Mission Viejo, Madrid del Lago Homes Always Popular - 03/30/10 12:07 PM
Mission Viejo, Madrid del Lago Homes Always Popular
Mission Viejo has mostly single family home neighborhoods. When the Mission Viejo Company first tried to lure buyers to this bedroom community in 1967, they did so with large lots and generous floor-plans. This tradition continued as Mission Viejo grew into one of the most popular family cities in Orange County.
One of the most popular tracts were the Madrid Homes. These homes were built near the golf course and in many other pockets all over Mission Viejo. In the 1970s, the Mission Viejo Company began construction on Lake Mission Viejo....a man-made recreational … (2 comments)

Buy, Wait, Tax Credits, Low Interest Rates, High Interest Rates, Hidden Inventory.....Huh? - 03/29/10 02:35 PM
What's a buyer to do? They have information overload. Sure the Internet has become a great source of information, and buyers are using this source, but are they getting information overload? I think so! So it's up to us, Realtors....professionals....to help them use this information to their benefit. The challenge is how to help these buyers focus on the basics of their personal situation.
Question 1: Why are you buying?
Tax break? Lower home prices? Growing family? What are the personal reasons for getting into my car today? Maybe just curiosity....testing the waters? Ok....but why today? Fear? Fear of missing the … (7 comments)

Dana Point, An Affordable Beach Town In Southern California - 03/29/10 11:16 AM
How many of us wish that we had bought that cute little beach cottage while it was still affordable? All of us? Well for as little as $400,000 you can still buy a single family home in Dana Point, California. And this is not a 500 square foot studio.....this home has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and an attached 2-car garage. Beach living at an inland price.
Dana Point has often been considered the "younger brother" to Laguna Beach. It shares the same stunning views of Catalina Island, warm weather and beautiful beaches. The famous surfer beach, Doheny, is located right next to … (1 comments)

The Internet Is The New Small Town.....Results Based On Hard Work, Ingenuity, Spirit - 03/27/10 10:45 AM
Remember when success could be achieved simply by hard work? When a young lawyer could hand a sign and expect that eventually the neighborhood would stop by for legal needs? When a young couple could open a hardware store on the corner? or a Realtor could move into town, hand out some donuts and develop a clientele? Capitalism at it's best! Those were such great little American towns, we could really build a reputation and rapport with our fellow citizens then.....and now? Yes, the Internet is the new small town, used properly.
Ah, now your wheels are turning....why,yes Karen....you are right!
… (7 comments)

San Clemente Real Estate, Search Affordable Beach Homes, Find A Second Home By The Beach - 03/27/10 09:45 AM
San Clemente Real Estate, Search Affordable Beach Homes, Find A Second Home By The Beach
San Clemente is one of best beach town values remaining in Southern California. Where else can you buy a single family ocean view home for $515,000? And that is not a short sale/bank owned price. A MLS Home Search finds many other options for you to choose from From the sunny cottages near the beach, to the spacious villas on the hill, all of San Clemente mixes old time beach charm with a revitalized community. There is even a Starbucks!San Clemente offers both the part time … (0 comments)

Just Passed $10,000 First Time Home Buyer Credit In California, Use It By Buying In Ladera Ranch - 03/26/10 06:42 PM
Just Passed $10,000 First Time Home Buyer Credit In California, Use It By Buying In Ladera Ranch
March 25th, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a $10,000 first time home buyer credit which will give home buyers in California a credit if they buy a new or resale home this year. One of the best family neighborhoods to use this new credit in is Ladera Ranch, California. If you are just starting a home search consider this lovely community in South Orange County.
Ladera Ranch has many unique neighborhoods to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. A quick MLS search of homes found … (6 comments)

Mission Viejo, California....Buy In Canyon Crest, A Million Dollar Neighborhood Now On Sale - 03/24/10 06:46 PM
Mission Viejo, California....Buy In Canyon Crest, A Million Dollar Neighborhood Now On Sale
In recent history the gated community of Canyon Crest in Mission Viejo has been priced well over $1 million. Out of the reach of the average home buyer. The short sale market, together with the home buyer tax credits, have created an environment when you can purchase in this lovely community.
A quick search of the MLS, Multiple Listing Service, shows over 25 homes for sale in Canyon Crest, Mission Viejo. Many of which will offer open houses this weekend. Many of these homes have views of Saddleback … (0 comments)

