Protect yourself from identity theft - 12/27/09 11:00 PM
One of our attorneys sent out an email with this safety information in it. He said to spread it around, so I'm spreading it around. Use as you see fit to protect yourself from identity theft.
The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook, they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name, but your bank will know how you sign your checks. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put "PHOTO ID … (13 comments)

Christmas Eve San Diego from Coronado Island - 12/27/09 07:33 PM
For the last 15 years, we've taken Christmas Eve off and driven around San Diego trying to catch Santa Claus and his reindeer flying through the air.
We've never been successful, but we usually find lots of light displays to take pictures of instead.
This year, however, seemed to be a bust. The neighborhoods that had the most magnificent displays for the past few years are also the neighborhoods that have been hardest hit by foreclosures. Perhaps there's a correlation?
Even the McMansions over on Coronado Island were severely lacking in holiday lighting displays this year, so we set up the camera … (12 comments)

A public outcry really can make a difference! - 12/27/09 06:41 PM
A couple of days ago I wrote about Sonoma County, California, forbidding angels, stars, and other religious symbols on their Christmas trees, also known as holiday trees. Click here to read it and the comments.
It only took a couple of days for the public outcry to be heard by Sonoma County officials. Chris Thomas, the County's acting administrator, reversed his previous order to remove stars, angeles, and other items deemed religious. The prohibition was "extremely unpopular" among residents, county employees, and other county officials.
Unfortunately, the bad in society also came out, sending death threats to Irv Sutley, the atheist … (14 comments)

While you're with your loved ones, don't forget.... - 12/27/09 11:53 AM
....to share.
Share stories.
Share food.
Share love.
Share gifts.
Share fun.
Share time.
Take pictures. Record videos. Record stories. Record that favorite recipe.
If you're already home from the holiday visits, or you were the host and everyone has left, make that phone call now, send that email, to make sure you get a copy of those pictures, that video, that story, that favorite recipe.
… (15 comments)

HOW DO YOU APPEAL A BAD, LOW OR FLAWED APPRAISAL SO YOUR DEAL DOESN'T DIE? - 12/27/09 11:28 AM
Here is some great information about appealing appraisals. This was written by Mary Thompson, an appraiser over in Flowery Branch, Florida.
I always disable comments on posts that I reblog, so click here to visit Mary and tell her thanks. Perhaps even reblog it to your service area.
Best wishes to everyone for health, happiness, peace, and prosperity in 2010, and beyond!
Via Mary Thompson Lake Lanier Appraiser in Georgia (LakeFrontPros.com):
Here is what you need to do to fight a bad, low or flawed appraisal.
First I must say not ALL appraisals are flawed and not all appraisers are incompetent like so … (0 comments)

Fun history about The Sun, famous for its editorial, "Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Claus" - 12/26/09 09:06 PM
After posting about Virgina O'Hanlon, she of "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" fame, I got curious about The Sun, the conservative New York city newspaper that published the editorial.
Here are some interesting facts about The Sun for your holiday enjoyment:
Published from 1833 through 1950. The most politically conservative of New York's three newspapers, the other two being the New York Times and the New York Herald Tribune. Famous for its central role in the Great Moon Hoax of 1835, a series of articles about the discovery of life and civilization on the Moon. The discovery was attributed to … (12 comments)

Don't let your home become a funeral pyre! - 12/26/09 07:51 PM
From October 2001 to August 2005, I worked as a home inspector. During that time, I learned a lot about home construction and the many dangers that are inherent in real estate simply because there are so many things going on -- fireplace, water, electricity, heating, etc.
Since that time, I've paid closer attention to the cause of home fires as reported by in the newspaper or on the news and thinking about how deaths, injuries, and property damage could have been prevented.
A fire on December 24 in City Heights nearly resulted in the death of a teenager who was … (13 comments)

