Important questions that only a professional Realtor can answer... - 08/30/10 05:41 PM
I've been in the business long enough to know what works and what doesn't...BUT find myself at a total loss when it comes to strict HOA rules relating to Realtor marketing and how to break through the proverbial glass ceiling.
Here's the dilemma, I've got a beautiful condomium complex located steps from the beach in Oxnard, CA. I want one of those listings so bad that I can taste it. Why? Because I live there! I know the values like the back of my hand, love living life there where the air is clean as well as the beaches. I enjoy … (9 comments)

Season Slowdown... - 08/29/10 10:34 AM
I don't know about anyone else here, but the market is indicating a huge slowdown and I personally am starting to feel it and am thinking that because we enjoyed an early spring selling season, we're melting down to an early end.
I'm finding it more and more difficult to connect with potential clients who are facing foreclosure and looking for answers. I've expressed to quite a few clients during the month of March that short sales don't happen overnight and it will take months of negotiating with the lenders to obtain desired results. These people are clearly underwater and with … (2 comments)

Important News at CAR That You Won't Want to Miss! - 08/25/10 05:08 PM
http://us.mc1147.mail.yahoo.com/mc/welcome?.gx=1&.tm=1282768370&.rand=99q0nb724m4l3#_pg=showMessage&sMid=2&&filterBy=&.rand=687104579&midIndex=2&mid=1_1851265_AIm3iGIAAS4lTHVuCgaOoUKpkNc&fromId=newsletters@mail2.carwebs.org&m=1_1852569_AIi3iGIAAGOSTHV0agIWnURHrxc,1_1852038_AIe3iGIAAR8ITHVwswmF0F0yAFY,1_1851265_AIm3iGIAAS4lTHVuCgaOoUKpkNc,1_1849446_AIW3iGIAATHcTHVgawkM6xoofUk,1_1847648_AIy3iGIAAQ7dTHVVewLN329h9EQ,1_1848232_AI%2B3iGIAANquTHVZbg1uPFrVZuI,1_1847096_AIS3iGIAAPmzTHVPYghBEXQ8x1Q,1_1845969_AIq3iGIAAO4WTHVJkghfLxlZ0z4,&sort=date&order=down&startMid=0&hash=845b127e87a46c5c7fa6fe6380e26bb7&.jsrand=6577488
 
I normally don't do a copy and paste on certain links, but feel this is appropriate action that needs quick attention. The link that I outlined above is a way to express to our governor here in California the dismay we feel when we are trying to protect our clients who are facing foreclosure and have either revolving lines of credit or refinanced their homes.
Quite a few never knew what they were getting into when they signed on to these loans and weren't warned against the pitfalls if they ever had to sell in a distressed situation.
When doing a … (0 comments)

Advantages to the Open House or "Hello? Anyone Home?" - 08/25/10 01:35 PM
After reading a recent blog post on the pros of an open house I felt compelled to write my own blog post on this same subject.
Not only do I believe an open house is an excellent addition to getting the property noticed, I believe that it benefits both the seller on the subject property, the neighborhood, the buyers, and the listing agent.
Let's break down the benefits:
Seller - Added property exposure. Either an ad in the local paper, a Youtube video, blog, or an announcement on your Facebook page calls attention to the property and when it's open for … (1 comments)

What I Learned Today at "The Google Academy" Blew Me Away! - 08/25/10 09:57 AM
This is an insightful blog that I wish had even more content! Patsy feared she was giving us "TMI" too much information, but I disagree...Wow, Patsy, thank you!
Via Patsy Overton (Stage, Show & SELL Home Staging Co. Atlanta, Georgia):
         
Several weeks ago, when I noticed that there STILL is not a RainCamp scheduled for Atlanta, I signed up for a seminar presented by The Google Academy on "Using Google for Real Estate" and the "2010 Google AdWords/SEO Seminar."  How could I go wrong?  Today was the day.
The entire morning session was spent on Google's G-mail.  Of course, our instructor touched on … (5 comments)

