Mario Trejo's Blog

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again!

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:39:57 -0500

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber gives an instant, sustained & substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just 2 bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout, making it the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses & conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia:
High in iron, bananas stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break & lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach & with the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while milk soothes & re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5000 hospital patients, researchers found that the most obese were more likely to be in high pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of it's soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a cooling fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperatures of expectant mothers. In Thailand for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer Tryptophan.
Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be re-balanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes:
According to research in "the New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%.

So a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and Iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe it's time to change that well known phrase so that we say " a banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Market statistics

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:42:53 -0500

3332 N. 17th Av, Phoenix, AZ 85015

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:59:22 -0600

Custom Ranch In N. Encanto Historic Dist
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 3332 N. 17th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85015
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 1 full, 0 half, 1 three-quarter bath
Price: $180,000
Description: This ‘50s ranch home is in the North Encanto Historic District of Phoenix. This home is full of color, from the festive walls, to the original bathroom and kitchen tiles, to the linoleum floors found throughout the house. Both the living room and dining room are brightened by two large windows. The kitchen offers a 1930s Wedgewood stove, a breakfast nook, large walk-in pantry, plenty of oak cabinets and a corner window over the corner sink. Features of the three bedrooms include large windows, ceiling fans, original closet doors and colorful walls and linoleum found throughout the house. The main bath features original black and white tile, and the ¾ bath has its original green tile. The front yard is shaded by mature trees. You’ll find plenty of storage in the carport. The shade in the back is provided by a large covered patio. The backyard is framed by a fence and oleanders. This Central Phoenix home is convenient to shopping, entertainment, arts, museums, restaurants, transportation, schools and sports venues.

113 W. Ivanhoe St., Gilbert, AZ 85233

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:55:00 -0600

Wonderful Home With Pool In Gilbert
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 113 W. Ivanhoe St., Gilbert, AZ 85233
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 2 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $260,000
Description: Both the living room and family room have lovely wood floors and vaulted ceilings. The family room has arcadia doors leading to the pool. The kitchen offers a tile floor, numerous oak cabinets, breakfast bar, vaulted ceiling, and includes a dishwasher, range, disposal and microwave. The adjacent dining area has two large windows with a view of the pool. The master bedroom has a large picture window, walk-in closet, separate dressing area, vaulted ceiling and a full bath with separate tub and shower, double sink vanity and a large window with a view of the backyard. The backyard has been beautifully landscaped with 2 large trees and 8 palm trees around a sparkling pool all framed by a high block wall. There is a covered patio with ceiling fan and a raised patio near the end of the pool.

339 W. Lynwood St, Phoenix AZ 85003

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:53:30 -0600

Craftsman Bungalow In Roosevelt HD
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 339 W. Lynwood St., Phoenix, AZ 85003
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 1 full, 0 half, 1 three-quarter bath
Price: $450,000
Description: This Craftsman Bungalow is located on one of the most beautiful streets in the heart of the historic districts of Phoenix. It has great curb appeal with its magnificent wrap around porch, impressive welcoming door, mature trees and sculpted shrubs. This home has numerous architectural details. You’ll find beautiful built-ins in the living room, dining room, hall and bedrooms. There are hardwood floors beneath the carpeting. The bright kitchen offers a breakfast bar, pantry, tile floor, and numerous cabinets, counter space and windows. The master bedroom has a three quarter bath, sitting room and four deep closets. The home also has a basement and an upstairs guest quarters with bath. This lovely home is near downtown, museums, theatres, library, restaurants, light rail, freeway access and schools

6771 S. Granite Dr, Chandler Az 85249

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:51:41 -0600

Great Find! Golf/Rec Adult Community
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 6771 S. Granite Dr., Chandler, AZ 85249
Bedrooms: 2, Bathrooms: 1 full, 0 half, 1 three-quarter bath
Price: $265,000
Description: This Tuscan style 2 bedroom home is located within an adult gated and guarded golf community. The great room design offers a built-in entertainment center in the living room. Arcadia doors can be found in the dining room. The spacious kitchen features stainless dishwasher, stove and microwave, a large kitchen island, breakfast bar and a corner breakfast area. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet, expanded bay area, and a bright ¾ bath with double sinks and upgraded fixtures. You’ll find ceiling fan/lights and wood blinds in the guest room, the office and throughout much of this home. The bedrooms are carpeted and the remainder of the rooms feature 13 inch diagonal floor tile. Outside you’ll find a two vehicle extended garage, granite landscaping, a covered flagstone patio with 2 ceiling fans, a built-in BBQ and views of the golf course from the front of the home. The community has a recreation center, gym, large pool, shuffleboard and tennis courts.

