broker direct real estate: 10 Common first time home buyer mistakes......and how to avoid them. - 10/31/06 02:57 AM
These 10 simple tips and working with a trusted Realtor showed help you avoid many of the pitfalls faced by first time home buyers.
1) Timing Problems. Not planning the move to coincide with the end of their lease often creates a big dent in the budget. Check with your landlord about an early release clause from your lease if you are considering buying a home.   2) Looking at Homes You Can't Afford. You might find that when you do a reality check and start looking in your price ranges, that the houses are rather disappointing. Get pre-qualified and then stick … (1 comments)

broker direct real estate: Home Buying Help. - 10/30/06 04:56 PM
The key to buying a home is to pay attention to small details, ask questions, take notes and stay current with the real estate market in your area.
 
Determine your wants and needs and write them down:  
Column 1, List Must - Have Features
If it must be located in a specific neighborhood or school district. If it must have 3 bedrooms or a 2 car garage. If there must be no restrictions against a home-based business. If the home must be one level, with few or no steps. Anything you know you absolutely must have. Column 2, List … (7 comments)

broker direct real estate: Where did I put that date again??? - 10/26/06 03:50 PM
This is a very cool site called ReminderFeed that provides a reminder service which uses RSS feeds to deliver reminders of important events to you as they comes up. You simply enter the event title, start and end date, link and description, and you will get a link you can add to your favorite feed reader. It's a great way to stay on top of those important dates and deadlines that we as Realtors all have. And the best part of all........it's free!
Pete WillnerWho Will? Pete Will!Broker Direct Real Estate Murrieta, CA.www.petewill.com
 
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broker direct real estate: A home stagers nightmare.......all 13 of them. - 10/25/06 04:21 PM
Here are AOL City Guide's Top 13 Haunted Houses, they look like they'd be hell to show but I wouldn't mind visiting a for a few. I have admit, some of them do resemble a few homes I'm seen for sale over the years. :-)1. Nightmare (New York, NY) 2. Netherworld (Atlanta, GA) 3. Queen Mary's Shipwreck (Los Angeles, CA) 4. Fright Dome (Las Vegas, NV) 5. Terror Behind the Walls (Philadelphia, PA) 6. The Darkness (St. Louis, MO) 7. Thrillvania (Terrell, TX) 8. Pirates of Emerson (Fremont, CA) 9. Markoff's Haunted Forest (Dickerson, MD) 10. The Beast (Kansas City, MO) … (3 comments)

broker direct real estate: Here is a great new product for making presentations easy and fast! - 10/25/06 11:07 AM
While at the California Association of Realtors Expo last week I came across a great product that makes impressive bound presentations with ease. It doesn't require any special tools other the the paper provided in the kit. It is PAPERZIP by Blueline and the sample I picked up contained standard 8.5" x 11" sheets.I'll outline the steps but you really need to try it to believe how easy it is to use.1) Print or photocopy your presentation on the PaperZip sheets.2) Assemble the prints by lining them up with the front and back cover.3) Hold the sheets in place with one … (2 comments)

broker direct real estate: Spanish American War Tax Refund Update. - 10/25/06 09:35 AM
Just a quick update for those unaware, the Federal Government had been collecting taxes on Telecom services that they should not have.  The Tax went to pay for the Spanish American War but the Supreme Court has decided that  the taxes should have stopped in February of 2003. In your next 1040 return (or whatever form you use) a credit of $60 will be applied to whatever you owe, if a refund is due it will be increased by the $60.  However, if you have a small business or multiple lines  you can claim a much larger refund (credit) but you will … (3 comments)

broker direct real estate: Hanging in there with your marketing. - 10/24/06 04:11 PM
Over the past few months I have spoke to several people who have told me their marketing isn't working. The common denominators in all cases seemed to be one of three things, 1) an insufficient amount of contacts, 2) an inadequate time since inception, or 3) all of the above. I always try to explain that marketing is neither a magic pill or quick, and that just like planting from seed, marketing takes time and nurturing to grow into prospects. There are many many reasons why consistent marketing to prospects is important but here are a few to think about.
1. They … (2 comments)

broker direct real estate: WhooHooo!! Open House Party! - 10/23/06 05:56 PM
Continuing with my Driving traffic to an open house post and in the spirit of, I told two friends, and they told two friends, and they told two friends.......I thought an interesting way to help market a property might be to hold a hosted party / invited open house of the owners choice. The basic premise is to involve the owner in the marketing by having their invited friends attend the hosted party and then hopefully spread the word of the property after leaving the event. Not only would this increase the marketing / advertising effort, but it gives the owner … (1 comments)

broker direct real estate: You What??? - 10/22/06 04:28 PM
I believe one of the best ways to create conversation when asked a question is to create some intrigue or mystery.......even if for just a few short moments. One of my favorite times to do this is when I am asked what I do for a living. Now sure, I could simply say I'm a Realtor, but that does nothing to set me apart from the last, or the next Realtor this person meets. I want to leave people with a different impression of my job, because they know I see my job differently, or at least express it differently, then … (0 comments)

broker direct real estate: Riverside County Voters Can Cast Ballots Early at three local malls. - 10/21/06 04:33 PM
Starting today Saturday, Oct 21, through Sunday, Oct. 29, County residents can cast their ballots for the upcoming election at three local malls. Galleria at Tyler, in Riverside, The Promenade in Temecula, and Westfield Mall, in Palm Springs will have electronic voting booths available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Voters closer to downtown Riverside may cast their ballots early at the The Registrar of Voters Riverside. Pete WillnerWho Will? Pete Will!Broker Direct Real Estate Murrieta, CA.www.petewill.com
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broker direct real estate: The Riverside County home page. - 10/21/06 08:30 AM
This is one of the first resources I give to my clients. The Riverside County home page has a wealth of information and links that are useful to local residents both new and old.Here are just a few things you can do from this page with their associated links:Check your jury duty statusPay your traffic tickets Search the Riverside County library catalog Pay your property taxes Request a birth, death or marriage certificate Employment / Submit your resumeReport Code ViolationsThis is only a small sample of the resources available to us as Riverside County residents and I encourage you all to … (0 comments)

