The 30 Days of June Contest - 05/31/11 01:56 AM
It's a wrap folks!   The film is in the can, as they say in the movie biz.
Having completed 31 Days of May and cured the world of its ills, we're ripe for the 30 Days of June.
Right?
Maybe.
My month end wrap was a lovely spiel, but my thoughts in progress were dashed by a thunderbolt from the blogging gods; my computer crashed.  I'm tickled to be up and running this evening, but the fix still eludes me.  Trouble shooting dozens of solutions, it's difficult to track what worked.  (Trouble shooting according a manual that doesn't exist!) 
I know one thing:  My 'puter needs to rest, poor … (13 comments)

The Odd Couple Clients - 05/30/11 10:32 AM
I sold these lovebirds a home.   It's no joke.    Check title, you'll see!
I know you're thinking, this svelte sexy beauty, being much younger than her big beefy beau, must be a gold digger, but it ain't true.   She genuinely loves the big brute. 
They're enjoying their home in the hills of Orange County, California.    Given his age, they have no plans to begin a family, but they share the home with a couple who have already begun.
There's plenty of space for everyone; it's how they planned it.
...Just one big happy family!
Brian L. Sirota, Esq.  © 2011

… (7 comments)

Craig "The Redneck" Rutman and My Clients - 05/29/11 10:58 PM
My clients are rednecks. 
When I'm around them, I make a practice of removing a couple of crowns to fit in.  
At a recent home party (a home I sold them in Orange County-where else?),  I met the new addition to the Rednecks. Baby Redneck is as cute as a baby could be.   (I set the bar high for baby cuteness, so that's saying a lot).
I checked for party highlights on their website and guess who I see?  Craig Rutman!   Man, these rednecks really stick together.   Either that, or Craig is prospecting a 5,000 mile radius.   What the heck?!   I had thought the Rednecks found me through a diligent search, but I must've been wrong.  
… (5 comments)

My Twin Sister at 30,000 Feet - 05/27/11 07:03 PM
I don't recall having shared a plane ride with my twin sister, Majory, before.  
Putting us in the same room, even, can lead to unpredictable results, let alone confinement at 30,000 feet.   Sometimes, we laugh ourselves silly until she pee's her pants (the stronger bladder went to the first born-me!), and sometimes the daggers start flying.    To this day, my family hits the deck when such an episode erupts; the crossfire is too dangerous.
So we were boarding the flight when it began.    Marjory says, "look, the Captain," and begins to playfully lecture him on the fine art of safe flying. … (6 comments)

Consumers Have this in Common with DOJ, Activerain, and Realtors (Part II) - 05/26/11 04:46 AM


Activerain, the DOJ, and Realtors have this in Common (Part I)
Each paves the way for businesses to compete.    For the consumer, this means the best service at the lowest price.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) IS MY FRIEND
I've never polled Realtors on their reactions at the very mention of the Department of Justice, but I can take a fair stab at it.    Aside from sheer terror, Realtors are hypersensitive to the notion of bid rigging or price-fixing, understandably so.   At my Realtor orientation some time ago, the local Board of Realtors played a movie warning against anticompetitive … (27 comments)

Activerain, the DOJ, and Realtors have this in Common (Part I) - 05/25/11 09:16 PM
Activerain, the DOJ, and Realtors have this in Common (I)
Each paves the way for businesses to compete.
For the consumer, this means the best service at the lowest price.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) IS MY FRIEND

I've never polled Realtors on their reactions at the very mention of the Department of Justice, but I can take a fair stab at it. Aside from sheer terror, Realtors are hypersensitive to the notion of bid rigging or price-fixing, understandably so. At my Realtor orientation some time ago, the local Board of Realtors played a movie warning against anticompetitive complicity. The … (2 comments)

The Lip Service Creature Offers No Rebate or Discount. I do! - 05/24/11 02:39 PM
My practice is a hybrid not always understood by colleagues, but universally understood by consumers.
The traditional real estate industry abhors the terms "discount" and "rebate," usually attempting to relegate those terms to the bargain bin.   I, myself, use the words despite my disdain for them.   
When I explain how consumer oriented I am, it's not lip service, though.  
                                 The Lip Service Creature is kind of cute, huh? ----------->
STIRRING THE REAL ESTATE POT          The market has a mind of its own, but I can help home sellers who are barely treading water while buyers sit on the sidelines.  
I offer to list homes in Orange County for … (2 comments)

