"I Already Know What You Drive......I've Read Your Blog Posts" - 01/31/11 12:04 PM
Karen shares the power of blogging in her post-- and it is not only about SEO's and google juice... sharing your personal stuff can help clients get to know YOU! 
Via Karen Fiddler Broker/Realtor (The Fiddler Realty Team/eVantage Real Estate):
I always let new clients know what I drive....there is nothing worse than everyone hanging out on a street and not knowing if the person in the car opposite is the client you are planning to meet. It makes me feel silly, so I tell people I drive a convertible PT Cruiser in a greenish-gray.
But this client already knew that....she had read … (4 comments)

Best Picture Oscar Contenders - 01/30/11 07:49 PM
Best Picture Oscar Contenders ... and the Nominees are...
I love movies and I try to see all the Oscar contenders prior to the Awards Ceremony-- here is a breakdown of the Best Picture nominees.
 
1.  WINTER'S BONE-- This indie movie may surprise alot of people... it is one of my favorites of the year.  It has garnered four Oscar nominations for picture, actress (Jennifer Lawrence), supporting actor (John Hawkes) and adapted screenplay.  Ree Dolly (Lawrence) sets out to find her good-for-nothing father in the cold and sparse Ozarks.
2.  127 HOURS--Based on Aaron Ralston's memoir about five days he … (4 comments)

I Reap What You Don't Sow - 01/30/11 05:43 PM
 
This terrific post by Sally Cheesman repeats what I have been saying for a long time.  I encourage everyone in our office to get blogging-- and here are some of the reasons I hear ... I guess they are universal!
 
Via Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Real Estate & Relocations (Century 21 Liberty Homes):
Now I know why ActiveRain doesn't bring their Raincamp to Hawaii. There will be minimal people who will attend because they DON'T blog!  I can guarantee that 90% of real estate industry peers in Hawaii I have come in contact with do not blog. After almost four … (3 comments)

I Still Love Widgets! - 01/30/11 03:13 AM
 
I've had many requests and questions about my blog lately-- and have shared  Let me Google That for you! and How to get that crazy Live Signature... so once again... here is how to get those fun widgets you can feed and play with on my blog!
 
 
I admit it.  I am obsessed with widgets!  Something about adding a fun little box of wonder to my blogs and web-sites... it just makes me happy!  Some widgets connect you to facebook or twitter or trulia... these are all very useful and effective tools to get your reader to connect … (20 comments)

How to Get Comments and Likes on Facebook! - 01/29/11 08:26 PM
How to Get Comments and Likes on Facebook!
 

 
I figured out how to get comments and like on Facebook-- the secret is appealing to your friend's appetites.  They will not be able to resist commenting on your post--first you begin a baking project and take a picture, then post it and wait for the comments to start coming in!  They may want to know your recipe, or they may just be hoping you will share your treats!
Follow up with a post on your blog or web-site with the recipe-- they will not only find out you are … (9 comments)

How to get that crazy "live signature" ! - 01/28/11 09:33 PM
 
 
I was lucky enough to be featured last week with a blog I wrote about 12 Awesome Ideas for your Real Estate Blog or Website. I received more comments than ever along with many questions about some of the gadgets and widgets on my blog.  So I wrote a blog about Let Me Google That for YOU! 
Another fun feature on my blog and I also use it as a signature for e-mails, is the "live signature".  It is very easy to create-- just visit:  mylivesignature.com and scroll through the different fonts to fine one that suits you.  … (18 comments)

Let Me Google That for YOU! - 01/27/11 12:26 AM
Let me that for you !  
I have had so many requests and questions about this link that I have as a signature on my blog...
If you are looking for a great real estate agent in the Palm Springs area,  
  Let me GOOGLE one for you!
      