"YES" I Think Prices Are Going To Go Down......But Here's Why You Should Still Buy This House - 03/24/10 12:09 PM
The long and the short of it? This is the right house for you! Maybe we've been looking for months, and maybe this is the first home we've walked into....but who says that your "home" purchase has to be the very best deal you can find? Do you want to pass up the right house for the right deal? Make sure that you have spent the very least amount of money that you possibly can....and that you bought on exactly the right day?
At some point, homes began to be called "investments." This changed the mind set. Of course it is, … (11 comments)

Realtor-Hoppers.....Does Your Prospect Have A Realtor For Every Day Of The Week? Why? - 03/23/10 07:13 PM
I got a phone call last night about a possible referral. It was from a fellow Realtor who has a friend using multiple Realtors and found them all very pushy. Her friend was complaining that they were trying to get them to buy, every home they saw. As we continued our conversation we wondered if it was because they knew she was using multiple Realtors and they wanted to sell her a house before she saw the next one, or was it because they had not found the "right" Realtor yet.
I wonder......
What are the possible reasons that clients Realtor-hop? … (25 comments)

Religious Freedom......Or....How To Beat The New Healthcare Law - 03/23/10 06:15 PM
I'm about to embrace my inner-Amish. Why, you might ask? Well, I'm glad you did :)! The basic elements of the new Healthcare Law that I am concerned about can all be avoided by returning to my Amish roots. Stay with me....
For some reason, the writers of the Healthcare Bill cared to maintain the Religious Freedom that helped to fund our country. Are you aware that there are religions who do not use organized medicine for their health needs. The Amish are among them. They are a self-reliant society which takes care of each other, independent of government. They do … (9 comments)

Tend Your Real Estate Garden - 03/22/10 06:08 PM
I know, corny title. Sorry, but I just couldn't come up with anything better. But...the metaphor does work. I just got a picture from a friend of mine in Virginia of her gorgeous garden and all the bulbs coming up. The Daffodils, the Tulips, the Irises.....just stunning. I don't get this treat every spring, it doesn't get cold enough in Southern California to make this display.
It made me think about what was involved in planning for this beauty, and it did take planning, and work. Each year, my friend orders bulbs from a catalogue and carefully plants them to increase … (12 comments)

Call, Call, Call......Or Don't Complain About Your Government - 03/19/10 01:37 PM
This is it people....The Healthcare Bill. While some of us are going to be praying in church (maybe praying VERY hard:)), The House of Representatives is going to be voting on the take over of 1/6th of our economy. This is it!
Don't count on court challenges if you are against this Don't plan on a new healthcare bill coming if you are for this Don't waste this moment in time to make your voice heard....regardless of what side you are on This is the largest entitlement (not a bad word) program in a long time...maybe ever. It should not be … (3 comments)

Not My Normal Post.....I Love Bagels - 03/18/10 12:21 PM
I'm sorry in advance for this having absolutely nothing to do with real estate, or politics, or family, or anything else of true relevence in people's lives. Well, unless you love bagels too...not beagles, that's a different post...but bagels. Those wonderful breakfast toasts which hold the butter and cream cheese so well. Yum, yum, yum!
Well...my very short bit of information today has to do with Bagels. After carpool and before my first client, I ran to the market to pick up a few things:
1) Dog food (we are always absolutely OUT before my son bothers to tell me)2) Bread … (10 comments)

You Have 5 Minutes To Make A First "Credibilty" Impression Too - 03/18/10 11:56 AM
We all know that we have a very short amount of time to make a first impression with someone new. 5 minutes seems to be the accepted time frame. Ok, have you thought about this time table when it comes to credibility with your prospective clients? I think prospects take very little time to determine if they feel comfortable working with us so we need to make the most of the first 5 minutes.
Often we meet people for the first time when they come in for showings. After the handshake what we do will determine if we keep this client … (1 comments)

