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orange county real estate search: Where Is My Bidding War? - 04/30/12 10:51 AM

 
Where Is My Bidding War?
 
The Orange County Real Estate Market is so confusing for a seller....heck, for buyers too. Our transition from a Buyer's Market to a Seller's Market happened so quickly that few consumers were ready for it, on either side.
So now that sellers should have the upper hand, they should still be careful about playing games.
There is a property I've been watching which seems to be doing just this. I don't know if it's the agent's strategy or the seller's but they are trying to create a bidding war, and not being very … (36 comments)

orange county real estate search: Lightening And Hail Coming To Mission Viejo - 04/13/12 10:17 AM

 
Today is not a good day to be outside. Mission Viejo and Southern California will be experiencing a major weather system. Rain, lightening, hail will cause havoc on the roads and in communities, so knowing what to do can be the difference between safety and damage.
Clearly the best thing to do is move your pets inside and put vehicles in the garage...then light a fire and read a good book by the fire.
Oh if we could only do this.
But if you are going to be out and about....be prepared. Drive slowly! Be ready to pull over … (5 comments)

orange county real estate search: Correcting A Bad Hair Color....Cheaper Than Correcting A Bad Real Estate Deal - 01/31/12 10:58 AM

 
 
I got my hair done yesterday. At my age, and with my amount of hair, this is a long process. Base color to hide my roots, highlights to pretend it's sun-streaked, trim, style...you get the idea.
I do enjoy it though...the salon I go to is filled with friends of mine. These are women that my kids have gone to school with and clients and personel all have a great time.
Yesterday, however, one poor woman was having major color correction done. She had been "impatient" (her word not mine) and a bit "cheap" and had tried a … (48 comments)

orange county real estate search: Uh Well, Yes I Am The Same Person Who "Sold" You The House......The One Underwater Today - 01/26/12 03:38 PM

 
Yes.....I've been working in real estate long enough to have lived through some boom and bust. As a result, some of my buyers are underwater today, and along with lenders, we are the face of the industry. But blaming us? I'd rather you didn't.
I had a shocking phone call yesterday. I was making some phone calls to past clients to check in with them, say "hi" and of course....ask for referrals.
Although I do become quite fond of my clients when we are working together, it's still a business relationship.
I almost always end the transaction on a … (39 comments)

orange county real estate search: I'm Just A Realtor®....I Can't Put A Hex On You - 01/25/12 06:24 PM

 
I am just a Realtor®! I don't wear a black cape or carry poison apples. I don't know any (good) spells. My sword skills are sorely lacking. I have never been convicted accused of kidnapping.
I'm really not that scary!
But I do scare people. I hear from time to time that someone was "afraid" to call/email me. Why is that? How could that be? I mean "little old me"?
Ok.....I get it. Taking that step, talking to a real estate agent, you might end up listing your house or worse.....BUYING A HOUSE. We have a habit of finding … (20 comments)

orange county real estate search: "You Do What You Say You'll Do...And You Are There When You Need To Be" - 06/02/11 11:03 AM
"You Do What You Say You'll Do...And You Are There When You Need To Be"

 
It's so simple to keep clients happy! This wonderful comment came from a current seller of mine. I called to apologize for not getting them an answer on a question earlier that day.
"No problem, we weren't worried. You do what you say you'll do and you are there when you need to be."
Wow....what a great compliment. Maybe the best I've ever gotten!
I'd love to say that every client of mine feels this way....I have dropped the ball before. But this is … (17 comments)

orange county real estate search: Face To Face With A Rattlesnake - 05/26/11 10:12 PM

 
No....I'm not talking about a short sale negotiator or a listing agent who doesn't know his listing's market value...I'M TALKING ABOUT A SNAKE!
I've spent most of my life in Southern California, but I've never happened across a rattlesnake before. And I hope I never do again.
I've been hanging at my cabin in Lake Arrowhead this week.....absolutely perfect weather for hiking. I love to hike. Not for the exercise, but just to be in the middle of the beautiful terrain.
My love came from dad. Even at 77 years old he's the only one who'll go out with … (81 comments)

orange county real estate search: Did You Mean To Send This Email To Little Old Me? Oops! - 11/18/10 01:47 PM

 
 
If you are going to lie to me....may I suggest you take more care before you send emails? I might get one you didn't mean for me to read......ooooooops! :)
I've spent the last couple days listening to the sob story of a buyer's agent telling me that the reason his client needs to cancel our escrow is because of a job loss. We are 2 weeks from the close and contingencies have been removed. My sellers are wonderful people who have bent over backwards for this buyer and have been conflicted about asking for the deposit.
My … (256 comments)

orange county real estate search: "I Want It"..."No, We're Going To Pass"...."Oh No, Did We Miss It"...."I'm Not Sure About The Street"...."We Lost The Perfect Home" - 11/15/10 02:07 PM

