Lucille Botos's Blog

Will An Appraisal Help?

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:09:17 -0700

What is going on with Bank of America these days? Ok, ok, I'll give you a chance to stop laughing (or crying) and regain your composure. What? That might take a while?

Seriously though, I don't have a working knowledge of BofA short sales in other parts of the country, but if what I read and hear is reliable, it doesn't appear to be much different than my wonderful little part of the globe. It appeared there for a while, albeit and very short while, that BofA had improved their responsiveness and willingness to work with, and approve, short sales. Personally, I was receiving prompt responses to all my inquiries and things were moving along quickly with Equator and the system as a whole.

Then we arrived at that brick wall, or more accurately, we slammed into it. As some of you may have guessed, I'm referring to the valuation of the property. From what I've been reading lately this seems to be a common issue with BofA these days. I'm not referring to a slight difference of opinion on the valuation, I'm talking extreme, what are you thinking, type difference. I even received an email from the negotiator stating that the investor (Fannie Mae) was concerned that accepting such an offer would adversely affect values in the area. Mind you, the offer submitted was a good offer, as a matter-of-fact, it was a great offer.

I won't go into the ugly details - you can fill in the blanks. Let's just say it hasn't been pleasant. We tried everything, even offering to have an appraisal done. We were basically told not to waste the time or money. The investor wouldn't budge. Finally, someone at BofA "didn't" tell us to go ahead with the appraisal. We ultimately had an appraisal done and although BofA supposedly reduced their valuation and we were to receive an approval letter in a couple of days, that was 2 weeks ago and not only are we still waiting for the approval letter, now I can't get any response whatsoever.

Do I think the appraisal helped? Yes I do. Do I think BofA has gotten any better working short sales? Give me a few minutes while I try to regain my composure.

Murrieta Rental With Solar Heated Pool

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:09:52 -0700

Lu Botos | Ambra Real Estate | (951) 796-7824

Browning, Murrieta, CA

It's Pool Time

4BR/2+1BA Single Family House

$1,985/month

Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	2,204
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	Conditional
Deposit	$1,985

DESCRIPTION

Spacious home in the popular Rancho Bella Vista community of Murrieta. Neutral colored carpet and ceramic tile downstairs. Eat-in island kitchen with upgraded Corian countertops. First floor features living room with dining area, family room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen and half bath. All bedrooms are upstairs. Beautiful pool/spa in backyard with waterfall feature and solar heating is great for those summer parties.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor	- Family room
- Living room	- Dining room	- Breakfast nook
- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven
- Microwave	- Stainless steel appliances	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Yard
- Swimming pool	- Jacuzzi/Whirlpool	- Cable-ready
- High-speed internet

LEASE TERMS

Flexible

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 4

Contact info:

Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Apr 16, 2011, 12:45pm PDT

Don't Tell Me, I Don't Want to Know!

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:38:41 -0700

Ignorance really can be bliss, but unfortunately what we don't know (or want to know) usually comes out at some point. The particular issue that I would prefer to be blissfully ignorant of recently is gas prices. However, my daughter feels compelled to drag me into reality, with me fighting it every second of the way.
It seems that once she returns from taking the car somewhere and puts in her token $5.00 worth of gas, she feels it necessary to give me a play-by-play of gas prices per station she passed while she was out. The scenario goes something like this:

Daughter: [speaking excitedly] Mom, are you ready for this?

Mom: [Knowing from experience what's coming next, speaking over daughter, in increasingly higher volume] DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!

Daughter: No, mom, listen. You don't know what I'm going to say.

Mom: Yes, I do. I'm serious - DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!

Daughter: [laughing while she speaks] No, Mom. Wait, listen. Gas prices are $4.10 a gallon. Its gone up 5 cents in just a day.

Mom: [speaking loudly over daughter, in obvious desperation] What part of this do you not understand? DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!

Daughter: [continuing to laugh] Wait mom, there's more.

Mom: [speaking with total desperation now] I'm serious. DON'T TELL ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!

Daughter: [continuing to laugh, with great amusement at my reaction] The guy on the radio said its supposed to reach $5.00 a gallon by the end of May.

Mom: [speaking in a tone of total defeat] I told you I don't want to know. It doesn't matter. It will change by the time I get to the pump anyway and it won't change the fact that I will still need gas.