2nd Set Of Commandments Offers Sound Advise

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 19:03:55 -0600

We all know about the original Ten Commandments, but have you ever heard of the Second Ten Commandments? I don't remember who sent them to me -- these pearls of wisdom have been often attributed to one Elodie Armstrong -- but I sure would like to thank him or her for sharing this wisdom. Here they are with my spin on them:

1. Thou shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities. A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work. People get so busy worrying about yesterday or tomorrow, they forget about today. And today is what you have to work with.

2. Though shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass. Every crisis we face is multiplied when we act out of fear. When we fear something, we empower it. If we refuse to concede to our fear, there is nothing to fear.

3. Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this. Tomorrow's problems may not even be problems when tomorrow comes.

4. Thou shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway. In one of my favorite "Peanuts" comic strips, Linus says to Charlie Brown, "There is no problem so big it cannot be run away from." I chuckle every time I think about it, because it sounds like such a simple solution. Problem solving is not easy, so don't make it harder than it is.

5. Thou shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows. If I wake up thinking of a problem, I tell myself that it will seem lighter in the morning, and it always is.

6. Thou shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them than you can. I confess that I have broken this commandment because I wanted to help someone, without being asked, or I thought I was more equipped to handle a situation. But I wouldn't have to deal with the consequences, either.

7. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday. For good or ill, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now. We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get a better job, make more money, get married, have a baby, buy a bigger house and so on. Yet the accomplishment of any of these events may not make any difference at all. The Declaration of Independence says we are endowed "with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. You are responsible for your own happiness.

8. Thou shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. You can win more friends with ears than with your mouth. Hearing is one to the body's five senses, but listening is an art. Your success could hinge on whether you have mastered the skill of listening. Most people won't listen to what you're saying unless they already feel that you have listened to them. When we feel we are being listened to, it makes us feel as if we are being taken seriously and what we say really matters.

9. Thou shall not become bogged down by frustration, for 90 percent of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action. Seriously, has frustration ever improved a situation? Better to take a break, collect your thoughts, and redirect your attention to a positive first stop. Then, go on from there.

10. Thou shall count thy blessing, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessing add up to a big one. We all have something to be grateful for, even on the worst days. Hey, you're still on the green side of the grass, aren't you?

Makay's moral: These may not be chiseled in stone, but try them; they make your life less rocky

Harvey Mackay - can be reached through his Web site, www.harveymackay.com

Treat yourself! go out to the theatre this week.

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:11:11 -0600

Alwun House - Erotic art show opening night cabaret February 13,2009

Ballet Arizona - Gala February 28, 2009

Arizona Theatre - Drama queens on the green March 15, 2009

Actors Theatre - Gourmet Theatre April 4, 2009

Valley Leadership - Man & Woman of the year April 16, 2009

Actors Theatre Rabbit Hole

http://www.actorstheatrephx.org/

Alwun House Exotic art Show

http://alwunhouse.org/

Arizona Opera Don Giovanni

http://www.azopera.com/

Arizona Theatre Company ATC Raisin in the Sun

http://www.aztheatreco.org/index.html?topbar.html&0

ASU Gammage David Copperfield

http://www.asugammage.com/

Ballet Arizona Romeo and Juliet

http://www.balletaz.org/

Center Dance Ensemble Great moments

http://www.centerdance.com/

Childsplay Busytown

http://childsplayaz.org/

Free Arts of Arizona

http://www.freeartsaz.org/

Herberger Theatre

http://www.herbergertheater.org/

International Rescue Phoenix

http://www.theirc.org/where/united_states_phoenix_az/

Mesa Center for the arts 2008-2009 season

http://www.mesaartslive.com/

Mesa Encore Theatre I Love You, You're Pefect, Now Change!

http://www.mesaencoretheatre.com/

Neighborhood Housing Services Phx All about affordable housing

http://www.nhsphoenix.org/

Nearly Naked Theatre Killer Joe

http://www.nearlynakedtheatre.org/

Phoenix Theatre Les Miserables

http://www.phoenixtheatre.com/Home.aspx

Phoenix Symphony Stravinsky - The firebird

http://www.phoenixsymphony.org/

Scorpius Dance Company We Will Rock You

http://scorpiusdance.com/index.html

Stray Cat Theatre An Impending rupture of the belly

http://www.straycattheatre.org/

Theatro Bravo Blood wedding (in spanish)

http://www.teatrobravo.org/TeatroBravoSeason.html

Valley Leadership

http://www.valleyleadership.org/

Valley Youth Theatre Suessical the Musical

http://www.vyt.com/

Young Arts Arizona

http://www.youngartsaz.org/Welcome.html

Mario Trejo Romero
Certified Residential Specialist
2008 CRS Arizona State Chapter President
602-252-4191 office, 602-254-9810 fax
The Romero Team - Melcher Agency
www.TheRomeroTeam.com

Please remember that your referrals are the lifeblood of my business.
We will continue to grow our successful real estate practice with your help.