Real Estate Commission Beyond Worth - 05/23/11 05:44 PM
Getting great value never goes out of style. VALUE AND THE REAL ESTATE COMMISSIONEstablishing a baseline for commission helps to understand value. Traditional commissions have been around since the dinosaur, hovering close to a 5% to7% ceiling, so let's measure against that standard.Either a talented, experienced and committed Realtor is worth a standard commission fee, or that standard commission is an overcharge. Naturally, Realtors think of themselves as worthy of traditional fees, while consumers consider it excessive. If a broker is able to avoid this premise, entirely, it's a sign of true value. The Department of Justice (DOJ), addressing real estate … (5 comments)

Third Party Short Sale Companies - 05/22/11 12:21 PM
It's not a sexy subject, but it's important and fresh.
Here's the idea:
Realtors are forming alliances with Short Sale Service Companies (SSSC) as ostensible representatives of attorneys or law firms to complete their short sales. Realtors advertise in the MLS that the sale involves a SSSC: sometimes, offering to split the cost, other times silent on the cost issue.   The short sale representative asks the seller for a deed of trust to evidence payment of services, which they will release on close of escrow.   Alternatively, if the transaction fails, they pledge to release the deed.    The SSSC advertises "free cost … (3 comments)

Sights, Sounds, Smells of Surf City: Open Houses - 05/21/11 09:40 PM
You've heard of the the Huntington Beach lifestyle.  Otherwise known as Surf City, USA, Huntington Beach is one of the premier beach cities in the world.  Take a little tour with us, and see if the sights, sounds and smells of Huntington Beach doesn't whet your appetite.
Top flight broker/attorney representation and the best commission value around brings you closer to the finest beach living California has to offer. 
THIS DAY IN HISTORY.  Huntington Beach Open Houses for Sunday,  MAY 22, 2011.    
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA
 BRISTAR REALTY 

BRISTAR REALTY
(714) 501-7660
CALL FOR LIST OF OPEN HOUSES, SUNDAY, MAY 22 (877) 641-6964 Huntington Beach California.  What a lifestyle!   It's … (5 comments)

Guns a Blazing for Homeowners. Counter Point. - 05/20/11 03:21 PM
Bryan Robertson penned a well-written piece in favor of congressional legislation proposing a minimum 20% down payment to qualify for residential mortgages. Why is NAR fighting the 20% down rule in QRM?Naturally, he disapproves of NAR's position.
I heartily disagree with him.
Restricting home ownership for the greater good may sound valiant, but in words, only.   In practice, though, the shadow of distressed inventory would accelerate and deepen the wounds of the nation. 
Historically, lawmakers tend to favor over corrective measures when blindsided by a severe socioeconomic blow.  However, swinging wildly with broad restrictions only moves us to the opposite side of the pendulum, a move rarely … (6 comments)

The Poster Child of Realtors - 05/19/11 06:00 PM

It's not so much about naming the ideal Realtor as much as identifying their virtues. Consumers expect a lot of us. 
If we're willing and able to describe the Realtor we aspire to be, the consumer may gain a fresh understanding of our commitment and dedication to them.
Most Realtors agree, the overpopulated Realtor roll is unwieldy and lowers the collective Realtor IQ.    The standard of professionalism is palpably lower.    We feel it, and the consumer feels it. 
Were we to build a model Realtor, what appearance, values, education, experience and commitment would we attach to our poster child?
The … (49 comments)

Caveat Blogger: Step into your client’s shoes - 05/18/11 04:49 PM
You may wish to think twice about whether your client would be offended or hurt by your blog.    Blogging to members only is like a private conversation in front of a televised audience.   It only gives the appearance of intimacy and trust, but more people are watching than you might imagine, and it's likely to become even more public.
With advances in technology and marketing opportunities, private blogs can easily become public.
Lately, I've been reading articles to syndicate my blog.   According to our resident AR experts, the process of exporting and importing blogs treats public and private posts in identical fashion. … (7 comments)

Activepedia's Collage Karma - 05/17/11 12:40 AM
If a picture is worth a thousand words, a collage could be an encyclopedia, or an activepedia, if you will.
I was rummaging around Activerain a few days ago and found a couple of cool collages.  It may have been a contest promoted by Niki Perekh or one in which he participated.  I'm not sure.  
At first glance, it looked like hodgepodges of member faces, many of whom look familiar to me.   Then, the common denominators popped out.  Charles Edwards and Loreena Yeo!
That has to be flattering!
As a relative newbie, I wouldn't expect to make the grade, but I … (7 comments)

