A Dozen Essentials for a Smooooooth Home Inspection - 09/30/10 08:57 PM
A great list from Charles, a home inspector up in Washington where they actually have licensing, something we need here in San Diego. (Fortunately, I do know a very good, thorough inspector here, but I don't always have the privilege of choosing the inspector.)
Of course, contrary to Charles's title, if Sellers did all 13 of these, the home inspector might actually find more things to put in the inspection report! LOL
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Charles's blog and comment there.
Via Charles Buell, Seattle, … (0 comments)

Mission Valley Condos in San Diego — The Verandas at Escala - 09/29/10 04:17 AM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Verandas at Escala
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in The Verandas at Escala!
The Verandas at Escala, builtin 2004 and 2005, is a gated condominium community of about 150 units but is also part of the larger Escala complex that includes The Verandas, The Villas, The Bridges, The Bungalows,The Courtyards, and … (8 comments)

I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me... - 09/28/10 08:40 PM
When I was first invited to ActiveRain and told to start blogging, I thought, "What?" Two years later, I understand. It's not easy, but it is fun. Most of the time. And the people are great, especially if, as Claude says, they are watching and reading, and eventually hire you.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Claude's blog and comment there.
Via Claude Cross-Charlotte NC Real Estate(Homes By Cross, Inc.) :
I'm Good enough, I'm Smart enough, And Doggone it, people like me... Are you a Stuart Small(e)y … (0 comments)

Hard water and the little problems it can cause - 09/28/10 08:35 PM
As Andy mentions in his post, taking care of these little problems means that they won't show up in a home inspection report to be turned into big problems by Buyers.
I've also found that soaking hand sprayers, shower heads, etc., in a solution of CLR overnight works wonders for removing the hard water crud.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Andy's blog and comment there.
Via Andy Chaudoir (Professional Inspection Services - Georgetown, Texas):
Hard Water and the Little Problems It Can Cause
As a home inspector … (0 comments)

Seven tips for fall tree maintenance - 09/28/10 08:24 PM
This is a prety good post by a real estate agent who must have been an arborist in a previous life.
Although we don't have an abundance of big trees here in San Diego, we do have a lot of trees with destructive root systems, such as the eucalyptus, ficus trees, sweetgums, and some pine trees.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Ed's blog and comment there.
Via Ed Hughes, Natick Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty):
 RISMEDIA, September 21, 2010--Trees are often overlooked during the summer when … (0 comments)

I'M CALLING MY OWN SHOTS! Plus a Few Others that the AR Gods Missed this Week - 09/28/10 08:20 PM
As Donne said at the end of this post, "Anyone can suggest all the popular bloggers but finding the hidden treasures and gems is so much better." I think it's more fun, too.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Donne's blog and comment there.
Via Donne Knudsen, NMLS#249822, DRE#01364050 (Cobalt Financial Corp.):
Well, it's always interesting reading all the great bloggers and their posts here on AR.  This week was no different. 
First and foremost, I want to give a big shout out to both Paul Slaybaugh for … (0 comments)

Did you know? — Surveying land used to be a little more difficult - 09/28/10 08:01 PM

Surveying land used to be a little more difficult  
Way back in 1894, Porter Perrin Wheaton was hired by the County Surveyor to measure the roads of the county and to locate every house, farm, school, bridge, or other building for tax purposes.
Wheaton started on May 5, 1994, and, by December 29, he had measured 2,328 miles of roads and filled eleven notebooks with data from his work. After many delays, a survey was published on July 19, 1900.
His tool of measurement? A wheelbarrow! It initially was loaded with a bedroll, a loaf of bread, a canteen of water, a … (7 comments)

Mission Valley Condos - The Terraces at Escala - 09/27/10 02:55 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Terraces at Escala
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in The Terraces at Escala!
The Terraces at Escala, builtin 2004 and 2005, is a gated condominium community of about 100 units but is also part of the larger Escala complex that includes The Terraces, The Verandas, The Villas, The Bridges, The Bungalows, and The Courtyards.
Bedroom/bathroom … (3 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — Oktoberfests are here! - 09/26/10 10:15 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.