The Good Fairy? The Easter Bunny? Santa Claus? What about Virginia? - 12/25/09 01:31 PM
An editorial titled "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" was published on September 21, 1897, in The Sun (1833-1950), a conservative New York newspaper. The editorial remains the most reprinted editorial ever to run in any newspaper in the English language. Here it is, still appropriate 112 years later:
We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:
Dear Editor-
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If … (17 comments)

Angels and stars forbidden on holiday trees in Sonoma County, California - 12/24/09 07:29 PM
I'm all for the separate of church and state because I think it helps us get along with each other. Without it, I think we'd be in the same situation as many of the Middle Eastern countries.
For example, over in Egypt, the High Appeal Court upheld the four-year prison sentence given to an Egyptian blogger. His crime? Insulting Islam and Egypt's president. I'm presuming they don't have freedom of the press over there, either.
Here in Sonoma County, California, officials have instructed county departments to remove stars, angeles, or any other religious symbols from their holiday trees (also known as … (18 comments)

Gifts from the heart for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, closings - 12/24/09 05:52 PM
My mom, who is 70, probably surfs the Internet more than anyone I know, including me. She's always letting me know about stuff that she thinks could help me in my real estate career, and her most recent email is no exception.
She has found several web sites that are not only good for that last minute Christmas shopper looking for a customized gift, but these web sites look like they could be of great use throughout the year for that very special close-of-escrow gift to our Clients. Check them out:
stamps.com - make customized postage stamps using pictures of you, … (12 comments)

Airline lost your luggage? Read this! - 12/20/09 10:45 PM
According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), airlines are not allowed to limit reimbursement of baggage on domestic flights for lost luggage. You might have noticed that the like to state that their liability for lost luggage is either $25, $100, or, uh, nothing!
The DOT says that "Carriers should remain willing to cover all reasonable, actual and verifiable expenses related to baggage loss, damage or delay up to $3,300" per passenger for domestic flights and $1,500 for international flights.
The DOT even provides a letter to print and take with you whenever you fly, just in case you need to … (14 comments)

Stepping up to the plate: Tails of Kensington 2010 - 12/20/09 10:05 PM
With the economy having been in a swoon for a few years now, public and community services like libraries, fire fighting, and law enforcement are still being cut.
Margaret Downing, who lives in the Kensington neighborhood, has stepped up to do her part. In 2008, Margaret and her husband, Rex, who run a real estate brokerage, published Kensington's first dog calendar.
For the 2010 calendar, more than 100 dogs showed up for their calendar auditions, which cost $10 each. There were so many great dogs that Margaret decided to issue an 18-month calendar and include smaller pictures of many of the … (4 comments)

My ActiveRain success story: If you write it, they will read, and then they'll come - 12/20/09 09:42 PM
When my marketing guru first told me to join ActiveRain, start reading, start commenting, and start blogging, I was, like, uh, no.
He insisted, though. Told me it would be good for me. I was, like, uh, no. He kept insisting, and eventually I succumbed.
A few months ago after doing a lot of hyper-local blog posts, I did a search on "Mission Valley condos" and found myself on the first page of Google. Not only that, but I'm still there, and I'm the only Realtor listed.
I bring that up because I've held the same property open for another agent … (5 comments)

As we head into Christmas week and New Year's week, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE! - 12/20/09 09:07 PM
When I was a freshman at the University of Redlands, one of the guys that I was fast becoming friends with was killed during the Christmas holidays by a drunk driver. That was back in 1978. Since then I've been very careful when I go out and think that I might be drinking.
I'm not one to get drunk anyway — my first Mardi Gras is the only time I ever got drunk — but I don't know how much alcohol my body can absorb before my blood alcohol would register .08, and I would prefer not to find out.
As … (7 comments)

November 2009 unemployment numbers fall for California and San Diego County - 12/20/09 08:28 PM
Along with San Diego County home sales being up year over year for seventeen consecutive months, and the median price being up or flat for ten consecutive months, good news has also arrived in the unemployment line.
The unemployment rate in California has been climbing since January 2007, reaching a high of 12.5% in October 2009. November 2009 saw it fall to 12.3%.
In San Diego County, the unemployment rate reached a high of 10.7% in October 2009, falling to 10.3% in November.
It's common knowledge that unemployment figures lag the rest of the economy, so perhaps this is the sign … (3 comments)

