian hockey player and mentor
    to hundreds of other athletes (not relevant, maybe, but interesting!)

    5. She's pretty and extremely graceful

    In 1886 (by the way, the year the oldest short sale house was built), Pasadena incorporated as a city. I've been told that the main reason residents sought incorporation was so they could get rid of the local saloon. In the next decade sewers, paved streets, and electric lighting were installed.

    Educational facilities expanded, the Shakespeare Club and Grand Opera House opened, and the Pasadena Street railroad opened.

    And here's this house, redolent of all that history, that just needs a little love and refurbishment. The city of Pasadena, like every community, rides the thrilling roller coaster of good times and bad, but certain universal truths prevail: we all want to go home, and somewhere out there is a home for everyone.

    Joanna Dehn Beresford is a former teacher, nanny, actress, rock star, farm girl, waitress and clerk. She can be reached at truewrite@yahoo.com

    Search thousands of homes for sale what is my home worth
    Contact Irina Netchaev Pasadena City Market Statistics


    http://www.pasadenacarealestatehomes.com/0062C5
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    Posted on June 25, 2008 21:44:36
    Posted in About Us
    Posted by: Irina Netchaev
    Irina Netchaev

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    Keller Williams Realty
    445 South Fair Oaks
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    Pasadena, CA 91105
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