 
If you want to create a similar signature for your e-mails, blog or web-site, just visit lmgtfy.com and type in any search that you would like to feature.  Copy the URL that is generated into your e-mail or blog signature setting.  You can preface the "Google" … (17 comments)

We’ve Accepted an Offer – Now What Happens? - 01/26/11 11:45 PM
This is a great timeline of the sales process... a terrific post about each step and an explanation of what happpens from opening escrow to the close. 
Via Karen Crowson, Livermore, CA (Alain Pinel Realtors, Livermore, CA):
Sellers may be old hands at buying and selling, but even those with experience know that with all the changes in the industry, things could be very different.  And those who’ve never sold a home before of course, want an understanding of what will happen next. 1)    Escrow will be opened and the buyer’s earnest money will be deposited and a preliminary title report will be … (1 comments)

Coachella Valley Preserve-- Nature at it's Finest! - 01/26/11 07:37 PM
Located 10 miles east of downtown Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley Preserve is a beautiful nature park filled with an array of wildlife and desert plant life. The area is also the only place where you can see the Coachella Valley fringe lizard.
If you hike far enough into the park, you may also be able to explore the famous Thousand Palms Oasis, which is fed water through a deep crack in the San Andreas Fault Line.
The six-mile Pushawalla Palms trail is the most challenging of those available in the park, but it is also the most rewarding as … (3 comments)

Leanna's First Blog ever Got Featured!! Wow! - 01/25/11 10:24 PM
This afternoon my friend and fellow agent Leanna Petitt and I worked together to
get her first blog posted.  I mean, she wrote it... I just helped with her profile, the tags, groups, channels, and kept her going forward!  I was so excited to see that her post "Getting Started With Blogging was featured this afternoon!
 
We have been encouraging our non-blogging agents to start blogging-- I even wrote a blog about it.. " 12 Awesome Ideas for Your Real Estate Blog or Website", to help give them ideas  that would make blogging more fun!
Thanks ActiveRain for encouraging new … (8 comments)

iPhone ActiveRain App is Bogus! - 01/24/11 07:04 PM
I have been setting up my new iPhone with Supra-key, Facebook, Twitter, music, and new services.  When I did a search for other apps to add I found an ActiveRain app.... but even though Brad Anderson's picture is on the main page... It is NOT an ActiveRain portal.
After reading through the reviews...I found that I am not the only one DISAPPOINTED!  
 The description for the App states: 
"Access the Larges and Fastest growing Real Estate Nework, and utilize the tools and resources available for your business.  Browse blogs, access members, search people and information, watch video and much more.  … (6 comments)

12 Awesome Ideas for Your Real Estate Blog or Website - 01/24/11 02:13 PM
This week we talked about blogging (again) in our Monday meeting and our broker (again) encouraged all or our agents to get involved with ActiveRain and get blogging!  If everyone on our team would produce even ONE targeted, hyper-local blog per week... (or DAILY) our office would DOMINATE  the local market in a short time! 
 
But agents asked:  WHAT DO WE BLOG ABOUT?    
 
Here are some AWESOME IDEAS FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE BLOG OR WEBSITE!
Great Deal of the Week!  Write about the best house you or your team find each week-- Include pictures! Great restaurant of the … (148 comments)

Little luxuries score big points with my clients! - 01/23/11 03:23 PM
Today my clients called and asked me to drop by before lunch because they wanted to thank me.  They had leased one of my listings in our neighborhood and had called many times since their arrival with questions and special requests regarding their stay.  They did not mind paying top-dollar, but they wanted spotless, luxurious accommodations and top-notch service. 
Prior to their arrival I:
Arranged roses from my garden in a bowl and placed it on the dining table.  Created a batch of my killer carmel corn and packaged some up for them to enjoy. Shared  a pair of Bob Hope … (6 comments)

How to change "Sent from my iPhone" message - 01/22/11 06:10 PM
How to change the "Sent from my iPhone" message!