Layaway Angels, Have you heard the news? - 12/20/09 07:50 PM
I thought this was a great post and definitely in the spirit of the Christmas season. Too bad this type of care doesn't go on 24/7, 365 days a year, but while it does, take part!
I always disable comments on posts I reblog, so click here to visit Joyce over in Florida, especially you people living in the snow. I don't think it's snowing in Florida.
Via Joyce Kelley Realtors® Pensacola/ Gulf Breeze Homes (Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc):
From coast to coast wonderful people with as little as $20. are walking into K-marts and paying layaways off for people that … (0 comments)

Are your readers color blind and wearing trifocals? - 12/20/09 12:40 PM
Our office gets several weekly newsletters, one of which has a report about the reading habits of the general public.
Make everything easy — easy to read, easy to navigate.... Easy, easy, easy. People searching a web site tend to be "brutally efficient." As soon as they run into a speed bump, they're off to somewhere else. For them, even little speed bumps become roadblocks. Dark colors on a white background are most popular, and if you really want to be sure that you reach all the population, use black on white to reach those who are color blind. DON'T USE … (13 comments)

How legislators are similar to Realtors - 12/20/09 11:49 AM
The number of ActiveRain political rants available for reading lately has increased as the Senate got closer to the 60 votes needed to move health care reform along to debate.
While I'm not one to compare one profession to a totally different profession, I think a comparison of what has gone on in the Senate is very similar to being a Realtor.
I'm not the biggest of history buffs unless there is a good scandal involved — sex, greed, murder, etc. — but it seems to me that when there are two parties involved — Republicans and Democrats, Tiger and Elin, Buyer and Seller — … (6 comments)

Are you living backwards? - 12/19/09 10:12 PM
Most people define themselves by what they have done in the past, which isn't necessarily bad because your past can be an accurate predictor of your future.
Possibly the best known people defining themselves by their past are new college graduates looking for a job and sports players.
Is defining yourself by your past appropriate for your profession, though? I'm thinking of the many Realtor web sites I visit regularly that do two things wrong in my opinion:
They tell me what they did in the past. The reason why I don't like this is because the past really doesn't affect … (22 comments)

Are you like a....? Maybe a....? How about a....? - 12/19/09 02:39 AM
With each new post to my blog, I use a different picture of my cat. How ironic, perhaps, that the last picture in my old pictures directory is the one here since it might go well with the nature of this post.
I'm not usually on ActiveRain at this time of night, but I feel like I just finished writing the millionth offer for this Client over the past three months and wanted to wind down my day by reading a few blogs.
What I've noticed recently is that there seems to be a propensity, getting more common, to build up … (15 comments)

Ten Christmas Survival Tips - An Important Reminder - 12/17/09 09:25 PM
I'm thinking about moving to Lake Havasu City from Thanksgiving to Christmas each year just so I can go party with Pamela.
I always disable comments on reblogs, so click here to visit Pamela and get your own vat of eggnog.
Happy Holiday!

Via Pamela Cendejas, Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235 (Second Self Virtual Assistance):
My cousin sent the following very important ten tips for surviving Christmas that I feel sure should always be followed at this time of the year.
Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, … (0 comments)

New Standardized Good Faith Estimate Effective January 1 2010 - 12/16/09 09:23 PM
This is an excellent post about the new standardized good faith estimate that will be in effect in just a couple of weeks.
I always disable comments on posts that I reblog, so click here to go to Loreena's blog and tell her thanks, and reblog it to your neighborhood!
Happy Holidays!
Via Loreena Yeo - Broker|Realtor(R) of Frisco-TX-Homes (214) 783-2210 (3:16 team REALTY):
For the longest time, there was no standardization in good faith estimates presented by Lenders when a loan application is made by a borrower. No standarization here means some lenders disclose a variety of information on the previous GFE … (0 comments)