113 W. Ivanhoe St., Gilbert, AZ 85233

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:07:35 -0600

Mario Romero - The Romero Team published a new entry entitled "$345000 Wonderful Home With Pool In Gilbert" on 2/12/2009 11:57:09 AM, written by Mario Romero.

$345000 Wonderful Home With Pool In Gilbert

Wonderful Home With Pool In Gilbert
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 113 W. Ivanhoe St., Gilbert, AZ 85233
Bedrooms: 3, Bathrooms: 2 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $345,000
Description: Both the living room and family room have lovely wood floors and vaulted ceilings. The family room has arcadia doors leading to the pool. The kitchen offers a tile floor, numerous oak cabinets, breakfast bar, vaulted ceiling, and includes a dishwasher, range, disposal and microwave. The adjacent dining area has two large windows with a view of the pool. The master bedroom has a large picture window, walk-in closet, separate dressing area, vaulted ceiling and a full bath with separate tub and shower, double sink vanity and a large window with a view of the backyard. The backyard has been beautifully landscaped with 2 large trees and 8 palm trees around a sparkling pool all framed by a high block wall. There is a covered patio with ceiling fan and a raised patio near the end of the pool. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing.

"The New Negotiating Edge"

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:03:51 -0600

"The New Negotiating Edge"

A one day CRS Electives course

Event Info

Host:	Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS and AZ Chapter CRS
Type:	Education - Class
Network:	Global

Time and Place

Date:	Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Time:	8:00am - 5:00pm
Location:	Scottsdale Area Association of REALTORS
Street:	4221 N. Scottsdale Rd.
City/Town:	Scottsdale, AZ
	View Map Google MapQuest Microsoft Yahoo

Contact Info

Phone:	4809452651
Email:	Joey@JoeyHallatt.com

Description

Participants will leave this seminar with not only a complete understanding of the most current,
innovative and effective negotiation strategies, but also with specific real estate applications for their day-to-day negotiations with and for their clients.

8314 W. Superior Ave, Tolleson, AZ 85353

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:42:13 -0600

$125000 Four Bedroom At A Low Low Price

$125000 Four Bedroom At A Low Low Price (Tolleson)

Four Bedroom At A Low Low Price
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 8314 W. Superior Ave, Tolleson, AZ 85353
Bedrooms: 4, Bathrooms: 2 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $125,000
Description: This spacious 4 bedroom Santa Barbara style home is located in the Volterra subdivision in Tolleson. Entertainers will love the large living room, family room and formal dining room. Dine also at the kitchen table or kitchen breakfast bar. The kitchen features numerous cabinets, pantry, range, dishwasher and disposal. The master bedroom and one other bedroom have walk-in closets. The master also has a vaulted ceiling and a full bath with separate tub and shower. Much of the house has impressive tile floors. The four bedrooms are all carpeted. There is a two-vehicle garage, energy saving multi-pane windows, front desert landscape with automatic sprinklers, rear covered patio, rear granite landscape, block fence and a north/south exposure. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing.

1033 E. Bethany Home Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:40:14 -0600

$895000 North Central Unique Home With Guest Qtr (map)

North Central Unique Home With Guest Qtr
Type: Single Family Home
Location: 1033 E. Bethany Home Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85014
Bedrooms: 4, Bathrooms: 2 full, 0 half, 1 three-quarter bath
Price: $895,000
Description: This is a million dollar property offered at an outstanding price. It is a remarkable and unique home with large guest quarters or office space in a prime North Central Phoenix neighborhood. An ideal set up and location to save energy and money; just walk across your patio to work. This stunning home has tremendous curb appeal with a well groomed yard. The beautiful main house is a spacious 2622 sq ft with a large open living room and large family room; each with a fireplace, a formal dining room, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths + a huge pantry or nanny quarters. The master bedroom features a full bath and walk-in closet. Exterior features include lush lawns, courtyard, covered patios and parking for 14. But best of all might be the separate 1311 sq ft workspace currently with 3 large offices, a waiting room with reception area, bathroom, supply room and tons of storage. It could be easily converted to an apartment or guesthouse. This unique property requires a buyer with unique needs. Located on a nearly half-acre lot, it is move in ready. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing. ............................................................