Oktoberfests are here!
When I was growing up, Oktoberfest took place in the middle of October. Of course, that was in a small city.
Here in San Diego County, there seems to be a lot of competition between Oktoberfests, and since there are not enough weekends in October, many Oktoberfests now take place in September. That means that we've already had Oktoberfests at Petco Park (9/24), Balboa Park (9/25-26), and Encinitas (9/26). … (10 comments)

There's more to Oktoberfest than just eating and drinking! - 09/26/10 09:37 PM

There's more to Oktoberfestthan just eating and drinking!
Actually, there's not. It's all about eating and drinking, so I'm here to help. Here are the most common terms that you might need to know as you're wandering around one of the many Oktoberfests in San Diego County.
Stein — Possibly the most important thing you need to know. A stein is a beer glass that holds about one pint of water beer. Steins from past centuries were made of stone and are often very ornate. Some have a cap on them; I guess it keeps the beer cold. Lager … (11 comments)

Mission Valley Condos in San Diego — The Courtyards at Escala - 09/26/10 01:38 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Courtyards at Escala
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in The Courtyards at Escala!
The Courtyards at Escala, builtin 2004, is a gated condominium community of 108 units but is also part of the larger Escala complex that includes The Courtyards, The Terraces, The Verandas, The Villas, The Bridges, andThe Bungalows.
Bedroom/bathroom … (5 comments)

Mission Valley Condos in San Diego — The Bungalows at Escala - 09/25/10 08:40 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Bungalows at Escala
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in The Bungalows at Escala!
The Bungalows at Escala, builtfrom 2003 to 2005, is a gated condominium community of 144 units but is also part of the larger Escala complex that includes The Bungalows, The Courtyards, The Terraces, The Verandas,The Villas, and The … (4 comments)

Today is the beginning of National Banned Books Week - 09/25/10 01:15 PM

Today is the beginning ofNational Banned Books Week 
Since I've worked at Borders Books & Music, or one of its subsidiaries, for over thirty years, I'm familiar with National Banned Books Week, but I'm still amazed that in the United States of America, where Freedom of the Press is a constitutional mandate, there are still libraries throughout the nation that are under attack for putting certain books on their shelves.
Although I cannot prove it scientifically, it seems that each time a banned book attempt makes the news, it's from some conservative area, especially the South and Midwest. I would think that … (22 comments)

Home Sellers: Play a Game of Scrabble with Your Potential Buyers - 09/24/10 10:37 PM
This has to be one of the best ideas I've seen or heard of recently. And it doesn't cost much since you can use the Scrabble game that you have in your closet and haven't played in years!
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Chris Ann's blog and comment there.
Via Chris Ann Cleland, GRI, SFR (Long & Foster, Gainesville, VA):
House hunting is one of the part of my job I love best.  Two weeks ago, some Buyer clients and I were in a particular neighborhood where it … (0 comments)

Mission Valley Condos — The Bridges at Escala - 09/24/10 09:02 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Bridges at Escala
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in The Bridges at Escala!
The Bridges at Escala, built in 2004, is a gated condominium community of 136 units but is also part of the larger Escala complex that includes The Bridges, The Bungalows, The Courtyards, The Terraces, The Verandas, and The Villas.
… (5 comments)

Anti-tip bracket: Just because it doesn't cost much doesn't mean it should be ignored - 09/24/10 02:15 PM
I learned about this simple device when I worked as a home inspector from October 2001 to August 2005. It's a very easy repair when it's missing.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Russel's blog and comment there.
Via Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector (Russel Ray, Property Consultant):

Anti-tip bracket:Just because it doesn't cost muchdoesn't mean it should be ignored
Every once in a while, a lawsuit comes along that illustrates very well why home inspectors note the things they do:
Screws missing from the … (0 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — Oktoberfests are just around the corner! - 09/21/10 11:48 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.

