MURRIETA/TEMECULA/MENIFEE CA. REAL ESTATE - CAMERON WILSON

Forclosed Property: Not The Midnight Dump For The Neighborhood!!!!

2008-07-19T18:54:09Z

Everywhere you turn these days it seems the topic of conversation always turns to Real Estate and the high number of foreclosed properties coming on the market and most people are concerned about the value of their home and the neighborhood they live in. Every time I list a Bank Owned Property (REO) the neighbors always ask about the home as to it's condition, what is the price and am I going to do anything about the lawn as it looks terrible. My response is I will do everything possible to get the property cleaned up as quickly as I can.

This past week my partner and I received 6 REO listings in Murrieta Ca. so the work began to get the properties ready for market and one of the first things to be done after the re-keying of the home is to post notices that the property is Real Estate Owned (REO) along with the no trespassing notice. We then get our vendors out to give bids for repairs, lawn clean up and trash out of the junk normally left behind by the previous owner or tenant.

The neighbors usually seem happy at this point as they see activity at the home that has become the eyesore of the neighborhood but then a very peculiar thing begins to take place in the middle of the night and when the morning sun rises on the REO property of the neighborhood it exposes the junk and trash that the neighbors have dumped in the middle of the night. Vampires of trash?

There is not a neighborhood immune from this phenomenon as it happened again this past week to one of my listings and this time the property was located in a gated community in Murrieta so the extra expense amounted to $225 that I will pay for and then wait 45 to 60 days to be reimbursed.

All of us as homeowners are in this market together, as there are very few areas of the nation that doesn't have a high number of foreclosed properties, so please stop and think before you become a Vampire of trash in the middle of the night.

Be Careful When Showing Vacant Property!!!!

2008-07-03T19:00:14Z

All of us at times get lax when it comes to our personal safety when we go about our busy days and those of us in the Real Estate Business are no different than anyone else and at times we take things for granted as after all it's just another day but we can never ignore to do the things necessary to insure our safety.

Today an agent in my office went to show a vacant property that is bank owned (REO) and her first mistake was not letting anyone know where she was going and the second mistake was she ignored the signs in the property that someone may be living there illegally. There was food on the kitchen counters and toiletries in one bathroom that looked fresh but in her excitement to show the home she ignored them.

Upon entering the master bedroom with her buyers she showed them the large bathroom and then proceeded to open the door to the walk in closet and lo and behold there was a homeless man hiding inside. Startled by the unexpected encounter the agent and the buyers made a hasty exit out the front door followed by the intruder who ran down the street in the opposite direction.

Fortunately no one was hurt today with the exception of some rattled nerves so please use this as a reminder to always be prepared and put your safety first especially when showing vacant properties.

Agents Comments Section On MLS: Sometimes It's Important.

2008-06-19T11:23:50Z

Most Multiple Listing Services (MLS) we all use across the country has a section only visible to Realtors for the listing agent to make comments about the property and in some instances you will see terms to present offers. With all the Real Estate Owned (REO) properties on the market at this time many agents and buyers are becoming frustrated with the Banks and the REO agents when trying to get offers accepted and many accusations have been made that things are not being done in a fair and ethical manner but some of the frustration can be overcome by simply reading the comments section on the MLS.

Recently I listed a REO property in Murrieta Ca. and Immediately the property was input into the MLS with instructions on presenting offers stating: When sending offers send only the 8 page Purchase Contract, Agency Disclosure, Pre-Qual Letter, Copy of Deposit Check at this time. The reason for this is in California by the time we add all the disclosures required to use it adds up to 30 plus pages and the banks will sign off on the state required disclosures with the accepted offer but they are not needed at the time the offer is presented. When the instructions are followed the initial offer will only be 12 pages including the cover page.

We received 5 offers on the property in Murrieta as it was priced to sell but the frustrating thing is 4 of the agents ignored the comments section and each sent in excess of 30 pages to us to sort thru so we could then upload the offers into the computer and send them to the bank. That is a total of 138 pages when all we needed was 12 pages with each offer for a total of 60 pages.