 
Would you like to change the "Sent from my iPhone" message that accompanies all of your iPhone messages?  Every email sent from your iPhone, by default  is followed by a  signature specified in Settings > Mail > Signature. To clear out this signature entirely, delete all the text from the Signature text field. Your emails will lose that "Sent from my iPhone" tag.
You could use it to add a business related plug... or if you are clever, as I know you are, you can change the message to something … (9 comments)

10 Steps for a Great Listing Presentation - 01/22/11 12:04 AM
Tom Ferry has some great tips for making a huge impression  when going to a listing presentation.... subscribe to Tom's blogs for great ideas, inspiration and strategies for success!
Via Tom Ferry (Tom Ferry-yourcoach):
Happy Friday! www.YourCoach.com In this video, I want to give you 10 secrets to WIN in your listing presentations! Remember, your strategy matters and your passion rules! -Tom 888.866.3377 @CoachTomFerry … (7 comments)

Aerial Views of your Town Can Bring a New Perspective - 01/21/11 10:08 PM
With all the satellite tools, Google Earth, and You-Tube videos (among many others) many of us are able to see our home-town and neighborhoods from the sky.  The high-tech, high-def technology gives us access to the most amazing images of the places we live and can bring a new and enlightened perspective. 
The Bob Hope Classic is being played entirely in La Quinta, CA this week.  We are very lucky to live right on the signature 7th hole at La Quinta Country Club and have a front-row seat to the PGA players and the athletes, celebrities, and amateurs playing this week.  … (6 comments)

Letterman's Top Ten Reasons Why Golf is Better Than Sex - 01/21/11 02:18 PM
David Letterman's Top Ten Reasons Why Golf Is Better Than Sex   #10... A below par performance is considered damn good. #9... You can stop in the middle and have a cheeseburger and a couple of beers. #8... It's much easier to find the sweet spot. #7... Foursomes are encouraged. #6... You can still make money doing it as a senior. #5... Three times a day is possible. #4... Your partner doesn't hire a lawyer if you play with someone else. #3... If you live in La Quinta, you can do it almost every day. #2... You don't have to cuddle with your partner when you're finished.   And, … (5 comments)

My Favorite Comedian Ron White at the Bob Hope Classic - 01/20/11 05:53 PM
We are so lucky to have front row seats here at La Quinta Country Club and the Bob Hope Classic!  The weather is gorgeous... in the mid 70's, sun is shining and we have the celebrity field here today.  This is one of my favorite weeks here in the desert!

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My favorite comedian Ron "Tater Salad" White is one of the celebrities playing this week.  If you get a chance to see him, or even catch his act on TV... DO IT!

 
… (7 comments)

iphone supra key vs blackberry fob - 01/19/11 09:42 PM
Wow... was I happy to get the new Supra-Key for my new iphone... I can't tell you how much better it is than the Blackberry "Fob", or as I called it the "BLOB".  It was big and bulky and cumbersome.  The new Supra-Key for iphone is small and when you plug it into your phone while showing homes you can just leave it there and it becomes a kind of extension of your phone. 

 
Another reason why I think the iphone is better than Blackberry for agents!  What smartphone are you using?  Whick one to you think works the … (3 comments)

IPHONE VS BLACKBERRY - 01/18/11 07:57 PM

 
I  just switched from 2 years with Blackberry to the IPHONE and I am finding many differences.  My Blackberry was a tool, the IPHONE feels like a new friend.  Resolution on the screen is a huge difference... the IPHONE  is so much clearer.  Speed with the IPHONE runs circles around the Blackberry.
Tomorrow I will pick up the new ekey Supra device so I can open lock-boxes with the IPHONE.  Blackberry also has a Supra app that requires a key fob.  I found this device somewhat cumbersome and hard to juggle. 
I also will be adding QR codes to … (5 comments)

3 Positve Things about the Real Estate Market - 01/17/11 02:39 PM

If someone asks you about the current real estate market... can you give them 3 "positive" answers?  This question came up in our Monday meeting today... and we think it's important to be able to communicate to clients, friends, family and fellow agents-- some positive things about today's market!   
Here are a few of the things we came up with:   
Buyers are realizing that the time to buy is now! Investors are finding great homes for long-term and rentals. Clients want to hear the bottom-line.... no fluff. Many people need help finding a place to live now... it feels … (5 comments)

