I can't tell you how many times my business partner, Kim, and I have said over the years: "We should by this house." This market presents us with an opportunity like no other so we finally took the plunge! We bought a house!

Here's the info: Price $170,000, 20% down

Monthly plus taxes and insurance (30 year fixed) is $1081

House appraised at $200,000 by our lender

Rented it in 1 day for $1500 (via Craigslist.com, We had five inquiries within a two day period).

Profit per month, $419.

Plus we made a commission on the sale and opened a house bank account to cover any problems.

I wanted to share this with you because my wonderful, wise mentor when I started in the business shared with me the importance of taking full advantage of the real estate market as a real estate professional. She bought rentals over the years and has an extremely successful retirement as a result. It was a bit stressful making the decision to spend money in this market, and Kim actually borrowed her half of the down payment,but what we have is the beginning of a financial future.

We put all of this in a postcard to our clients, and they are calling. I urge you all to do the same for your future and the future of your clients. They'll thank you for it, forever!

I'm falling, falling, falling madly in love again...my love? The real estate business. I can carefully chart the series of events which led to being moonstruck. My partner, Kim, and I had a roller coaster ride with getting our home from December to close. The game with lenders is very differnent right now, but we learned so much from the experience. We finally closed and can breathe a little. Buyers, I believe, are starting to recognize the value in this market. I held an open house for a new listing of mine with amazing attendence. At least 30 people, three offers, and one day later we were in escrow. We're starting to add fantastic listings to our portfolio and I am thrilled to be able to do what I love: marketing and finding people homes of their dreams...with a few investment properties thrown in for good measure. I profoundly know this year will be so much better than last. Hurray!

This holiday season I received a call 3 days before Christmas from an old client who has bought properties from my partner and I in the past. He wanted to look at homes...and he wanted to do it right then. I was up to my ears in Christmas. It was not necessarily the ideal time, but I wasn't about to pass up an opportunity in a year that was less than glorious. We made it fun, starting out every day at Starbucks with festive drinks. Christmas Eve, we finished at 6:30 pm...but it looked like we had found the perfect home! Somehow, in the few hours left in each evening, I found a way to shop for my children and friends. Since there wasn't a lot of time, I didn't mull over each gift as I usually did. I shopped on instinct and urgency.

Christmas morning was magical. My children were ecstatic with their gifts and I devoted my entire emotional energy on being grateful that I have such incredible children in my life. My work is for them and for their future. With one in college, I value every opportunity to be able to provide the life they deserve. I am their sole provider since their Dad passed away. The days following Christmas, my partner, Kim, and I set out on our continuing quest to find the perfect home for our client. We are now in negotiations and I'm so happy to have started out 2008 with the possibility of a fantastic sale. May all of you find that perfect buyer in 2008 who jump starts your year with a bang! So many negative reports can cloud our enthusiasm, but I was reminded that there will always be buyers who want to find their dream home...even in this market...and even during the holidays! Happy New Year! May it be full of optimism!

Does anyone know if rentals are doing well in our area and Southern California in general? Are they getting rented fairly quickly or are they just sitting on the market, as well. I'd appreciate any information you have.  By the way...I held an open house this week-end and to my surprise there was a steady stream of people. Just like the good old days!

Analysts' information I received from one of my very best informed lenders, Greg Johnson, say we are in the 25th month of the housing downturn, and historically they last 27 months. We may be near the end. He says, although there has been a significant decline in sales volume, home prices are showing some appreciation, although small. To all of my fellow realtors, I encourage you to hang in there. Cycles happen in all walks of life. When we break through this frenzy, we'll be in a stronger position because houses will once again be more affordable and we will have learned so much from this experience. I know I counted too much on the next dollar I would earn and not enough on what I had already had. Looking back, my clients made so much money on their investments that my partner and I found for them...those that I could have purchased and I didn't. I just kept thinking...next time. Well, hallelujah, I have learned my lesson. I'm not going to wait. With my next closing, I will start putting those investment dollars to work. I love hindsight...often it's the only time we learn. Anyway...stay optomistic, fellow realtors, it's just a cycle.

I hope everyone tuned into Larry King Live on CNN this morning. Donald Trump said "This is absolutely the time to start buying real estate!" Hurray for a positive push to stimulating the real estate market...and it's true! The focus in our business right now is toward the opportunity to invest...or the opportunities for first time home buyers. Thank you Donald Trump...

I took the week off last week and gained a new perspective on this market. I typically show up every day at the office and have tried to beat the market into submission...it wasn't working! Last week, a friend came to visit. I decided to take this time off as a gift. I feel so rejeuvenated! Try it!

Interesting week-end. My partner and I had lots of calls this last week-end. Investors are starting to realize the value of buying in this market. I'm told that is the very beginning of the end to the housing crisis. I'm in Southern California, and I have a trusted mentor who is an agent in Northern California. He said they are starting to have a few indications that the market may bounce back sooner than the doomsday prophets are reporting. Any good news from people is worth hanging on to. It is what it is.

Waking up today, I had a choice....positive or negative. I chose positive, and my business partner and I had a wonderful day reorganizing our business strategies. We normally don't have time for this. It was such a  pleasure!

Southern California has it all...Today the temperature was in the 80's with clear blue skies. The climate of the real estate industry was equally as mild. I'm focusing on enjoying the calm, because it won't be long before I'll return to late nights and non stop week-ends. It's only a matter of time before people realize this is exactly the market they should take advantage of to build their real estate portfolio! Enjoy the mild temperatures...while they last!