Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Real Estate Appraisal, Los Angeles, California, Mary Cummins.

Mary Cummins is a real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California with 38+ years of experience. Cummins provides real estate appraisals for banks, lenders, mortgage brokers, Appraisal Management Companies (AMCs), lawyers, Courts, factors and private parties for lending, lawsuits, probate, estate planning, divorce and all types of litigation. Cummins provides 1004, 1073, 1025 and other form reports, narrative reports and historical appraisals besides real estate research and appraisal advice.

Showing posts with label lawsuit. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Donald Trump and the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California - Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

Donald Trump, Donald J Trump, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles California Wilshire Robert Kennedy shot killed Coconut Grove Nightclub

Today the LA Times had an article about Donald Trump buying the Ambassador Hotel and trying to build the tallest building in the world on the site. The development was to include retail, commercial and residential uses. http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-trump-california-20161017snap-20161017-snap-story.html Instead the LA Unified School District took the property through eminent domain and built the current Robert F Kennedy school.

I was one of the appraisers involved as an expert real estate witness in the litigation between the then owners and other parties. (Due to client confidentiality I can only disclose public facts about the property. I would of course never share any client information or any confidential information.) Because my appraisal was used in the original litigation I kept getting deposed for the next ten years. Every time there would be a conference room full of at least ten lawyers.

When I first appraised the hotel in 1989 it had just been permanently shut down for only a few months. On my initial inspection there was already significant damage to the interior of the property. That damage caused rain to flood the Coconut Grove Nightclub. It also appeared to have been damaged by vandals. I'm sure the vandalism is what caused them to gate the entire property and hire guards. I was walking over soggy broken dishes, moldy carpet and lots of trash. I immediately considered the property a tear down due to the extensive damage. It didn't look that bad from the outside.

My scope of work was to figure out the highest and best use/uses, find comparables for those uses, calculate the cost to demolish, cost to dispose of hazardous waste... to arrive at the ultimate current fair market value for the land for development purposes.

The site was actually about four square blocks combined missing the two front corner lots and one lot depth of land off the western side which were old apartments. Because of the complex nature of the appraisal I had to use a few different commercial valuation theories to arrive at the ultimate value of the land. Needless to say I had to use a few assumptions.

During the course of meetings, depositions I met Donald Trump's then right hand person for the real estate development division of his company Barbara Res. I never realized she was not just a real estate attorney but also an engineer. That explains her extreme knowledge of building materials and practices. She no longer works with Trump and has since written a book about her experience "All Alone on the 68th Floor." She also recently wrote an Op-Ed about Donald Trump and women. I completely agree with her assessment of Trump.

Originally I was shocked to see a woman oversee real estate development for Donald Trump. I already knew how he treated women through social encounters. Based on Res' Op-Ed I agree that Trump took advantage of the fact that women in the 1980's 1990's in the man's world of commercial real estate, development had to be tougher and work harder, longer than men. I also agree that Donald Trump is not fit to be President.

After LAUSD took the Ambassador Hotel property and built the school I no longer was dragged back into deposition. I destroyed my files three years after the end of the final litigation. I would never have been able to share the files publicly anyway. Here's some information about the Ambassador Hotel from the Los Angeles Conservancy.

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/ambassador-hotel-demolished

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Google+ Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, wildlife, wild, animal, rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife rehabilitator, fish, game, los angeles, california, united states, squirrel, raccoon, fox, skunk, opossum, coyote, bobcat, manual, instructor, speaker, humane, nuisance, control, pest, trap, exclude, deter, green, non-profit, nonprofit, non, profit, ill, injured, orphaned, exhibit, exhibitor, usda, united states department of agriculture, hsus, humane society, peta, ndart, humane academy, humane officer, animal legal defense fund, animal cruelty, investigation, peace officer, animal, cruelty, abuse, neglect #marycummins #animaladvocates #losangeles #california #wildlife #wildliferehabilitation #wildliferehabilitator #realestate #realestateappraiser #realestateappraisal #lawsuit