My daughter thinks this is amusing. Invariably this delightful conversation takes place upon her return from one of her night classes, when, instead of being able to relax and unwind, she has engaged the reality button and put me into full tilt, stress mode.

Like many professions out there, as a real estate agent there isn't much way to avoid the gas situation. Yes, we can purchase a hybrid car, but at some point you still need to visit the Bank of Gas and make a deposit. This has me wondering how other agents are handling the gas situation. I know I've made some changes in how I conduct my business, for example by trying to group my showing appointments close together, but it seems options are rather limited. Since most people perceive agents as being overpaid with high commissions, increasing them doesn't seem to be a viable option, but this is a significant cost for most busy agents, so I'm wondering how other agents are coping. I've discussed this with other agents I know, but thought I'd throw it out there to the AR family.

Have gas prices affected how you do business? If so, what changes have you made to try and reduce your gas usage?

I'll Take Another Yesterday Please

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 13:35:26 -0700

Have you ever had one of those days when, at the end of the day, you think, "Wow! What a great day! I wish I had a day like this every day"? That was me last night.

Yesterday didn't start out extraordinary. I woke up and started the day like any other - coffee, at my computer by 6:30, a little breakfast . . . You know, the routine stuff. I had some deals I was working on and an offer I was hoping would come in on one of my listings, but nothing grand. Around 2:00 though, things started happening and by the end of the day, I was looking back on the day wishing every day could be like this.

Now, I'm a very analytical person (as my family is always quick to remind me). I analyze everything and believe me I recognize this is not an altogether good thing. So, although I was thoroughly enjoying the fruits of my labor for the day, it left me wondering what I could do to increase the frequency of these types of days. Did I do anything differently yesterday? My conclusion was that I had not.

So what could I contribute to my great day? Perseverance and patience. Some of you may have read a blog I wrote a few months back where I described how, when we realize something isn't working, we need to try something different. Around the end of last year I did some real soul searching and decided that I needed to do things differently if I was going to stay in this business. I admitted to myself (and to some of my nearest and dearest) that I had not been doing all I could do in some areas of my business, so I was changing my approach. Have I stayed on track with all my goals? As much as I'd like to say I have, I'm not superwoman (please don't tell my kids) and that's ok. The point is I am doing things differently and its working.

So what's my point? Well, we've come to expect immediate or, at the least quick, results. Travel, the internet, etc., if we want something we want it NOW. Work, especially if you have your own business, often doesn't work that way. Sometimes, it takes time to see the results of our hard work. Just like a farmer who plants a crop, it takes time before we can harvest. So for all of us (I include myself), who are working hard to make our business a success, we need to remember that although every day might not be a hugely successful day, it is another day to put forth the effort to make it a success, and eventually not only will we experience those great days, but we will experience them more often.

Just in Time for Summer - Murrieta Pool Home

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:55:13 -0700

Lu Botos | Ambra Real Estate | (951) 796-7824

Browning, Murrieta, CA

Rancho Bella Vista Pool Home

4BR/2+1BA Single Family House

$2,100/month

Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	2,204
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	Conditional
Deposit	$2,100

DESCRIPTION

Spacious home in the popular Rancho Bella Vista community of Murrieta. Neutral colored carpet and ceramic tile downstairs. Eat-in island kitchen with upgraded Corian countertops. First floor features living room with dining area, family room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen and half bath. All bedrooms are upstairs. Beautiful pool/spa in backyard with waterfall feature is great for those summer parties. Rent includes pool service.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor	- Family room
- Living room	- Dining room	- Breakfast nook
- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven
- Microwave	- Stainless steel appliances	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Yard
- Swimming pool	- Jacuzzi/Whirlpool	- Cable-ready
- High-speed internet

LEASE TERMS

6 or 12 months

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 4

Contact info:

Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Feb 5, 2011, 6:15am PST

Montego Bay Townhouse Rental in Murrieta, CA

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 14:13:54 -0700

Lu Botos | Ambra Real Estate | (951) 796-7824

Flamingo Bay, Murrieta, CA

Montego Bay Townhouse With Attached Garage

2BR/2+1BA Townhouse

$1,250/month

Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	1,012
Parking	1 dedicated
Pet Policy	Conditional
Deposit	$1,250

