An Author Wednesday Interview with Steve Bergsman, author of “Growing Up Levittown: In a Time of Conformity, Controversy and Cultural Crisis”

One of the most successful and daring real estate developments in U.S. history was the building of Levittown, Long Island, in 1947. Although it became the prototype modern suburb, it was more reviled than appreciated during the first three decades of its existence. Intellectuals and critics attacked Levittown unmercifully, essentially calling it a boring environment that crushed the spirit of its population. Popular authors, such as Richard Yates, author of Revolutionary Road, used the modern suburb as a metaphor for creative sterility.

Steve Bergsman grew up in Levittown during those early years and looking back now as an aging baby boomer, he thought it a wonderful place to have spent a childhood. Growing Up Levittown: In a Time of Conformity, Controversy and Cultural Crisis is a love letter is this quintessential suburb. Juxtaposed against a prevailing history of criticism and literary slander, Growing Up Levittown is a memoir of a happy childhood.

Read more for the rest of this great author interview and to learn how you can grab a free copy of Steve’s book!

Mortgage Monday

For most individuls, the terms pre-qualified and pre-approved are very similar in definition but differ greatly when it comes to mortgage applications. When one is considering taking out a mortgage, he or she must understand the terms and conditions that each word actually means.

The first major step is the pre-qualification in which the lender will request information from the borrower. This will include the amount of annual income, debts,  payments, asset, and other financial information that is important. To understand this, the lender must examine in great detail all this data and make a decision whether or not to give a loan. This choice is majorly dependent on that information but is almost always a free process that can be done in a short amount of time.

A conversation with Martha O’Hayer, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Petaluma California, Sonoma County, California

Sonoma County California covers nearly 2000 square miles of the most beautiful countryside in California, if not the entire US.  Roughly the size of the state of Rhode Island, Sonoma County has less than half a million people.  The County line on the southern end lies just 35 miles from San Francisco yet it’s far enough away that you know you’re in paradise.  Our rich agricultural land boasts two main products – grapes for world class wines and pasture space for our four legged friends.  You know, the happy cows!

Our rich agricultural land boasts two main products – grapes for world class wines and pasture space for our four legged friends. You know, the happy cows! There are nine incorporated municipalities in the Sonoma County Region they include, from North to South—Cloverdale, Healdsburg, Town of Windsor, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Cotati, City of Sonoma and Petaluma.

Mortgage Monday

That expensive dream home that a person has worked their entire life for may be paid for, but what happens if all the cash that you saved is put into just keeping up with maintaining the house? There is now a solution for supporting this kind of lifestyle, in which those who are 61 may quality for the reverse mortgage. Another factor is the house is either fully or nearly paid for with a minor remainder left at most.

Are you thinking of living in Western Sonoma County, CA? A conversation with Cary Fargo of the Wine Country Group by Better Homes & Gardens Realty, Sebastopol, California.

Sebastopol, ten minutes west of the county seat of Santa Rosa, and intersected by the minor state highways 12 and 116 is the larger of several other villages in the immediate area, notably, Graton, Occidental, and Freestone. The area was settled primarily by those that didn’t strike it rich in the California gold rush of the 1850s, and were attracted by its temperate weather and rich soils suitable for agriculture.

For most of the twentieth century the local economy was dominated by logging and diverse agricultural endeavors, especially apple farming in this immediate area. Much of the timber (redwood and fir) that rebuilt San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake came from the lushly forested hills west of Sebastopol. Wine grapes are currently the area’s largest legal agricultural product.

Mortgage Monday

Kit properties are pre-built structures that contain manufactured components and are assembled by contractors. Contractors who take this responsibility are on a time crunch and it can be quite strenuous. Problems including compliance with the buyers as well as hidden costs are always a recurring issue with these types of homes. Be sure to keep track of your spending when buying a property.

Kit homes have risen in popularity due to their flexibility to customize and build after the land has been settled. If you need to have your own home your way and need to design it without any hassle, kit homes are the perfect solution.

A conversation with: Sally Forster Jones- Coldwell Banker Beverly Hills South, Previews International

Beverly Hills is one of the most affluent and glamorous neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. The community truly represents the ultimate in California luxury living. Covering an approximately 5.7 square mile radius, Beverly Hills is home to over 34,000 residents including many of the rich and famous.

Beverly Hills’ impeccable reputation is also based off of its thriving retail and commercial businesses.  It is home to Rodeo Drive, the center of one of the most famous and expensive shopping districts in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors a year from across the globe.

Technology Tuesday

As a real estate agent, viewing many houses every day can be a problem. From the small brick house to the white stoned mansion, each house is different but holds similar problems. It becomes difficult to remember minor details within every abode. TourNarrator is the solution for that issue and provides an organized way to view recaps of buyer opinions with media and notes. With a new app available in iTunes, this will help agents keep track of the feedback of their clients.

Images and notes taken through the application can be converted into a PDF and clients can reference back to their favorite showings using this. With this TourNarrator™ technology, you will blow the competition away and will forever leave an impression on your clients. Buyers will gain trust through the information provided and your excellent customer service will be known through your customers’ social networks.

Mortgage Monday

The aftermath of the financial crisis has affected millions across the globe and with bankruptcy becoming an option for many; it is beyond difficult to even think about paying off mortgages. But with B-C-D loans, it provides an option for those who have poor credit or have even filed bankruptcy. But with this option, there comes higher interest rates and making larger payments.

Although there are a vast variety of mortgage programs available and there are several professionals out there. Mortgage loan lenders need to go through lengthy training and take exams to initiate loans. With this program, it narrowed down the real professionals who were concentrated on their clients. By thoroughly looking into their reputations and referrals, it is ultimately up to the individual to make the right choice.

A Conversation with Pete Cullen, Realtor GRI, E-Pro with Bailey Properties in Aptos, California

Since 1972 I have had the extreme good fortune of being able to call Santa Cruz, California my home. I moved to Santa Cruz in '72 to attend Cabrillo College, our local community college. I have lived here ever since and love it!

The town of Santa Cruz is located on the Monterey Bay 70 miles south of San Francisco and 40 miles north of Monterey and Carmel on State Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. To the northeast is Los Gatos and the Silicon Valley, a 30 minute drive through the Santa Cruz mountains on Highway 17.