Following The Lead of Congress....."Deeming" Is All The Rage - 03/16/10 08:44 PM
Have you heard this? Apparently Nancy Pelosi and company have decided they don't have to actually pass a bill anymore, they can merely "deem" that it has passed. What? That's fantastic...what a way to live. Forget actual rules and procedure and go around "deeming"! Love it....so in the spirit of the day and in honor of Congress, I've decided to do some deeming of my own.
I will deem that my buyer's offer was accepted even though it was a low-ball I will deem that the bank has accepted my short sale with a hefty 7% commission I will deem that … (109 comments)

Collateral Damage: The Plight of Good Hard-Working Renters In Our Market - 03/16/10 08:28 PM
Renters are being treated terribly right now. The lack of consideration on the part of owners, agents and banks is stunning. Spend a little time on the Internet and you see many stories about renters coming home from work to find a notice on the front door stating their home is to be sold at auction next week. This morning I got a call from my son's friend who just found out the home he was renting had been foreclosed. He was being forced to move, and no way to get his deposit back from the bankrupt landlord.
Even if the … (11 comments)

Social Media.....How Much of Yourself Should You Expose? Staying Professional Online - 03/16/10 02:18 PM
I have taken a stand against adding clients or associates onto my Facebook. It started early when I had only a couple of friends and could see clearly what everyone was doing. Now? I check in and find 300+ notifications. Maybe if I added clients and associates now, I wouldn't notice it as much. I know that many, many, many of you find Facebook and other Social Media sites an important marketing tool. I'm not going to argue that I'm losing out on this, but I enjoy the silly, unprofessional side of me, and I'm smart enough to know where....and where … (30 comments)

Short Sale Success: Be The Tortoise Not The Hare, And Get Your Buyer The Home - 03/15/10 05:41 PM
Slow and steady had a whole new meaning when it comes to short sales. The slow part goes without saying....of course it's going to be slow. But I'm not talking about the time it takes for approval, I'm talking about the time it takes to get your buyer the home. There are specific steps I take to win this race and they are slow and deliberate. Do they always work? of course not, but the did this week :).
We read all the time about offers which are faxed or emailed to us without any personal contact by the agent first. … (0 comments)

"What Should I Offer"? Determining an offer price with your buyer - 03/14/10 09:10 PM
This is the million dollar question, isn't it? Sometime literally. Buyers are looking to us to know what to offer on a given property. While we can, and should, run comps and do our market research....it still comes down to that all important question, "So, what should I offer"?
There is no simple answer.
My answer normally starts with a promise to try and reach the listing agent. There are questions I'd like to have answered before I give an opinion:
1) Do you have any offers you are working right now?2) If so, how many?3) Has the seller/bank refused any offers?4) … (7 comments)

Question: Has Anyone Used Equator.com for GMAC? - 03/14/10 10:25 AM
I have a short sale I've been working on and the second is GMAC. I am hoping to have approval on the first trust deed Monday (it's Wells Fargo). I was thinking we could move this quickly. When I called to check on the package and progress with GMAC, I was told that they are now using Equator.com for their short sales. They gave me a website and said to log on, but the site only seems to service B of A.
Has anyone been sent to Equator for GMAC? or have an experience using them with B of A? This … (14 comments)

Recommending A Vendor To Clients? Try Them Yourself First - 03/12/10 10:22 AM
I might have made a mistake....I know, I know...shocking! I got a referral from an agent in my office for a carpet company. He said that he has used him for years and that they had great prices and quick service. So I have put this name and number in my sales book and referred them to clients who have asked.
Now....I have to say no one has called me to complain. But.....
A few weeks ago I decided to redecorate. My kids have mostly grown and moved on, so I'm tired of the scrubbable walls and bright colors in the … (15 comments)

They're Back.....The Income Stretcher Loan, Watch Out - 03/11/10 06:18 PM
I'm seeing these advertisements again....they are back. The slap on the wrist that the lenders took during the lending crisis has finally stopped hurting, and now they are back to their old tricks. Little by little, I see emails which sound like a very bad idea.Today's version is a 80% loan-to-value loan which allows a debt-to-income ratio of 60% for the mortgage payment. That's ridiculous. This is 60% of your GROSS income, not net. After taxes, insurance, food, gas, utilities....this is a fast way to become house-poor. Oh and it gets better....you can use all the funds for the down payment … (11 comments)

