agents: A Return to the Seller’s Market of Days Past
- 04/14/09 02:58 PM
I am finalizing an offer with some terrific out of town clients - first time buyers - who have been looking for some time. In their price range and area, almost everything for sale is an REO, a short sale or a pre-foreclosure. Many of them are pretty ugly and need a lot of work. Schools are important and must be factored in.
We submitted an above-asking offer on a pre-approved short sale in nice shape (there were 6 offers when I called the agent, all above asking price) and got outbid. We have a pending offer on a short sale … (9 comments)
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agents: HAPPY EASTER from the Left Coast
- 04/11/09 02:47 PM
HAPPY EASTER wishes to you and your family.
Our Mini Rabbit in our yard (the smallest of the rabbit clan that considers our back yard their home) is about the size of the typical choco rabbit in the Easter Basket. Wouldn't he look cool in foil? Just kidding.
We have ducks too but they didn't show up today. Ducks and bunnies always remind me of Easter as a kid. Guess some things you don't outgrow.
… (11 comments)
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agents: The NEW Relationship: It Ain't What it Used to Be
- 04/07/09 03:56 AM
Relationships are the foundation of our business, and serve as a means by which one can acquire business as well as to transact it. While some real estate relationships might be described as business only, some become, and remain, much more personal.
In the recent past, relationships with buyers and sellers were forged more traditionally - through personal meetings, referrals from acquaintances and clients, or a walk in the brokerage door. Eye contact was made, hands were shaken, and we all started off on equal footing, knowing little about each other and navigating the "getting to know each other" stage much … (23 comments)
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agents: Growth Leader Update - Week 13 for Carlsbad Real Estate
- 04/05/09 09:32 AM
Last week was frantic, with trips to LA and San Diego and several sets of buyers, so I'm a bit behind on reporting in on Growth Leader.
Leads are pretty slow right now which is disappointing, and they have really dropped offer from a couple of months ago - only 3 new ones from 1 week ago and 1 of them is a relocating buyer working with another local agent. She asked about some properties, one in particular, and was interested in taking a look. Obviously I let her know that HER agent needs to be providing her with information and … (7 comments)
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agents: I Bet You Thought You Were Done with Us
- 04/05/09 03:20 AM
I got a call from my buyer on Friday. The first comment was "I bet you thought you were done with us." Absolutely not, I said.
But it made me think.
How often ARE agents done with their clients when the transaction closes?
And you have to wonder if clients feel that once the deal has closed we will disappear into the sunset...and if they may have had that experience in the past.
We closed on my client's small REO condo purchase in a nearby town earlier this week. The buyer lived out of the area, and was buying the 1-bedroom … (20 comments)
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agents: REBarCamp Los Angeles on April 2: A Day to Remember and a Wealth of Learning
- 04/03/09 02:59 AM
I was at RE Bar Camp Los Angeles (a.k.a. #REBCLA for all you twits) in Pasadena, with lots of other folks - I was told the account was 298. Hard to believe it finally happened, as we began having discussions about this not long after REBlogWorld in Las Vegas in August 2007. The excitement was palpable, and there were so many people to meet...and undoubtedly not enough time to do so.
Check out Dakno.TV for archived sessions if you missed any of the streaming video they did.
Here is a short list (apologies to those I forgot) of the NEW people … (35 comments)
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agents: REBarCampLA 2009 Starts Off Just Right: Lively Happy Hour at The Yard House in Pasadena
- 04/01/09 06:45 PM
It was a long day today, starting off with blogging, emails, an offer acceptance, setting up the SoCal CRS Booth for the SDAR REALTOR Expo and Member Appreciation Day (on April 2 in San Diego) and a 2.5 hour ride in traffic to The Yard House in Pasadena. Despite a few phone calls and having pay some attention to the heavy traffic, I had a chance to think about where I was headed, and to wonder about what I would find.
I haven't attended a Real Estate Bar camp before but have certainly paid attention to the posts and to streaming … (11 comments)
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agents: California Sales and Use Tax Rate Increases April 1, 2009
- 03/31/09 01:45 AM
Just what California needs with the unemployment rates rising as they are and many folks, and businesses, struggling financially - another tax increase.
I doubt that's going to stimulate our economy and get folks out there spending their hard earned dollars.
The State Board of Equalization in California and the Governor announced some time ago that the sales and use tax will be increasing...by 1%! This takes place tomorrow, April 1, to the regret of many business owners. California's sales tax of 7.75%, the highest in the country I believe, will now be 8.75%.
And in … (2 comments)
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agents: Animal Rescue in Carlsbad and Surrounding Areas - Fallout from Short Sales and Foreclosures
- 03/28/09 06:00 AM
There is much fallout from the short sale and foreclosure crisis that has hit the housing market these last few years. No area seems untouched, in some way, by the substantial increase in loan defaults, and numerous families are in the process of losing, or have already lost, their homes. A certainly the expectation is there will be many more
The other fall out from this crisis is a huge increase in the number of abandoned animals, primarily dogs and cats.
We saw many pets left behind in the drastic fires here in San Diego in October 2007, and further north … (5 comments)
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agents: No More Doom and Gloom in Carlsbad
- 03/23/09 12:12 PM
We have all been hearing negative "doom and gloom" messages, forever it seems. And many folks have commented they are tired of them or ignore it. And there have been lots of posts written about "enough is enough." Yep, we know the economy sucks in many ways, but focusing on how awful it is gets tiresome, and promotes more negativity.
A Carlsbad retailer (actually in La Costa, where I live), has had it and is doing something about it.
Dale Condy (as reported in Today's Local News) is now creating playful signs, stickers and coffee mugs in his efforts to help … (8 comments)
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agents: Do You Have Good Habits or Bad Habits? Could be Time for a Change
- 03/23/09 02:12 AM
We all have some good habits, but being human have some bad ones as well.