Oktoberfests are just around the corner!
One of the best local Oktoberfests is in El Cajon, California, just a few miles down the road from your Mission Valley condominiums.
Presented by the German American Societies. Festivities will be October 1-3 and 8-10, from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Fridays, noon to 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 9:00 p.m. on Sundays.
If you've never had authentic German food, this is the … (7 comments)

Sellers- Are you playing the Wait and See Game? 3 Reasons why you should Stage your house first! - 09/21/10 11:21 PM
I've noticed recently that there seems to be a lot of staging going on in the areas where I specialize, so maybe people are finally realizing that you have to spend a little money to make a lot of money.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Kathy's blog and comment there.
Via Actively Raining Thoughts-Kathy Streib- Stager-South Florida - 561-914-6224 (Room Service Home Staging):
Sellers- Are you playing the Wait and See Game before you Stage your house?  You know what I mean: "I'll put it on the … (0 comments)

Who invited YOU to our home inspection? - 09/21/10 09:14 PM
I thought Amy did an excellent job of explaining who the home inspection is for, and who should attend, in a cool, calm, collected manner. Just because you can attend, and it's actually in YOUR home, doesn't mean that you should attend.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Amy's blog and comment there.
Via Amy Jones, Chandler & Sun Lakes Real Estate (Chandler, Arizona RE/Max Excalibur):
The home inspection is a home buyer's opportunity to have a frank and open dialog with their home inspector about the findings … (0 comments)

Motivational Monday: Are you in IT? - 09/20/10 09:52 PM
Some of my friends tell me that I AM it, but, of course, they are the friends that I don't listen to very often.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Wanda's blog and comment there.
Via Washington County Utah---Wanda Kubat-Nerdin (Prado & Kramer Real Estate, St. George, UT 435.632.9374):
Motivational Monday: Are you in IT?

Or do you sit the sidelines watching as IT passes you by?!
Are you content to let opportunities pass you by without grabbing some of IT or as much of IT as … (0 comments)

The Gmap Pedometer - 09/20/10 09:45 PM
I like to go for a daily walk, and sometimes when I get back I'll get in the car and drive the route to see how far I walked. Not the best use of time or gas, I guess, but now I have a better way!
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Malcolm's blog and comment there.
Via Malcolm Johnston (Remax Trent Valley, Trenton, Ontario):
I have stumbled across yet another Google application that is guaranteed to keep you spellbound for at least 3 minutes. I'm sure some of … (0 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — The best Louisiana Cajun & Creole food in San Diego! - 09/20/10 09:32 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.

The best Louisiana Cajun & Creole food in San Diego!
Today is the start of Restaurant Week here in San Diego with over 180 restaurants participating. One of those that is participating happens to have the best Louisiana Cajun & Creole food in San Diego, so if you haven't been to Mardi Gras or Southern Decadence in a while and have a craving for some good Louisiana food, head on over to
… (7 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — You don't have to go to the Galapagos Islands to see the Galapagos tortoise! - 09/19/10 10:43 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.

You don't have to go to the Galapagos Islandsto see the Galapagos tortoise!
With the way the San Diego Zoo is renovating many of its exhibit areas, you'd never know that we have been in a less-than-optimum economy for a couple of years now. Early last year the new Elephant Mesa opened, costing several million dollars, and just a couple of days ago, the Galapagos tortoise exhibit opened after undergoing four months … (9 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — 2010 MCAS Miramar Air Show - 09/19/10 10:13 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.

2010 MCAS Miramar Air Show
The annual MCAS Miramar Air Show takes place in just a couple of weeks, October 1-3. This year is celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima with a theme of Marines: A Tradition of Uncommon Valor.
Cost is always free although you can get preferred seating and various special packages for anywhere from $8.50 to $195. Gates open daily at 8:00 a.m., although I … (3 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — Christmas is just around the corner! - 09/19/10 09:47 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.

Christmas is just around the corner!
The start of Fall means the start of school and the start of preparation for the many Christmas performances that start in just a couple of months.
If you haven't been able to pass the auditions for American Idol, America's Got Talent, or Dancing with the Stars, all is not lost.
SeaWorld San Diego is currently accepting applications for various parts in its many Christmas celebrations:
… (5 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — Fall 2010 Restaurant Week is here! - 09/19/10 09:27 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.