Salvation Army still needs toys and food donations for their holiday giveaway - 12/16/09 08:47 PM
The Salvation Army is still needing toys and food donations for its annual holiday giveaway, now just days away.
I know most everyone is struggling in this economy, but always remember that there is someone who is probably worse off, and some of them are right here in San Diego County.
Toys are still needed for:
boys, newborn to age 2 boys, age 9 to 12 girls, newborn to age 2 girls, age 6 to 8 girls, age 9 to 12 Specific types of food still needed include:
grains/rice/pasta soup canned fruits canned vegetables cereal/oatmeal canned tuna and chicken peanut butter … (6 comments)

November 2009 San Diego County home prices and sales figures are out -- It's good news! - 12/16/09 07:33 PM
November 2009 saw continuing good news for the San Diego housing market.
October 2009 was the first month in three years that the median sales price had increased over the previous year, and November 2009 added another month to that to make it two in a row!
The historic high was in November 2005 when the median reached $517,500. At that time, only 7% of San Diego's population could afford to buy a median-priced home.
The most recent low appears to have been January 2009 when the median fell to $280,000. For the fourth consecutive month, the median price has held … (8 comments)

Help your Clients read through your lists - 12/16/09 10:56 AM
Creating lists seems to be one of the things that people are really bad about doing, and I don't mean creating lists of things to do. People are good at that, especially wives creating those "Honey, do...." lists! LOL
I'm talking about putting your lists in a format that is both readable and helpful. 
Alphabetize
You can never go wrong by alphabetizing. For example, let's look at a Realtor who works in San Diego County but only coastal properties. This would be that Realtor's list of cities:
Oceanside, Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission … (15 comments)

It's best never to think you are the best - 12/15/09 07:58 PM
I always find it interesting when someone says, "They used to be the best." Usually it's about a company, such as Hewlett Packard in the days of the original LaserJet printer, or Hertz before Avis started trying harder, or Lotus 1-2-3 before Microsoft decided to Excel, or the Jolly Green Giant before the Del Monte royal family cut him down to size, or General Motors before Mr. Toyota and Mr. Honda grew up.
In many, if not all, of those cases, the company that used to be the best spent too much time resting on its laurels and forgetting what made it the … (15 comments)

My worst open house ever! - 12/13/09 10:48 PM
They say that the Dallas Cowboys are America's Team, and my open house today might be proof of that.
I've had many open houses with the San Diego Chargers playing at home, or playing on the road in a televised game.
I've done open houses against undefeated teams, defending Super Bowl champions, winless teams, division winners, playoff games, etc., but I've never had an open house when the Dallas Cowboys were on television, and the fact that they were playing the San Diego Chargers today provided me with my worst open house since becoming a Realtor in May 2005.
Although I … (20 comments)

New home market expected to improve in 2010 - 12/13/09 10:19 PM
They (and I don't know who they are) say that as the new housing market goes, so goes the real estate industry, the economy, employment, and so much more.
New single-family detached homes for sale in the first week of December has reached a low of just 337, down from a high of almost 1,750 homes in the first week of December 2001.

As of October 31, 2009, 2,310 new homes have closed escrow, down from a high of about 15,500 homes for the same period in 2005.

Housing permits have fallen from a high of about 18,000 in … (5 comments)

Barbecuing on your Mission Valley condo balcony - 12/13/09 08:53 PM
A fire from an unattended fire pit on the balcony of a home in Escondido reminds me that even though fires are warm and romantic, open flames are not allowed at most, if not all, of the 39 condominium complexes in Mission Valley.
Many of the Mission Valley condominiums were built many years ago and are surrounded by mature vegetation. That mature vegetation, as well as the fact that all of San Diego County is a high fire hazard area, has caused many owners' associations throughout the county to disallow open flames around the exterior areas.
Many of the condominiums themselves … (8 comments)