5358 N. 3rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:30:13 -0600

$150000 Amazing Townhome With Great Landscaping (map)

Amazing Townhome With Great Landscaping
Type: Townhouse
Location: 5358 N. 3rd Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85013
Bedrooms: 2, Bathrooms: 1 full, 0 half, 0 three-quarter bath
Price: $150,000
Description: A lush grassy lawn, palms, shade trees and a charming courtyard lead to the front door of this amazing townhome. This quiet end unit offers two bedrooms, double carport and private patio framed by a block wall. The carpeted living room features a gas fireplace, ceiling fan and corner windows. The eat-in kitchen includes a range, refrigerator, dishwasher and disposal, in addition to numerous warm cabinets and pantry, ceiling fan and exit to patio. The laundry is located in the storage shed off the patio, and includes washer and dryer. The beautifully landscaped common areas feature a fenced sparkling pool and adjacent BBQ and communal patio. This complex is located in a desirable North-Central Phoenix neighborhood with easy access to restaurants, entertainment, sports venues, arts, and transportation. Call our office at 602-252-4191 to arrange your personal showing. ............................................................Directions: From 3rd Ave and Missouri go south to the home at 5258 N. 3rd Ave

Buyer Tax credit

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:48:04 -0600

Buyer tax credit

Here is an update on the bill that just passed the senate.....

· Provide a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home

· Amount of the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less

· Purchases must be made within one year of the legislation’s enactment

· The tax credit would not have to be repaid

· The amendment would allow taxpayers to claim the credit on their 2008 income tax return

· Only purchases of a principal residence

· Recapturing the credit if the home is sold within two years of purchase

· Would sunset the current $7,500 housing tax credit on the date of enactment.

This has passed the Senate, but the entire bill does need to go back to the House, and be signed by the President. There could be many changes before this happens, or not pass at all. But is it a bright piece for us in the Real Estate industry and would help the housing crisis immensely as you can imagine.

Treat yourself! go out to the theatre this week.

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:46:01 -0600

Herberger Theater Gala - Soirée de Café, February 7, 2009

Ballet Arizona - Gala February 28, 2009

Arizona Theatre - Drama queens on the green March 15, 2009

Actors Theatre - Gourmet Theatre April 4, 2009

Valley Leadership - Man & Woman of the year April 16, 2009

Actors Theatre 2008-2009 season Triple Expresso

http://www.actorstheatrephx.org/

Arizona Theatre Company ATC 2008-2009 season Raisin ithe Sun

http://www.aztheatreco.org/index.html?topbar.html&0

ASU Gammage 2008-2009 Season David Copperfield

http://www.asugammage.com/

Ballet Arizona 2008-2009 season Romero and Juliet

http://www.balletaz.org/

Center Dance Ensemble Great moments

http://www.centerdance.com/

Childsplay Busytown

http://childsplayaz.org/

Herberger Theatre

http://www.herbergertheater.org/

International Rescue Phoenix

http://www.theirc.org/where/united_states_phoenix_az/

Mesa Center for the arts 2008-2009 season

http://www.mesaartslive.com/

Mesa Encore Theatre 2008-2009 season Godspell

http://www.mesaencoretheatre.com/

Nearly Naked Theatre Killer Joe

http://www.nearlynakedtheatre.org/

Phoenix Theatre 2008-2009 Season How The other half loves

http://www.phoenixtheatre.com/Home.aspx

Phoenix Symphony Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4. Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms and Symphony in Three Movements

http://www.phoenixsymphony.org/

Scorpius Dance Company We Will Rock You

http://scorpiusdance.com/index.html

Stray Cat Theatre 2008-2009 Season An Impending rupture of the belly

http://www.straycattheatre.org/

Theatro Bravo 2008-2008 Season Blood wedding (in spanish)

http://www.teatrobravo.org/TeatroBravoSeason.html

Valley Leadership

http://www.valleyleadership.org/

Valley Youth Theatre A Midsummer nights' dream

http://www.vyt.com/

Young Arts of Arizona

http://www.youngartsaz.org/Welcome.html

Mario Trejo Romero
Certified Residential Specialist
2008 CRS Arizona State Chapter President
602-252-4191 office, 602-254-9810 fax
The Romero Team - Melcher Agency
www.TheRomeroTeam.com

Please remember that your referrals are the lifeblood of my business.
We will continue to grow our successful real estate practice with your help.
Thank you always

The State of the Market: There Is a Silver Lining.

