activerain challenges: 3000+ Acts of Kindness from Boston to New York City - 12/28/23 07:54 PM
3000+ Acts of Kindness
A Bike Ride from Boston to New York City
 
It was 2000 and I was working as the VP of Human Resources for a start-up Internet Marketing company in downtown Boston. Early in the year word got around about the upcoming Tanqueray AIDS Ride from Boston to New York City. A bunch of us got together to talk about it and ultimately 10, including me, committed to training over the next several months for the ride – about 325 miles from Boston to Manhattan over 3 days.
 
A number of my teammates were avid cyclists and they kindly shared … (46 comments)

activerain challenges: Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA – The Arts Part 3 - 09/16/23 12:23 PM
Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad CA
~ The Arts Part 3 ~
 
The arts are just one of many reasons to love living in Carlsbad CA. 
 
In Part 1 of this series on the arts in Carlsbad we talked about theater and film including outdoor movies. Part 2 focused on the abundant music offerings in Carlsbad.
 
Part 3 is about the visual arts, including galleries, art fairs, wall murals, sculpture and more.
 
VISUAL ARTS
 
Visual art in Carlsbad covers a wide range of public art such as sculpture and wall murals scattered around town, among other things. Here’s a link to an interactive site that shows … (26 comments)

activerain challenges: Marching More Than 1 Foot Over the Line - 03/08/23 01:33 PM
Sometimes people step over the line in what they say or do. It might be a minor issue, or perhaps not. It may be unprofessional, or even unethical or illegal.
 
And sometimes it’s not just about people but things. Like a fence. And it killed the sale.
 
Some years ago I had an out-of-area buyer who was interested in buying a lot to build a home on in a semi-rural area, one that offered some views. We found a great lot, about 1 acre, on a hill about 10 miles inland, with great views of the mountains and hills plus a distant ocean … (41 comments)

activerain challenges: It’s Easy to Love Living in Carlsbad California - 02/14/23 01:46 PM
6 Big Reasons to Love Living in Carlsbad California
 
 
Debe Maxwell, CRS  and Brian England  are co-hosting the February Challenge, and encouraged us to write about why we love were we live. So here goes.
I first met Carlsbad in 2004 on a house hunting trip with my wife and liked it immediately. I moved here in April 2005 after a year of exploring a number of coastal communities after we had made the decision to relocate from Boston. I had no idea how much I would come to love living here when we first moved in, but there are plenty of reasons … (23 comments)

activerain challenges: Thank You for the December 2022 Challenge - 01/03/23 08:11 PM
Thank You for the December 2022 Challenge
 
In December AR members were challenged to provide tips on blogging – things to do and things not to do. And they responded generously with their wisdom and advice.
 
Thank you to the 37 bloggers who submitted posts, as well to everyone who read these posts and commented. Over 60 posts were shared with a wealth of advice from those who know about blogging…our ActiveRain Members. It’s essentially a book about blogging tips based on years of experience and success!
 
Here’s just a SMALL taste of the advice about what to do:
Just get started – stop putting … (33 comments)

activerain challenges: I’m Thankful for our Carlsbad Beaches - 11/21/21 07:59 PM
I’m Grateful for Carlsbad Beaches
 
I’ve spent much of my life near ocean beaches, and it would be hard to be far away from them. I don’t necessarily want to live right on the beach for a host of reasons but the lifestyle nearby is something I am grateful for.
 
Carlsbad has around 7 miles of beaches for us to enjoy, year-round because of our temperate weather. I appreciate them all and the lifestyle they afford. And with the crowds we see clearly many others enjoy them as well.
 
 
I really appreciate the accessibility to the Carlsbad beaches. Other than pay lots at … (27 comments)

activerain challenges: Let Freedom Ring – Life and Making Future Plans - 06/15/21 08:35 PM
Let Freedom Ring – Making Future Plans
 
On the day the state that was essentially the first to shut down in early 2020 re-opens its economy, an amazing 453 days later, it seems fitting to share my post for the June Post-Pandemic Let Freedom Ring Challenge.
 
I didn’t intentionally plan it that way, but given we just made some plans for the future why not celebrate those as well as the changes taking place in our state today. A new freedom is upon us all.
 
And who wants to let life pass us by!?
 