DESCRIPTION

Spacious townhouse in gated community features a dual master floorplan. Two bedrooms each with own full bath, plus additional half bath downstairs. Freshly painted in neutral color, with ceramic tile downstairs and neutral colored carpet upstairs. Living room features dining area, fireplace and tv niche. Private patio. Direct access to garage. Available immediately upon approval. Owner will consider one small pet. Community pool, spa and playground area. Shown by appointment only.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor	- Living room
- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking	- Guest parking	- Swimming pool(s)
- Sauna/Spa	- Playground	- Gated property

LEASE TERMS

12 months

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3

Contact info:

Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Apr 2, 2011, 9:29am PDT

I Really Don't Think That's Necessary

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:53:58 -0700

I Really Don't Think That's Necessary

As licensed real estate agents and brokers, most people are aware that we have taken classes and passed state tests to make sure that we know what we're doing. We know sometime about real estate. It's our job, our profession. People generally come to us to find out something related to their real estate needs, even if they decide to try it on their own. Even when they try to go it alone, without an agent, they usually check the comps in the area, which, they recognize are listed by agents.

As Realtors it is our responsibility to assist our clients to the best of our abilities. We all know this. What's more, it's what our clients expect of us, or at least should. That's why they contract with us, isn't it?

When we go to a mechanic to get our car fixed, we expect it to be done correctly. When we go to a doctor, we expect to be the right treatment and medication for whatever ails us. We go to these people because we expect them to be knowledgeable in their field of expertise. We expect accurate and up-to-date information and advice. We expect that we can rely on the information given to us. However, when it comes to real estate and Realtors, well, that seems to be a totally different situation.

How many times have we made suggestions to clients, in an effort to stage the home, to up the curb appeal, to de-clutter, etc. Sometimes our advice is accepted and acted on, and sometimes it's not. They share the comments from well-meaning friends and family as to why they don't need to do these things, especially in "this market". Invariably there will be some clients who will choose to rely on that advice over that of the trained professional, and when the results in less than satisfactory, they will often hold the professional accountable or worse yet, lay blame for not doing a good job.

As someone who does a significant amount of property management, I see situations short term that may be a little less obvious with sales. Recently, I had several properties I listed for rent. A couple of them rented very quickly - in less than ten days. There were a couple of others that I was beginning to think would never rent. The properties were basically the same as far as bedrooms, price, etc., so what was the deal here? The glaring difference between those that rented quickly and those that did not was the appearance and how they were prepared for renting. The properties that rented quickly had good paint jobs and newer, unstained, undamaged flooring, while the ones that sat vacant for a while, did not. The paint was old looking and/or had run over, drips, etc., and didn't have the same deep cleaning as the others that rented quickly.

As is the case with most of us, I had the same discussion with the owners of each of the properties. Some of the owners took my advice and made some of the suggested changes, while others either were not interested in making the effort, didn't want to invest the time or money, or they didn't rely on the advice/suggestions as being significant factors in renting the property. While the owners might have saved themselves the initial investment of time and/or expense in painting and cleaning, they lost three months of rental income, added significant stress and anxiety for themselves and became desperate to find any tenant. The owners who made the initial investment? Well . . ., you get the picture.

This is not intended to be a criticism to those who didn't make the suggested improvements. Prior to becoming an agent I was guilty of the same "but I heard . . ." thinking as many of those with whome we come in contact. Most of us want the best outcome with the least possible contribution and, unfortunately, most of us need to learn the hard way before we change our thinking

Something to ponder.

Mom, What Do You Do All Day?

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:50:03 -0700

I know I'm not the only one to hear these words at some point. And I'll even admit to having said them a time or two before to other agents I know. Recently these words were directed to me by my sometimes demanding daughter. Now let me point out that my loving and, I might add, very supportive daughter is 18 years old and in her first year of college. However, I have been a single parent for many years, and she's used to my being involved and attentive with her school and social activities. Over the years, my career was on the back burner. Don't get me wrong, I've always worked outside the home, but the hours were such that I was able to be home with my daughter. Now that she's in college, the workaholic in me is emerging again.

So, one evening, after a full day of running around with clients and checking on properties, as I'm sitting at my desk working away, and my daughter is again demanding my attention, I hear the words, "Mom, what do you do all day?" The piercing dagger stare I obviously shot her made her quickly qualify her comment, with an explanation that she knew what I did when I was out showing properties or meeting potential clients, but what she didn't understand is what I do at my desk. What "work" do I do at my computer?