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:12:06 -0600

AFFORDABILITY IS HIGH
The Housing Affordability Index measures the ability of a typical American family to qualify for a mortgage based on the median price for an existing single-family home. A score of 100 indicates that a typical family would have the exact amount required based on a 20 percent down payment and monthly payments of no more than 25 percent of their household income.

Currently , the index is at 135.2, which means the average American family not only can afford to purchase a home, but also will have excess money for living expenses. Another upside, highly desirable real estate markets such as California, Arizona and Florida are becoming more affordable.

SELECTION IS VAST
With more homes on the market, home buyers can be more selective than in previous years. During the recent market boom, limited availability and hight prices resulted in many people making offers on homes due to fear of being left out of the market. However, in this buyer's market, house hunters can afford to take their time and make a choice they are fully comfortable with.

THE UPSWING CONTINUES
Continuing the trend of increase existing home sales, 2009 is expected to produce an additional 6.6 percent increase in home sales. 2009 will be among one of the strongest transaction years in history with an estimated 5.74 million transactions. This year is also projected to boost new home sales to more than 600,000 transactions.

Existing homes sales prices are also expected to increase by 3.7 percent in 2009, with new home sales increasing by 4 percent.

Source: National Association of Realtors

Promoting your Real Estate Blog

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:47:51 -0600

It occurred to me that since so many more Realtors are adding a blog to their mix of marketing endeavors, perhaps it would be helpful for me to share my top 3 articles I’ve read most recently on the subject. I read a lot of content regarding to search engine optimization and internet marketing because it’s become such an important part of what my team does, and I think it pays off.

I feel like I should preface this list with a simple disclaimer: you don’t necessarily need to become an internet marketing guru in order to get maximum results from your blog.

But you DO want to get results, right? That said, it’s very easy to get sucked into the world of internet marketing, especially if you’re a detail-oriented person. Don’t let it distract from your core business of selling property. Internet marketing is the same as any other industry…it’s an entirely separate industry. Just like auto repair. If you’re like me, you’re not going to spend your time replacing the fuel pump in your car. You’re going to hire a professional. At the same time, it sure is helpful to at least know what a fuel pump is, who’s competent at doing the repair and what type of charge to expect. Internet marketing is the same. You don’t need to do all this stuff yourself, BUT it is advisable to spend an hour a week for a while getting versed on the basics of the business. If you run a team, you may not produce every cma your team does, but if you didn’t even know what a cma was, you’d be in trouble.

Likewise, if you operate a blog and don’t know the difference between a tag and a category, or if you don’t know what a robot.txt is…you should figure it out, because these are just a few of the very basics in promoting a blog. I hope these articles help:

1.    3 Alternatives to Promoting Your Blogs Homepage That Convert First Time Readers to Loyal Ones…click here.
2.    10 Ways to Find Readers for Your Blog By Leveraging Other Online Presence…click here.
3.    3 Successful Bloggers Share their Blog Tips [VIDEO]…click here.
4.    What Quantum of Solace Can Tell Us About Information Architecture…click here.

I know I said 3 articles, but there’s 4 here. I decided to add the fourth one, because I just really liked it. it’s a bit more technical but very good ideas.

Small Homes are Gaining Favor

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:45:53 -0600

That huge 4000+ square-foot listing you just took may be the biggest home in the subdivision, but that evidently does not guarantee hits or showing these days. Actually, the trend seems to be the opposite. Smaller is better. Bigger means higher maintenance costs, higher utilities and more.

It’s the smaller listing that's becoming a bigger draw to buyers these days, say industry experts who spoke today at the Sustainable Development & Restoration Summit here.

Writer Melissa Dittmann Tracey with Speaking of Real Estate noted that the average home has grown from 983 square feet in 1950 to 2,349 square feet today. The most common criticism of these homes includes “lack character, good design, and energy efficiency”.

Not to mention, it seems that 60 percent of households only have 1 or 2 people living in them. Why have all that extra space when you don’t really need it?