Fall 2010 Restaurant Week is here!

Monday, September 19, is the start of six consecutive days of fine dining with over 180 of San Diego's best restaurants offering a three-course meal for either $20, $30, or $40 per person. You don't need any tickets or passes. You just need to enjoy fine food and fine dining. Reservations are not required but are encouraged because Restaurant Week is popular!
Restaurant week is … (3 comments)

Make Necessary Repairs - 09/18/10 11:42 PM
This is a simple and straightforward post about making repairs. Especially relevant, I think, is the part about doing repairs yourself, or not doing repairs yourself, whatever makes the most sense.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Al's blog and comment there.
Via Al Wright - Affordable Home Inspections (Affordable Home Inspections):
MAKE NECESSARY REPAIRS.
Of all the things homeowners control when selling their home, the condition of the property is the most important. There are probably some problems in your home that you have become used to. … (0 comments)

Real estate news — San Diego County median home price for August 2010 - 09/18/10 08:34 PM

San Diego County median home price for August 2010
The median sales price for homes in San Diego County was $337,000 in August 2010. After reaching a low of $280,000 in February 2009, the median sales price has continued to steadily increase.

If your intent is to live in your home, raise your family there, and perhaps even retire there, it's always a great time to buy, but especially so right now with interest rates still at record lows and before home prices increase so far that your dream home is out of reach.
There are some areas where … (8 comments)

Real estate news — San Diego County home sales for August 2010 - 09/17/10 10:31 PM

San Diego County home sales for August 2010
There were 3,110 homes sold in August 2010 in San Diego County, up 1.4% from July 2010, down 6.2% from August 2009, but virtually the same as August 2008 (3,148). Sales reached a low of 1,826 in January 2008 but have been steadily increasing year over year since then, with only a few bumps in the road here and there, which experts blame on various tax credits and seasonal declines.

If your intent is to live in your home, raise your family there, and perhaps even retire there, it's always a … (4 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — Do you know where YOUR rabbit is? - 09/16/10 11:18 AM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.

Do you know where YOUR rabbit is?
Sunday, September 26, is International Rabbit Day, a day dedicated to promoting the care and protection of rabbits both in the home and in the wild. It is held each year on the fourth Saturday or Sunday of September.
Festivities in San Diego this year, Bunnyfest 2010, will be hosted by San Diego's chapter of the House Rabbit Society (HRS), a nonprofit rabbit rescue and education … (7 comments)

Mission Valley Condos in San Diego — Creekwood at River Run - 09/15/10 09:14 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoCreekwood at River Run
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in Creekwood at River Run!
Creekwood at River Run, built in 1985, is a condominium community of 252 units. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans include 1/1, 2/1, and 2/2, and range in size from 682 to 977 square feet. All units have in-unit laundries.
Amenities at Creekwood at … (3 comments)

Don't let your marketing be boring! - 09/15/10 03:45 AM
Susan has a lot of great ideas in her blog here if you're having problems being creative with your marketing. If boring marketing brings you any clients at all, they probably will be boring clients!
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Susan's blog and comment there.
Via Susan Neal, Fair Oaks CA Real Estate Broker, CA DRE#686562 (Century 21 Noel David Realty):
Every six months or so I get a postcard from a fellow Realtor who does a little (very little) marketing in the neighborhood where I live.  … (0 comments)

Important tips for the safety of Realtors and their clients - 09/15/10 03:40 AM
I was all set to write about Realtor safety since I was sent this video yesterday, but since Susan has already done a great job, I figured I'd just reblog her. After all, why reinvent the wheel?
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Susan's blog and comment there.
Via Susan Neal, Fair Oaks CA Real Estate Broker, CA DRE#686562 (Century 21 Noel David Realty):
The new issue of California Real Estate magazine has an important reminder about safety for Realtors and for their clients too, since September is … (0 comments)

have you ever noticed these clever logos? - 09/15/10 03:36 AM
I thought this was a very interesting post by Susan Neal. Fortunately, I don't have to worry about these things because my husband does all my marketing for me, but if you don't have a marketing guru of your own, perhaps you can get some ideas from Susan's post.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Susan's blog and comment there.
Via Susan Neal, Fair Oaks CA Real Estate Broker, CA DRE#686562 (Century 21 Noel David Realty):
Have you ever noticed these clever logos? I have read a number … (0 comments)