 
 
 
 
 
"I Want It"..."No, We're Going To Pass"...."Oh No, Did We Miss It"...."I'm Not Sure About The Street"...."We Lost The Perfect Home"
All these comments came yesterday by the same clients. After looking for a couple of weeks, they had reached the stage of panic.....they really hadn't found the right home and were afraid it just wasn't out there and they had passed up the "next best" option. Somewhere.....but they weren't even sure which that was. Slow down and breath deeply! :)
While I'm pretty sure there is a Code of Ethics rule which prohibits me … (45 comments)

orange county real estate search: Stop Complaining About Zillow And Appreciate How It Changed Our Market And Brought Us Business - 05/04/10 12:05 PM
There is a sibling rivalry going on between Real Estate Professionals and Zillow! From the very conception of the Zillow website, Realtors have seen it as direct competition? That consumers can use their tools to;
1) Run their own comps2) Search for listings on their own3) Get current mortgage rates and payment estimates4) Ask advice from Realtors5) Get local market reports
And the dreaded "Zestimates" that's a big problem for Realtors.
I suppose if that's all I offered as a Realtor...then I'd feel replaced as well. But that's the minutia of my job. I want to talk about what wonderful opportunities … (2 comments)

orange county real estate search: Open House Today Ladera Ranch Detached Home $519,900 - 04/10/10 11:02 AM

Open House Today 4/18 from 1-4pm. This amazing detached home is in Ladera Ranch, California...one of the most beautiful planned communities in South Orange County. Behind the lush landscaping and graceful entry way is a 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home. Both the formal dining room and family room have french doors to let the inside in....the kitchen has been highly upgraded with granite counter tops and state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances.
Stepping outside the enclosed front yard and you have access to all the amenities of Ladera Ranch. Every neighborhood is uniquely designed with walking trails and playgrounds. This Savannah home also … (2 comments)

orange county real estate search: Search Mission Viejo Real Estate......Mission Viejo Lake View Homes For Sale - 04/06/10 11:03 AM
Search Mission Viejo Real Estate......Mission Viejo Lake View Homes For Sale
I love view homes! And Mission Viejo has many neighborhoods which allow you to enjoy great views. The Madrid del Lago and Canyon Crest communities are a couple of good choices. Both have expansive view homes of both Saddleback Mountain and Lake Mission Viejo. These single family homes range from a 2200 sq.ft. single story home to close to 4000 sq. ft.
There are also lake front options....that are affordable. Lake Mission Viejo is surrounding by lake front custom homes, but there are also a couple of condo communities. Both … (3 comments)

orange county real estate search: Single Family Home in Ladera Ranch, California $519,900 - 04/05/10 09:02 PM

Graceful Southern Living....right in the middle of Orange County, California. This Ladera Ranch detached home is affordably priced at $519,900. 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, over 1750 sq.ft. and a 2-car garage. The master suite even has an expansive deck which overlooks the greenbelt.

Ladera Ranch is located in the heart of South Orange County and is one of the most desirable. Impectably planned to provide for recreation and relaxation, each development has a local park, wide open streets and easy access to walking trails. In addition to being close to the beach, Ladera Ranch has one of the most … (0 comments)

orange county real estate search: Mission Viejo, California....A Great Place To Live. Real Estate Is Still Reasonable. - 04/02/10 09:42 AM
Mission Viejo, California....A Great Place To Live. Real Estate Is Still Reasonable.
A popular morning activity in Mission Viejo, California is a walk around the lake.....for exercise. Although many of these walks end at Bagels and Brew, the original intention of the walkers is good health. Well I guess good health could include a loaded bagel....at least for me.
What hit me today as I was running carpool and watching the walkers as they got their morning dose of fresh air.....is that most of them brought their dogs. I've even seen a kitty or two in the pet strollers....have we really gotten … (1 comments)

orange county real estate search: Buyers!!! Are you waiting? Sellers!!! Are you scared? - 01/19/09 12:05 PM
We all know the answer to these questions is "YES." At least to some degree. Which is understandable! It also follows that many agents are seeing their leads slow down because the news is constantly telling the public how "desparate" agents are. Wow...a sales industry who's DESPARATE, that's going to get us lots of contact. :)
Well, all of the above might be true, but it leaves many potential....future...clients out in the dark. We at Great Western Realty Group are looking to the future, as well as the present. We are not just servicing the active, immediate buyer or seller. Our … (1 comments)

 
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