san luis obispo: March Tartaglia Realty office update - 03/06/12 07:09 AM
Things have been a bit hectic around Tartaglia Realty in the last week or so. We closed three sides, I got elected to be the new President of the Downtown Association of San Luis Obispo and we held our first Art After Dark exhibit. Basically, we've had papers flying around, happy clients coming in the office among the metamorphosis of  a real estate office to a new feel of a real estate office/ art gallery (pretty cool actually.) So needless to say things have been busy. Below I have a video up that shows the brief selection of photographs and original artworks of local artists, … (4 comments)

san luis obispo: Webinar for first time homebuyers - 01/14/12 02:05 PM
Check it! Alright guys and gals, this is something I have been working on for a while let's call this version 1.0 as I am sure there will need to be some tweaks here and there. The concept is there and I want to hear your feedback.... comments will be rewarded. Just sayin'  
Dominic Tartaglia touches on the broad realm of buying your first house. This is an introduction to a series soon to follow… Stay posted at www.dominictartaglia.com/blog
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san luis obispo: Is buying a home in 2012 your New Year Resolution? - 01/02/12 07:50 AM
Hey Guys, in the next 2.5 minutes you can hear my top 5 tips for helping you achieve your goals/ resolutions of buying a home in 2012. In short here they are in a list but the video goes into a bit more detail.
Get financially fit  Get pre-approved for a loan  Meet up with a REALTOR®  Save money for your down payment  Start looking for properties (Get after it)   
Happy New Year folks!
 
… (1 comments)

san luis obispo: When Santa Comes to Town, He stops at Tartaglia Realty - 11/22/11 02:50 PM
It's fair to say that a large majority of folks love that big round, red suited, old man... you know SANTA CLAUS! I mean how can you not love a jovial old man that travels the world doing fly-bys in a sleigh driven by reindeer. The guy has swagger. Starting this weekend children around the world are going to start writing down all kinds of wants and desires for what they want to find under their Christmas trees and in their stockings on December 25th. It is also a month of the year when parents have a bit of leverage over their … (2 comments)

san luis obispo: Thanksgiving in San Luis Obispo - 11/22/11 01:41 PM
This morning I got out of bed and looked at my iPhone for a quick idea of how cold it was outside. 41 °
41 ° may not be concerning to many people across the country but in San Luis, that's really cold. My thoughts raced forward to Thursday, you know... Thanksgiving Day. Some of you that read this blog may already know that this is my favorite holiday of the year next to St. Patrick's Day (also my B-Day) and that I plan my entire day around being full on turkey and fixin's. Historically, Thanksgiving in SLO is pretty warm but … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: Let it snow or no go? - 11/17/11 08:31 AM
As winter falls upon us here in San Luis Obispo there is the increasing realization that having a heater is a good thing. What many first-time homebuyers might not know, however, is that a functioning heat source is also REQUIRED for the purchase of a home. While there may not be an explicit call out for a heater in the standard real estate contracts, there is indeed a requirement for a permant and functioning heat source in the appraisal report. Without that appraiser's signature you stand a pretty bad chance of getting a loan to fund.
As a first-time homebuyer your purchase … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: Why do people move to SLO? - 11/16/11 08:30 AM
Often times, I talk to visitors in SLO and they have the impression that my hometown has an aura around it. Thus, I have to wonder what is it about San Luis Obispo that attracts retirees, investors, second home buyers and families to move here. Furthermore, why are first-time home buyers willing to pay a high price to buy their first home in SLO when they could save money and live just 20 minutes North or South at half the cost? To some, this may seem like a straightforward answer and they can come up with a million different reasons this … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: If 203k Rehab opened to investors... I'm doubtful it will help - 11/09/11 06:34 AM
This morning, as I do every morning, I was digesting my RIS Media newsletter that feeds general real estate new to me. It had an article entitled Nar Policy Leaders Propose Five-Point Housing Solutions Plan to Fed, Congress, Obama and as I read through the article I hit a point that really made me stop and think about the further implications more so than the other points. (To see the article you can click here.) The sticking point for me was under their third point of opening private capital to return to the mortgage marketplace.
The first thing that the Policy Leaders of … (2 comments)

san luis obispo: Finding San Luis Obispo Homes Online - 11/04/11 08:46 AM
Many of you are tech savvy and do a lot of shopping online. As I see it, the future of Real Estate will involve an e-commerce approach to buying homes. Product will be on display on websites and all clients will have to do is click schedule, meet the agent, view the property in person and then sign contracts and negotiate via face to face interaction. We are pretty much there already but there are some minor barriers involved in the process.Nonetheless, we have the capability for you to search on www.TartagliaRealty.com from the comfort of your Snuggie, on your couch … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: Smaller homes in the future! - 11/03/11 04:16 AM
Today I want to point out a few things that are coming down the road in terms of new construction and what home builders across the country are expecting for trends. If you are a new home buyer or a First Time home buyer these are som things to start thinking about.
Smaller square footage homes: between 2,000 and 2,300 square feet on average (nationally)
Increased green features in homes: Low e windows, engineered hardwood products like beams, floors and structural members, tankless water heaters and technologically advanced thermostats like that of www.NEST.com.
Nest thermostats are based off of iPod technology … (2 comments)

san luis obispo: What I took away from Calif. Assoc. Realtor®s YPN Evolve - 10/28/11 05:27 PM
The Evolution of Social Media:
What did I learn from the CAR YPN Evolve Conference? Wow, what a question! I will have to start by saying that there was so much content that I am still digesting it all and that this will have to be a multiple post review. Yea, there was that much information!

