RE/MAX Founder thinks 2009 will be like 2008

My broker went to a RE/MAX meeting in Pasadena on December 4, where RE/MAX founder, Dave Liniger, was speaking. He writes,

"Liniger has been, and is, the only Real Estate person that congress has been in touch with for ideas on how to solve the housing crisis. He has given pointed suggestions and is confident that congress will ultimately solve the problem.
 
"Today's Wall Street Journal, front page, has an article "U.S. Eyes Plan To Lift Home Sales" where the government is considering a plan  that could help some people obtain mortgages at 4.5%.  That's great news.
 
"Dave Liniger thinks the market in 2009 will be just like 2008. NAR's opinion is that 2008 was the bottom and 2009 will see an increase in sales."


Source: my broker, RE/MAX of Valencia

Upcoming Santa Clarita Events

Kid's Night Out! (December 12)
Parents can enjoy going to dinner, shopping, or just a night out while your children are participating in supervised fun. Children (ages 4-11) will enjoy food, a movie, crafts, and games inside the community room at Santa Clarita Park, while you have a night to yourself. All City staff are fingerprinted and CPR/First Aid certified. The cost is $18 per child. For more information, please call (661) 284-1465.


Upcoming Events

Tournament of Roses Parade 2009 (January 1)
Pasadena’s 120th annual Tournament of Roses Parade, “Hat’s Off to Entertainment” will be making its way down Colorado Boulevard and we have reserved a seat just for you! For more information, please email trips&tours@santa-clarita.com.

 
Glacier Slide Polar Bear Swim (January 1)
Join the official Santa Clarita Polar Bear Club by taking a chilly plunge in the Aquatic Center’s waterslide pool on New Year’s Day.  For more information, please contact (661) 250-3766.
 
Santa Clarita Valley Film Festival (January 8-11)
The 4th Annual SCV Film Festival provides local filmmakers with opportunities to show their work and to come together with an audience to enjoy quality independent films. For more information, please visit www.scvfilmfestival.com.


Hit the Trail (January 24, 2009)
Celebrate the City of Santa Clarita’s 30 miles of off-street trail system with professional cyclists competing in the upcoming Amgen Tour of California.  For more information, please visit: www.santa-clarita.com/tourofca

 
Amgen Tour of California ( February 22, 2009)
The AMGEN Tour of California brings the drama and excitement of a professional bicycle stage race to the California coast.  Santa Clarita is proud to host the Start-line of Stage 7 from Santa Clarita to Pasadena. For more information, please visit: www.santa-clarita.com/tourofca

 
661Arts
661Arts is an alliance of artists and arts organizations working together to create and to promote an awareness of art and culture in Santa Clarita. This website serves as a point of access for the community to discover visual arts, performing arts, and arts events in the Santa Clarita Valley.  For more information, please visit www.611arts.com.
 
Source: City of Santa Clarita, 12/2

Countrywide to close Lancaster Call Center?

I am hearing that Countrywide/Bank of America will close its Lancaster, California, call-center facility and distribute those positions (may not be ALL those positions) in its other facilities in Simi Valley and Calabasas, among others. I am attempting to confirm.

The Lancaster facility in Northern Los Angeles County (Antelope Valley) is not only one of two nationwide (the other is in Western Texas) that takes inbound customer service calls, but also makes outbound calls to contact homeowners eligible for special refinancing programs. They also have work groups that otherwise assist homeowners restructure or refinance their loans.