Dealing With The Black And White Thinker In A Grey World - 01/17/11 02:24 PM
Negotiating in not just for real estate... we can use these strategies for negotiating in other areas of your life as well.  Here are some pointers to get things to fall your way! 
Via Gary Woltal - Assoc. Broker REALTOR® SFR Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty):
When it comes to power negotiation in the real estate world or in communication between two parties you will encounter stubborness at some point. Whether someone just wants their way or can't learn to compromise you need to learn to
Deal With The Black And White Thinker In A Grey World.
First off if you give into … (2 comments)

WOW! 200,000 Members!! - 01/17/11 12:20 PM
 

 
How exciting that ActiveRain has reached this amazing milestone!  Congrats to the staff, and all the members for making ActiveRain such  a supportive, vibrant, informative, and educational community! 
I wrote a post last week, 199,245 and inching toward 200,000 Members strong!,  that was featured about inviting new members and sharing the ActiveRain love... my fellow Rainers must have been listening, because here we are a 200,000!
Keep up the good work and let's get to 300,000 by the end of the year!
… (1 comments)

Women in Art-- Your Passport to Fashion! - 01/16/11 06:06 PM
JAN 23rd SUNDAY, 11am to 6pm , The Fourth annual “Women in Art–Your Passport to Fashion”
This day of Art and fashion from La Quinta Arts Foundation and Chico’s The Shops on El Paseo. Meet four trendsetting women in art whose distinctive styles are forever in fashion:  Diane McClary, Plein Air Painting; Linda Shrimplin, Glass; Leslee Adams, The Watercolor Chef; and Joanne Casey, Mixed Media.Chico’s invites the public to enjoy light refreshments and informal modeling throughout the day while shopping for the latest fashion trends.  Chico’s will donate 10% of its profits Sunday to the La Quinta Arts Foundation.
… (1 comments)

Best New Restaurants in the Palm Springs Area - 01/16/11 02:22 AM
3rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro. Mussels served with 3rd Corner Fries and a sauce of lemon, aioli, white wine, parsley, garlic, and butter.  Photo by Ed Moore
According to Donna Curran, Palm Springs Life Magazin, these are the best new places to dine in 2011.  When the Desert Sun releases it's "Best of the Valley", we will see how they measure up with the locals!
 
A bright new wave of eateries of all kinds have opened in the 12 months since we last surveyed the desert’s restaurant scene. Here are the best based on cuisine, service, vibe , and … (2 comments)

A Loser is one who fails…. Then Quits! - 01/16/11 01:42 AM
Never, never, never give up!  Watching football this weekend gave me a boost watching all those passionate players, fans, and coaches... Give it your best, and give it your all!
Via Don Wixom (RE/MAX Advantage Nampa, ID):
Sometimes in life, we have disappointments. Things can go wrong or just not the way we planned or expected.
 
For having a pretty positive attitude and personality, I can get down on occasion, myself. It’s not the getting down that causes ultimate failure, it’s the not getting up again, that messes you up!
 
A Loser is one who fails…. Then Quits!
 
I encourage … (2 comments)

Best Late Nite Dining in Palm Springs - 01/16/11 01:33 AM
Late nite dining in the Palm Springs area is a requirement when you attend some of the many events... galas, film festivals, theatre presentations, or casino shows... Luckily Palm Springs has many options to choose from to satisfy your late-nite hunger!
In Palm Springs’ trendy Uptown Design District, Trio Restaurant (1-760-864-8746; www.triopalmsprings.com) offers an energetic, desert-casual atmosphere with a midcentury vibe and great American fare. The kitchen accommodates 10 p.m. seatings during the week and 11 p.m. seatings on weekends. Nearby, Jake’s Palm Springs (1-760-327-4400; www.jakespalmsprings.com) blends the ease of a café with the elegance of a sit-down restaurant. You can … (0 comments)

Bob Hope Classic-- Where the Celebrites Play! - 01/15/11 07:30 PM
The Bob Hope Classic is being played entirely in the City of La Quinta for the second year in a row!  The courses this year are La Quinta Country Club, SilverRock Resort, and the Palmer and Nicklaus Private courses at PGA WEST.
Practice rounds for the amateurs, celebrities and pros will begin on Monday and Tuesday of this next week, but I have spotted many pros getting in early practice sessions here at La Quinta Country Club.  Kevin Na and Boo Weekley were here last week rolling putts on our lightning-fast greens!  Tournament play begins on Wednesday,  Jan. 19th and concludes … (2 comments)