Recent news reports show that the new trend is for buyers to be seeking smaller homes. Builders are starting to reflect this in their floorplans. KB Homes has decreased its home sizes from 3,400 square feet, selling for $450,000, to 2,400 square feet, selling for $300,000. Now, they’re doing it again – 1,230 square feet for about $200,000 – in trying to attract more buyers

Changes to the Lending Industry, Changes to Our Economy

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:44:40 -0600

Changes to the Lending Industry, Changes to Our Economy

Mortgage companies have been working to help homeowners by “easing terms” on tens of thousands of home loans…reportedly about 79,000 of them in the past couple months.

To quote Reuters News, “Total workouts in August, which include new payment plans for existing contracts, slipped to 188,931 compared to July’s 192,220, according to Hope Now, the voluntary coalition of mortgage servicers and investors.

In all, the industry has performed some form of workout on 2.3 million loans since July 2007. About one-third of those were permanent modifications, Hope Now announced Thursday.

Paul Koches, general counsel of subprime mortgage servicer Ocwen Financial Corp., said a loan modification benefits both the borrower and the lender because losses on foreclosed homes are running at more than $100,000 per property. "It sure beats the alternative," Koches said.

Nevertheless, the level of loan modifications varies dramatically in the industry, according to a Credit Suisse report released this week. Among 18 loan servicers, modification rates among subprime loans made since 2005 ranged from under 2 percent to nearly 18 percent as of August. Ocwen Financial had the third-highest level of loan modifications in the Credit Suisse report.”

My question this past week has been “Is this helping?” There’s the obvious effect of helping individual homeowners keep their homes, and on this level none of this should be scoffed at. I’m all for it. My concern, as many people these days, is for the economy as a whole. Being in the real estate business, what’s going on around us everyday touches a much bigger picture. It’s one of the things I love about the business, but when the bigger picture is a little scary and I’m in new territory, I get a little antsy is all. It’s of course going to be tough, if not impossible, to pin down the net effects of these mortgage and bailout measures.

Homeowners keeping their homes is good. A bailout to grease the wheels of our economy is good (wheel greasing is good right?). But when that stimulus dries up too, where will we be? Will we just do another one? Didn’t Japan do all this 10 years ago? Don’t quote me, but I think they did 10 or 11 stimulus packages like this. I’m no economist, but couldn’t we potentially learn a lesson here? Maybe the lesson is that bailouts make us feel better but don’t actually fix anything. Discussion please. In my best estimate, we’re in a dry spell now, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Economies go through recessions…they’re never fun actually, but we’ve done it before, yet we seem to be avoiding this slowdown like the plague. Does a continuation of foreclosures sound like fun? Does a credit freeze up sound like breath of fresh air to me? No, but since when has any economy been able to engineer themselves out of a downturn? Tell me, even one example, when it’s happened before that a society was so smart as to be able to steer it’s economy clear of any downturns, yes even depression from time to time. OR, tell me why or how we’re different, or smarter, or better. Just because we really, really don’t want a deep recession doesn’t weigh in as far as the market’s concerned. If we’ve created and depended upon false values in financials (we have) and real estate (we have), then those false values are going to have to work themselves out of our system at some point.

10 Ways You Can Lift Your Spirits

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:43:13 -0600

1. Realize you can't buy happiness: Wealth is like health. Its utter absence breeds misery, but having it doesn't guarantee happiness.

2. Manage your time: Happy people feel in control of their lives, often aided by mastering their use of time. Set goals and break them into manageable tasks.

3. Act happy: Going through the motions can trigger the emotions.

4. Flow: Happy people are often in a zone called "flow". They're absorbed in a challenging, but not overwhelming task.

5. Exercise: Sound minds reside in sound bodies.

6. Sleep: Happy people allow their bodies to rest.

7.Foster close relationships: Friends who care about you can help you weather difficult times. Don't take them for granted.

8. Be helpful: Doing good makes you feel good.

9. Be grateful: Pause to think about what you have rather than what you don't.

10. Nurture your spirit: Faith can provide a sense of purpose and hope. Studies find that actively religious people are happier and cope better with crises than non-religious people.

Source: David Myers, The Pursuit of Happiness

For Sale By Owner

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:01:18 -0600

Real estate transactions can and will be tricky these days. All parties are stressed, and that includes banks. The widespread myth that the services of a competent Realtor can easily be replaced by a few pre-printed forms downloaded off the internet and a sign stuck in the yard has lured many home sellers into making expensive mistakes by trying (and failing) to sell their own home. I still see the FSBO's popping up everywhere, and although I want to, I simply cannot bring myself to shake my head in disbelief. The reason is because in many cases I don't know the story behind the sign in the yard. Maybe the seller IS competent and able to get their home sold. What I do know is that statistically, this is not in their best interest, especially now.