Does your dog have the flu? - 12/13/09 06:34 PM
I got an email from an old high school friend that I reconnected with recently through Facebook, yet I still don't have Facebook set up the way I'd like it to be. Talk about a hassle. That's for another time, though.
She didn't remember whether I had a cat or a dog -- I have a cat -- but apparently there is a new flu going around that only affects dogs. The flu was first identified in 2003 in Florida but has spread to thirty other states. It is said to be a year-round flu and highly contagious. Fortunately, there's a … (7 comments)

Cut your operating expenses by separating business from personal - 12/13/09 04:21 PM
I buy bottled water for my open houses and put my Realtor label on them to give away.
In tracking my expenses over the years, though, I realized that I was drinking just as much bottled water as I was giving away.
That's when I decided that it was time to buy a water-filtration system for the kitchen faucet.
Now I have a quart container for my own water and I can save the water bottles for my open house guests.
In looking at my expenses for January through November of 2009 compared to the same period last year, my bottled … (7 comments)

When cute doesn't work - 12/13/09 03:02 PM
I have a Client who is surfing the World Wide Web and asking me my opinion of things that he finds.
Some of his finds, he likes, and some of his finds, he dislikes.
He emailed me a URL with the comment that "the cursor is cute."
I'm always cautious whenever anyone tells me that something related to the Internet is cute.
Here's the URL, but before you click on it, here are my first comments when I visited the site:
Why the unnecessary horizontal scrolling? Why the unnecessary vertical scrolling? The cute cursor isn't doing it for me. You might … (16 comments)

Get a better buzz right here! - 12/13/09 10:02 AM
I don't do any Christmas shopping between the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas day because I don't like to fight the crowds for that last latest fad gift, not to mention trying to avoid all the wacko drivers on the streets at this time of year.
However, if I'm in the neighborhood of a good mall during rush hour, I'll park and do some computer work in the car or walk around the parking lot and mall to get some exercise and see what kinds of businesses have taken up temporary residence for the 12 30 days of (commecial) Christmas.
I've … (15 comments)

Shopping to do but nowhere to park - 12/12/09 11:08 PM
San Diego County's largest, most prestigious, and most popular mall is Fashion Valley Shopping Center, and it's located at the western end of Mission Valley in the heart of San Diego.
It was renovated and expanded back in the late 1990s, with a huge transit station being built to handle traffic from busses and the San Diego Trolley. Three huge, multi-story parking garages were also built.
All of Mission Valley is a flood plain for the San Diego River, but the river, for the most part, is controlled. However, there are times with an El Niño winter season arrives and brings … (9 comments)

Why politicians can't get anything done - 12/12/09 10:28 PM
I'm not a big fan of the BCS Championship Game for college football, nor the way that the two teams are chosen. I think a playoff system would be in order. After all, major college football is the only NCAA sport that doesn't let its teams play for the championship in a playoff.
However, I have way too much to do to pay it too much attention. I wish our politicians had more to do, too. Afghanistan? Health care? Unemployment? Not worth the time.
There is some new legislation recently approved by the Commerce and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the House … (7 comments)

Is the increase in house fires a result of the economy? - 12/12/09 08:40 PM
Ever since I worked as a home inspector for four years, I've become more attuned to fire hazards in people's homes when I'm out showing properties.
I've also noticed that the number of home fires being reported on in the newspaper seems to be increasing this year over last year at this time, and even over the most recent months.
Maybe it's because people don't have as much money to go out and do things, so they are staying home more. Whatever it is, please check your own homes for damaged wiring; excessive use of extension cords and outlet multipliers; unsafe use … (8 comments)

Send a Free Military Care Package to a Soldier - 12/12/09 09:27 AM
Jim and Maria Hart (and Josh! can't forget Josh at this time of year) found this Scio care package for our military. If you know someone in the military, sign them up!
I disable comments on posts that I reblog, so click here to visit Jim, Maria, and Josh to tell them thanks.
Via Jim & Maria Hart ~ Charleston, SC Real Estate (AgentOwned Realty):
This is an awesome freebie for this time of year! 
Do you know of someone in the military actively serving our country?  Perhaps a son, husband or friend?  Then you will want to take full advantage of this.
… (0 comments)