How To Maneuver The Road To Ruin - 03/08/10 06:22 PM
It's harder than you think, you need to work really hard to ruin your career in real estate. You need to take the time to think through every decision and then make the wrong one. Ignore the little angel agent on your shoulder who is giving you good advice and head in the exact opposite direction. Here is a road map for you, if you are lost on the way to your business's grave.
Head the opposite direction from the straight and narrow. Remember that zigging and zagging is always the surest way to make mistakes. Loop holes and gray areas … (10 comments)

Quick Tip: How To Get Members To Click On Your Blog Post - 03/07/10 10:55 AM
You are reading the first couple lines of my blog post! This is really my point, which is why this post is going to be very short. We all know that we need a catchy title, but remember too that the first couple lines of the blog post is also going to show in the Blog Roll....this is your opportunity to be clever, interesting or funny. They will read just this bit to decide if the rest of the blog is worth clicking over to.
I was recently reminded to use the "Statistics" option from my home page to see the … (7 comments)

Needed!!! Loan Officers, Realtors, Clients Without Rose Colored Glasses - 03/07/10 10:39 AM
I'm afraid this might turn into a rant, so I'm going to try and keep away from that, ALTHOUGH THIS DRIVES ME CRAZY. Oops...I drifted :). Anyone who did not start their career in the last 12 months remembers the "good old days." Something like this?
Loan Officer "well the buyer doesn't have any assets or job, but we can work with that, their FICO is over 620"
Realtor "no problem my buyer will pay $10,000 more than the last appraisal"
Buyer "Can I use the same stated income/stated asset loan to buy the house next door to flip"
Remember? I … (9 comments)

Managing The Needy Client and Still Managing Your Time - 03/06/10 07:54 PM
Everyone knows immediately who I'm talking about. Doesn't matter if it's a first time buyer or a real estate investor, it's the client who calls/emails all day long with every question which pops into their minds. I think we all feel for these clients, it's a big purchase/transaction, they are unsure of the process, or the timeline, or the costs, or the disclosures, and they need to speak to you; you need to explain it to them and ease their minds.
Of course....that's part of the job. The problem is that unless they are your only client (and that's a problem … (51 comments)

Ack....I'm Bored! I'm Having Comment-Block - 03/05/10 06:22 PM
That's right, comment-block. I need my points. I want to comment, but I'm just restless and not in the mood. I'm sorry....the problem is me, not you. I'm seeing some great posts about interesting things, but my concentration level is low, so I'm bouncing around like my husband with the TV remote. I'm sorry.
I'm going to take a deep breath and go back in. (Actually I'm taking a blog-break and then going back in) I can do it, I can read and make interesting helpful comments, and if I can't....then maybe I'll have a Martini and then make stupid comments :). … (18 comments)

If At First You Sense a Problem......Run Like The Devil - 03/05/10 09:40 AM
I know what you are thinking.....that's not very motivational! There is always a solution! Don't give up! This post is about giving up, walking away....no, RUNNING away. There is a very good case to be made for giving up. Not on life, or real estate, or marriage, but giving up on a transaction, buyer, seller...as soon as you see that it's a problem.
I'm not talking about problems in transactions, but ethical or legal issues. Please people.....don't wait until you are so far into the deal or so personally attached to the client that you miss the signs which can get … (14 comments)

Spring Clean Your Prospects.....Make Room For Fresh Ones - 03/04/10 09:22 AM
I have a file case that I carry around with me in my trunk. It contains all the open escrow files and also "active" prospect files. Yesterday I pulled it out of my car and sorted through it. Sure enough, it had files from "active" prospects that I hadn't seen in weeks.....maybe not as active as I had thought. As I pulled this out to refile (inside) I realized that that prospect section of my case was getting pretty light. It made me take stock of how much of my recent time has been spent on closing existing transaction vs attracting … (1 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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