Great time today at the Social Media Marketing Camp! - 09/15/10 03:32 AM
I'm always looking for information about Facebook because I find it frustrating. Kerry has some good tips here that I'm going to try.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Kerry's blog and comment there.
Via KERRY LUCASSE - Your Intown Atlanta Real Estate Consultant (Keller Williams Peachtree Rd):
A special thanks to Ross Hair and all of the presenters at today's SMM Camp!
The ideas were flying and I tried to write down (and digest) as much as I possibly could.  Here are a few tips from the … (0 comments)

Tyler's Burgers in Palm Springs | Best Burger in California - 09/15/10 03:28 AM
If you ever get to Palm Springs, I can highly recommend the burgers and fries at Tyler's in downtown Palm Springs, not far from the Hyatt Hotel.
Palm Springs is anywhere from 134 to 144 miles northeast of San Diego, depending on which route you take. The fastest route is supposed to be I-15 to I-215 to 60 to I-10 to Palm Springs, but if you take the roads through the mountains, the scenery is much better.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Stewart's blog and … (0 comments)

Mission Valley condos in San Diego — Mission Walk - 09/14/10 10:16 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoMission Walk
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in Mission Walk!
Mission Walk, built in 2004, is a small condominium community of 56 units. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans include 2/3 and 3/3, and are some of the largest condominiums in Mission Valley, ranging in size from 1,830 to 2,102 square feet. All units have in-unit laundries.
HOA … (3 comments)

Mission Valley condos in San Diego — The Lido - 09/13/10 10:57 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Lido
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in The Lido!
The Lido, built in 2005, is a gated condominium community of 220 units. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans include 1/1, 1/2, 2/2, and 3/2, and range in size from 930 to 1,798 square feet. Amenities include swimming pool, spa, picnic areas, water fountains, a fitness center, a recreation … (7 comments)

Zoey the Cool Cat's Top 11 ways to get ActiveRain points - 09/12/10 10:56 PM

Zoey the Cool Cat'sTop 11 ways to get ActiveRain points 
I get a kick out of people who only do the minimum in life and business, and then complain about someone else who does more than the minimum. If you're just going to do the minimum, don't be surprised when someone passes you by, gets a greater market share, buys a bigger house or a faster car.... I'm just saying.
A certain person in my household is somewhat AR, and you have to trust me when I say that AR does not stand for ActiveRain. He specializes in deconstructing things to … (38 comments)

Speechless Sunday (with a little bit of text) - 09/12/10 10:54 PM
Speechless Sunday
A walk on the beach earlier this week found an abandoned child's bucket. I don't know if there was anything in the bucket, but this bird certainly was interested in it.

♫♪♫♫♪♫
If you're looking for a great real estate agent in San Diego, well,let me Google one for you. I'm available 24/7, so feel free to contact me by phone or email.
Jim Frimmer, RealtorCentury 21 Award Mission ValleyCalifornia DRE License #01458572619-729-5701jimfrimmer@century21award.comMission Valley Condos Information
♪♫♫♫♪

Try RusselRayPhotos.com for inexpensive, royalty-free photos.
♫♪♫♫♪♫
Recent blog posts: Calling all cats. Calling all cats. — Please put a … (7 comments)

Everything you would ever want to know about Canada and Canadians.... Maybe. - 09/12/10 10:43 PM

Everything you would ever want to know about Canada and Canadians....Maybe. 
I have never had any Canadian friends, but I feel like I have many here at ActiveRain, including the following that I can think of off the top of my head:
Terry Chenier Al & Peggy Cunningham Laura Cunningham Malcolm Johnston Brian Madigan Robert May Marc Swartz Soon, like this coming Wednesday, I actually get to meet Al & Peggy Cunningham. They are coming to San Diego for a conference and to spend a couple of days touring San Diego with Russel and me.
Recently, I asked if there was anything I … (6 comments)