Who's on first? - 12/10/09 09:30 AM
I might be revealing my age —
"He's almost 55," says Zoey the Cool Cat.
"No more special kitty treats for you," says Zoey the Cool Cat's owner.
"You might find that your garage door won't open in the morning," Zoey the Cool Cat replies.
— but comedy on television when I was young were reruns of The Abbott & Costello Show.
Arguably their best routine was "Who's On First?", which resulted in them being featured in the Baseball Hall of Fame. An urban myth says that they were inducted into the Hall of Fame, but it truly is an urban … (27 comments)

Cat food recall - what to feed -- and not feed -- your pet - 12/09/09 10:20 PM
Robin Rogers, whom I met when she was here in San Diego for the NAR Convention last month, has a great post about our little kitty friends and their eating habits.
I always disable comments on posts that I reblog, so click here to open Robin's post in a new window so you can comment on her blog.
Via Robin Rogers, Silverbridge Realty, San Antonio, Texas:
Another cat food manufacturer has issued a recall of two varieties of dry cat food. Diamond Pet Food's Premium Edge Finicky Adult Cat and Premium Edge Hairball cat food was recalled after 21 cats became sick from thiamine … (0 comments)

Wordless Wednesday: Lights, camera, action! - 12/09/09 06:46 PM
I've been up late these past many nights working on offers and counter offers, and various other things related to helping folks buy a new home, and the light bulb that provides the main light for our two desks burned out.
It was just your standard 60-watt light bulb but I couldn't find any spare light bulbs and really didn't want to make a late night trip to Wal-Mart even though they are a mile away and open 24 hours a day.
I did notice that we have a few hundred thousand or so 45-watt bathroom heat lamp spotlights, so I … (23 comments)

You, too, can Play in the Rain naked! - 12/09/09 08:45 AM
I spend a lot of time at ActiveRain.
A co-worker recently asked me to tell him in one sentence why I liked ActiveRain.
I came up with one sentence, but it was 259 words long and had a lot of dashes and semicolons, so I thought I would try to shorten it. Here's what I came up with:
ActiveRain provides me with the platform where I can work hard to get new business, and once I've acquired that new business, the same platform allows me to play hard, and you know that I like to work hard and play hard. I … (20 comments)

The one best way to be amazingly successful - 12/07/09 11:46 AM
Ever heard someone say that they bought something somewhere but the clerks or cashiers were so impersonal or even rude?
Regardless of whether you are selling products or services, the one best way to be amazingly successful is to establish personal relationships with your customers and prospects.
Personal relationships begin with a contact, such as, in no particular order:
Neighborhood contact -- The company is located near, or in, your neighborhood. Many people try to buy locally; in fact, many companies in this economy are advertising "Think globally; buy locally." Don't neglect your neighborhood for you ARE that neighborhood contact. Charitable contact -- … (16 comments)

Company Christmas parties - 12/06/09 11:45 PM
It must be a sign of the times, not to mention the economy.
I've worked for Borders Books and Music, and its subsidiary Waldenbooks, for over thirty years, and we've always had a Christmas party.
I've been with Century 21 Award for four years, and we've always had a Christmas party.
Not this year.
Even my friends' companies are not having Christmas parties either. Seems the big Christmas shindigs have fallen out of favor.
Where's the ActiveRain Virtual Christmas party?