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has been in real estate since 1983, over 35 years. She is licensed by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers. Mary Cummins was an agent and broker licensed with the California Department of Real Estate selling residential income, commercial buildings, raw land and homes for Merrill Lynch Realty in Beverly Hills and Westside Properties in Los Angeles before concentrating on appraisals. Mary Cummins currently provides real estate appraisals, expert witness testimony, historical research, legal real estate research for mortgage brokers, banks, lawyers, factors, insurance companies, financial consultants and private individuals. Mary Cummins was born and raised in Southern California. Cummins attended Beverly Hills Good Shepherd Catholic School and Beverly Hills High School. Besides being on the Dean's list, Mary Cummins was a top ten national swimmer and competed on the men's water polo team. Mary Cummins began college at the age of 15 attending the University of Southern California on scholarship, majoring in Psychology/Sociology. http://www.animaladvocates.us http://www.facebook.com/AnimalAdvocatesUSA

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Using Google, Bing maps for driving route for multiple , destinations stops to take real estate photos - Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser

Google maps driving directions multiple destinations stops Bing MLS real estate appraiser, photography

All real estate agents, brokers, appraisers have to take real estate photos. In the olden days we'd get out our laminated Thomas Guides and get the erasable markers out to draw our route. Fortunately technology has evolved to the point that software can create the optimal route for us. We can then take those digital maps and use them with our smart phones to take the most efficient route.

Previously this was only available via the Multiple Listing Service in conjunction with Bing maps. You would click "map" after you selected your comps and they would show up on the map. Then you'd click "driving directions" and you'd see the map above. You'd then click "email" top right and email it to yourself to open up on your phone. You would receive this link in email. If you click "show all directions," you will get every turn listed.

http://www.themls.com/bingmaps/DriveDirection/?map=JhB91GxYbr0%3d

Fortunately as of June 2016 Google has made it possible to get a route with multiple destinations or stops. Here is how to use Google maps to get a digital map for multiple destinations.

First MLS method. Get your subject and comparable addresses that you need to photograph from MLS. Click driving directions. Then input the comp addresses via copy/paste to get them in the same order. You will then see the same route on Google maps.

Google maps driving directions multiple destinations stops Bing MLS real estate appraiser, photography

Second straight to Google method. Search one address in your list then click directions. Add the rest of the addresses as destinations. After you see them all on the map arrange them by moving them up or down in the list until they are in the most efficient driving route. Then click "send to phone." You can also click the "share" button and get a link you can email to yourself. Here is the Google link to this route. Be sure to add your starting address, home, office to get a full map with driving directions. You can get ask for "Short URL" and you'll get this https://goo.gl/maps/XpHikyZwSys or this is the long URL.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/1020+W+65th+Pl,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90044/1154+W+66th+St,+Los+Angeles,+CA/615+West+65th+Street,+Los+Angeles,+CA+90044/1200+W+67th+St,+Los+Angeles,+CA/6551+Kansas+Avenue,+Los+Angeles,+CA/@33.9796913,-118.2945785,16z/am=t/data=!3m1!4b1!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c82ebb1acdcf:0x5696403225692d32!2m2!1d-118.292638!2d33.9796369!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c8296ee3a0e5:0x73bcdacedc165332!2m2!1d-118.295537!2d33.9788989!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c833d67d3aa7:0xbf29b3f2faf9635f!2m2!1d-118.2843986!2d33.9807761!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c8297c7704fd:0x5d0e634b34952104!2m2!1d-118.296019!2d33.978342!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c2c8294a3a5e77:0xe82de38778a6d56e!2m2!1d-118.293896!2d33.97973!3e0

Mary Cummins is a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Jennifer Lopez buying Sela Ward Bel Air home at 1492 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077

Jennifer Lopez, Jlo, home, house, bel air, 1492 Stone Canyon, Los Angeles, California 90077, $39 million, sela ward, escrow, sold, sell, buy, bought, mansion, singer, musician, Mary Cummins real estate appraiser Beverly Hills

Jennifer Lopez is supposedly in escrow to buy Sela Ward's renovated mansion at 1492 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, California. The property is currently listed at $39,995,000. It has seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms in 13,932 sf

