Again, please pardon me if you're aware of this, but I think this is just so cool, everyone should know about it.

Regardless of your politics, regardless of your opinion of the war, there are so many brave young Americans far from home for yet another Thanksgiving.

Take a minute, grab your cell, and text a "Thank you" to 89279.  Your message will be sent through a general delivery system, then sent to an individual service person who will read your words. In addition to anything they've received from home, believe me, anything they receive in addition to let them know someone is thinking of them... I've sent at least 10 messages, and each time, almost immediately, I receive a heartfelt thanks from some young man or woman in Iraq or Afghanistan.  Their words are guaranteed to warm your heart!

I found the following in Inman News and felt compelled to get it out there.  Those of you who regularly read my blog know I've touched on this subject more than once, so to see it put so succinctly, well, I just had to share it.  Please pardon me if you've already seen this excellent piece by Bernice Ross:

I am sick and tired of the negative media constantly ranting about how horrible everything is in our business. It's time for our industry to fight back against these psychic vampires who seek to suck every bit of hope and optimism out of us just to build their circulation.

Newspaper headlines and buzzwords abound, such as: "Two million people will lose their homes in foreclosure in the next two years!" "Subprime Fiasco!" and "Mortgage Meltdown."

These are the headlines we hear every day, yet where is the positive news about the real estate market? The answer is, buried in statistics on page 15 of section 3 of your newspaper, provided you can find them at all.

Here's a typical example from USA Today, Oct. 26, 2007, page 1B:

New Home Sales Unexpectedly Rise

New homes sales posted an unexpected increase in September. But analysts were highly skeptical given the credit crunch and predicted further sales declines. The Commerce Department said sales of new homes rose 4.8 percent last month..."

By the way, here's what they didn't report. Sales in the West were up 36.6 percent. The media totally discounted these statistics. What about a different headline: "Great News! Real Estate Sales Surge Despite Biggest Credit Crunch in Decades"?

Here's another example. In Sept. 6, 2007, article entitled, "New Mortgage Foreclosures Set Record," Martin Crutsinger provided the following summary of a speech given by Doug Duncan, the chief economist for the National Mortgage Bankers Association. Here's how it was reported:

"The number of homeowners receiving foreclosure notices hit a record high in the spring, driven up by problems with subprime mortgages. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported Thursday that mortgage-holders starting the foreclosure process in the April-June quarter reached 0.65 percent, marking the third consecutive quarter that this figure has set an all-time high.

"The delinquency rate has risen to 5.12 percent ... The worsening performance was driven by two factors - heavy losses in the Midwest states of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, and the collapse of previously booming housing markets in California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona ... Analysts said the problems in the formerly red-hot housing markets of California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona reflected in part speculators walking away from mortgages they can no longer afford."

This article ends with the negative media's favorite theme for scaring their readers and/or listeners: "Two million people will face foreclosure in the next two years."

Here are the numbers that the negative media did NOT report from Duncan's speech:

1. Thirty-five percent of the homes in the U.S. do NOT have a mortgage.

2. Some 94.88 percent of the loans ARE performing.

3. The foreclosure problem in this country is really a story about seven states.

4. The biggest foreclosure problems are in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. These are manufacturing states that had horrible job losses. Since 2001, Michigan has lost 300,000 jobs. These states would probably have had problems no matter what the market was doing.

5. The other four states - California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona - experienced significant overbuilding. Twenty-five percent of the foreclosures in these states are on properties that are held by investors who were speculating.

6. Only 25 percent of all mortgages are subprime, and of these, 75 percent are performing.

7. In the other 43 states, foreclosures have fallen in 2007 from 2006 (data from Michael Clawson, vice president, Central Texas Mortgage).

Furthermore, buyers who are waiting to purchase when the so-called bubble pops in California's major metropolitan areas are going to be sitting on the sidelines, according to the latest data from a state Realtor group.

According to Leslie Appleton Young, chief economist for the California Association of Realtors, the areas being hardest hit in California are the outlying areas where there has been overbuilding. The resale market in California's major markets continues to be strong. In fact, the closer you are to a metropolitan area, the better the sales are. In the million-dollar-plus price range, there has been essentially no change from 2006 to 2007.

There's no question about the fact that there is bad news in some markets. What irks me is that there is also a lot of good news that is either being buried or is not being reported at all.

******

Copy it and send it to your clients, your sphere, send it to your lenders, send it to ANYONE considering buying or selling in this "terrible" market.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all :)

Talk about gratifying.  Even if the comments made by agents were pure lip service, still... very gratifying.