We all get frustrated in this market but sometimes it can be avoided by simple things like reading the agent comments section on the MLS.

Got Crack? It Does Affect Value.

2008-06-08T16:07:50Z

Three weeks ago I was assigned a foreclosed property in the La Cresta area of Murrieta Ca. by the bank that now owns it and the first thing a bank always asks is the property occupied and if not do a BPO ( Broker Price Opinion) and then a price will be set according to estimated value. No problem right? Wrong.

When working with a bank owned property (REO) the agent is the eyes for the bank and I am always honest with my evaluations and very thorough in the documentation of my opinion of value and this property was no different than the rest so the bank set the price on June 2nd and it's time to get it sold. On June the 5th my partner submitted an offer she wrote on this house to the bank, as our marketing does produce results, but in the meantime I showed the property to another potential buyer and guess what we discovered while we were there? A potential settling crack in the slab foundation!!!

When a BPO is done on a property we cannot check every square inch of a home even if the inspection is thorough and this potential problem is located in the master bedroom underneath some nice Berber carpet in a corner but if it is really a settling crack about 1/2 inch deep it does and will affect the value of the home. Overlooked during initial inspection but tomorrow I must inform the Asset Manager for the bank to see what they want to do about this as it is my Fiduciary Responsibility to report any known facts that I know about this property and all properties I represent.

Those of you who work REO have you ever had anything similar happen to you after you have submitted your BPO and what was the result when you informed the Asset Manager?

The buyer with the submitted offer will be informed of this potential problem.

The Electronic Age: Does Anyone Remember How To Use The Phone?

2008-05-24T18:34:28Z

Friday I called a friend of mine, Mike, to let him know I had an offer on one of his bank owned (REO) properties in Murrieta Ca. and also ask if he wanted to meet for lunch and I would present the offer. Voicemail

So I call his office and tell his secretary who I am and ask if she would get Mike on the phone as I couldn't reach him on his cell phone. She informs me Mike is busy and that I should Text message Mike on his cell phone. Hmmmm, Mike's people running interference for Mr Bigshot by telling folks to text message him on his Phone.

Now I'll admit I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but it doesn't make sense to me to take a perfectly good phone and turn it into a keyboard plus I don't want to decipher the abbreviations people use when texting. Why can't we just talk?

So off I go to see my Transaction Coordinator Nora, My People, and have her send Mike's People an E-Mail informing them to inform Mike we have an offer on xxxxx property and since he and I have only known each other for 17 years I was going to buy lunch but since he wouldn't answer his phone the free lunch was off the table at this point.

Twenty minutes later my cell phone rings and when I look to see whose calling I burst into laughter as it's my good old friend Mike ringing me up. Go figure!!!

So in keeping with the electronic age we all live in I did what any good friend would do in this situation.

VOICEMAIL !!!!!!!

Cutting Costs: How Cheap Is Too Cheap?

2008-05-18T16:55:12Z

With home sales in most areas of the country declining many companies and Real Estate Agents are cutting costs to make ends meet and keeping an eye on the bottom line is imperative to the survival of any business but where do we draw the line on cutting expenses?

Saturday I arrived at my office as usual at 7:30 and since it was the first time in quite a while I didn't have any clients coming in to look at homes it was the perfect time to catch up on paperwork and that was exactly what I was doing when the phone rings at 8:15. The gentleman on the line, Rich, asked me if we have an agent in our office and he began to describe the person and ended his statement by saying this agent showed me property 10 days ago but he didn't give me a card and I don't remember his name.

After explaining to Rich we didn't have anyone fitting his description in our office he tells me he saw our ad in the newspaper with bank owned properties (REO) and could I show he and his daughter, Tara, houses today as she needed to buy a home ASAP as she was paying too much in income taxes being a renter.