As I proceeded to explain to her that I run comps, send and return emails, make and return phone calls, prepare contracts or other related paperwork, update listings, process applications, marketing, negotiations, deal with maintenance issues, bookkeeping, order supplies, etc., I was reminded that most people really do not understand what a real estate agent "does". This, of course, doesn't include those times when we clean (think Annette Benning in American Beauty), garden, or do whatever else is necessary to sell or rent that house.

Am I complaining? Not on your life! I love what I do and I am extremely thankful that my business is picking up to a point that my daughter asked that question. It seems like a few short months ago, my phone wasn't ringing and I was desparate for work. That being said, it is work - hard work.

So . . ., what do you do all day?

For Rent in Lake Elsinore Gated Community

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:19:59 -0800

Lu Botos | Ambra Real Estate | (951) 796-7824

Baza Court, Lake Elsinore, CA

Lake Elsinore Rental in Gated Community

3BR/2+1BA Single Family House

$1,550/month

Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	2,197
Parking	3+ dedicated
Pet Policy	Conditional
Deposit	$1,550

DESCRIPTION

This Lake Elsinore home in gated community includes 3 bedrooms plus a loft. Upgraded granite countertops in eat-in kitchen. Separate family and living rooms. All bedrooms feature walk-in closets. Two car garage includes overhead storage. Available April 1st. Owner will consider pets.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Family room	- Living room
- Loft layout	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Stove/Oven	- Microwave	- Granite countertop
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking	- Swimming pool(s)	- Sauna/Spa
- Playground	- Gated property	- New property (< 5 years)

LEASE TERMS

12 months

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 4	Photo 1

Contact info:

Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Feb 23, 2011, 10:06am PST

Newer Corner Lot Home in Perris, CA

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:16:36 -0800

1155 Marigold

PERRIS, CA

Newer Home on Corner Lot

3BR/2BA Single Family House

$140,000

Year Built	2004
Sq Footage	1,388
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 0 partial
Floors	1
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	4,791 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

Description

Newer corner lot in quiet Perris community. Single level open floor plan with living/dining room. Kitchen features white appliances and large eat-in area. This is a short sale property. All terms and conditions subject to lender approval.

Property Features

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Walk-in closet	Living room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Stove/Oven	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

Additional Photos

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3

Contact Info

Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Lake Elsinore Rental in Gated Community

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:31:42 -0800

Lu Botos | Ambra Real Estate | (951) 796-7824

Baza Court, Lake Elsinore, CA

Lake Elsinore Rental in Gated Community

3BR/2+1BA Single Family House

$1,550/month

Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	2,197
Parking	3+ dedicated
Pet Policy	Conditional
Deposit	$1,550

DESCRIPTION

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Family room	- Living room
- Loft layout	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Stove/Oven	- Microwave	- Granite countertop
- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking	- Swimming pool(s)	- Sauna/Spa
- Playground	- Gated property	- New property (< 5 years)

LEASE TERMS

12 months

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 4	Photo 1

Contact info:

Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Feb 23, 2011, 10:06am PST

Murrieta Welcomes Loma Linda Medical Center

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:21:27 -0800

While many people were glued to their televisions on Sunday watching the Super Bowl, a different type of celebration was going on in Murrieta. The eagerly awaited Loma Linda University Medical Center held its grand opening!

As anyone who lives in the Menifee area of Riverside County knows, the area is terribly short of hospitals. After the enormous growth experienced in the early 2000s, the strain on the existing hospitals of Rancho Springs, Inland Valley and Menifee Valley are painfully obvious.

Loma Linda is well known in Southern California for its commitment to, and quality of, health services. Serving the southwest portion of Riverside County, the facility will provide state of the art medical services to the areas of Menifee, Canyon Lake, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Sun City, Murrieta and Temecula.

The full service hospital, which is scheduled to begin operation in March, will hold 106 beds, all in private rooms, as well as an emergency department with 19 treatment rooms, and an adjacent medical office building.

In addition to the obvious medical care benefits Loma Linda is bringing to this community, with the combination of 250+ Board certified physicians and 400+ healthcare professionals and support staff, this opens up many much needed jobs to the area. Plus, Loma Linda believes in going green with paperless patient records!