Family time continues to be important whenever possible, for us … (24 comments)

activerain challenges: A Special Thanks to All November Challenge Participants & Readers - 12/02/20 10:04 AM
A Special Thanks to November Challenge
Participants and Readers
 
The 2020 November AR Challenge was all about gratitude, as it is every year at this time. While several different people have hosted this Challenge over the years, the theme has always been about being thankful.
 
And we ALL have much to be thankful for, whether we think about it consciously or not, every day of the year, don’t we?
 
 
This Challenge was such a pleasure to host, and I’m grateful to each of you who contributed, from your heart, one or more posts. Yes, those points are a wonderful thank you, but I bet … (26 comments)

activerain challenges: November 2020 Gratitude Challenge Ends on the 30th - 11/21/20 04:26 PM
November 2020 Gratitude Challenge Reminder!
Deadline is November 30th
 
The November Gratitude Challenge is well under way, and this is your reminder the challenge ends in a little over 1 week. Your posts are due by 11:59 PM on Monday November 30!  We'd love to hear about what YOU are thankful for!
 
With the Thanksgiving holiday close by, and hopefully you are taking time away from work and being online, you don’t want to forget about the Challenge if you want to participate.
 
Who wants to scramble to write a post or 2 at the last minute?!
 
We’ve had plenty of Rainers submitting 1, … (34 comments)

activerain challenges: A Thankful Challenge for November 2020 - 10/28/20 08:03 PM
Gratitude Posts for November 2020
 
Every year for some time there has been a November Challenge leading up to Thanksgiving with a focus on what we are grateful for. And what could be more appropriate right now?
 
It’s not that we aren’t thankful all year long, but at this time of year we tend to reflect more on all we have to be grateful for. And perhaps in 2020 it’s even more meaningful.
 
This year our thankfulness challenge has a little twist to it…are you ready?
 
THE CHALLENGE:
For the November challenge you are to write a post on EITHER of the 2 topics below. ActiveRain … (214 comments)

activerain challenges: May ActiveRain Challenge – Zooming with Marte Cliff - 05/15/20 09:01 PM
May ActiveRain Challenge
Zooming to Network, Learn and Have Fun
 
Jeffrey Richman is hosting a challenge for May to encourage Rainers to get involved in the learning each week at Zoom meetings on Tuesdays at 2 PM EST (you can figure out the other time zones, right?).
 
Not only do you get to see and chat with your AR friends on the Zoom calls, and meet some new friends, but there is a speaker each week. Just think of all the benefits!
 
See your friends and chat
Meet new friends
Become more familiar with Zoom and how it works
Practice good Zoom etiquette (don't forget everyone … (52 comments)

activerain challenges: The Perks of Living in My Community - March 2020 Challenge Reminder - 03/16/20 01:54 PM
The Perks of Living in My Community
Reminder about the March 2020 Challenge
 
We are halfway through March, but there’s still plenty of time for you to write and share your thoughts about the perks of living in your community, with multiple photos and, if you are ambitious, an original new video.
 
 
Yes, there is a lot going on right now, in the news and in our lives, with changes daily. And perhaps blogging, and an AR challenge, are the least of your worries. I totally get that – our clients need our guidance and support, along with family members, friends and neighbors!
 
But for … (11 comments)

activerain challenges: The Perks of Living in My Community – March 2020 ActiveRain Challenge - 02/29/20 08:35 AM
The Perks of Living in My Community
 ~ ActiveRain Challenge for March 2020 ~
 
I bet most, if not all, of us really like where we live and find it easy to talk about why that’s so, especially when asked by buyers.
 
We know buyers are not just searching for the right house, but for the neighborhood that fits their particular lifestyle and needs. Buyers search for homes, but also areas that appeal to them and the amenities they offer.
 
It’s clear that posts about larger communities and individual neighborhoods typically get a lot of traffic, and are of interest to prospective buyers, and perhaps … (137 comments)

activerain challenges: My Client Touches – Who, What and When. The Why is Obvious - 01/11/20 04:25 PM
My Client Touches – Who, What and When!
The Why is Obvious!
 
One of the things I have tried to do over the years is stay in touch with past clients.
 
I realize in the early years this was not something I did very well, despite knowing, and being told, it was important to do.
 
I don’t have a good excuse for why that was the case…I suppose, in part, it was just not viewed as a priority, although it certainly should have been.
 