From the broker. Yes, he wrote the description in all caps :-(

"SPRAWLING BEL-AIR ESTATE ON 8 AWE-INSPIRING ACRES. ORIGINAL DESIGN BY ICONIC ARCHITECT SAMUEL MARX & CONVERTED INTO FRENCH COUNTRY REFUGE. MAIN LEVEL - LIVING RM W/VAULTED CEILINGS, STEEL WINDOWS/DOORS, DINING RM, LRG KITCHEN W/STONE WALL DETAILS, SITTING AREA & BREAKFAST NOOK. LRG FAMILY RM, GAME RM W/BAR OPENS TO TERRACE W/3-SIDED INFINITY EDGE POOL. DOWNSTAIRS-PUB & 30 SEAT SCR RM PERFECT FOR MOVIE NIGHTS. UPSTAIRS-3 OFFICES, MASSAGE & GUEST RM, LIBRARY ABOVE LIVING RM LEADS TO MSTR STE W/PATIO ACCESS, FP, AND H/H'S DRESSING RMS. OUTSIDE-GROUNDS STRETCH THROUGH ART STUDIO/GUESTHOUSE, 100 SEAT AMPHITHEATRE, PAGODA W/FIRE PIT, ORGANIC VEG GARDEN, VINEYARD, ENTERTAINING PAVILION (W/ FULL KITCHEN, BBQ, FIRE PIT), SWIMMING POND W/SANDY BEACH & OUTDOOR SHOWER. PROPERTY WATERED WITH OWN WELL. 3 CITY VIEWBUILDABLE PADS ON SUMMIT, MAID'S RM W/SEPARATE ENTRANCE. THIS ISN'T SIMPLY A HOME - IT'S A LIFESTYLE."

The broker is Rayni Williams, Branden Williams of Hilton and Hyland and Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker.

Tax square footage is listed at 5,436 sf which makes you wonder what is permitted as living space and what is not. The site is 102,452 sf or 2.3 acres.It was built in 1940 but was renovated around 2007. It last sold in 2003 for $3.8M. It sold previously for $4.1M in 2002. There is a $6M loan on it as of 2015. It's been on the market 257 days which is typical for a home like this.

There are four complaints about construction without permits.

1/15/2003 CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS WITHOUT PERMITS OR INSPECTIONS CLOSED
10/30/2003 OPEN EXCAVATIONS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC CLOSED
11/18/2008 TRASH OR DEBRIS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY CLOSED
3/10/2012 CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS WITHOUT PERMITS OR INSPECTIONS CLOSED

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Los Angeles Building & Safety add Soft-story category to building info - Mary Cummins real estate appraiser Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, earthquake, retrofit, seismic, soft story, collapse, insurance, mary cummins, real estate appraiser, appraisal, mandatory

I was looking for permits and this just popped up. First time I have seen it. They added another box on the bottom which has soft story retrofit information.

Mandatory Soft-Story Retrofit Program

The City of Los Angeles recently passed Ordinance 183893, which requires the retrofit of pre-1978 wood-frame Soft-Story buildings and non-ductile concrete buildings. The goal of the mandatory retrofit programs, under the ordinance, is to reduce these structural deficiencies and improve the performance of these buildings during earthquakes. Without proper strengthening, these vulnerable buildings may be subjected to structural failure during and/or after an earthquake.

The inventory list will not be available through Custodian of Records until April 2016. The list will not be posted online.

http://ladbs.org/our-organization/messaging/news/2015/10/13/mandatory-soft-story-retrofit-program

Mary Cummins

Friday, January 1, 2016

Mike Gatto's AB 139 passes, real estate may be transferred without a trust

Revocable transfer on death deed, pdf, doc, form, probate 5642, trust, deed, transfer, real estate, form ab 139, mike gatto, california, los angeles,

California Assemblyman Mike Gatto is behind the bill AB 139. The bill makes it possible to transfer real estate w/o expensive trust or probably. This one page form can be filled out and filed easily with the county recorder's office.