How to Interview the Owner for a Short Sale Listing - 01/15/11 06:28 PM
This is a great post on interviewing home-owners for the short-sale process.  By only taking listings on properties that meet your requirements you can guarantee more successful deals! 
Via Roseanne Campagna - Kent/Des Moines/Blk Diamond/Federal Way/Maple Valley/Renton (Windermere Real Estate/South Inc. - South King County, WA):
How to Interview the Owner for a Short Sale Listing
When I first joined Active Rain, I wrote a post titled  Just Say 'NO' When They FAIL the 3-part Test.
I had just attended a seminar on Short Sales and this seemed a reasonable start, a good topic to blog, and easy for owners to digest who … (4 comments)

Blog like you Stole it....the Idea Anyway - 01/15/11 02:28 AM
I really like this blog about getting people, new members, fellow agents into blogging--- I  want all the agents in our office to read this-- and get going! 
Via Anita Koppens (Dynamic Page Solutions):
Most of you that are involved with real estate have heard about the importance of blogging and how, with relatively little effort, it can impact your business, yet so many postpone getting involved. I believe that this is because of the fear of the unknown (how to get started) or the fear of being judged by their writing skills or ideas. The first step is to just start writing. … (1 comments)

In Case you Wondered What an 8 Million Dollar + House Looks Like! - 01/14/11 03:39 PM
 Yesterday we went on a Broker Open House tour at The Tradtion Golf Club in La Quinta.  Just a few minutes from our Old Town La Quinta office and you can preview homes from the modest $3 Million something, to this over-the-top beauty at $8.45 Million.
The home boasts three luxurious guest suites along with a detached two-bedroom casita.  The elevated Master-suite  has an adjoining library or office.  Follow the steps down to your own private screening room/theatre, with it's own kitchen area for conjuring up some movie snacks and drinks.  The home has 11 climate zones, central vacuuming system, a … (7 comments)

199,245... and inching toward 200,000 Members strong! - 01/12/11 03:47 PM
 
 
 
Do you check the running count of ActiveRain members everyday when you log on to ActiveRain?  I DO!  Do you invite members on a regular basis?  Are you doing all you can to help build this amazing community?  I DO!
I send out invitations on a regular basis... and re-send them to those that do not respond.  I remind fellow agents each Monday in our meeting that AR is the best way to reach prospects, clients, boost your google ranking, make connections with other agents, get referrals, learn about "anything that relates to real estate", and so much … (36 comments)

Debunking The Sky Is Falling Real Estate Myth - 01/11/11 08:39 PM
Some buyers and sellers are sitting on the fence-- but the truth is homes are being bought and  sold, leased and listed every day!  Get on with it... move forward and stop waiting! 
Via Gary Woltal - Assoc. Broker REALTOR® SFR Dallas Ft. Worth (Keller Williams Realty):
In today's housing market it is VERY EASY to let fear set in as a buyer OR seller and essentially DO NOTHING. I am here to
Debunk The Sky Is Falling Real Estate Myth.
With fear, a buyer keeps waiting for lower prices. With fear a seller holds off putting his or her home on the … (0 comments)

How Do You Negotiate? - 01/11/11 05:46 PM
This post really illustrates some of the attitudes and ideas that buyers bring to us in this market.  I admire Glenn for outlining his strategies to this buyer...and for walking away from a deal because it did not work for him. 
Via Glenn Roberts - Seattle Residential (Lake & Company Real Estate):
Glenn Roberts | Ravenna Park | My Seattle | Lake & Co Real Estate
How Do You Negotiate? I got an email from a buyer a while back. I had met him at an open house I was holding. It wasn't my listing and he acted like he knew more … (2 comments)