To learn more about Loma Linda's mission and information about the hospital, visit http://www.llumcmurrieta.org

For Rent: Rancho Bella Vista Pool Home, Murrieta, CA

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 10:39:55 -0800

Lu Botos | Ambra Real Estate | (951) 796-7824

Browning, Murrieta, CA

Rancho Bella Vista Pool Home

4BR/2+1BA Single Family House

$2,100/month

Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	2,204
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	Conditional
Deposit	$2,100

DESCRIPTION

Spacious home in the popular Rancho Bella Vista community of Murrieta. Neutral colored carpet and ceramic tile downstairs. Eat-in island kitchen with upgraded Corian countertops. First floor features living room with dining area, family room with fireplace, eat-in kitchen and half bath. All bedrooms are upstairs. Beautiful pool/spa in backyard with waterfall feature is great for those summer parties. Rent includes pool service.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor	- Family room
- Living room	- Dining room	- Breakfast nook
- Dishwasher	- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven
- Microwave	- Stainless steel appliances	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Yard
- Swimming pool	- Jacuzzi/Whirlpool	- Cable-ready
- High-speed internet

LEASE TERMS

6 or 12 months

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 4

Contact info:

Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Feb 5, 2011, 6:15am PST

Sometimes the Simple Things Work Best

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 01:23:48 -0800

Stress and anxiety. Yikes! We all have it, it's just a matter of to what degree. Some of us manage it better than others. Life is a big juggling act and, let's face it, sometimes it's difficult to keep all those balls in the air.

These days, especially in real estate, we deal on a daily basis with those who have been hit hard by the economic crisis of the last few years. I know personally, I have family, friends and clients whose lives have totally changed as a result of job loss and/or foreclosures. It's not been easy out there. And when we're facing challenging times we usually want to try and find out all the options that are available to us to try and fix things. You know, to make an informed decision. Therein oftentimes lies the biggest cause of anxiety.

Consider this for a moment. When you have a problem or you want to research a topic, where do you go? If you're like most people, you go to the closest computer with an internet connection. Now, I'm going to date myself here, so please be kind with your comments, but I remember when, if I needed to "look something up", I went to the local library. If I had research paper to write, one of the first places I looked was the encyclopedia (not Wikipedia). Need a job? Read the paper (the one in the driveway). You get the picture.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the internet and all the technology out there is a bad thing, but sometimes the simple things work best. Case in point, I have a friend who's been going through a very difficult time for quite a while now and she's been struggling with making a life changing decision. I've seen and heard her going back and forth about what she should do and she's been so anxious and stressed that it has affected her physically. She paces, she gets hives, she gets angry, she cries. Its been awful to watch and my heart has ached for her, but unfortunately there was nothing I could do to help.

Finally she decided to try something that I had suggested to her several times. I knew it sounded very simplistic, but someone had suggested it to me once and it had actually helped me make a very difficult and similar decision in my life. It didn't involve the internet or any other newfangled technology. What was it? The suggestion was to get a piece of paper and pencil and to draw a line down the center of the paper to form two columns. At the top of one column write "Pros" and at the top of the other write "Cons". Then, give it some thought and make a list. Mind you, I didn't suggest she do this on the computer. For some reason it doesn't seem to have the same impact. I was confident that if she did this, she would see very clearly the answer to this problem she had been struggling with for all these months. You know what? She did.

I know, I know. This is nothing new. Its a simple pro/con list, but sometimes we don't think of the simple things. There really is some truth to having too many options available to us. We get so bogged down with all the minutest details, or we get so overwhelmed with all the information available, we forget that sometimes the simple things really do work best.

Rental: Murrieta Pool Home Great for Entertaining!

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:30:21 -0800

Lu Botos | Ambra Real Estate | (951) 796-7824

Castile, Murrieta, CA

Charming Murrieta Pool Home

3BR/2+1BA Single Family House

$1,850/month

Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	1,700
Parking	3+ dedicated
Pet Policy	Conditional
Deposit	$1,850

DESCRIPTION

Truly an entertainers delight! Backyard features covered patio with ceiling fans, pool, separate spa, built-in bbq and sink, fruit and citrus trees. Interior has been upgraded with newer white cabinetry, granite counter tops and stainless/black appliances in eat-in kitchen, neutral ceramic tile and carpeting and ceiling fans throughout.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- High/Vaulted ceiling	- Walk-in closet	- Tile floor
- Family room	- Living room	- Dining room
- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher	- Stove/Oven
- Microwave	- Granite countertop	- Stainless steel appliances
- Laundry area - inside	- Yard	- Swimming pool
- Jacuzzi/Whirlpool	- Cable-ready