broker direct real estate: Camcorder allows one-click video uploads... - 10/16/06 03:20 AM
Here is a camcorder that allows one-click video uploads to Google Video and Sony's Grouper video. They plug into your PC and have built-in software to transfer the video with one click. Now instead of sending clients digital pics we might just start uploading video clips instead, it sure would allow a more complete "picture" in certain circumstances.While none of the stuff on their site is what I would call "high end", the fact that it can be had in an affordable package is appealing in itself. It will be interesting to see how this technology progresses. The instant gratification mentality … (3 comments)

broker direct real estate: Should I be flattered? Are You? - 10/12/06 01:52 PM

Every once in awhile I Google myself to see what pops up. I am always amazed at the Activerain blogs I've posted that pop up......it's kinda cool.
Tonight I figures I'd pop my name in and take a look................lo and behold, there were two of my posts on another members personal site. Now I'n not special......most of you all are on there too.......and I'm not kidding.So, my question is.............how do you think this should be handled?
Pete WillnerWho Will? Pete Will!Broker Direct Real Estatewww.petewill.com   
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broker direct real estate: Great free and easy property mapping tool! - 10/11/06 03:04 PM
Here is a great new way (I think) for Activerain members to add your listings on a Google map to your website or blog. It's a free property mapping tool called Mapvine, it looks like they are still growing as my County wasn't listed but it did display correctly when I entered a listing in my area. You simply input your info, cut and paste the supplied code and you're done, it only took me 2 minutes to do my first one and that included the sign up process. Enjoy! Pete WillnerWho Will? Pete Will!Broker Direct Real Estatewww.petewill.com … (2 comments)

broker direct real estate: What gets you going for your listing appointments? - 10/11/06 12:02 PM
Once all the prep work is done and your ready to go to the actual appointment what do you do to put yourself in your chosen frame of mind for your listing appointments? One thing I like to do is listen to some good music.......something that makes me move in my seat. I notice that when I go in happy, relaxed and with a smile on my face, my client relaxes a little and adopts the same attitude. It makes the whole event less traumatic for them and they seem to understand and absorb much more of the information then they … (7 comments)

broker direct real estate: Recycled Real Estate Signs - 10/11/06 04:02 AM
During my travels I often see real estate signs that have been recycled for a new use, sometimes for the better but often not. Of course that is subjective, and if the recycler has met there intended goal and recycled at the same time then who am I to say it isn't a win / win situation. I thought I would share my sightings every so often so here we go.I give this one 3 1/2 points..........1 point for recycling.1 point for advertising usage.1 point for address usage.1/2 point for the chain upgrade.
Pete Willner Who Will? Pete Will!
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broker direct real estate: SIGNIFICANT NEW LAWS FOR 2007 - Part 3 - 10/10/06 02:30 AM
Here is another one that will affect your investor client or any one who owns a residential income property.- 60-Day Notice to Terminate Revived: Beginning January 1, 2007, a residential landlord must generally give a 60-day notice to terminate a month-to-month tenant. However, a 30-day notice to terminate is permissible if any tenant or resident has lived in the property for less than one year, or if the landlord has sold the property in the manner specified by the law. The 60-day notice does not apply to fixed-term leases (e.g. a one-year lease). It also does not apply if it is … (2 comments)

broker direct real estate: SIGNIFICANT NEW LAWS FOR 2007 - Part 2 - 10/10/06 02:30 AM
This should take care of some of the pretenders out there.........be honest about what you are folks, it may now cost you your license if you are not!- License Revocation for Advertising False Credentials: Commencing January 1, 2007, the real estate commissioner may revoke, suspend or deny the license of anyone who falsely advertises his or her credentials, such as a certification of special education or membership in a trade organization. This law aims to protect consumers from unscrupulous and fraudulent lending practices, according to its author Assemblymember Leland Yee. Source: Assembly Bill No. 790 .
***Please note - this is a … (0 comments)

broker direct real estate: SIGNIFICANT NEW LAWS FOR 2007 - Part 1 - 10/10/06 02:29 AM
I felt this was important to point out for Realtors who don't get legal updates. This will defiantly make a differencee for those who deal with investment or just plain savvy clients. - Tax Alternative to 3.33% California Withholding: Effective January 1, 2007, a seller required to have 3.33% of the sales price withheld for income tax purposes may elect an alternative withholding. The alternative withholding is an estimate of the seller's tax liability calculated by multiplying the recognized capital gain by the highest state tax rate for individual taxpayers (or the corporate tax rate for corporations), regardless of the taxpayer's … (0 comments)

broker direct real estate: Logomotion! - 10/09/06 04:06 PM
This is a compliment to my Fontastic find! post from before. I'm a REALTOR not a graphic artist or web designer, as a matter of fact, I'm not very good with a computer. Sites like this are my kinda of find, anyone can make logos, buttons or download fonts with just a few taps of the keys and clicks of the mouse. Pretty soon we all can dress up our Activerain blogs, property flyers, websites and more, just like the pros....well, almost.
 
Pete Willner Who Will? Pete Will!
Broker Direct Real Estate www.PeteWill.com … (4 comments)

 

Pete Willner

Murrieta, CA

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