Two hours later Tara and Rich are in my office speaking with a lender on the phone who gave us the price range to stay within and with the information given to me by Tara describing the type of home she wants it's off to Menifee,Ca. to look at 5 REO properties that fit her needs. Tara fell in love with one of the homes and made a full price offer after seeing the sales comparables for the area and her offer will be presented to the bank on Monday and the poor girl probably will lose sleep waiting for an answer as she is so excited.

Cutting costs can become necessary in any business but the only thing cheaper than a few business cards is a persons own face and it appears some folks put themselves Out Of Business!!!

Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee California Home Sales Increase!!!!

2008-05-18T15:24:05Z

The numbers are in and home sales in the Valley for the month of April 2008 increased 73% from April of 2007 and for the first time since the housing market took a downward swing the house sales were higher than sales in the same period for 2006 at the peak of home sales.

Escalating home sales have some analysts predicting we have hit the bottom on declining values and with a leveling out on prices we my see an upturn in appreciation by the end of the year. Other analysts say with the number of homes on the market we might see prices fall a little more but they are not taking into account the fact we are seeing multiple offers on many properties and especially the bank owned properties (REO) that buyers are seeking out to take advantage of favorable prices.

With favorable interest rates it is obvious many folks are choosing to move to the Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee Valley and begin to enjoy the lifestyle they have always dreamed of from the abundance of golf courses and lakes to the world famous wine country and the yearly film festival that has made a name for itself throughout Hollywood and beyond.

If you are looking to make a move the Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee Valley has it all from starter homes all the through luxury estates and equestrian ranches and the lifestyle that awaits you is priceless.

For more information please feel free to contact me at cameron.wilson@century21.com

951) 677-5661 ext 206

Call Your Mom: She Is Special!!!!

2008-05-10T19:02:19Z

The Greatest person I ever met was never famous in the sense of celebrities nor wealthy in the way of Bill Gates and most people never met her but she touched many lives and everyone who met her was blessed by the riches she freely shared with them and that was love plus help in times of need.

This great lady along with her husband raised three rowdy stubborn boys, who tried to convince her they already knew everything, by the golden rule which became the foundation of their lives which they in turn passed along to their children.

When other children were having problems at home she would take them into her home with the parents permission and help them and their parents overcome the problems through love until the family could be reunited. This Great lady was unselfish and always put others first and I was proud when my friends called her Mom as this Great Lady was my Mom.

It has been 11 years since I got to kiss my Mom and tell her "I Love You" but her Love lives on in the lives of her family and those she touched.

BTW; Call your Mom.

Fannie Mae: Market To The Consumer As They Are The Market!!!!

2008-05-09T20:31:59Z

Fannie Mae has recently sent out a directive to the Real Estate Brokers that list and sell the foreclosed properties in California currently held in Fannie Mae's portfolio informing us they are now raising the commission they will pay to Brokers who are representing buyers of their properties a full 1% of current levels.

It appears that Fannie Mae is anticipating taking in a large number of foreclosures in the near future and they want to sell as many properties in their current inventory as quickly as possible and apparently they have chosen to market to the agents with higher commissions but as we all know the consumer (buyer) is the market and if a property is priced correctly it will sell.

As the listing agent it is my job to market a property to buyers as well as other Real Estate Agents and my concern is Fannie Mae will not be aggressive in their pricing thus marketing their properties in the wrong manner by not reaching out to the consumer with fair market prices. Some banks overprice their REO properties in the beginning only to see them linger on the market for months on end with no offers.

Three weeks ago I did a Broker Price Opinion (BPO) on a Fannie Mae property in Murrieta California that was put on the market yesterday at the price I suggested so this particular property is being marketed very aggressively both to the consumer and the Real Estate community and personally I think if Fannie Mae does this on all of their properties it will be a big help in stabilizing the current Real Estate market.

Unique Homes: The Murder House!!!!

2008-05-03T19:36:44Z

Most cities have a few properties that are well known for various reasons such as the architecture, the size of the home, a famous owner, some are considered haunted or the property may have sold for the highest price ever and all of these things brings out the curiosity of the residents of the area but it also can be a bother to the owners of the property.

