GOOD NEWS ON THE HOME FRONT! - 01/25/11 10:23 AM
The National Association of Realtors recently reported that existing home sales rose sharply in December, 2010. Sales increased for the fifth time in the past six months.
Existing home sales are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops. Home sales rose 12.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.28 million in December from an upwardly revised 4.70 million in November, but remained 2.9% below the 5.44 million pace in December 2009 when there were so many first time buyers taking advantage of all the incentive programs offered to them.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said sales are … (1 comments)

14 Mistakes Palm Springs Buyers Make When Purchasing a Home - 01/18/11 08:53 AM
1. Making an offer on a Palm Springs area home without being pre-approved with a lender. 2. Making an "all cash" offer on a California Desert Home without being able to show proof of funds to close. 3. Choosing a Realtor unfamiliar with all the cities in the Palm Springs desert. 4. Not checking out local Coachella Valley communities/areas to see if your "lifestyle" will be a good "fit." 5. Limiting your search to open houses or Palm Springs magazine/newspaper ads. 6 Not considering if the home would be difficult to sell in the future. 7. Thinking there is only one … (3 comments)

What The Heck Is A Blog? - 01/11/11 08:54 AM
A little over three years ago I began writing weekly Blogs. The word "Blog" was a relatively new term many folks were not familiar with, so I just called them "Helpful Tips." Each week I would sit at my desk and try to figure out what topics you might be interested in learning about. If you think that's an easy thing, I challenge you to try it!
Some weeks I wrote about real estate related articles. Some weeks I tossed in something silly just to bring you a laugh now and then. I stayed away from politics because I leave … (6 comments)

ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDING - 01/04/11 09:40 AM

'Energy efficient' means that a building has special features and equipment designed to reduce energy usage and energy costs. These features may Include extra insulation, weatherproofing, a heat pump, and newer mechanicals, like a furnace, water heater, and/or windows with increased energy efficiency.
Today, many folks are looking at a multitude of ways to become more energy efficient in their homes. If your appliances are more than 10 years old, buy new ones. The money you'll save over time will more than make up the difference. One of the biggest, and most important investments are in the newer, more … (2 comments)