Let's Get Ready to Grumble! - 08/24/10 02:12 AM
I don't know about you, but I've noticed a serious downturn in activity here in Ventura County. Available homes are getting harder to find; even those that should be in a short sale status. We are coming close to the end of our "selling season" and if there are any serious buyers out there, now is the time to take advantage of the prices AND most importantly the low low low interest rates.
Once again housing has become affordable and there's the hope and promise of the American dream that finally makes some sense.
Gone are the days of 100% financing … (1 comments)

I Got My Listing Under Contract Because I Answered My Phone - 08/23/10 02:21 PM
Not only do I agree with this post, but I have a little to add to it. There is a flip side to this situation. I've had prospects (people who I haven't even met) call me at 6:00 am and 11:30 pm. While I am quite the "workaholic", I too have limits.
My disclaimer to my clients is that I'm available from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm. BUT I answer emails at all kinds of hours if they have anything they need to address. Quite often I find myself picking up the phone after 8:00 but...only for a client or if … (3 comments)

If your home is still on the market it’s probably priced too high - 08/22/10 09:53 PM
Buki has been listing homes in Ventura County for quite some time. She's not only an excellent Realtor, but her blogs are based on opinion AND accuracy.
Agents, you'd be wise to reblog this post and add your own experience. Sellers, don't keep readjusting as the market falls, stay ahead of the game and listen to your Realtor.
Thanks, Buki!
Via Buki Burke Ventura Coastal Real Estate (Prudential California Realty):
If your home has been for sale for more than 100 days you're probably tired of looking at the for-sale sign in your front yard. If you want to sell your property now … (2 comments)

7 Signs Pointing the Direction - 08/22/10 09:46 PM
Beat. That's sums up how I'm feeling tonight as I remove my 2+ inch high heels from my tired feet after sitting an open house. Why we call it sitting an open house, I'm still uncertain as I dont get much time to sit while I do my job on the weekends. Yes, weekdays often find me at my desk either plugging away at the computer or previewing property that involves a lot of time getting into and out of my car. But come open house time, from the moment I plant the first Open House sign until I take my last … (7 comments)

The "Rougue" Agent.....Our Own Worst Enemy!!! - 08/22/10 08:30 AM
Great blog from an outstanding agent! One of the answers to this dilemma is to file a grievance with your local board of Realtors. Rouge agents need to be hit where it hurts the most...right in the pocket book.
Via Paula Hathaway (Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate):
The "Rogue" Agent.....Our Own Worst Enemy!!!  We all know they exist, whether by intent or by desperate measure, these agents are amongst us and they are doing harm to all of us---and they are also doing great damage to the buying/selling public.
"FIRST, DO NO HARM!".... it should be an oath we all take! 
As I was ruminating about … (1 comments)

Where Are Home Prices Going? - 08/21/10 04:15 PM
Kudos for a well written blog with a lot of important information! The way I see it, here in Ventura County, we will PROBABLY be seeing some start of the recovery around 2014.
The one thing I tend to get right is when to buy and when to sell. I sold in 2005 and what a blessing. The owner was served his first NOD in 2008 and then again as recently as 6/2010. It wasn't luck, the writing was on the wall for me.
Again, thank you for your perspective on our recovery.
Via John Mulkey, Housing Guru (TheHousingGuru.com):
We’ve all heard the … (1 comments)

Shake it Up! In Thousand Oaks, CA - 08/21/10 12:32 PM
I love my business! I don't think I've ever had a "Groundhog Day" since I've been in real estate with the exception of waiting on hold for a bank representative to pick up the line after countless prompts to reach them.
I was recently contacted by an investor friend to host a listing of his in Thousand Oaks, California. Why not? Although he holds a Realtor's license, he's seeking another opinion on value of a property he has listed by himself and wants the additional exposure that Prudential California Realty can bring.
Although I'm not named Listing Broker, I still feel … (2 comments)