Back in 1990 I listed a home in Murrieta California that had sat on the market for 6 months without selling and by getting the seller to carry a first trust deed for a buyer we had it sold in 10 days to a gentleman who was the owner of two separate businesses and he provided 3 years of tax returns so life was good.

Fast forward to 1993 when I received a call from a friend who lived around the corner from this house and he tells me the property is roped off with police tape and there are police officers everywhere and the coroner's van is there. Later we find out the owner was murdered in the house and that he was heavily involved in the drug market and the motive was the large amount of cash in the house. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) seized the property and after helping my client, who was holding the first trust deed, fight for two years to regain possession my wife and I bought the home.

During the course of our remodel prior to moving in people would walk onto the property and ask if they could walk thru the house and was there lots of blood all over the place and make comments such as you are nuts to move into the MURDER house. This went on for the first year and our first Halloween was a blast laughing at the parents at our door almost knocking their kids down as they tried to look into the house and the street full of cars.

Whenever we gave directions to our home we would tell them the street names, corner lot, and the response we usually heard was " you live in the MURDER house", aren't you scared and would you tell us what happened?

Murrieta has grown from a small town to over 100,000 people now and we no longer own the MURDER house but I know there are still people who remember the MURDER house and the crazy family who lived there.

Buyers Get The Help They Need!!!!

2008-04-30T20:30:10Z

Seems everyone is talking Real Estate nowadays with the prices of homes falling and the large numbers of bank owned properties (REO) on the market but all is not gloom and doom as some are making it out to be as many people want to take advantage of the lower prices and favorable interest rates but they lack the money for a down payment or closing costs. There is help available to those who qualify in the form of down payments and money for closing costs and the buyer does not pay it back!!! It's a GIFT!!!

Down payment assistance programs help homebuyers with a gift of 3% of the sales price towards the down payment and in some cases another 3% towards the closing costs which results minimal out of pocket expenses. These programs go by different names such as Nehemiah, Genesis and Ameridream but they all work pretty much the same and I had a client who just closed escrow on their new home in Murrieta,Ca. using the Nehemiah program on a REO property and it went very smooth. This couple thought they would have to wait years until they saved enough to buy a home but they are now living their dream.

So all of the Real Estate news is not bad as some would make it out to be as there are some great things happening in the housing market.

For more information check out the following links.

www.thegenesisprogram.org

www.ameridream.org

www.getdownpayment.com

Please Excuse Me For Selling Your House But YOU Put It On The Market

2008-04-20T17:37:25Z

For the past 8 weeks I have been working with a couple who had a very specific type of home they wanted to purchase in Murrieta, California that would include such things as a pool, views of the valley, 3 car garage and RV parking if possible with low taxes. Tall order but not impossible and over the course of our relationship they made offers on 3 bank owned properties (REOs) but were outbid every-time.

Two weeks ago a property came onto the market through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) at 10;05 AM and at 10:20 I called the seller to make a appointment to show her home that day and to my surprise she told me it was not a good day to show her house and slammed the phone down. Now I am not the sharpest tool in the shed but this smells like a divorce to me so I called the listing agent and asked how far into the divorce her clients were and could she get my clients into the property.

Lucy the listing agent was surprised I knew the situation and after explaining her clients had been divorced for 15 months and it was time to sell the house she agreed to meet us at the property at 2:30 so I could show my clients the house but she did warn me Ms.Seller may be present. My response, OK.

Long story made short my clients made a full price offer at 4:15 which I took to Lucy and she in turn called Mr Seller & Ms Seller to inform them of our offer which they did accept at 6:45 but Ms. Seller did inform me, we were on speaker phone, that she did not like me very much at all because I sold her house way too fast.

Hmmm, Buyers market, thousands of homes on the market, one showing, sold in 9 hours, full price, I'm SORRY.

Escrow closes this upcoming Friday.

DISCLAIMER: The listing agents name has been changed to protect the Professional.

The Sellers priced this property correctly for the market but they didn't have a FIRE sale.