Ask your agent if they are away who covers their business? - 01/11/11 12:48 PM
When you work with The Lori Bowers Group-- we have you covered.  With our Team of strong agents and a Broker who makes herself available, we always have someone to take care of our clients needs!
Via Dorie Dillard: Canyon Creek & NW Austin Living (Coldwell Banker United):
 Ask your agent if they are away who covers their business? When selecting an agent to represent you in a real estate transaction you need to know their procedures for working with you.  Are they available from 9-6? Are they accessible both Saturday and Sunday?  How do they communicate: email, phone, text or a combination? Asking … (5 comments)

What is it like to live in the desert full-time? - 01/11/11 11:16 AM
                                                                 What is it like to live in the desert full-time?
 
I just received this question from a friend on facebook:

"What is the cost of living like out there? My partner is in the San Diego area and just too many people for me there. I am looking to relocate to either your area or Florida. Have lived in FL. and not my first choice. Our business is going to expand greatly over the next 2-3 years and I am sick of Winter!! Have been putting up with it for 52 years and it has won the war! … (3 comments)

Do You Tell People You are a Realtor? - 01/10/11 12:20 PM
 
                                 Do you tell people you are a Realtor? 
 

 
 
In our Monday meeting we talked about finding and reaching  out to 3 new people each week to make real estate connections and find new clients.  Our broker said sometimes when she and her husband are out, she'd rather not talk to people about houses and just needs some down-time.  It is hard for us to "not be agents" all the time. 
This subject reminded me of when I was a golf pro and traveled across the country playing in tournaments.  When my friends, (fellow pros), and … (6 comments)

The Country Club Can Make or Break YOU! - 01/10/11 12:46 AM
The Country Club Can Make or Break YOU!

Today I took a client back to a home she and her husband had liked yesterday.  She brought her best friend... and she liked it more today.  They love this house!  But, tomorrow they meet with the membership director at our Country Club... and will find out all the details of  the amenities, costs, and benefits of joining the Club.
When you live and work in a Country Club neighborhood... you must rely on the Membership Director to be an ally in selling not only the Club, but the lifestyle.  And in … (7 comments)

What is the Best Golf Course in the Desert? - 01/09/11 12:07 AM
What is the Best Golf Course in the Desert ?
 

 
I have played almost every one of the golf courses in the Coachella Valley in the past 20 + years.  Years ago when I competed as a professional, some of the events we played were here in the desert.  When I think of the amount of time, money and swings involved... it is considerable.  I have played PGA West, Bighorn, The Quarry, Rancho La Quinta, O'Donnell, Mission Hills, Tamarisk, Morningside, Thunderbird, Indian Wells, Desert Island, SilverRock, and many, many more.
When people ask me to name the best … (5 comments)

Marketing Luxury Real Estate: Good News in the Job Market - 01/08/11 04:41 PM
This is an inspiring post and I hope a sign of things to come!  Thanks for sharing the good news with us and reminding us that it's time for things to start looking up!  Kathy
Via Ron & Alexandra Seigel (Luxury Real Estate Marketing) (ra@napaconsultants.com):
We end this first week of 2011 on hopeful news that the unemployment rate fell to its lowest point in 19 months as of the end of December 2010.  As we have read blog posts we have also noticed that new jobs have been created in several markets such as Louisiana and Colorado.  We hope this trend … (2 comments)

What Do I Need to do To Get my Home Leased Out? - 01/08/11 12:03 AM

 
 
I had a neighbor call me yesterday who had literally "stolen" a foreclosed home in our neighborhood.  He asked me to come over and take a look and give him my ideas for getting it leased out.
The home is an old estate  built by the Keck family on the 11th fairway of the La Quinta Country Club. He had put new flooring in, cleaned up the yard, painted,re-finished the pool, and put in new A/C units.  He loves this house, and may eventually move into it down the road.  Right now he just has a sign in … (6 comments)

I Actually Continued to Work with The Bickersons because they were such Good Blogging Material! - 01/07/11 12:03 AM