And it definitely had not gotten to be a good habit.
 
Over the years I improved in how I stayed in … (107 comments)

activerain challenges: Grateful for Firefighters, First Responders & Emergency Personnel - 11/17/19 12:02 PM
Gratitude Post #2 - Thankful for our Firefighters, First Responders & Other Emergency Personnel                  
 
How can one say enough thanks for the firefighters, first responders and other emergency personnel this year…or in many years here in California?!
 
No doubt many have seen the horrific photos, videos, and live coverage of the fires raging in California, with multiple fires happening at the same time, and often spreading rapidly due to windy conditions and record dry vegetation. While wildfires are common here it’s never something one gets accustomed to, just as you don’t with other natural disasters happening in other parts of the country.
 
Words … (11 comments)

activerain challenges: I’m Grateful for my Clients - 11/10/19 10:44 AM
I’m Grateful for my Clients
Week 1 in the Gratitude Challenge November 2019
 
As a business owner being grateful for clients is no small thing, but also pretty obvious.
 
If I don’t have buyers or sellers to work with, and to help them make some of the most important, and expensive, decisions in their lives…and life changing decisions…I can’t pay my bills (sorry, no trust fund here) and do the things I want and need to do personally and with family and friends.
 
But while having clients means having money, and financial stability, this is not about that at all.
 
One of the primary things … (12 comments)

activerain challenges: Reminder - The ActiveRain Challenge for October 2019 - 10/21/19 08:25 AM
A Reminder About the ActiveRain Challenge for October 2019
 
Halloween is coming up quickly, and you don’t want to be haunted by the fact that you didn’t participate in the October Challenge about your past life before real estate. And missed out on those 1000 bonus points for your reflections.
 
This is a friendly reminder the deadline is 10 days from now, on October 31st, at 11:59 PM PST. Since that IS Halloween and you could be busy with other things that evening, don’t put on writing your post til the last minute and miss out.
 
It’s been great fun to read the posts … (10 comments)

activerain challenges: An ActiveRain Challenge for October 2019 - In My Past Life I… - 09/19/19 07:23 AM
An ActiveRain Challenge for October 2019 - In My Past Life I…
 
Some here on ActiveRain may have moved into their full-time role as a REALTOR, or mortgage officer, or some other real-estate related position as their first “real” career. But most of us had one or more prior careers before transitioning into the real estate business.
 
THE CHALLENGE:
Tell us about your previous career, and your path to becoming a licensed real estate professional, staging professional, home inspector, mortgage officer, title or escrow officer, real estate consultant, and so on.
Our gallery - MARK GALLERY - in Cambridge 2002 - 2005
 Here are some … (272 comments)

activerain challenges: What a Difference a Decade Makes – A Reminder about the Challenge! - 07/26/19 12:12 AM
What a Difference a Decade Makes!!
A July Challenge Reminder!
 
This is a friendly reminder, for those who are up to the challenge and want to earn some additional points, that the deadline for the “What a Difference a Decade Makes” challenge is coming up fast.
 
Entries for the challenge are due by the end of the month, July 31st at 11:59 pm PST, which is next Wednesday!
 
Some of you luckty ones can stretch it into the very wee hours of Thursday am!
 
In case you missed the challenge, it’s about reflecting back on the last 10 years and what’s happened in your … (33 comments)

activerain challenges: What a Difference a Decade Makes – The July Challenge for You! - 06/27/19 08:19 PM
What a Difference a Decade Makes
A Challenge for You in July!
 
Your challenge, should you decide to accept it and want to earn some additional points, is to reflect on what’s happened in your life in the last decade, business-wise and personally, and share AT LEAST 10 things that have happened or changed.
 
And I betcha when you start reflecting back on the last decade you’ll think of all sorts of changes, some significant, that you forgot about.
 
Some changes may have just happened, as they tend to do, while others were made deliberately.
 
No doubt you’ve experienced both positive and negative changes in … (151 comments)

 
Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude (eXp Realty of California, Inc.)

Jeff Dowler, CRS

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Carlsbad, CA

More about me…

eXp Realty of California, Inc.

Address: 2647 Gateway Rd. #105-545, Carlsbad, CA, 92009

Office: (760) 840-1360

Mobile: (760) 840-1360


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