Short Sale Statute: Eating a Rubber Sandwich without Mayo - 05/16/11 12:57 PM
CALIFORNIA SHORT SALESI have a mantra that you'll hear me mention from time to time. Every situation is different and requires an independent evaluation. Perhaps California Short Sales even more so.   Short sale law is in constant flux, and reading the pertinent statutes is a bit like eating a rubber chicken sandwich without mayo. 
I'm sorry about the picture.  It is kinda gross, huh?
SHORT SALE LEGAL ISSUE DU JOURThe short sale occurs when a homeowner's mortgage exceeds property value.  Agreeing to the short sale may create an illusion as to the absence of liability for a shortfall between the secured debt and the … (5 comments)

How'd You Get So Funky? - 05/14/11 06:56 PM
Whale song is more than funky communication between whales; it can be funk, itself.   In the 70's, we learned that both Whales and Steve Martin were capable of musical composition.   Imagine if whales had their own hysterical version of Martin's "Funky Tut" King Tut.   
I'm unsure of Martin's inspiration, but a Biologist by the name of Roger Payne, together with two of his colleagues, discovered whale song.
Irvine, how'd you get so funky?
I'll tell you.  
Funky Whale has yet to be writen, but Irvine is offering a different kind of performance, and for a great cause.
On May 19, 2011, at … (7 comments)

What Do You Call a Pair of Bookmarks? - 05/13/11 06:08 PM
I'll give you the answer in just a moment.  By then, you may have already guessed the answer.  Let me know how predicable I am.
Bookmarking is always a good thing.  Not!
I hate a love/hate relationship with bookmarks.   I routinely read blogs with advice I intend to put into practice.   So what's the problem?  
I'm developing a serious case of bookmarkitis.   I'm accumulating bookmarks at a faster clip than I am implementing the advice of the saved blogs.    The blogs are usually of a technical nature, but meaningful and simple to apply.  
I bookmark them because they'll make a real … (17 comments)

Earn it. - 05/13/11 05:06 PM
Carmen Rodriquez wrote an interesting blog.  She tells the story of a night-shift Walmart worker who holds her head high despite the arduous work and low pay of stocking shelves while the rest of the world sleeps comfortably.     Don't Apologize  
In the flash of a conversation, Carmen no longer viewed her new friend with a touch of sympathy.   It wasn't about the job, but the manner in which she viewed it.
She relates the story to her husband and herself, both real estate brokers.  No apology necessary.
It's a lesson that transcends the work place.  It applies to blogs and our every day attitude in … (4 comments)

Open House: Rosy Psychology for the Lingering Buyer - 05/12/11 08:33 PM
Realize it or not, dozens of subliminal suggestions affect our moods and decisions on a daily basis, often appealing to our visual sensibilities.
We naturally prepare a home for sale with this in mind, but we sometimes fall short.  I'll move beyond basic maintenance and presentation and assume the house is already pristine.      
Even the novice agent knows the house should smell good, be free of clutter, and maximize curb appeal.  So, instead, I'll focus on buyer psychology and sensory appeal in ways often lacking, but easily remedied.
The premise is simple:  Place aesthetic and olfactory emphasis where buyers linger.
I view these as the final touches that can make … (11 comments)

My Plans for A Nude Realty are Dashed! - 05/11/11 07:52 PM
NO MORE NUDE COFFEE!
Is a cup of Joe from a naked server too much to ask?   For $5, you could've had the breast best coffee around, but no longer.
Police have raided close to 40 coffee shops in Orange County.   The Garden Grove City Council voted unanimously to ban nudity in the city's coffee houses, but I suspect one of its members may have an ownership interest in the local Starbucks.   These bans don't just happen, you know!  
In Irvine, one of the nation's safest cities, no such cafe' would've existed in the first place, despite its similarity to the cultural make-up … (9 comments)

Hope Begins with Your Local Realtor - 05/10/11 04:57 PM
A client is drowning.  
It's someone who once provided a realtor a nice commission on the purchase of a home they can no longer afford.   Now desperate, their call poses no prospect to make you money, but it's important, just the same. 
These are desperate people reaching out.
Once someone else's client, they are now the client of us all.  How we respond to them affects the reputation of the industry.
Individual skill or talent does not bolster our reputation, but caring when you have no financial incentive to care does. 
Norma Toering wrote a blog "Is Good Real Estate Advice Hard to Find?"  http://actvra.in/9zF   She tells of a desperate caller … (6 comments)