"The new form, which already is popping up on county websites, is one page. You write down the parcel number and the name of the owner (grantor) and the people who inherit the property and their relationship to the owner. It must be signed by a notary. The law includes provisions to deal with the potential for coercion. For instance, it provides a means to challenge a questionable transfer. The deed can be revoked at any time. Twenty-five other states have similar laws, with few obvious problems arising from them.

The new law “will be of particular benefit to senior citizens whose estate consists primarily – or even exclusively – of the family home,” wrote the Conference of California Bar Associations, in a letter of support last year. “There are thousands of elderly people throughout the state who are barely getting by, but whose home, purchased long ago and paid off, may be worth several hundreds of thousands of dollars. … Existing law offers these individuals no good options.”

Now, they can save thousands of dollars and make it easy on their loved ones. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the defenders of Proposition 13, championed this as one of the most important bills for property owners after that 1978 tax limitation measure.

“I think, rightfully so, most members of the public view Sacramento as a place that just passes into law new restrictions, new bureaucracy, new red tape,” Gatto said, in an interview. “We rarely take steps to make people’s lives easier. So I made it my mission, when I got elected, that I was going to focus on the opposite, which is helping make people’s lives easier.”

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jan/18/estate-planning-modest-approach-governing-helpful/

Fillable Revocable Transfer on Death Deed
http://www.lavote.net/documents/Revocable_Transfer_on_Death_Deed.pdf

Common questions
http://www.lavote.net/documents/Revocable_Transfer_on_Death_Deed_FAQ.pdf

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the
Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Monday, August 10, 2015

David Niven Jr home on Blue Jay Way, Los Angeles, by Mary Cummins real estate appraiser

David Niven Jr lived at 1457 Blue Jay Way, Los Angeles, California 1982 to 2009. I met him at a pool party at his house in 1984. He lived a block from me. He sold it in 11/2009 for $5M. It sold recently for $4.2M in 2013. The photos you see below are how the house was decorated when he owned it and lived in it. It looks like he remodeled it since I was there last. When I was there last he had perfectly manicured cyprus trees in pots around the pool.

David Niven, Jr. (born December 15, 1942), the son of Oscar-winning actor David Niven and his wife Primula Rollo, is a film producer and film actorwith stints as an executive at Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures. His credits include Rush Hour 3, The Cool Surface, Psycho Cop Returnsand The Girl with the Hungry Eyes. In 1979, he produced Escape to Athena, which starred his father. He was nominated for Primetime Emmy Awardsin 1985 and 1987. Niven divorced his first wife, Barbara Niven (1993–1998), and remarried.

David Niven Jr home, house 1457 Blue Jay Way, Los Angeles, California

David Niven Jr home, house, 1457 Blue Jay Way, Los Angeles, California

STATUS: Sold

ADDRESS: 1457 BLUE JAY WAY , LOS ANGELES 90069

SP: $5,000,000

Add'l Photos

View Larger Map

RESIDENTIAL SINGLE FAMILY	AREA: (3) Sunset Strip - Hollywood Hills West	MLS#: 09-371059	MAP: 592/H5	BR: 6
STYLE: Contemporary Mediterranean	SUB:	PUD: No	YB: 1967	BA: 7.00 (0 0 0 0)
APN: 5561-010-002	ZONE: LARE15	HOD: $0.00	STO: 2	APX SF: 6,600/OW
ADP:	VU: Yes	PL: Yes	APX LDM: 175x165/AS	APX LSZ: 28,870/AS
APX ACREAGE: N/A	GH: None	FP#: 2		PKGT: 2
HORSE PROP: No	LSE: No	LOP: No	FUR: No	PKGC:2
ELEM:	JRHS:	SRHS:

DIRECTIONS: Sunset to Doheny (north), Oriole (right), Thrasher (left), Blue Jay (left)

REMARKS: Extraordinary architectural villa in estate section of the Sunset Strip. Fabulous family room / kitchen ideal for the gourmet chef. Dramatic living room opens to pool & rose garden w/ tree top views & amazing outdoor entertainment pool area. Features include: sky lights, high ceilings, crown molding, hardwood, terrazzo & tile flooring. Library, spacious master suite w/ dble bath & closets plus 5 bedrms each w/ bath. Pure style sophistication & privacy. Close proximity to Sunset Plaza.