Since I'm a native to the area, and not exactly new to the business, I pride myself on knowing the local property values.  Of course, I also try to convince my clients to be realistic when setting a list price.  But, when you hold a broker's open house, then your first public open house three days later, and ninety-five percent of the comments regarding the list price you and your sellers' decided upon, are positive, from both agents and buyers (and of course, the predictable slew of looky-loo neighbors who come through a premiere open house), again, it is very gratifying.

In fact, the percentage mentioned above is probably a little low.  Now that I think about it, there were only two agents out of the over 40 who showed up for the BOH who had less than positive statements.  One in particular stands out in my memory as exceptionally snide... well, let's call a spade a spade - she was downright insulting.  But, in the face of adversity, I smiled, thanked her for her input, and wished her luck with her own listings.

My listing in the Hollywood Riviera is not only a delight to behold, lay claim to as the agent representing the sellers', it has now been given the seal of approval by both agents and potential buyers.  And why not?  It is, after all, completely remodeled, right down to every solid door with Baldwin hardware... everything you see, everything you DON'T see... is new.  The 40 year roof, plumbing, electrical, the attic mounted forced air unit... all new.

So?  What are you waiting for?  My clients are looking for offers!  If you're not working with an agent, contact me today!  If you have an agent, they know how to reach me.  If you're looking for a truly turn-key home in a quiet neighborhood, one with great schools, a family-oriented atmosphere, AND quick access to the beach...

Let's see those offers!

In addition to allowing what's visible below to speak for itself, I just want to add I'm grateful to be associated with a great organization like Coldwell Banker.  They take the strides necessary to keep their associates well informed.  And while I've been saying the media has been blowing things out of proportion for too long in previous posts, and telling people at open houses here locally that our local market isn't part of said sensationalizing, a picture (of sorts) says 1,000 words:

Food for thought.  Bon appetit!

South Bay buyers interested in the Upper Riviera, or Agents with buyers for same: please come to my first broker open house, one week from today, public open a week from Sunday.  MLS # P957084

This listing is well worth the trip!  And if that link didn't convince you, click here for the virtual tour! 

Sorry... it had to be done.  I promise I'll behave now.  NOT!

Seriously, it's a great listing, and also, very seriously, now is the time to step up, dig into our pockets and let some cash flow to help our fire-stricken neighbors.  I know Coldwell Banker is collecting donations, I'm sure your Broker is, too.  Imagine yourself on the other side! 

Even if it's just a dollar, make that donation!

Thanks!

Nothing like settling back with a cup of coffee after a productive weekend and... hold it.  I was going to write "post to one of my favorite RE sites."

However, now that I see the statement in black and white, I'm forced to take stock and reconsider the weight of those words.

"Favorite:" 'One that is trusted, indulged, or preferred above all others,' is one definition of the word.  Once that is factored in, I'm forced to hearken back to my post of 9/7/07, think of all the comments and private emails I received, e.g.: "Yes, it's a problem but they eventually get to each one of the bad posts."

Really?

When?

The posts I originally found myself frustrated over are still out there, on-line, unjustly giving credit to someone for another's work.

Perhaps what surprises me more than the actual topic, were some of the responses I received: "What do YOU care what other people write or where they get their information?"

Answering a question with a question isn't really my thing, but... has anyone, including those in charge at AR, ever heard of ethics and integrity?  I mean, here we are, almost 2 months after my original post, and its as if nothing was ever said.

As a published author myself, I can tell you that if someone took my words, posted them on-line, and took credit for them, I'd be a little more than slightly agitated.

I think now that I've been away for a while, taking some new listings and working with buyers, I'm going to spend a little more time on AR, and watch... lurk.  Lurking has its place.  Lurking can be fun; try it!  I'll lurk, and see if anything changes. 

If not, as childish as the "I'm gonna take my toys and go home" attitude may sound, deleting my profile is something that comes to mind.

Why should I contribute my time and effort to a site that takes little or no action to police its content? 

I remain, frustrated, and some may say full of it,

Well, it certainly has been a while!  I'm so overdue to post and so many things have happened, I'm not sure where to begin!  Thankfully, if I may be permitted the use of the term: "It's all good!"  I've been so busy showing and negotiating, it feels like 2004, my best year ever, all over again.

In addition to my West High area listing, I now have a pocket listing, (a signed listing not yet on the MLS), in the Hollywood Riviera, and a listing appointment in the same neighborhood today at 2.

There's a virtual tour of the pocket listing on my site in the Featured Listings section.  I switched back to Circlepix after using FloorPlansOnline.com for a couple years for several reasons.  FloorPlansOnline.com is a great source for online tours, however, my personal opinion is their platform is more appropriate for homes in the 3,000 sq. ft. category.  As the name implies, they not only provide the pictures, but the photographer they send is also a licensed appraiser, who tapes then provides a floor plan of the property.  Again, more appropriate for larger, more elaborate homes for which a diagram of the floor plan to accompany the photos online will give the consumer a better idea of the flow of the house, more so than just the photos and tour itself.