Bargain Hunters Are Taking Advantage Of The Market

2008-04-19T18:44:08Z

Southwest Riverside County, which includes Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee and surrounding communities, has been flooded with bargain hunters taking advantage of the lower prices on foreclosed properties held by banks, (REOs) and the low interest available to them in greater numbers than ever before.

Escrows closed on 522 homes in March and that is the largest number since August 2006 according to the local multiple listing service covering the region. The numbers rose by double digits compared with 2007 levels for January, February and March.

Dataquick Information Systems reported that 56% of the homes sold in Riverside County Ca. were foreclosed properties held by banks. This surge in the market shows buyers know a good deal when they see it and they are not only looking they are buying and enjoying the lifestyle only available in the Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee Valley.

From the gated communities of Bear Creek and Greer Ranch to the beauty of Redhawk to the south thru the wine country of Temecula that rivals those of Napa, Ca. more and more people are realizing there dreams of home ownership in this beautiful Valley we call home.

Will My Offer Get Accepted?

2008-04-13T14:49:21Z

So you have decided now is the perfect opportunity to purchase a home as the prices are down and the interest rates are favorable and with all the bank owned properties, REO, on the market in the Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee Valley area of California all we need to do is pick one, make an offer and call the moving company. Wrong!!!

All of those statements as to price, interest rates and number of REO's are true but the fact of the matter is there are many people such as you competing for the best properties and the banks are receiving multiple offers which they must choose what they consider to be the best one and it's not always the highest priced or cash offer that gets accepted.

As an example this past week I had a client get his offer accepted from a pool of 14 offers, yes 14, and his offer was not the highest but the way it was written and documented caused his offer to rise to the top and get accepted and he will be calling the moving company because he is moving in 30 days. Meanwhile 13 families are starting the process all over again hoping the next offer they make will be accepted. Will it?

The offer needs to be written and structured in such a way that the bank can completely understand the offer, be assured the buyer is serious, know that the buyer understands the banks terms of sale and can close on time.This is but a few of the things that need to go into an offer on REO properties and all offers are not created equal and the knowledge of the real estate agent can make or break the offer.

Representation by a Professional who understands the process is critical so get the best agent possible to represent YOU no matter where you are going to purchase and if you are looking in the Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee valley please feel free to contact me to discuss YOUR needs.

Mr & Mrs Consumer: Please Ask Questions

2008-04-11T14:15:23Z

The latest statistics have been released by the Department of Real Estate in California and it should bring concern to anyone who will be selling or buying real estate now or in the future as for most of us our homes are the largest asset we posses.

In The State of California 548,959 people have a real estate license and that works out to 1 license for every 67 people living in the state. With the number of home sales handled by agents in 2007 that translates into less than 1 transaction per licensee and 2008 will no doubt shrink those numbers dramatically.

Mr & Mrs Consumer it is up to you to do your due diligence and find out as much information about your agent as you possibly can as they will be representing you in one of the largest and most important transactions you will ever do and you owe it to yourself to seek out the best representation possible.

Don't be afraid to ask questions such as How long they have been selling Real Estate, The number of transactions closed, For recommendations from past clients, Are they full time agents and anything else that would help You to choose a Professional that you feel comfortable working with and representing You.

If You are considering buying or selling a home in the Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee Valley please allow me the opportunity to meet with you and I promise to answer all your questions honestly as I have done with all my clients for over 20 years.

My Focus is and Always Will be To Help Others Acheive THEIR Goals !!!!

Lockbox Codes~ For Professionals Only!!!

2008-04-06T17:01:06Z

Mr and Mrs Murrieta Ca. home buyer please do not ask me for the lockbox code on the property you just drove past. Those codes are for agents only and as a professional real estate agent I take my profession seriously as I hope your Doctor does as well.Yes I do remember you previously worked with an agent who gave you the codes to properties in Temecula Ca. but you did say you felt he wasn't doing a good job in helping you to find a new home.