ROOMS: Bar,Breakfast Bar,Center Hall,Dining,Library/Study,Patio Open,Powder,Service Entrance
EQUIP: Built-Ins,Dishwasher,Dryer,Freezer,Garbage Disposal,Hood Fan,Microwave,Phone System,Range/Oven,Refrigerator
AIR: Other	HEAT: Central
FLOOR: Hardwood,Marble,Parquet,Tile	LAUNDRY: Room
FIREPL: Living Room,Master Bedroom	ROOF: Composition
POOL: Heated,Private	TENNIS:
PARK: Attached	SPA:
VIEW TYPE: City Lights,Mountains,Pool,Tree Top	WATERFRONT:
SEC:	FIN: Cash To New Loan
SEWER: In Street	POSS: Close Of Escrow
DISC: As Is	SZONE:
OCC/SHOW: Call LA 1	SALE TYPE:
LAND TYPE:

LP: $5,675,000	DOM: 187	LD: 05/15/2009	SP: $5,000,000	SSP:	BLOG Y/N: Yes	LP/SF: $859.85
OLP: $5,750,000	CDOM: 187	CD: 09/21/2009	SD: 11/18/2009	WD:	AVM Y/N: Yes	SP/SF: $757.58

LA1: Joyce Rey		DRE: 00465013
PH: 310-285-7529	CELL: 310-291-6646	FAX: 310-278-4882
LO1: Coldwell Banker-BH South		PH: 310-273-3113 x 480
joyce@joycerey.com

LA2: Debra Lynn Smalley		DRE: 00772901
PH: 310-930-4838	CELL: 310-930-4838	FAX: 424-288-5545
LO2: Coldwell Banker-BH South		PH: 310-273-3113 x 1412
debra@debrasmalley.com

SA1: Andrea Pintar		DRE: 01811884
PH: 310-888-3347	CELL: 310-567-5677	FAX: 310-278-9900
SO1: Nourmand & Associates-BH		PH: 310-274-4000 x 3347
andrea@andreapintar.com

SA2:		DRE: N/A
PH:	CELL:	FAX:
SO2:		PH:

CSO: 2.5%

LT: ER

LBA:

BAC: Yes

LS: No

EO: No

PROBATE: No

Broker/Agent does not guarantee the accuracy of the square footage, lot size or other information concerning the conditions or features of the property provided by the seller or obtained from Public Records or other sources. Buyer is advised to independently verify the accuracy of all information through personal inspection and with appropriate professionals. Copyright © 2014 by TheMLS.com. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Presented by: Mary Cummins CalBRE# AR010270

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game and the USDA. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Mary Cummins receives Los Angeles Business Journal award, 2014 Latino Business Awards

Mary Cummins a Los Angeles real estate appraiser with Cummins Real Estate Services received an award from the Los Angeles Business Journal for the 2014 Latino Business Awards. All finalists received an award. Below are some finalists with their awards. I will post a copy of mine as soon as I scan it.

Mary Cummins, real estate appraiser, Cummins Real Estate Services, Latino business awards 2014, Los Angeles Business Journal

Below is a letter from the publisher about the awards.

Mary Cummins, real estate appraiser, Cummins Real Estate Services, Latino business awards 2014, Los Angeles Business Journal

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate receives award 2013 - by Mary Cummins real estate appraiser

Mary Cummins, Cummins Real Estate Services, Los Angeles, California

Mary Cummins of Cummins Real Estate Services has won the Los Angeles award program award. The Los Angeles Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Los Angeles area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

Each year, the Los Angeles Award Program identifies companies such as Cummins Real Estate Services that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Los Angeles area a great place to live, work and play.

The Los Angeles Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

D&B listed, Active member of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the

Mary Cummins

Mary Cummins, Real Estate Appraiser, Animal Advocates, Los Angeles, California

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Friday, January 1, 2016

Monday, August 10, 2015

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Saturday, August 10, 2013