I Actually Continued to Work with The Bickersons because they were such Good Blogging Material! 
True confessions of a blogging addict: 
  You remember the Bickersons... they could not agree on anything, they would not ride in the same car when looking at homes, they argued incessantly, she loved it/he hated it, and they kept calling me back to continue their search.
We started on a search for a condo for this couple from Canada who came for a long weekend, fell in love with the desert, and decided to stay!  We looked and looked for the perfect place.  They … (15 comments)

Business Doesn't Stop When You are Sick Part 2 - 01/06/11 02:44 PM

Business Doesn't Stop When You are Sick Part 2
Yesterday I ventured out and showed a house in the morning.  I was a bit groggy and actually lost my bearings leaving the development and asked for help getting back to her car.  I yawned and headed home--ready to climb back in bed... but when I arrived I had a contact from Facebook ask me to do a CMA.  So I dove in and got that done and sent out... then the phone rang and an internet lead asked for some info on a neighborhood nearby.  Then a neighbor (investor) asked … (7 comments)

Your Short-Sale Clients Need More Than Just Help Selling Their Home - 01/05/11 08:25 PM
Your Short-Sale Clients Need More Than Just Help Selling Their Home
If you have clients going through a short-sale you know what I'm talking about.  Most of these distressed sellers are under tremendous pressure.  They have mounting bills, they are fearing foreclosure, they have husbands, wives, & children counting on them.  It is a difficult time in their life and it can be extremely stressful and emotional.  They are in need of expert advise regarding their home, a persistent and tenacious representative to negotiate with the lender,  and a knowledgeable agent to help them relocate.
We can earn the trust of … (6 comments)

Business Doesn't Stop When You are Sick - 01/04/11 09:00 PM

 
I came down with a killer cold/flu this weekend and it kicked my butt!  I have been in bed for 3 days with aches, chills, swollen glands, sore throat, running-away nose, cough, well... you get it.  But my phone has not stopped ringing, the e-mails keep coming, texts, etc.  Clients still need answers and want to go on showings.  Agents are still calling checking in on short-sales... 
What do you do?  For me... two things:  I answered e-mails and texts from bed... via blackberry.  And ... I have a Team to help me out when I need it.  For … (14 comments)

New Years Eve is about Friends! - 01/03/11 12:01 AM
New Years Eve is about  Friends!

 
 
 
 
 
 
For the last several years we have hosted a dinner party-New Years Eve celebration at Casa Schowe.  A few of the couples have attended all of them... some were new this year.  I love to invite people who find themselves without plans... or who find themselves in the desert without  a place to go!  It seems like every year we have a new couple !
This year we followed the steakhouse theme and roasted a filet mignon  and complemented it with a pear-gorganzola salad, creamed spinach, scalloped potatoes, … (6 comments)

Is Palm Springs Gay? - 01/02/11 07:01 PM
Is Palm Springs Gay?

 
 You know, Palm Springs...the playground of celebrities and movie stars, golf mecca, sun-worshipers paradise, palm-tree lined streets and exclusive clubs and restaurants, but Is Palm Springs Gay?
I live and work in La Quinta California, just 15 miles east of downtown Palm Springs and I was asked that question last week when engaging a couple who had stopped to look at our listings in front of the office. 
How do you answer that question?  Did they have a gay son who was thinking of re-locating?  Were they homo-phobic snobs?  Were they profiling?  Were they looking … (9 comments)

Will an Approved Short-Sale Close on Time? - 01/02/11 06:08 PM

Will an Approved Short-Sale Close on Time?
 
 
My sellers on a short-sale asked me,
"Do you think the house will really close on the 25th?  Would there be anything that holds it up?" 
We had joined this transaction late in the game--the sellers were just days away from foreclosure and we were able to get it listed, and came in with an offer just minutes before the deadline.  In the mean time we also received 2 additional offers as backups.  Our sellers have been very cooperative in producing all the necessary financial statements, tax records, payment stubs, W-2s,  … (4 comments)

 
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Kathy Schowe~ La Quinta, California 760-333-8886

La Quinta, CA

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Intero Real Estate La Quinta

Address: 78065 Main Street, Suite #107, LaQuinta, CA, 92253

Office Phone: (760) 564-2900

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