Price a Property Correctly - or Don't Waste Anyone's Time - 08/21/10 11:49 AM
I can't help but agree! Numbers do not lie. Period. I'll never "get" the Realtor that accepts overpriced listings nor the Seller who wants to have people intrude on their lives for up to and sometimes over a year! Great blog.
Via Stewart Penn - Los Angeles Condo Specialist (Penn Properties):
I specialize on the condo market, and in particular, concentrate on the City of West Hollywood. I've witnessed prices go all the way up to $800 sq ft (and more) only to fall all the way down to around $400 sq ft.
I've been watching a recent listing of a 1580 … (1 comments)

TMI, Get to the Point, and Excuses are Like... - 08/20/10 10:48 PM
Well you know the rest and I won't quote that one here. What I will tell you is that it gets really old dealing with listing agents who have a great property that's grossly overpriced. I mean like a property that at a maximum in this declining market that is possibly worth $550k and is listed at $774k and has been on the market over 420+ days.
I believe I've written about this property before, but I had the opportunity to preview it merely because I wanted to see the ocean view that seemed to bring its list price somewhat into … (6 comments)

Expect the Unexpected...Even in Short Sales - 08/20/10 01:19 PM
I close escrow today on a short sale in Oxnard, California. This was the "typical" short sale with Chase where much of the chase happened to be chasing Chase in an effort to stabilize my Seller's position in this crazy recovery. We played a lot of cat and mouse games because while I was chasing Chase, Chase was chasing my Seller for more payments adding subtle hints that their short sale would seen in a more "favorable" light if they continued to make payments toward the 2nd lien holder (surprise, also Chase). First off, let me be the one to shed a … (2 comments)

Never Can Say Goodbye... - 08/17/10 09:23 AM
At  one point or another in our career's I'm fairly certain we've become attached to a client because of the special bond that's created in reaching the common goal of a positive outcome for our client.
I tend to get a bit sappy at the end of escrow when it's time to say "goodbye", but always hope that the client will somehow keep in touch to tell me how they're doing...maybe they'll even remember me when they are ready to move again or will refer me to a friend or a relative. (The highest compliment.)
I've been working with a short sale … (3 comments)

Undercover Agent... - 08/17/10 01:13 AM
So this weekend we had stunning weather at the beach here in Oxnard, CA and I decided it was time to hit the streets, check out a few open houses, and check out the "competition" and how they sit open houses in an area that I live in.
This area is dominated by two agents who shall remain nameless as one is an Active Rain member, and the other, is the reason for my blogging this.
I walked into agent number 1's listing and was blown away by the model-like quality even though the property was built years ago. Almost every … (5 comments)

Dis Clothes, Dis Clothes, Dis Clothes! - 08/15/10 07:04 PM
Quite often I have an out of area friend who knows I'm a Realtor and either writes or calls me to see if I can shed some sort of light on various topics relating to home selling or buying. Being in real estate for over 25 years has taught me at least two things with the first being "disclose, disclose, disclose!"
I sold my own home in Woodland Hills, California about five years ago (I know, timing is everything and I did make some nice cash on that one). I recall that for two years after the property sold I spent … (1 comments)

Lead Generation Leads to Lead Humiliation - 08/14/10 10:43 AM
When  we're not servicing our clients most of us are busy doing what we in the industry call "lead generation". You know, keeping our already busy day busy with generating new clients to service and keeping the ball rolling (okay, a girl can hope).
I believe in using a wide variety of resources when it comes to finding new Sellers to assist, one of which is postcard mailings. I know a lot about advertising and what tends to capture the eye and I've used that knowledge to aid in the success of my real estate business.
I've held many seminars in … (5 comments)

Short Sale in Camarillo - 08/13/10 11:03 AM
Just when is "enough is enough"? Only the homeowner knows for sure! I've come across so many people with more stamina than a two year old throwing their best temper tantrum.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the mentality of home ownership all too well and know in my heart that when it comes to not being able to afford your mortgage payments, it's very personal and painful. I paid attention to the market trends in my neighborhood (at the time living in Woodland Hills, CA). I saw it adjusting slightly downward on a regular basis...and decided to protect my investment.
I … (0 comments)

