O.K., I did it! I took a 2 week vacation to Italy! Where I went wasn't that important but that I was unavailable for most of the 2 weeks is. You see I thought I was indispensable and couldn't be gone that long. God forbid I might be needed and no one can handle anything as well as me! Huh!!! My team did everything with no help from me! Go figure! I am so proud of them! and of me because I let go of the control and they did great.

They closed on one of my listings for me and kept tabs on an offer, I put in on a short sale, the day before I left. The agents on the other side of the transactions told me my team called and followed up with them every couple of days. They said it was a pleasure working with all of us. When I talked to my clients they were full of praise as well, so guess what! I can plan more trips!

I hadn't taken that much time off in over 25 years! I did maybe a week or 4 days but never 2 weeks! I had trouble with my phone and wifi wasn't working for me either in Italy! I was able to make 2 calls home during the 2 weeks and I survived! I even got to the point that enjoyed not having a phone or computer attached to me!

Wine and Friends in Italy! Do I look conserned!

Buyers and sellers expectations are high and the only person they can take it out on is their agent. Seller wants to sell at top dollar while buyer wants to lowball all offers. Our job is to find the acceptable middle for them. Seller's last words to me, after signing the second counter offer, was "I'm not happy with the price". The trouble with this is it is just where I thought it should be, for the condition of the house and what the market in his neighborhood shows closed sales to be. I told him what his price range will be, low end xxx high end xxx and it sold in the middle.

When I called the selling agent I said my seller wasn't happy and he said his buyer said the same thing to him. They weren't happy because they wanted to get it at the bottom of the price range.

Don't we all want a bargin for our buyers and to make the most for our sellers but that isn't possible. Some one has to give and take or we will never get a closed sale. I am glad my client finally saw the advantage of making this deal and I know he will be glad when all is said and done.

On The Water in Mission Viejo, CA

Where else can you live on a lake, in one of the safest cities, unreal view in every direction and have unbelievable weather. All the fun activities such as swimming, fishing and boating right outside your back door. Lakefront living at it’s best.

Available right now are 14 condos in Mallorca with price ranging from $299,000, as a short sale with 1,400 sq ft. up to $849,000 with square footage of 1800. This is highly upgraded and a beautiful lake front property, with views from every room.

Now let’s talk about the cream of the crop, Tres Vista a privately gated community, with a private beach and docking. There are 2 properties on the market that are lakefront, 1 that isn’t on the water front and they range in size from 4,000 sq ft to over 5,500. Pricing is from $1,295,000 up to $2,350,000

Lake Mission Viejo is a private lake, open to members only. It has 2 beaches open to all members and several private beaches in the different communities around the lake.

Here is the web site to check out all the summer fun!

http://lakemissionviejo.org/    

                   View of Front of House                                            View from Back Patio

WONDERFUL LOCATION IN CASTA DEL SOL – Guard Gated - 55+ Senior Community !!! Green lawns surround your home, no one behind you and only one side Neighbor. Much Sought after detached JUANITA MODEL with 1563 Square Feet, the largest floorplan in this tract with two bedrooms plus a den or could be a three bedroom. Large master suite with dressing area and two large closets. Cathedral ceilings in living room and master bedroom, Master bath and Guest bath have tile floors, Wood flooring in kitchen which has large breakfast room. Formal dining room adjacent to large living room with cozy fireplace, relax on the secluded covered patio that runs the length of the house, Full size laundry area in the direct access two car attached garage with Storage Cabinets, plus pull down latter for over head storage and a concrete driveway big enough to park 2-Cars w/Extra parking for guest close by.

 Located near Lake Mission Viejo, Don't wait this one, will not last long!

LOTS OF GREENBELT AND GUEST PARKING, 2 CLUBHOUSE, 2 ASSOC POOL & SPA, TENNIS COURT, GYM, LIBRARY, GOLF COURSE FOR OUTDOOR FUN ! VERY SECLUDED, NO STREET NOISE.

Buyers want a deal, so they go looking for a short sale or bank owned and then they get their pockets picked. The banks are thinking up every way that they can extort money from the buyers.

1) "AS IS" Buyers are responsable for anything that is wrong with the house.$$$$

2) Pay $$$ on the second mortgage that the seller isn't able to pay because the banks won't release it. $$$$

3) Pick up any closing close the bank doesn't want to pay $$$$

4) Pay off the debt to HOA if there is one and most transfer fees for the sellers side. $$$$

5) Now put more down, have better credit and bend over while ?????

I have always enjoyed working with buyers, finding them their dream home, working though all the ups and downs of the transaction, teaching them how things get done and feeling good because I helped them. I didn't enjoy the last 2 short sales because the buyers ended up with so many extra costs that had nothing to do with our side of the transaction but they wanted the house.

Today I am looking for listings to do because I feel so bad for what the buyers are having to go though. They didn't get the banks or the sellers into this mess but they are paying the price. IT ISN'T fair. I know life isn't fair.