The downside to FloorPlansOnline.com is, while well done and easy to navigate, the virtual tour itself is really nothing more than a slideshow.  That negative is partially offset by the camera icons shown in the floor plans.  Click in the icon, a photo appears, and gives the viewer a sense of how the home looks from where the photo was actually taken.

Also, and again, in my opinoin, Circlepix offers a printable flyer in their package I find to be much more attractive.  And for a few dollars more, you can have your branded tour burned to CD's, a fantastic way to market your listing, your website, AND yourself... better than a business card ANY day. 

So, in addition to virtual tours, writing ad copy, studying for my Architectural Division acceptance test, AND helping to get a non-profit organization off the ground, (stay tuned for more info!), I've been holding open houses, as well as showing property nearly every day for the last month.  Suffice it to say, there hasn't been a lot of time in this Agent's life to devote to blogging!

But I would like local agents and home buyers to know we are hoping to hear from you!  All of my local sellers, of course, have different levels of motivation, but we're looking for your offers!  Particularly, the owner of the vacant lot I have listed in Rolling Hills Estates - 899k for over a half acre of prime Palos Verdes Peninsula land?  Take advantage of a below market value price!

If you have any questions about my active or any of my pocket listings, have your agent get in touch with me, or, if you're not working with an agent, contact me today!  I'll be happy to speak with you, and grateful for the opportunity to compete for your business.

Not in the South Bay.  While I wish I could say it was my sale, it wasn't.  But I had the privilege of working with and still know the selling agent, and congratulations to you, Kevin.

After a mere 13 days on the market, a fabulous ocean front masterpiece in Manhattan Beach closed on the 21st, selling for 10,700,000.00, 200k less than the original asking price.

In addition to congratulating my former associate, I want to make a point.  And that is, if you go back through some of my posts, you will find a topic I've touched on a few times as of late: the media sensationalizes the "doom and gloom," or, as I've come to know it: "Pick and Choose Reporting."  More often than not, the positive strides being made daily to "turn the (national) market around" are overlooked. 

The media speaks of "the Real Estate Market," almost 100 percent of the time, as one "thing," on a national basis.  What is sorely lacking in their reporting is that within that one, national market, are hundreds of thousands of individual markets, each an entity unto itself.  As such, the statistics vary.  Some markets, in fact, many market areas, are thriving.

Questions about the market?  Please contact me today!

Well, my dear Watson, a great home inspector!

Look, if the Department of Real Estate views the topic as serious enough to require a separate disclosure, as they have for several years now, (Buyer's Inspection Advisory form BIA-A - page 9 and 10 of th CA RPA), having a great home inspection company as part of your team is essential.

Before I go any further, I should point out there are liability issues here, so be sure to convey to your clients that the company they choose to inspect their new home is just that: THEIR choice.

Once that's done, there's no harm, no foul in recommending a company you know and work with regularly as long as your clients understand that you are not liable for anything the company you recommend overlooks or otherwise misses.

Precisely why, here in the South Bay and Palos Verdes, I've been more than satisfied with the Elite Group again and again.  I've been using them for nearly a decade, and my clients love them.

So, those of you in the early stages of escrow and unaware of this great group of people, give them a try!  They were one of the first to show up for an inspection with laptops and portable printers, and one of the first to offer same day viewing of the entire report on the Web, available online in PDF format for two weeks from date of inspection. 

Thorough and competitively priced, they're deal makers, not deal breakers.

I consider myself a relative newbie with regard to posting here on AR.  During the time I've been getting acquainted with protocol, I've noticed polar opposite opinions on announcing listings in blog posts, whether it is the proper forum, etc.

Since there seems to be a bit of controversy and no set rule as to whether this is acceptable or not, I'm going to take my chances, but before I continue, please allow me to say that if the practice is indeed frowned upon, my apologies to any I've offended.  That said, considering I've flagged certain posts that were blatant cases of plagiarism and the staff at AR have chosen not to respond to any of my FOUR notifications, I don't think this post should be considered too far out of the realm of "acceptable behavior."  Sounds like the beginning of anarchy ;)

I digress.

I have a wonderful opportunity for the right buyer, and a chance for an any agent to make a substantial amount of cash, including a 10k selling bonus (contact me for requirements and pricing).

Unobstucted views from Malibu to Catalina in this 2006 custom built masterpiece, situated a few scant feet from the sand.  An entertainer's dream of a floor plan sweeps you through the nearly 4,000 square feet of luxurious living space.  Hear the waves and take in one fabulous sunset after another from the master suite, it's balcony, the one above it, or from the roof top deck replete with fire-pit and surround sound.  On the MLS mid to late September.  Please contact mefor pricing and showing instructions.