Mission Valley Condos in San Diego — The Missions at Rio Vista - 09/12/10 09:09 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Missions at Rio Vista
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium in The Missions at Rio Vista!
The Missions at Rio Vista, built from 1999 to 2002, is a gated condominium community of 464 units. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans include 1/1 and 2/2, and range in size from 704 to 1,249 square feet. Amenities include swimming pool, spa, … (3 comments)

Who was the first member of royalty to visit San Diego? - 09/11/10 10:46 PM

Who was the first member of royaltyto visit San Diego? 
Way back on December 28, 1890, King Kalakaua of the Sandwich Islands (now known as Hawaii) visited San Diego as the first stop on a tour of California.
Aboard the National City and Otay Railway, the King visited the Sweetwater Dam, orange groves, and an olive oil mill.
After spending New Year's Eve at the Hotel del Coronado, just two years old at that point, he left on January 1 to visit Riverside and Los Angeles.
Just three weeks after leaving San Diego, King Kalakaua died at the Palace Hotel … (13 comments)

Mission Valley Condos — Hye Park - 09/10/10 10:19 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoHye Park
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium at Hye Park!
Hye Park, built from 1984 to 1986, is a condominium community of100 units in the central section of Mission Valley between Highway 163 and Interstate 805. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans include 2/2, 2/3, and 3/3, and range in size from 1,248 to 1,480 … (5 comments)

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure - September 26, 2010 - 09/10/10 09:15 PM
I've been fortunate that my immediate family has not been affected by breast cancer, and I only know one person who has had breast cancer. Nonetheless, breast cancer research is on our annual list of charitable donations.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Sharon's blog and comment there, and perhaps even reblog her to your blog!
Via Sharon Paxson Newport Beach Real Estate (Prudential California Realty, DRE License 01501912):
The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
September 26, 2010

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure … (0 comments)

Is there anything I should know? - 09/09/10 11:14 PM
Is there anything I should know?
Our good ActiveRain friends Al and Peggy Cunningham are going to take up residence in San Diego in just a few days. They will be attending a four-day conference September 16-19, but will be arriving in San Diego September 14 and leaving on September 21. That means they have off September 15 and September 20, so Russel and I have them scheduled to go to the San Diego Zoo with us on September 15 so they can make all the other conference attendees jealous, and then on September 20 we'll be taking them on a portion … (15 comments)

Laws of Nature in the World of Real Estate (Humor) - 09/09/10 10:47 PM
This is too funny, and, unfortunately, too true, which is why it's so funny. You just can't make this stuff up.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Doug and Gloria's blog and comment there.
Via Doug Durren and Gloria Todor - South Eastern Pennsylvania (Century 21 Absolute Realty ):
Laws of Nature in the World of Real EstateLaw of Flow of Business:  Like cars on the highway, clients tend to travel in packs then the road is empty for a while.Law of Deadlines:  When a deadline approaches the … (0 comments)

Wordless Wednesday — Perhaps we can learn something here? - 09/08/10 11:26 PM
Wordless Wednesday
It's been a long day and a long week, so it's only appropriate that I take a moment off and enjoy the beauty around me. Over in one of the condominium communities that I farm, there are a lot of streams, ponds, and actual lakes, and they are prime spots for watching the birds, such as this mommy duckie teaching her curious little duckies to just go for it! The water was just on the other side of the walkway. Perhaps we can learn something here?




♫♪♫♫♪♫
If you're looking for a great real estate … (21 comments)

Mission Valley Condos - The Vistas at Fashion Heights - 09/07/10 10:56 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Vistas at Fashion Heights
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium at The Vistas at Fashion Heights!
Fashion Heights, built from 1980 to 1986, is a condominium community of 65 units in the western end of Mission Valley. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans include 2/2, 3/2, 3/3, 4/3, and 4/6, and range in size from 1,270 … (3 comments)

