PowerSaver energy improvements to your house

If you’ve been looking for a way to pay for energy improvements to your house, two little-publicized new mortgage programs could provide the cash you need. Both the Federal Housing Administration and mortgage investor Fannie Mae recently have launched options in the energy conservation arena. Here’s a quick overview, with some pros and cons: The [...]

SANTA MONICA-MALIBU SCHOOL DISTRICT (SMMUSD) Santa Monica/Malibu Gets New Superintendent

After months of searching, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has found its new superintendent. Beginning July 1, Sandra L. Lyon will take office keys from current superintendent Tim Cuneo. An e-mail to local media was sent out Monday afternoon, following the decision made by the Board of Education at a special May 9 meeting. [...]

Foreclosure rate slows as repossession timeline lengthens

Big banks are taking longer to push borrowers into foreclosure and through each stage of the process amid increased scrutiny. Increased scrutiny of how lenders foreclose on Americans has dragged the repossession process out to unprecedented lengths, driving down the pace at which banks are taking back homes. Big banks are taking longer not only [...]

Santa Monica Voted #7 Beach City By National Geographic

Photo by Sundogg via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr Our friends at LA Snark tipped us off to the fact that Santa Monica was ranked #7 in a list of the world’s top ten beach cities by National Geographic. Woot!  Our local city-by-the-beach joins the ranks of Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and, coming in at [...]

BofA to add centers for distressed homeowners

Bank of America plans to triple the number of its assistance offices for homeowners in trouble on their mortgages, including adding seven of the new outreach centers in California. The Charlotte, N.C.-based bank has been clobbered by losses on high-risk home loans inherited when it acquired Countrywide Financial Corp. in 2008. It planned to announce [...]

Top Chef Masters Party with Mary Sue at Border Grill

Join Mary Sue Miliken – Bravo’s Top Chef Master Wednesday, May 4th, 6 p.m to 8 p.m in the Cantina at Border Grill Santa Monica for FOOD, FUN, and DRAMA as she vies for the title of Bravo’s Top Chef. Enjoy passed appetizers + a Border Margarita! Special surprise tastes of one of Mary Sue’s [...]