Well, here is some bittersweet news - first off - the good part, the Kodak Playtouch pocket video camera is again on sale for $99 ($180-200 value).

When I first saw this - I figured they really want to move some of these... And I was right - in a round about way - and that leads us to the bad news:

Kodak, the company we grew up with, the film I have loaded in more cameras than I can count, the cornerstone of american invention on film, is prepping for a Chapter 11 - that is the rumor in the tech community anyway.

Is the sale price on this camera related? I can't tell you for sure, what I can tell you, is that you better go pick on up. Why the Kodak camera? 

Compact
Cheap (For now)
And above all - the ONLY pocket camcorder with a mic jack... A must for your Lavalier mic.

These reasons alone should make you run out to get one - the sale is on at Best Buy this week! 

We talked about the basics of using a tripod for your photos for real estate. 

I told you I was going to show you how to stabilize your video, so it looks a little less seasickness inducing... I think you know what I am talking about. 

To see what is up with the tripod, check this post out: What's up with the tripod?

Now, there are a couple of solutions to this - if you have a few grand laying around, a steadycam and a broadcast quality camcorder is probably in order - but then you would have to give up your day job and become a vidographer... Nah...

The other version is to get a Smoothee - especially if you have an iPhone 4, since it will record HD video. The Smoothee is a stabilizer on the same principle as a stadycam (Go figure - same company too) and runs you about $200. 
You can also opt for a Merlin version - it's a bit more nigh end, and so is the price of $800...

Now, if you are anything like me, you are wondering how to do this cheaper...

So - back to that TRIPOD you just bought?!?! Right?!?! 

Instructions:

• Find the center balance point.
• Hold the tripod with 2 fingers if possible and move as you wish...
• Note that camera does not bob as much as wehn you just carry it.  

There you have it - see the video for a visual. 

Here it is - the TRIPOD - Yes, you know, that thing that makes your images actually look sharp - even on a slightly overcast day...

So what is all the fuss about - pretty simple really - give your camera a staply platform, and you will not have as much blur in your images. Oh, use it for video too, that would just make you even more happy. 

The ingredients here is

• A set of legs - figure around $100 See a nice one here - and yes, you can spend WAYYY more than that if you like, but I don't. 
• A ball head to mount the camera to (this is the one I am showing in the video), A fluid head for video will work just fine too - I prefer to go lightweight. More Ball Heads.

Note that I am showing you some Benro legs, they are modeled on the Gitzo brand, which as you can see, has a nice high price point. Benro is a cheaper version of almost the same thing.  

Once adjusted, this will set your camera up so you can shoot nice solid images - and for little money too. 

Enjoy, and please feel free to hit me up with any questions you may have. 

On a long lazy afternoon - you sometimes get a call - here is the deal, house, car you have been looking for - and off you go. 

Yesterday was such a day for me, check this house out, location, price, it all seems good... Oh, could you get me a picture, there is only one. Hmm, maybe that should be a bit of a heads up there. So, wihtout further sdo, for those who like to fix, I salute you!!!

Get out a sloppy half million, bring your contractor friends and have a party - this is your dream... I think. 

This is another 

East Murrieta home for sale - Los Alamos and Whitewood

And as you may be aware, the prices are silly out here. 

In this case, we are looking at some 2600 square feet, and a price around teh $250,000 mark, that is about $93/ square foot!!! 
Details? How about 5 bedrooms, a large master, clean and comfortable - some would use the term turnkey. And it has a nice backyard.

The kicker... I sold the same model a few streets over, for $230,000 a while back - someone got a great deal!

Take a look at the walk through and call me with questions.

There is a home for sale in Spencers Crossing in Murrieta - it is nice... 

Built by Lennar, this home is clean as a whistle, has a great kitchen, nice floorplan, new carpet, looks like new paint and it is in all around great shape. Take a look! 

For more information about this Spensers Crossing home for sale, Murrieta CA or Spencers Crossing, please feel free to contact me directly.

Ok - so this one is in the rant category... 

Lately (anytime an iPhone is dropped it seems) the iHysteria starts again... I just read a post detailing a new owners wonders of the cloud etc, etc... 

Why do I rant? It really is wonderful that these people are finding these great tools - BUT - and I think it may be a big BUT. 

Is this about the fastest way to let the world know you "don't know tech"? 

Let's examine... 

The cloud - so famously now on iphone... Has been around for - well - close to 10 years... If you had Evernote on any device, including an iphone, you would be using it... 

How about that great navigation? Yeah, google maps preloaded on any android phone... I know, so trivial... 

and the list kinda goes on and on... 

Don't get me wrong, I actually think the iphone is a pretty cool piece of tech - I really expected some sort of LTE connectivity to speed things up, but not this time. 
My second beef with all this tech, is the amount of people who have it, claim to be tech savvy - but if I ask you to sign a doc on your phone or ipad - you look at me as if I was stupid... While I go ahead and sign my doc and ship it out...

My point being - If someone is letting the world in on the idea that they have never seen this stuff before... Maybe te world is going to think they are a little fresh off the boat?

Just saying.  

- Tablet productivity -

So you have a tablet? Check, got the latest fancy, iPad, Xoom, Tab... You name it.

Now what? 
What do you do with it?
With a little luck, your email is running, but what else can you do?

The point of this is to help you take the toy and turn it into a "Tool" in your toolbox. 

Here are some apps you really should have:

First off, I really recommend you get and learn to use Evernote (Alternately Springpad is a solid tool as well), a great way to track your notes and stop buying sticky notes... The notes I take on my phone when I have two minutes are automatically on the tablet and computer. This allows me to edit, print, send and receive pertinent notes almost anywhere, and keep transaction data with me at all times... Need that prelim? Let me send it right over!

Second off, make sure you know how to access and use your mls and get zipforms mobile up and running.
This is the link you need to log in: m.zipformonline.com  
Mind you, you will need to pay the $10/year for the priviledge - but trust me, it is money well spent.  

Finally, some sort of signing software, there are a few different solutions. 
Easysign, Sign My Pad are both available for Android add well as IOS.
You can now take a PDF document, and sign it on the fly - there are issues with the security layer, and there are work arounds - this is for a different post though.  

The use case becomes: I can take my notes, look up the information (buyer or seller), write the contract and finally get it signed.

Finally - in closing - remember, when you have all this information on your personal super highway... You WILL need to organize it. Here is a common naming convention: Client Name | Street name - it is fast and simple. 
If you need additional detail - [Client code] (BL Buyer Looking, BE Buyer Escrow - you get the idea): [BL] Sorensen | Rosewood Ave

Ok, so one of the questions I get is... 

Do you have a good fixer I can flip? 
In most cases the answer is no, but today, I came across a yes - with reservations - I have not done all the math on the flip, but it might just work.

For more info, please feel free to call me - 951-805-0773, we can talk about the flip options.

For more visual stimulation - have a look at the video.

Ok, I'm at it again, if you want to see a NICE investor flip in Murrieta, this saturday is your chance. 

We are just off the SCGA golf course (yes, Rancho Cal now a days)... Look for the signs, both on Murrieta hot springs and Winchester road. 

So, 2900+ square feet, less than $100/ square foot and a few NICE upgrades, granite counters, a master suite with a retreat and shared fireplace... Yes, it is pretty nice.

Come look for yourself. 

And if you need a teaser, look at this video: