Love Him, or Hate Him.....Wishing Rush Limbaugh A Quick Recovery - 12/31/09 10:48 AM
I love Rush....yep, I am a conservative! I found his show 20 years ago when he first went national...and it was funny. I loved all the parodies and funny songs. One of my favorite was a feminist song played with "Fat Bottomed Girls"...I know, I know, awful. Oh....and the "12 Days of Clinton" a Christmas favorite.
I think that the show has morphed into a more serious format...and I miss the updates and funnies. But one thing I've always appreciated is that every day the show is interesting and different. He stays upbeat and patient. It's an easy listen for 3 … (7 comments)

New Year's Eve in Rancho Santa Margarita - 12/31/09 10:33 AM
I'm heading out to the Civic Center tonight in Rancho Santa Margarita for "Celebrating Family and Friends" night....New Year's Eve. It starts at 4:30 and there is going to be a magic show. I am hosting a booth which claims to be "bumper cars." I'm not sure how that is going to work. It's a 10' by 10' booth....but we'll see.
This is my first time manning this booth....I said "yes" in a church parking lot without too much thought as to the question. But it's fine.....I'm actually looking forward to it. Except it's being set up on grass and we've … (2 comments)

Price Fixing.....Ethics.....and The Farm-Realtor, Controlling Their Market - 12/31/09 10:18 AM
I've been thinking about this for a long time. "Farms" are a term Realtors have used for decades to describe specific neighborhoods that they claim as their territory. These Realtors spend time and resources in this small area by door-knocking, hosting garage sales and sponsoring Little League Teams. As a result, they are a familiar name when a home-owner decides it's time to sell.
This Realtor clearly knows the area and has earned the sale.....right? So they will be the best person for the listing.....or would they? I don't farm a particular physical area of my city....I farm via the Internet … (5 comments)

Can You Handle The Truth From Your Realtor? - 12/30/09 11:44 AM
Here it is....."I don't know." I wish I did! I wish I knew when your house will sell, and at what price. I wish I knew what the sellers/bank/court will accept as a purchase price. I wish I knew what interest rates will be next month. I wish I knew if now was the best time to buy/sell or if you should wait. I wish I had the right answers all the time, but I don't. And that's not why you use a Realtor.....that might be why you use a fortune-teller :).
Realtors are facilitators. We are negotiators and fact finders. … (5 comments)

Seller Lost The Home Due to Land Lease.....Learned Something New - 12/29/09 03:19 PM
This is a tragedy....I'm sharing this because we are all having to deal with short sales and we can all benefit from learning every possible pitfall. Today we learned that my seller has lost his right to "sell" his home and it is owned by the lease-holder instead, he's been evicted.
I need to start by explaining that the home is on leased land....and truthfully, it's sub-leased land but for the purposes of this lesson, that doesn't really matter. The home is a condo and the complex is on leased land. This is somewhat unusual and means that the condominium association … (12 comments)

Political Correctness of "Happy Holidays" is NOT Consideration....it's Laziness - 12/26/09 11:05 AM
I've thought a lot about the "Happy Holidays" argument and have decided that it is not being considerate of the other person....it's pure selfishness and laziness on our part, my part. There are only two scenarios in wishing someone a nice holiday season....people we know and people we don't. Everyone falls into one category or the other.
People we know.....by definition, we know these people. We should have taken the time to know what holiday they might celebrate. Are they Christian, Jewish, Muslim.....Druid? Who are these people that we say we "know"? If we truly have taken the time to get … (20 comments)

Merry Christmas.... - 12/25/09 10:13 AM
I'm still waiting for all the kids to wake up....later start times now that they are all grown. I remember when I had to do the stockings the night before. I'd get the kids upstairs and sneak down, last night I didn't even leave out cookies :(. This is also the first Christmas morning my oldest is spending with his WIFE....how did that happen.
That might sound like I'm missing the "old" Christmases....but I'm not! I'm so grateful that as things change, the love and family doesn't change. I'm very fortunate to have kids who love being with us and who … (9 comments)

Update On My Toxic Mold Problem......A Mold Free Christmas - 12/23/09 02:45 PM
I just got notice that my mold remediation was successful and I have full clearance. Some of you might remember my previous blog post I Have Toxic Mold.....but I know what to do because I'm a Realtor last week. In a nutshell, I had a plumber come out to fix a leak and found a large mold problem under my wallpaper in my laundry room.
I'm finding that my homeowner's insurance is covering all the mold remediation and restoration and my home warranty is taking care of the plumbing issues. I am only going to pay my small deductable. I have lived … (6 comments)

Look for a way to help others this Christmas consider becoming.... - 12/20/09 10:42 AM
I hope this is being reblogged all over the Internet....what a wonderful, tangible idea of giving.
Via Charles Stallions Real Estate 800-309-3414 Pensacola, Fl. :
A Layaway Angel, How you ask? Go to any K-mart between now and the 24th of December ask for the layaway associate or the Manager. They will know what to do, some has helped by giving $20., a child in Ohio gathered money from her schools and gave $50., a father took his children to his local k-mart and the manager picked out a family that had just put underwear, socks and few clothing items on layaway and … (2 comments)

Twas The Night Before "Real Estate" Christmas.....another real estate poem :) - 12/20/09 10:33 AM
Twas the Night Before ChristmasAnd all over the officeNot an offer came throughOn a house that was nice.
The buyers were nestledAll snug in their bedsIgnoring the listingsBut keeping well fed.
While I in my carHead to "Open the House"And wait in the kitchenBut it was quiet as a mouse.
When out on the lawnThere arose such a clatterI ran through the doorTo see what was the matter.
When what to my wonderingEyes should appearBut an agent and buyerWith an offer to hear.
They spoke many wordsAnd we went straight to workNot a lowball offerFrom a know-it-all jerk.
Laying a fingerOn … (16 comments)

Two Weeks To Change The Future...Reflect and Prepare - 12/20/09 10:19 AM
The next two weeks are my favorite weeks of the year. Not just for the Christmas festivities....parties and presents and time with loved ones. But these are the two weeks every year which influence my future the most. Time to review and reflect on the past year. To appreciate the good already received and prepare myself to gain more good in the future. Showing gratitude and also recognizing what lead to that abundance.
While not every year has been as successful financially as others....I'm not talking about money. I'm talking about experience!
Every year we gain experience! We learn and grow and … (7 comments)

Another Pitfall For Buyers.....Qualified Buyers, Unqualified Properties - 12/20/09 09:51 AM
It's a tricky lending environment out there now....this statement is nothing new, but few buyers are prepared for the perils of a transaction which have nothing to do with them. Buyers with credit that is average, are already prepared for the difficulty of financing, but those with great credit are shocked to find they might still not be able to buy the perfect home and it has nothing to do with them.
There qualifications of the property to be financed also have a lot to do with it. Lenders are more cautious about lending money and more concerned about the condition of … (6 comments)

I Have Toxic Mold.....but I know what to do because I'm a Realtor - 12/18/09 08:43 PM
Mold! Scary subject.....sounds deadly and expensive. Well, yes....it can be. So I was just as shocked as my clients when I realized that the plumber was showing me mold in my laundry room behind the "lovely" 1980s laminated wallpaper. Oh No!
As I sit here writing this blog, my mold is gone and there are air scrubbers loudly scrubbing the air behind the Hazard Materials sign on the door to my laundry room. :)
I'm fortunate to have our area's premier mold detection inspector as my home inspector, so I already know a great deal about mold. I know that it … (11 comments)

The Short Sale Is Approved.....but not at the buyer's price. - 12/18/09 08:09 PM
Pay attention to the comparable market data before you write an offer and it will save you a lot of grief and stress. Short sale lenders are! There is a disturbing trend of buyers being used as pawns in the short sale process. Just yesterday I received an email from the Internet from a buyer frustrated because he was losing a house he desperately wanted and he had offered "full price." But when they got the final short sale approval....it was for 15% more than he had offered. He was writing me to see what to do!
What to do.......
This … (8 comments)

My One Year Anniversary On Active Rain.....I Think :) - 12/17/09 09:40 AM
I'm not completely sure.....I know that I found Active Rain last December, although my first blog post wasn't until January 10th. Normally my business slows down in December and I have an opportunity to reflect and plan ahead. This year has been a little different and my activity has remained high. While I'm not complaining about the increase in business, I do miss the time to reflect and plan.
I do know that in evaluating the past year, Active Rain has been the most rewarding change in my routine. I love starting every day with blogs and comments from professionals I … (23 comments)

Explaining Your Market To Your Client - 12/15/09 09:48 AM
Every single person reading this blog post is facing a different Real Estate market trend. You are reading newspapers, watching market reports ane predictions on TV, and searching the Internet for information.....and finding wide generalization. While the larger financial trends provide valuable insights into macro-economics, The Real Estate market we face on an individual basis is completely local.
There is a saying in politics...."All politics in local." We can apply this phrase to Real Estate as well. No one would come to a city council meeting and expect to find the same issues and challenges in Los Angeles as in Detroit, … (5 comments)

Our Family Christmas....Marxism Has It's Place - 12/14/09 09:42 AM
Don't prejudge this title. My extended family always gets together for Christmas Day/Dinner. I have been so fortunate to have my brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and families near-by. Growing up we met at Grandma's home every Sunday night for dinner, now that she's gone.....it's more like 2 Sunday's a month and we take turns between my mom, aunt and myself.
This has been a difficult year for some of my brothers and their families. One had a business fail and close. He spent 2 months with NO income. My parents paid their mortgage and I helped with groceries and utilities. My … (29 comments)

Are You New To Real Estate? All New Clients Are NEW, Regardless Of How Experienced We Are. - 12/12/09 02:34 PM
It can be very intimidating to be brand new at something. A new Realtor might look around the room at the sales meeting and feel like everyone knows so much more than they do....which is why they are succeeding. Not taking away from the value of referrals...but often we are getting our leads the same way a new agent would. Blogging, advertising, work ethic.
I get many of my new clients from the Internet, I put time into blogging and my website.... A new agent can do this. I advertise in some local publications....A new agent can do this. I take … (1 comments)