The Way We Were; a Client's Love Letter - 05/09/11 04:38 PM
Dear Realtor,
I'm in love, and you need to know.
We've spent many weekends together taking leisurely drives, idly chatting in the bedroom-many bedrooms, actually-and we've ping-ponged enough texts to render a tennis umpire cross-eyed.
You've come to understand me like no other Realtor.   
I need to make a decision soon, but choosing a home is difficult knowing this will end.   Sometimes, you stand my heart on its head, it's so confusing.   I need you like never before!
You've been very professional and haven't shared your feelings.   
Remember when we were laying by the pool, soaking in the tranquil sounds of the … (12 comments)

Stellar Homes, Stellar Commission Rebates, Stellar Realtor Attorney Service - 05/08/11 04:27 PM
TOP FLIGHT OC REALTOR ATTORNEY
50% CASH REBATE FROM COMMISSION
 BRISTAR REALTY
 (714) 501-7660
OPEN HOUSES SUNDAY (Tustin and North Tustin):   MAY 8
Homes for Sale in Tustin and North Tustin, California 
MLS SEARCH FOR HOMES IN TUSTIN (and NORTH TUSTIN) CALIFORNIA  
 

Real Estate in Tustin and North Tustin, California
THE OC REALTY GROUP
Data courtesy of the California Regional MLS (Multiple Listing Service). The information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed, and is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
 
Brian L.  Sirota,Esq.   www.BristarRealty.com www.HousingVibes.com www.TheOcRealtyGroup.com MLS … (4 comments)

Building An ActiveRain Technology Foundation - 05/07/11 11:21 PM
Housekeeping with the CEO.   "[T]he database needed to be 'vacuumed.'"   Some of the membership are getting a little dusty, I suppose.
Brian L. Sirota, Esq., Broker/Attorney, Bristar Realty, Orange County, California
 
Via Nikesh Parekh (ActiveRain):
First and most importantly, I apologize for the current state of the technology stability here at ActiveRain.  My technology team tells me that the database needed to be "vacuumed" because the site was having problems this morning on Friday May 6th, 2011.   I know it is frustrating for you and even more frustrating for us.   As I have said before, I make no excuses for where we are and do not … (4 comments)

A Special Sampling of Beachin' Huntington Beach Homes - 05/07/11 09:21 PM
TOP FLIGHT OC REALTOR ATTORNEY OFFERS A 50% CASH REBATE FROM COMMISSION.  (714) 501-7660 

CONSIDER:  A Huntington Beach Home Purchased for $800,000,  3% commission to buyer's agent:  BUYER GETS $12,000 CASH ON CLOSE OF ESCROW.
 BRISTAR REALTY
 (714) 501-7660
Prestigious Huntington Beach Homes    Surf City, California
 MLS SEARCH FOR HOMES IN HUNTINGTON BEACH CALIFORNIA 
What's Not Shown In the Graph?   You Won't See the Stability of The Neighborhood.  Those Homeowners Are Not Selling Their Homes.   That's Where You Should Buy Your Next Home.   The Polynesian Named Streets of this Community One Mile from the Beach is Priced Crazy Low. (714) 501-7660 
  
 
 THE OC REALTY GROUP
 
The information provided … (2 comments)

Quail Hill, Irvine. BriStar Almanac Predicts Open Houses and Bargains - 05/07/11 02:05 PM
 TOP FLIGHT OC REALTOR ATTORNEY OFFERS A 50% CASH REBATE FROM COMMISSION
 BRISTAR REALTY
 (714) 501-7660
OPEN HOUSES SUNDAY:   MAY 7
Homes for Sale in Quail Hill, Irvine, California 
 MLS SEARCH FOR HOMES IN IRVINE 


 Real Estate in Irvine.  Prestigious Quail Hill.  California
THE OC REALTY GROUP
Data courtesy of the California Regional MLS (Multiple Listing Service). The information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed, and is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
 
… (7 comments)

NATIONAL REALTOR APPRECIATION DAY PROPOSED - 05/06/11 05:03 PM
LEGISLATION INTRODUCED FOR REALTOR APPRECIATION DAY
Ruters, May 6, 2011
In an unusual move, The National Association of Realtors has convinced the Obama Administration to endorse legislation to declare April 1st Realtor Appreciation Day.      
According to NAR, Senator Hugh B. Kidding (Ind) introduced S.B. 666 this month in an effort to change the public perception of Realtors.  Earlier in the month, the Hug a Realtor Program (HARP) received its first round of funding as a government booster shot to aid floundering property values nationwide.      
Legislative expert Jack U. Up presides over a leading think-tank hired by the Obama Administration … (6 comments)