Many people assume that all you need is a sales contract, a classified ad and a "For Sale" sign. But even the most basic step -- setting the correct sale price -- depends on a number of factors. The location, size and condition of your home, the relationship between the local supply of homes and the number of qualified buyers, and the recent selling prices of comparable homes in your neighborhood all affect the market value of your property. Bring in the potential of short sale issues and you're looking at a complex transaction from start to finish. Homeowners who sell without a professional Realtor often misread the local market. The media talks a lot about real estate these days. It's really, really tough to make sense of it all or to even know what information applies to you. It's not just that. The information available to you through most publicly accessible websites, which is what most sellers use, is incomplete. And don't forget the fact that the very basics of lending have changed substantially, even in just the past few months. This can and will affect the purchase of your home in fundamental ways.

Sellers might also mishandle contingencies, home inspections, title clearance, deadlines and disclosures, etc. The advice and guidance of an experienced real estate agent is essential to ensure that you avoid the risk of expensive litigation and ensure a successful home sale. Here's the thing: I'm actually a big advocate of the DIY mentality. I employ it myself. I fix things around my house and in my rental property as necessary. I've built my own guitar and my own websites. I love being hands on, and I respect the need to be involved.

When it comes to real estate, I suggest working with a Realtor who is cool with you being involved with the process. Don't skip out on being involved with the process, but don't skip out on representation either. If your goal is to "save money", it's not going to happen by doing everything yourself. Sorry. Every endeavor has a point where the complexity necessitates professional help. Real estate has reached that point. It is too much for most people. It's even too much for most Realtors, who are quitting daily in this business. Partner with a competent and experienced Realtor. You may think the market is bad and you need to save every penny you can. That's why you need someone on your team to make sure things go as smoothly as possible. Let's get it done the right way the first time.

Some reading material for you

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:58:36 -0600

Every so often, Realtor.org publishes this list with the help of Amazon.com. It's the top selling books on Amazon in the real estate category. It's always good to know what your peers are reading. This is an time to concentrate on the essentials of our business. Surely education is on our list of priorities, right?

I find it interesting how old some of these top titles are. Some of them have been on the shelves for many years. I remember reading #10, What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know about Cash Flow... And 36 Other Key Financial Measures, several years ago. In the business of real estate, time is always of the essence, but some content never goes out of style. This is one of the classics in my opinion. I'm surprised sometimes how many of us are not privy to the real definition of NOI (Net Operating Income), for example. The very basics of real estate investing are here. It teaches you how to competently analyze properties on a cursory level. It also gives you all the tools necessary to go as deep as you want. What I like even more about this book is how it offers free downloads of some very simple but effective tools you can use to analyze different opportunities automatically.

Another on this list I can personally vouch for is The ABC's of Real Estate Investing. I haven't made up my mind quite yet how I feel about Kiyosaki himself, the creator of the Rich Dad franchise. But the content he and his team have produced has definitely been helpful and motivational to millions on a consistent basis. And I've found his team of advisors, who also write books for the Rich Dad library, are top notch. This book is no exception. What I found most interesting about this particular piece was that Ken McElroy, the author, takes the mysticism out of investing in property nationally and even globally. It's a step I haven't yet taken myself, but in reading the book, I learned that I do indeed have the tools to buy and manage property in other states and other countries. It's a step that intimidates many investors, but McElroy drops the bomb on how simple it really is. There's no magic, just math and step-by-step instructions.

The next on my list is SHIFT. It's gotta be. As soon as I finish The Lexus and the Olive Tree (a great book on globalization by Thomas Friedman). I've loved Gary Keller and company's Millionaire series. You know the red book and the blue book. We've all learned great principles from them so far. I have a copy of Flip, but I haven't read it yet. I'm not really considering a flip anytime soon? However, SHIFT couldn't be more timely. I was invited to the launch thing they did in Chicago but I wasn't able to attend. I heard the event went down really well.