A checklist of things a Seller can do before the home inspector arrives - 09/07/10 12:09 AM
This is a great checklist that can be used by sellers to prepare their home for listing or even by home owners who need a checklist of regular maintenance items that they can do in their own homes to help keep them safe and to help prevent the disaster from happening.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Russel's blog and comment there.
Via Russel Ray, San Diego home inspector (Russel Ray, Property Consultant):

A checklist of things a Seller can dobefore the home inspector arrives
Doing … (0 comments)

What value do you put on your time? - 09/06/10 06:50 PM
What value do you put on your time?
A comment on my recent post asked what value I placed on my time.
I value my time in terms of paper money, preferably with pictures of Benjamin Franklin on it, so an hour of my time is valued at $100. In other words, if I'm working, I want the product of my work to bring me $100 per hour worked. If I'm playing, I look at how much it costs me to play relative to the $100 an hour I could make if I were working.
If I'm going to a movie, … (15 comments)

Mission Valley Condos — Fashion Hills - 09/06/10 05:01 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoFashion Hills
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium at Fashion Hills!
Fashion Hills, built from 1975 to 1986, is a condominium community of 226 large units in the western end of Mission Valley. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans include 1/1, 2/1, 2/2, 2/3, 2/4, 3/2, 3/3, 3/4, and 4/3, and range in size from 1,108 to 2,341 square feet. … (3 comments)

Remember to invest in yourself! - 09/06/10 11:02 AM
Remember to invest in yourself!
According to Wikipedia, return on investment (ROI) is the ratio of money gained or lost on an investment relative to the amount of money invested.
That's the simplistic version, or what is known as the single-period return. To be even more specific, it's the single-period arithmetic return. I call it the "short-term ROI."
All you do is take the money you made, subtract the money you spent, divide by the money you spent, and multiply by 100 to get your ROI percentage:
(money made - money spent) / money spent) * 100
That's the version that … (11 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Mission Valley Realtor — 2010 Festival of Sail - 09/05/10 11:08 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.
2010 Festival of Sail
San Diego has a large population of military personnel, and during September and October one can usually find a lot of activities honoring our military personnel and San Diego's part in the military history of our nation.
The first such event is the Festival of Sail which is currently going on at the Embarcadero on downtown San Diego's beautiful waterfront. There are about twenty tall ships in town, and … (9 comments)

Mission Valley condos in San Diego — City Scene - 09/05/10 10:40 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoCity Scene
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium at City Scene!
City Scene, built in 1986-89, is a condominium community of 334 units in the western end of Mission Valley. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans include 2/2 and 3/2, and range in size from 1,046 to 1,271 square feet. Amenities include a swimming pool, spa, outdoor grills … (3 comments)

Mission Valley condos in San Diego — Mission Valley Terraces - 09/05/10 09:37 PM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoMission Valley Terraces
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium at Mission Valley Terraces!
Mission Valley Terraces, built in 1983 and 1985, is a small condominium community of 18 units in the far western end of Mission Valley. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans at Mission Valley Terraces include 1/1 and 2/2, and range in size from … (3 comments)

Meaningful Considerations for the Home Seller… - 09/05/10 12:57 PM
I loved John's list here. All of them are so true.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to John's blog and comment there.
Via Port Moody REALTOR, Coquitlam REALTOR, JOHN GRASTY, Prudential Sterling Realty (for real estate results in the Tri-Cities.):
Meaningful Considerations for the Home Seller…
1. What you paid for your home has nothing to do with what someone else is willing to pay.
2. The improvements you’ve made to your home will rarely provide an equitable return on your investment.
3. The listing price of a … (0 comments)

What Are Mello-Roos? California Home Buyers Need to Know - 09/05/10 12:22 PM
I've been meaning to blog about Mello-Roos but always found it to be a mundane subject. Thank goodness for Melissa and reblogging!
Since I always disable comments on reblogs, you can click here to go directly to Melissa's blog and comment there.
Via Melissa Zavala Realtor® North San Diego County Homes (Broadpoint Properties):
What Are Mello-Roos?
California home buyers need to know the definition of the term Mello-Roos. Have you ever heard it before? Do you know what Mello-Roos are?
Simply put, Mello-Roos is a special tax assessed to homeowners in a community as repayment for bonds used to fund the infrastructure of … (0 comments)

