The Legacy

Sep 2nd, 2008   by IrvineRenter  in REO

The Legacy -- Iron Maiden

The high end of Irvine's resale market peaked in early 2007 largely due to the availability of 100% financing to people with good credit. Once this form of financing was removed, so was all support of the inflated prices. Today's featured property is was a $1,050,000 property at the peak. The fact that it went into foreclosure in just over a year strongly suggests some fraud was involved. In order to avoid prosecution for fraud, the straw buyer must make at least 2 payments. Based on the timing of the foreclosure, it certainly appears as if the buyer made two payments then simply stopped and let the property go back to the lender in a foreclosure.

53 Legacy Kitchen 53 Legacy Inside

Asking Price: $864,900IrvineRenter

Income Requirement: $216,225

Downpayment Needed: $172,980

Monthly Equity Burn: $7,207

Purchase Price: $1,050,000

Purchase Date: 5/9/2007

Address: 53 Legacy, Irvine, CA 92602

Beds: 5
Baths: 4
Sq. Ft.: 3,683
$/Sq. Ft.: $235
Lot Size: 7,056 Sq. Ft.
Property Type: Single Family Residence
Style: Mediterranean
Year Built: 1998
Stories: 2 Levels
Area: West Irvine
County: Orange
MLS#: P653759
Source: SoCalMLS
Status: Active
On Redfin: 5 days

Spectacular mediterranean style home located in the much sought after community of West Irvine. Largest floor plan in the community offers granite counters in kitchen with granite back splash. Large center island with granite counter and Travertine floorng in kitchen dining area and family room. Downstairs also has downstairs bedroom a seperate laundry room and a 3 car garage. Upstairs offers a large master suite with retreat and 2 sided fireplace. Master Bath offers dual sink vanity, spa tub and seperate shower. The rear yard offers a water fall fountain and a large grassy area. No HOA, great schools at a bargain price.

mediterranean? floorng? seperate (twice)?

This property was purchased with a $787,500 first mortgage, a $262,500 second mortgage and a $0 downpayment. JP Morgan/Chase bank bought the property back at auction for 779,900, and now they are trying to recover some of their second mortgage. Good luck with that. If this property sells for its asking price, and if a 6% commission is paid, the total loss will be $236,994. That is a hefty loss on a loan just over 1 year old...

.

Tell you a thing
That you ought to know
Two minutes of your time
Then on you go

Tell tale of the men
All dressed in black
That most of them
Not coming back

Sent off to the war
To play little games
And on their return
Can't name no names

Some strange yellow gas
Has played with their minds
Has reddened their eyes
Removed all the lies

And strange as it sounds
Death knows no bounds
How many get well
Only time will tell
Only time will tell

The Legacy -- Iron Maiden

Astute Observations

Astute Observation by Leanne Woodall
2008-09-02 06:36 AM

What happened to the “Big Spender” post from a few hours ago?

Astute Observation by IrvineRenter
2008-09-02 06:41 AM

I had profiled the property before, so I removed it.

Astute Observation by Leanne Woodall
2008-09-02 01:58 PM

I have been reading for quite a long time and I do not remember this property. If it does not get you in trouble please bring back the “Big Spender” post from this morning.

Astute Observation by rkp
2008-09-02 03:59 PM

How come you didnt remove this post?  You profiled this property before as well.

Astute Observation by eastcoaster
2008-09-02 07:12 AM

I’m so glad that question was asked & answered. Thought I was hallucinating. It was removed while I was looking at the listing pictures, then poof!

Astute Observation by George8
2008-09-02 06:38 AM

If this one does not sell within a month, a knife catcher likely can steal this one at $700-725k at the end of the year.

Astute Observation by alan
2008-09-02 07:06 AM

“knife catcher” & “steal” in the same sentence is an oxymoron.

Astute Observation by George8
2008-09-02 07:09 AM

True. However, knife catcher was meant for longer term, and steal was meant relative to the current asking.

Astute Observation by Crayzei
2008-09-02 07:12 AM

I’m looking at purchasing a property in Columbus Grove.  What’s a good price/square foot?  Is $240/square foot too high?

Astute Observation by Walter
2008-09-02 07:49 AM

I think you need to provide some more information. Are you looking for a fixer-upper, or something that is move ready. A house or a condo? Etc, etc.

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-09-02 08:24 AM

I don’t think there are fixer-uppers in Columbus Grove.  The oldest part of CG is still two years new…

Larger homes in CG have been selling in the $280/sf range of late.  At $240/sf, you wouldn’t be that far off from bottom IMO…  I think that SFRs in that area will bottom out around $225/sf.  Mello roos are killer there. 

I noticed KB was having a special “sale” this weekend at its Madison development in CG.  Anyone stop by?

Astute Observation by ockurt
2008-09-02 09:04 AM

Funny how a couple of years ago thousands of people showed up to get on the builder’s waiting lists…

I live across the street and now I don’t see anything happening over there…

Astute Observation by JohnD
2008-09-02 09:54 AM

I wouldn’t recommend buying in CG If I were you. The Mello Roos and HOA are $800 a month. For that kind of money, you can by a house worth $200k more than what you will pay in CG, with out mello roos.