♫♪♪♫♪♫♫♫♪♪♫♪♫
I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.
Jim Frimmer, RealtorCentury 21 Award Mission … (19 comments)

Architecturally interesting in Valley Center, California - 12/06/09 11:09 PM
I don't work too far out of my farming area, but today one of my older Clients wanted to go see a couple of properties in North County, and since I hadn't been there in a little while, and since she was a Client, of course, we took off for what could definitely be called San Diego's outback, the rural areas, the "boondocks" as my better half likes to call them.
My Client gets a kick out of riding with me because we have a lot of fun and she likes to stop and look at things just as much as … (3 comments)

San Diego County beaches are still open but not as crowded! - 12/06/09 09:22 PM
Since we've had quite a few days lately with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s, I thought I'd let everyone know that our San Diego County beaches are still open for fun, food, frolicking, and frisbee. It's just that they are not as crowded as they are during the summer tourist season when the population of Arizona drops to just a couple of people.
Starting from the Mexican border and going north to the border with Orange County, here are San Diego County's beaches:
Imperial Beach - Imperial Beach Silver Strand State Beach - Coronado Glorietta Bay - Coronado … (7 comments)

Ice skating in San Diego? - 12/06/09 08:13 PM
Even though it only snows in San Diego about once every fifty years, that doesn't mean that you can't go ice skating.
There are at least four permanent ice skating rinks in San Diego County:
Ice Town (formerly La Jolla Ice Chalet), 4545 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla, 858-452-9110 --  Ice Town is in University Towne Center near the food court. San Diego Ice Arena, 11048 Ice Skate Place, San Diego, 858-530-1825 -- The Ice Arena offers developmental hockey and figure skating lessons for children three and up. Kroc Center Ice Arena, 6737 University Avenue, San Diego, 619-269-1498 -- The … (6 comments)

Know where your target market hangs out! - 12/06/09 07:57 PM
As with anything that you are going to sell, you have to know who to sell it to.
Several years ago I had a condo listing in what I call a "hotel condo" building, i.e., a huge building with four entrances, and the hallways and condo entrances that look just like a hotel.
I was in the third month of a sixth-month listing and had no offers and poor attendance at my open houses. I went to my marketing guru to ask him for help. He asked me what the average age of the owners was. "Oh, probably about 60."
That's … (13 comments)

10 tips for marketing your home this holiday season - 12/06/09 06:03 PM
I thought this was a great list created by Susan Neal just a little north of me.
I always disable commenting on posts that I reblog, so click here if you would like to visit Susan in a new window to tell her thanks.
Via Susan Neal, Fair Oaks CA Real Estate Broker (Century 21 Noel David Realty):
Now that the market is improving in many areas of the country, there are a number of listings coming on the market just as the holiday season gets under way.  There are some who believe that this is the wrong time to sell your home … (0 comments)

Selling your home? Think of it as a commodity. - 12/06/09 04:08 PM
As long as you live in your home, it is your home. However, once you put it on the market for sale, it also becomes a commodity.
The condition of the commodity you are selling can have a significant impact on the price of that commodity.
Let's look at some other commodities and how condition affects their value:
Numismatics -- Those who collect coins know that an uncirculated, untouched-by-human-hands coin sells for more money than a coin that has been in circulation and has all sorts of dings in it and is discolored. Philately -- Stamp collectors generally pay much more … (11 comments)

What Is A Reverse Mortgage? (Part 4) - 12/05/09 07:28 PM
Here are some answers to some of my questions that I had not even thought of when I did my post about reverse mortgages.
I always disable comments on posts that I reblog, so click here to visit Lewis over in Brewster, Massachusetts, and read through his incredibly informative 12-part series (so far) about reverse mortgages.
Via Lewis Corcoran - Offering Reverse Mortgages, and FHA, VA, and USDA Loans (Star Mortgage® - Serving Massachusetts and Florida):
What Is A Reverse Mortgage? (Part 4)A 12 Part Series
Part 4 - Pros and Cons of a Reverse Mortgage Why Should You Consider a Reverse Mortgage
… (0 comments)

Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your Local Economy...The 3/50 project - 12/04/09 08:49 PM
What a great idea!
I disable comments on posts that I reblog, so click here to go directly to Michael's blog in a new window and reblog his post. Let's all get in this together!