Google really likes me! All because of ActiveRain! - 09/05/10 11:11 AM

Google really likes me!All because of ActiveRain!
Around June of 2009, Bob Stewart issued a challenge to write hyper-local posts, and I accepted. Not only were getting the extra points nice, but the hyper-local posts were actually fun to write. Imagine that! Something related to real estate in this economy that was fun to do!
I chose to write about the 39 condominium communities in my farming area, and it took 12 months to get through them all, mainly because I just couldn't find a format to my posts that I was happy with. Finally, about a month ago, I … (57 comments)

Mission Valley Condos in San Diego — The Franciscan - 09/04/10 06:06 AM

Mission Valley Condos in San DiegoThe Franciscan
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium at The Franciscan!
The Franciscan, built from 1970-72, is a gated condominium community of 193 units in the western end of Mission Valley. Bedroom/bathroom floor plans at The Franciscan include 0/1 (studio), 1/1, 2/1, and 2/2, and range in size from 505 to 1,100 square feet. … (9 comments)

What are Section 1 and Section 2 on the Pest Inspection Report? - 09/03/10 05:49 PM
Pest control reports can be quite complicated sometimes, but Christa does a great job of explaining the meat of the matter.
This is a reblog, and I always disable comments on reblogs so that you can click here to go directly to Christa's blog and comment there.
Via Christa Borellini (Prudential California):
The pest inspection report is a report by licensed Pest Inspection Company that inspects the visible and accessible areas of a home for evidence of infestation and/or infection.
  In California the pest inspection report has two sections where repairs are addressed.  They are called Section 1 and Section 2.
Section … (0 comments)

Mission Valley Condos — Presidio Mirage - 09/03/10 05:25 PM

Mission Valley CondosPresidio Mirage
Condominium prices in Mission Valley have been steadily increasing since February 2009, so if you enjoy the hassle-free condominium lifestyle, it's time to get into a Mission Valley condo. You can enjoy everything that beautiful San Diego has to offer right from the central location of your condominium at Presidio Mirage!
Presidio Mirage, built in 1989, is a small, quiet condominium community of twelve units at the far western end of Mission Valley. All twelve units have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, 1,259 square feet, and in-unit laundries.
Living at Presidio Mirage allows you to walk to … (3 comments)

Real estate agents are the best experts on real estate! - 09/02/10 08:46 PM

Real estate agents are the best experts on real estate!
I found myself laughing at a recent article in the San Diego Union-Tribune titled Most experts on panel see housing market falling.
The panel had seven "experts." Four voted for falling, two voted for rising, and one voted neutral.
The seven panelists were:
Kelly Cunningham, a senior fellow and economist for the National University System Institute for Policy Research. He voted yes. Alan Gin, an associate professor of economics in the School of Business Administration at the University of San Diego and publisher of the monthly Index of Leading Economic … (9 comments)

If you can't redefine the competition, can you redefine yoursef? - 09/02/10 12:12 PM
If you can't redefine the competition,can you redefine yourself?
Last night I had Chinese food for supper, not that you would care unless we were at Twitter where they tell you waaaaaaay too much personal information. However, it reminds me of a good story about redefining yourself.
In the late 1980s or early 1990s, the high fat content of Chinese food became a national news story, and many Chinese restaurants saw their sales plummet, forcing many out of business.
One restaurant owner of what we'll call the Szechuan Garden Restaurant wasn't willing to go out of business. Instead, he simply redefined … (16 comments)

Out & About San Diego with Jim Frimmer, Your Realtor in Mission Valley — September is Arts Month in San Diego! - 09/01/10 11:25 PM

This is one of a series titledOut & About with Jim Frimmer, your Realtor in Mission Valley.Read others in this series by clicking on Out & About.
September is Arts Month in San Diego
I used to paint water colors when I was in high school and college, and I still have an appreciation for the visual arts. During September, the visual arts are front and center:
September 2-5 — Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair. Hilton San Diego Bayfront. There will be more than fifty galleries showcasing paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, videos, and multimedia works. There will be … (10 comments)