Please allow me to assure you we will fnd the right home at the best price and terms and you did like the homes we saw on Friday plus the property you are calling about is on my list for our tour on Monday and there is one home in Menifee that meets your criteria that you may want to see.

Please don't apologize for getting angry and I'm glad you understand why I don't give out lockbox combo numbers and I'll see you Monday at 10:00 at my office. Thanks for calling.

PS. This couple purchased their new home in Menifee this past Monday.

If you are looking for a home in Murrieta, Temecula or Menifee Ca.please allow me to assist you in your search but please do not call me for lockbox combo numbers.

Gimmee A Stinkin Break: Gotta Rant!!!!

2008-03-22T17:00:59Z

Today the straw that broke this camels back finally happened when I was out with clients showing them houses in Temecula Ca. We had just walked out of a REO (bank owned) property and after locking the door my clients and I were out by my car discussing the offer they wanted to make. Very nice retired couple dressed comfortably and me in a suit when a crew cab truck pulls up and a young couple climb out on the passenger side and this 380 lb dude in a tank top, shorts and a pair of flip flops covered in tattoos gets out from the driver side. Now I have nothing against "tats" as I have 5 myself and I ride a Harley and no I'm not a rich urban biker (RUB) nor a poser as I rode before I had any money but I did recognize this tub of a man from rides I had been on so I nodded and continued my conversation.

Apparently Mr Tub has gotten his real estate license as he was trying to show the young couple the property and looking through the windows wasn't quite working out because Mr Tub called out to me and, drumroll please, asked if I could open the lockbox for them since I just showed the property and had access to the lockbox and he was working off the public access from the MLS (no codes) and didn't belong to the BOR. When I told him no no no he looked a little pissed, he can give me a call as I'm easy to find, as we drove away and my clients did say they thought I was about to get crushed by Mr Tub.

Seems like everyday more idiots get into this business and drag down the image of real estate agents, not all are Realtors, and the public thinks we stink like dog crap all the while some of us are actually professionals.

Fishing In The Real Estate Market

2008-03-20T11:41:02Z

It is not a secret that home prices in Murrieta Ca. are down as we are no different than other parts of the country and this has created a mindset with many consumers that houses are selling for pennies on the dollar,especially if the property is bank owned (REO), and they want to go "fishing" for a deal. There really are some great deals on homes right now but they are not free and yesterday I had the privilege to hand over the keys to a beautiful home to a client, Ryan, who now understands the real estate market.

Ryan looked at five REO properties in the beginning of our search and I showed him the comps on each property before he decided to make a offer on one in particular but the offer he wanted to make was ridiculously low but he insisted on making the offer. I explained to him the bank not only would reject his offer they might not even respond to it but I would write this offer on the condition that this would be the only "fishing" trip he and I would go on together. One week later we called the listing agent who happened to be a friend of mine and Ryan was shocked to hear that the bank was not going to respond.

We found Ryan another home and the bank had just reduced the price 10% but they agreed to drop another 4% and pay $5000 towards Ryan's closing costs and he is thrilled with his purchase as he is now an informed consumer with a better understanding of the real estate market.

Educating the consumer is my responsibility as a Realtor.

Listing From the Grave?

2008-03-18T18:17:32Z

Today one of the agents in my office came to ask me a question about a listing she wanted to take and did I have time to help her as she couldn't find the broker.

She said a possible client had called her about listing a property he had inherited and could she list it and she wanted to know how to do the contract. I asked if the property would need to go through probate or did it pass through a trust set up by the deceased. Her response was it was in a trust and the gentleman who called was the executor of the trust. I told how to go about this simple process and to make sure she furnished escrow with the notarized copies naming the executor when the property sold but to go ahead and list the property.

Now to the classic question she asked me: Which person would need to sign the paperwork, the executor or the person who owned the property before the death?

I told her to think about it for a moment and when I could see the light bulb wasn't lighting up, couldn't help myself, I told her whichever person could pick up the pen and sign their name was the person you are looking for.

Is The Real Estate Market Picking Up?