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4

Contact info:

Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jan 24, 2011, 4:45am PST

Rental: Popular Bella Vista Community of Murrieta

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:26:47 -0800

Lu Botos | Ambra Real Estate | (951) 796-7824

31949 Rosales, Murrieta, CA

Rental in Popular Bella Vista Community

4BR/2+1BA Single Family House

$1,850/month

Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Sq Footage	2,000
Parking	2 dedicated
Pet Policy	Cats, Dogs
Deposit	$1,850

DESCRIPTION

Newer home in popular Bella Vista community of Murrieta. Home features upgraded granite countertops and ceramic flooring in eat-in kitchen, laminate wood flooring downstairs and new carpet upstairs, plantation shutters in living room. Master bedroom features walk-in closet and sitting area large enough to accomodate a sofa, chair and television. Double vanity and separate shower and tub in master bath. Upstairs laundry. Available for occupancy 1 week after approval of application.

see additional photos below

RENTAL FEATURES

- Air conditioning	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Hardwood floor	- Tile floor
- Living room	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Microwave
- Granite countertop	- Stainless steel appliances	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio
- Yard	- Cable-ready	- High-speed internet

LEASE TERMS

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Lu Botos

Ambra Real Estate

DRE Lic# 01434985

(951) 796-7824

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jan 24, 2011, 4:44am PST

Then There Was a Knock on the Door

Lucille Botos (Lighthouse Properties) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:48:05 -0800

Yesterday I was busy. I mean real BUSY. I'm not complaining, mind you because I love busy days. Between phone calls, emails, showings, travel time, the day flew by and although I was exhausted by days end, it was a "good" exhausted.

It was also an interesting day. At one of my showings, I met a gentleman who explained to me that he and his wife had just lost their home. Now I know on the surface this is nothing new, and actually, the rest of his story wasn't unusual either. On the surface it was a similar story that just about all of us have heard many times over by now. This couple tried to do a modification and everything seemed to be going fine when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

You can probably guess who was at the door, yes, someone with a notice advising the "former" homeowner that the house had been sold at auction and they had to move. This gentleman assumed there must be some mistake since he had been in regular contact with the bank and the modification was proceeding fine.

Not an unusual story these days, right? What was interesting was a comment he made during our conversation. He said that he had received so many advertisements from Realtors trying to short sale his house. His next door neighbor is even an agent. However, he had assumed that they were just out for the sale, and weren't really being totally honest about when he they told him of some things to beware of when pursuing a modification. Things like his house being sold out from underneath him.

Some of you may be thinking, "this gal must not be doing too much business if this is all news to her," but before you click on to the next blog, let me say that this isn't the first time I've heard this kind of story. It was more of the "slap in the face" effect that his statements had on me. As any of us who work short sale listings know, it can be a challenge to educate distressed homeowners, but I walked away from this meeting feeling like I, as a Realtor who truly wants to help distressed homeowners, am missing the mark in a major way. Obviously we a professional whole are still coming across as the pesky agent out for a quick listing, trying to make a buck off these suffering homeowners about to lose their home. Like the banks, we're just out to take advantage of someone in a bad situation.

Ok, so this happened yesterday afternoon, and its something I'm still noodling. I do that a lot - noodle things. It frustrates me that we are still perceived in such a negative way by the very people we are trying to help. That's not to say that I think everyone looks at us in this way, but obviously we are not looked upon as someone there to try and help them out of a difficult situation. Do I have any answers? Hmmm, no, unfortunately not. I will continue to try and educate and help out when and where I can, but I don't think there are any easy answers.

So, what is my point? I don't know that I have one, except maybe that there still seems to be this negative persona out there about real estate professionals and perhaps we need to keep this more in mind in how we approach potential clients. In almost all the materials I read for growing your business, one of the main points is that we should always remember that we are here to help the client. What we receive is a bi-product and reflection of how successful we are in helping our clients. Sometimes that may be in monetary form, but oftentimes, it's more likely going to be in our own inner sense of satisfaction in knowing that we've helped another in need.