What Am I Doing Today For My Business? NOTHING.....Baking Cookies - 12/12/09 01:52 PM
My schedule today is my own. It's pouring rain outside and I'm so happy my 1pm appointment moved to Sunday. So, I'm listening to a cooking show on the radio...and baking Christmas cookies. Today, I'm enjoying my family and my home. I have a fire going, the Christmas trees are lit (yes, I have two) and I'm baking.
Pumpkin Granola/ Cranberry CookiesChocolate, Chocolate ChipPecan SnowmenPeanut Brittle CrispsGingersnaps
Wonderful day.....doing absolutely nothing for my business....everything for my soul!!!
… (7 comments)

The Top Five Things "A Charlie Brown Christmas" Can Teach Us About Real Estate - 12/11/09 09:14 AM
For years Charlie Brown has taught us the true meaning of Christmas,  not he's teaching us the true meaning of real estate....great post!!!!
Via Nancy Milton REALTOR/GRI GoshenRealtyGroup.com (RE/MAX Preferred Partners in St.Louis' Illinois suburbs):
As I was re-watching"A Charlie Brown Christmas" (ACBC) this season, it struck me that the terrific life lessons contained in this beloved holiday special could easily apply to those of us who work in real estate -- especially during a year of recession.
1.) MAYBE SMALLER IS BETTER. Charlie Brown's sad little Christmas tree was reviled and then revived with love, faith and a warm, blue blanket. … (3 comments)

Happy Chanukah!!!! - 12/10/09 08:37 PM
Tomarrow is the first day of the Festival of Lights celebration known as Chanukah. I want to take this opportunity to wish all our Jewish friends a joyous Chanukah! My son's best friend is Jewish and after being able to share with him his Bar Mitzvah last December, we have been fortunate to be invited to many of his traditions.
The Chanukah is described as the triumph of of light over darkness, purity over adulteration, and spirituality over materialism. What a beautiful thing to celebrate this time of year.
Tomorrow at sundown the first candle is lit....and I will be saying … (8 comments)

Forget The Big Picture.....Business Is One Client At A Time - 12/10/09 08:01 PM
Perspective is a funny thing. Often we hear "remember to look at the big picture." And "it's the little things which matter." Etc....lots of advice on how to look at a situation to make us feel good. Tonight, I'm thinking that we need to get away from the "Big Picture" and realize that our business is built one client at a time. That's a pretty small picture...but add more and more small pictures and you've built a life and a business.
The news every night is talking about the economy, real estate and the future.....that's the Big Picture. We all know … (10 comments)

I Lost My Voice.....What's a Realtor To Do? - 12/05/09 10:45 AM
I've looked all over my house this morning....and no voice. Yes, yes....I should have taken better care of it this past week, I was fighting a flu (I guess you could say I lost that battle). But I managed to get things done via email/voicemail/assistants and safe distances. But today.....I need it and can't find it anywhere.
Uh oh!
Now....regardless of how sexy my husband thinks I sound, I would really like to be able to speak to my clients today. I feel fine now and can work. I am no longer contagious. I'm heading back out....with hand gestures? Knowing nods … (28 comments)

Deciphering the Short Sale Term "Approval" - 12/03/09 10:06 AM
"Approved Short Sale" We see these in listings all the time. One would assume this means we can proceed as if it were a normal sale....provided we offer exactly the same terms and price. But this is not always the case, and it can be confusing for the buyers and agents alike.
A true "approval" is great....and rare. Even when the bank has approved the terms and price, they often need to re-approve the new buyer, and this can cause delays. The best way to communicate a true approval is by calling it a "buyer-neutral" approval. Many banks give this type … (9 comments)

Success...Simple As ABC - 12/02/09 09:06 PM
ABCs...the essence of simplicity! Do the basics and reap success.....really? Yes! Do a few things well and then add upon them. This is how we learned our alphabet to begin with. We literally did start with ABC. The ABCs of Real Estate?
A: Apply
Apply the basic rules you know to be good business. Honestly apply what you have learned about customer service, duty and business ethics. Apply the techniques you've learned in classes and in practice for the benefit of your client. Apply your skills, intelligence and strength. Apply, apply, apply
B: Become 
Become better than you were yesterday. Become … (5 comments)

The Power Of The Words....."I Don't Know, But I'll Find Out" - 12/01/09 10:13 PM
We don't know everything....there is no way we can. When I talk to a prospective client, I make sure they know this. Does this sound like an effective sales line...."Hi, hire me, but I don't know everything"!
I don't pretend to know every thing that can come up in a transaction. Especially now, with short sales and bank-owned sales so normal, we face new challenges every single day. But I do make sure my prospective client knows that I will be there to find the answer for them....that's the key.
"I don't know....but I will find out"
This is an incredibly … (11 comments)

 
A Southern California Coastal agent's perspective on real estate and other things that interest me!

Author Bio: Karen Fiddler has been a Realtor for...



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