Cinco De Mula: An Historic Time to Buy - 05/05/11 02:43 PM

Now is the time to buy, according to 70% of Americans.
A recent Gallup poll shows the value of home ownership has reached a 35-year high.  Americans are smart and understand the confluence of historically low interest rates and low property values is a buy signal.   
Those earning over $75,000 are 18% more likely to buy than lower income earners.
Over the course of my career, clients have sought advice to make their moves, though I've typically tailored my answer to individual needs.  
Now, for the first time in a long time, I will also provide a broader answer, as … (2 comments)

Huntington Beach-A Most Excellent Place Dude! - 05/04/11 05:51 PM
Do you remember Jeff Spicoli, a most rad surfer dude from Fast Times at Ridgmont High?
For all the embarrassment it brought me, it's a favorite of mine.   
I saw this movie in a mall theater not long after it came out.   One of the main characters in the movie happened to work at a mall theater.   As the film progressed, I whispered to my girlfriend at the time, "That mall is so familiar but I can't place it."   A few minutes later, I whispered, "you know, the movie theater looks so familiar, too."   
My girlfriend looked at me incredulously, "Brian, … (6 comments)

THE WYSIWYG GETS THE WORM - 05/03/11 06:09 PM
WARNING:  YOU MAY FIND A DISTURBING IMAGE.
People are smart and can innately sense a person who's being genuine.  
When we blog, we expose ourselves in full glory.   It's a fantastic opportunity or a curse.  Your choice.
Look at the celebrities we come to appreciate.   We like them first because of their talent, but as we get to know them, our view waxes or wanes depending on how genuine we perceive them to be.   

So it is with Realtors.  
Our craft is intensely personal in nature.   We evoke visceral reactions in the public eye.  Chances are, you either will be a shining … (15 comments)

Check Your Blogitude - 05/02/11 05:31 PM
PRACTICE GOOD BLOG JUDGMENT  
If you're blogging about your client, directly or indirectly, it may be an act of client disloyalty.
The Activerain rulebook does its best to guard against public disclosure of private (member's only) blogs, but it relies on the cooperation of 206,000+ members.   That's a lot of cooperation!
From your duty of loyalty springs your clients' right to privacy.  Many members may relate to the idiosyncrasies, rudeness, or unreasonableness that you may experience with your clients.  It may tempt you to share those stories.   
Activerain encourages that you share these stories; they feature them on a regular basis, and … (51 comments)

Door-knocking, Cold Calling and Farming - 05/01/11 03:40 PM
Kristal Wilson's blog is a very good read.   She focuses on developing a rapport with prospective clients based on common interests.   Whether a home seller is receptive depends, in large part, on developing a relationship with them.    Deciding not to make a sales pitch is an important decision that removes self-inflicted pressure, allowing you to have a more natural conversation.   You may offer something of value but, until you have a receptive ear, trying to show your wares is futile.
Brian L. Sirota, Esq., on Kristal Wilson
Via kristal wilson Orangecrest, Canyon Crest (keller williams realty):
Door-knocking, Cold Calling and Farming 
Subtitled Lions and Tigers and Bears!
Like Dorothy and her … (2 comments)

Sunday Commission Rebate Madness in Turtle Rock, Quail Hill and Portola Springs Irvine - 05/01/11 01:39 PM
TOP FLIGHT OC REALTOR ATTORNEY OFFERS A 50% CASH REBATE FROM COMMISSION
 BRISTAR REALTY
  (714) 501-7660
OPEN HOUSES SUNDAY:   MAY 1
Homes for Sale Portola Springs (PS), Quail Hill (QH), Turtle Ridge (TRG) and Turtle Rock (TR)  MLS SEARCH FOR HOMES IN IRVINE


 
THE OC REALTY GROUP
Data courtesy of the California Regional MLS (Multiple Listing Service). The information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed, and is for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Copyright ©2011 Brian L. Sirota, Esq.
MLS SEARCH FOR … (2 comments)

 
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Brian L. Sirota, J.D. OC Home Sale Pro (877) 641-6964; (714) 501-7660

Irvine, CA

More about me…

Bristar Realty, Realtor/Attorney, OC Home Sales Pro

Address: Irvine, CA

Office Phone: (877) 641-6964

Cell Phone: (714) 501-7660

Email Me

Attorney/Realtor Real Estate Vibes & Views Out and About Orange County, California (cell) 714- 501-7660


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