It's weird how impossible it is to calculate the actual return on investment when it comes to reading good books. How much money have I made from what I learned in The Millionaire Real Estate Investor? And how much will I continue to make for the whole of my career? It's impossible to calculate. But when you compare it to any other investment, the ROI's gotta be good! And what's more, the return is always positive. Knowledge gained and applied through reading never results in a loss. If investing without risk exists, it exists in books. Anyway, here's the list:

1. The Subprime Solution: How Today's Global Financial Crisis Happened, and What to Do about It , By Robert J. Shiller

2. The Subprime Solution: How Today's Global Financial Crisis Happened, and What to Do about It (Kindle Edition) , By Robert J. Shiller

3. Rich Dad's Advisors®: The ABC's of Real Estate Investing: The Secrets of Finding Hidden Profits Most Investors Miss (Rich Dad's Advisors) , By Ken McElroy

4. The Pre-Foreclosure Property Investor's Kit: How to Make Money Buying Distressed Real Estate -- Before the Public Auction , By Thomas Lucier

5. Home Buying For Dummies, 3rd edition , By Eric Tyson and Ray Brown

6. Real Estate Investing for Dummies , By Eric Tyson and Robert S. Griswold

7. Real Estate Finance & Investments (Real Estate Finance and Investments) , By William B Brueggeman and Jeffrey Fisher

8. SHIFT: How Top Real Estate Agents Tackle Tough Times , By Gary Keller, Dave Jenks, and Jay Papasan

9. Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis , By Mark Zandi

10. What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know about Cash Flow... And 36 Other Key Financial Measures , By Frank Gallinelli

10 Safety Tips for Real Estate Agents

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:53:20 -0600

Today I've included some safety tips I picked up from my reading this week. Source: Maryland REALTOR. Safety is a significant concern today. Don't neglect common sense, but sometimes it's more than common sense that's necessary. Be smart and educated. That means occasionally taking a few extra steps. It ALSO means on occasion saying no to a client you don't know who wants to meet you at an REO with no electric, in the country, at night. Duh, you say?

You'd be surprised how often we skip the most basic common sense stuff. We tell ourselves how unlikely it is that the person is going to be a bad guy. My first two years in the business, I sold about 70 houses, and out of that sample of people, I worked with two child molesters, a rapist and a murderer. These are the ones I found out about. There may have been more of course. Who knows? I found out in each instance AFTER the fact. I was lucky enough to have had no compromises to my safety, but the experience taught me a lesson. The lesson is this: the bad guys ARE out there, and you ARE working with them. They ARE calling your office. It's an inextricable part of the business. Therefore, getting educated and following through on personal safety is a job requirement.

1. Watch your advertising. To keep yourself safe from criminals posing as prospective home buyers, real estate practitioners should never advertise a property as vacant. You also should never print your home telephone number on a business card.

2. Meet at a public place. When meeting clients for the first time, have the introduction at an office environment and at a public place.

3. Find out about the customer. During that initial meeting, request identification, citing company policy as the reason. Find out as much information as possible about the would-be buyer -- such as place of employment -- before taking him/her on a showing.

4. Let others know where you're going. Provide a colleague with your itinerary.

5. Take your own car. Insist on driving your own vehicle to the property.

6. Follow, don't lead. Once at the listing, the prospect should be allowed to take the lead in exploring the home, as you maintain a safe distance behind. However, it is best not to follow prospective buyers into basements or other confined areas.

7. Keep your cell phone close and ready. Real estate agents also can improve their safety in the field by keeping a charged cell phone, with 911 on speed dial, on their person at all times.

8. Check in. Someone in the office should check in periodically with you. Have a code word that you and your office know, which when used, signals that you are feeling uncomfortable or threatened.

9. Don't go solo. It is good practice to avoid working solo at public open houses.

10. Trust your instincts. If you're picking up a bad "vibe," simply walk away from a listing or showing.

Highest Crime Cities...is there a Correlation to Real Estate?

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:51:53 -0600

Highest Crime Cities...is there a Correlation to Real Estate?

The Congressional Quarterly Press just put out its "most dangerous cities" list for the past year. New Orleans is in the number one spot. In 2007, Detroit had the lead, but now we've noticed some competition from New Orleans Misfortune begets crime. We've seen a marked increase in crime in our foreclosure hotspots. I mention this list after learning that there is a statistical increase in crime of over 2% that comes with each 1% increase in foreclosures in a neighborhood. Is anyone paying attention to this correlation? With such a wave of distressed housing across the US, what will happen to our crime rates, and do you expect to see any new names on this list next year?

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in America 2008

New Orleans
Camden
Detroit
St. Louis
Oakland
Flint, Mich.
Gary, Ind.
Birmingham, Ala.
Richmond, Calif.
North Charleston

Metro Phoenix market stats

Mario Trejo Romero, CRS, CDPE (The Melcher Agency) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:33:56 -0600

Basic Absorption

Median Price

Months supply of inventory

Supply and demand