There I'm done whining.

This is a ranting post! If you don't want to read it, just pass over my post!

Trying to close a short sale with BofA and buyers are getting their loan from BofA. I want to scream! The short sale was doing pretty good, only 6 weeks to approval! That was what I expected. Now for getting the buyers loan from them has been a nightmare! Both sides of the transaction have jumped though hoops and the underwriter has had the file for 2 weeks. they keep coming up with new papers that they want, we get it for them it goes back to underwriting and they want something else. This has happened 6 times, count them 6 times!!

The short sale negotiator says no more extensions! They both work for the same bank just TALK to each other and we could solve this. The house will be foreclosed on, if this doesn't make it though escrow and close.

As Karen Fidder said in her post about banks and short sales "THEY JUST DON'T CARE" and they should.

On The Water in Mission Viejo, CA 

Where else can you live on a lake, in one of the safest cities, unreal view in every direction and have unbelievable weather. All the fun activities such as swimming, fishing and boating right outside your back door. Lakefront living at it's best.

Available right now are 10 condos in Mallorca with price ranging from $346,000 with 1,400 sq ft up to $624,000 with square footage of 1800 which has a full lake view from all living areas.

Now let's talk about the cream of the crop, Tres Vista a privately gated community. There are 3 properties on the market that are lakefront, one that isn't on the water front and they range in size from 4,000 sq ft to over 5,500.

 Lake Mission Viejo is a private lake, open to members only. It has 2 beaches open to all members and several private beaches in the different communities around the lake.

 Here is the web site to check out all the summer fun!

 http://lakemissionviejo.org/    

Let's take a look at the activity for sold homes in Casta del Sol, Mission Viejo, during the first 4 months of the year, over the last 9 years. We see right away that this is a good year to buy a house in Casta del Sol. Prices are at slightly above the 2003 average. The good news is we have 8 homes that went into escrow in April! As of today we have 19 active available with an average price of $391,000! The summer months are going to be an interesting if we show a more than normal activity in sales.

Sold from Jan1st thru May 1sy 2011    22 houses - average price $369,000

Sold from Jan. 1^st thru May 1^st 2010     40 houses -- average price $378,000

Sold from Jan. 1^st thru May 1^st 2009     26 houses - average price $376,000

Sold from Jan. 1^st thru May 1^st 2008     12 houses - average price $430,000    

Sold from Jan. 1^st thru May 1^st 2007     36 houses - average price $497,000

Sold from Jan. 1^st thru May 1^st 2006     27 houses - average price $541,000     

Sold from Jan. 1^st thru May1^st 2005       43 houses - average price $469,000

Sold from Jan 1^st thru May 1^st 2004        46 houses - average price $462,000

Sold from Jan. 1^st thru May 1^st 2003       28 houses - average price $337,000    

Retire in Casta del Sol in the great of Mission Viejo, CA with the best weather there is!!!!

Casta del Sol's summer exercise program is great program. Five days a week offering three different types of exercise gives a wide range of movement. It isn't healthy to do the same exercise two days in a row, therefore the changes are good for you. We have ladies from the age of 55 to 94 and the 94 year old walks to and from the class. She is amazing!! So no excuses

 Monday and Wednesday are aerobic workout days for cardiovascular.  The instructor, Leila, provides a variety of different aerobic exercises building up and adding on, then going back to the beginning. She brings us to the point of huffing and puffing then takes us to a slow cool down.

 Tuesday and Thursday is body sculpturing at Casta del Sol. Workout includes one or more of the following; weights, stretching tubes, balance pods, stretching bands and finishing with working out on mates. This is a well rounded strength building program.

 The end of the week on Fridays is a class devoted to stretch and flexibility training giving us the best total all around week of exercise.

 Signup is has started for the summer classes which will commence on May 23^rd and go till Aug. 5^th Monday though Friday at 8:30 in the morning.

 Hope to see you there!  

Near by Lake Mission Viejo and Saddleback Mountain

Casta del Sol is a retirement community located in Mission Viejo, CA which was named the safest city in the U.S. It is a planned development of nearly 2000 homes built in a natural environment of gentle rolling hills with many views. When the Santa Ana winds blow, you can see from some locations, the Pacific Ocean 7 miles away and in the other direction Saddleback Mountain.  Located 1 ½ miles from Mission Viejo Lake with swimming, fishing and boating, it is like living in a resort.

It was begun in the 1970's and finished in the1990s, so there are many different floor plans and architectural designs.  These are detached and attached homes mostly single story in a guard gated community.

Activities abound both within and adjacent to our community. Having 2 pool, spa, 2 club houses, exercise room, meeting rooms and hobby rooms giving you plenty of socializing locations. Within Casta are bowling, library, walking paths, garden club, wood carving, ceramic arts, parks etc.  Nearby are beaches, mountains, deserts and theme parks.        

One of 2 pools within the community of Casta del Sol