To start it off I will take it from the top with Nicole “Nic Nic” Nicolay’s presentation on Social Media entitled WHAT’S NEW IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND BEYOND. Keep in mind this is my interpretation of her presentation and these are the notes that … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: San Luis Obispo real estate update - 10/25/11 04:04 PM
Hey guys, Dominic Tartaglia here with www.DominicTartaglia.com. Your first time home buyer specialist. Tonight i just wanted to check in with you and give you an update on what's going on with our company this week. I am taking advantage of a unique opportunity to shoot on down to the Young Professionals Network conference in Long Beach as well as reminding you to keep an eye on the website and blog. You might find some new little additions like the Realtor® badge that is new to the website that lets you know for sure that I am a bonified Realtor®. 
Also, … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: Pumpkin Patches of San Luis Obispo - 10/17/11 02:18 PM
Last week I was inspired to go out and find some local pumpkin patches in my little hometown of San Luis Obispo and while I only made it to two of them (on my way to check on a listing) I got to see what is probably the most complete pumpkin patch around. That would be the one at the Avila Valley Barn. Below you can see the video slideshow from Vimeo.com that has my journey documented from my Canon camera and I'll provide you a bit of a synopsis of what's going on in the video but firstly, here are … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: Why you should list with me, a first-time homebuyer specialist - 10/12/11 01:28 PM
Why would you want to list your home with a buyer specialist? Sure it is an absolutely justifiable question from many sellers and homeowners but let me give you 3 good reasons to list your home with me. Granted, not all of you will have a home that will apply to this article but in today's market, I'm guessing there are quite a few of you that have qualifying homes.
Reason 1) Working with buyers as a specialist means I have buyers looking to find a home to start their journey of home ownership in. Chances are you are upgrading your living … (3 comments)

san luis obispo: San Luis Obispo Coats For Kids Drive - 10/11/11 01:37 PM
Normally, I use my blog for helping out first time home buyers and for real estate education but today I am going to use it to promote my Rotaract Club of San Luis Obispo's 2nd annual Coats For Kids drive. The coat drive is a local initiative taken on by local "20 something" year old professionals and generates warm coats for local in need children. Last year I got the idea from a neighboring community's Rotary club and got our club's opinion on whether or not we wanted to do something like this. The vote was unanimous and by the end … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: Staycations for homeowners on a budget - 10/10/11 10:39 AM
 Today I logged on to the computer and was doing a Google Search to see what the buzz was on the streets for "first time home buyers" but before I could start checking on my niche I was distracted. That isn't too much of a surprise when I'm Googling at lunch actually. Nonetheless, I found the link to Google Earth's site One World. Many Stories and checked it out to see how it could apply to real estate and serve my clients. And now... I present to you my post and discovery of yet another reason I am a fan of … (2 comments)

san luis obispo: My Postman gets it - 09/26/11 09:34 AM
My Postman get's it! I have a great relationship with my Postman, Ron. We are on a firstname basis and everyday for the last 5 years with few exceptions I know that he is going to bring my my mail between 12 and 1 and most of those days, he knows he'll find me at my desk working away. As I'm sure many REALTORs are accustomed to he asks me about real estate that day or we talk about real estate back in his hometown of Cleveland. Let's just leave it at this, the guy knows property. Maybe it's because he … (9 comments)

san luis obispo: Living the SLOLife - 09/19/11 10:55 AM
Getting out of town often brings perspective Often times I get caught up in the SLO paced lifestyle and it becomes less sharp, not dull but I definitely loose perspective on how fortunate I am to live here in San Luis Obispo. Recently, a music video for local artists Ashis Clay and Dylan (AKA Flowbispo) and their commercial for local news and media stations. Living The SLOLife debuted throughout September and has been a huge hit in San Luis Obispo ever since it hit the net. If you all need to get a reminder of how awesome SLO County is just … (1 comments)

san luis obispo: Taste of San Luis - 09/14/11 12:02 PM
Hey Rainers! 
Today has been one of the best days I've had all year, not because I spent any time in the office because I didn't. Not because I closed a killer deal because I didn't. Not because I landed an awesome listing, once again, I didn't. (Although, I did get a renewal on a current listing on the water, $2.5 Million beach house in the gorgeous Central Coast of sunny CA.) NOPE, those are all great things buuuut I got to wear shorts into the office today and my Cubs shirt!
Oh happy day! That's right folks I''m at my … (0 comments)

san luis obispo: Capybara Fever Takes Hold in San Luis Obispo County - 08/18/11 12:34 PM
What is a Capybara? Why is it roaming the streets of Paso Robles and how in the world did it get here?
 All of those questions pounded through my head today as I finally caught on to Capybara Fever in SLO County. KSBY is our local news station and I have been seeing this weird word on their Facebook page and because I am alwasy too busy to sit down and actually watch the news I tend to follow the "Four Hour Work Week" concept of reading headlines to get information on things not related to my industry, i.e. Capybara. Finally, … (2 comments)