Some folks have an abundance of the latter. Bad habits may tend to be more fun, but may not always be good for us, and some probably cause aggravation to those we annoy, or creat problems for us personally.
Real estate is no different. There are agents who have plenty of good habits, which allow them to be highly productive, and foster good relationships with their clients. But some seem to have more than their share of bad habits. And I suspect many of us likely … (16 comments)
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agents: The Skills of a Web 2.0 Practitioner
- 03/21/09 09:41 AM
The last several years have seen unprecedented advances in the use of the Internet, and many people have discovered numerous ways technology can alter their personal and business lives.
With these technological advances has come the opportunity to acquire, and use, new skills.
As REALTORs in a customer service business that has increasingly become more competitive, these skills can lead to new marketing techniques, novel ways of developing and maintaining relationships, and foster the attitude that technology can serve (often, but not always) to make business and personal life simpler and easier to manage.
With that, however, has come the expectation … (34 comments)
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agents: Supporting the Local Food Bank in North County San Diego (Carlsbad area)
- 03/21/09 08:03 AM
In these tough economic times there are many folks who need assistance for housing, food, health services and more.
Here in San Diego the North County Community Services Organization provides a number of services to support area residents, including child development programs (Oceanside, Vista, Escondido), a food bank, and social services including winter shelters. They hold several fund raising events throughout the year to raise money and collects donations of food. NCCS provides food to over 15,000 residents in North County every month.
We held an event at our home last night and ordered a barrel to be used for collecting … (2 comments)
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agents: What Do You and Your Clients Have in Common?
- 03/20/09 08:19 AM
Real estate is all about relationships, those connections between a buyer or seller and a REALTOR. Certainly a business transaction can, and often does, occur without a strong positive connection, but more times than not that relationship forms the foundation of the transaction and, in many ways, facilitates it.
How often do we find that transactions come close to falling apart but through our bond with our clients we are able to transcend the road blocks and achieve the goal? OR, conversely, things fall apart because there is no connection, no bond.
I think that many of these connections arise through … (13 comments)
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agents: We're Having a Liquidation Sale
- 03/15/09 01:15 PM
What if the real estate business were to run sales like they do in retail?
Imagine the opportunities...how about a truck load sale?
A going out of business sale?
Going out of business - well, yes, there are many REO, short sales and pre-foreclosures that MUST be sold. Some folks HAVE lost their jobs or their businesses and must sell.
50% Off Sale - imagine the bargains! Pick your percentage, we see lots of them depending on the retailer. Some buyers approach offers with this attitude. Unfortunately sellers don't always cooperate. Coldwell Banker held a "sale" of sorts with … (13 comments)
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agents: The 6th Annual GABNet Political Fashion Show in Los Angeles
- 03/15/09 07:41 AM
I had the opportunity to attend the GABNet political art and fashion show last night in Los Angeles. The Gabriela Network of Los Angeles of the Mariposa Alliance hosts an event each year to address issues faced by women, ranging from sex trafficking to domestic violence. This year's theme centered about the political repression arising out of the global economic crisis as women struggle in political activism as a means to better their personal situations, yet suffer punishment as a result of their involvement in these activist pursuits. The fashion show was held at the Eagle Rock Plaza in Eagle Rock … (6 comments)
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agents: Just a Friday Thought - It'll Make You Think
- 03/13/09 01:55 PM
Things are NOT always what they seem
And appearances CAN be deceptive!
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Is it a landscaping tool?
A contemporary sculpture?
Lawn ornament?
Have you figured it out?
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It can change someone's life...dramatically.
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… (24 comments)
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agents: The Value of Using a Homebook for Your Listings
- 03/13/09 06:52 AM
I learned some time ago in my CRS class about using a Homebook for listings and the types of information that one can/should include. I make it a practice to always create one for each listing.
Here is just a sampling of the information I am including in my Homebook for a new listing in a couple of weeks (it varies depending on the town/community, type of listing, etc.).
Feature Sheet
MLS Listing
Map of Local Area, Plat, Aerial View
Carlsbad Area
Carlsbad Unified School District Neighborhood Facts Area Facts School Information Housing Information and Recent Area Sales Crime Information Houses … (17 comments)
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agents: My Seller's Handbook: Special Thanks to an AR Member
- 03/07/09 02:28 AM
I am in the final stages of completing my Seller's Handbook - work in progress for many months - with just some editing to do. Plus a cover. Once done I will use it in presentations, share it with clients, and keep it on Google Docs to share.
I had planned to modify the cover I used for my Buyer's Handbook, that is until I saw Teresa Boardman's post this morning about having fun with Flickr toys.
I immediately decided the magazine cover was the way to go, so here it is (yes, that's MY photo of South Carlsbad State Beach … (19 comments)
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agents: If You Snooze You May Lose - Build Those Relationships On-Line and Off-Line
- 03/05/09 05:57 PM
Building relationships is a fact of life in our business, and its foundation.
Without them you won't get far in terms of buyers and sellers. Maintenance is pretty important, too. If you don't work on keeping your relationships, they will fade away - referrals will disappear and your wonderful clients will forget you even exist.
There are a myriad of ways to build relationships, and lots of different ones. Here are just a few:
Prospective buyers and sellers - Current/past buyer and seller clients
Escrow and title officers - Mortgage brokers and banks - Attorneys
Home inspectors - Relocation companies
Trades … (69 comments)
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I am finalizing an offer with some terrific out of town clients - first time buyers - who have been looking for some time. In their price range and area, almost everything for sale is an REO, a short sale or a pre-foreclosure. Many of them are pretty ugly and need a lot of work. Schools are important and must be factored in. 
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