Really, What is Your Buyer's "Must Have"... - 08/12/10 09:36 PM
If you click this link from February of this year, you'll see what tends to be on the list of the "must haves" in buyer choices when selecting a home.
http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/108701/the-10-must-have-features-in-todays-new-homes.html;_ylt=AhdKsJzXvGz9U4lFWkQ0Y8Vfo9IF;_ylu=X3oDMTE1NXZodTExBHBvcwM4BHNlYwNyZV9zZWN0aW9uBHNsawMxMG11c3QtaGF2ZWY-?mod=realestate-homeimprove
If you were purchasing a home in Camarillo, Oxnard, or Ventura, California...what would be the single most "must have"?
For me it would be the updated kitchen....then, pocketbook willing, I'd have a killer ocean view!
Visit me on the web to see what's available in California coast real estate at www.californiacoastpropertygroup.com
 
… (2 comments)

Who'll Stop the Rain? - 08/12/10 07:30 PM
"Someone told me long ago, there's a calm before the storm"...I can't help but think of today's real estate market when I hear that song. We're especially hard hit here in California and seriously, what goes up must come down, and it did, big time.
As in the song's title, "Who'll Stop the Rain", well the question remains a mystery, however there are some answers out there that at least provide a bit of comfort in this unquestionable storm. The trouble is the average consumer is finding it difficult to find anything close to "reasonable solution" as they try to navigate stormy … (4 comments)

Motivate Me... - 08/11/10 08:59 AM
I have to say since I reentered the residential side of real estate, I've not lost my momentum from day one. Each day I wake, I seem to have a day filled with the typical Realtor duties like, lead generation, lead follow up, client contact, lender negotiation, sales meetings, geo farming, etc.
My office is hot on going to a seminar at the end of the month. You know, the rah rah rah, you can do it! type of seminar that resembles Mary Kay Cosmetics and her pink cadillacs. Part of our "motivating" factor was that it was FREEEEEEE! So I … (3 comments)

Foreclosure Alert - Financial Hardship Creates Physical Side Effects - 08/10/10 08:33 AM
Recently I've had the unfortunate opportunity to work with several sellers who not only have been facing financial hardship, but dealing with the side effects that the stress has put on their bodies.
In my last short sale transaction, a couple who are in their mid-sixties came to me with a mountain of paperwork from their various efforts to obtain a loan modification. I'm sure you know the scenario; they became behind in their payments and were courted by the typical sharks out there looking to steal whatever cash might be left in my seller's bank account only to not produce … (4 comments)

Find A Dedicated Realtor Who Knows the Neighborhood - 08/08/10 12:05 PM
I get it folks, we all like to use our friends if they hold a real estate sales license, but let's face some very real facts here: You the consumer are about to purchase what might be your largest single investment, your home. Working with an agent who has never been to that area or maybe doesn't even work in the same county let alone state is like asking an ear, nose, and throat doctor to treat you for sudden migraines. Sure, they can do it, but do they have the expertise that the neurologist has? I think not.
Before I … (3 comments)

Since When Did Your Paycheck Become Negotiable? And Other Short Sale Questions - 08/03/10 07:16 PM
You know, I have to hand it to them, those lenders are quite crafty when it comes to approval letters and short sales.
I've been through H E double toothpick and back with the best of them, yet it never ceases to amaze me that they think they can cut my income without neotiating or at least gaining my permission.  Let's face it, folks, when was the last time you asked your doctor how much your office visit was going to cost and then asked that them to reduce their bill?
I am still in negotiations with a lender that I shall not name here but will … (5 comments)

 
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Sheila Rasak

Camarillo, CA

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Keller Williams Realty-California Coast Property Group

Address: Ventura , CA, 93003

Office Phone: (805) 607-1495

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