2008-03-16T15:41:13Z

With all the media reports from the so called Experts we all have been hearing about recently on how bad the real estate market is and how it will continue to decline all I can offer is the market report for my primary area of Temecula, Murrieta and Menifee California.

In January 2008 we had 49 properties go into pending status (accepted offers) and that was an OUCH month.

In Febuary 2008 there were 338 properties that went into escrow.

From March 1st 251 properties have gone into escrow and many of these properties had more than 1 offer so those buyers are still looking for another property which in turn will bring more sales this month.

These numbers are not going to bring us out of the current real estate slump but the numbers presented here do show the market, at least in my area, is picking up contrary to the media reports of gloom and doom. Is it a good time to purchase real estate? Obviously the 638 people that purchased in this valley think so.

A Community Mourns Together

2008-03-12T10:54:08Z

Murrieta Ca. is a city that has grown to a population of 100,000 since it incorporated in 1991 with 27,000 residents and was a close-knit small town. The residents, myself included, voted to tax ourselves so our own fire department could be formed and the dept. has been a source of community pride ever since.

Today we once again have that small town sense of community as we mourn the death of one of our first firefighters, Captain Matt Moore, who passed away Monday night after being in the hospital since December fighting a rare form of meningitis.

On Saturday March 8 the residents of Murrieta came together for a pancake breakfast fundraiser to benefit Capt. Moore and his family and raised close to $40,000 to help them thru this difficult time. What a great community we are fortunate to live in and be a part of and Capt. Moore will be greatly missed not only by his family and fellow firefighters but by the whole city as we have lost one of our own.

Donations to the Matt Moore Family Fund that has been set up by the Murrieta International Association of Firefighters can be made at Wells Fargo Bank, 41232 Murrieta Hot Springs Road.

Pancake Breakfast For Murrieta Fireman Raises $38,000

2008-03-08T18:57:59Z

The Murrieta Ca. firefighters auxiliary held a pancake breakfast today, March 8,2008, for Captain Matt Moore and the good people of Murrieta stepped up to the plate and helped this brave firefighter and his family to the reported total of $38,000.

Capt. Moore and his brother Capt. Mark Moore were two of the first firefighters hired by the city of Murrieta 18 years ago and both have worked their way up the ranks to their current rank of Captain and coming from a family of firemen they know the danger of their profession and they face it proudly. Recently Capt. Matt Moore fell into a coma due to an obscure form of meningitis that has invaded his body. His wife Sherry and their three children, Alyssa 16, Trent & Brandon 13, are praying for a miracle for this wonderful husband and father and the firefighters in Murrieta took it upon themselves to help the family of their brother and what a terrific job they have done.

When Southern California was on ablaze last year these brave men and women were in the midst of the firestorms risking their lives for all of us and now the people of Murrieta have said Thank You to Capt. Matt Moore and his family in their time of need.

May God bless this family and all the firefighters across this great land as it takes a special person to run into a burning building as everyone else is running out.

How to donate; The Murrieta International Association of Firefighters has set up a fund to benefit the Moore family. To make a donation to the Matt Moore Family Fund, contact Natalie Martinez at Wells Fargo, 41232 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, or call the associations president,Capt. Mike Ramos, at (951) 970-5712

City Says to Banks: Mow The Lawn

2008-03-07T10:55:41Z

Due to the rise in foreclosure rates across the country and the problem of neglect with some of these properties the city of Murrieta Ca. on Tuesday March 4th adopted an ordinance that will require lenders holding these real estate owned (REO) properties to keep up with the maintenance or they will be fined.

The ordinance requires lenders to maintain security and landscaping on the homes which they have taken possession. Lenders will be fined $100 per day for failing to register the property or failing to post that the property is bank owned; $250 for allowing lawns to die or failing to remove graffiti, litter or weeds. In addition they will be fined $500 for unmaintained swimming pools with stagnant water or unsecured structures on the property; and up to $1000 if the city learns public utility theft happens on the property.

