By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company Q: I am planning to sell my house in the near future and have been told by my bank that my present loan is “assumable” and can be “taken over” by the new owner. Is this a better deal for the buyer than a totally new loan? […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company Q: I have owned several pieces of real estate for over ten years. On my home I have a fixed rate loan, and both my rental properties have adjustable rate loans. I have had these loans for a few years and am in the process of refinancing […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company Every private party reading this article is subject to California USURY laws UNLESS you are one of the exempt lenders as defined by the constitution. This subject is completely misunderstood by most people and when I mention this I am used to receiving blank looks with people, […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company This column will affect a good percentage of readers, whether you are a landlord, tenant, homeowner or even a sex offender. On July 1, 1999 a new California civil code becomes effective (Code 2079.10a). This will require a notice to be included in every lease or rental […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company Q: My property is on the market at present and my Realtor has suggested that I should consider carrying a second trust deed to facilitate the sale. I have often heard the words “seller carry back” but, frankly, don’t understand the full implications. Who determines the interest […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company Over the last 30 years I have owned and operated many rental properties and have dealt with many hundreds of tenants and prospective tenants. My purpose in writing this column is to give some practical advice to “tenants with problems.” Hopefully, many of you landlords out there […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company From time to time I am asked to explain the term “real estate closing” or “PITI” or whatever. Many of you reading this do not yet own real estate or, perhaps, have just purchased real estate. Real estate brokers tend to just spout technical terms without realizing […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company I am often asked to explain “how to get into real estate investing,” and also what to expect for the future with a real estate purchase. The following column is NOT intended to make you a professional but, in fact, just the opposite. Just buying one small […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company Though this actual event occurred approximately four years ago and the bank has since been “swallowed up” by California Federal, the concept is still valid today. If you are not intending to refinance a property, this article may not interest you. On the other hand, you will […]

By PETER ROSENTHAL, President V.I.P. Trust Deed Company QUESTION: We recently “lost” a house purchase because we were turned down by “PMI.” We qualified for the actual loan but not the PMI. What is PMI, how does it work, and how can we avoid this problem in the future? We are still shopping for a […]