Astute Observation by buster
2008-09-02 01:31 PM

Bring your toxic waste “bunny suit” and respirator to the closing.  Pay close attention to the documents they ask you to sign, particularly the one about swearing not to grow any vegetables on your property.  Now, why would that one be in there.  Oh, yeah, you’re sitting six inches above a toxic waste pile. 

Yup, they dumped six inches of clean topsoil over the Superfund waste. Enjoy watching the little one grow another ear after she spends the day digging in the yard.

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-09-02 08:19 AM

The owner was renting out rooms to various people at this house, so he was making a nice chunk of change while defaulting on this mortgage…

Astute Observation by alan
2008-09-02 09:07 AM

just curious ipop, how did you come by this piece of inside info.

Astute Observation by ipoplaya
2008-09-02 10:25 AM

Can’t remember where I heard it from.  What I do remember is that someone wanted to go see the house when it first listed and they were told at the time that some bedrooms might be locked and not available for viewing…  Might have even been posted in the forums, not sure.

Astute Observation by ockurt
2008-09-02 09:01 AM

You think they’d want to take some pics of the yard, as that’s a fairly big lot for Irvine.  The kitchen color combo seems odd.

Maybe the bank doesn’t care and thinks some knife-catcher will buy it regardless.

Astute Observation by IrvineRenter
2008-09-02 09:05 AM

And you guys thought I was bearish:

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2008/09/when-will-southern-california-home.html

“Seen another way, nominal SoCal median house prices will not bottom until prices return to the ‘99-‘01 levels, implying another 20-30% avg. decline in prices hereafter; but even then nominal prices will likely not rise more than inflation for many years thereafter.“

Astute Observation by no_vaseline
2008-09-02 12:29 PM

That reverting to the mean thing is a real bitch huh?

You had houses in Coto selling for $1.5m+ that rent for $3200.

You had houses in Santana selling for $600K that wouldn’t rent for $1400. 

No kidding?  Just another 40%?

This gets worse before it gets better.

Astute Observation by ockurt
2008-09-02 09:28 AM

Good LAT article…

http://tinyurl.com/6qo5wy

Astute Observation by Iblis
2008-09-02 09:41 AM

Any chance this will hit $125/sqft? Is that unrealistic?

Astute Observation by Orangetimes
2008-09-02 09:44 AM

This property has been profiled before on IHB -

S521032 @ $849,995

It was listed at $849,995 and had backup offers but not sure how it ended up in foreclosure.

Astute Observation by luckyguy
2008-09-02 01:28 PM

now, I got something..thank you, you are so good

Astute Observation by Cal's Caddy
2008-09-02 10:42 AM

Yes. I remember this original listing. The blue car in the driveway. And IPO had it in escrow on his site, but then it was cancelled.

Funny, how “no HOA” can be considered a feature. That is one of the main detractors for me for this house and this neighborhood. There is limited street parking. Whenever I visit friends in this part of West Irvine, I feel constricted. I’m not sure if the lack of a HOA is the reason.

Astute Observation by zubs
2008-09-02 10:57 AM

Hypothetical Question:

Back in 2004 ~ 2006, If I wanted to make a lot of money I could just buy a house with no money down, then HELOC the crap out of it, and then walk away after 2 payments.

The law won’t be able to touch me?

Could I then store the money I HELOC’d in the caymen islands or something?  5 years later, I have $200,000 and I’m ready to down pay…

Is there a way for the bank I screwed to sue for the money they lost?

Astute Observation by IrvineRenter
2008-09-02 12:18 PM

The thought has crossed my mind…

Unless the bank went through a judicial foreclosure (which they rarely do,) then no, they can not go after the money lost. Let’s just say the system, if not changed, has some moral hazard issues.

Astute Observation by Genius
2008-09-02 11:41 AM

I’m glad we’re under $250/sqft for tract homes, finally.  Look down the street(s) in the front view - every house looks nearly the same.  $865k for something not unique in any way; insanity.

Not a bad house overall, but I would certainly expect more for that price.  Especially seeing what you could get in Austin (seen on OCRenter’s blog) for a little more than the down payment on this.  Yes, I’m well aware of the differences between Austin and Irvine so save your diatribe for another occasion.

Astute Observation by MalibuRenter
2008-09-02 02:00 PM

I was looking at houses in Malibu over the weekend.  There was a house in nice condition, nice view, selling for $1.6 million.  Problem is, the most recent comparable was for $1.02 million.  It was just down the street, similar size, similar view. 

The agent said the less expensive home was a foreclosure and a bit of a fixer. 

Doing a quick calculation in my head, I said “At just under 3000 square feet, I could flatten a fixer and build a new home on the same foundation for $200 per square foot.  I would have all new construction and exactly the materials I wanted.  I don’t think it justifies the $600k price difference.“

Astute Observation by Cal's Caddy
2008-09-02 02:34 PM

Malibu, logical thinking just won’t work in that equation. Home buying is an emotional decision. Don’t confuse the Realtor with facts.

Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.

<< Back to main