As a Realtor who works with REO properties on a daily basis I can understand the position of the city and all of us want to get families into these homes as quickly as possible but the city has to work with the agents and not come down with a heavy hand and impossibly short timeliness.

The cost of business just went up and we agents who market these properties pay for the utilities and now the upkeep upfront and then wait for reimbursement from the lenders so all we ask from the city is cooperation and understanding.

In the meantime I guess I'll go Mow the lawn.

Trust: Can It Be Blind And Do We Take It For Granted?

2008-03-01T22:47:18Z

Recently I had the fortunate opportunity to help the most inspiring couple I have ever worked with in my 20 years in the Real Estate industry purchase a home. Bill and Kristi, last name withheld upon request, are two people who live life to its fullest everyday and when problems arise and they are dealt lemons they make lemonade and keep on living life. Something you should know about Bill & Kristi is the fact they are blind.

At 8:05 on a Saturday morning my phone rang at the office and the caller wanted some Real Estate questions answered so I did my best to answer them and then Kristi told me she & her husband Bill had made a deposit on a yet to be built 2 story townhouse and the builder had told her it was the best price in our area and everything would be fine. I confirmed that this builder had good prices and delivered a nice product and that's when Kristi told me she and Bill are blind but they were told their were no homes cheaper than these townhouses and was that the truth because that was more than they wanted to spend and it was a 2 story home that posed danger to them. I made a appointment to meet them at their apartment so they could show me their likes and dis-likes about their current home and after talking with them for 3 hours I left on a mission to find them a home that met their unique needs praying the whole time as these folks were placing more trust in me than anyone had ever done in the past.

Bill & Kristi have been in their single story home within a 55+ senior community for six months now and they could not be happier since it is not only safer for them they paid $78,000 dollars less than the townhouse and they have made many new friends myself included. This lovely blind couple taught me to see with my eyes closed and I will be eternally grateful to them for that and showing homes to them was unique butthat will be saved for another day as that is not the point of this blog.

We all place trust in others in our lives and others place their trust in us at times not only in the Real Estate industry but with Doctors, Lawyers, Friends, Family and the list goes on and on but the question I pose to all of us is do we take that trust seriously and treat it with honor and respect or do we take it for granted because thats what we do?

TRUST: May we not take it for granted.

Your opinions are valued not only to myself but to others as well. Life is too short to not have an opinion and voice it.

Foreclosed In Murrieta ~ But My Clients Will Sleep Well Tonight

2008-03-01T00:23:00Z

After a long day that began at 5:30am I finally arrived at home tired but happy that we closed a purchase on a foreclosed property in Murrieta Ca. for my buyer client who had the misfortune of being in a rental property in Menifee Ca. that went into foreclosure and as in most instances went back to the bank.

Needless to say this was a shock to my clients when they found out they were going to need to move and it was understandable to me when we met that they were anxious and scared so we began the process to find them a house to buy and make it their home. Now, I work the listing side of real estate owned (REO) properties representing the sellers (banks) and the buyers side in some circumstances and in this case I represented the buyers as we found a house that a friend of mine had just put on the market and guess what, it was an REO.

Being involved in many REO transactions this was nothing new to me but little did I know what lay in store for us as we proceeded off to escrow with this transaction. To make a long story short this thing went sideways and to the listing agents credit because of their experience and to my experience and my clients trust and patience plus 72 hours of hands on work we got this transaction closed and my clients will be moving into their new home this weekend.

Due to the nature of the real estate business sometimes the public does not fully understand what really is involved behind the scene in a real estate transaction but as a Professional I consider that simply as " thats what I do" and do my best to make the dreams and goals of my clients become reality. This was the case here but I have to admit it stretched me further than ever before and I could only imagine the stress on my clients but through it all they hung in there to the end.

Back to arriving at home I just received a phone call from my clients, that brought about this article, thanking me for my work and I had to thank them for their effort as well and the greatest compliment I have ever received was this, We will sleep well tonight.

May their sleep be sound and their dreams sweet.

What is the best compliment you have received?