Via Michael Caruso Real Estate Group:
PLEASE, support YOUR local economy! 
The idea is to commit $50 each month to locally owned businesses. Maybe that means rethinking where you currently invest your money, opting to pick up that birthday card or pair of jeans in a locally owned business instead of the big box you’ve been going to. Or maybe it means eating out once a … (0 comments)

Why do people who work in government have no common sense? - 12/03/09 06:05 PM
In my own personal and humble opinion, the reason why it's expensive to live in California, why real estate is so expensive, is because there are so many third parties involved in everything, and they are not always doing their best thinking.
California is fighting a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, and the City of San Diego itself is coping with a $2 billion deficit in its pension fund and a $200 million annual budget deficit now.
One of the San Diego Mayor's solutions is to do away with 186 fire pits on its city beaches. These fire pits have been there … (16 comments)

Reverse Mortgage, Trick or Treat? - 12/03/09 10:48 AM
Some recent questions from Clients about reverse mortgages has me reading (and blogging) about them in order to learn more.
Nancy Deichman over in Ocala, Florida, found a great solution to a problem by thinking outside of the box and using a reverse mortgage.
I always disable comments on posts I reblog, so click here to go directly to Nancy's blog in a new window and comment there.

Via Nancy Deichman, CDPE (Re/Max Premier Realty, Inc.):
I attended a seminar last week that I thought was a total waste of time. It was a class on how to work with buyers … (0 comments)

Are you working your brain? - 12/02/09 08:10 PM
This morning I was working I was showing properties with a Client and had a bout of senility, totally forgetting where we were heading.
I had even made all the necessary turns to get me right back to....
....THE OFFICE!
As we were pulling into the parking lot, Madam Client said, "I thought we were going to go see this other condo." Ooops.
Maybe I just need to exercise my brain more, so I looked up some ways to keep my brain active and focused:
Don't be predictable. That certainly applies. I've driven that route so often that I could probably do … (11 comments)

Do you know how to kill a house plant? - 12/02/09 05:55 PM
Since I'm lucky to have a gardening expert as my business partner, my marketing guru, and actually married to me, I like to give plants as end-of-year gifts and closing gifts.
Of course, that's only after I make sure no one is allergic to soil on plants. It's rare, but it does happen.
Notwithstanding the title of this post, I'm going to be positive and tell you how to take care of houseplants rather than how to kill them.
Seven ways to keep your houseplant alive and happy:
Go easy on the water. Overwatering is the number one cause of houseplant … (7 comments)

While alive, live - 12/02/09 11:13 AM
Motivational or inspirational thoughts.
Live by what you believe so fully that your life blossoms, or else purge the fear- and guilt-producing beliefs from your life. Feel free to invite misery into your life by believing one thing and doing something else. If you give yourself the name, then play the game. When you believe something that you don't follow with your heart, intellect, and body, it hurts. Life your belief, or let that belief go. If you're not actively involved in getting what you want, you don't really want it. The best cure for the fear of death is to … (10 comments)

Sell and downsize or get a reverse mortgage? - 12/01/09 11:02 PM
I have received a couple of questions recently from people wanting to know which was better, selling a home and downsizing to something like a condominium, or simply getting a reverse mortgage and staying in the home where they have been for a couple of decades.
This is one of those questions where my only answer, not being a mortgage broker, a financial planner, a CPA, or a tax attorney, is, "I don't know."
However, I can offer some guidance, and I'm hoping that some comments from more knowledgeable ActiveRainers can add some good information.
To the best of my knowledge, … (12 comments)

Today in 1824 is the only time this has ever happened! - 12/01/09 01:41 PM
Those of us who lived through the presidential election of 2000 between George W. Bush and Al Gore thought it was the most contentious presidential election ever.
Possibly.
The presidential election of 1824 might have been just as contentious, if not more so, since there were four candidates involved and allegations of corrupt political bargains.
On this date in 1824, the election was turned over to the United States House of Representatives in accordance with the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution since none of the four candidates had acquired the 131 electoral votes required to become President.
The candidates and their … (16 comments)